Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 14

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 888

USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 14

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In March, 1854, Mr. Hamilton's father sold out his little pioneer forest home in Union County, O., and, loading his few household effects and family (of six children) into two emigrant covered wagons, moved to Roberts Township, Marshall Co., Ill., being 21 days on the route. Swamps, unbridged streams and innumerable hardships and privations met them on their way. Their new home had been previously selected by the father. Here, after many long years of toil, they succeeded in paying for the land and making a comfortable home. John was, of course,

brought up to hard manual labor, with no schooling except three or four months in the year at a common country school. However, he evinced a capacity and taste for a high order of self-education, by studying or reading what books he could borrow, as the family had but very few in the house. Much of his study he prosecuted by the light of a log fire in the old-fashioned chimney place. The financial panic of 1857 caused the family to come near losing their home, to pay debts; but the father and two sons, William and John, "buckled to" and perse- vered in hard labor and economy until they redeemed their place from the mortgage.

When the tremendous excitement of the political campaign of 1860 reached the neighborhood of Rob- erts Township, young Hamilton, who had been brought up in the doctrine of anti-slavery, took a zeal- ous part in favor of Lincoln's election. Making special efforts to procure a little money to buy a uniform, he joined a company of Lincoln Wide-Awakes at Mag- nolia, a village not far away. Directly after the ensuing election it became evident that trouble would ensue with the South, and this Wide-Awake company, like many others throughout the country, kept up its organization and transformed itself into a military company. During the ensuing summer they met often for drill and became proficient; but when they offered themselves for the war, young Hamilton was rejected on account of his youth, he being then ' but 14 years of age. During the winter of 1863-4 he attended an academy at Henry, Marshall County,

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and in the following May he again enlisted, for the fourth time, when he was placed in the 14Ist Ill. Vol. Inf., a regiment then being raised at Elgin, Ill., for the 100-day service. He took with him 13 other lads from his neighborhood, for enlistment in the service. This regiment operated in Southwestern Kentucky, for about five months, under Gen. Paine.

The following winter, 1864-5, Mr. Hamilton taught school, and during the two college years 1865-7, he went through three years of the curriculum of the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. The third year he graduated, the fourth in a class of 46, in the classical department. In due time he received the degree of M. A. For a few months he was the Principal of Marshall "College " at Henry, an acad- emy under the auspices of the M. E. Church. By this time he had commenced the study of law, and after earning some money as a temporary Professor of Latin at the Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington, he entered the law office of Weldon, Tipton & Benjamin, of that city. Each member of this firm has since been distinguished as a Judge. Admitted to the Bar in May, 1870, Mr. Hamilton was given an interest in the same firm, Tipton hav- ing been elected Judge. In October following he formed a partnership with J. H. Rowell, at that time Prosecuting Attorney. Their business was then small, but they increased it to very large proportions, practicing in all grades of courts, including even the U. S. Supreme Court, and this partnership continued unbroken until Feb. 6, 1883, when Mr. Hamilton was sworn in as Executive of Illinois. On the 4th of March following Mr. Rowell took his seat in Con- gress.

In July, 1871, Mr. Hamilton married Miss Helen M. Williams, the daughter of Prof. Wm. G. Williams, Professor of Greek in the Ohio Wesleyan University. Mr. and Mrs. H. have two daughters and one son.

In 1876 Mr. Hamilton was nominated by the Re- publicans for the State Senate, over other and older competitors. He took an active part "on the stump" in the campaign, for the success of his party, and was elected by a majority of 1,640 over his Democratic- Greenback opponent. In the Senate he served on the Committees on Judiciary, Revenue, State Insti- tutions, Appropriations, Education, and on Miscel- lany; and during the contest for the election of a U. S. Senator, the Republicans endeavoring to re-

elect John A. Logan, he voted for the war chief on every ballot, even alone when all the other Republi- cans had gone over to the Hon. E. B. Lawrence and the Democrats and Independents elected Judge David Davis. At this session, also, was passed the first Board of Health and Medical Practice act, of which Mr. Hamilton was a champion, against so much opposition that the bill was several times " laid on the table." Also, this session authorized the location and establishment of a southern peni- tentiary, which was fixed at Chester. In the session of 1879 Mr. Hamilton was elected President pro tem. of the Senate, and was a zealous supporter of John A. Logan for the U. S. Senate, who was this time elected without any trouble.

In May, 1880, Mr. Hamilton was nominated on the Republican ticket for Lieutenant Governor, his principal competitors before the Convention being Hon. Wm. A. James, ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Judge Robert Bell, of Wabash County, Hon. T. T. Fountain, of Perry County, and Hon. M. M. Saddler, of Marion County. He engaged actively in the campaign, and his ticket was elected by a majority of 41,200. As Lieutenant Governor, he presided almost continuously over the Senate in the 32d General Assembly and during the early days of the 33d, until he succeeded to the Governorship. When the Legislature of 1883 elected Gov. Cullom to the United States Senate, Lieut. Gov. Hamilton succeeded him, under the Constitution, taking the oath of office Feb. 6, 1883. He bravely met all the annoyances and embarrassments incidental upon taking up another's administration. The principal events with which Gov. Hamilton was connected as the Chief Executive of the State were, the mine dis- aster at Braidwood, the riots in St. Clair and Madison Counties in May, 1883, the appropriations for the State militia, the adoption of the Harper high-license liquor law, the veto of a dangerous railroad bill, etc.

The Governor was a Delegate at large to the National Republican Convention at Chicago in June, 1884, where his first choice for President was John A. Logan, and second choice Chester A. Arthur; but he afterward zealously worked for the election of Mr. Blaine, true to his party.

Mr. Hamilton's term as Governor expired Jan. 30, 1885, when the great favorite "Dick " Oglesby was inaugurated.

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DEKALB

CounTY,

ILLINOIS.

BIOGRAPHICAL

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DE KALB COUNTY.

INTRODUCTORY.

HE value of history lies, in a great degree, in the biogra- phy of the personages con- cerned therein. The annals of the settlers delineate the pioneer period, while those of the later residents exhibit the progress of the country and the status of the present generation. De Kalb County gives a vivid illus- tration of these statements; but its wonderful pioneer era laps upon its present period in a manner so gradual that there is really no dis- tinctive line of demarcation. Many of those whose efforts gave the country its earliest impetus may still be seen upon its thoroughfares; many of the characters in the day of its first things are still on the stage, and watch with keen-eyed alertness the manipulations, successes and reverses of the present gay, still jealous for the reputation of the county and eagerly solicitous for her substantial and permanent progress.

The compilers of these records strive to establish Their claim for biographical integrity, preparing the matter from the stand-point of no man's prejudice. The full scope of the personal record here is to

demonstrate the exact relation of every individual represented to the generations of the past and of the present.

Succeeding ages sweep away the debris of human errors and perpetuate the real greatness of a com- munity. Character stands out statuesque, and events cluster about individuals, forming the grandest and truest historical structure of which any age is capa- ble. Only biography can fitly represent the founda- tion, progress and ultimatum of local history, and portray with perfect justice the precise attitude and relation of men to events and conditions.

This County is justly proud of her pioneer record, and, so far as possible, the publishers have endeav- ored to honor the representatives of that period as well as those of to-day. . Labor and suffering, under- gone in the light of hope and the earnestness of honest effort and toil, established this county in per- manent prosperity, and is rounding up a period of glorious completeness. Her villages are creditable, her agricultural community is composed of the best class, and her professional men are of marked in- tegrity.

In collecting the following sketches the purpose has been to collect the main points of personal record, through which the enterprise of decades to follow may complete a perfect and continuous his- torical outline from the earliest settlement of the county to the present time.

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

DE KALB COUNTY.

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

PON. REUBEN ELLWOOD, Member of Congress from the Fifth District of Illi- nois, resident at Sycamore, was born Feb. 17, 1821, in Minden, Montgomery Co., N. Y., and is the son of Abraham and Sarah (Delong) Ell- wood. He was a boy of robust phy- sique, active, vigorous and energetic, and possessing ambitions and aspir- ations which were the direct out- growth of his temperament and were fostered by the circumstances which surrounded him and the period in which his consciousness awoke to the possibilities before him. His primary education was obtained in a desultory manner,-the result, partly of a boy's restlessness and impatience with deterring conditions, and partly arising from uncon- trollable causes.

At 16 years of age he was fully imbued with a determination to get on in the world, and in the summer of 1837 he came to De Kalb County, in the belief that he should find the requisite opportu- nity, and willing to confront any necessity and make any effort to secure the desired end. 'He entered a claim of 160 acres of land in the vicinity of Sycamore and continued to find employment among the farmers of that township about four years, when he was com-

pelled to return to his father's home in the State of New York, his health having become materially im- paired. His experience had impressed him with the necessity of a broader mental culture, and after a rest of six months he became a student of Cherry Valley Academy, an institution which was even then famous and exerting a sensible influence throughout adjoin- ing districts. Mr. Ellwood studied under its excel- lent regulations with resolution and purpose.

He was a youth with convictions. Public affairs in his native State and national conditions shaped his sentiments and guided his ideas of business and politics into channels in which he has moved un- swervingly. In those good old days, which trained and developed the element upon which the peerless West planted her feet with audacious courage and rose to her matchless supremacy, the necessity of achievement incumbent on every human soul was instilled into every youth who was moving away from boyish things and toward the good of man- hood .:

Mr. Ellwood early resolved on a career of business activity, and accordingly embraced the first oppor- tunity which offered, to set himself about doing some- thing. He went to Glenville, Schenectady County, which adjoined that of his nativity, and engaged in raising broom-corn and in the manufacture of brooms, operating in that line of business about eight years.

In 1857 he came to Illinois, again tempted by the example of others who had come hither earlier and made satisfactory tests of the promise of the State so

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DE KALB COUNTY.

rich and full that they bore with them the impress of fable, and also impelled by the craving for broader and less crowded fields for action and advancement. He became associated in the hardware business with his brother, Alonzo Ellwood, at Sycamore, and at the same time operated in real estate.

A fundamental principle upon which Mr. Ellwood has always based any scheme of business is, that general progress affords substantial foundation for the upbuilding of individual interests, and, in view of this opinion, about the year 1870 he embarked in the manufacture of agricultural implements at Sycamore. In 1875 he entered upon the construction of the buildings now constituting the factory of the R. Ell- wood Manufacturing Company, in which he invested $50,000, and which were completed in October of the same year. The result has denionstrated the wisdom of the project, as the enterprise has proved most valuable for the growth and prosperity of Sycamore. The excellent quality of the products and the judi- cious administration of the business relations of the incorporated company, have established its repute in point of importance and value to De Kalb County, and as second to none of similar scope in Northern Illinois. The machinery produced acquired speedy popularity from its adaptability to the needs of the farmers and the period in which it was introduced, agricultural industries being at the acme of their suc- cess. The substantial condition of the business and its importance to the section in which it is located is primarily due to its inceptor, founder and promoter.

The mental organism peculiar to Mr. Ellwood gave him an early impetus toward politics. Hé became " eager for the fray," into which the nation was hur- ried by the rapid march of events, precipitated by the agitations which took on alarming proportions during the administration of Van Buren and expanded the innate principles of the Whig party to a completeness of development in which they have since stood forth with statuesque perspicuity. The manifest candor of Mr. Ellwood's attitude in political affairs gave him prominence from the outset, and his activity in local matters while a resident of Glenville, where he was a member of the Board of Supervisors, brought him be- fore the people of his district as a candidate for the State Assembly, whither he was sent as a Legislator in 1851. He identified himself with the issues of the Republican party in the same energetic spirit which had hitherto characterized his actions, and he

was made a Delegate to the Convention at Philadel phia which nominated Fremont in 1856.

Coming to Illinois, he developed the same acumen in political as in business possibilities, and the Re- publican element of De Kalb County speedily recognized his fitness for official advancement. In 1868 he was the unanimous choice of the Repub- licans of De Kalb County for Representative to the 42d Congress of the United States from the Fourth District of Illinois. He was elected to that position in 1872, scoring a success over the candidate of the opposition by 7,800 majority. His renomina tion in 1884 was a signal triumph, not a dissentiefft vote in either town caucus, County or Congressional Conventions being cast against him, and he was elected by 11,076 majority. The facts pertaining to his second election to Congress are sufficient evi- dence of the quality of the services he rendered his constituency in the Legislative halls of the nation.

Mr. Ellwood has been active and efficient in local) politics and was the first Mayor of Sycamore after the incorporative act was passed which made that. municipality a city. In 1866 he was appointed United States Assessor of Internal Revenue, and og cupied the position until it was abolished. In the various public projects for the advancement of the city, Mr. Ellwood has been among the foremost, and in all his movements is controlled by consideration! for the permanent progress and prosperity of hi town, county and State. He is the heaviest stock holder in the manufacturing company which is designated by his name, and is also its presidin official. He was one of the organization which built and established the Sycamore Preserving Works, and is still one of the stock-holders. He also holds the same relations in the Marsh Binder Company of Sycamore. On the occasion of the building of the Sycamore & Cortland Railroad, he was a prime actor in securing its construction, was one of its chief stock-holders and expended a vast deal of time in the accomplishment of the project.

Mr. Ellwood is the proprietor of the business building at Sycamore known as the Georges Block one of the most valuable of the edifices of that city three stories high and built of brick. His residence located on State Street opposite Ward's Hotel, and the grounds attached, cost $28,000. The structure is tasteful and elegant, and is fitted with steam hea ing apparatus and with gas for lighting purposes.]

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Mrs. Ellwood, formerly Miss Eleanor Vedder, was born in Schenectady Co., N. Y., and became the wife of Reuben Ellwood Aug. 8, 1849. Six children constitute the issue of their union, and were born in the following order: Abram, Albert, Frank, Katie, Jennie and Alida. The second and third sons are deceased. The oldest is interested in the R. Ell- wood Manufacturing Company and is the sole pro- prietor of the department for the manufacture of Barbed Wire Stretchers. Katie married Frank All- port, M. D., of Minneapolis.

Biography, pure and simple, is an exact portrayal of the relations a man bears to his generation. The definitive traits which characterize Mr. Ellwood, the spirit of enterprise by which he is actuated, his probity and rectitude, his tolerant estimate of his fellow men and his capacity to recognize, seize and mold opportunity to the accomplishment of a pur- pose, distinguish him in all his associations, public and private. His thorough identification with the people of whom he is one, and his devotion to their paramount interests is the animating cause of his popularity as a man and citizen of Sycamore, in which he is second to none.

The PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF DE KALB COUNTY presents the unique feature of por- traying the lineaments of the six members of the Ellwood brothers who are among its citizens. That of the Hon. Reuben Ellwood, M. C., appears on a preceding page, and will be warmly received, for obvious reasons. Like the others of the Ellwood fraternity, he is a fine sample of physical develop- ment, and the value of his portrait as an addition to the collection in this volume is commensurate with his public and private character.

Charles H. Chamberlain, farmer and stock- man, located on sections 22 and 8, Frank- lin Township, was born March 18, 1849, near Belvidere, Boone Co., Ill. William H. Cham- berlain, his father, was a native of Massachu- setts and of Yankee lineage. He married Sarah Hart, a lady of the same nativity and similar descent. They located in Boone County, about 1840, the father becoming an extensive landholder and a prominent citizen. His death occurred in Septem-

ber, 1873, when he was 55 years of age. He was a Democrat in political preferences. The mother is 67 years of age (1885) and still remains at Belvidere.

Mr. Chamberlan obtained a district-school educa- tion, and was a pupil in that variety of institution until he was 16 years of age, when he began his ca- reer as an independent farmer, taking possession of a farm owned by his father in Franklin Township, in whose interest he conducted his operations until his father died. He received 280 acres from the division of the estate and has since engaged without intermis- sion in the prosecution of his agricultural interests. He rents an additional 120 acres, and makes a spe- cialty of raising sheep, breeding the Merinos. He is the eldest of six children, and inherits his father's political views.

ames Warner, merchant at Sandwich, wa3 born Aug. 7, 1833, in Jackson, Washington Co., N. Y. His parents, Will- iam S. and Sarah (Coulter) Warner, were born in the State of New York and died in Wash- ington County. Mr. Warner is the second of eight children, six of whom are living. Mary is the wife of A. Williams, a wholesale grocer of Troy, N. Y. Elizabeth is a widow, and is a resident of Cambridge, N. Y. Sylvester is a farmer, and Sarah is now Mrs. William J. Stevenson. Both live in their native State. Henry and Fannie are deceased ; Lilly is the wife of Henry Billings.

The early years of the life of Mr. Warner were spent on the farm and as a clerk in his father's store at Cambridge. He had just passed his majority, when, in 1855, he came to Sandwich. During the four years ensuing he taught four terms of winter school and alternated his labors as a pedagogue by clerking. When the Illinois & Mississippi Telegraph Company opened an office at Sandwhich, Mr. War- ner became an operator, and officiated at intervals in that capacity several years.

In 1859 he embarked in a mercantile enterprise with an associate under the firm style, of J. Warner & Co., and engaged in the sale of clothing about five years. In 1865, in partnership with Robert Stewart, he established a local trade in clothing. boots, shoes and also managing a tailor shop, and a

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shop for the manufacture of boots and shoes. A few years later Mr. Stewart sold his interest to George W. Davis, and the new firm continued operative about four years. Since that time Mr. Warner has prose- cuted his business interests singly. In April, 1868, he located at his present stand, where he exhibits a fine line of goods common to his branch of trade and is doing a properous business.

He was united in marriage at Sandwich, July 4, 1861, to Charlotte B. Townsend. Their five children were born in Sandwich in the following order : Frankie, James Leroy, Estella, Bessie and Henry S. Mr. Warner belongs to the Masonic fraternity.

illiam L. Pierce, farmer, section 16, Ge- noa Township, has been a resident of De Kalb County since he was 21 years of age, He was born Oct. 11, 1832, in Delaware Co., N. Y., and is the eldest of seven children. His parents, Martin and Mary (Carpenter) Pierce, were born in the State of New York, married and settled there continuing to reside in the Empire State until their migration to Genoa Town- ship, in De Kalb County in 1854. In 1873 they transferred their residence and interests into Belvi- dere. The mother is no longer living, and the father has since been twice married. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Pierce were named, William L., Daniel W., Emmeline, Orrin, Charles, James and Oliver. James is deceased. (See sketch of Orrin Pierce.)

Mr. Pierce spent the years of his boyhood and youth in obtaining his education in the common schools and in farm labor under his father's instruc- tions. Soon after he came to De Kalb County he bought 40 acres in Genoa Township. He has in- creased his estate by the further purchase of 50 acres of land, and of the whole, 60 acres are improved and cultivated. In political faith Mr. Pierce is a Republican, and he has held several township offices.

His marriage to Sarah Smith occurred Oct. 16, 1857, at Sycamore, and they have been the parents of three children, Maryetta, Robert J. and Arthur E. The first-born son was killed by the kick of a horse when he was five years of age, while leading the

animal to water. Mrs. Pierce is the eldest of three children, and was born Dec. 24, 1839, in New Jersey. Her parents, Robert and - Smith were natives of New Jersey.

acob Seibert, farmer, in Franklin Town- ship, was born Sept. 12, 1825, in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. His parents were born, lived and died in that country. Mr. Seibert was educated in accordance with the laws of his native land and remained there until 1854. In the summer of that year he emigrated to the New World, and on landing in this continent made his way to Belvidere, Boone Co., Ill., where he passed some time as a general laborer.

He was married Jan. 4, 1861, at Belvidere, to Christina Stenner. She was born Nov. 17, 1844, in Hesse Darmstadt, and is the daughter of Valentine and Macalina (Click) Stenner. The family took a final leave of the old country in 1854, coming to Illinois and locating in Boone County. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Seibert were born as follows : Ade- lia, Nov. 8. 1861 (married Dec. 25, 1878, to William Adams, a farmer of Franklin Township); Fred, born Jan. 23, 1866; and Reuben, born Feb. 26, 1873. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Seibert settled on a farm in Boone County, where they resided two years, and at the end of that time the former entered the United States Army, enlisting Aug. 12, 1862, in Co. G, 95th Reg. Vol. Inf., which was commanded by Captain Bush, of Belvidere. The regiment was at- tached successively to the corps of Generals Logan and Grant, and Mr. Seibert was ' a participant in II battles, the most important of which were: Vicks- burg, Memphis, Corinth and Mobile. He was slight- ly wounded at Vicksburg, and sustained serious in- jury to his hearing, from an explosion on the field at that place. At Mobile his left arm was shot away by a mortar shell from a mortar boat, and he was re- moved to the marine hospital at New Orleans. On sufficiently recovering to enable him to travel, he was honorably discharged, obtaining his papers June 23, 1865. On returning to his family Mr. Seibert pur- chased 40 acres of land in Franklin Township, to which he has added a similar quantity by later pur- chase, and his entire farm is under excellent im-

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Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 14

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros. Number of Pages: 888

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 888