Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 27

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 27

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).

Mr. Marsh was but eight years old when he was placed at St. Andrews School, and two years later entered Victoria College, where he was a student three years. In 1849 the family circumstances ne- cessitated immediate activity ; and its members, con- sisting of the father, mother, two sons and a daughter, born in 1838, came to De Kalb County and settled on 110 acres of land, which had been purchased for them in 1847 by an uncle. It was situated on sec- tion 18, and soon after taking possession of the place another tract of similar acreage was purchased on another section. The entire quantity of land in both purchases consisted of unbroken prarie, and was the scene of unremitting labors of the father and sons for nearly eight years.

In 1857 began the experiments from which resulted the machine which will be the medium of transmit-

ting the name of Marsh to posterity as it merits, and in his connection with that invention Mr. Marsh at- tained all the distinction he craved, and found in its ultimate success the satisfaction of achieving a pur- pose worth the devotion of a life-time of effort. The idea upon which the Marsh Harvester was founded grew from the observation that a man could bind a bundle of grain while another was being cut; and the idea that followed was the necessity of moving with the cutting apparatus in order to receive the sundered grain at the opportune moment. The years of experiment and struggle that followed and their results are given elsewhere, and form one of the most interesting reminiscences possible.

One incident, which was a memorable one to Mr. Marsh of this sketch, is worthy of special note, as it was a momentous occasion for De Kalb County, as well as to the central figure therein. The test of the Marsh Harvester took place on the farm of Clark Barber, north of the village of De Kalb, in the pres- ence of hundreds of spectators. Numberless reaping machines were in the contest, among which were the pioneer wire and cord binders, both of which proved failures. But the Marsh machine asserted the value of the principles upon which it is based and achieved a complete triumph. Mr. Marsh of this sketch occu- pied the platform, and in 50 minutes bound the grain cut on an acre, accomplishing the work with the utmost ease.

The Marsh Harvester was thenceforward a recog- nized fact. On the establishment of their business as manufacturers, the financial interests and all re- lations specially pertaining to that branch of the busi- ness naturally fell under the supervision of C. W. Marsh, the mechanical portion becoming the charge of W. W. Marsh. The latter has been deeply in- terested for a long term of years in the invention of farm machinery, and with his brother and others has been the patentee of numberless principles and applications pertaining to agricultural implements. He has invented about a score of harvester appli- ances, and nearly as many more in other directions, including binders, windmills, plows, cultivators, wire- stretchers, paint-mill, corn-cutters, corn-huskers, etc. He has also constructed several mechanical ap- purtenances which have remained unpatented and are now in common use, among which is the bal- loon harvester wheel.

On the establishment of the Marsh Harvester

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

John Heath

DE KALB COUNTY.

291

shops at Sycamore, Mr. Marsh fixed his residence in the city. In 1873 he purchased the grounds where he built his residence, which include about 12 acres and constitute an attractive and valuable homestead. With the spacious and beautiful family mansion, they are valued at $15,000. His marriage to Mrs. M. J. Smith occurred Jan. 8, 1871, in Chi- cago, and of their union two children have been born,-William W. and Sarah Alma. Mrs. Marsh is the daughter of Rufus and Sarah D. Brown. They are among the pioneer settlers of Chicago.

· Mr. Marsh is a Republican in political opinions and connections. In 1873 he was elected Alderman of Sycamore and continued to serve in that capacity five years. He did much effective business in ob- taining high license, which was afterward adopted . and is at. present (1885) operative in Sycamore.

eorge F. Schoonmaker, farmer and dairy- man, section 32, Franklin Township, was born on the same section, in the same township, Feb. 3. 1856. An account of his parents is included in the sketch of his father, J. M. Schoonmaker, which may be found on another page of this work. He was brought up as a farmer's son under the direction of his father, acquir- ing a practical knowledge of the details of agriculture, and obtaining a common-school education. At the age of 16 years he entered the High School at Syca- more, where he completed a full course of study and was graduated in June, 1875, being one of the first to pursue and finish the prescribed course in that insti- tution. 'He was thenceforward engaged in teaching winters and farming summers for some years.

He finally determined on a permanent settlement in life and was married March 4, 1878, to Florence Amelia Ellis, at Fielding. Her parents, Gilbert and Caroline (Childs) Ellis, were of Eastern origin and her mother is yet living. Her father died at Field- ing. Dec. 26, 1883. He was a cabinet-maker by trade. The daughter was born Nov. 6, 1853, in Virgil. Township, Kane Co., Ill. She was a resident in her native county until she was in years old, when her parents removed to Sycamore, where she entered school and completed her education when 16 years of age. She then became a member of the family of

a sister at Fielding, where she continued to reside chiefly until her marriage. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Schoonmaker includes two children : Flora B., born Dec. 23, 1878; and Blanche M., born Oct. 5, 1880. They are residents on the paternal home- stead, and Mr. Schoonmaker is the owner of 110 acres situated in. South Grove Township. He is a Steward in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is also Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is a decided Republican in political faith and action.

ohn Heath, farmer, section 34, Genoa Town- ship, has been a resident of De Kalb County since 1846, and a landholder in the township of which he is now a citizen since 1848. . He first secured a claim of 80 acres, and has since increased his estate by the later purchase of 92 acres additional. Of the entire tract, 160 acres have been placed under an excellent type of culture.

In political creed and action he adopts the princi- ples and issues of the Republican party. He has discharged the duties of Supervisor, of Genoa Town- ship five years and acted as the incumbent of several other official positions.

He was born Feb. 19, 1817, in Argyle, Washington Co., N. Y. His parents, Isaac and Elizabeth (Alger) Heath, were natives respectively of New Jersey and Vermont. They had nine children, of whom Mr. Heath is fifth in order of birth. At the age of 20 years he engaged as a deck-hand on a sloop plying on the North, or Hudson River, and was occupied in that vocation two years. His next venture took him to New Orleans, where he passed two years tending bar, returning thence to his native State, where he remained two years and came thence in June, 1846, to De Kalb County.

The first marriage of Mr. Heath, to Elizabeth McQuarie, took place in Chatham, Ont., May 24, 1846. She was a native of New York, and became the mother of three children,-Webster, Eliza and Diana. The youngest child died when two months old. The mother died July 24, 1859. Mr. Heath was a second time married Jan. 24, 1860, in Genoa Township, to Hannah Shurtliff, a native of Canada.

292

DE KALB COUNTY.

The five children born of this union are named Libby, Mabel, Lillian, Emily and John. The latter died when he was 16 years of age.

A fine lithographic portrait of Mr. Heath is given on a preceding page. He is one of the old residents of his township, and justly entitled to be classed among his representative citizens. The picture from "which the portrait is engraved was taken in 1883.

ames C. Wright, farmer on the southwest quarter of section 30, Cortland Township, was born near Manchester, Lincolnshire, England, July 2, 1826. Two years afterward his parents, William and Elizabeth (Credland) Wright, emigrated with their three children to America and located in Vernon Township, Oneida Co., N. Y., on a farm of 50 acres,-land once owned by the Oneida Indians. Mr. W. failed to pay for this farm, and leaving his family there for a time, he came to St. Charles, Kane Co., Ill., in 1834. Being a first- class mechanic, he worked as a wheelwright and in other capacities of a similar nature, and in a year and a half he brought his family to St. Charles, the whole distance from New York State in a one-horse wagon! On this were stowed a wife, three children, two beds, cooking utensils, etc. They were nine weeks on the road. Father and two eldest sons walked the entire distance! Only two nights did the family sleep in a house, and all their meals were cooked by the roadside. They landed at St. Charles about the first of November.

The following fall the father died, and James C. and his brother, who had gone out to work for their living, returned to aid in sustaining the family; but, their mother marrying again, the subject of this sketch started out into the world to take care of himself, being then only 13 years of age. First he was a farm laborer for two years, receiving $6 a month and board, then for two years $9 a month, by which time he had saved from his earnings $50; then for a year St2 a month, three years $11 a month, working for Henry Wager, then for Jerry Brown two years at SII a month, when he purchased 52 acres of land, going $600 in debt. Subsequently he bought 40 acres more of I. R. Hamlin, running again in debt $600, then 40 acres of Mr. Royce, incurrring another debt

of $600, then 23 acres of E. S. Root, incurring a debt of $1,400, and finally, in 1867, sold out and went with the family to California, by the water route, where he resided four years. He bought 1,450 acres of land there of the Government, and raised grain and live stock, having of the latter 107 head.of cat- tle, 400 hogs and a few horses; but he finally ex- changed that farm for his old one here in Illinois. In his travels he has crossed the Atlantic Ocean twice, and the Pacific Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Central America and the Isthmus of Panama each once,- the latter requiring eight days.

Mr. Wright, Feb. 26, 1854, married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Nicholas and Diana (Wager) Wilbur, the latter of whom are deceased. Mrs. W. died in California, March 20, 187 r, leaving one child, Albert, who was born June 18, 1869, in the Golden State, in Sutter County, on the banks of the Sacramento River. Sept. 3, 1873, Mr. W. married Harriet L., daughter of Silas and Clarissa (Converse) Whitmore, neither of whom is now living. She was born June 22, 1842,in the State of New York.

Mr. Wright's father died in St. Charles, Ill., about Sept. 1, 1837, and his mother in January, 1852, on the county poor farm, her second husband, James Cortwright taking possession of the farm in 1840: he died about 1857. Both of Mr. Wright's parents were of English descent.

The subject of this sketch is a Republican in his political principles. While in California he was a Justice of the Peace. Both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Church. Although Mr. W. has always been a farmer, in his younger days, before he became settled, he studied some for the ministry, then began to learn the blacksmith's trade, and then the wagon-maker's, when he finally deter- mined upon farming.

Isey P. Young, a former resident and prominent citizen of De Kalb, now de- ceased, was born July 21, 1819, at Mans- field, Ohio. He was the son of John and Elizabeth (Logan) Your.g, members of the agri- cultural class, and Mr. Young obtained a prac- tical knowledge of that calling in early life. He found the duties and burdens of an agricultural life

DE KALB COUNTY.

293

distasteful, and essayed teaching ; but feeling that eminence in that profession could be attained only through the medium of a liberal education, he de- termined on testing the gist of Bishop Berkeley's famous words, "Westward the course of empire takes its way," and seek advancement in the fields of promise situated in the direction of the setting sun.

He left his early home and associations, and arrived in Sycamore in 1839, where he soon after be- came associated in a mercantile enterprise with James S. Waterman. He married Caroline Water- man, the sister of his partner, in 1846. The house which Mr. Young built about that date, at Sycamore, is still in existence, on the premises of Hon. Reuben Ellwood. His wife died in 1852, after becoming the mother of two children, a daughter and a son. The latter died in infancy; the former, when in the bloom of early womanhood, aged 20 years.

In 1847 Mr. Young officiated as Sheriff of De Kalb County. In 1854 he was a merchant at Albion, Ind., associated with Mr. H. Day, his brother-in-law. Early in 1856 he transferred his stock of goods and his business to De Kalb Center, and in the same year he married Alida L. Ellwood. Two daughters formed the issue of the second marriage, the elder of whom died at four years of age, the younger when nine months old.

In 1860, in partnership with Dr. Rufus Hopkins, he established a banking enterprise at De Kalb, in which he was interested to the time of his death. That event transpired at Hot Springs, Ark., March 14, 1874.

The life and character of Mr. Young were such as command general respect, and he left to the citizens of the county where he was a resident over 40 years the record of an honorable and upright career and a stainless name.

icholas Lanan, farmer on section 22, May- field Township, is a son of John and Mar- garet Lanan, who were natives of Belgium. In their family were Nicholas, John, Henry Joseph and Catherine. The first mentioned was born in that country, Dec. 21, 1817, and came to America in the fall of 1833; after a perilous voyage of three months and three days, he landed in New

York, and remained in that State four years and a half; he then came to Illinois, in a sailing vessel from Buffalo to Chicago. The lakes were very rough during the entire voyage. He then came by wagon to De Kalb County, and purchased a quarter of sec- tion 22, Mayfield Township, where he still resides. He is therefore one of the first pioneers now living." At present he owns 190 acres, most of which is in a state of good cultivation. He raises cattle, horses and hogs.

He was married in Chicago, Ill., Nov. 13, 1851, to Phillipine Becker, who was born in Germany, in October, 1818, and came to America with her mother, Mary Ann (Hoffman) Becker, her father Nicholas Becker having died when she was a child. Her mother was a second time married, in Germany. After coming to America she settled in Chicago, where she died, Nov. 28, 1878.

Mr. and Mrs. Lanan are the parents of seven chil- dren : Mary was born June 29, 1852, and was mar- ried in April, 1872, to John Delles; Elizabeth was born Nov. 7, 1854, and married William Gregory in November, 1882; Margaret was born Feb. 18; 1856, and married John Witte, in May, 1877 ; Catherine was born July 15, 1857, and was married in May, 1876, to August Ullrich; John was born Jan. 24, 1858.

athan Lattin, senior member of the firm of N. & D. B. Lattin, dealers in coal, Batavia stone, etc., at Sycamore, was born May 2, 1834, in the township of Veteran, Chemung Co., N. Y. His father, Ransom Lattin, was born March 19, 1797, in Fairfield Co., Conn., and was married in 1828, to Almy C. Crawford. She was a native of Saratoga Co., N. Y., and died in Veteran, at the age of 82 years. The senior Lattin died in the same township Feb. 14, 1883. They be- came the parents of eight children. Daniel B. is a farmer in Afton Township. Mary W. is the wife of M. L. Egbert, of Horseheads, N. Y. Parthenia died in infancy. Melissa E. married Peter A. Miller and died in 1859. Clarissa died in 1867. Carmi held the homestead and was the custodian of the comfort of his parent's closing years. Sydney is a farmer of Shabbona Grove.

Mr. Lattin is the fourth child of his parents, and

DE KALB COUNTY.

294 .

was reared at home on the farm. His elder brother had come to De Kalb County about 1854, and he came to Sycamore in April, 1857. He engaged in the purchase and sale of stock and grain, in which he has passed the intervening years of his life to this date (1885). In the fall of 1882 he admitted his brother, D. B. Lattin, to a partnership. The coal trade of the firm is about 3,000 tons annually, and their traffic in grain is proportionally heavy. Their warehouses are situated on De Kalb Avenue, opposite the depot, and are conveniently located on each side of the railroad track.

Mr. Lattin has been prominent and efficient in local positions of trust and responsibility in the municipal affairs of Sycamore. He officiated as Alderman several years, and held the office of Mayor . of the city four years,-from 1877 to 1881. From 1874 to 1878 he was Supervisor of Sycamore Town- ship.

The marriage of Mr. Lattin to Mary H., daughter of Stephen and Miriam T. Bemis, took place in De Kalb Township, Dec. 24, 1857. Of this union three children have been born: Judson, now a student in the mechanical and military departments of the In- dustrial University at Champaign; Clara L., a teacher in the graded school at Sycamore; and Fred, acting as assistant in the business of N. & D. B. Lattin.

hilip King, a farmer on section 9, Mayfield Township, is a son of William and Mary (Fy) King, natives of Germany, who emi- grated to America in an early day and settled in Crawford Co., Ohio, where they died. They had ten children,-Lana, Abraham, Philip, Jacob, Margaret, Susan, Barbara, William, Mary and Henry.

Mr. King was born in Germany April 26, 1826, and was six years old when his parents came with him to America. He served an apprenticeship of three years to learn the trade of shoemaking, which he followed till 1848, when he came to this county and pre-empted 80 acres in Mayfield Township, on the section where he still resides. At present he owns 208 acres, with about 190 in a fine state of cul- tivation. He has held the offices of Overseer of

Highways and School Director, and in his political principles he is a Democrat.

. He was first married in Kingston Township, this county, Feb. 2, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Dawalt) Coonfair, who were natives of Pennsylvania. She had two children- William and Mary E .- and died Sept. 15, 1856, in Mayfield Township; and Mr. King was again mar- ried, Oct. 15, IS58, in Crawford Co., Ohio, to Miss Maria, daughter of Solomon and Rosa A. (Lutz) Scott, who also were natives of the Keystone State. The latter had 11 children,-Maria, Jane, Amelia, William, Laura, Ellen, Harriet, John, Ann, Chris- topher and Amanda. Mrs. King was born in Craw- ford Co., Ohio, Sept. 15, 1S41, and the children of Mr. and Mrs. K. are Rosa A., Henry D., Margaret J., Frank P., Orilla L., Laura D. and Amelia,-seven in number.

illon S. Brown, member of the banking house of Brown & Brown at Genoa, was born May 12, IS52, in the township of Genoa. Jeremiah L. Brown, his father, was a native of Scarborough; Maine, and was twice mar- ried. His first wife, Judith (Richardson) Brown, bore seven children, two of whom are de- ceased. The survivors are James P., Jeremiah W. (see sketch), Judith. Esther E. and Abigail J. The mother died in Genoa Township, and the father married Eliza A. Jackman. Four children were born of the second marriage,-Emma R., Dillon S., Charles A. (see sketch) and Lizzie M. The senior Brown removed his family to Illinois and settled in Genoa Township in the fall of 1837, engaging in farming. He died Jan. 5. 1882.

D. S. Brown attended school until the age of 25 years, residing on the home farm during his vaca- tions : graduated a: the Illinois Industrial University in the spring of 18;5 and from the Montreal Veter- inary College at Montreal, Canada, in 1877, from which time he practiced his profession at Sycamore until the spring of ISSo, when he became interested in a mercantile enterprise at Genoa, associated with H. H. Slater. The relation was terminated at the end of a year by the withdrawal of Mr. Brown. In May, 1882, he inaugurated his present business en-

DE KALB COUNTY.

295

terprise, forming a partnership with his brother, Charles A. Brown. The venture has proved satisfac- tory, and the firm have gained a substantial reputa- tion in the management of financial matters.

Mr. Brown was married May 16, 1878, to Emily E. Pond. Their children were born as follows: Claude, Earl and a child who died in infancy. Mrs. Brown is the daughter of A. H. and Amy N. (Hollembeak) Pond, who were natives of Pennsylva- nia, where she also was born.

Mr. Brown is a Republican in political faith and action. He has served as Village Trustee and as President of the Board.

eorge Kleinsmid, hardware merchant at Sandwich, was born June 26, 1831, in the Prussian province of Westphalia. . Bern- hard Kleinsmid, his father, died when he was a child of three years, leaving the family to the care of the mother, Mary Kleinsmid, who brought her children to the American continent in 1848, when her son George was 17 years of age. They located in Cincinnati, where he learned the business of a shoemaker, and was occupied in the prosecution of the trade at that point until 1851, in which year he removed to Chicago. He was simi- larly employed in that city for some time, but, find- ing his health affected by confinement, he engaged as a salesman in a hardware store, and acquired a thorough knowledge of the details and specialties of that vocation. He came to Sandwich in 1856 and established a hardware enterprise, associated with George L. Ismon. Their relations were suddenly and disastrously terminated a little less than three years later by the simultaneous disappearance of Mr. Ismon and all available resources in the way of cash. Mr. Kleinsmid collected his courage and suf- ficient means to again establish his business, which he opened in 1859, and has since conducted with satisfactory results. His stock represents an average estimate of $12,000, and he transacts annually a large amount of business in all the branches connected · with his establishment. He employs several tinners and one general assistant. Two sons act as sales-

men when occasion demands. The business block in which he operates was built by him in 1864, and is 24 X 105 feet in dimensions. It is constructed of brick and is three stories in height above the base- ment. Mr. Kleinsmid is a pioneer in his business, which is of nearly 30 years' standing, and was one of the earliest established in De Kalb County. He is the owner of a handsome brick residence, two stories in height, having a tin mansard roof and containing 20 rooms. The adjoining grounds contain nearly three acres of land, and the place is among the most attractive at Sandwich. Mr. Kleinsmid owns also two acres in the north part of the city devoted to nursery purposes, and a tenement house and lot.

He was united in marriage in Chicago, Oct. 18, 1855, to Louisa, daughter of Gotleib Simon, of Waldo, Wis. (Her father is still living and is a nona- genarian.) Of their union 13 children have been born. Louisa and Frank, the two oldest, are de- ceased. The survivors are George, Bertha, Raymond, Lucretia, Lilly, Walter, Austin, Rufus, James, Maud and Mabel.

2 amuel Stephens, retired farmer, residing at Genoa, is the son of Benjamin and Eliz- abeth Stephens, and was born Sept. 6, 1809, in Pennsylvania, his father being a na -. tive of the same State. His mother was born in Ireland. Mr. Stephens is one of a family of seven children, and when he was three years of age his parents removed to Ohio, where they resided about five years, going thence to Indiana. They came to DeKalb County in 1837 and located in the township of Kingston. He has been a resident in various parts of De Kalb County and has owned land in different localities, which he has disposed of with the exception of 80 acres, which he still holds. In 1882 he retired from active farming life, his resi- dence being in Genoa village, where he has lived since 1837.

His first marriage occurred in Woodstock, Mc- Henry Co., Ill., where he formed a matrimonial

296

DE KALB COUNTY.

alliance with Rebecca Patterson, a native of Penn- sylvania. Of their union one son was born, Joseph B. Stephens, who is a resident of Sycamore and officiating in the capacity of State's Attorney of De Kalb County. The mother died at Genoa. Mr. Stephens was a second time married, in Genoa Town- ship, Dec. 14, 1852, to Philena, daughter of Allen and Sophronia Crocker. The latter was born in the State of New York, the former in Massachusetts. They were among the pioneer settlers of Genoa Township, and died at the home of Mr. Stephens in the village of Genoa. Mrs. Stephens is second in order of birth of six children born to her parents, and her birth occurred April 1, 1830, in Genesee Co., N. Y. She has been the mother of two children. Her- bert, the oldest, died when he was nearly four years of age. The second child died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens are members of the Advent Church. He is a Prohibitionist in political principle. He has acted eight years as Justice of the Peace, and has been a member of the Village Board of Trustees of Genoa.

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.

Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 27

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

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