Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 20

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 20

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).

He was married Dec. 25, 1855, to Miss Rebecca A. Brundage, and they have had five children, all of whom are living, viz .: George I., born Nov. 6, 1857, in New York city, in December, 1881, married Flor- ence Rathbun and is living in Iowa; Charles, born Oct. 27, 1861, in Pierce Township, this county, is living at home; Harvey C., born June 17, 1865, in same township; Mary F., Nov. 5, 1867, in same township; and John A., Oct. 23, 1880, in Cortland Township.

Mr. W.'s father, John Waterbury, was a carpenter by occupation, and died in March, 1878, at the age of 8 1 years, on the old homestead; and his inother, Sarah H., nee Palmer, died in June, 1880, at the age of 79 years, also on the old homestead. Mr. Water- bury's paternal grandfather was a guard in the

Revolutionary War, but was never in action on the battle-field. Mrs. W. was born Jan. 20, 1838, in North Castle, Westchester Co., N. Y., of which county her parents were also natives. Her father, Allen Brundage, was a farmer, and her mother's maiden name was Fanny Smith. Mr. and Mrs. W. are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

B enjamin Nilson, Clerk of the City of Syca- more, and member of the grocery and pro- vision house of Nilson Bros., was born July 31, 1850, in Sweden. Pehr Nilson, his father, was a farmer and prominent in politics and public life. He was a member of the Legislature of Sweden in 1865-6 and held the posi- tion of State Juryman 14 years by election, eventually resigning.

Mr. Nilson was a pupil at school until he was 14 years of age and passed three years subsequently on the farm where he was born. At 17 he entered the High School to complete his education, remaining a student there until 19 years old. He came to America in 1871, and on landing proceeded at once to Sycamore, where he had friends. He obtained employment as a farm assistant, in which he was occupied three months. At the end of that time he went to Chicago and was employed in the Rock Island car-shops until Jan. 1, 1872. At that date he returned to Sycamore and attended school to learn the English lanuguage. In the. fall following he entered the grocery of Rowe & Shurtliff, where he was a clerk four years. In 1876 he became an as- sistant of C. Brown & Son, druggists and grocers. July 12, 1880, associated with his brother, Knut P .. Nilson, he founded the business which they have since conducted. Their stock comprises lines of goods suited to their patronage and represents a cash value of about $6,000. The proprietors are enter- prising men and citizens of the best type, who have secured the confidence of the community. Mr. Nil- son of this sketch is a stock-holder in the Cornwall Silver Mining Company of Colorado, a corporation of seven members who own several mining claims. In the spring of 1879 he was elected Clerk of Sycamore,

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and has been twice re-elected. He is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows.

The marriage of Mr. Nilson to Betsey Swanson occurred at Sycamore, Oct. 3, 1873. Their family now (1884) includes three children,-Bertha Edusa, born Jan. 14, 1875; Elsa Urania, July 24, 1881; Edward Pehr, Nov. 17, 1883. Mrs. Nilson was born in Sweden in 1846, and is the daughter of Swen and Elsa Paulson, who are well-to-do farmers and own a large flouring-mill near the city of Sawesborg in Blikings Lan.

enry Martin, general merchant at Cortland, was born in Chelsea, Orange Co., Vt., Oct. 10, 1840. His father, John Martin, was born Dec. 20, 1804, in Chelsea, was a farmer in his native State until 1855, then real-estate dealer here in Cortland until his death, in March, 1880. His mother, Sarah, nee Percival, was born Dec. 15, 1803, and died Feb. 19, 1875, in Syca- more, this county.

Henry passed the first 15 years of his life in his native county, and came with the family in 1865 to Sycamore, was educated in common and graded schools and at an academy; and in 1862 he enlisted in the army for the cause of the Government. He was first employed for about eight months as chief clerk in the ordnance department at Columbus, Ky., furnishing ordnance to Grant's army at Corinth ; was then transferred to Memphis, Tenn., in the same de- partment; next to Huntsville, Ala .; then into Mc- Pherson's army, the Army of the Tennessee; followed Sherman's army from Chattanooga to Atlanta ; or- dered back to Nashville, Tenn., where he awaited orders from November to February; then was at Chattanooga until 1865; next, at the Macon (Ga.) Arsenal until the fall of 1866, when he was appointed Clerk for the Sub-Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau. He was thus stationed still at Macon until 1868, and finally at Augusta, Ga., until the Bureau was abolished. Then, in 1869, he was appointed Deputy Marshal for the District of Georgia, in which relation he served until 1876, when he returned to Sycamore. .

Here he engaged in the produce business for a year, and then established a general merchandise

store in partnership with Mr. Matteson, under the firm name of Martin & Matteson ; but soon they dis- solved and then he started alone. Was in Mr. Jordan's store for a time, then removed back to the old store, which he occupied until he built the new store, in the fall of 1883. This is the best building in the town, where Mr. Martin carries the largest stock in the place.

In politics Mr. M. is a Republican.

He was married March 3, 1870, to Miss Florence J. , daughter of George and Martha Flewellyn; she was born in Georgia, and is now 37 years of age. The two living children of Mr. and Mrs. M. are Sadie B., born Dec. 6, 1870, in Atlanta, Ga., and Bessie, May, 6, 1880; three were lost in infancy. " Johnnie " was born in 1875 and died when a month old, and Florence was born in 1877. and died in 1879; the remaining one died at birth.

Mrs. M. is a member of the Congregational Church.

G alvin Shurtleff, druggist at De Kalb, is a native of the Province of Quebec, where he was born March 22, 1830. His parents and grandparents are natives of Massachu- setts. He was reared in the Dominion with the exception of a period of four years spent at Derby Academy in that town, just across the Can- adian border in Vermont. After the completion of his educational course he engaged in teaching in Canada, and was occupied three years in that voca- tion in his native province. In 1851 he decided on a change of base and came to Illinois, teaching two years at Rock Island. In 1853 he went to Ottawa, Ill., and passed about the same length of time simi- larly occupied. At the end of that time (about 1855) he bought a farm in Kane Co., Ill., on which he set- tled and held his residence about eight years, en- gaging meanwhile in teaching. In 1863 he sold his farm, and, going to Sycamore, passed three years in the business of a lumber dealer, and afterwards de- voted his time and attention for several years to traffic in stock and produce. Making another ven- ture, he engaged in a mercantile enterprise at Syca- more, in which he was interested three years.

In 1875 Mr. Shurtleff came to De Kalb and estab-

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lished his present business, which includes the sale of drugs, groceries and crockery. His place of business is of extensive proportions, being 120 feet deep.

In politics Mr. Shurtleff is a Republican. He has officiated as Township Assessor and taken an active interest in all matters pertaining to education within his sphere. He has been connected with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church for 30 years ; is present Dis- trict Steward and President of the Board of Trustees. His family are also members of the same religious body.

Mr. Shurtleff was married in Kane County to Sarah J. Arnold, their union taking place Oct. 22, 1857. Their children were born as follows : Willis, who died when nine months old, Wilfred C., Jessie B., Elmer K. and Alice F.

arnum V. Viner, farmer in Cortland Town- ship, having 55 acres on sections 15 and 16, was born in the town of Parishville, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., May 23, 1824. His father, Charles Viner, was born May 6, 1797, in Bris- tol, England, and was killed by a cyclone in Mazon, Grundy Co., Ill., April 18, 1861. Mr. V.'s mother, Sarah, nee Banister, was born in Rutland, Vt., May 4, 1797, and died in January, 1868, in Grundy County. Mr. Charles Viner was a farmer, and came to America in 1812 as a British soldier. He afterward left the army, when Corporal of the Guard, and with six others crossed the St. Lawrence into the States. He married in 1815, and had four sons and four daughters.

The subject of this sketch is the third child in the order of birth in the above family. His parents moved, with him, when he was four or five years of age, to Madrid, then to Pierpont, then to Canton, and when he was 20 years old they emigrated West, locating in the town of Seneca, McHenry Co., Ill. After living there eight years with his father, he was married, Jan. 1, 1847, to Miss Mary T., daughter of David S. and Catherine (Marshall) Wickes. Dr. Wickes was born in Troy, N. Y., Nov. 29, 1800, and died Oct. 15, 1844, in Meed's Creek, Steuben Co., N. Y .; and Mrs. W. was born May 21, 1800, in Hyde Park, Dutchess Co., N. Y., and died Sept. 15,

1876, in Elliottville, Fillmore Co., Minn. Mrs. V. was born in Dundee, Yates Co., N. Y., July 30, 1829. She suffered a paralytic stroke in 1876, losing the use of her left hand. Dr. W. was a successful physician of the old school, and died from the effects of overwork.

Mr. Viner lived nine years at Seneca, McHenry County, and then moved to the township of Mazon, Grundy Co., Ill., purchasing a farm of 80 acres, then a wild place, where he first attempted to make a home ; but he soon afterward sold it to his brother and returned to McHenry County and bought 122 acres of improved land. After living there three or four years he sold out and moved again to Grundy County and purchased an improved farm of 80 acres, but a year afterward he sold this and removed to Portage Co., Wis., where he bought new land, built upon it and improved it some, and in four months went back to Grundy County again, purchased 80 acres, built a house upon it and dwelt there a little more than a year. He sold again and moved to this (Cortland) township, bought a farm of 86 acres and lived upon it for 20 years. He then rented this farm and moved to Morris, Grundy County, lived there a year, returned here and sold his farm on 'sec- tions 26 and 27, and finally purchased his present place, in 1882.

In his political views Mr. Viner is a Democrat, and in an official capacity he has been for several years a School Director.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Viner are: Sarah C., born May 10, 1849, in Mazon, Grundy Co., Ill., and married March 5, 1868, Emery Willmarth, and lives in Cortland village ; Charles D., born in Seneca Township, McHenry Co., Ill., Feb. 4, 1853, and March 2, 1876, married Ada Brown, and now living in this (Cortland) township; Thomas D., born also in Seneca Township, Sept. 1, 1855, married March 28, 1883, Alice Smith, and is now living in Nebraska; Alva V., born in Mazon, Ill., Dec. 21, 1857, married Maggie Ellis Jan. 31, 1883, and is now a merchant in Waverly, Iowa; William E., born in Cortland Township, this county, Aug. 16, 1860, is now a clerk in Morris, Grundy County; Frank L., born in this township, Feb. 26, 1867, lives in Nebraska; Joseph C., born May 25, 1869, also in this township, died Aug. 6 following ; and Ellis F., born Dec. 23, 1871, in Cortland Township, is living at home.

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Wm. L. Viner, oldest brother of Varnum V., while on a visit, by permission of his father, to an uncle in Pennsylvania, Jonathan Banister by name, taught school there during the winter of 1841-2, worked on a farm the next spring near his uncle's, then went down the Ohio River on a raft of lumber, and thence up the Mississippi River to Galena, from which point his family received a letter from him, and since that time he has never been heard from. His father went to Galena and spent three weeks in search of him.

obert D. Lord, resident at Genoa, has been a citizen of the township since 1845. He was born Sept. 9, 1817, in Saratoga Co., N. Y., and is the son of Ebenezer and Mary (Morris) Lord. His parents were natives re- spectively of Connecticut and New Jersey, and settled in Saratoga County, where they resided many years, removing thence to Yates County, in the Em- pire State, and there died. Of ten children born to them nine grew to mature years.

Mr. Lord accompanied his parents at the age of eight years'to Yates County, and he was a member of the parental household until his marriage. After that event he managed his father's farm three years, when he came to Illinois and bought 80 acres of land in Genoa Township, became resident thereon and continued its management until the summer of 1862. He enlisted at Sycamore in the 105th Ill. Vol. Inf., and was elected and commissioned Second Lieuten- ant. After three months' service he resigned on account of ill health. On returning to De Kalb County, his medical adviser recommended change of climate and he went to California, returning nine months later for his family, and set out with them in the spring following, crossing the plains in wagons. They remained in California six years, Mr. Lord en- gaging in various occupations. He returned in 1869 to De Kalb County and resumed the calling of a farmer on his farm in Genoa Township. At the end of five years he removed with his family to the vil- lage of Genoa, where he interested himself in butcher- ing and in dealing in butter, cheese and other farm produce. After a period of three years he closed his business in those avenues and returned to his farm. In 1883 he determined to retire and erected a fine resi-

dence in the village of Genoa, to which he removed in the winter of 1884. Mr. Lord retains the owner- ship of 80 acres of valuable land in Genoa Township and also of 160 acres in Iowa. He is a Republican in politics. While a resident of Genoa Township he was Postmaster at New Lebanon one year, resigning the position at the expiration of that time. He was Justice of the Peace for a long term of years.

He was married March 17, 1840, in Yates Co., N. Y., to Olive Hogeboom, and they have been the parents of nine children, but three of whom survive -Julia, Joseph and David. Mrs. Lord was born April 24, 1820, in the State of New York, and is the daughter of Andrew and Julia Hogeboom. Her father was of Dutch descent and was born in the Empire State. The mother was a native of Connect- icut. The family located in Genoa Township in 1845. The father died there about 1855; the mother is living and is 88 years of age.

B enjamin F. Whipple, farmer on the north- east quarter of section 9, Cortland Town- ship, was born in Muncie, Lycoming Co., Pa., Oct. 25, 1857. Both his parents were also born in that county, and are now living three miles north of Sycamore, this county. His father, James Whipple, was born March 4, 1831, of American ancestry, and his mother, Mary, nee Warner, was born 1833. They came to this county in 1870, arriving March 18, locating upon a farm which he had purchased the year before of Arnold Brown, and which is now occupied by a brother of Benjamin.

The subject of this sketch lived with his father until he was 23 years of age, when he bought a threshing-machine, in company with his brother, which they ran for seven seasons, ending with that of 1883. At that business they were very successful. He purchased his present farm in 1879, of Mr. Meeker, who had the use of it for a year afterward. In March, 1880, Mr. Whipple moved upon the place. In 1883 he bought 80 acres of Joseph Gandy, ad- joining on the south.

Mr. Whipple was married Dec. 16, 1879, to Miss Mary A., daughter of Moses and Rachel (Evans) Dean. Mr. Dean was born in Hasbrouck, Sullivan

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Co., N. Y., Jan. 26, 1815, engaged in a grist or saw mill or other enterprises, and since he came West in 1857 he has followed banking in Sycamore and farming. Mrs. Dean was born in Fallsburg, Sullivan Co., N. Y., Jan. 26, 1816, was married June 13, 1840, and had seven children, of whom Mrs. Whipple is the fourth in order of birth. Mrs. D. died April 26, 1884, in Sycamore, greatly respected by the com- munity, as indeed are the whole family yet living .. Mrs. Whipple was born Sept. 19, 1854, in Hasbrouck, N. Y., and was carefully educated and disciplined in an affectionate family. Mr. and Mrs. Whipple have had two children, namely : Warner D., born Dec. 23, 1880, in Sycamore, Ill., and Le Roy J., Dec. 11, 1882, in Cortland Township.

In politics Mr. W. is a Republican.

Ithorn Rogers, of the firm of Hoyt & Rogers, general merchants at Sycamore, was born Sept. 13, 1848, at Ballston Springs, Saratoga Co., N. Y. His father, Elam Rogers, was born in 1800 and commenced life as a farmer, afterwards in the employment of the Scythe Manufacturing Company at Ballston, where he is now living in retirement. The mother, Caroline M. (Prentiss) Rogers, was born in Worcester, Mass., and is still living. The family circle is yet intact. Their nine children were born in the follow- ing order: Rachel P. married W. H. Dodge, a lum- ber dealer at Rochester, Minn. Caroline M. is the widow of John C. Waterman, formerly a prominent capitalist of Sycamore. Elvira is the wife of C. R. Bassett, a wholesale notion dealer in Brooklyn, N. Y. Amelia married T. W. Stebbins, a hardware merchant at Rochester, Minn. Emily is an invalid, and is a · member of her sister's family at Rochester. Melissa married M. Pinner, real-estate broker in the city of New York. Ethan, twin brother of Mr. Rogers of this sketch, is an ax manufacturer at Cohoes, N. Y. Jennie is the widow of H. H. Hurst, a former drug- gist of Ballston, N. Y.

Mr. Rogers obtained a good education at the ex- cellent schools of the several grades in his native county, completed by an academic course of study. About the age of 18 years he entered the factory with his father, where he remained a few months and

afterwards became a clerk in a dry-goods store at Ballston, where he was employed until 1871, the year of his removal to the West. He continued his former occupation at Rochester, Minn., until his health be- came affected through confinement, and in 1875 he went to the Atlantic coast. In the year following he came to Sycamore to take a position as salesman in the mercantile establishment in which he is now a proprietor, then owned and managed by Waterman & Hoyt. In 1878 the firm became Hoyt, Rogers & Co., by the admission of the latter as a member, and its affairs were conducted under that style until 1880, when the business and its relations became the property of the present proprietors by the purchase of the interest of Mr. Waterman. The invested capital of Messrs. Hoyt & Rogers is estimated at $18,000, and they are doing a satisfactory business in the sale of general merchandise. They are also interested in the Marsh Harvester Company as stock- holders.

Mr. Rogers was married May 6, 1880, in Sycamore, to Jennie L. Byran, and they have two children: Martin L., born Oct. 7, 1881, and Urania B., born Nov. 8, 1883. Mrs. Rogers was born Feb. 24, 1857, in Sycamore, and is the daughter of Dr. O. M. and Jane L. Byran, of Sycamore. She is a graduate of Wellesey College.

A lbert A. Olmstead, farmer, section 16, Genoa Township, was born Jan. 19, 1838, in Delaware Co., N. Y. He is the son of Caleb and Samantha (Wager) Olmstead, whose biography is given on another page. He was still in childhood when his parents removed to De Kalb County, and he remained at home until about 22 years of age, having been engaged for nearly three years previous in farming on shares. He pros- pected some time for a satisfactory location, and event- ually located on 120 acres in the township where he has since been a citizen. His estate now comprises 440 acres of land, nearly all under improvement. His farm stock includes about 100 head of cattle and 20 horses, and he sends to market annually an aver- age of 50 hogs. Mr. Olmstead has been identified with the interests and issues of the Republican party since he became eligible to the privileges of citizen-

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Chauncey Ellwood

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ship, and he has officiated in several local positions. His marriage to. Susan E. Siglin took place Jan. 15, 1868, in Elgin, Kane Co., Ill. She was born Feb. 7, 1843, in Pennsylvania, and is .the fourth in order of birth of 10 children born to her parents, Jacob and Hannah J. (Setzer) Siglin. Her brothers and sisters were named Rachel, Mary, Jacob, John, Josiah, Tayler, Michael, Jennie and Ella. Her par -. ents were pioneers of De Kalb County and still re- side at Sycamore.

on. Chauncey Ellwood, Mayor of Sycamore (1885). The portrait of this gentleman, which appears on the opposite page, is a most fitting accompaniment to the PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF DE KALB COUN- Ty, from the relations he sustains to its citizens and from the fact that he has been a resident within its borders for more than a quarter of a century. He has been a landholder at Sycamore since 1837, when he entered a claim to 80 acres of Government land, receiving his patent for the same dated the 10th day of July, 1844, and signed by the President, John Tyler. His residence is located on a portion . of this land now included within the incorporated limits of Sycamore. The comparative condition of the now beautiful city with those primitive days may 'be estimated from the fact that, when Mr. Ellwood removed hither in 1858, a broad field of wheat fronted on what is now one of the main thoroughfares of Sycamore.

Mr. Ellwood was born Dec. 24, 1816, in Minden, Montgomery Co., N. Y., and is the son of Abraham and Sarah (Delong) Ellwood. The former was born Nov. 7, 1792, in Montgomery County, and was a farmer in the early years of his life ; a respected citi- zen, having filled various town offices in the town where he resided in New York State; an active busi- ness man, having constructed several sections upon the New York Central Railroad and also upon the enlargement of the Erie Canal, and in the latter years of his life carried on the cooperage busi- ness. He died at Sycamore, whither he and wife re- moved in 1856, his demise occurring August 24,

1872. The mother died at Sycamore Jan. 18, 1879. She was born in Montgomery Co., N. Y., Feb.

23, 1795. Both parents belonged to hardy races, tenacious of life and of robust physical development, all of which characteristics are perpetuated in the present generation. The mediate ancestral stock had its origin in the sturdy, stalwart inhabitants that settled the valley of the Mohawk in the State of New York. Of eleven children born to Abraham Ellwood and his wife ten survive. Nancy, the oldest child, was married in Montgomery County, her native State, to Livingston D. Walrod, and removed to Sycamore after the birth of her first child, Joseph, in the fall of 1836. Her second son, James W. Walrod, now de- ceased, was the first white boy born at Sycamore in 1838. Malinda is the widow of Joseph Sixbury, and resides at the home of Mr. Ellwood, of this sketch, who is her immediate successor in the order of birth. A sketch of herself and husband will ap- pear upon another page in this volume. Eliza mar- ried Aaron Barringer, and, after his death, became the wife of O. Bowman. She is now a widow and a resident of Cherry Valley, Otsego County, N. Y. Chauncey, Reuben, Alonzo, Livingston, Hiram, James E. and Isaac. L. were born in the order named. Chauncey, Reuben, Alonzo, James E., all re- side at Sycamore, and are represented in this work. Livingston is a physician in Schenectady, N. Y. Hiram and Isaac L., both prominent business men at the city of De Kalb, are the subjects of biographical sketches in the ALBUM of this county. Alida, young- est child, married E. P. Young (deceased), the record of whose life may be found on another page.

Mr. Ellwood acquired an academic education at Amsterdam, N. Y., carving out his educational course by his own exertions. While pursuing his studies, he conducted classes in mathematics, philosophy and the rudiments of Latin in the same institution, there- by paying his board and tuition. He went to the village of Frankfort, where his active temperament brought him into prominence through his interest in general and local political affairs. He was an ardent Whig, and in 1849 he secured the appointment of Postmaster at · Frankfort under President Taylor, and remained in the position through the administration of Millard Fillmore. He was elected Superintendent of Com- mon Schools at Frankfort for a number of years. He entered the law office of Judd & Cleland in the same village and read under their instructions until his ad- mission to the Bar of the Empire State, when he formed a business association with his junior pre-

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ceptor, and they established a legal practice at Frankfort, under the style of Cleland & Ellwood, their connection existing three years. Mr. Ellwood's wide-awake, alert, mental organization kept him always, so to speak, "on deck," and his readiness for any amount or quality of hard work pushed him into places of responsibility and effort, and during the years 1854-6 officiated as. Superintendent of section No. 5 on the Erie Canal, including a distance of 25 miles, and extending from Little Falls to Whitesboro, one of importance on the line of the canal, extend- ing through the city of Utica; and its gradual de- scent along the banks of the Mohawk to Little Falls necessitated numerous locks and created an enor- mous amount of labor every year.

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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 20

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

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