USA > Illinois > Will County > Past and present of Will County, Illinois, V. 2 > Part 30
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CHARLES DE MERITT.
Charles De Meritt is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, situated near the village of Plainfield, on section 9, Plainfield town- ship. He now rents his land, while he is prac- tically living retired, merely giving supervision to his farmng operations, although he still re- tains his residence on his farm property. He is a native son of Will county, born in Channalion township, in January, 1840. His parents were Harry and Emily S. (Knapp) De Meritt, the latter a sister of Dr. Knapp, of Channahon town- ship and a representative of one of the pioneer families of Will county, for the Knapps located
in Will county about 1835, at which time he set- tled in Channahon township, where he purchased land from the government. Some years later he removed to Wisconsin, where his death occurred many years ago. Ilis widow afterward married Myron Pierson, while for her third husband she married Lyman Foster, who was likewise one of the earliest settlers of Plainfield. The mother has also passed away, her death occurring about five years ago, when she had reached the age of eighty-four years.
Charles De Meritt is one of a family of four children born of his father's marriage and is the only one now living, but he has a half-sister, Mrs. (. D. Daly, who resides in Aurora, Illinois. Mr. De Meritt was brought to Plainfield by his mother when a little lad of seven years. He was here reared and educated, and at the age of twenty- four years engaged in farming pursuits, in which he met with very gratifying success. He is today the owner of a valuable and well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres lying near the village of Plainfield, so that while enjoying the quiet and comforts of a rural existence he also has the advantages and conveniences afforded by the village. Ile is now leasing his land, but he still retains his residence on the farm, giving per- sonal supervision to his business interests.
Mr. De Meritt was married at Plainfield to Miss Elizabeth Mottinger, who was brought from Ohio, her native state, to Will county when a little maiden of three years, so that she was practically reared in this state. She is an estimable lady, possessing a kindly disposition and cordial man- ner, and celebrated the sixty-first anniversary of her birth in January, 1902. Her father, George Mottinger, passed away some twenty years ago. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. De Meritt has been blessed with three sons: Charles, Jr., a resi- dent farmer of Plainfield township, who is mar- ried and has three children: William A., who is married and resides with his father; and Ralph II., a farmer of Plainfield township, who is mar- ried and has two sons.
Mr. De Meritt is independent in his political views, but leans toward democracy. He, how- ever, supports men and measures rather than party. His second son votes with the democratic party, while the eldest and the youngest sons
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adhere to republican principles. Mr. De Meritt was through a long period identified with agri- cultural interests and the rest which he is now enjoying is well merited, for it has come to him as the direct result of his own labors, his close ap- plication and his careful business management.
HERBERT A. GODFREY.
Herbert A. Godfrey is one of the extensive land- owners of the county, now living retired from business cares save for the supervision which he gives to his invested interests. He is a man of excellent business ability, of genuine personal worth and of strong and admirable traits of char- acter, and well deserves mention in this volume as one of the leading residents of Will county.
A native son of the county, he was born in DuPage township in 1859. His father, Austin Godfrey, who for a long period was a leading far- mer and dairyman of Lockport and Dn Page town- ships, was born in Erie county, New York, August 31, 1822. His father, Henry Godfrey, was a na- tive of Vermont and when only three years of age was left an orphan. His advantages in youth were few but he nevertheless became a man of fine char- acter and excellent standing. Settling in Erie county, New York, he took up a tract of timber land about twenty-five miles from Buffalo and brought it under a high state of cultivation. He was in Buffalo at the time the city was burned during the war of 1812, serving as a quartermaster in the army. While living in New York he mar- ried Candace Warren and unto them were born four sons and two daughters, of whom Austin was the youngest. Mrs. Godfrey was a daughter of Jabez and Hannah (Sumner) Warren, the latter of an old family prominent in the Revolutionary war. Jabez Warren's mother married a second time and her husband, who was an Englishman and a loy- alist, prayed daily for the success of King George. This was more than the patriotic spirit of young Jabez could brook and at the age of sixteen he ran away from home, enlisting in the colonial army and participating in many of the hotly contested battles of the war. He finally settled in Vermont,
where he reared his family, and afterward removed to Aurora, Erie county, New York.
On the Ist of October, 1833, Henry Godfrey removed with his family to Will county, Illinois, Austin Godfrey being then a lad of eleven years. The father and his eldest son each secured one hundred and sixty acres of land in what is now DuPage township. When Austin was fourteen the land was divided and he and his brother next in age conducted what was known as the Godfrey farm on the stage line between Chicago and Ottawa. They also had charge of the tavern and stage horses, and they continued in business together until the property was divided when Austin God- frey was twenty-five years of age. He continued upon the old homestead and there carried on gen- eral agricultural pursuits until 1874, when he removed to Joliet for the purpose of providing his children with better educational advantages. After two years, however, he resumed the management of the farm and in 1886 he bought two hundred and forty-seven acres comprising the old Hawley farm. At different times he purchased other farm lands, which he rented. In his later years his at- tention was given more especially to the dairy busi- ness, in which he was very successful. On his home place he kept many head of cows of the Holstein breed and his business grew and devel- oped, winning him a goodly measure of prosperity.
In politics Austin Godtrey was always a stalwart republican and was recognized as a local leader in his party. He served as supervisor, highway com- missioner, school director and trustee, filling each office with the intelligence and energy noticeable in the conduct of his private affairs. By his first wife, Lavinia Warren, Mr. Godfrey had two children, of whom one is living: Emma A., now the wife of George W. Potter of Joliet. After losing his first wife Mr. Godfrey married Miss Lucy Denton, who was born in Henryville, Canada, December 3, 1837, a daughter of Captain John and Sylvina (Harrington) Denton. The latter's mother was a sister of Rev. Hosea Ballou, the noted Universalist divine, who was of French- Huguenot descent. Her grandfather was state sur- veyor in Vermont and belonged to a noted family, in which were many professional men. Captain John Denton, who was a son of William Denton, a Revolutionary soldier, was born in Massachusetts and became an exhorter and local preacher in the
AUSTIN GODFREY.
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MRS. AUSTIN GODFREY.
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Methodist church. He spent many years in Can- ada, during which time he took part in the Cana- dian war of 1837 as a captain in the British army. From Canada he removed to Du Page county, Illi- nois, in 1847 and settled on a farm near Naper- ville, where he died two years afterward at the age of sixty. His wife, a native of Vermont, and a member of an old and influential family of that state, died in Lockport when almost eighty-two years of age. When Mrs. Austin Godfrey was nine years of age she accompanied her parents on their removal to DuPage county, Illinois, in 1842, and has since spent much of her time in Will county. In early life she taught school for three years. In religious faith she is a Congregationlist. Mr. God- frey, who was a most respected and worthy citizen, passed away July 26, 1900, and his widow is now living in Lockport. Their children were: Her- bert A., of this review; Howard, deceased ; Daisy C., the wife of Arthur Jones, a resident of Fort Smith, Arkansas; Carrie, the wife of William Monroe, also of Fort Smith; Arthur M., who re- sides in Lockport township; and Guy R. and Roy S., who are also residents of Lockport township.
Herbert A. Godfrey, spending his boyhood days in his parents' home, acquired his early education in the public schools, was afterward a student in Joliet for two years and later continued his edu- cation at Normal, Illinois. He was early trained to the work of the home farm and continued to assist in its development until twenty-eight years of age and eventually became the owned of a part of this property. Following his marriage he began farming the home place on his own account, being busily engaged in improving the farm, which comprises seven hundred acres of valuable land. In 1891 he left the old homestead and engaged in the dairy business for two years at Joliet, but later moved to his present home just south of Lockport on the electric car line from Joliet. Here he has a beautiful residence and thirty-four acres of ground. He likewise has one house and lot in Joliet and two hundred and forty acres of land in Iroquois county in addition to his interest in the old home place.
In 1886 Mr. Godfrey was married to Miss Henri- etta 1 .. Lang, who was born in La Salle county in 1862, a daughter of Webster and Phiania Lang. The father was a native of New Jersey. His first wife was Paulina Halsted and his second wife
Phoebe Mosher, while the mother of Mrs. Godfrey was the third wife. They were married in New York state and came to Illinois in 1853. By each of his three wives Mr. Lang had first a son and then a daughter and all six of these children are now living, but one daughter by his last wife died in infancy. On removing to the west he located in La Salle county, where he followed farming for many years and then lived retired until his death, which occurred in Marseilles, Illinois, in 1876, his widow surviving him until 1884. They were mem- bers of the Society of Friends and in political faith Mr. Lang was a republican. Their three children were: Lucinda, deceased : Charles W., who was born in the state of New York in 1852 and owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Benton county. Indiana; and Mrs. Godfrey. Unto our subject and his wife have been born a daughter and son: Charles Herbert, who was born in December, 1886, and died in 1887: and Irene, who was born May 24, 1892.
Mr. Godfrey is a republican with independent tendencies. He has displayed in his life work un- faltering energy and perseverance and for a long period was classed with the most prominent and representative farmers of the county. He is well meriting the rest which he now enjoys, for he displayed excellent business qualifications and in all of his dealings was strictly reliable. He is today numbered among the wealthy residents of Lockport township and is most pleasantly situated in a beautiful home in the midst of a fine park upon a hill overlooking the canal and commanding a splendid view of the surrounding country.
PATRICK M. RIELLY.
Patrick M. Rielly, foreman of the pattern and carpenter shops and foundry of the Illinois Steel Company, at Joliet, was born in Keed township, Will county, in 1863. His father was a native of Ireland and came to America in 1846, crossing the Atlantic to New York, whence he made his way to Will county, where the Chicago & Alton railroad was then being built. He took a con- tract to furnish wood for the road and settled in Reed township, where he spent his remaining days, his death there occurring in 1876. His
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wife, who bore the maiden name of Nora Mahar, was born in Ireland.
Patrick M. Rielly acquired his education in the common schools and early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. For seven years he engaged in farming in Kankakee county, but, thinking to find other pursuits more congenial, he afterward worked at the carpenter's trade in Streator, Illi- nois, and subsequently became patternmaker with the Santa Fe Railroad Company. There he won promotion in recognition of his ability and was foreman for the coach and carpenter shop at Fort Madison, Iowa, for six years. From that place he came to Joliet to accept a position as journey- man patternmaker with the Illinois Steel Com- pany and has since been a representative of this corporation. Gradually he worked his way up- ward and has been foreman of the pattern and carpenter shops and foundry for five years. They make all patterns and machinery and furnace castings of iron, stech and brass, employing one hundred and twenty-three men in the foundry and forty-six men in the carpenter shop, in con- nection with which the employes of this depart- ment do all kinds of rough outside work and fin- ishing work for all the buildings. From practical experience Mr. Rielly is well qualified to direct the labors of those who serve under him and is giving excellent satisfaction in his present posi- tion.
Mr. Rielly was married in Streator, in 1891, to Miss Anna G. Radigan, who was born in La Salle. They now have two sons, Arthur P. and Arnold D. Mr. Rielly and the family are communicants of the Catholic church and he belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Modern Woodmen camp. As the years have gone by he has continu- ously promoted huis efficiency in a business way and is a most trusted and capable employe of the corporation which he now represents.
LAFAYETTE MARTIN.
Lafayette Martin was a retired farmer and stock-raiser living in Wilmington at the time of his death, which occurred December 18, 1906. He was born in St. Lawrence county, New York,
November 19, 1824, and was a son of Nathaniel and Rhoda (Perry) Martin. The father was born in Hampton, Connecticut, in 1790, and died at the age of eighty-seven years in Hampton, Minne- sota, while his wife, whose birth occurred in Put- ney, Vermont, in 1792, passed away in Hampton, Minnesota, at the age of eighty years. They were married in her native city and in 1844 came to the middle west with their family, traveling by wagon and later by canal to Buffalo and by boat to Chicago. Mr. Martin located at Schaumberg, Cook county, near where Palatine now stands and purchased eighty acres of government land. Later he bought forty acres more and upon his farm erected a frame dwelling, in which he lived for about eight years. He then sold the farm and removed to Waukegan, Illinois, where he lived for about ten years, when he removed to Minne- sota, where he spent his remaining days. He was justice of the peace in New York state for a num- ber of years and also held several township offices in Schaumberg. Both he and his wife were mem- bers of the Congregational church in the Empire state and in early life Mr. Martin gave his politi- cal allegiance to the democratic party, being an adherent of Jeffersonian principles, but in later life he became a republican. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Martin were born eight children, five sons and three daughters, of whom three are now livings Albert P., a resident of Hampton, Minnesota ; Porter, who resides at Farmington, Minnesota ; and Rhoda, the wife of Oliver Gibbs of Prescott, Minnesota.
Lafayette Martin spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the Empire state and when twenty years of age accompanied his parents on their re- moval to the middle west. He engaged in farming in Wesley township, Will county, Illinois, for two or three years, after which he purchased govern- ment land in Rockville township, Kankakee coun- ty, securing one hundred and sixty acres with a soldier's land warrant. In 1859 he took up his abode upon that place and subsequently he pur- chased land from time to time until he had two hundred and eighty acres. At different times he bought and sold farms and in 1888 he removed to Plainfield, where he resided for a year, after which he went to Wilmington, where he resided until his death. While living on the farm he bred Poland China hogs and Hereford cattle. He kept
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from twenty to thirty cows and did a good dairy business. He also carried on general farming and stock-raising and his business interests were so carefully managed and his investments so judi- ciously made that as the years passed he acquired a handsome competence that enabled him to live retired.
On the 30th of April, 1856, Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Frazer, who was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, December 5, 1834, and died in 1906. She was a daughter of Alexander and Mary (Kelley) Frazer, natives of Virginia. Her father came to Illinois in 1834 and cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Vermilion county, while later he removed to Will county, taking up his abode in Wesley town- ship, where he lived until the death of his wife. He then took up his abode in the village of Wil- mington, where he passed away in 1872. In their family were four daughters: Mrs. Martin, Sarah, Elizabeth and Martha. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mar- tin were born four children, of whom two are now living : Ralph, a resident of Joliet; and Mrs. (lara B. Armstrong, of Chicago.
Mr. Martin served as school trustee for a num- ber of years while living in Kankakee county and was also a newspaper correspondent there, writing considerably for different papers. The greater part of his life, however, was devoted to general agricultural pursuits and at length he was able to enjoy a well earned rest. He passed the cighty- second milestone on life's journey, and his activity in former years brought to him a handsome com. petence that enabled him to spend the evening of his days in comfort and ease.
ROBERT HOLMES.
Robert Holmes, one of the well known citizens of Joliet, is treasurer of the board of highway com- missioners of Joliet township and the city suburbs, He has been a member of the board since April, 1ยบ04, in which connection he has done capable service. He is also proprietor of a restaurant at No. 1814 Collins street and, wide-awake, alert and energetic, is making steady advancement in the world. A native of Ireland, he was born near Belfast in 1865 and in 1884, when about nineteen
years of age, crossed the Atlantic to America. He spent two years in New York and thence came to Joliet, locating at No. 503 Elwood street, which property he still owns. He is a son of Samuel and Sarah (White) Holmes. The parents were of Scotch descent and representatives of old families of Presbyterian faith. They removed from Scot- land to Ireland, however, before the birth of our subject. The father was a farmer by occupation and for many years followed that pursuit on the Emerald isle but is now living retired in Belfast at about the age of seventy years. His wife has also attained about the same age. Their family numbered eight children : Robert, William and Samuel, who are residents of Joliet; Sarah J., the wife of John Swenson, of Jolict; Mrs. Anna Ed- berg, of this city; Mrs. Elizabeth McCarthur Mrs. Esther Rowe, deceased; and John, who is liv- ing near Belfast, Ireland.
After coming to the new world Robert Holmes was for sixteen years employed as engineer at the Illinois Steel Works in Joliet but resigned that position when elected to his present office as treas- urer of the board of highway commissioners. The other commissioners on the board are James S. Boyd, president; George Haywood, commissioner ; and John Overholzer, town clerk. Mr. Holmes also established a restaurant at No. 1814 Collins street and is conducting it successfully, having a good patronage.
In this city occurred the marriage of Robert Holmes and Miss Catherine Munn, who was reared in Joliet and is a daughter of Robert and Ann (McVety) Munn, who came to this city about thirty-eight years ago from the vicinity of Belfast, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes now have three children, all born in Jolict : Sadie, whose birth oc- curred June 14, 1889; Anna, born November 10, 1892; and William, October 29, 1901.
In his political views Mr. Holmes is a stalwart republican, unfaltering in his advocacy of the party and its principles, and is a member of the German Republican Club. He is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the Foresters of America, in which he served for fourteen conse- cutive years as financial secretary at Joliet. He then resigned and in 1905 was appointed deputy grand chief ranger of the state of Illinois by the County Caledonian Club, of which he is secretary and both he and his wife are members of the
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grand lodge. He is also a member of the Will Presbyterian church. Mr. Holmes has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for he has found here favorable business opportunities which he has improved and has won many warm friends.
WILLIAM HENRY VANDER BOGART.
On the roll of Will county's honored dead ap- pears the name of William Henry Vander Bogart, who for many years was identified with the com- mercial interests of Wilmington, having, with the exception of a brief period spent in the Civil war, conducted a meat market in this village continu- ously for forty years, although for three years prior to his death. which occurred October 6, 1903, he lived retired.
Mr. Vander Bogart was born in Brownville. New York. September 27, 1834, a son of William J. and Helen (Monteith ) Vander Bogart, both of whom were likewise natives of the Empire state, the former of Scotch and the latter of German parentage. The parents removed from the east to Will county in 1841, establishing their home in Florence township, being numbered among the pioneer settlers of this section of the state.
Mr. Vander Bogart was a little lad of seven years when he accompanied his parents to Will county. He was educated in the schools of this county and remained with his parents on the farm until 1860, or until he was a young man of nine- teen years, when he established a meat market in the village of Wihnington, which he conducted almost continuously for forty years, the only inter- ruption being at the time of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company E, Twentieth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, serving as a musician. On account of disability he was honorably discharged after a brief period, subsequent to which time he returned to his home and resumed his business interests. He conducted his market until 1900, when he retired to enjoy a well merited rest until his death. He was everywhere known for his honesty and integrity in business circles, and ow- ing to his straightforward methods he won a large patronage, his market constituting one of the fore- most commercial enterprises of Wilmington. He
was a courteous, genial and affable gentleman, winning friends among those with whom he came in contact, so that his death was the occasion of deep sorrow not only to his immediate family but to the business and social circles of Wilmington as well.
Mr. Vander Bogart was married February 1, 1865, to Miss Laura Jane Stow, their marriage being celebrated in Wilmington. She was born in Brownville, New York, May 19, 1841, a daugh- ter of Cyrus and Jane (Vander Bogart) Stow, the former a native of Vermont. The parents were married in the state of New York, whence they removed to Michigan in 1842, where the father was engaged in farming until 1855, in which year he located in Wilmington, Illinois. He here engaged in the meat business, which he con- tinued successfully for a number of years. He took an active interest in many public movements and measures in this village and organized the first brass band in Wilmington. He was a charter member of Wilmington lodge No. 208, A. F. & A. M .. and of Wilmington chapter, No. 142, R. A. M. His death occurred in this place in 1874, when he had reached the age of fifty-four years, but his widow still survives and is now in her eighty-sixth year. To them were born but two children, the sister of Mrs. Vander Bogart being Emma, the wife of Robert Vander Bogart, who follows carpentering in Wilmington.
Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Vander Bogart, eight still survive, namely: Mark E., who is engaged in the jewelry business at Ventura, California ; Frank S., a resident of Rock- ford. Illinois: Fannie, the wife of Ralph Martin, a resident of Joliet : Cyrus W., a resident of Wil- mington ; Florence, the wife of Stanley Wheeler, a resident of Nebraska: Laura H., who married Sherman Kahler and lives in Joliet : Harry E., who makes his home in Rockford : and Walter A., who resides in Wilmington. The third member of the family, George, died at the age of thirty-five years.
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