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 34
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from home his efficient wife conducted the affairs of the farm, to which she gave her personal oversight and aid. They are zealous and effective members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. S. has been Steward and Class-leader eight years.
Heis a Republican and has been Trustee of his township several years and Assessor two terms.
Karrison Mackey, farmer, section 11, May- field Township, is a native of the Empire State. His parents, Levi and Rebecca (Scott) Mackey, natives also of that State, passed their entire lives there. He was of
- German ancestry, and died about 1858, and she, of American parentage, died in June, 1838. They had eight children,-John, Julia A., Griffin, Gilman, Harriet, Harrison, Thorn M. and Mary J.
The subject of this sketch was born in Ulster Co., N. Y., April 22, 1813, and when 15 years of age he left home and proceeded to Orange Co., N. Y., for the purpose of learning the blacksmith trade, in which he was apprenticed for nearly four years. Next he followed his trade nearly a year in New Jersey, then, in succession, he spent several months in his native county, in business for himself in Orange County again for six years, and in the spring of 1839 he emigrated to this county and settled in Mayfield Township, where he has ever since resided, spending portions of three years, however, in Orange County. Heis now the possessor of more than 500 acres of land in Mayfield and Sycamore Townships. He is now occupying part of his land, keeping 30 to 40 head of cattle, r2 head of horses, and fattens yearly 25 to 50 head of hogs.
Mr. Mackey has held many local offices and is one of the leading pioneers of De Kalb County, coming here before the land was surveyed. About the year 1855 an effort was made to establish in Mayfield Township a postoffice to be known as "Mayfield," with Mr. M. as Postmaster; but within a year the office was discontinued, as the circumstances were found not to justify its establishment. Politically, Mr. Mackey is identified with the Democratic party.
He was first married in Orange Co., N. Y., about 1834, to Mary Hall, a native of Sullivan Co., N. Y. By this marriage there were three children,-Mary
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R., Eliza J. and Julia A. The last mentioned died April 8, 1869. Mrs. M. died in Mayfield Township, Jan. 22, 1856, and MI. Mackey was again married, in York State, June 18, 1857, to Mrs. Eliza (Bond) Westlake, widow of Benjamin Westlake, who died in Orange Co., N. Y., Nov. 18, 1853. By her former inarriage there have been seven children,-David B., Milton G., Hannah E., Mary A., Charlotte W., John O. and Morris H. Milton G. died when nearly 21 years of age. Mrs. Mackey was born in Orange Co., N. Y., Dec. 1, 1811. By the present marriage there are no children.
organ Losee, retired farmer, resident on section 20, Franklin Township, was born Dec. 14, 1811, in the township of Ghent, Columbia Co., N. Y .. His father, David Losee, was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., was a farmer in Columbia Co., N. Y., for a time, and married Mariam Griffin, who was born in Dutchess County. They settled in Saratoga County in 1820,. locating about seven miles from the celebrated min- eral springs. There the mother died when she was 80 years of age. David Losee came later in life to reside with his son, but returned to Saratoga County and died there at 88 years of age.
Morgan was about eight years of age when he ac- companied his parents to Saratoga County, and he was there educated in the elementary English branches. He was also married there to Hannah E. Forbes, who was born Oct. 15, 1811, and died in Niagara County Dec. 22, 1837, leaving an infant daughter, Hannah E., who is now the wife of Nelson Dela- vergne. (See sketch.) Mr. Losee was a second time married in Warsaw, Wyoming Co., N. Y., July 4, 1841, to Phebe A. Buck. She was born Oct. 10, 1820, and is the daughter of Ransom D. and Betsey (Baker) Buck, who were natives of Vermont. The former was born May 15, 1795, and died Jan. 16, 1830. The latter was born Nov. 22, 1800, and died Nov. 22, 1845. They settled in Oxford, Ont., after their marriage. Later they went to Allegany Co., N. Y., where the father died when the daughter was 10 years old, and on that event transpiring she went to Vermont and was cared for by her maternal grand- parents until the second marriage of her mother to
J. B. Noble, with whom she resided until her own marriage. The mother died in Wyoming Co., N. Y., in 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Losee came West in 1842, and first located in Rockford, remaining there but a few months and removing thence to sections 19 and 20 in the township of Franklin, De Kalb County. They secured 160 acres of land, half of which was located on each of the sections named, and the fam- ily residence was erected on section 20. At the time Mr. Losee made the claim the land was all in an unimproved condition. It has all been placed under the best improvements, and is a valuable and desira- ble place. Mr. Losee and his wife have retired from active life, and are enjoying the fruits of years of ex- ertion and frugality in the society of their daughter and her family. Mr. L. is a Republican, and holds to decided religious sentiments, although not a mem- ber of any denominational body. He and his wife are the parents of three children. Ransom B., born June 14, 1842, is an engineer on the Illinois Central Railroad and resides in Amboy, Lee County. Lyons E. was born July 1, 1845. He is a farmer in Doug- lass Township, Bremer Co., Iowa. Ophelia E. mar- ried Frank Sharp, a fårmer in Gove Co., Kan. She was born Nov. 18, 1849.
ohn Lloyd, farmer, section 27, South Grove Township, was born May 9, 1827, in Pem- brokeshire, South Wales, and is the son of John Lloyd. His father was superintendent in a colliery, and died in his native country, about 1868. His mother, Theodocia (Davis) Lloyd, died in Wales, leaving two children. Thomas, the elder son, was a farmer and died in his native land.in 1876.
Mr. Lloyd is the only living representative of his family, and remained in Wales until 1852. He ob- tained a good education, and at the age of 17. years he began to work as a carpenter under a manager, spending three years in his apprenticeship, and work- ing as a builder at home until his emigration to the United States. He landed at the port of New York, and soon after came West, making his first stop in Kane Co., Ill., where he followed his trade six years. In 1858 he came to De Kalb County and purchased 80 acres of land on section 22, in the same township,
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where he has since been a resident. He sold his first purchase, and bought 330 acres on which he has since resided. His farm is of great value, supplied with buildings of superior character, and well stocked. Mr. Lloyd is a Republican in political opinion, and has held the minor offices of the township.
He was married July 24, 1850, in Wales, to Cath- erine Jones, a native of that country. Her father was a man of ability and integrity, and held a re- sponsible position as cashier in a colliery. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd, ten children have been born, six of whom are living. Anna was married Sept. 20, 1872, to Stephen Worden, a farmer of South Grove. Henrietta was married in 1881, to William Adee, also a farmer in South Grove Township. Bertha is the wife of Benjamin Worden. Edith Phina and Myrta are the names of the younger chil- dren. Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd are communicants in the Established Church of England.
ipple A. Harrington, member of the mer- cantile firm of Gardner & Harrington, doing business at Kirkland, was born Nov. 7, 1844, in Franklin Township, and is the son of Sidney P. and Polly (Hicks) Har- rington, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Harrington obtained his primary edu- cation in the district schools and studied afterwards at Beloit College, Wis. Later on he went to Rock- ford, where he was graduated in the commercial de- partment of the schools of that city.
On completing his education, associated with his brother-in-law, E. Gardner, now of Rochelle, Ill., he established a trade in agricultural implements at Cherry Valley, Boone Co., Ill. After operating one year they exchanged their relations in that enterprise for wild land in Chickasaw Co., Iowa.
Mr. Harrington was married Jan 20, 1871, in Bel- videre, Boone Co., Ill., to Lucy L. Griggs. She was born March 22, 1852, in the township of Flora, Boone County, and is the daughter of Calvin and Hannah Griggs. Her parents were farmers in New England and removed thence to Boone County, where they were among the earliest of the pioneer settlers, lo- cating there in 1836. The father died in Flora Township, Dec. 21, 1883, aged 68 years. The
mother resides with her daughter in Floyd Co., Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Harrington have had four children,- Emery E., May W., Clarence E. and George. The latter died in infancy.
Soon after the event of his marriage, Mr. Harring- ton removed to his farm in Iowa and devoted him- self to its improvement, placing 240 acres under cultivation, and remaining thereon resident until 1881. In the fall of that year he returned to Illinois and again embarked in business at Kirkland, with E. H. Gardner. In 1883 he sold one-half his farm in Iowa, and purchased property in the village of Kirk- land. With his wife, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is Steward. Politic- ally he is a Republican.
illiam T. Adee, general farmer, section 15, South Grove Township, was born July 27, 1824, in Delaware Co., N. Y. His par- ents, Jonathan and Jane (Thompson) Adee, were farmers all their lives and trained their children to the same calling. Their son was reared at home until he was 18 years of age, and ac- quired a good education at the common schools. His parents removed to the State of Illinois in the fall of 1843, and his father bought a claim of 160 acres of land on section 14 of the township of De Kalb. The death of the father occurred on the homestead in the fall of 1873, when he was 75 years of age. The mother's demise took place seven weeks later. She was 71 years old. Mr. Adee, senior, was one of the most respected and honorable citizens of the county where he was a pioneer citizen and resided more than 30 years. Of their 12 children, eight are now living. All were residents of De Kalb County until recently, when one of them removed to Winnebago County, same State.
Mr. Adee of this sketch is the oldest child, and when he was 22 years of age purchased 40 acres in an unbroken portion of the township, with the inten- tion of carving out an independent career. He soon increased his possessions on section 15 to 184 acres, and also owns 160 acres on section 16, besides 10 acres of timber land belonging originally to the homestead place. His entire acreage is under the best type of modern improvements, his buildings are
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of excellent and suitable character and the proprietor is justly ranked among the leading and solid farmers of this section of the State. He conducts general farming and ships a considerable number of fatted stock annually.
He was married Jan. 5, 1854, to Margaret, daugh- ter of Richard and Hannah (Cronk) Becker. Their children were born in the following order: William R. (a farmer in South Grove Township), John, George and Frank. They are well educated and promising young men. 'Mrs. Adee was born Aug. 7, 1835, in Delaware Co., N. Y., and was for a time a teacher in her native State. She came with her parents, who were pioneers of Illinois, when she was 17 years of age, to De Kalb County, where she again engaged in teaching until her marriage. Her father died in 1881, leaving a good record as an upright citizen and hon -. orable man. The mother resides with her son, John T. Becker.
Mr. Adee is a Republican of the most decided and reliable character. He has been and still is Town- ship Treasurer, and has also been Supervisor and Collector, and officiated.in other local official posi- tions. Mr. and Mrs. Adee are both professors of religion.
amuel H. Stiles, retired farmer, resident at Genoa, was born Jan. 5, 1829, in Ontario Co., N. Y., and is the son of Epaphroditus and Roxanna (Lincoln) Stiles. After their marriage his parents settled in Onondaga Co., N. Y., removing thence to Ontario County in the same State, where the father died about 1834. The mother became a resident of De Kalb County, and died in Michigan while on a visit to her daugh- ter in that State. They had seven children,-Har- riet, John W., Maria, Eliza, Mary J., Emmeline and Samuel H.
Mr. Stiles obtained a common-school education, and continued under the authority of his parents until he was of age. On arriving at the period of his independent manhood he went to California, via Cuba, New Orleans and Texas, through New Mexi- co, and across the Rocky Mountains, reaching San Francisco after ten months and five days' travel. He
arrived in the "City of the Golden Gate " Feb. 14, 1851, and had spent 40 days on the ocean on board an old Italian brig. His first meal in California consisted of a loaf of bread, for which he gave one dollar, and it was the most acceptable food he ever ate. He returned to the State of New York after an experience of six months' duration in the mines of California, making his journey back via the isthmus of Panama. On finding himself once more on his native soil, he engaged in farming in Ontario County, and continued in that occupation there until his re- moval to Illinois, when he located in Kingston, De Kalb County. In the spring following he obtained possession of four yoke of oxen and went to Iowa for the purpose of taking up land and establishing a permanent home. He and his wife made their journey all the way in a " prairie schooner," camping out nights and sleeping in their wagon. Mr. Stiles located a claim of about 300 acres of land in Wright Co., Iowa. In the summer following he returned to the State of New York, and while passing through Grundy Co., Iowa, on his return eastward, he bought another tract of choice land, containing 300 acres. In the next autumn he went back to Iowa, traveling to Chicago on the lakes. He exchanged the prop- erty he had purchased in Grundy County for a farm in Ontario Co., N. Y., and through the succeeding winter resided in Delaware County in the Hawk-Eye State, passing the time in hunting, and making there- by five dollars a day. During the spring ensuing he decided to return to the State of his birth, but was there only a few months when he was summoned to Belvidere, Boone Co., Ill., by the death of his brother. He determined to settle in De Kalb Co., and became by purchase the proprietor of 275 acres of land in the township of Kingston. He was its occupant 15 years, when he sold the property and bought another in the same township, comprising half a section of land. On this he settled and resided until Decem- ber, 1884, at which time he removed to the village of Genoa, where he had erected a fine house for a resi- dence for his years of retirement from active life. He is the proprietor of 340 acres of finely improved land.
The marriage of Mr. Stiles to Charlotte Sherratt occurred Nov. 19, 1849, in Ontario Co., N. Y. Mrs. Stiles is the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Scant- ling) Sherratt, and was born Dec. 2, 1822, in Yates Co., N. Y. Her parents were natives respectively of
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England and America, and died in Yates County. They had five children,-Mary A., Sarah E., Joel F., Charlotte and William R. Mr. and Mrs. Stiles have no children.
Mr. Stiles is a Republican in political views and connections, and he has held numerous official posi- tions, and enjoys largely the esteem and respect of the generation and community of which he has been a part. He and his estimable wife are very appro- priately selected as representatives of the highest class of citizens whose portraits should appear in this volume; and they are accordingly given, accompany- ing the above sketch.
tephen G. Rowen, retired farmer, resident at Kirkland, Franklin Township, was born Sept. 24, 1820, in Batavia, Genesee Co., N. Y. He is the son of William H. and Betsy (Gorham) Rowen, and the biographical notice of their lives appears elsewhere in this volume. He was the oldest of their children, nine in number, comprising eight sons and a daughter. He was brought up at home to the age of 17 years, attending school and working on his father's farm. At that age he was apprenticed to his uncle, James Rowen, to learn the trade of blacksmith. He remained under his charge a year, and during the year following worked with another uncle, John Rowen, after which he spent a year in receiving instructions from a third uncle, Robert Rowen, all three being in the same line of business. After acquiring a thorough knowl- edge of the trade he purchased a stand in his native township and did an extensive business for some time. In 1842 he came West with his father, the family coming through the entire distance with teams. His father located at Janesville, while he settled at Ra- cine, Wis., where he worked a year at his trade and came then to De Kalb Co., Ill., whither his father had preceded him a few months earlier, and had made a purchase of land in Franklin Township.
Mr. Rowen found employment as a blacksmith and also became a farmer. He continued his joint oper- ations until 1857,. when he exchanged his property for his father's homestead, which he still retains. He has engaged to a considerable extent in traffic in real estate, and now owns 310 acres of land, all under
good improvement, which is managed by his son. About the date of the transfer of his property, he re- linquished his business as a blacksmith and devoted his attention to farming exclusively.
Mr. Rowen has taken a sincere interest in political affairs, local as well as general. He cast his first Presidential vote for Harrison, and except in 1844, when he voted for Polk, he has supported a straight Republican ticket. He has officiated two years as Supervisor, two as Road Commissioner, and the ex- tent of his services as Assessor covers a period of 20 years, the longest term served by any man in that position in De Kalb County. He has discharged the obligations of other minor offices, and has been Post- master at Kirkland 10 years.
Mr. Rowen was married July 11, 1847, in Alabama Township, Genesee Co., N. Y., to Emmeline Baker. She was born Jan. 21, 1821, in Pompey Township, Onondaga Co., N. Y., and was the daughter of Nathan and Mahala (Shattuck) Baker. The mother died a few years after her marriage, and the father, after this second matrimonial alliance, came to Mich- igan and settled near Battle Creek, where he died in advanced age. Mrs. Rowen was brought up and edu- cated in the State of which she was a native and she was a teacher for some time previous to her mar- riage. She died June 11, 1883, leaving five children. Frank S. is a resident of Van Horn, Iowa, where he is conducting a hotel in the interests of the St. Paul Railroad Company. Fred B. is a resident on section 36, of Franklin Township. Fremont resides on his father's homestead. Harley is a general merchant in Kirkland. Emma is officiating as her father's housekeeper.
lisha A. Kirk, Supervisor of Franklin Town- ship (1885), is a resident at Kirkland and engaged in the sale of drugs. He is the son of W. T. and Loisa (Riddle) Kirk (see sketch), and was born in Franklin Township, Feb. 3, 1845. He passed the years of his minority on his father's farm, and obtained a fair common-school education, completing his course of study at Wheaton College in Du Page County, in 1866. Returning from school, he engaged in farm- ing in Franklin Township, in which he was occupied
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until the fall of 1876, the date of his removal to Kırkland, and of his embarking in his present busi- ness enterprise. He retains the ownership of his farm in Franklin Township, which is under excellent improvements and supplied with a fair type of farm buildings.
He was married Dec. 22, 1873, in Wheaton, Du Page County, to Lovina M. Howard, and three chil- dren have -been born to them, Gracie M., Alten H. . and William C .. Mrs. Kirk was born March 5, 1849, in Du Page Co., Ill., and is the daughter of C. K. W. and Mary (Stowe) Howard. Her father was born in the State of Vermont and came thence to Du Page County, where he is yet a resident. The mother died some years ago in Wheaton. Mrs. Kirk was educated at the collegiate institute in her native place. Mr. Kirk is a radical Republican, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Kirkland.
eorge H. Hill, farmer, section 21, Kingston Township, was born May 20, 1810, in Rensselaer Co, N. Y. He received a fair English education in the place of his nativity and obtained a thorough knowledge of saddlery and harness-making. He worked with his father until he was 21 years old, and subsequently was employed in various places in the same business until 1835, passing the last two years in Oneida Co., N. Y. In the early spring of the year named he came to Illinois and located a claim in what is now Kingston Township, De Kalb County, which included 1 60 acres of land. Mr. Hill is one of the earliest settlers of the county, coming prior to the survey, conipleted in 1837. Mr. Hill came from Chicago to Du Page County with a team, and, leaving his horses and family there, he walked to the point where he located his claim, and erected a shanty for shelter for his family and household appurtenances. Hav- ing made ready', he went with an ox team to Chicago, where he had left his effects, and on his return through Du Page County stopped for his family. In- dians were abundant but seldom troublesome, al- though they were addicted to petty thieving, and on one occasion stole Mrs. Hill's thimble.
Mr. Hill's land included both prairie and timber, and Mr. Hill, whose pioneer life was brightened by
the society of his wife and one child, began the task of constructing a home, placing his house on the edge of the timber tract. Within the first year the little house was destroyed by fire, and the inmates lost everything but the clothing they wore at the time. The cabin was rebuilt upon the former site, and the family resided there three years. The home was removed at the end of that period to the site now occupied by the modern residence, which re- placed the pioneer log cabin in 1848. The latter house is entirely the work of his own hands, as his means and opportunities precluded his hiring assist- ance at that time.
He has been one of the foremost in the official affairs of De Kalb County since he has been one of its citizens. He was appointed in 1835 one of a committee of five to settle disputed titles to claims, De Kalb County being at that date a part of La Salle County. He was made Justice of the Peace at an early date and held the office many years. He was first Treasurer and Assessor of De Kalb County after its separation from Kane County, and he held the position of County Commissioner four years. In 1848 he was a member of the Second Constitutional Convention, which assembled at Springfield that year. At that time the office of County Commissioner was abolished and a township organization adopted. Mr. Hill was appointed one of the Associate County Judges and discharged the responsibilities of the office four years. In 1854 he was elected County Judge to succeed Hon. E. L. Mayo, of Sycamore, and was the incumbent of the position eight years, being succeeded therein by Daniel B. James, of Sycamore. He has officiated five years as Supervisor of Kings- ton and as Treasurer of that municipality exactly 30 years. He has been and still is one of the promi- nent and leading citizens of the county, and has always been an important factor in its general devel- opment and well-being.
Joseph and Mercy (Mortimer) Hill, the parents of Mr. Hill, were natives of Connecticut and were pio- neer settlers of Rensselaer Co., N. Y., where they passed most of their lives, and where the mother died. The father came late in life to Kingston, and died at the home of his son.
Mr. Hill was married Sept 15, 1833, in Columbia Co., N. Y., to Sarah B. Wallace. The record of the children born of this union is as follows : Ophelia was born Oct. 18, 1834, in Oneida Co., N. Y., and is
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the wife of W. P. L. Russell, of Lee Co., Ill. Will- iam W. was born Oct. 23, 1836, in De Kalb County, and lives on the homestead where he was born. Anna E., wife of L. J. Bliss, of Kansas, was born Aug. 22, 1838. Mary A., born Nov. 18, 1840, mar- ried John Heckman, of Kansas. Sarah J., born Aug. 22, 1842, is the wife of A. H. Clark, of Kingston Township. James J. was born March 14, 1844, and died June 1, 186r. Geo. H., Jr., was born Dec. 25, 1846, and died March 12, 1853. Mrs. Hill is the fifth child of James and Betsey B. (Stacey) Wallace, and was born April 13, 1812, in New Lebanon, Co- lumbia Co., N. Y. Her parents were natives of Con- necticut and located after marriage in the last mentioned place, where the death of her father oc- curred in 1834. Several years subsequent to that event his widow came to De Kalb County with her children and died in Genoa.
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