Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 19

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 19

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urer of De Kalb County Agricultural Society, and has discharged the duties of several local official posi- tions. He has been a member of the Board of Edu- cation through several terms, and occupied the position of President of that body. He has been active and influential in educational matters since he has resided in the county. He officiated one year as President of the City Council and was by virtue of that office Supervisor of his township. He was Clerk of Kingston Township during his residence there. Politically Mr. Russell is a Republican. He has been a sufferer from the results of a severe attack of rheumatism since 1860. He was violently ill during 35 days, and has been seriously disabled since.

He was married June 14, 1858, to Margaret, daughter of William and Ellison Cooper. The family of Mrs. Russell were at that date residents of De Kalb County, but in 1880 sold the homestead in Kingston Township and removed to their present location in Belvidere, Boone County. Mr. and Mrs. Russell have three children. J. Alva was born Dec. 28, 1862; R. Arthur, April 24, 1870; Mabel C., Sept. 14, 1872.

Four brothers of Mr. Russell entered the military service of the United States during the war of the Rebellion, three of whom lost their lives. Westly D. enlisted in the 13th Ill. Vol. Inf., and died in Kingston Township, from the consequences . of disease contracted in the army. Robert W. became a soldier in the 42d Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf. He was killed in a charge on a rebel battery in the battle of Stone River. David F. belonged to the 95th Ill. Inf., and died in the hospital at Vicksburg.

eander P. Kellogg, farmer, section 3, Genoa Township, was born Aug. 4, 1826, in Es- sex, Vt. His parents, Orlando and Mary A. (Place) Kellogg were natives of Massachu- setts and had 10 children. Mr. Kellogg is the eldest child of his father and mother, and was a resident of his native State until he was 18 years of age, when, in 1844, he removed to McHenry Co., Ill. He passed a winter there, and in the spring of the year following came to De Kalb County, locating in Genoa Township. He operated the greater por- tion of the time for 20 years as a teamster between

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Chicago and De Kalb County and other portions of the State of Illinois.

In 1846 he pre-empted 80 acres of land on section 3, where he has since maintained his homestead, and has doubled his acreage. His entire landed pro- perty is under cultivation. He is a Republican in political conviction and principle. Though often urged to accept local official positions he has per- sistently declined. In 1852 he was appointed Post- master of Ney, in which position he served continu- ously eight years. He has since officiated as Assistant Postmaster.

He was married Jan. 20, 1847, in Sycamore, to Harriet M. Hutchason, and they have seven children, -Clarke O., Harriet J., Leslie W., Hutchason A., Harlow O., Edward E. and L. D. The parents of Mrs. Kellogg, Clarke and Elizabeth (Bradley) Hutch- ason, were natives of New York. The father died there and the mother married Ira Manning. They came to De Kalb County in 1846, and later in life settled in Michigan, where they died. Mrs. Kellogg is the third of a family of six children, and was born Sept. 21, 1827, in Niagara Co., N. Y. She is a mem- ber of the Free Methodist Church, and Mr. Kellogg is a true Christian man.

eorge E. Stafford, of the firm of Dayton & Stafford, stock dealers at Sycamore, was born Sept. 22, 1831, in Preston, Chenango Co., N. Y. Isaac Stafford, his father, was born in Vermont and married Lucy Seymour, a native of the State of New York, after his re- moval there. Later they came to Cortland Town- ship, De Kalb County, where the mother died Feb. 16, 1876. The father died there July 21, 1883. Three of their five children are now living: Saxa is a farmer in Cortland Township; and Isaac is a physician in Harrison, Madison Co., Montana.

Mr. Stafford was reared to the pursuit of agricul- ture, and came to De Kalb County in 1857. He was about 24 years of age when he became the proprietor of 27 acres of land in Cortland Township, situated on sections 15 and 22. From this beginning he has in- creased his possessions until he is the sole owner of 205 acres of land in that township, a half interest in 444 acres, and a third interest in 160 acres, all lying

within the same township. He remained there resi- dent until the spring of 1884, the date of his removal to Sycamore. In November of the same year he formed his present business relation with James Dayton and entered upon the purchase and shipment of stock to Chicago.

Mr. Stafford was married Nov. 17, 1858, in the township of Cortland, to Christina, daughter of Peter and Isabel Youngs. Two children resulted from this union, namely, Emily, who is the wife of Charles A. Lattin, and Frank G., who is a dealer in live stock in Sycamore.

ohn Gould, farmer, section 22, Cortland Township, having 34 acres in the southern part of the section and 120 acres in all, was born in town of Harmon, Kennebec Co., Maine, Oct. 8, 1814. His parents, Abel and Mary (Kelly) Gould, are deceased and buried at Ohio Grove Church. They were probably natives of Maine, and moved to the State of New York when John was a babe, and soon to Meigs Co., Ohio, where a farm had been purchased and where they lived seven years or more; they then sold out and removed to Jefferson Co., Ind., rented a farm for a number of years, then lived in Dearborn County, in the southeastern corner of that State, until 1840, when they came to this county, with horse teams, ar- riving Nov. 15, not more than three miles from Mr. G.'s present residence. He died Dec. 7, 1858, aged about 77 years. John's mother was an orphan, brought up by Judge North in her native State (Maine), and died in September, 1865, at the age of 83 years.

Mr. John Gould, whose name heads this sketch, was first married Feb. 4, 1838, in Dearborn Co., Ind., to Mary Ann Johnson, who was born in that State in 1818, the daughter of - and Elizabeth (Hinds) Johnson. She died in this (Cortland) township, in the spring of 1845, and is buried in the Ohio Grove (or Baptist Church) Cemetery. Her three children are: George H., born April 25, 1839, and died Nov. 4, 1863, at Nashville, Tenn., and was a member of Co. C, 105th Ill. Vol. Inf., and died in the service; Mary E., born May 15, 1841, married Wm. Black- man, Dec. 23, 1866, and lives in Dakota; and Sa-

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brina A., born July 5, 1843, married Luther Wheeler, March 5, 1860, and is residing in this township. Oct. 1, 1848, Mr. Gould married Miss Caroline, daughter of James and Hannah (Merrow) Wheeler. Her father was a native of Massachusetts and died in February, 1861 (or thereabout), in Maine; and her mother, born in Winthrop, Me., died in the same State, in 1867, at the age of about 78 years. Mrs. G. was also born in Winthrop, Jan. 29, 1811, and she has two daughters, namely: Elvira R., born April 18. 1850, and married Joseph Snyder, Dec. 24, 1868; and Clotilda Jane, born Aug. 5, 1852, married John I. Simons, Nov. 20, 1873, and lives in Dakota.

Mr. Gould had a very limited school education in his youth, especially in mathematics, as that seemed peculiarly difficult to him; but he has nevertheless battled successfully with the world. He is a vener- ble old settler here, having occupied his present farm ever since the year 1847. In his political prin- ciples he votes with the Republican party, and he, as well as Mrs. G., is a member of the Free-will Baptist Church at Ohio Grove, having been one of the first members of that congregation and has been an officer in the Church.

eorge H. Kesler, farmer, section 16, Genoa Township, has been a resident of De Kalb County since 1859, with the exception of two years, which he passed in Burlington, Kane Co., Ill., the date of his parents' removal hither. He was born Aug. 7, 1839, in Orleans Co., N. Y., and is next the youngest in birth of 10 chil- dren. His brothers and sisters were Abraham, Phebe, Mary, Eliza, Andrew, James, Lyman, Horace and John. His parents, Philip and Betsey (House) Kesler, were natives respectively of Germany and the State of New York. The father died in the township of Genoa Oct. 22, 1880; the mother's de- mise occurred July 3, 1864.

Mr. Kesler is one of the substantial farmers of his township and county, and is the owner of 325 acres of valuable farming land, which is nearly all under cultivation. He is a Republican in political faith and relations, and has held various local offices.

His marriage to Mary A. Smith occurred at Kings- ton July 4, 1861, and they have been the parents of

eight children, four of whom are still living, namely : Lillie M., who married F. B. Fieste, Sept. 4, 1884; George G., Luella and Elinor S. Those deceased were named Ira J., Adaline, Robert S. and Eminett. The parents of Mrs. Kesler, Robert and Susanna (Ruth) Smith, were natives respectively of New Jer- sey and Pennsylvania. She is the second of four children, and was born Oct. 12, 1841, in New Jersey.

dolphus W. Brower, resident at Sycamore, was born Aug. 13, 1845, in Kenosha Co., Wis. In paternal descent he is a repre- sentative of the Hollanders who settled the State of New York in 1620. His paternal great-grandfather came from the Netherlands, in a vessel commanded by Hendrick Hudson and called " Die Guten Frau " (the good woman), and, with his wife, Jemima (Quackenboss) Brower, settled at Nyack on the Jersey shore. Later he went to the State of New York, where he was a pioneer settler, and was identified with the class distinguished as " Knickerbockers."

Adolphus Brower, son of the above, was born July 31, 1777, and married Elizabeth Baker. She was born Feb. 25, 1775, and became the mother of three sons and four daughters. The husband was fife- major in the war of 1812 .. The threatened invasion of the British aroused the latent indignation of the people, and men and women alike devoted them- selves to the labor of erecting intrenchments. The chorus of a song which was then popular and mani- fested the quality of the prevailing spirit, ran as fol -- lows :

" Pickaxe, shovel, spade; Crowbar, hoe and barrow; You'd better not invade; . Yankees got the marrow."

Adolphus Brower and his wife died at the age of 78 years.

William B. Brower, their youngest son, was born Oct. 6, 1803, in Brooklyn, N. Y. He was married March 20, 1825, to Paulina Broadway. Her father, Frasier Broadway, was born April 16, 1778, and in 1800 was married to Hannah Weed. She was born Sept. 1, 1777, and died aged 84 years. Their family comprised four daughters and four sons. All the latter, in later life, pursued the calling of their father, who was a butcher. T. E. and Alfred' Broadway,

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became prominent in their business and were located at 844 Broadway, New York, for many years. W. B. Brower went to Wisconsin in 1837, and was among the earliest pioneers of Salem, afterwards called Wheatland, and now known as Randall, the original township being now divided into three distinct towns. He left New York Aug. 7, of the year named, and arrived at what is now Kenosha on the first day of September following. At the date of his location the Menomonee or Black Hawk Indians were numerous in the vicinity. On the admission of Wisconsin as a State, in 1848, he was one of the first appointees to the position of Justice of the Peace by the Governor. Paulina (Broadway) Brower was born June 30, 1805, in Vermont, and became the mother of eight chil- dren. Elizabeth was born May 12, 1828, and is the wife of Henry Parmelee, of Geneva, Wis. John H. was born May 8, 1832, and is engaged in speculat- ing at Kenosha, Wis. William B., born May 20, 1834, is the manager of the homestead. Hannah. born May 5, 1839, is the wife of V. C. Reynolds, and resides on the home farm. Anna, born May 1, 1843, is the wife of M. L. Hoffman, a stock dealer in Kenosha County. A. W. is the next in order of birth. Emmeline, born Aug. 27, 1849, married Will- iam Wilcox, of Geneva, Wis. One child died in in- fancy.

Mr. Brower was brought up at home in the Badger State until he was 15 years of age, when he was placed at a business college in St. Louis, Mo. He miade a special study of penmanship, and devoted six months to the acquisition of a complete knowl- edge of telegraphy. Soon after returning home he went to the city of New York, and a few months later became interested in travel. He came to Syca- more in 1872, and, associated with Marshall Stark (deceased), engaged in the sale of lumber, pursuing that enterprise about two years. He formed his present business connection May 1, 1877, by the purchase of an interest in the firm relations of Whittemore & Chamberlain, the copartnership now comprising three members. They carry an average stock of $13,500, including all the lines of goods comnion to such establishments and suited to their patronage. Their business embraces, besides the ordinary trade in hardware, a large amount of re- pairing.

Stark. She is the daughter of Marshall and Louisa Stark, and was born at Sycamore, Feb. 10, 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Brower have two children: Anna was was born Feb. 24, 1878; and Floyd E. was born Aug. 4, 1880. Their first child, Marshall William, was born Aug. 25, 1876, and died when about 10 weeks old.

ester P. Wood, Sheriff of De Kalb County, resident at Sycamore, was born March 27, 1839, in Erie, Pa. His parents, George L. and Margaret (Conrad) Wood, belonged to the agricultural class. The former was born in the city of Hartford, Conn., and died on his farm in the township of Kingston, De Kalb County, Jan. 23, 1864. The mother of Lester P. was born in Erie, Pa., and died on the homestead Aug. 2, 1880. Of their children,[ Elizabeth and Roxy, the oldest in date of birth, are deceased; Abigail E. married John D. Dyer, marketman at Sycamore; George E. is a resi- dent of Laporte, Ind., and is in the United States mail service; and Jane M. is deceased.

Mr. Wood is the oldest son and third child. He was reared on his father's farm, where he was in- structed in agricultural labor during the farming seasons and attended school winters. He passed his boyhood and youth in this manner until he was 19 years of age, when he went to the seminary at' Wheaton, DuPage Co., Ill., and completed his edu- cation. On coming of age he became proprietary owner of 360 acres of valuable land in the township of Spring, Boone Co., Ill., twelve miles north of Syca- more, of which he took possession in 1860 and con- tinued its management until 1874. In that year he sold the property and returned to Erie, where he maintained his residence two years, and was occu- pied in the purchase and shipment of stock from Chicago to Eastern markets. He pursued the same line of business until the fall of 1879, coming at that time to Sycamore.

After a residence of a single year he secured, in the autumn of 1880, the election of Sheriff of De Kalb County on the Republican ticket, and in 1882 was re-elected without opposition to the same incuni- bency. The quality of the services rendered to the

Mr. Brower was married May 20, 1874, to Ella | interests of De Kalb County by Mr. Wood are

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attested by his re-election, a procedure which reflects much credit on his supporters, and proves that the voting community of De Kalb County are not delin- quent in the matter of recognizing and rewarding efficiency and merit. Mr. Wood belongs to the Order of Knights Templars and other Masonic bodies.

His marriage to Ellen C. Zimmerman occurred Aug. 28, 1858, at Erie, Pa. Mrs. Wood is the daughter of Frederick Zimmerman, and was born Oct. 6, 1842, at Erie. The three children born of this union are as follows: Jane M. was born Aug. 18, 1860, and is the wife of W. F. Sell, marketman of Sycamore. Addie Z. is the second child; George F., only son and youngest child, is Deputy Sheriff under his father. The children were born in Spring Township, Boone County.

ohn B. Whalen, real-estate, abstract and insurance agent, at Sycamore, was born Aug. 5, 1850, in Penfield, Monroe Co., N. Y. Harvey Whalen, his father, was born Dec. 22, 1809, in Milton, Saratoga Co., N. Y .; and has been a farmer throughout the course of his long life, being now 75 years of age. He was also a local politician of prominence and influence, and is still living in Penfield, N. Y. John B.'s mother, Lucinda (Watson) Whalen, was born in Monroe Co., N. Y., and died in 1854. Their five children are liv- ing. Mr. Whalen is the second in order of birth. The oldest, Henry V., is an engineer and lives in Michigan. Charles H., Wilson and Howard live in Penfield with their father.

Mr. Whalen was reared in the varied occupations incident to the life of a farmer's son, and when about 18 years of age became a traveler in the Eastern States, engaging in that occupation one year. In 1870 he came to Braidwood, Ill., and remained there eight months, acting as accountant in the mercantile establishment of L. H. Goodrich. He went sub- sequently to Gardner, Ill., where he operated a year in the same capacity. In 1872 he became a resident of De Kalb County, his first engagement in business being as book-keeper for J. H. Rogers at Sycamore, where he was occupied nine months. He relin-

quished the position to accept an appointment as Deputy Circuit Clerk under E. F. Dutton. He filled the position three years and in 1876 bought the ab- stract office of De Kalb County, which he has since conducted and is the owner of the only complete set of abstracts in the county. He does a considerable business in real estate and represents eight fire in- surance companies and one life insurance, viz .: Royal, London, Liverpool & Globe, also the Lancashire of England. Hartford, Continental, National of Hartford, Westchester & Northwestern National and the Con- necticut Mutual Life Association.

Mr. Whalen officiated as Alderman of Sycamore from 1879 to 1883. He is President of the Sycamore Athenaum, and is President and General Manager of the Russell Manufacturing Company, at that place, an association engaged in the manufacture of paints and varnishes. He is the owner of his place of resi- dence and of a considerable amount of real estate . variously located.

Mr. Whalen was married April 25, 1876, in Syca- more, to Nellie Farndon. Wallace W., only child of this union, was born May 5, 1877. Mrs. Whalen was born Nov. 10, 1852, in Troy, N. Y. She has been a resident of Sycamore since four years of age, and was brought up in the family of the late James S. Waterman.

eter N. Corson, a retired farmer, resident at Genoa, was born Oct. 6, 1819, in Pennsyl- vania, of which State his mother, Elizabeth

2 (Buck) Corson, was a native, his father, John Corson, having been born in New Jersey. The family of 11 children were born as follows : Hannah, Catherine A., Peter N., Sarah, Susan, Henry, Lavina, Daniel, Alfred, Harriet and Lucretia.

Mr. Corson was a farmer in his native State until 1869. In the spring of that year he bought 160 acres of land in Genoa Township in De Kalb County, of which he took possession and occupied it about eight years, selling a portion of his acreage in 1877, and re- moving in that year to the village of which he has since been a resident. In political faith he is a . Republican.

His first marriage occurred in Pennsylvania, Jan. 29, 1843, to Sarah Newman, and of their union eight

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Henry Pooler

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children were born,-Teresa, Lloyd V., Henry M., Emily, Ursaline and Amanda. Two children of that marriage are deceased : Teresa died when three years old and one child died in extreme infancy. The mother died Dec. 27; 1875, in Genoa Township. Mr. Corson was again married March 7, 1878, to Amelia (Godding), widow of William Rochester Durham, who died Oct. 7, 1873, in Genoa Township, and by whom she had eight children,-Rochester H., Sarah J. and Emily J. (twins), Francis M., Caroline A., Lillie Y., Fannie M. and Olive M. Three children-Rochester H., Emily J. and Francis M .- are deceased. Mrs. Corson was born July 17, 1827, in England.

enry Pooler, farmer, having 325 acres on section 19, Cortland Township, was born July 24, 1804, in Dutchess Co., N. Y. When a year old his parents, Jacob and Betsy (Price) Pooler, moved to the town of Schuyler, Herkimer County, that State, and a year later to Warren Township, same county, then back to Schuy- · ler, then to Warren a second time, and finally bought a farm in German Flats. The mother died in that county ; the father died in Montgomery Co., N. Y., and was buried in his son Joseph's burying-ground at Warren.

Henry remained in Herkimer County most of the time until he was of age, then worked out by the year or month for about three years ; next, for three years he labored upon his father-in-law's farm for a consideration of 50 acres of land; then he bought a farın of 65 acres, to which he subsequently added until he had an aggregate of 151 acres, in German Flats. In 1861 he came to this county on a visit to his daughter, when he made a purchase of 150 acres, to which he has since added by further purchases until he has a total of 325 acres. He now has a fine farm and a splendid home, all earned by his own industry and wise economy, and without speculation.

On the 5th of March, 1828, he married Miss Margaret, a daughter of Nicholas and Lana (Passage) Shoemaker, and of German ancestry. She was born June 7, 1802, in German Flats, N. Y. Of the five children born in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Pooler, three are living: Almira, born March 22, 1829, and inarried John Christman Sept. 10, 1852, in German

Flats, N. Y., and died December 16, following, in De Kalb County ; Henry, born April 22, 1833, in Herkimer Co., N. Y., died in the same county Oct. 28, 1834; Philany, born July 19, 1835, married John Christman in October, 1857 ; he died Oct. 9, 1863, from injuries received from a threshing-machine ; Louisa, born Feb. 6, 1837, married Henry Christ- inan, Dec. 28, 1854, who died Jan. 4, 1883; William F. was born April 26, 1840, and is now living near Lake City, Iowa. The foregoing births all took place in Herkimer Co., N. Y. Mr. Pooler's grand- mother was of Low Dutch ancestry, and died in Schuyler Township, Herkimer Co., N. Y. His grand- father was of New England ancestry, and was killed in Schuyler Township by being thrown from a wagon. Mrs. Pooler's mother died at the age of 59, and her father, a farmer, died at the age of 87.

Mr. Pooler has a good, large frame residence, a large frame barn, and his farm is estimated at $65 per acre. He is a Republican in his political sen- timents.

A portrait is given of Mr. Pooler on the opposite page, which is a valuable addition to the portrait gallery of this ALBUM.

S eneca H. Willis, farmer, section 36, Genoa Township, has been a resident of De Kalb * County since 1852, and has belonged to its agricultural element since 1860, when he be- gan his independent operations by working his father's farm on shares one year. He engaged with his father as an assistant and continued to operate in that capacity seven years. In 1868 he bought a farm in Genoa Township, containing 117 acres. He now owns 120 acres additional, and of the entire tract has placed 150 acres under improve- ment. In political faith he is a Republican.

Mr. Willis was born Aug. 5, 1841, in Warren Co., N. Y. He was 10 years of age when his parents, David W. and Laura M. (Halladay) Willis, removed to De Kalb County. They are natives of Vermont, and after marriage settled in the State of New York, whence they removed to Illinois, settling in the town- ship of Sycamore, where they have since resided. Their children were named Seneca H., Morgan,

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Harry B. and Angelia. The second and fourth in order of birth are deceased.

The marriage of Mr. Willis took place in Genoa Township, Dec. 24, 1865, to Mary M., daughter of Alonzo and Rhoda (Rogers) Hedger. The parents of Mrs. Willis are natives of New York, and had three children, namely, Ann E., Mary M. and Enoch O. The daughter was born Nov. 30, 1844, in Hamp- shire, Kane Co., Ill. Of her marriage to Mr. Willis three children have been born-Lizzie A., Laura R. and Stella B. The latter died in infancy.

ohn Waterbury, farmer on the northwest quarter of section 8, Cortland Township, was born in North Castle, Westchester Co., N. Y., May 12, 1830; was brought up on a farm in his native place, living there until Sep- tember, 1858, and learned the shoemaker's trade before he was 21. Commencing this trade at the age of 19, he followed it for six years, then went, at the above date, to the city of New York, where he spent three years in draying. He then came to this county and for ten years resided in the township of Pierce, and in 1868 came to his present place of resi- dence. It was then but partially improved, but Mr. W. has since made it one of the best farms in the township, having upon it a first-class frame residence, barns, etc. In his political views Mr. W. is a Re- publican, and he stands high in the estimation of his fellow citizens.

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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 19

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

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