Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 37

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 37

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Mr. Townsend has held the office of Township Treasurer ten years, and is the present incumbent of that office. He has also been Township Clerk eight years, Road Commissioner, School Director, etc. He is a Republican in political matters, and in religion both himself and wife belong to the Christian Church.

yrus S. Joiner is a farmer on section 26, Mayfield Township. His parents, Syl- vanus and Beulah (Smith) Joiner, natives of Vermont, first settled in Wolcott, Wayne Co., N. Y., then in Pike, Allegany Co., same State. In 1842 they came and settled in Mayfield Township, this county, where they spent the remainder of their days. She died Sept. 16, 1863, and he Dec. 30, 1866. They had nine chil- dren,-Alta, Andrew, Cyrus S., Osgood C., Corinna, Henry J., Daniel P., Floretta and Hudson H.

The subject of this sketch was born in Wolcott, Wayne Co., N. Y., Oct. 5, 1813, and when 16 years old he went to Pike, Allegany Co., N. Y. In 1837 he came to De Kalb Co., Ill., with his wife, and settled where he still lives, one of the oldest pioneers in the county. His landed estate he has increased from 107 to 147 acres, 130 of which is in good cultivation. In politics he is a Republican, and has held the office of Road Commissioner.

Mr. Joiner was married in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., April 24, 1836, to Miss Elmina, daughter of Jonathan and Lois (Battles) Lyon, who were natives of Ver- mont and came to De Kalb County in 1837, settling in De Kalb Township, where they resided until their death ; she died in February, 1839, and he in April, 1860. Their children were Elmina, George W. and Alta. Mrs. J. was born in Naples, Ontario Co., N. , Y., Oct. 3, 1814. Mr. and Mrs. Joiner are the par- ents of six children,-Oscar F., Francisco H., Helen L., Orlando A., Flora M. and Alta E. Oscar F. was born in De Kalb Township, April 2, 1838, and mar- ried Sylvia Patridge. She was born in Allegany Co., N. Y. They are the parents of two children,-Carrie E. and Burt, who now reside at Independence, Kan. Francisco H. was born Jan. 23, 1840, and died Sept. 16, 1847. Helen L. was born Oct. 27, 1843, and died Feb. 8, 1848. Orlando A. was born July 27, 1849, in Mayfield Township. He married Miss Laura Esther Camp. She is the daughter of Frank-

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lin and Eliza B. (Dow) Camp, natives of New Hamp- shire. She was born June 4, 1851, in Mayfield Township. They are the parents of three children, -Arthur D., born Oct. 22, 1873 ; Leon A., born June 24, 1876 ; and Eliner F., born June 29, 1881. They are residing on the homestead with the parents of Mr. J. Flora M. was born Feb. 27, 1849, and is the wife of E. P. Smith. She was married Jan. 6, 1870. They have one child,-Albert P.,-and re- side in Mayfield Township. Alta E. was born March 19, 1852, and died May 30, 1858.

dward Barringer, farmer, section 25, Franklin Township, was born March 30, 1828, six miles from the city of Troy, N. Y., in Rensselaer County, and is the son of Martin and Mary A. (Ives) Barringer, born and bred farmers in the Empire State. When the son was six years old his parents removed to Genesee County, in the State of New York, coming thence in 1844 to Franklin Township, where they resumed their accustomed vocation, becoming landholders. The mother died at Belvidere June 27, 1877; the father died in Florida, in November, 1880.

Mr. Barringer was married at Belvidere, June 5. 1856, to Maryette Rote. She was born Jan. 12, 1831, in Lycoming Co., Pa. Her father, Rev. Daniel Rote (see sketch of Francis Rote on another page of this work), descended from Holland ancestry, was a minister in the Keystone State for many years and followed the same calling after his removal to De Kalb County in 1846. He died in Franklin Town- ship in 1864. The mother, Mary (Kitchen) Rote, was born in Vermont and died in 1865, aged 77 years. The father was 73 years old when his de- mise occurred. Mrs. Barringer was 15 years of age when she accompanied her parents to the State of Illinois. Her children are three in number. Garrie is a medical practitioner at Alden, McHenry Co., Ill .; Emma is the wife of S. P. Crosby, who is manag- ing the Barringer homestead ; and Carrie A., who died when 18 years old.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Barringer set- tled on 80 acres located on section 25 of Franklin Township. The homestead property includes 240 acres, all under good cultivation, with fine farm

buildings. The place is a good sample of the rapid development possible in a prairie State under the impetus of energy and judgment. 1

Mr. Barringer is a staunch and active Republican. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and his wife belongs to the denomination known as "Christians."

Henry M. Thomas, farmer, section 30, Kings- ton Township, was born Sept. 8, 1830, in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and is the son of R. B. and Eliza C. (Tuttle) Thomas, the former a native of New York, the latter of Massachu- setts. They had three children, of whom Mr. Thomas is the youngest. He was about nine years of age when his parents removed their family to Ogle Co., Ill., and they removed thence to De Kalb County six years later, settling in Kingston Town- ship. Mr. Thomas engaged in farming, which he has since pursued, and he is the owner of 200 acres of land, nearly all of which is. improved. During the course of the Civil War he was drafted, but sup- plied a substitute, to whom he paid $808.

Mr. Thomas was married Dec. 23, 1855, in Chi- sago Co., Minn., to Mary Ring, and their four chil- dren were born as follows: R. B., Aug. 7, 1864; Eliza B., Aug. 23, 1866; Cornelius T., born May 2, 1858, died Sept. 5 of the same year; and Minnie L., born April 21, 1863, died May 26, 1879. Mrs. Thomas is the daughter of Cornelius and Ellen Ring, and was born March 22, 1837, in Erie Co., Pa. Her parents were born in Ireland. They re- moved in her childhood to Peru, Ill., where her father died, and later her widowed mother went to Minnesota. Mr. Thomas is an uncompromising Re- publican.

artin L. Ives, resident of Kirkland, was born in Troy, N. Y., Nov. 18, 1834. His parents, Jacob and Louisa (Quacken- bush) Ives, belonged to the farming com- munity in the State of New York, and were residents of Genesee County, where the mother died in 1838. In 1848, the father came to Franklin Township with two young children,-Martin and a daughter. They settled on 40 acres of land pur-

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chased by the father. His death in March, 1849, deprived the little ones of a father's care and left them wholly orphaned. They were therefore placed in charge of a sister, who had removed to the same township two years previous. Mr. Ives remained with her some time and obtained a fair degree of schooling. When he was old enough he became a farm laborer, and was employed at various points until his marriage, Dec. 1, 1861, to Eliza C., daugh- ter of Leonard and Margaret W. (Dibble) Aurner. Her parents were natives respectively of Pennsylva- nia and New York, and were of German and Scotch descent. Their marriage took place in Michigan, and they settled in Illinois in 1837. Mrs. Ives was born July 12, 1839, on her father's homestead, and was reared and educated in the same township. When she was 17 years of age she became a teach- er, and pursued that calling as a vocation until her marriage. She is the mother of two children. Ada M. was married Feb. 7, 1882, to John G. McKee, a native of Pennsylvania. They have one child, -- Roy I. The second child of Mr. and Mrs. Ives is named William G.

Mr. Ives purchased 120 acres of land in Kingston Township, situated on section 30, on which the fam- ily lived and were engaged in the pursuits common to agriculture until 1884. In that year they removed to Kirkland and purchased village property, on which they established their home for their declining years. Mr. Ives is the proprietor of a valuable farm, comprising 280 acres in Kingston Township. In his political faith he is an uncompromising Republican, and has held the position of School Director 21 years, besides occupying the incumbency of nearly every other township office. Mrs. Ives has been an active and useful member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church since she was 14 years of age, and has officiated as Superintendent of the Sunday-school in the village of Kirkland for the last three years.

ames L. Clark, clergyman and farmer, sec- tion 10, Mayfield Township, is a son of Nathaniel and Mary A. (Flemming) Clark, natives of the North of Ireland. They were married and resided in that country until the spring of 1838, when they emigrated to the United States, locating at Pittsburg, Pa. In the fall

of 1842 they came to this State and for 21 years, until 1863, they were residents of La Salle County. In the spring of the latter year they removed to Somonauk, this county, and after a residence there of 14 years, until 1877, they removed to Mayfield Township, where they are at present residing. Their family comprised seven children, three of whom are yet living, namely: James I., William and John D .; Margaret and Eva died at the age of 10 years each; two died in infancy.

James L., the eldest son, and subject of this no- tice, was born in Ireland, Jan. 1, 1837. The follow- ing spring his parents emigrated to the United States, and James remained under the parental roof- tree, assisting his father and attending the com- mon schools until he had attained the age of 16 years. On arriving at that age he entered Wheaton College, at Wheaton, Du Page County, this State, and was there engaged in prosecuting his studies, a portion of five years, assisting his father during the summer seasons on the farm.

After leaving Wheaton College, Mr. Clark engaged in teaching, which profession he followed for a pericd of nine years, meeting with unqualified success.

Abandoning the profession of a teacher, he assist- ed an Elder of the Wesleyan Methodist Church on his circuit, and in the fall of 1867 came to May- field Township, this county, and engaged in preach- ing the faith of that Church, being ordained in the fall of 1868. He was attached to the Rock River Circuit, of the Illinois Conference, and for three years followed his profession on that circuit. He was President of the Conference six years, and Secretary three years. From there he went to Boone County, this State, at which place he was engaged in the ministry for another. three years, converting many to the faith he preached.

From Boone County he returned to Sycamore, this county, and was in charge of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of that city for three years. He then moved on his farm of 160 acres, on section 10, Mayfield Township, where he is at present residing. Rev. Clark has not abandoned the ministry, although he follows the vocation of a farmer, and preaches in the Wesleyan Methodist Church at Mayfield and also at Sycamore. His farm of 160 acres has about 100 acres under cultivation.

Rev. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Martha

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Henderson, in Harding, La Salle Co., this State, April 5, 1860. She is a daughter of John H. and Elizabeth E. (Powell) Henderson, natives of Kentucky and North Carolina respectively. They were married and settled in Brownsville, Haywood . Co., Tenn. Her father was so strongly an advocate and lecturer on anti-slavery that he concluded the climate of Tennessee was "unhealthy" for one entertaining those views, and especially one who had the courage to proclaim them, and concluded to move North. He accordingly came to La Salle County, this State, with his family and located on Indian Creek, that county, in June, 1829. They were driven from that county on account of Indian troubles, and for three years Mr. Henderson taught school in Sangamon County, this State, whence he had moved his family. He then returned to his home in La Salle County, where he resided until his death, which event occurred in 1848. They were the parents of seven children, namely : Mary, George W., Francis, Erastus F., Martha, Sarah and Annetta.

Mrs. Clark was born in Freedom, La Salle Co., this State, Sept. 17, 1841. - She is the mother of seven children by Mr. Clark. Five of them are living, namely: Victor I., born March 22, 1862 ; James M., born Dec. 20, 1866; John, born July 16' 1869; Mary E., born Dec. 28, 1871 ; and Arthur J. F., born June 30, 1880. Evangeline, born Dec. 28, 1864, died March 4, 1875; and one died in infancy.

Politically, Mr. Clark affiliates with the Republican party,but is a strong temperance man, and last Novem- ber voted with the Prohibition party. He has held the office of Town Trustee for about two terms, and is a respected and esteemed citizen of the county.

amuel H. Harrington, farmer, section 32, Franklin Township, is the son of S. P. and Polly (Hicks) Harrington, and was born on section 20, April 24, 1849. He passed the years of his minority in alternate labor on his father's farm and in attendance at the public school. When he became of age he assumed the management of the homestead estate. He was mar- ried Jan. 1, 1873, in Belvidere, Boone Co., IH., to Sarah B. Blanchard. She was born in Flora Town- ship, Boone Co., Ill., and is the oldest of four chil-

dren. Her parents, Roswell and Elizabeth (Whiting) Blanchard, were natives respectively of New York and Maine, and came in early life to Boone County, where they met and were married. They became farmers in that county, and a few years later sold their property in Flora Township, removing thence to Genoa Township in De Kalb County, purchasing a large farm, which they continued to conduct until 1880, the date of their settlement in the village of Genoa. They are still resident there and aged 63 and 58 years. Mr. and Mrs. Harrington have three children,-Ina E., Ralph E. and Oldis I.

Mr. Harrington became proprietor of his father's farm by purchase after his marriage. The homestead included 160 acres, which he has increased by later purchase to 200 acres, and the entire acreage is under improvement. He has recently become interested in raising Durham cattle. Politically he is a Repub- lican, and is active and influential in the local ranks of that element.

iram G. Vandeburgh, farmer, section 32, Kingston Township, has been a resident of De Kalb County since 1847. His parents, Cornelius and Nancy (Swartwood) Vandeburgh, were born respectively in New Jersey and New York. After their marriage they located in the latter State and subsequently removed to Pennsylva- nia, going thence to Ohio. The mother died in that State, and the senior Vandeburgh came with his family to De Kalb County, dying in Kingston Town- ship, Jan. 15, 1870.

Mr. Vandeburgh is the youngest of 10 children, and was born Aug. 4, 1827. He obtained the limited common-school education possible at the time when his parents resided in Ohio, whither they removed when he was two years of age, and he lived with them in the Buckeye State during their residence there, and came in 1847 with the father to De Kalb County. He has lived since continuously in Kings- ton Township, with the exception of four years which he spent at Kalamazoo, Mich., engaged in carpen- tering. In 1849 he became the proprietor of 80 acres, and now owns 1803/2 acres of land, which in- cludes 201/2 acres in timber.

Mr. Vandeburgh was married Oct. 1, 1854, in the

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

James Richards

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township of Mayfield, to Caroline E. Fairclo, a native of Illinois. She died in Kingston, May 5, 1861, leav- ing two children: Isaiah, born Aug. 28, 1855; and Orilla, Sept. 14, 1860. The daughter is the wife of C. W. Parker, of Kingston Township. Mr. V. was again married March 4, 1865, in Mayfield Town- ship, to Mary E., daughter of Samuel and Mary (Tower) Knight. Her parents were born respect- ively in the States of Maryland and Vermont. After their marriage they settled in Illinois, and in 1845 located in De Kalb County, where they are among the useful and substantial citizens, and among the first settlers. They have had 10 children, and Mrs. V. is the second in order of birth. She was born in Columbus, Adams Co., Ill., May 24, 1842. She is the mother of one child,-Lydia A., born in Kings- ton, July 6, 1868.

Mr. V. is a Republican in political belief and con- nections.

ohn M. Severy, stockman and farmer, sec- tion 27, Somonauk Township, was born Nov. 4, 1829, in Oxford Co., Maine, in the town of Dixfield. His father, Jacob Severy, was born Feb. 3, 1795, in Sutton, Mass., which was also the birthplace of John's mother, Re- becca (Stevens) Severy. She was born Feb. 11, 1787, and died in Dixfield, on her birthday in 1832. Jacob Severy was born Feb. 3, 1795, and died in Jay, Maine, Aug. 15, 1877. They were members of the agricultural class and had four children. One is de- ceased. Dexter is a breeder of and dealer in Hol- stein stock in Victor Township. Satira is not living. Hiram is a Holstein stock-raiser in Adams Town- ship, La Salle Co., Ill.

Mr. Severy is the youngest child and is a farmer by training and inheritance, having been brought up to that calling. He also learned the details and art of house and sign painting, which he pursued seven years. In 1853 he bought 80 acres of land in Som- onauk Township, on which he has since resided and prosecuted his business. He has 132 acres in his present estate. For more than a score of years he was extensively interested in raising fine Poland- China swine, and in 1882 he inaugurated his busi- ness in Holstein cattle by the purchase of six thor- oughbreds. His herd includes 14 thoroughbreds

(fifteen-sixteenths) and 18 high grades (seven-eighths). He has one fine registered animal, Prince of Keno- sha, numbered 1,728 in the H. H. B. His drove of swine contains commonly about 125 head, and his place has all the modern facilities for cattle breeding.

Mr. Severy was united in marriage Jan. 17, 1855, in Lowell, Mass., by Rev. A. Brewster, to Sarah Hubbard, and they have two children,-Francis E., born Feb. 9, 1859, wife of Edward Martin, and resi- dent on her father's farm; John M. was born Oct. I, 1867; two children-Sarah J. and John M. (1st)- are deceased. Mrs. Severy is the daughter of Jeremiah and Jemima (Stewart) Hubbard, and was born Oct. 23, 1829, in Wells, Maine.

ames Richards, farmer, section 19, South Grove Township, was born Sept. 3, 1818, at Saratoga Springs, N. Y. Jacob Rich- ards, his father, was of Welsh lineage and New England parentage, his ancestors having removed from that section of the United States to the neighboring State of New York, in its pioneer period. He married Nancy wood, who was born in Greenfield, Saratoga County, and was a resident of that county throughout her entire life. Her death occurred in 1859, when she was 73 years old. The father died in May, 1842. Their family included 10 children, of whom two are deceased.

Mr. Richards was the seventh child of his parents, and continued under the parental roof until of age. He was educated at the academy at Stillwater, N. Y., and in the year following that in which he attained his majority he began teaching in Saratoga County, which he made his vocation until his marriage, Sept. 20, 1849, to Lucretia Ward. The ancestral stock from which Mrs. Richards descended was originally Scotch. Six generations of Wards who preceded her father were descended from three families bearing the family name who came to this country from Scotland, and from them the name is diffused through- out the New World. William and Harriet (Ross) Ward, the parents of Mrs. Richards, trace their im- mediate descent from New England branches, some of whose members were soldiers of the war for inde- pendence. The father died in Worcester Co., Mass .; the mother died in Saratoga County, in 1884, at the age of 86 years. Mrs. Richards was born April 10,

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1820, in Petersham, Worcester Co., Mass. Her father died when she was five years of age, and she remained under the control of her mother until she was 13 years old; when she began to fit herself for a teacher. She commenced her labors in that line when 16 years old, passing alternate seasons between school and teaching, and afterwards in study at the State Normal School at Albany, where she was graduated in 1845, in the first class that graduated at that school. Of her marriage, four children have been born, and three are living. Harriet W. mar- ried Harry Wadey, a farmer of Lynnville Township, Ogle Co., Ill. Their marriage occurred in 1870. Martha A. is the wife of George Tindall, of South Grove Township. Jessie L. married Solomon M. Hollis, of Kane County, who is engaged in the wind- mill business. The deceased child was a daughter and was named Carrie C.

Immediately after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Richards settled in Winnebago Co., Ill., and soon afterward bought a farm in Creston, which he sold later and became, in 1868, by purchase, the pro- prietor of 93 acres, on which he has since resided, in De Kalb County. The tract is all under cultivation, and has excellent farm buildings.

Mr. Richards is an enthusiast in politics and has contributed for a number of years to the local press, being a candid and forcible writer. He has been Postmaster of Deerfield Prairie since 1868, and has other important local positions, among which are those of Assessor and Trustee. '

Among the prominent and representative citizens of the county whose portraits we present in this book, we take pleasure in giving that of Mr. Richards, which was engraved from a photograph taken in 1884.

enry T. Merrill, farmer, section 25, Frank- lin Township, is an apiarist and manufac- turer of cider and butter. He was born Sept. 26, 1814, in Delaware Co., N. Y. His father, William Merrill, was born in Connecti- cut, and was a shoemaker by trade, and also a - tanner and currier. His marriage to Catherine Wil- ber took place in Delaware County, where she was born and passed her entire life, dying July 8, 1850, at the age of 62 years. She became the mother of

II children. In 1838 the father came West and died Oct. 7, of the same year, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Mary Olmstead. He was 53 years of age.

Mr. Merrill was the sixth child of his parents, and was one of the four who survived their earliest youth. He was brought up and educated in his native county, obtaining a good common-school education, which he supplemented by a course of commercial study at the business college at Albany, N. Y.

He was married Feb. 11, 1839, in Oswego Co., N. Y., to Mrs. Catherine Merrill, daughter of John I. and Sarah (Lucky) Burst. Her parents were mem- bers of the agricultural class of the State of New York, and in the maternal line were descendants from the French Huguenots. They passed the clos- ing years of their lives with their children at Frank- linville, McHenry Co., Ill. Mrs. Merrill was born Oct. 9, 1815, in Schoharie Co., N. Y. She was a pupil at school in her native county, where she lived until her marriage to her first husband, John W. Merrill, by whom she had two children. Sarah is the wife of David Johnson, of Marengo, McHenry Co., Ill. She died April 6, 1867. Lewis is a farmer and resides in Kingston Township. Of her second marriage, five children have been born: John, Jan. 29, 1849; Sanford, Jan. 13, 1852; Maria E., March 4, 1855; Mary was born Dec. 6, 1842, and married March 4, 1874, to Hiram Burchfield, and resides in Kingston Township; Clara was born Aug. 14, 1856, and was married Nov. 26, 1881, to Byron G. Bur- bank, an attorney and now a professional teacher, which is also the vocation of his wife. They are perfecting their knowledge of the German language at Hamburg.

In 1851 Mr. and Mrs. Merrill located in Franklin Township, where the former established himself in the business of a merchant, in which he had been engaged in the State of his nativity. He erected the first building for the exclusive purpose of mercantile business in the township, and he was the means of the establishment of one of the first postoffices in the county, which was designated Lacy. He con- tinued its official for a period of nearly 20 years, and is the senior Postmaster in the county, as well as the longest in office. He is the owner of 101 acres of land, and attends to the several varieties of business specified at the beginning of this sketch. In politi-

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cal faith and connections he is a Republican, and has discharged the duties of nearly every local posi- tion in his township. The family attend the Method- ist Episcopal Church, of which the mother is an earnest and active member.

hilander Murdock Alden, cashier of the Sycamore National Bank, was born Jan. 27, 1835, in Lyme, Grafton Co., N. H. He is a lineal descendant of the historic pair at Plym- outh, John Alden and Priscilla Molines or Mullens, who discussed the claims of Miles Standish to the lady's favor, which resulted in her question, "Why don't you speak for yourself, John?" Joseph Alden, the second son of John and Priscilla, was born in 1624 and became the father of six chil- dren. His son John was born about 1669. David, oldest son of the latter, was born in 1702, and by his marriage eight children were born. David, second son, was born in 1730, and became the father of four sons and two daughters. Andrew, young- est son, was born about 1765, and his second son, Philander, was born in 1799,-on the 10th day of November. Of the marriage of the latter to Polly L. Murdock, six sons and a daughter were born. P. M. Alden, of this sketch, who is the young- est of the sons, represents the present generation, and is the sixth in direct line of descent from his illustri- ous ancestor, who was the last niale survivor of the Mayflower emigrants, and who signed the compact in her cabin before landing at Plymouth Rock. We have no record of his ancestry in England previous to the emigration. Philander Alden died March 8, 1835, at Lyme. His wife was born Aug. 20, 1801, and is still living at Sycamore, at the advanced age of 83 years. Calvin Murdock, maternal grandsire of P. M. Alden, was born Oct. 10, 1775, and died Oct. 9, 1807. His wife, Polly (nee Leonard) Murdock, Was born in 1780 and died in 1859. They were Scotch by descent. Of the family of Philander and Polly Alden, four children survive; George L., mer- chant at Middleboro, Mass .; Thomas J., freight agent at Campello, Mass .; Mary L., wife of Hon. Samuel Alden, of Sycamore ; and Philander M., the subject of this sketch. Martha Jane, wife of A. W. Sawyer, , of Sycamore, is a half sister.

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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 37

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

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