Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 50

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 50

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13 Kon. Augustus Adams, of Sandwich, is the pioneer inventor and foundryman of North- ern Illinois, having established at Elgin the first foundry and machine-shop west of Chicago. Mr. Adams was born May 10, 1806, in Genoa, Cayuga Co., N. Y. Samuel Adams, the father of Augustus Adams, died when the latter was 11 years old, leaving to his son the heritage of an un- sullied name and the necessity of immediate effort for self-maintenance. In the succeeding spring he went with his brother-in-law to Chester, Geauga Co., Ohio, where he spent some years in alternate farm labor and attending school.

In boyhood Mr. Adams had a studious nature and a reflective mentality, and he made the best use of the limited advantages afforded by the sections of New York and Ohio where he resided, both being in their pioneer period. By devoting his leisure time to study and reading, he acquired a substantial store of general knowledge, and an education which on reaching mature years he made available in teaching, and in this avenue of effort he passed several win- ters. From the bent of his tastes and circumstances, he decided on mechanical inventions as a field for the development of his genius, having been aroused to the crudeness and inefficiency of farming imple- ments, and believing with all the enthusiasm of true genius in the possibilities open to inventors of agricul-

tural machinery. While he labored, his mind was busy with plans for the future, and he worked on, saving the results of his industry and frugality until, in 1829, he was enabled to establish a foundry and machine shop at Pine Valley, Chemung Co., N. Y. Upon the inventors of that early day rested con- victions of a twofold necessity. Not only invention waited on opportunity, but ways and means as well; and facilities to aid the inventor in testing his appli- ances, being practically wanting, and, to the mind of the latter, remote from the centers of progress, the necessity for such assistance was as palpable as the dream of his genius. The establishment at Pine Valley was in successful- operation until 1837. Meanwhile, the thousand tongues of rumor had painted glowing pictures of the promise and oppor- tunity of the undeveloped West on every imagination east of the lakes, and filled every mind with longing to test the possibilities that awaited effort.

To Mr. Adams the field for the exercise of his in- ventive faculties opened by the agricultural resources of the Prairie State, offered the opportunity he had hardly dared to hope for, and he foresaw the im- portance and necessity of labor-saving machinery in dealing with the enormous crops. Gradually he formed the purpose of transferring his business and interests to the land of promise, a plan which he car- ried into successful operation in the fall of 1838, when he came to Elgin, where he operated as he found opportunity, bringing every effort to bear on his ultimate purpose. His family joined him at Elgin in the fall of 1840, and in the year following, associated with James T. Gifford, he fulfilled his cherished plan and found himself at the head of a machine shop and foundry in the midst of the bound- less, beautiful prairies, whence every outlook was freighted with promise of successful application and the fruits of effort and genius. Here he labored with vigor and efficiency, and invented and manufactured the first "harvester " on which grain was collected and bound. He and Philo Sylla also invented the " Hinge Sickle Bar," which is now in use on all mow- ing-machines. He there commenced the manu- facture of the Adams Corn-Shellers. These machines were the outgrowth of a necessity consequent upon the change in the staple product of Illinois,-wheat failing from the nature of the soil and corn taking its place. Shellers were indispensable, and the hand machines which were manufactured to some extent

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in the shops at Elgin were entirely inadequate in disposing of the huge crops that grew on the broad acres of Illinois and other prairie States. This new want re-awakened the energies of Mr. Adams, and the "Self-feeding Corn-Shellers " have given his name a permanent place in the consciousness of every agriculturist between the eastern and western oceans. In 1856 Mr. Adams, while still resident at Elgin, started a machine shop on a limited scale at Sandwich, where he experimented in the construction of a power corn-sheller. Within a year the idea was perfected; and, the opportune destruction of his small engine giving him an opportunity to replace it by one larger and more available, he was enabled to push the work of manufacturing as fast as his means would permit. In a few months, so to speak, the Sandwich Corn-Sheller attained a popularity which crowded the factory to its utmost capacity, and as early as 1861 the works afforded employment for a large force of men. The shops were destroyed by fire at a time when the products were in great de- mand, when the firm which had become A. Adams & Sons, with their well-known energy, reconstructed the building on a larger and better scale and by ex- traordinary exertions supplied the demand. The value and necessity of the corn-sheller was an estab- lished fact, and in 1867 home capital for the estab- lishment of an incorporated company flowed in abundantly, resulting in the organization of the Sand- wich Manufacturing Company, with Augustus Adams as its President. Increasing demand for machines necessitated increased facilities, and the results are manifest in the superb shops at Sandwich.

In 1870 Mr. Adams established his younger sons at Marseilles, Ill., in the manufacture of corn-shellers, in order to make available the fine water-power of the Illinois River in view of its greater economy as compared with steam power. They organized and were incorporated under the State laws as the " Marseilles Manufacturing Company," with the senior Adams as its President, he having resigned his position as chief official of the Sandwich com- pany. His interests are at present writing centered in the establishment at Marseilles, whose products have acquired a national reputation.

Mr. Adams is an inflexible adherent to the prin- ciples, and supporter of the issues, of the Republican element in politics: While a resident at Elgin his characteristic traits of good judgment and clear fore-

sight received recognition in his election, in 1847, as a Delegate to the Constitutional Convention of Illi- nois to revise the Constitution, and he performed efficient service as a member of that body. In 1850 he was elected a member of the House of Represent- atives in the Assembly of Illinois, and in 1854 he was elected to the Senatorial branch of that body. . He was also appointed one of the commissioners to locate the Insane Asylum of Northern Illinois. In religious convictions and connection Mr. Adams is a Congregationalist, and belongs to the orthodox type of the Christian element.

He was married Oct. 21, 1833, to Lydia A. Phelps, and they became the parents of nine children,-eight sons and a daughter,-who were born as follows : Darius, Aug. 26, 1834: J. Phelps, Sept. 18, 1835 ; Henry A., Jan. 21, 1837; John Q., July 23, 1839; H. Raymond, June 29, 1842; Amy W., May 29, 1844; Oliver R., Sept. 10, 1845; Walter G., July 12, 1848; Charles H., Feb. 17, 1855. The mother died Dec. 14, 1867. Mr. Adams was a second time mar- ried Jan. 13, 1869, to Mrs. L. M. Mosher.

The portrait of Mr. Adams on another page is an appropriate accompaniment to the collated records of De Kalb County, whose welfare has been so long one of his chief interests. The gallery of the por- traits of inventors who have secured her permanent reputation and prosperity would be singularly deficient without it, and the citizens of Sandwich will welcome it on these pages as that of a personal friend,-one who has walked among them in manly rectitude and to whom his features have a more than common interest.

ohn C. Hopkins, attorney at Hinckley, was born June 21, 1858, in Yorkville, Kendall Co., Ill., and is the son of Robert and Mary (Cook) Hopkins. His parents came to Ken- dall County in 1838, where they passed the remaining years of their lives. They had six children,-William H., Martha C., John C., Hiram R., Mary E. and Stella.

Mr. Hopkins was an attendant at the common schools until he was 15 years of age, when he en- tered the Chicago University and was graduated there in 1880. He entered at once upon the study of law and was graduated in 1882 in the Union Law

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School. In January, 1883, he was admitted to prac- tice in the Federal Courts, and in September, that year, he established his practice as an attorney at Hinckley. In political faith Mr. Hopkins is a Demo- crat. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to the Chapter, R. A. M.

He was united in marriage at Aurora, Ill., Sept. 29, 1883, to Emma A. Young. Mrs. Hopkins was born April 7, 1865, in Oswego, Kendall Co., Ill., and is the daughter of Henry and Sarah (Gray) Young.

The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins-Robert H .- was born Sept. 3, 1884.

ames Lane, farmer, owning 1931/2 acres on section 13, Shabbona Township, was born in Kent, near London, England, Nov. 23, 1836, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Luxford) Lane, natives of that country.

James Lane was brought up on a farm in his native country and received the advantages afforded by the common schools. He emigrated to this coun- try during his 23d year, in 1859, and landed at New York May 16 of that year. He immediately came to this State and on May 23 located in La Salle County, where he followed the vocation of a farmer. He continued to follow that calling in that country until 1874, and then came to Shabbona Township, this county, and purchased land on sec- tion 24. On this land he resided until 1878, when he removed to his present residence on section 13. He worked the place until 1880 as tenant and then purchased it.

Mr. Lane was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Johnson, in Crawford Parish, England, May 23, 1858. She was a daughter of George and Ann (Turner) Johnson, natives of England, and was born in Dartford, Kent, England, Feb. 16, 1837. Her grandfather was an English soldier and took part in the memorable battle of Waterloo, in which engage- ment he was wounded and died near the battle- ground.

Mr. and Mrs. Lane have been the parents of nine children, seven of whom were born in La Salle and two in this county : Henry G. was born April 12, 1860; Edgar A., Feb. 17, 1862, and died in October, 1863; Maud M., born Jan. 25, 1864, is now the wife

of Lewis Olmstead, a farmer of Shabbona Township; Ella M. was born March 11, 1866; Elmer E., April 14, 1868; Arthur A., March 27, 1870; Charles J., March 11, 1872; Oscar E., June 12, 1875; and Frederick, July 21, 1879.

Mr. and Mrs. Lane are members of the Congrega- tional Church at Shabbona.

aniel D. Olmsted, farmer, section 31, Clin- ton Township, and owner of 205 acres in

wona the township, was born in Catharine, Tioga County, now Schuyler Co., N. Y., June 21, 1822. He is a son of Coleman and Clara (Dau- chey) Olmsted. He lived at home assisting his father and attending the common schools until 1835, when he removed with his parents to Big Flat, Che- mung Co., N. Y., and three years later, 1838, came with them to Illinois. The family located in La Salle County, where they continued to reside until the spring of 1841, when they removed to Shabbona Grove, this county. The Olmsted family are of Revolutionary stock. His great-grandfather died at Valley Forge.

Mr. Olmsted was married Nov. 10, 1846, at Clin- ton, this State, to Miss Ann B. McNish. She was a daughter of Alexander McNish, of Washington Co., N. Y., and was born in that county. She was the mother of two children by Mr. O., both of whom died in infancy: The wife and mother died July 19, 1849, and Mr. Olmsted was again married Dec. 12, 1850, to Miss Elizabeth A. Frost, at Catharine, Schuyler Co., N. Y. She is a daughter of Jonathan and Eliz- abeth L. (Sherwood) Frost. She was born in Catha- rine, Schuyler Co., N. Y., and has become the mother of four children by Mr. Olmsted. Their children are : Frank D., born Nov. 9, 1851, married Malinda Camn- eron and resides in Shabbona. George J. F., born Sept. 1, 1854. Charles S., born March 6, 1856, and died Oct. I, same year. Charles J. C., born Sept. 13, 1858, and died March 9, 1861.

Mr. Olmsted settled on his present farm in 1847. Two years afterward his house was burned, which he rebuilt and has continued to reside upon the farm ever since.

In politics Mr. Olmsted, in the days of the old Whig party, was a member of it, but since the or-

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ganization of the Republican party, has acted and voted with it. He and his wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which de- nomination Mr. Olmsted has been identified ever since its organization at Shabbona.

ollef T. Eide is a member of the firm of Eide & Hommersand, dealers in general merchandise at Lee, Lee Co., Ill. These gentlemen established their business here Oct. 16, 1883, and carry an average stock of $8,000 in value. They are enjoying a very prosperous business.

Mr. . Eide was born in Norway; Dec. 12, 1852, and and is the son of Torres and Randvei Eide; he was brought up as a farmer and as a fisherman in Central and Northern Norway. He arrived in the United States Dec. 19, 1882, coming directly to Chicago, where he spent a few months, and in February, 1883, he came to the village of Lee, Shabbona Township, and engaged as a clerk in the general store of Berliz- heimer & Stensland. Oct. 16, 1883, he formed the existing partnership with Mr. Hommersand, purchas- ing the establishment where he had been acting as manager since April 15, of that year. The present firm are succeeding well in their business.

The marriage of Mr. Eide took place in Norway, July 15, 1881, to Miss Christina H. Greve, born Aug. 12, 1861, is a daughter of John Greve. and a native of Norway. They have had two children, namely: Torres, born in Norway, March 19, 1882; and Helena, born in Lee, April 23, 1883.

Mr. Eide is a Republican in his political views, and both himself and wife are members of the Lu- theran Church.

Imer Bushnell, farmer, section 36, Squaw Grove Township, has been a resident of De Kalb County since 1865, and is the owner of 200 acres of land, on which he is now prosecuting his agricultural operations, and which is nearly all under cultivation. He was born March 30, 1830, in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., and is the son of Amasa and Mila (Frary) Bushnell. His parents were natives of New York, and came

thence to Kendall Co., Ill., in 1855, where the father died on the 20th of September of the same year. The mother removed to De Kalb County in 1865, and died Jan. 9, 1876. Their three children were named William J. (see sketch), Elmer and Marcus S.

Mr. Bushnell was reared as a farmer's son, obtain- ing his education at the public schools and working as a farm assistant on the home place until the age of 25 years. He came to Kendall County when his parents removed there, and he lived at Little Rock in that county until his removal to Squaw Grove Township in 1865. He has officiated as Overseer of the Highway, and is identified in politics with the Republican party.

He was married Nov. 25, 1852, in Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., to Paulina R., daughter of William Merchant. She was born April 4, 1832, near Cazenovia, N. Y. Of their marriage the following children have been born : Lillie M., Ada C., George H., Lettie and Kitty. Ada and Kitty are deceased.

acob Stone, farmer, section 10, Milan Town- ship, was born June 20, 1832, in Chester Co., Pa. He is of German descent, his grandfather, Garrett Stone, having been a na- tive of that country. The latter was a black- smith by calling and emigrated to the United States, where he located in Chester County and died there nearly 90 years old. Jacob Stone, senior, son of Garrett, was a shoemaker in early life and is now, at 80 years of age, engaged in farming in Perry Co., Pa. The mother of Mr. Stone of this sketch, Mar- garet (Glenn) Stone, was of Irish descent and was born in Pennsylvania. Her father, Hugh Glenn, was born on the Atlantic Ocean while his parents were en route to the United States. The latter set- tled on a farm in Pennsylvania, where they died. Margaret (Glenn) Stone died Feb. 28, 1865, in Perry Co., Pa., when nearly 58 years old.

Mr. Stone is third in order of birth of eight chil- dren, four of whom are deceased. He was taught the details of the shoemaker's craft by his father, and when he became 19 years of age he set out to operate as a journeyman, that method of obtaining employ- ment being in vogue at that period and necessary to both craftsman and beneficiary, as settlements were

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sparse. He passed a year in that capacity, and then became the manager of the homestead farm, in which he was employed until his marriage.

He was united in marriage Dec. 29, 1857, in Coral Township, Perry Co., Pa., to Susannah S. Hen- derson. She was born April 15, 1830, in Perry County, and is the daughter of H. and Nancy (White) Henderson. Her father was born in Ire- land. Her mother was a native of Perry County, and was of Irish extraction. She died in the same county, in 1872. The father's decease occurred in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Stone have been the parents of seven children, all of whom are living except one,-John W. The others are William H., Margaret A. (Mrs. George Applebee), Israel A., Benjamin W., James E., and Eddy T.

The family came West in 1868. They located on 160 acres of unbroken prairie, which has been con- verted into an attractive and valuable farm, by ap- plication and industry. Mr. and Mrs. Stone are actively interested in the progress and welfare of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which the entire family belong, and in which the former has officiated in the several public relations. He has also acted as school officer. In political faith and connection he is a Republican.

illiam D. Coulson, resident on section 23, Squaw Grove Township, has been a farm- er in the State of Illinois since 1853, with the exception of three years which he spent in the military service of the United States. He was born March 15, 1838, in England, and is the son of John and Mary (Dale) Coulson. His parents lived and died on their native soil. They had 10 children, of whom Mr. Coulson of this sketch is the oldest. He came to America in 1853 and at once located in Illinois. In the summer of 1862 he enlisted in the 127th Ill. Vol. Inf., and was in the service until the war closed. He was wounded once, receiving a gunshot wound in the right hand at the siege of Atlanta. After his discharge from the army he returned to Kendall Co., Ill. He continued there three years, and in 1868 bought 165 acres of land, which has since constituted his homestead and on which he has erected a fine residence. He is the

owner of 240 acres of land in Squaw Grove Town- ship, all of which is under cultivation. In political faith he coincides with the principles of the Repub- lican party.

He was married Jan. 15, 1867, at Yorkville, Ken- dall Co., Ill., to Phebe `A., daughter of John and Leah (Jones) Darnell. Her parents were natives of North Carolina, and had a family of 10 children. Mrs. Coulson was born Sept. 19, 1842. She is the mother of three children,-Addie L., Alice M. and Harry G. The parents are members of the Method- ist Church.

homas Wright, deceased, was an early pio- neer of Shabbona Township, being one of the four Englishmen who located in the western part of the township in the fall of 185 1 and laid the foundation for the settlement since known as the " English."

The subject of this sketch was born in Woodhall, Yorkshire, England, Dec. 21, 1802, his parents be- ing William and Fannie Wright. He was mar- ried in his native parish, April 3, 1831, to Miss Mary, daughter of George and Julianna Mullins. She was born in Yorkshire, Feb. 6, 1809. Mr. and Mrs. Wright had five children, all born in England, namely : George, born Oct. 10, 1832, was married first to Elizabeth Scott, and, after her death, to Em- ily C. Johnson, and is a farmer of Shabbona Town- ship; Ann, born July 13, 1835, is now the wife of William Cutts, of Lee County ; William, born May 9, 1840, became a soldier of Co. E, 105th Ill. Vol. Inf., was wounded at Resaca May 15, 1864, and died in the hospital on the 25th of that month ; Rob- ert M., born Nov. 1, 1844, married Elizabeth Fowler, and is now a resident of Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he is practicing law; Julianna, born Jan. 31, 1844, is now the wife of James Spaulding and lives in Palo Alto Co., Iowa.

In England Mr. Wright was employed as over- seer of a gentleman's farms. He emigrated to America in 1850, reaching Morris, Grundy Co., Ill., May 31 of that year. During the ensuing summer he came to Shabbona, and in November, 1851, he moved his family to that place. He came in com- pany with S. Story, Wm. Cutts and Joseph Billam.

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Settling on the northeast quarter of section 18, he engaged in farming and continued in that calling until about eight years prior to his death, when he removed to Lee County. He died Sept 7, 1882, in that county, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his political action he voted with the Republican party.

rnest Peckman, farmer, section 6, Squaw Grove Township, was born in Germany, Aug. 30, 1830. He lived in his native country until he was 24 years old-in 1854- and settled in Kendall Co., Ill., to which place he at once proceeded in landing in the United

States. He resided four years there and came thence to Somonauk Township, and after a residence there of seven years he bought 102 acres in the township of which he has been a citizen.

He was married in Kendall County, to Justinia Wollenweber, and they have three children-Her- man, Henry and Ernest. Mrs. Peckman is a native of Germany and was born Sept. 7, 1829. With her husband, she belongs to the Lutheran Church.

S amuel Cutts, farmer, section 18, township of Shabbona, occupying 203 acres of land, was born in the village of Harthill, York- shire, England, June 28, 1831, and is the son of George and Sarah (Rudeforth) Cutts. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and emi- grated to America in September, 185 1, coming direct- ly to Lisbon, Ill., where he resided a year. He then came to Shabbona Township and " took up" the west half of fractional northwest quarter of section 18,-a track containing 100 acres; he has since purchased 103 acres additional. He was one of the pioneer party of young Englishinen who founded the so-called English settlement in the western part of Shabbona Township in 1852. The surrounding coun- try at that time was in its natural state, and the most familiar neighbors of these men were prairie wolves.

Mr. Cutts has always voted with the Republicans ; and, while not a member of any Church he has con-

tributed liberally in the support of the Methodist Episcopal Church of his neighborhood.

He was married in Shabbona Township, June 23, 1857, to Mrs. Mary Dalton, widow of Thomas Dal- ton and daughter of John and Mary (Tiffin) Barnes. She was born in Aspatria, Cumberland County, Eng- land, March 31, 1828, and had four children by her first marriage, namely; Mary P., born July 27, 1849; Thomas P., Jan. 15, 1851, married Lydia Hampton and lives in Lee, Ill .; Isabella, born Aug. 29, 1853, is the wife of Siren Madison and resides in Nebraska ; and Sarah A., born Feb. 27, 1855. Mrs. Cutts came to America in 1852, and her children born in this country, by the present inarriage, are : Margaret E., born March 12, 1858; Agnes, born March 2, 1861, died May 23, 1876; John W., born Jan. 1, 1864 ; Addie M., July 22, 1867 ; and Emma M., Nov. 10, 1 870.

arwood Veale, farmer, section 4, Milan Township, was born Sept. 13, 1849, in Devonshire, England, and is the son of Oliver and Mary A. (Bailey) Veale. His parents emigrated from their native land to the province of Ontario, Canada, settling in Darling- ton. Their removal to the New World was effected in 1852, and they became farmers in Canada. Six children were included in their family, and in 1864 the parents with four children came to Illinois. The father selected and purchased 160 acres of land in Milan Township. On this they settled and there the mother died, Nov. 19, 1872. After that event Mr. Veale entered upon the work of conducting the homestead, and not long after his father went back to his children in Canada for a permanent home. He is now 75 years old.

Mr. Veale was married March 28, 1871, to Flora Blackman. Her parents, Ira and Sophia (Kibbee) Blackman, were born in the State of New York, and were of New England descent and English ancestry. They belong to the agricultural class in New York, and in 1846 removed to Wisconsin, settling in Rock County. Mrs. Veale was born there Feb. 21, 1848, and was a resident there until the removal of her parents in 1860 to a farm in the township of Milan. Her father and mother are respectively 83 and 70

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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 50

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

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