USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 48
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is a young man deserving much credit. He has risen from the ranks by his own ability and merit, receiving a lieutenant's commission shortly after he had passed the twenty-first anniversary of his birth. The sons come naturally by their love of and proficiency in military matters, for not only was their father a soldier but their uncle. Arthur L. Wagner. was a graduate of West Point in the class of 1815 and was a recognized anthority on military tactics not only in this country but in foreign lands as well. Ile served as adjutant gen- eral during the Philippine service and his com- mission as brigadier general lay on his desk at the time of his death. The younger members of the family are : Nina Louise, who resides at home ; Hayden Waite, who was born December 21, 1885, and is now a cadet at West Point. representing the Twelfth District of Illinois: and Harry Hough, who is a graduate of the De Kalb high school of the class of 1906 and is now the chief assistant of his father in the mercantile business.
Mr. Wagner's connection with commercial in- terests in De Kalb covers a long period. No other dry-goods dealer of the city has been so long asso- ciated with its business affairs and none sustain a more unassailable reputation for commercial in- tegrity and honor. He has won success through close application and unfaltering diligence and at the same time has gained the good will and esteem of his fellowmen.
GEORGE O. GREELEY.
George O. Greeley, whose farm of eighty acres on section 10. Clinton township. responds readily to the care and cultivation which he bestows npon it. returning good harvests, was born in Orleans coun- ty. New York. November 6, 1835. and, during his boyhood while living on the shores of Lake On- tario. he saved three of his schoolmates from drowning at different times by dragging them from the water. His parents were natives of New Hampshire and unto their marriage were born ten children. the family coming to the west in 1852. at which time they took up their abode near Aurora. Illinois. upon a farm which the father cultivated.
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George O. Greeley was at that time a youth of seventeen years. He has always been identified with general agricultural pursuits. When he first came to Illinois he assisted in the arduous task of breaking the sod and tilled the land where the village of Waterman now stands. This was in 1854. ITe has otherwise aided in the improvement and development of the county and today carries on general agricultural pursuits on his own account, having a good property of eighty acres on section 10, Clinton township. The entire farm presents a neat and well cared for appearance, indicating the careful supervision and practical methods of the owner. In 1857, with other boys from Aurora, he went to Kansas to aid John Brown and Jim Lane in their fight for freedom and to add another free state to the Union. He voted for the Topeka constitution and acted as one of the judges of election, besides taking an active part in other elections. He saw Governor Gary at Tecompion, guarded by soldiers to protect him from the border ruffians that came from Missouri.
Mr. Greeley was married to Miss Cynthia M. Wilcox. who was born in Bradford county, Penn- sylvania, of which state her parents were also natives. In their family were four children and by her marriage Mrs. Greeley has become the mother of four children. Clarence L., born Sep- tember 16, 1867. is still single and lives with his father upon the home farm, cultivating the fields and also carrying on a dairy business. Liston Q., who was born October 25, 1868, is now a practicing physician and surgeon of Duluth, Minnesota; Henry P. and Harold W., twins, were born August 16. 1874. The latter is a dentist practicing at Duluth, Minnesota, while the former is a jeweler and oculist of Chicago. Harold married Miss Cora Crum and they have become the parents of two children, Rosa and Cynthia. In addition to their own children Mr. Greeley has reared and is educating an adopted daughter, Bessie, who is now attending school at Aurora, Illinois. Mrs. Greeley, the wife of our subject, died October 9, 1906, her death being caused by the explosion of a lamp. The news of this catastrophe was a shock to the entire community and her death was the occasion of deep regret among her many friends.
Mr. Greeley and his family spent ten years in the state of Minnesota on account of his health but in 1893 he returned to Illinois and took up
his abode upon the farm which is still his home. He and his children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Waterman and in politics he is an earnest and ardent prohibitionist, firmly be- living in the principles of the party. He was a member of the state legislature while in Minnesota and has always been interested in the growth and success of the party and in the adoption of its principles, yet has never been an active politician in the sense of office seeking. He is much esteemed as a man of gennine worth and is well known as a pioneer settler of the county, for more than a halt a century has passed since he came to the middle west.
BURR B. SMILEY.
Burr B. Smiley, who is well known in financial circles as the vice president and manager of the First National Bank of Malta and whose name car- ries weight on commercial paper. was born in Kaneville. Kane county, Illinois, April 30. 1859. his parents being George W. and Azubah (Smith) Smiley. The father, a native of Pennsylvania, was a farmer and merchant and lived a life of great activity and business enterprise, whereby he was enabled to accumulate a remunerative estate. He died in Malta in 1896 and Mrs. Smiley is still living in that city.
Burr B. Smiley, the eldest of the family of five children, accompanied his parents on their removal to De Kalb county in his boyhood days and the public schools of Malta afforded him his educa- tional privileges. Like his father. he has led a busy life. for after putting aside his text-books he entered his father's store at Malta and became thoroughly acquainted with the various business enterprises which claimed the time and attention of the elder Smiley. About 1895 the son began business on his own account as a dealer in hard- ware and farm implements, conducting his store
successfully for about five years, when he sold out. Two years later he became the vice president and manager of the First National Bank of Malta and has continued in the business to the present time The name of Smiley has ever stood as a synonym, for business integrity, diligence and reliability and in his present connection Mr. Smiley has done
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much to promote the welfare and insure the suc- cess of the financial institution with which he is connected. He is a man of good business discern- ment, seldom at fault in matters of judgment, and recognizes possibilities and opportunities with keen foresight.
On the 21st of October, 1880, Mr. Smiley was united in marriage, at Malta, to Miss Emma J. Peters, who was born on the 16th of June. 1858, a daughter of Caleb and Mary (Graves) Peters, natives of England, in whose family were six chil- dren. Her parents now reside in Chicago. The daughter, Emma J., is the eldest of their family. Mr. and Mrs. Smiley became the parents of three children : Eva Maywood, born July 3, 1882; Bernice B., born June 19, 1890 ; and George Clif- ford, who was born April 29. 1892, and died on the 6th of November, 1897. The daughters are now living in De Kalb, where they can have the benefit of instruction in the schools and also in music in that city. To bring about this result Mr. Smiley purchased and furnished a pleasant home at No. 608 Sycamore road. where the daughters now live and there Mr. and Mrs. Smiley make their headquarters while in De Kalb, but as yet they have not changed their residence from Malta, being greatly attached to this place, where they have for more than a quarter of a century made their home and where Mr. Smiley's business in- terests are largely located.
Mr. Smiley has not only figured prominentty in commercial and financial circles but has also been a recognized leader in local political affairs and has been honored with a number of offices. For eight years he served as postmaster of Malta, tras president of the village for seven years, for one year was clerk and for four years has been a member of the board of trustees. He succeeded his father as township treasurer after George Smiley had filled the office for thirty years, and Burr B. Smiley has now been the incumbent for ten years. He has also been a member of the board of supervisors for seven years and his offi- cial service has been characterized by the utmost devotion to duty, a thorough understanding of the work that devolves upon him and an unquestioned conscientiousness in its execution. He belongs to Wayside lodge, No. 41. K. P., of Malta, and in fact is one of its most prominent representatives. He stands as a worthy type of the knight and for
all that the order means. and was selected by his lodge as its first grand representative and has at- tended seven sessions of the grand lodge. Here his energy, zeal and ability have met recognition by appointment to the chairmanship of important standing committees for three terms, refusing for business reasons the appointment for another term from the grand chancellor. He acted for two terms as deputy grand chancellor and has a wide acquaintance of loyal friends among the knights in the district where he resides, beside being well known by nearly all the members of the grand lodge.
His political allegiance is given to the democ- racy and for twenty years he has been chairman of the democratic county committee-a faet which shows that he is the recognized leader of the party in this locality. He attends the Congregational church and as a citizen he is progressive and ag- gressive when good to the commonwealth is to be achieved. He is identified with every business and social movement worthy of note in his home town and no history of Malta would be complete with- out the mention of Burr B. Smiley. There is in him a vein of seriousness which enables him to judge life at its true value and yet he is not with- out that social, genial nature which renders him very popular and makes him an entertaining friend and companion.
MIRS. CATY S. CARTER.
Mrs. Caty S. Carter, well known in De Kalb county, has resided within the borders of the state for more than seventy years. She was born on the 14th of May, 1836, in Corfland county, New York, and on the 19th of September of the same vear started with her parents for Illinois, arriving in Kane county on the 29th of November. From that time to the present she has resided in this state. Her father, Harvey B. Densmore, was born in Hartford, Windsor county. Vermont, September 25, 1815, while her mother, Mrs. Caty S. Densmore, was born March 25. 1811. Her death occurred on the 21st of July, 1841, and later Mr. Densmore wedded Mary J. Mather. The family lived in true pioneer style during the early years of their residence in this state, sharing in the hardships
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MRS. CATY CARTER.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
and trials incident to pioneer life when the prairies were largely uncultivated, the streamns unbridged and the land unclaimed.
Amid pioneer environments Mrs. Carter was reared and was trained to the duties of the house- hold such as usually falls to the lot of the maidens who live upon farms in frontier settlements. She was taught to make candles and do all the work of the household. At the age of eleven years she visited Chief Shabbona at his sugar camp and on several occasions met and talked with him. She became one of the pioneer teachers of Illinois, com- mencing that work when only sixteen years old. She remained a resident of Kane county until she was married in Aurora on the 2tth of March, 1858, to Smith D. Avery, and then came with her husband to De Kalb county, which has since been her home.
Mr. Avery was born August 27, 1836, and when the Civil war broke out enlisted on the 21st of August, 1861, in the Aurora Dragoons, which was one of two cavalry companies attached to an in- fantry regiment, becoming Company A, Thirty- sixth Ilinois Volunteer Infantry. He remained at Camp IIammond, Aurora, Illinois, until 'Sep- tember 18 and then went with his command to Camp Rolla, Missouri, where the regiment re- mained until after Mr. Avery's death. They did scouting duty in that state and on one of these expeditions he contracted a cold which resulted in his death on the 1st of January, 1862, and he was buried at Camp Rolla. Mr. and Mrs. Avery be- came the parents of three children: Anna D., born April 5, 1859, lives with her mother on sec- tion 3, Afton township ; Anson A .. born September 21. 1860. is mentioned more fully below.
Smith D., Jr., who was born January 7, 1862, and died August 21, 1893, married Lida Brown and they had one child, Harold Smith, who lives with his mother in De Kalb.
On the 21st of . November, 1862, Mrs. Avery gave her hand in marriage to James Carter, who was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Decem- ber 25, 1832. He was a son of James and Anna M. (Nye) Carter, both now deceased. His father was a elergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church, was a native of New England and was of English lineage. At his death, which occurred in 1845, he left to his son James, then a youth of thirteen years, a fortune amounting to about sev-
enty thousand dollars. A guardian was appointed who squandered a portion of the estate but Mr. Carter received the remainder and thus started out in life in comfortable financial circumstances. His grandfathers in both the paternal and maternal lines were soldiers of the Revolutionary war.
Mr. Carter lived under the parental roof until the death of his father and during that time at- tended the common schools. He continued his edu- cation until he attained the age of seventeen years, when his desire to increase his worldly possessions was augmented by a knowledge of the discovery of gold in California and he determined to make his way to that state. He therefore crossed the plains and after a long and tedious trip safely ar- rived on the Pacific coast. On one occasion, while out prospecting in a gulch, a fog came up and he was lost. His mates began a search for him but did not find him until three days and nights had passed. He almost perished from want of food. For about ten months he remained in California and then returned overland to the east, settling in Cayuga county, New York. In the meantime he had spent his fortune and was compelled to go to work to provide for his own livelihood. He entered the employ of a German and the first day's work which he ever did was chopping wood. He remained with the German for two months and two days and at the end of that time received a salary of but fifteen dollars. He then came to Illinois but shortly afterward returned to New York. For ten months he worked in a machine shop, after which he purchased a threshing ma- chine and engaged in threshing grain. He was thus employed for ten years and when not busy in the harvest fields he would purchase horses in all parts of the country, speculating wherever he could make a dollar. In July, 1861, he came to De Kalb county, Illinois, and for two or three years operated land on shares. In 1866 he pur- chased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he afterward added four hundred and forty- seven acres, and at the time of his death he was the owner of a very valuable farming property of seven hundred and forty acres. In this business he displayed keen discernment and careful man- agement, was thoroughly reliable in all his trans- actions and was never known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellowmen in any business. He served as highway commissioner and assessor
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for a number of years and was school director at the time of his death, having filled that position for a long time and being succeeded by Miss Avery. He and his wife attended the Methodist church of De Kalb and he contributed to the support of all churches. He died August 27, 1902, re- spected by all who knew him because of what he had accomplished and by reason of the honorable, straightforward methods which he ever followed.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Carter were born four children : Charles E., now of Columbus, Ohio, was born September 27, 1863, and was married June 29. 1904, to Nora Robbins. James II., of Afton township, was born October 16, 1865, and married Lulu Downer. by whom he has one child, Charlotte Sara. Caty S., born June 22, 1867, is the wife of George E. Wilcox, of Affon town- ship, and they have three children. Stanley E. Faith and Anna A. Grace E., born July 29, 1869. is the wife of J. IL. Bliss, of Sugar Grove. Kane county, and they have four children. J. H., Jr .. Janette E .. Catherine H. and Carter 1. Living on the old homestead with her mother is Miss Anna D. Avery, who is now serving as school director of her district and is clerk of the board. having acted in that capacity for four years. She is a lady much esteemed and has many friends in De Kalb county. Anson Avery assists in the management of his mother's property and has acted as trustee of schools for three years. He was married Oe- tober 9. 1884. to Carrie M. Breese. of Aurora, and they have three children : Grace C., who was born October 1. 1886. and was married November 8. 1906, to A. E. Pelton. now living with Mrs. Car- ter: and Anson Raymond and Rowland Alonzo. twins, born March 5. 1891.
For almost a half century Mrs. Carter has been a resident of De Kalb county and has made her home in Illinois for about seventy-one years. She enjoys the warm regard of those who know her and has a very wide acquaintance in this part of the state owing to her long residence here. The traveler of today noting the splendid condition of the country can scarcely realize the condition which met the family when they came from New York more than seven decades ago. The land was in its primitive condition to a large extent. for only a few tracts had been placed under the plow. It would require years of arduous. untiring effort to transform the wild prairies into richly culti-
rated fields which are today seen. Only four years before had the Black Hawk war occurred and there were still many traces of Indian habitation in the state. Crude farming machinery was used. for invention had not brought improved agri- cultural implements. While the homes were widely scattered a spirit of hospitality pervaded the fron- tier settlements and the neighbors were always willing to do everything possible to favor one another. and many pleasures were enjoyed in the visits they paid each other, while at the same time they endured many hardships and difficulties in their efforts to reclaim the region from the do- main of the red men and convert it into uses for the white race.
JOHN LEE COOPER.
John Lee Cooper is a genial and popular man who has gained many friends during the period of his residence in De Kalb, where he is now engaged in the grocery business. He was born in Sandusky. Wisconsin. August 11, 18:6. His father Francis M. Cooper. was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, November 10, 1850, and is a minister in the church of the Latter Day Saints. Ife wedded Laura Lee, who was born at Lake Geneva, Wis- consin. in 1853. They had three children of whom John Lee Cooper is the second. His maternal grandfather. John Lce, was a soldier of the Mexican war and also defended his country in the war of Rebellion.
John Lee Cooper was educated in the common schools of Sandusky, Wisconsin, and afterward worked at farm labor for four months. He then went to Plano. Illinois, where he learned the car- penter's trade and for six months remained in that place, after which he came to De Kalb, where for a year and a half he was employed by Dr. Carter. He afterward spent eight years in the employ of V. A. Glidden, acting as bookkeeper of the store during the latter part of that time. Subsequently he spent a year and five months as a traveling salesman for the National Biscuit Com- pany and on the expiration of that period. entered into partnership with G. C. Pearl under the firm style of Pearl & Cooper at the corner of Main and Sixth streets. De Kalb. They opened a gen-
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eral grocery store which they are still conducting, carrying a large and carefully selected line of staple and fancy groceries. Their business is growing and has already reached large propor- tions.
Mr. Cooper was married in Beloit, Wisconsin. April 25, 1896, to Miss Jean Proban Keir, who was born in Braidwood, Illinois, April 10, 1878. Her father, James Keir, was manager of a grocery store. Her mother, who bore the maiden name of Jennie Proban, was born in Utah. In their family were three children, of whom Mrs. Cooper was the second. She was educated in the schools of Braidwood, Illinois, and of West Bay City, Michigan. By her marriage she became the mother of three children: Mand May, who was born March 16, 1897; Ruth Gladys, who was born November 6. 1899; and Irene Lucille, who was born November 6, 1901.
The family have a pleasant home at No. 428 East South street and the hospitality of the house- hold is greatly enjoyed by those who know them. Mr. Cooper is a republican prohibitionist and be- lieves firmly in the cause of temperance, frequently voting in support of the candidates who stand for the same principles. He is a member of the church of the Latter Day Saints and has attained a prominent place in the citizenship of De Kalb. He possesses a genial disposition and kindly man- ner which have rendered him popular and he is now numbered among the prominent young merchants of the eity.
JOHN HOUGHTBY.
John Houghtby, a farmer residing on section 21, Shabbona township, is a native of Lincoln- shire. England, born on the 1st of March, 1858. His father, John Houghtby, Sr., was also a native of the same country and the year of his birth was 1819. Before coming to the United States he was foreman on a large farm in England and in 1876. accompanied by his family, crossed the Atlantic to the new world and engaged in farming in Shabbona township, De Kalb county, Illinois. He met with a good measure of success here and later purchased land which he divided among his children several years prior to his death. He
lived to the advanced age of eighty-two years, mak- ing his home with his son John during his last days. Of the Methodist Episcopal church he was a faithful member. He married Margaret Gib- son, who was born in England, September 5, 1815. and died at the home of her son John on the 31st of August, 1899. She was a worthy woman of many good traits of character and was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Houghtby had a family of eight children : George A., now living at Shabbona Grove: Susan, who died in England two years ago; Titus, who died in Canada; Charles G., a resident farmer of Shabbona township: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Hall, a widow living in England ; Mrs. Marian Nicholson. a widow living in the village of Shabbona : John, of this review ; and Mrs. Ray, of Belvidere, Illi- nois.
John Houghtby attended the common schools of England and worked at farm labor there until he came to America with his parents when nineteen years of age. He and his father were employed on the Storey farm for ten years and Mr. Houghtby of this review afterward bought the land upon which he now resides. He then bought eighty acres of the land which his father had purchased, and by additional purchases from time to time has extended the boundaries of his place until he now owns two hundred and forty aeres of very pro- ductive land, upon which are good buildings, while everything about the place is indicative of his care- ful supervision and able management. Ile car- ries on general farming and in addition to tilling the soil, feeds about one carload of cattle and hogs each year.
When twenty-six years of age Mr. Houghtby was married to Miss Elizabeth Stimpson. a native of this county, daughter of George Stimpson, one of the early settlers. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Iloughtby has been blessed with seven children : Sarah E., now the wife of George Mullins of Lee county ; John F., who married Ellen Hanson and now lives in Shabbona township; George S .: Clyde W. ; Edward E. : Harry W. : and Bessie M .; all at home. Mr. Houghtby is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and in politics is a republican. He served as school director for a number of years but is not filling that position at the present time. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. With no
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special family or pecuniary advantages at the out- set of his career he has worked steadily and per- sistently and has won not only success but also an honored name. He is truly a self-made man and deserves much credit for what he has accom- plished. It is the men who are self-reliant and in- dustrious, who depend upon their own resources and are of recognized value who are real factors in a community's upbuilding, and to this class Mr. Houghtby belongs.
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