Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 44

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 44

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).

In 1856, Doctor Ballou settled in Sandwich, and has been a successful physician and surgeon for nearly thirty years. He has always had a large business, and long ago attained a high standing in his profession and as a scientist. He has been a resi- den't from almost the beginning of the city, witness- ng its stable and rapid growth, and aided in every . audable way to give an impulse to moral and edu- cational schemes for the general good of the citizens.

The scientific labors of the Doctor in different fields of research have met with merited recognition. He is a member of the Ottawa (Illinois) and the Cleve- land (Ohio) Academies of Science. His associates in the city, in the organization of the Sandwich Naturalists' Association, made him their President. He is a member of the "American Association for the Advancement of Science," and is a practical meteorologist. He has recently published the ob- servations of 33 years, which are especially valuable on account of their having been taken from the first by the aid of the required physical instruments. He has written much on the subject of meteor- ology, that has been published in the State Reports of Illinois. His specialties in natural history are Ichthyology and the Arachnida, he having devoted much time to the study of fish and the spider. He spent several years with his pen in promulgating the methods of artificial production of fish, for the more rapid re-stocking of barren streams, exhausted by over-fishing and fishing out of season. He was made a member of the British Association for the Advancement of Science at the meeting of that association in conjunction with the American Asso- ciation in August, 1884, at Montreal. In November of 1884 he was made a member of the National Public Health Association, which met at St. Louis. But the crowning recognition was the conferring upon the Doctor, on November 19, 1884, of a Fellowship in the Royal Meteorological Society of Great Britain. The Doctor is in correspondence with several emi- nent scientists in Europe, as well as in this country,

and is well known among the students of natural history on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. His essays on medical science and on other subjects which have been published at different times, have elicited high commendation. Some of them have brought him valuable prizes,-notably those on agri- cultural and horticultural subjects. One on "Dairy Husbandry" and one on " Agriculture" received not only high commendation, but prizes as well. He has been a statistical correspondent for more than 20 years, of the United States Department of Agri- culture ; has managed a meteorological station at Sandwich for more than a quarter of a century, and for 18 years reported to the Smithsonian Institution, and for six years to the United States Signal Service. His station is now a " Voluntary Signal Service Sta- tion," and monthly reports are transmitted to the Chief Signal Officer at Washington,-the data col- lected by a complete equipment of physical instru- ments. His testimony is given that he has been benefited more by his connection with the Smith- sonian Institution by means of publications and reports and miscellaneous collections than from all other sources; that the able management of Prof. Henry, during his incumbency, and since his demise the wise direction of its affairs by Prof. Baird, have been the means of directing and educating more in the natural sciences than could have been accom- plished in any other direction.

It would seem to be an act of supererogation to say that during all these 40 years, the Doctor had led a busy life. While in Western New York, dur- ing the administration of President Fillmore, in addition to his professional business, he held the re- sponsible position of Custom-House Officer in Niag- ara District, and since 1863 he has been United States Pension Surgeon, being now one of the oldest appointees in Northern Illinois holding the office. He is also Health Officer and Chairman of the Board of Health of the city. He was also the originator and Secretary of the Sandwich Fair, a stock com- pany, whose exhibitions were equal to those of any neighboring fairs. He held the office of Secretary 14 years. Meanwhile, the University of Florida, the 1 first educational center in that land of flowers and semi-tropical fruits, conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) upon our busy Doctor, pro merito. He desires thus publicly to acknowledge the great kindness of his eminent friends who fur-

DE KALB COUNTY.

425

nished the high testimonials required in such cases, namely : United States Senators Shelby M. Cullom, John A. Logan, Hon. Reuben Ellwood, ex-Congress- man John F. Farnsworth, Judge Isaac N. Wilson, Chief Judge of the Appellate Court of Illinois, Rev. William Goodfellow, A. M., D. D., Charles G. Faxon, LL.B., and O. B. Knickerbocker, Esq., of Aurora.

Dr. Ballou has probably one of the largest medical and miscellaneous libraries in De Kalb County, it being especially rich in medical science, theology, biography, natural history and belles-lettres. He is a rigid Calvinist, and stands high socially and morally, as well as professionally. He believes the Bible and its teachings are better guides to the formation of character and a well ordered Christian life than those who are commissioned as expositors and interpreters of the inspired volume and the loving words of the Master.

Dr. Ballou is remotely related to that eminent divine, the late Rev. Hosea Ballou, with whom the Garfields are also connected by marriage, the martyr . President's mother being a Ballou and a cousin of Nahum Ballou, the Doctor's father. The Doctor's oldest surviving brother, Hosea M. Ballou, of Carlton, N. Y., is Custom-House Officer of the Rochester District, having served through two or more Repub- lican administrations, evidently honoring his trust by a faithful performance of its duties. His youngest brother, Daniel R. Ballou, came to Illinois with the Doctor, in 1856, and settled finally in the town of Fox, Kendall County, where he became a wealthy farmer, o:vning about 400 acres of land in the Fox River valley near Millington; but in the prime of manhood he lost his life by a fall from an iron bridge which was being constructed at Millington, Ill., on the 19th of February, 1884. He was a Cap- tain in the War of the Rebellion, doing patriotic ser- vice. He was long a station agent at Sandwich, and served for a long time as Supervisor of the town of Fox. He was also a Trustee of the Jacksonville Asylum and President of the Board of Trustees at the time of his death.

The Doctor has found time to indulge in metrical composition, his elegies being tender and wholesome in tone and faultless in measure. His poem entitled "The Martyr President, Abraham Lincoln," has been repeated on various occasions, more especially on National Decoration days.

As a specimen of the Doctor's poetical talent we

reproduce the following magnificent tribute to his deceased wife.

IN MEMORIAM.

Lines written upon the death of his loving wife, who died suddenly, April 14, 1877.

I. Oh, let me strike my harp of song To mournful melody ! In sorrow's notes the theme prolong 'In tuneful harmony !

Monarch Supreme, thou tyrant king Of border realm of woe,

Whose upas touch and fatal sting Proclaim a direful foe !

II.

He comes at morning-dawn of life And bears the loved away ;

Ere noon he comes when passion's rife, And buoyant hope holds sway ; He comes at noon when manly strength And pride predominate;

At day's decline he comes at length, And closes life's estate.

III.

Beneath each roof-tree, anxious fear Pulses with each heart-beat, Lest some cherub or darling dear Be borne from Love's retreat. We may not know the chemistry That dims the lustrous eye; But God inspires the agency

That heaves the lapsing sigh.

IV.

Beyond the stars in peerless light 'There lies the summer-land; Faith leads us to the shining height Which bounds the golden strand. Here, guarded by the Father's care, The Savior dwells, whose hand Leads pilgrims up the pearly stair To greet each loving band.

How tender now her words of love Exhaled almost in death! They seem as wisdom from above, Breathed out by angel breath. Holy living, holy dying, Caring for all she knew, On Jesus firmly relying, Thus daring to be true.

VI.

Our kindred here and those in Heaven, Who've drifted on before, Where God has gathered those He's given Upon the other shore;

To Jesus our loved one has gone To claim her promised rest; Each thither by His love is drawn, To Him a welcome guest.

426

DE KALB COUNTY.

VII.

In that bright world, our home above, Where sorrow is unknown, Is endless life, is joy and love, Whither our loved has flown. There is a voice by anguish heard Beneath life's galling chain; That sweetest voice is Jesus' word,

" The pure shall meet again."

As a representative of the highest order of learn- ing and mental culture, and a man in every sense worthy to be remembered by a grateful community, we place the portrait of Dr. Ballou in this volume.

R ev. John C. Schweitzer, resident in the village of Malta, is engaged in general farming on sections 2 and 3 in the same township. He is the son of Jacob Schweitzer, who was a German by birth, and was born June 24, 1827, in the canton of Basel, Switzer- land, near the city of the same name situated on the river Rhine. His mother, Barabara M. (Mangold) Schweitzer, was also a native of Switzerland. The family came to America when the son who is the subject of this sketch was six years old. They took up their residence on a farm in Seneca Co., Ohio, where the father died within the first year. Later the mother married again and John was an inmate of the new household until he was 20 years of age. In 1847 he came to Kane Co., Ill., to engage in farm- ing, and accordingly purchased a farm. He returned to Ohio for the members of his family and brought back with him his step-father and mother, and they were inmates of the same home several years in Kane County. In 1852 Mr. Schweitzer decided to settle in De Kalb County and bought a farm in Pierce Township, whither the family removed. His mother and step-father died there some years later. Mr. Schweitzer was one of the earliest settlers in Pierce Township, where he owned 160 acres of land, and he was also a pioneer of the portion of Kane County where he located.

While living in Pierce Township he spent eight years as an itinerant minister of the Evangelical Association, and his circuit embraced the entire States of Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. At Kan- kakee, Ill., he was seized with violent illness, which resulted in the permanent loss of his health. He

began his career as a local preacher when he was 26 years of age, and he has pursued his ministerial labors ever since, with excellent results. In political views he is a Republican.

In 1882 Mr. Schweitzer came to the township of Malta and, associated with his sons, he bought 409 acres of land, where they have conducted joint oper- ations in agriculture and are also interested in rais- ing stock. '

He was married in De Kalb County, to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Mary (Blow) Lesher. She was born in Lebanon Co., Pa., Sept. 23, 1832, and came with her parents in childhood to Ohio. In 1846 the family removed to Illinois and settled in De Kalb County. Of this union II children have been born : Amelia, Mary E., John H., Edward F., Joseph A. and Nora E. S. are the survivors; the others died in infancy.

bner H. Calhoun, farmer, section 31, May- field Township, was born Feb. 19, 1827, in Pittsford, N. Y. His father, Andrew Cal- houn, was born in the State of New York and married Eleanor Roweth, who was born in England. About the year 1829 the family came to St. Joseph, Mich., and were there resident until 1845, in which year they fixed their abode in Hancock Co., Ill. A year later they settled in De Kalb. In 1873 the father removed to Cortland, his present residence, the mother having died in De Kalb, July 9, 1873. Their children-11 in number -grew to adult age.

Mr. Calhoun is the fourth child of his parents, and he was less than three years of age when they went to Michigan. He grew to manhood on a farm and at 19 entered upon an independent career, operating for some years as a farm laborer. In 1856 he rented a farm and continued to manage it for three years. In 1859 he bought 80 acres of land where he has since carried on his agricultural interests, and on which he settled in 1860. On this his farm build- ings are erected, and he has added to his estate until it includes 400 acres, all improved and in advanced cultivation. It is stocked with 60 head of cattle, 14 horses and a drove of 70 hogs.

Mr. Calhoun is identified with the Republican ele-

DE KALB COUNTY

427

ment in politics, and is one of the leading men of his township,

Mrs. Calhoun was formerly Betsey Renwick. She was born in Scotland Aug. 26, 1830. Her parents, Walter and Mary (Weel) Renwick, were also born in the same country, and in 1835 emigrated thence to Canada, where the mother died, in 1842. Her father came to Illinois in 1845 and settled in Kane County.

· After a stay of three years, in 1848, he came to Pierce Township and died there April 9, 1871. Mrs. Calhoun is the 12th in order of a family of 16 chil- dren. She was five years of age when she came to the American continent. Mr. and Mrs. Calhoun were married Sept. 20, 1852, and have had II chil -- dren,-Maggie M., Walter R., Ida M., Nathan C., Jennie M., Dudley S., Lizzie F., Delia I., Orlando, Mary and Annabel. The three last named are not living.

awrence Farley, general farmer, section 12, Malta Township, was born in County Meath, Ireland, about 1833. His parents, Patrick and Mary (McCan) Farley, were born in the same county and there passed their en- tire lives. The senior Farley died when his son was five years of age, and the mother survived but six years later, leaving him wholly orphaned when II years old. He was made by the event the builder of his own fortunes, and he took advantage of every opportunity for remunerative labor that offered. When he reached the age of 17 years, in company with his youngest sister, Catherine, now married and resident at Springfield, Mo., he came to America. They landed at the port of New York and proceeded thence to Newark, N. J., where a brother and sister who had preceded his removal to the United States some years earlier, were then resident.

Mr. Farley continued to remain in Newark four years, when he came to Rockford, Ill., and became a farm laborer in the vicinity of that place. . He was married at Rockford, to Catherine Downey, who was a native of Ireland and is the daughter of John and Mary Downey, also born in Ireland. Mrs. Farley was born in County Louth, Ireland, Nov. 3, 1834. Her father died when she was about eight years old, and she was cared for by her mother as long as she

lived. She was orphaned but a few years later and soon after came to the United States with acquaint- ances. She went to Newark, N. J., where she con- tinned to lived until she was 23 years of age, when she came to Rockford and was married. Of this union eight children have been born, two of whom are deceased. Following is the record: John was born July 17, 1861 ; Mary J., Feb. 12, 1863; Law- rence L., April 14, 1865; James, July 28, 1867; Katie, Aug. 21, 1870; Anna A., Sept. 27, 1872. Thomas, oldest child, died Jan. 12, 1883, aged 23 years and nine months. William H., the youngest, died March 5, 1875, aged five months.

Mr Farley was engaged in farming some years after marriage at Rockford. In January, 1861, the family came to the township of Malta and settled on a rented farm, which the father conducted after the method of working on shares, until the autumn of 1865. At that date he purchased 80 acres of land, where he began independent farming, and he is now the owner of 491 acres of land, 171 acres of which is in De Kalb Township. Nearly the whole tract is under good improvement, and the farm buildings are of excellent type. He is also the owner of good graded cattle and hogs. He is a Democrat and the family are Roman Catholics.

enry O. Whitmore, Supervisor of Mayfield Township, has been a resident of the county and township where he now lives since 1845, having come hither when a child of three years with his parents. He was born Oct. 18, 1843, in Pomfret, Windsor Co., Vt. The first - 18 years of his life were passed on his father's farm and in attendance at school. During the winter fol- lowing his attaining his 19th year, he engaged in teaching; but since that date he has operated exclu- sively as a farmer. He then came into possession of 120 acres of land, which is his homestead, and to which he has added 90 acres. The entire acreage is under excellent cultivation and forms an attractive and valuable home.

In political sentiment Mr. Whitmore adopts the principles and issues of the Republican party. He has held various local offices at different times, and

428

DE KALB COUNTY.

in the spring of 1883 was elected Supervisor. He was re-elected a year later to the same position.

Feb. 26, 1862, Mr. Whitmore was married to Esther V. Andrews, and their two children were born as follows : Wallace W., Feb. 11, 1863, and Cora C., Oct. 20, 1867. Mrs. Whitmore was born Oct. 28, 1844, in Warren Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of Luman and Sophronia (Collins) Andrews. Her par- ents were natives of Warren County, and there the mother died in 1850. Her father came to De Kalb County and settled in the township of the same name, going thence a few years later to Indiana, where he passed the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Whitmore are members of the Universalist Church.

lanson R. Puffer, farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 1, Malta Township, was born in Franklin Co., Mass., Sept. 30, 1841. His father, James Puffer, is a native of Chesh- ire Co., N. H., of New England ancestry, and is at present residing in his native county, aged 65 years. His mother, Harriet (Field) Puffer, was also a native of Cheshire Co., N. H., and died there in her 22d year.

Mr. Puffer was only two weeks old at the time of his mother's death, and was the only son by his fa- ther's first marriage. His father married again, and Alanson was reared under the fostering care of his stepmother. He remained with the family, assisting on the farm and attending the common schools, until he attained the age of 15 years, when he engaged as a farm hand.

The marriage of Mr. Puffer occurred Jan. II, 1872, in Rutland Co., Vt., and the partner of his joys and sorrows whom he selected was Miss Emma S. Ramney. She was a daughter of Aretas and Cleo- patra (Clark) Ramney, natives of Vermont. Her father was of New England parentage and of Scotch extraction. The Clark family (maiden name of her mother) were of the old " Puritan " stock, and from authentic genealogical records in Mrs. Puffer's pos- session she traces her ancestry back to Thomas Clark, an officer on the Mayflower. Cleopatra (Clark) Ramney, mother of Mrs. Puffer, was a de- scendant of Thomas Clark of the seventh generation, was born Nov. 10, 1810, and died Aug. 14, 1880.

She was the second wife of Mr. Ramney, and by him had three children, two of whom are living and the oldest of whom is Mrs. Puffer, wife of the sub- ject of this notice. She was born March 10, 1840, in Rutland Co., Vt. Her maiden life was spent at home, assisting her mother in the household duties and attending the common schools, also Castleton Seminary, at which institution she graduated. When 25 years of age Mrs. Puffer began teaching in the. common schools of her native county and followed that vocation, in which she vigorously endeavored to excel, for some 16 years and until her marriage to Mr. Puffer.

Shortly after marriage Mr. Puffer came to this county and purchased 80 acres of land in Milan Township. He vigorously entered on the task of improving it and resided on it for nine years. He then, in 1880, exchanged it for 80 acres in Malta Township, upon which he moved. He has subse- quently purchased 80 acres additional, and now has 160 acres. The entire tract is under a good state of cultivation and well stocked. His residence and farm buildings are of first-class order.

Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Puffer are members of the Congregational Church, of which Mr. Puffer is one of the Trustees. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party, and has held the minor offices of his township.

ames Carter, farmer, owning and residing on the east half of section 3, Afton Town- ship, was born in Springfield, Hampden Co., Mass., Dec. 25, 1832. He is a son of James and Anna M. (Nye) Carter, deceased. His father was a Methodist Episcopal clergy- man, a native of New England and of English ex- traction. At his death, which occurred in 1845, when James was but 13 years old, he left his son a fortune aggregating $70,000. A guardian was ap- pointed, and he squandered a portion of the fortune, James receiving the remainder. The grandfather of James, both on his father's and mother's side, were soldiers in the Revolutionary War.

James Carter, subject of this notice, lived under the parental roof-tree until the death of his father, receiving the advantages of a common-school edu-

DE KALB COUNTY.

431

cation. Four years after his father's death, in 1849, having attained the age of 17 years, his desire to increase his worldly possessions was augmented by the discovery of gold in California, and he deter- mined to go to that State. Six of his schoolmates agreed to accompany him providing he would ad- vance sufficient to pay expenses, to which he gener- ously consented. Their names were Lester Conklin, nephew of ex-Senator Conklin, John Hosmer, John Munger, Obadiah Burdette, Anson Nye and Jack Coby. They crossed the plains and safely arrived in the "land of gold." Soon three of the seven mates became homesick, and Mr. Carter paid their expenses home. The other four remained and en- gaged in mining.

On one occasion Mr. Carter was out prospecting unaccompanied, and while in a gulch a fog came up and he, became lost. His mates commenced the search for him, but not until three days and three nights had passed did they succeed in finding him ! He had almost perished for want of food, but, after being taken to the camp and nursed a few days, re- covered.

Four of the seven mates remained in California, mining, Lester Conklin being the only one to make a success. Mr. Carter remained there about 10 months and then returned, overland, and located in Cayuga Co., N. Y. He had spent his fortune and was compelled to go to work. Accordingly, he hired himself to a German, and the first day's work he ever did was chopping wood, and then drove team for the same gentleman two months and two days, whereupon he received his discharge, accompanied by the magnificent sum of $150 for his services.

Mr. Carter then came to Illinois and engaged in a machine-shop, where he worked for 10 months, then purchased a threshing-machine and engaged in threshing grain. He followed the business for some 10 years, alternating it with buying horses in all parts of the country, and speculating wherever he could see a dollar to be made.

In 1862 he went to Afton Township, worked land on shares for some two years, then, in 1866, purchased 160 acres. He has since added 447 acres to his original. purchase, and now owns 607 acres. He has on his farm one of the finest frame residences in the township, besides good frame out-buildings, and a greater portion of his land under cultivation.

Mr. Carter was married Nov. 21, 1862, to Mrs.

Caty S. Avery, widow of Smith D., Avery, to whom she was married March 27, 1858, at Aurora, Kane County, Ill. Mr. Avery was born Aug. 27, 1836, and died Jan. 1, 1862, at Camp Raleigh, Mo., with a congestive chill, while in the service of his country in the late Civil War. He was a member of Co. A, 36th Ill. Vol. Inf., denominated the " Aurora Dragoons." Mr. and Mrs. Avery were the parents of three children : Anna D., born April 5, 1859 ; Anson A., Sept. 21, 1860; and Smith D., Jan. 7, 1862. Mrs. Carter's father, Harvey B. Densmore, was born Sept. 25, 1815, in Hartford, Windsor Co., Vt., and is at present residing with her. Her mother, Caty S. Densmore, was born March 25, 1817, and died July 21, 1841, after which her father married Mary J. Mather. Mrs. C. was born May 14, 1836, in Cortland, Cortland Co., N. Y. She was brought to this county by her parents in 1836, starting over- land Dec. 19, and arriving here Nov. 29, of that year.

Mr. and Mrs. Carter are the parents of four chil- dren, namely: Charles E., born Sept. 27, 1863; Jane H., Oct. 16, 1865; Caty S., June 22, 1867 ; Grace E., July 29, 1869,-all in Afton Township.

Mr. Carter, politically, is a Republican. He has been Assessor for three years, and was elected to the position again last spring. He has also been Road Commissioner three years.

oseph Slade, farmer, section 19, De Kalb Township, was born Feb. 4, 1829, in Buck- inghamshire, England. His parents, Simon and Ann (Jones) Slade, were natives of Eng- land, and there passed their entire lives. Their family included 11 children.

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 44

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

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