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 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106
193
DE KALB COUNTY.
provements. He is a Republican in political con- nection and is a Steward and Trustee in the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Seibert is also a member.
eorge W. Kirk, marketman at Kirkland, was born May 8, 1850, in Franklin Town- ship, De Kalb County. He is the son of William T. and Louisa (Riddle) Kirk, whose biographical narrative may be found elsewhere. Mr. Kirk was brought up on his father's farm and obtained his elementary education at the com- mon schools, after which he entered the excellent schools at Rockford, where he fitted for matriculation at Beloit College, Wis., and completed a course of study there in 1870. He returned to De Kalb County and located as a practical agriculturist on a farm of 160 acres, of which he became proprietor by an arrangement with his father. He devoted his attention wholly to farming and raising stock, and spent some years in that avenue of business, finally relinquish- ing farming and becoming interested in shipping stock for the Chicago market.'After operating ex- clusively in that branch for some years, he added a meat market to supply local trade at Kirkland, and is now doing an extensive business. He is a Repub- lican in political faith and action and has held the offices of Village Treasurer and Road Commissioner.
He was married March 11, 1880, in Kingston Township, to Betsey Foster, daughter of Thomas Foster. Her father is deceased and her mother is the wife of H. P. Grout. She was born June 18, 1857.
herman A. Hall, farmer, on section 13, De Kalb Township, was born Oct. 17, 1829, in Watertown, Jefferson Co., N. Y. He was reared to the age of 16 in the county where he was born, and in 1845 he came to Kane County, where he was a resident two years previous to his removal to De Kalb County. He bought 160 acres in the township of Clinton, De Kalb Co., wherein he was engaged in farming until 1880, and in that year sold out and removed to De
Kalb Township, where he is now the owner of 160 acres of finely cultivated land, situated as above stated. Mr. Hall is a Democrat. His father, Sher- man Hall, was born in Connecticut, and married Betsey (Hutchins) Hall, who was born in New York. They came in 1845 to Illinois and lived two years in Kane County, removing thence to De Kalb County, where they resided during the remainder of their lives. The mother died Nov. 19; 1856, and the death of the father transpired Oct. 3, 1863.
The marriage of Mr. Hall to Percis Lyon took place May 25, 1859, and they have had three chil- dren,-Harold E., Asahel S. and another child who died in infancy. The second son died when nearly five years of age. Mrs. Hall was born May 5, 1839, in Essex Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of Asahel and Adaline D. (Woodruff) Lyon. The latter was a native of Essex Co., N. Y .; the former of the State of Connecticut. In the fall of 1854 they settled in De Kalb, where Mr. Lyon died, March 9, 1874; the mother is still living.
ohn McDowell, farmer, resident on section I, Franklin Township, is a pioneer of De Kalb County and the oldest living settler of the township where he made his claim Sept. 16, 1833. On that day, in company with Robert Stewart, Reuben Penwell and Leisier Carver, Mr. McDowell came to Franklin Township from La Porte, Ind. The country was in a wholly wild and unbroken condition, and the Indians still loitered about the grove. Mr. McDowell remained through the winter; his companions returned to their homes. He was then 23 years of age and un- married.
He was born in York Co., Pa. His father, William McDowell, descended from Scotch parents and was a farmer, in moderate circumstances. The mother of the subject of this sketch, Sarah (McLean) Mc- Dowell, was of Irish birth. Both parents are de- ceased. The son was " bound out " by his father when quite young, and when he was 18 he was ap- prenticed to learn the trade of shoemaking. During this time he went to Bartholomew Co., Ind., and set- tled there with the man to whom he was indentured.
DE KALB COUNTY.
194
Later they went to La Porte Co., Ind. In the year named above he came, as stated, to De Kalb County, and has been a resident on the claim he then made. It consisted of 155 acres, to which he added by later purchase, increasing his estate to 213 acres of valua- ble land, 75 acres of which is still covered with an original growth of timber. The exact point of the location is designated Forest Grove.
Mr. McDowell is a Democrat of a decided and in- flexible type.
He was married Jan. 31, 1839, to Martha Riddle, at the farm house of her parents situated on the Kishwaukee River. They had eight children, five of whom are deceased. The parents of Mrs. McDowell, John and Susan (Anderson) Riddle, were respectively of English and Irish descent, the father being a na- tive of Tennessee and the mother of North Carolina. Both are deceased. They belonged while in the South to the better class of society, and while there were adherents of the Christian Church. Later they adopted the tenets of the Seventh-Day Adventists. The daughter was born April 2, 1822, in Jefferson Co., Tenn., and came with her parents to Illinois, the family locating on a farm in Franklin Township.
homas Dodge, farmer, section 27, De Kalb Township, was born Feb. 2, 1809, in Dur- ham, Lower Canada. His father, Abraham Dodge, and his mother, Elcy (Cook) Dodge, were born respectively in New York and Ver- mont. After their marriage they resided a few years in Canada, going thence to Vermont, where they passed the remaining years of their lives.
Mr. Dodge was about the age of two years, when his parents transferred their family and interests to Vermont, and he was occupied in farming there until the spring of 1863, the date of his removal to De Kalb Co., Ill. Previous to that event, he had in- vested to a considerable extent in land, and on re- moval hither he added to his proprietorship, and has continued in that line of operation until he is now the owner of 1,400 acres of improved land in the county, chiefly under the management of renters. His herds include 100 cattle, 84 swine and 15 horses.
Mr. Dodge was married Feb. 6, 1836, in Mt. Holly, Rutland Co, Vt. to Eliza Conant. She was born -
Sept. 12, 1807, in Townsend, Mass., also the birth- place of her parents, Levi and Eunice Conant. Three children were born of this union, Thomas W., Rollin and Lucien. The mother died March 23, 1875, in De Kalb Township.
In political views and connections Mr. Dodge is a Republican. He has officiated four years as Justice of the Peace. He was a member of the Vermont Legislature in 1860-1; and is a member of the Me- thodist Church.
Mr. Dodge is a true son of New England in char- acter and achievements, bringing hither the thrift, economy and industry which typify the best elements of the eastern section of the United States.
rrin Pierce, farmer, section 16, Genoa Town- ship, was born July 4, 1839, in Otsego Co., N. Y. His parents, Martin and Mary (Carpenter) Pierce, were natives of the Empire State, where they married and settled, remain- ing until 1854, when they located in Genoa Township. In the fall of 1873 they removed to Bel- videre, Boone Co., Ill., where the mother died a few days later. Their family consisted of seven children, -William L., Daniel W., Emmeline, Orrin, Charles, James and Oliver. James died from an injury re- ceived while leading a horse to water, he having in some way become entangled in the halter.
Mr. Pierce was 13 years of age when he accom- panied his parents to Genoa Township, and he has continued a resident of that section of De Kalb County since, with the exception of five years, dur- ing which he was a resident of the Territory of Mon- tana, engaged in mining and farming. His efforts there met with only moderate success, and he re- turned to the land of promise, Genoa Township. He is the proprietor of 130 acres of land, which is all under tillage with the exception of about 10 acres. He has been a Republican since reaching man's estate, and has served in several local official posi- tions.
He was married Jan. 2, 187 1, in Madison Co., N. Y., to Mary Pyne, and they have four children,- Mary L., John M., Harvey G. and Ruth H. Mrs. Pierce was born Nov. 29, 1846, in Oneida Co., N.
THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
Chat Kellum
DE KALB COUNTY.
197
Y., and is the daughter of John and Sarah Pyne. She is the second in order of birth and has three sis- ters,-Hannah, Lucy and Sarah.
on. Charles Kellum, Judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Illinois, resident at Syca- more, was born in the (now) township of Dimock, Susquehanna Co., Pa., March 16, 1821. Samuel Kellum, Jr., his father, was born in New London Co., Conn., which was for many years the home of his paternal grandsire, Samuel Kellum, Sr. The latter was prominent in the affairs of the Nutmeg State, and held a Captain's commis- sion in the State militia after the close of the Revolu- tionary War. Samuel Kellum, Jr., followed in the traces of his forefathers; he was a farmer by in- heritance and adopted the principles which were promulgated in the community where he was bred to man's estate by voice and deed; he was a Whig in politics, and when the issues of that element merged into those of the Republican party he fell into line and remained the stanch adherent of the organization while he lived.
About the year 1832 he became interested in lum- bering in the forests of the Keystone State, and ยท operated vigorously in that line of business for a number of years. Later, he became a Justice of the Peace. His death occurred Jan. 2, 1869, at Syca- more, at the residence of the subject of this sketch. Lucretia (Eldridge) Kellum, his wife, mother of Judge Kellum, was a native of New London Co., Conn., and died at Prophetstown, Ill., Jan. 2, 1879, her demise occurring on the same day of the same month, ten years subsequent to that of her husband, beside whom she lies buried at Sycamore.
His ancestry, the period of his birth, and the occu- pations of his father, were all instrumental in forming the character and shaping the career of Judge Kel- lum. He early developed the positive traits of his maternal progenitors, who were of Scotch-Irish line- age. It is an established fact that many of the most prominent characters in the history of the United States, and who exercised a molding influence upon its leading institutions in law, politics and religion,
had their origin in the class who inherited traits so distinctive as to virtually constitute a race. In men- tal organism their predominating traits partake al- most invariably of the same characteristics. They are, as a rule, industrious, cautious, persistent, in- flexible in morals and probity, and possess inherently the quality which leads them to great opportunities. Hardihood in effort invariably marks every step of their progress; and young Kellum exemplified 'this latter trait in early boyhood. Previous to his twelfth year he assisted on the farm. In his father's venture as a lumberman he found opportunity for effort, and he began as a teamster, later becoming a saw-mill hand, going to school meanwhile and completing his educational course at the academies of Montrose and Mannington in his native county.
When he was about 18 years of age he was con- nected with an engineering corps, employed in the construction of the North Branch of the Pennsylvania Canal, in which he was occupied nearly two years. The year 1841 he passed as a clerk at Towanda and at Troy in his native State, and in the year following he began to read for the profession of law in the office of Lusk & Little, of Montrose, where he passed the time to good advantage, meanwhile devoting two winters to teaching. In August, 1844, he was ad- mitted to the Bar, and obtained employment in the office where he had been a student, at $10 a month, remaining there between one and two years. His health became impaired and 'he passed about three years in a desultory manner, praticing law occasion- ally, and rafting on the Susquehanna, the latter employment affording the opportunity he needed for relaxation from office confinement and the exercise required to prevent a condition of confirmed dyspep- sia, with which he was menaced. The practice of law being his natural element, he went to Towanda and formed a partnership with Hon. Henry Booth, now of Chicago, a relation which existed about 18 months. In 1854 he went to La Porte, Ind., and passed nine months as assistant cashier of the In- diana (stock) Bank, with his brother, Isaac S. Kellum.
In February, 1855, he came to Sycamore and en- tered into a partnership with William Fordham. Their connection remained operative about a year and was dissolved by mutual consent. Since that date Judge Kellum has been temporarily associated with others, but has operated chiefly alone, and has
198
DE KALB COUNTY.
won a widely merited distinction as a practitioner and jurist.
In the pursuit of his profession he has proceeded in the even, equable method which is one of his characteristic traits, and has earned a wider influence than any other local attorney, never failing to secure the same quality of respect from associates and opponents while practicing as an attorney. The strongest evidence of this is that during the course of his legal practice he was retained on nearly every case of importance tried in the courts of De Kalb County, and his local popularity obtained for him a large amount of business in other counties. His arguments were logical, set forth in clear-cut, incisive terms and bearing an irresistible influence, to which his prestige is largely due. But above all is the dis- criminating sense of honor which imbues his every word and act concerning his fellow men, and which commands the respect and esteem of his friends and also of his antagonists in business, for he has no adversaries in the exact significance of the term.
The records of the Courts in which he practiced afford abundant proof of the superior forensic quali- ties of Judge Kellum, as he has been connected with some of the most notable cases in the Judicial his- tory of Northern Illinois. His executive abilities have been recognized in Sycamore from the outset, and his appreciative townsmen have availed them- selves of his eminent powers in local positions. He was early made President of the Board of Trus- tees, when that city was a village, and he afterwards became City Attorney. He also served four years as State's Attorney of his Judicial District.
In June, 1879, he was elected Circuit Judge, a position he has since occupied, and whose obligations and responsibilities he has discharged in the efficient manner which has characterized his entire public and private career.
The mental caliber of Judge Kellum is of the quality that constitutes leaders in the profession to which he belongs. We quote from the United States Biographical Dictionary for Illinois, 1883 :
" Judge Kellum was endowed by nature with a judicial mind ; he was not only made for a lawyer, but for a Judge, and his natural endowments have been enlarged by a liberal education and long prac- tice at the Bar. His mind readily grasps the most difficult legal problems, and his decisions are not
only generally correct, but are marked universally by the utmost fairness and impartiality. Seldom is it that any error creeps into the record of a cause heard before Judge Kellum, and consequently his decisions are not often reversed by the higher Courts. On the bench he is urbane and gentlemanly, and is universally esteemed by the members of the Bar who practice in his Court; he is especially the friend of the young attorney and, whenever possible, smoothes over the rough path which that class are compelled to travel before reaching eminence at the Bar. These quali- ties make him one of the most popular Judges in the State, and his friends confidently predict that he will yet be called to sit on the bench of the Supreme Court."
Politically, he was a Whig in the days of his early manhood. The portentous events from the date of his citizenship could have but one significance to a mentality like his, and, true to his unerring instincts, he became a Republican on the inception of the party. Previous to his accession to his position as Judge, he was a zealous worker in its ranks and served as Delegate in the District and State Conven- tions. Locally, he wielded a powerful influence, and for a succession of years officiated as Chairman of the Republican County Committee. In his own county he was second to none in ability, and in 187 2 was its unanimous choice for Congress, but failed in the Convention. When candidate for Circuit Judge the next year, the' Judicial Convention was ex- actly divided between him and his competitor, and the conflict between the opposing elements was maintained through one entire day, through the suc- ceeding night and far into the day following. There being no indications of yielding from any quarter, the assembly broke up without definite action, leav- ing the people to settle the point. He experienced defeat by a small majority. In 1878 a nomination to Congress was tendered him, and the District urged his preferment for the position; but in view of his judicial prospects he was inflexible in his adverse decision, his wisdom and judgment in the matter be- ing fully sustained by succeeding events.
Judge Kellum has recognized and discharged his obligations as a citizen of Sycamore in the most fit- ting manner, and has lent his aid and influence to the furtherance of the public interests of the place and assisted 'personally in placing them on a sub-
DE KALB COUNTY.
199
stantial basis. He has been a prominent factor in the maintenance of her manufacturing enterprises, and was a stock-holder in the Sycamore & Cortland Railroad, in the Marsh Harvester Manufacturing Company and, later, in the Marsh Binder Manufact- uring Company. He also aided materially in the earlier enterprises. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Order of Knights Templar.
His marriage to Chloe Clement occurred March 15, 1855, at La Porte, Ind., and two children were born of their union. William C. Kellum was born at Sycamore, Dec. r4, 1855, and is an attorney in the place of his nativity, promising, by his application to business, to wear worthily the mantle of his sire. He married Laura A. Mckinnon, and they have one child -Charles S. Samuel Kellum was born Dec. 22, 1857, is a salesman in the clothing house of Will- oughby, Hill & Co., at Chicago, and is one of the most exemplary and popular young men that Syca- more ever produced. Mrs. Kellum was born at La Porte, Dec. 31, 1833, and is the daughter of Wm. and Caroline Clement. She is a lady of more than ordin- ary strength of character, and in her domestic circle her fine womanly traits shine pre-eminent. To her the words, " Her children arise up and call her bless- ed; her husband also, and he praiseth her," apply with peculiar force and truth.
Judge Kellum's portrait appears on a previous page. The reprint of his features in this work will afford a general satisfaction. His mobile face has been for many years one of the most welcome on the streets of Sycamore. It bears the impression of a can- did, manly, generous character, and a spirit wholly untainted by selfishness. The photograph from which the portrait was engraved was taken in 1885.
-
illiam H. Rowen, farmer and stockman on section 26, Franklin Township, was born on the farm on which he is a resident Sept. 25, 1858. He is the son of Wm. H. and Mercy (Caswell)' Rowen. The for- mer was born December 3, 1799, in Hebron, Washington Co., N. Y., and came to De Kalb County in June, 1843, and entered the farm where he died April 4, 1880. The family was among the earliest settlers of the township. The senior Rowen was
twice married. Of the first marriage, to Betsey Gor- ham (see sketch of S. G. Rowen), nine children were born, and after the death of the first wife he was married Dec. 25, 1856, to Mrs. Mercy Caswell. She was born Jan. 7, 1822, in Union, Broome Co., N. Y., and came to Illinois with her grandparents when she was 13 years old. ' She was married Aug. 2, 1840, to Marcus Caswell, a native of the State of New York, born March 15, 1820. He was killed in California in July, 1855, by the accidental bursting of a gun. Mr. Caswell is survived by two children, -Charles H., born Nov. 2, 1841, a resident of Bre- mer Co., Iowa, and Josephine L., born Nov. 30, 1849. She married Edward Gorham March 15, 1866, and is a resident of Franklin Township. Of her marriage to Mr. Rowen two children were born,-W. H. and Samuel P. G. The birth of the latter occurred Dec. 3, 1863. Mrs. Rowen, with her two sons, occupies the family homestead.
savid D. Brown, Mayor of De Kalb, and. member of the lumber and real-estate firm of Brown & Young, was born Aug. 26, 1845, in Belvidere, N. J.' His parents, C. M. and Catherine A. (De Pue) Brown, were natives of New Jersey, and were respectively of English and French origin. The family came to Illinois and settled in Sycamore, where the father established mercantile interests and became prominent in official positions, among which were those of Circuit Clerk and Recorder of De Kalb County. The family in- .cluded three sons, of whom the two younger were Fred C. and Marshall L., and were the issue of the second marriage of the senior Brown, in 1850, to Louisa Jackman, of Sycamore. She was born in Vermont and is still living in Sycamore. The mother of Mr Brown died at Sycamore in 1849. His father died there March 14, 1872. .
Until the age of 16 years Mr. Brown was a pupil at school, and in 186r obtained a position as captain of a steamboat plying on the Tennessee River. He was employed at a later period as clerk in a store at Sycamore, and was occupied in that capacity until 1874. In the spring of that year he entered into partnership with C. A. Tyndall, of De Kalb, under the style of Tyndall & Brown, and established a mer-
200
DE KALB COUNTY.
cantile enterprise. In September, 1876, Mr. Brown became sole proprietor of the business by purchase and continued its management until April, 1883, when he sold to C. A. Reed & Co. In the same month his present business relation was founded for the purpose of engaging in the lumber trade.
Mr. Brown is a decided Republican and has been actively interested in the administration of the mu- nicipal affairs in De Kalb. He served three terms as Councilman, and in the spring of 1883 was elected Mayor for a biennial term. He is prominent in the Masonic fraternity, and has risen to the 32d degree in the order.
He was married Feb. 8, 1872, to Alice J., daughter of Hiram and Sarah (Dygart) Ellwood, and they have two children. Zaida E. was born July 29, 1878. Sarah L. was born Nov. 27, 1881.
arley B. Rowen, grocer and Deputy Post- master at Kirkland, was born on section 26, Franklin Township, May 29, 1861, and is the son of Stephen G. and Emmeline (Baker) Rowen. The record of the parents appear on another page. -
Mr. Rowen grew to man's estate on the family homestead, and passed the winters at school in Kirk- land. When he was 20 years of age he entered up- on the duties of clerk of the Rowen House. at Kirk- land, which, was under the management of his brother, Frank S. Rowen, and occupied that position until his marriage. Soon after that event he estab- lished the business in which he is at present engaged, commencing with limited means in an unassuming way. His energy and popularity, coupled with ex- cellent management, has greatly increased his busi- ness 'relations, and he is fast rising to a position of equality with older firms in the same line of business. Mr. Rowen is a young Republican of ardent type and has been the deputy of his father several years. He represents several insurance companies.
His marriage to Georgia A. Bell occurred Jan. I, 1883. Mrs. Rowen was born Sept. 7, 1862, on the farm of her father in Kingston Township. She is the daughter of George M. and Sarah M. (Little)
Bell. Her father is a native of Pennsylvania, and was an architect and builder by profession. He was of mixed German and Irish descent. The mother was born in the State of New York, of English and French parentage. They came to Illinois before marriage and settled on a farm in Kingston after that event. In 1867 they removed to Belvidere, Boone County, and thence one year later to Sycamore. Mrs. Rowen was educated at the latter place and in Chi- cago, where she attended school about 18 months. She began teaching when she was 17 years of age, and continued her vocation in De Kalb County until her marriage. With her husband, she attends the Congregational Church, and is a member of the choir. Both are actively interested in Sunday-school work, and are valued and esteemed members of society.
C yrus B. Hopkins, farmer, sections 34 and 27, Cortland Township, and owning in all 165 acres, was born in Erie Co., N. Y., in the town of Clarence, Aug. 7, 1812, and is the son of Cyrus and Charlotte (Bissell) Hop- kins. His mother, who was born Oct. 30, 1793, in Rutland, Vt., of Puritan stock, is still living, near Beloit, Wis. His father, also of Puritan ances- try, was born in June, 1784, in Great Barrington, Berkshire Co., Mass., and died at Beloit, Wis., at the age of 82 years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.