Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 32

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 32

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Mr. Treat is the second child of his parents, and has lived in Illinois since he was 15 years old. He became his "own man " when he was 19 years of age, and until his marriage was occupied as a farm assistant. He was united in marriage to Cordelia S. Culver, Oct. 13, 1846, at Westfield, N. Y., and they have had four children : George M. was born Dec. 6, 1847, in the township of Little Rock, Kendall Co., Ill .; Julius J. was born in Westfield, Dec. 13, 1851, and is engaged in fruit culture at Sunny Side, Spauld- ing Co., Ga .; Milton A., born Aug. 29, 1853, is a farmer near Spencer, Clay Co., Iowa; Nora L. was born Dec. 2, 1872, and died the same day.

The farm on which Mr. Treat is at present resi- dent has been his property since July, r860, when he made his first purchase of 120 acres. He now owns 140 acres on sections 5 and 8, and ten acres of tim- ber land in Squaw Grove Township; also 40 acres in Emmett Co., Mich., and 160 acres in Clay Co., Iowa. He is extensively interested in bee culture, and has an apiary of about 50 colonies. He obtains annually a considerable quantity of honey for market,

and also conducts a small dairy business. During six years his farm was rented, and he was for that period chiefly a resident of Sandwich. He has officiated 12 consecutive years as Commissioner of Highways.

His first wife died on the farm in Somonauk, May 19, 1878, and Mr. Treat was again married Dec. 25, 1879, to Eliza D. Olds, who was born May 6, 1837, in the State of New York. The paternal grandpar- ents of Mr. Treat, Charles and Hope Treat, were of pure Yankee extraction. The grandfather was a sol- dier in the Revolutionary struggle.

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A Iva Clark, farmer and stockman on section 32, Franklin Township, is the son of Gilbert and Miranda (Stevens) Clark, who were natives of Ontario, Can. They were farmers in the Dominion, where the mother died when 45 years of age. The father died in Michigan at the age of 60 years. Mr. Clark was thrown upon his own resources when he was 13 years of age. He supported himself by work as a farm laborer, and at r7 years of age he went to Jefferson Co., N. Y., re- maining there three years, and going thence to Os- wego County in the same State, where he passed some time engaged in teaming. From that time until 1866 he was variously employed in different places, and in that year came to Illinois. He first made a permanent location in the township of Mon- roe in Ogle County, where he continued to live until 1879, the date of his becoming a land-holder in De Kalb County, where he purchased 120 acres on sec- tion 32 of Franklin Township. Of this he took pos- session in the same year. In his political preferences Mr. Clark is a Republican.

His marriage to Electa Van Voorhis took place Feb. 25, 1880, at Fielding. She is the daughter of George and Amy (Ferguson) Van Voorhis, natives of the State of New York. The daughter was born Dec. 10, 1854, in Booneville, Oneida Co., N. Y. Her father was a farmer, and both her parents were of German origin and ancestors, who were born in Dutchess Co., N. Y. Her mother died in Oneida County May 9, 1863, where her father still lives and where the daughter was a resident until she was 15 years of age. She was a good scholar, and at that

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age began teaching, which she pursued in her native county until 1877, when she came to Fielding. She was a teacher there and in Ogle County two years previous to her marriage. Gilbert V., the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Clark, was born June 16, 1883.

hilip G. Young, a coal and lumber mer- chant at De Kalb, was born in the town of Stark, Herkimer Co., N. Y., May 19, 1828. The first 30 years of his life were passed in his native county, and he came to Illinois about 1858, first settling on a farm in Ogle County, which he conducted three years. In 1861 he bought 80 acres of land in the township of De Kalb, which he managed with shrewdness and in- dustry, adding to its extent until he was the proprie- tor of 320 'acres, and of which he held the ownership until the spring of 1884, the date of his removal to his present place of abode, when he sold his estate. In April, 1883, Mr. Young formed his present busi- ness relation with David D. Brown, for the purpose of trade in coal and lumber, the firm taking the style of Brown & Young.

Mr. Young is a Democrat in political faith and ac- tion. He has been active in local school matters and has officiated as Alderman of De Kalb four years, he having been a resident of the city from 1873 to 1878; he then returned to the farm.

He was married Oct. 20, 1856, in Herkimer Co., N. Y., to Elmira Chrissman, a native of the Empire State. They have two children,-Wolstine D., born March 21, 1860, and Phila E., born Dec. 13, 1862.

illiam G. Beveridge, farmer on section 5, Somonauk Township, was born in the place where he is a resident, July 30, 1853. His father, Thomas G. Beveridge, was born April 9, 1822, in Greenwich, Wash- ington Co., N. Y., and was the son of George and Ann (Hoy) Beveridge, who were pioneer settlers of Somonauk. (See sketch of Hon. J. H. Beveridge.) Thomas G. Beveridge married Elizabeth Irwin, who was born Dec. 18, 1827, in Washington ,Co., N. Y.,

and they became the parents of three children. James H. was born May 2, 1856, and died April 2, 1857. Anna M. is the wife of R. R. Brown, of Clin- ton Township, De Kalb County. She was born May 27, 1858. The father received 160 acres of land originally included in the vast tract that was pur- chased by George Beveridge. He died April 24, 1859, and his widow is an inmate of the family of the son who inherited the estate of his father.

Mr. Beveridge is the oldest child. He was mar- ried in Pana, Christian Co., Ill .. Dec. 15, 1880, to Ella M. Finley. Their children were born as fol- lows: Maggie, Dec. 18, 1881 ; and Thomas, March 20, 1884. The latter died six days after birth. Mrs. Beveridge was born May 31, 1855, in New Athens, Harrison Co., Ohio, and is the daughter of Thomas and Ellen Finley.

Mr. Beveridge has added by later purchase to his ancestral estate and is now the proprietor of 295 acres of excellent land. He has a valuable herd of graded Short-Horn cattle, which comprises 40 head.

evi F. Welty, a farmer on section 30, South Grove Township, was born in Oswego, Kendall Co., Ill., Nov. 30, 1848. His par- ents, Daniel and Diana (Ernest) Welty, were natives of Parry Co., Pa, and were of German lineage. Soon after their marriage, they came to Illinois and located primarily in Kendall County, removing thence to De Kalb County. Their stay in the latter was temporary, and they proceeded to Winnebago County. In 1868 they took up their per- manent abode in De Kalb County, where they bought a half section of land, established their homestead and passed the remainder of their lives there. The father died in March, 1882; the latter in October, 1881. They were aged 65 and 56 years respectively. The parents of Mr. and Mrs. Welty belonged to a representative class in De Kalb County who constitute its best type of citizenship, and they have left to their children the heritage of lives of worthy effort and a stainless, honorable name. They had nine children, born in the following order : Wil- liam H., Levi F., George W., Emma J., Lauretta, Charles D. and Samuel A. Those deceased were named Jeremiah E. and Alice.

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Alonzo Ellwood

DE KALB COUNTY.

331

In 1878 Mr. Welty formed a partnership with his brother George W. in the pursuit of agriculture, and they have operated successfully since that date in general farming and raising stock. They own 160 acres, all of which is under the best order of culti- vation, and forms a valuable piece of property. They are Republicans in political opinions.

Mr. Welty was married Dec. 27, 1883, at Hinckley, De Kalb County, to Mary A., daughter of J. K. and Rebecca (Eberly) Kuter. Her father is an insur- ance agent, and officiated six years as County Coro- ner. Mrs. Welty was born Dec. 28, 1859, in Pierce Township, and was reared and educated in the place of her birth.

lonzo Ellwood, merchant at Sycamore, is one of the pioneer business men of De Kalb County. He was born June 17, 1823, in the town of Canajoharie, Montgomery Co., N. Y., and is the son of Abraham and Sarah (De- long) Ellwood. (See sketch of Hon. Chaun- cey Ellwood, page 241, for further notice of parents.)

At the age of 15 years Mr. Ellwood went to Mo- hawk, Herkimer Co., N. Y., and served three years acquiring a knowledge of the manufacture of car- riages and sleighs, remaining several years as an employee in the establishment, where he was after- ward foreman for a number of years.

Mr. Ellwood went to California in the spring of 1852 and prosecuted placer-mining on the Middle Fork of the American River until 1854, when he re- turned home. In the spring of 1855 he came to Sycamore and commenced his business career by engaging as a clerk in the establishment of George Walrod. Six months later, associated with Willis Lott, he founded a hardware business. They con- ducted its affairs jointly about three years. In 1858 he purchased his partner's interest, and not long after admitted his brother Reuben to a partnership. In 1867 he sold his interest to the latter, and, in com- pany with Chauncey Ellwood and O. M. Bryan, he built a flax-mill, which is still in existence at Syca- more. Previous to the establishment of this enter- prise he had been appointed Assessor of United States Revenue; and, the duties of the position be- coming pressing, he sold his interest in the flax-

mill to Mr. Leonard Orendorf. In 1870, asso- ciated with Mr. N. C. Warren and Mr. James S. Waterman, he opened a hardware store at Syca- more, which was in existence four years. The estab- lishment with stock and fixtures was consumed by fire, involving a loss of $1 1,000, partly covered by an insurance of $8,000. Messrs. Ellwood and Warren became sole proprietors by purchase of the business relations and re-established the trade. A year later they sold out. Meanwhile, Mr. Ellwood had relieved himself of the burdens of the position of Assessor, which he had held eight years, and in company with his brothers, Chauncey and James E., erected two stores of the Central Block at Sycamore, which is two stories high above the basement, is 46 x 90 feet in size. The basement is utilized for business pur- poses and the upper story as offices.

Messrs. A. and J. E. Ellwood in 1857 embarked in the sale of drugs and groceries, which relation existed until 1881, when J. E. Ellwood sold his in- terest to George M. Sivwright, since which date the business and its connections have been conducted as at present. The stock is estimated at a cash value of $10,000, and includes staple and fancy groceries, drugs, crockery, paints, oils and other articles com- mon to similar establishments.

The local business relations of Mr. Ellwood have been commensurate with, and in the same public spirit which has pushed the general enterprises con- nected with Sycamore into prominence and success. He was one of the projectors and original stock- holders of the Sycamore & Cortland Railroad, and was Director of its affairs until it was transferred by sale to the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Com- pany. He was a stock-holder in the Marsh Har- vester Company and is now a stock-holder in the Marsh Binder Company. At the time of the organization of the R. Ellwood Manufacturing Com- pany, he became a stock-holder, and still remains one of its Directors. He is the owner of a consider- able interest in the Wisconsin & San Juan Min- ing Company, whose claims are situated on Henson Creek, Colorado, and is President of the corporation. The mines are advancing in development with flat- tering prospects of substantial results.

Mr. Ellwood is Vice-President of the Covenant Mutual Benefit Association of Illinois, which position he has occupied since 1879. The organization was established in 1877, and has more than 18,000 mem-

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bers at this date (1885). He is a heavy land-holder at various points, owning 360 acres in Hancock Co., Iowa, a valuable improved farm in Dallas Co., Iowa, and five acres of platted land in South Lawn, in the suburbs of Chicago.

He has been active and prominent in local polit- ical and official positions in the several places where he has resided. He served three years as Postmaster of Columbia, Herkimer Co., N. Y., and was Chairman of the Board of Village Trustees of Sycamore three years. By virtue of that office he became a Super- visor of his town. After the latter place was incor- porated as a city he was elected Alderman of the First Ward, and now occupies the position.

He became a niember of the Odd Fellows Order on attaining his majority, and has reached unusual prominence. In 1880 he was elected Deputy Grand Master of the State of Illinois, and was a candidate for Grand Master in the year following. His defeat was nominal, James S. Ticknor, of Rockford, receiv- ing the election by. a majority of 45 votes. He was a candidate again in 1882, and was elected at the annual session in Springfield by a majority of 1, 100. The order included at that date about 32,000 mem- bers, and during the year of Mr. Ellwood's incum- bency its membership increased nearly 3,000. He declined a proffered nomination in 1884 as Grand Representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge, a body whose scope includes the organizations of the world. Mr. Ellwood is also an active member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to the Knights Templar. While a resident of Herkimer County he was Captain of a company of Light Guards, which were ordered to report for duty in the war with Mexico, but the declaration of peace precluded the necessity of taking up arms, and the organization did not leave the State.

Mr. Ellwood's present wife was Mary M. Baker, to whom he was married Dec. 27, 1865. Three chil- dren were born to them,-Leana Maud, Glenn Baker and Ella Baker,-of whom only the first named sur- vives : she was born March 17, 1868. Mrs. Ellwood was born in Plato, Kane Co., Ill., and is the daugh- ter of L. M. and Sarah A. Baker. Her father was a pioneer farmer of that county.

The active business career of Mr. Ellwood is marked by the same industry, enterprise and persist- ent energy which characterize the brotherhood of which he is a member, and he is regarded as one of

the founders and principal allies of the substantial business interests of Sycamore. The quality of his public spirit is unquestioned, and the advantage of his judgment and efforts in furthering and sustaining the permanent welfare of the city is generally recog- nized and acknowledged. His portrait appears in this volume, with those of his five brothers, and is no less important in value to the community with whose general interest and well being he is identified.

saac Crill, farmer, resident at Fielding, Franklin Township, was born in Stark Township, Herkimer Co., N. Y., April 26, 1820. James Crill, his father, was a farmer of Herkimer Co., N. Y., and came West in 1844, settling in the township of Monroe, Ogle Co., Ill. Mr. Crill of this sketch accompanied his parents to Ogle County, being then 24 years of age, and he was married there March 20, 1856, to Eleanor Cole. They had two sons,-James E. and Joseph,-both of whom died in infancy. The household includes a foster child, Mary Houdeshell, born Dec. 25, 1860, in Perry Co., Pa. Mrs. Crill is the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Davis) Cole. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania, of Welsh and German ancestry. The daughter was born Aug. 10, 1822, in the Key- stone State, where her mother died, in 1831. She lived with her father until 1854, when she came to Lee Co., Ill., with two married cousins. She went later to Ogle County, where she resided two years previous to her marriage. After that event, Mr. and Mrs. Crill settled on a farm and entered into a part- nership with his brother, John I. Crill, in agricultural operations. Mr. Crill is owner of 440 acres of land, situated principally in Monroe Township, Ogle County.

Mr. Crill of this sketch is the owner of a hand- some residence in the village of Fielding, where he is also the proprietor of an elevator having a capacity of 13,000 bushels of grain. Mr. Crill is an active Republican, and exerts his influence in the interests of that element in politics. With his wife, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The grandparents of Mr. Crill were natives of

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Germany, and his parents settled primarily among the class of people in Herkimer County known to tradition and history as "Mohawk Dutch."

illiam C. Tuttle, an extensive dealer in lumber and all builders' materials, at Kirk- land, was born Dec. 6, 1818, in Berkshire Co., Mass. David Tuttle, his father, was born in Massachusetts, and in 1822 emi- grated to Genesee Co., N. Y., where he died in 1831, aged about 65 years. He was of New England lineage and became the owner of considerable prop- erty. The mother, Sally A. (Bowen) Tuttle, was also a native of the Bay State and died in Genesee Co., N. Y., in 1853. They had nine children.

Mr. Tuttle was the seventh child and was four years old when his parents removed with their family to Genesee County in the Empire State, and there he attended school until he was 15 years old. At that age he began to learn the trade of a carpenter, which he followed until 1852. In the spring of 1843 he came to the township and county where he is now resident, and where he was occupied at his business as a builder. In 1852 he went to Belvidere and es- tablished a mercantile enterprise, in which he was interested two years. At the end of that time he be- came engaged in a planing mill, terminating his rela- tions therewith in 1858. In 1858 he was elected County Treasurer on the Republican ticket, holding the incumbency two years. On the expiration of his term of office he followed his trade until 1868, operating as a contractor and builder, and in that year he went to Chicago and established himself in the same business, operating successfully until 1879. He returned thence to Kirkland, and there followed his trade two years. In 1882 he founded his present line of business interests. He owns a house and two lots in the village, and his transactions annually amount to $12,000.

Mr. Tuttle was married Jan. 1, 1840, in Genesee Co., N. Y., to Margaret De Mott. She was born Nov. 25, 1825, in that county, and there grew to woman- hood, when she came West with her husband. She died in Belvidere, Dec. 31, 1865, and was the mother of six children, two of whom are deceased. Rufus

was drowned Dec. 24, 1864, in the river at Belvidere while skating on the ice, by falling through an air- hole. Sarah married Mr. Chamberlain, a locomotive engineer residing at Memphis, Tenn., where she died. Those who are living are Daniel L., Harriet A., Addie and Huldah. Mr. Tuttle was married a second time Jan. 14, 1868, to Hattie Washburn, of Dixon, Lee Co., Ill. Mrs. Tuttle is a descendant of the cele- brated family named Washburn from Maine. She was born Oct. 16, 1837, in Paris, Oxford Co., Maine, and is the daughter of Luther and Abigail Washburn. Her parents came to De Kalb County before her arrival, and she lived with them until her marriage. Lena, first issue of the second marriage, died when a little more than 15 months old. Another child died in early infancy.

arren Gilchrist, farmer, resident on sec- tion 20, Franklin Township, was born . Dec. 19, 1839, at Hicks' Mills in the same township where he now lives. David M., his father, was born in Washington Co., N. Y., of Scotch parentage, and married Elizabeth Schoonmaker,.a native of Long Island. The family came West in 1837, after spending ten years of mar- ried life in the State of New York and Canada. Franklin Township was in its earliest days of pioneer life and history, and they were among its element of development and progress. The former died at his home in 1873, aged 73 years. The mother died in March, 1882, while visiting a son at Strawberry Point, Clayton Co., Iowa, at 77 years of age. Their chil- dren included five sons and a daughter.

Mr. Gilchrist is the third son and fourth child of his parents. He passed the years of his youth and early manhood on the farm of his father, which he helped to develop, meanwhile obtaining an education at the common schools. He was married May 30, 1877, to Henrietta, daughter of Silas B. and Elizabeth (Taylor) Roach. Her parents were born in Noble Co., Ohio, where also her birth occurred Oct. 20, 1853, and they settled on a farm on section 4 in Franklin Township, whither they removed in 1862. They are now members of the family of Mr. Gilchrist, and are aged respectively 54 and 56 years. Mrs. Gilchrist is the only surviving child of her parents. (An older

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child died in infancy.) She is the mother of two children,-Leafie, born Dec. 18, 1878, and Charles E., born May.23, 1881.

After his marriage Mr. Gilchrist, associated with his brother, Charles H. Gilchrist, assumed the man- agement of his father's homestead, and is a partial owner of 445 acres of land connected therewith. He is a consistent and straightforward Republican and has held several prominent local offices. He has been Supervisor two years and is present Justice of the Peace.

illiam Decker, farmer, section 16, South Grove Township, was born Nov. 30, 1835. in Crawford Co., Ohio. James Decker, his father, was born in New Jersey, in 1810, of New England parentage, and early in life went to Ohio, where he engaged in farming. In 1852 he removed to Ogle Co., Ill., whence he came after a stay of two years, to De Kalb County, and settled on section nine of South Grove Township. He died in September, 1859, aged 49 years. He be- came prominent in his township as a citizen and a farmer and lived an honored and useful life. The mother, Margaret Vanderhoff, was of similar birth and parentage, and resides still on the homestead, retaining at the age of 73, Nov. 28, 1884, her activity of mind and body to an uncommon degree.

Mr. Decker is next to the oldest of nine children in order of birth, and he passed the years of his minority in the acquisition of an education and in farm labor. At the age of 23 years he began to operate as an independent farmer on 40 acres of land deeded to him by his father, belonging originally to the family homestead. He pursued the duties of an agriculturist thereon until the second year of the Civil War. Aug. 14, 1862, he enlisted in Co. C. ro5th Ill. Vol. Inf. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and was in the mili- tary service of the United States until the close of the war, experiencing all the varieties, vicissitudes and triumphs of Sherman's campaign through Geor- gia and the Carolinas. Soon after taking the field, Mr. Decker was detailed for service in the quarter- master's department, and passed the entire period of

his enlistment there, receiving an honorable dis- charge June, 7, 1865.

On his return to civil life Mr. Decker resumed his agricultural relations, and has added 80 acres to his original ownership, making an aggregate of 120 acres. He is a prosperous farmer, engaged in the success- ful culture of the crops common to this section and in raising cattle of valuable grades. Mr. Decker is a Republican of decided type and has officiated in various township offices.

He was married Feb. 21, 1861, in South Grove Township, to Lizzie Shorey, and they have had five children, two of whom are deceased. Wm. Henry was born Sept. 2, 1864 ; Elnora, Oct 27, 1866; and Harvey E., Aug. 5, 1869. They have also raised one other child, Ursula Decker, who was the daughter of William and Margaret Decker, a cousin of Mr. Decker of this sketch. Her father died in New Jersey when she was two years old, and her mother was a second time married, and she was taken by Mr. Decker to bring up. She was born March 22, 1 863, in New Jersey, and died Jan. 30, 1885, in Iowa, where she had gone six weeks before her death. Her remains were brought to South Grove for burial.

MIs. Decker was born Sept. 7, 1844, in Oneida Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of Washington and Maria (Vanderwalker) Shorey. The former was born in Vermont and was by calling a farmer until his death, May 30, 1880. Her mother resides in Guthrie Co., Iowa.

ichard B. Spiers, M. D., physician and surgeon, resident at Kirkland, was born May 26, 1845, in Halton Co., Ont. He is the son of George A. and Isabella (Spiers) Spiers, both of whom were born in Ireland, and who came soon after their marriage to the Dominion of Canada. The former died not long after he settled in Halton County, where he was a pioneer. The mother is still living in that county.

Dr. Spiers, after the death of his father, became the charge of his uncle, Alexander Brown, whose wife was his maternal aunt. Mr. Brown was a Scotchman and lived in Halton County, engaged in farming. His foster-parents discharged their duty creditably and well, sending him to the grammar school, where he acquired an excellent fundamental

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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 32

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

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