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 46
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Henry Wood canie from Vermont with the other members of his father's family, in the fall of 1836. They set out from Middlebury on the first day of October with two span of horses and two wagons, -- one for the accommodation of the family, the other for the conveyance of the household goods. The journey
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furnished many incidents of travel which impressed themselves upon the memory of the boy of 11 years. In one instance, he was walking some distance in ad- vance of the wagons with the son of his sister, Mrs. French, when a train of cars came rushing toward them. Darkness was coming on, and in the dim light the wholly new experience presented a terrific appearance,-the blinding headlight, the unearthly mixture of sounds and the unparalleled speed of the approaching monster conveyed the impression that the fabled horrors of the lower pit had broken bounds and was abroad for prey. The youngsters precip- itated a retreat and paused not until they were once more with the wagons. Mr. Wood appreciates the sentiments of the Irishman who remarked the first time he saw a locomotive under way, "Sure, Pat, it's hell in harness!" During the entire journey the meals were cooked by the roadside and the family slept in the wagons. They arrived in De Kalb County on the last day of November, the journey having consumed exactly two months. The prices of provisions during the winter were very high, and all supplies were brought from Chicago. Butter was 50 cents a pound, flour $25 a barrel, and pork and lard were 37 1/2 cents a pound.
In the spring of 1837 the family moved into a log house erected by the father on his claim. It was 14 X 14 feet in dimensions and covered with " shakes," a variety of substitute for shingles riven from oak, three feet long, from four to six inches wide and bound in place with poles, no nails being obtainable, and if they had been, each pound was worth a pound of butter. The floor of the upper apartment was of shakes and that of the room below of puncheons made from bass-wood logs. Bedsteads were made by boring holes in a log on one side of the house, in which were driven poles, and with poles for cross-pieces a frame was constructed on which a straw mattress was placed. Two of them were on the lower floor, the upper not being sufficiently high for the purpose. The boys were required to sleep in the room above, and it was a frequent thing for them to wake in the morning and find their beds covered with snow from one to three inches in thickness, which drifted in be- tween the shakes. The summer of 1837 was a hard one, and but little was raised. For two months the family lived on potatoes and samp with milk. The samp was home-made, and was obtained with the aid
of a carpenter's plane, which was held in place with the cutting side upward. Pushing the ears of corn over the bit reduced the grain to hominy, which made wholesome and palatable food.
The first five or six years of the life of Mr. Wood in De Dalb County were spent in the active labor of the farm, in the summers driving a "breaking" team on the raw prairie. . General farming was conducted in wholly different methods from those employed at present. Grain was cut with a cradle, and threshed in the following manner : A level place was selected, the grass cut away, the grain piled in a circle about 15 to 20 feet in diameter, and oxen driven over the straw. One or two men turned over the straw and kept it in place. When sufficiently tramped, the straw was thrown into a rick or stack, and the wheat cleaned by a fanning-mill. The nearest market for a time was Chicago, and Henry was the one usually sent to that place, taking in a load of grain and re- turning with needed supplies.
Until 22 years of age Mr. Wood remained with his parents. In the fall of 1846 he went to Missouri, and engaged in teaching at Pilot Grove, Cooper County, during the winter following. He returned to Sycamore in the spring of 1847, and was occu- pied during the summer following in house-painting. In the fall he rented a farm, whichi he worked on shares two years, with satisfactory pecuniary results, and in 1849 purchased 72 acres of land on section 9, located half a mile from his father's house. He en- tered at once upon the work of improvement, and laid the foundation of a successful life. Starting with these 72 acres, he has from time to time, dur- ing years of unremitting toil, added to his original purchase, paying for all with the proceeds of the sale of farm products, thus demonstrating anew that farming is a profitable business. He is now owner of 267 acres of land in Sycamore Township, and 160 acres of rolling prairie in Plymouth Co., Iowa. His farm is said to be one of the best improved in De Kalb County, and includes 62 acres of fine and valuable timber. The remainder is composed of tillable land of the best character, together with pasture. The farm buildings are of excellent and creditable type. Mr. Wood has operated extensively in live stock, his herd of cattle being chiefly thorough- bred "Short-Horns." He has also given considerable attention to breeding choice swine. He is a practi-
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cal advocate of mixed husbandry, and successfully conducts all the branches common to general farming.
In early political days, Mr. Wood was an Aboli- tionist, but became a Republican on the organization of the party, and was actively interested in its for- mation and organization in De Kalb County. Dur- ing the war he was a member of the Union League. He has also discharged the duties of his citizenship as Supervisor, and as Township School Trustee. In 1880 he was elected to represent the 17th District, including Kendall, Grundy and De Kalb Counties, in the Legislature of Illinois, and was re-elected to the same official position in 1882. During the first session he was on four regular Committees, "Canals and Rivers," "State Institutions," ".License," and " Agriculture, Horticulture and Dairying." He was an active member of the "Legislative Farmers' Club," and served on special committees connected with the farming interests of the State. He was also selected by the House and from regular Committees to visit some of the State charitable institutions, with reference to special appropriations. Near the close of the session of 1882, he was one of ten dele- gates appointed by Gov. Cullcm to represent the State of Illinois in the Canal and River Convention, held at Dubuque, in the interest of the Hennepin Canal. During the session of 1883 Mr. Wood was Chairman of the Committee on "Public Charities," and was also on the following regular Committees : "Canals and Rivers," " Public Printing," " Retrench- ment," and "Visiting Committee to visit State Charit- able Institutions."
He has been prominently identified with the De Kalb County Agricultural Society from the date of its organization ; was its President two years, and officiated several years in the capacity of Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The primary education of Mr. Wood was begun in the district school of his native State, and he has since gathered a useful and available fund of infor- mation from observation and the various relations he has sustained in business and society. He has all his life been a friend of literature, has given much attention to reading, and has traveled extensively throughout the Union. He has now been a citizen of De Kalb County for almost half a century; he has witnessed the various changes that. have taken
place in transforming it from a wilderness to a well developed country, with a thrifty, enterprising people, and has been an active participant in almost every enterprise that has tended to its advancement. To- day he is one of the few old settlers that remain, and he can look back upon a life well spent, and know that what he now calls his own, under Provi- dence, has been obtained by unceasing, unremitting toil. Probably no man in De Kalb County has done more hard work than himself. No man has a more extensive acquaintance throughout the county; and whatever honor he has received from his fellow citi- zens results from the fact that his manner of life from his youth up is known of all men, and all know that honesty and integrity have been the controlling principles of his life. Other prominent traits of Mr. Wood's character are, industry, economy, temper- ance, executive ability and perseverance, and he has, in the different offices of public trust held by him in town, county and State, discharged the duties of the various positions with intelligence, fidelity and honesty, and has the respect and commendation of the people.
He has been a frequent contributor to the local press, writing descriptive letters during his travels and also articles on agricultural subjects. He is a firm friend of the temperance cause, and, with sev- eral members of his family, is connected with the First Congregational Church of Sycamore.
Mr. Wood is known to be something of a curiosity- hunter, and is an enthusiastic student of mineralogy. His collection of minerals and "precious stones," containing many rare specimens obtained from vari- ous parts of the United States and other countries, form an unusual addition to the furnishings of a country home.
The marriage of Mr. Wood with Rhoda Elizabeth Richards occurred March 16, 1851. Mrs. Wood was born at Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y., July 28, 1829, and is the daughter of Nash and Emily Car- rier Richards. Ten children have been born to them, of whom six are living. Charles N. married Lizzie E. Taylor, and lives at Wahpeton, Dakota, where he is managing the real estate and loan business of his cousin, T. L. French; Leroy B. married Georgia A. Crawford. and is Treasurer of the Plano Manufac- turing Company. Shepard H. is engaged in the real- estate and loan business at Wahpeton, Dak .; Emily
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S., only daughter, was graduated in 1884, in the Art Department of Wheaton College. She is an 'accom- plished artist in oil and crayon, and some of her miscellaneous work has attracted favorable notice. William H. and Albert C. are the names of the youngest children who survive.
There is much in the life of such a man as Mr. Wood worthy of commendation and honor. Coming to this country while it was in its native wildness, and growing up amid the hardships and privations of a new country, he developed a manhood sturdy, noble and true in all its phases. The coming generations will not only desire to read the record of the lives of such men, but will have a worthy desire to look upon their portraits as well. We have therefore endeav- ored not only to preserve a brief outline of the lives of many of the prominent and representative men and women of De Kalb County, but to give imper- ishable likenesses of many, which is done in the gal- axy of portraits given in this book. Among these, and one equally worthy the honor with any other man in the county, may be found that of Mr. Wood. It is engraved from a photograph taken in March, 1881.
adison Van Velzor, deceased, formerly a farmer of Shabbona Township, was born in Putnam Co., N. Y., June 11, 1817, is the son of Elisha Van Velzor, was brought up at farming, receiving a common-school educa- tion, and removed in boyhood with his parents to Allegany County, that State.
He was married in the latter county, June 27, 1844, to Miss Eunice, daughter of Joseph D. and Hannah (Rogers) Wilcox, and a native of the same county. He moved to St. Clair Co., Mich., in 1845, where he was engaged in the lumber business. From there he moved to Joliet, Ill., spent a winter there, then moved to Du Page Co., Ill., and finally, in 1850, to Shabbona Township, this county. He was actively engaged in farming on sections 10 and II, where he had a large farm of 700 or 800 acres. In 1877 he removed to the village of Shabbona and built the fine mansion now occupied by his widow and children. His death occurred Oct. 23, 1884. He had nine children, two sons and seven daughters,
namely : De Witt, who married Lucy Nicholson and lives at Shabbona ; Mary E., widow of Jacob Wat- son and living at De Kalb Center; Frances A., wife of John W. Middleton, of Shabbona; Sarah E., wife of Wellington Helm, of the township of Shabbona; William W., who married Emily Challand, of the same township; Emma C., Jane A .; Ida; wife of Henry Sherwood, of Shabbona Township, and Lillie A.
Mr. Van Velzor was an enterprising, thrifty farmer and of unquestioned integrity, just and kind to those in his employ who proved faithful to their duties, while he took no pains to conceal his dislike for the lazy and incompetent. In all his relations with his neighbors he was ever trusted and held in high es- teem. He died leaving a valuable property to be distributed among a large family.
homas Adams, retired farmer on section 7, De Kalb Township, has been resident of the county since 1849, when he purchased 160 acres of land. He has prospered and increased his possessions to 240 acres, which is in an advanced condition of improvement. Mr. Adams was born Aug. 6, 1816, near Belfast, Ireland, and is the son of William and Mary (Hanna) Adams. His parents were born in the North of Ire- land and were respectively of Scotch and English descent. They emigrated to America in 1847 and died a short time after their arrival in Canada. They had six sons and four daughters, and nine of their children lived to maturity. Thomas is the fourth son and seventh child, and he was reared on his father's farm, and later became an assistant in the linen factory, his father belonging to the industrial class known in Ireland as linen drapers. He was thus occupied until he was 25 years of age, when he came to Canada and bought a farm near Kingston. He resided there about four years, coming thence to De Kalb County at the date named. He is a pro- gressive farmer and stockman, and raises annually an average of 100 hogs, 50 head of cattle and a dozen horses.
Mr. Adams was first married in Canada, to Eliz- abeth Dart, a native of the Dominion, of mixed New England and Scotch ancestry. They became the
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parents of four children,-Mary J., William, Almira and Anna. Only the oldest of these is living The mother died April 15, 1855, in De Kalb County. The second wife of Mr. Adams, Mary Morgan, to whom he was married in the city of New York, Oct. 26, 1856, was born in Belfast, Ireland. Their three children were named William E., Isabella and Thomas J. The youngest only is living and he is managing the home farm. He was married Jan. 19, 1882; to Miss Mary Welch, of Malta.
Mr. Adams is independent in politics. He has officiated as Highway Overseer and as School Direc- tor. With his wife, he is a member of the Methodist Church.
oseph C. Coster, of the mercantile firm of Bauder & Coster, at Hinckley, is the son of Richard and Rachel (Cook) Coster: His father was born in Holland and his mother in New York. The father emigrated to America and was married in the State of New York, where he located. His wife died May 7, 1841, and later he came to Illinois to pass the remaining years of his life. He died March 7, 1854, in Kane Co., Ill. Peter, Alexander H., Joseph C., Rosetta A., Richard, Stephen P. and Cornelia are the names of his sons and daughters.
Mr. Coster was born Aug. 18, 1815, in Rensselaer Co., N. Y. He was trained to a knowledge of agri- culture and instructed in the common schools of the State of his nativity. In 1847 he removed to Sugar Grove Township, Kane Co., Ill., coming thence in the spring of 1849 to De Kalb County, and purchased 295 acres of land in Squaw Grove Township, on which he settled and where he has since resided. He still holds his original acreage, and nearly the entire tract is in tillage.
The first marriage, to W. Maria Weeks, took place Dec. 8, 1838, in Rensselaer Co., N. Y. She was born Aug. 4, 1818, in that county, and bore him three children,-Harriet P., Melvin, and another who died in infancy. Both the others have since de- ceased. " Melvin entered the army of the United States, enlisting in the 105th Reg. Ill. Vol. Inf. in August, 1862, and died of illness at Bowling Green, Ky., Dec. 12, 1865. Harriet P. died March 1, 1848.
The mother died Aug. 25, 1850, in Squaw Grove Township. Mr. Coster was a second time married in Squaw Grove Township, to Mrs. Sophronia (Red- field) Bathrick. She was the widow of Daniel Bath- rick, and became the mother of a son by her first marriage. He was named Daniel and grew to man- hood. Six children have been born of the second marriage : Harriet M., Joseph A., Susan R., Mary and Alfred. One child died in infancy. Mrs. Coster died Jan. 1, 1874. Mr. Coster was again married at Plano, Kendall Co., Ill., to Mary E. Evans. She was born in the State of New York, Sept. 12, 1825, and died in Squaw Grove Township, May 18, 1878. Mr. Coster contracted a fourth matrimonial alliance in Kane Co., Ill., Sept. 22, 1880, with Keziah E. (Owens) Scott. Her first husband, John A. Scott, died Sept. 13, 1865. By him she had six children,- George R., Louis K., Hugh W., Lillie F., Walter W. and Clara M. Mrs. Coster was born June 29, 1827, in England, near the border of Wales. She accom- panied her parents to America in 1834. William and Sarah Owens, her father and mother, were na- tives of England.
In political bias and relations Mr. Coster is a Re- publican. He has officiated four years as a Justice of the Peace and as School Director. In August, 1878, he engaged in mercantile business at Hinck- ley, in company with his son-in-law, J. H. Bauder. (See Sketch.) The firm are carrying on an exten- sive business.
charles S. Palmer, Postmaster at Hinckley, has resided in the State of Illinois since 185 1, and in Hinckley since the spring of 1874. He was born March 4, 1838, in Kane Co., Ill., and is the fourth child of his par- ents, Jonathan L. and Laura (Smith) Palmer. His father was born in the State of New York, and his mother in Vermont. They had six children.
Mr. Palmer was brought up on a farm, and was a farmer until he was 36 years of age. In 1851 his parents settled in the township of Milan in De Kalb County. His mother died in Cortland, and the de- mise of his father took place at St. Charles, Kane Co., Ill. On coming to Hinckley in 1874, Mr. Pal- mer built a hotel, which is now occupied by O. P. T.
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Steinmetz as a store. He conducted his business as a landlord' about 18 months, when he sold out and soon after erected the store and dwelling now occupied by Bauder & Coster. Mr. Palmer was appointed Postmaster in „April, 1884. In political convictions and relations he is a Republican. He has officiated as one of the Board of Village Trustees and as a School Director.
Mr. Palmer was married in Milan Township Feb. 17, 1863, to Emily N. Coster. Mrs. Palmer was born Aug. 26, 1845, and is the daughter of Alexander H. and Miranda Coster. Laura M., Melvin P. and Myrtie E. are the names of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Palmer.
avid Norton, farmer, section 14, Shabbona Township, was born in Ontario, Wayne Co., N. Y., July 24, 1821, was brought up on a farm till his 17th year, and then removed to Geauga Co., Ohio, where he learned the car- penter's trade, at which he was employed a part of his time, the remainder being devoted to farming until the fall of 1845. He then emigrated to the Prairie State, arriving at Sugar Grove, Kane County, Sept. 11, that year. He married at the last named place Aug. 20, 1846, Lucinda M., daugh- ter of Stephen and Julia (Tyler) Gates. She was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., June 13, 1826, lost her mother in childhood, and was adopted and brought up by her uncle, Isaac Gates.
Mr. and Mrs. Norton have had four children, namely : Celia A., born July 23, 1848, who is the wife of William Husk, Postmaster and merchant at Shabbona; Wellington J., born Dec. 20, 1851; Florence A., born July 3, 1854, is the wife of Hiram Morey and lives at Shabbona ; and one child died in infancy.
In the spring of 1847, the year following his mar- riage, Mr. Norton and wife moved to Shabbona Township, this county, where he entered some Gov- ernment land and purchased some at second-hand. His farm contains 100 acres on section 14, and 15 acres on section 23, and is well improved. Mr. Nor- ton has held various local offices since his residence in Shabbona. During the war he was appointed En- rolling Officer for the town ; served one term as Su-
pervisor and many years as Road Commissioner and Director of his school district. He has been identi- fied with the growth and improvement of the town since its pioneer days, and is held in high esteem by a wide circle of acquaintances. In politics he is a Republican.
illiam M. Sebree, farmer, resident in the village of Hinckley, has lived in De Kalb County since 1834, when he was brought here an infant less than two years of age by his parents, John S. and Sarah J. (Bateman) Sebree. He is consequently the oldest living settler in Squaw Grove Township. His father was born in Virginia, and his mother is a native of Indiana, where they located after marriage and lived two years, removing in the winter of 1834 to Squaw i Grove Township. The father died there April 29, 1873. They had five children, named as follows : W. M., Matilda J., James H., Mary A. and Ellen, William M. and Ellen are the only surviving chil- dren.
Mr. Sebree was born Feb. 7, 1833, in Indiana. He was reared on the farm of his father in Squaw Grove, and he attended the common schools. His marriage took place when he was 23 years of age, and on that event transpiring he settled for an inde- pendent struggle with circumstances on his father's farm in the township of Squaw Grove. After con- ducting its affairs five years, he removed to section Io, where he owned a farm of 120 acres. He con- tinued its management 10 years, when he rented the property and removed to the village of Hinckley in 1876. He owns 412 acres of land in Squaw Grove Township, nearly all of which is under tillage.
Mr. Sebree conducted the creamery at Hinckley seven years, and originated the plan of gathering cream for the manufacture of butter. He made in one day 2,480 pounds of butter, the largest amount ever made in a single day in the county.
In political sentiment he is independent and has been Constable, Highway Commissioner and School Director, besides having held other minor offices. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Mr. Sebree was married Sept. 26, 1855, in Squaw Grove Township, to Rosetta Donaldson. She was born in Steubenville, Jefferson Co., Ohio, May 23,
THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
John footer
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1837, and is the daughter of James and Jane (Cane) Donaldson. Herfather was born in Ireland and her mother in the city of New York, They had two children, Rosetta and Nancy. The family came in the fall of 1844 to De Kalb County and settled in Squaw Grove Township. The father's demise oc- curred there, April 29, 1845; that of the mother took place Sept. 28, 1876. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sebree, four of whom survive: Alice J., Nellie A., Effie M. and Ray M. One child died in infancy.
ohn Pooler, farmer and stock-raiser, resid- ing on section 14, Afton Township, was born in German Flats, Herkimer Co., N. Y., Aug. 11, 1824, and is of genuine “ Yan- kee " descent. His parents, Jacob and Betsey (Price) Pooler, were born in Dutchess Co., " York " State; were married there and then moved to Herkimer County. The father died at the age of 67 years, and the mother when the subject of this notice was but seven years of age.
Orphaned by the death of his mother at an early age, young Pooler was taken to be reared by an older brother, who is still living and resides near Cortland, this county, having attained the venerable age of 81 years. He grew to manhood on his brother's farm, assisting in the farm labors and attending the com- mon schools. On arriving at the age named he en- gaged in farming by the month, with various persons, and continued following that vocation for seven years.
At the expiration of the time named, Mr. Pooler, from his savings, purchased a farm in Steuben Coun- ty, in his native State, which he cultivated for five years. He then sold his property and spent a year in attendance on his wife (having previously mar- ried), who was undergoing medical treatment. On the convalescence of his wife he came to this State and located in Afton Township. He arrived here in 1857, and at once settled on the southeast quarter of section 24, Afton Township, on which he resided until 1870. He first purchased 80 acres, and subse- quently added 80 more on the same section.
After residing on and improving his land on sec- tion 24, Mr. Pooler purchased the farm on which he
is at present residing. The original tract embraced 160 acres, and he has since added, by a subsequent purchase, 80 more, making his landed estate on sec- tion 14, 240 acres, and on section 24, 160 acres, or a total of 400 acres. He erected his present residence in 1883. It is a frame building, and one of the neat- est and most convenient farm dwellings in the town- ship. He has a large cattle barn on the home farm and good, substantial outbuildings.
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