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 54
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He was married in April, 1855, in Will Co., Ill., to Ann W. Haywood, and they had four children,- Arthur H., Herbert W., Oscar H. and Orpha A. The
last named child died in infancy. Mr. Fay died in Squaw Grove, Nov. 11, 1884. She was born May 21, 1830, in Waterville, Maine, and was the daughter of Timothy and Eleanor Haywood.
eorge Ramer, farmer, section 22, Pierce Township, was born April 21, 1844, in Richland Co., Ohio, and came thence with his parents, Henry and Susanna (Troup) Ramer. He was reared on his father's farm,
- and there made his home until after his mar- riage. He was educated in the common schools. Jan. 8, 1863, he was married to Anna, daughter of Timothy Haley.
In 187 I he purchased a farm on section 22, Pierce Township, and has erected a good dwelling-house, barn and granary. He has also set out. an apple orchard of 180 trees and a variety of small fruits. He is a Republican in political opinion and he and his wife are members of the Evangelical Association.
There are seven children in the family,-Oscar, Nora, Mina, Viola, Rosa, Robert and Ivan.
aniel Pierce, banker at Sycamore, was born in the town of Neversink, Sullivan Co., N. Y., July 18, 1814, and is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Corgill) Pierce. Wm. Pierce, the paternal grandsire, lived and died in West- chester Co., N. Y. On his mother's side Mr. Pierce is of Scotch lineage. Joseph Pierce was born in Westchester County and went to Sullivan County when 15 years of age. He died in March, 1819, aged 31 years, leaving a wife and six children-Wil- liam, Polly, John, Daniel, Nellie and Catherine. In 1822 the widow married Edward Porter. Mr. Pierce senior had owned what was called a "lease farm " in the town of Neversink, and this the family occupied some years.
At the age of 12 years Mr. Pierce of this sketch was thrown upon his own resources for maintenance, and he went to work at $3 per month for the first seven months. He continued in the occupation of a farm laborer until he obtained his title to the home- stead and operated agriculturally on his own account.
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He was married Dec. 17, 1835, to Phebe J., daugh- ter of Abijah and Sarah (Lane) Brundige. She was born Aug. 17, 1818, in Orange Co., N. Y. They lived on the homestead until 1839, when Mr. Pierce purchased another lease of a farm in a different locality, where he operated five years, buying a third farm under similar circumstances. On this he re- mained until 1848, when he bought three farms, his purchase including the homestead. He lived in Sullivan County, with the exception of two years, · until 1855. He passed the two years referred to in Ulster County, where he owned and managed a tan- nery associated with his brother.
In 1855 he sold the major portion of his land in his native county, and came to Sycamore Township, where he rented a farm one year. In 1856 he re- moved to the city of Sycamore, where he lived until 1865. In that year he took possession of a farm on section 6, Cortland Township, where he is still re- siding.
On his removal to Sycamore in 1856, he engaged in land speculation, trafficking in real estate, and im- proving land. In 1867 the banking house of Pierce, Dean & Co. was established, which in 187 I became Pierce & Dean. In 1883 another change instituted the banking firm of Daniel Pierce & Co., the existing style. Mr. Pierce is still dealing in real estate and is the proprietor of several farms.
His family includes two daughters: Eleanor P. married A. W. Townsend. Sarah P. is the wife of G. P. Wild. The first-born child died in infancy. The mother died Oct. 4, 1876.
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ugust Bastian, farmer, section 20, Squaw Grove Township, is a son of Jacob P. and Mary C. (Thomas) Bastian, who were na- tives of Nassau, Germany. They had a fam- ily of six children, of whom August was the fourth in order of birth. He was born in Ger- many Dec. 22, 1822, and when 29 years of age he came to America, and after a year's residence at Louisville, Ky., he came to this county and first lived two years in Somonauk Township, then a year in Kendall County, and finally he settled upon his present place of residence. At first he bought 120
acres, but he now has double that acreage. He has served the community as Overseer of Highways and as School Director. In his political views he is a Democrat.
He was married in Oswego, Kendall Co., Ill., Oct. 11, 1855, to Miss Louisa C. Thomas, daughter of Gost H. and Mary C. (Post) Thomas, who were na- tives of Germany. She also was born in that coun- try Dec. 14, 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Bastian have eight children,-Lewis, Peter, Mary C., Gustave W., Ber- tha, Frank, Anna and Charlie A.
B enjamin Gurler, farmer and stock-raiser, located on section 32, De Kalb Township, was born Oct. 25, 1807, in Nelson, N. H., and is the son of Thomas and Susan (Far- well) Gurler. His father was born in Mar- blehead, Mass., and married a lady who was a native of New Hampshire, where they settled and where both died. They had 10 children.
Mr. Gurler is their eldest son, and he continued to reside in his native State until 1856. He was there interested in farming, and passed 13 years in the manufacture of cast-steel augers and bits. He set- tled in De Kalb County in the fall of the year named, purchasing 160 acres of land in De Kalb Township, and eight acres in the township of Afton. He lo- cated on the quarter-section which he owned in De Kalb Township, and there established his home- stead. He owns 288 acres of improved and valu- uable land, stocked with 70 head of cattle, 6 horses and about 100 hogs.
Politically, Mr. Gurler is a Republican. While a resident in New Hampshire, he was a Captain in the old State Militia seven years.
He was married May 9, 1839, in Chesterfield, N. H., to Harriet F. Hopkins, and they became the parents of five children : Henry B. was born May 21, 1840, in Chesterfield. Sarah M. was born Oct. 13, 1841, in Keene, N. H., which was the birthplace of George H., born March 29, 1844. Mary J. was born Sept. 6, 1848, in Chesterfield, and died in De Kalb, Nov. 20, 1859. Lizzie T. was born in De. Kalb, Feb. 8, 1861. Mrs. Gurler was born Oct. 29, 1817, in Colerain, Mass., and is the daughter of Richard and Emmeline (Lewis) Hopkins. Her par-
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ents were natives of New Hampshire, where they re- sided nearly all their lives with the exception of six years, when they lived at Colerain, Mass. They died in the State of their nativity.
As a man eminently worthy a place among the leading men of De Kalb County, we place Mr. Gur- ler's portrait in this work. It is engraved from a picture taken in 1874.
illiam P. Wheeler, farmer, section 23, Clinton Township, is a son of Nathan and Abigail (King) Wheeler, natives of Ver- mont. The senior Wheeler died in his native State, and Mrs. W. in Clinton Town- ship, this county.
Mr. Wheeler, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Colchester, Vt., Aug. 1, 1810; learned the trade of carpenter and joiner; followed it till 1845, then for six years worked in a saw-mill, and then, in 1851, he came to this county and purchased a quar- ter of section 33, where he has since resided, and 14 acres in Shabbona Township. He now owns 84 acres, most of which is in good cultivation.
In political matters he is identified with the Demo- cratic party. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace four years, Township Clerk, one year, etc.
He was married in Rutland. Co., Vt., .Oct. 15, 1834, to Miss Mary A., daughter of William and Lucy (King) Ambler, natives also of the Green Mountain State. She was born in Lyons, Wayne Co., N. Y., Oct. 10, 1810, the youngest of five chil- dren. Mr. and Mrs. W. are the parents of Lucy, William, Wallace, Julia F. and Henry K.
saac Kirkpatrick, manufacturer and miller at Waterman, is a native of the Keystone State. His parents, Jesse and Ruth (Smiley) Kirkpatrick, natives also of Pennsyl- vania, emigrated to De Kalb County, Ill., in the spring of 1855, where they spent the remainder of their lives. He died in the spring of .1858, and she Oct. 8, 1879. They had six chil- dren, named Ann, Isaac, Smiley, Hiram, Margaret and Ellen.
Mr. Kirkpatrick was born in Perry Co., Pa., Oct.
20, 1822; followed farming and lumbering in his youth till 1855, when he came and settled in Clinton Township, on a farm which he had bought two years previously. Here he followed agricultural pursuits for 17 years, when he sold his place and removed to the village of Waterman, and began the milling busi- ness and afterwards the manufacture of bee-hives and water and stock tanks and cisterns. He had formed a partnership with his son-in-law, W. S. Andrews, under the firm name of Kirkpatrick & Andrews, before he began the manufacture of bee- - hives, water and stock tanks, etc., and they are man- aging a good business. In his political views Mr. K. is a Republican. Officially he has been Overseer of Highways in his township and Street Commissioner in Waterman. Both himself and wife belong to the Presbyterian Church.
He was married in Perry Co., Pa., Oct. 28, 1848, to Catherine McCord, who was born in that county, Oct. 17, 1817. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick are the parents of four children-Lizzie, Inda, Ida S. and one who died in infancy. . Mrs. K.'s parents, Benj. and Elizabeth (Smiley) McCord, were also natives of Pennsylvania, where they passed their entire lives.
athew W. Olmstead, retired farmer, re- siding in the village of Shabbona, was one of the very first pioneers of Shabbona Township, being the fourth person to effect a settlement in it. He was born in Wilton, Fairfield Co., Conn., Nov. 22, 1804, and is the son of David and Rebecca (Jackson) Olmstead.
When about 13 years of age he removed with his parents to Tompkins Co., N. Y. He attended the common schools in that county, learned the black- smith's trade, and removed to Chemung County, that State, where he worked at his trade until 1837. During this year he, in company with his brothers, Lewis and Nathan, came to La Salle County, this State; one year and two months later he came to Shabbona, locating there in September, 1838. On arrival at Shabbona, he found Edmond Towne, Oliver P. Johnson, Nathan Olmstead and David Smith.
Mr. Olmstead selected his claim prior to the Gov- ernment survey, and after the survey was made he found his land comprised a portion of sections 25
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and 36, his house being located on section 25. His farm comprised 207 acres, which he sold some years later and removed to section 36, same township. In 1878 he removed to the village of Shabbona, where he has a fine residence and three and a half acres in- side the village corporation.
Mr. Olmstead was married in Chemung Co., N. Y., June 28, 1828, to Catharine, daughter of Benajah and Agnes Lockerby. She was born in Veteran Township, Chemung Co., N. Y., April 6, 1801, and was the mother, by Mr. Olmstead, of five children, -two.boys and three girls. The eldest, Robert L., was married to Louisa Clapsaddle, was a member of an Iowa Inf. Reg., was wounded in the Red River expedition, taken prisoner, and died from the effects of his wound, in Texas. Hannah was the wife of Howell Leyson, and died in June, 1881. Araminta is the wife of Lewis Larkin, a resident of Iowa. Re- becca is the wife of William Van Vlack. William W. married Ellen Walker, was a member of the same regiment as his brother, was taken prisoner, ex- changed and died soon after from disease contracted while in service.
Mrs. Olmstead died Jan. 8, 1857, and June 28, 1858, Mr. Olmstead married Mary Walker, at Syca- more, this county. She died in 1863, without issue. Mr. Olmstead was a third time married Jan. 2, 1882, at Northfield, Minn., to Miss Armina, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Lockerby. She was born in Washtenaw Co., Mich., March 15, 1836, and accom- panied her parents to Northfield in 1855. They were pioneers of that place and she resided there until her marriage.
Politically, Mr. Olmstead is a Republican. He has held the office of School Treasurer some 10 years.
homas B. Holbrook, a retired farmer at Waterman, is from New England. His parents, Jacob and Dorothy (Blanchard) Holbrook, were natives of Weymouth, Mass., where they also terminated their lives. Their three children were Ruth W., Thomas B. and Jacob, Jr.
The second born, the subject of this sketch, was born also in Weymouth, July 22, 1813, learned the trade of shoemaker of his father, and followed it until
he came West in 1856. He bought 88 acres of land in Clinton Township, this county, and lived there until January, 1882; then, after spending nearly a year in Michigan, he settled in the village of Water- man, where he now has his residence. He is the owner of 167 acres of land in this county. Publicly, he has been a School Director, and in his views of national affairs he sympathizes with the Republican party.
He was married in Weymouth, Mass., June 28, 1843, to Miss Mary A., daughter of Isaac and Cyn- thia (Pratt) Reed, who also were natives of Wey- mouth, where they passed their entire lives. They had a family of eight children-Eliza, Cynthia, Mary A., Asa, Isaac, Frederick and Stephen. One died in infancy. Mrs. H. was born in Weymouth, Jan. 4, 1824, and has become the mother of five children. Ann and Andrew died in infancy, and the surviving children are T. Frank, Ruth W. and Cynthia R. Ruth W. is the wife of George C. Pratt and resides in Jackson, Mich. Cynthia R. is the wife of Hum- phrey Roberts, Jr., and resides in Waterman. T. Frank is settled near Fergus Falls, Minn.
acob Wirick, deceased, was the second settler of East Paw Paw, coming here in 1842. He was born in Cumberland Val- ley, Pa., May 22, 1789, and during his life was a farmer by occupation. He was married in 18II, to Mary McCoy, who was born in the same county with him, Dec. 12, 1795.
They first emigrated to Ohio and thence to a Mor- mon settlement in Missouri called the " Far West;" but, becoming dissatisfied there, they changed their residence to Adams Co., Ill., and later to Nauvoo, Ill., where Mr. W. was still identified with the Mor- mons, but opposed to polygamy. In 1842 he moved to East Paw Paw, this county, and bought out the only white settler at that point, Wm. Rogers, who kept a hotel. Mr. Wirick bought also 80 acres of land of Mr. Rogers, and added to it by subsequent purchases until he had a total of 240 acres. He also increased the capacity of the hotel, which he named the " Paw Paw House," where he dispensed with a liberal hand the substantial fare of the fron- tier. He was a man of sterling qualities, remark- able for his positive opinions and force of character.
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In early life he was a Democrat in his political views, but toward his latter days he became independent in his voting.
He had 14 children, 11 of whom grew up, namely : John, born Dec. 9, 1812, died after he had attained the age of manhood : Harriet, born Feb. 25, 1815, died in California; Cornilla, born Oct. 13, 1816, is now the wife of Justin Merrill, of Utah; William, born May 13, 1818, married Phebe Potts and lives at Princeton, Ill .; George, born Feb. 11, 1820, mar- ried Juliette Atwood and lives in Aurora, Ill .; James, born Aug. 29, 1823, lives in Adrian, Mich .; Ed- mond, born June 25, 1825, married Mary Leyson and lives at Storm Lake, Iowa; Rebecca, born March 13, 1827; is now the widow of J. H. Breese and resides at Aurora, Ill .; Mary, born April 23, 1829, is the wife of D. A. Baxter, of Rochelle, Ill., Valentine, born March 25, 1831, first married Eliza- beth Hildebrand, and afterward Jennet Quothera, and now is a resident of Rochelle, Ill. ; and Nancy S., born March 5, 1839, is the wife of H. S. Dickin- son of East Paw Paw.
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A. Schermerhorn, farmer, section 30, Clin- ton Township, is a son of Henry and Mi- randa (Mattison) Schermerhorn, natives of New York. They came to this county in 1846 and settled on section 30, Clinton Township, where the son now resides. His mother died on the old homestead Aug. 20, 1861. His father still survives and resides in Clinton Township. Their family comprised eight children, namely: Myron B., Herschel A., Lorenzo, George H., Ossian D., Mary E., William M. and Hannah J.
Herschel A. Schermerhorn, subject of this bio- graphical notice, was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., Feb. 22, 1845, and was only two years old when his parents moved to this county. He has lived in this county since 1846, except seven years which he spent in Kane County during the early period of his life. He lived at home assisting on the farm and at- tending the common school until he attained the age of 16 years. On arriving at this age, he en- gaged to learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner, which he completed, and which trade he has fol- lowed in connection with farming ever since. He is
the owner of 100 acres of land in Clinton Township, all of which is in a good condition of cultivation.
Mr. Schermerhorn was united in marriage to Miss Emily A. Hall, Dec. 18, 1866, in Somanauk Town- ship. She is a daughter of Wm. and Susan (Sim- mons) Hall, natives of ". York State." They had a family of four children, namely : Mary E., Susan A., Emily A. and George B.
Emily A., wife of Mr. Schermerhorn, was born in Clinton Township, Jan. 10, 1849. She resided with her parents, assisting in the household duties and embracing the opportunities afforded by the common schools of the county, until her marriage to Mr. S. She has borne him five children, four of whom are yet living, namely : Ettie, Charles H., Estella and Ralph E. Effiie died when three years of age.
Politically Mr. Schermerhorn is a believer in and supporter of the doctrines and principles of the Re- publican party.
sa Bailey, residing with his son Cyrenius, on section 23, Shabbona Township, was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., June 19, 1797, the son of Asa and Lucy Bailey, and was reared in the vocations of milling and farming. He has been married twice,-first, in early manhood, to Anna McNeil, by whom he had six children, four of whom are living. Mrs. B. died in 1852, and Mr. Bailey, in November, 1854, married Mrs. Esther Shauber, who was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., Feb. 24, 1811.
In 1861 Mr. Bailey came to Illinois, settling in Scott Township, Ogle County, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1876, when he came to Shabbona to make his home with his son. He is now 88 years of age, and begins to feel the weight of his many years.
homas Shoop, farmer, section 25, Pierce Township, was born Jan. 1, 1846, in Holmes Township, Crawford Co., Ohio, and" was but one year old when John and Sarah (Schultz) Shoop came to Illinois, and they were among the pioneer settlers of Kane County. He was brought up to the vocation of his
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father-that of farming-and attended the pioneer schools. After his marriage he bought a farm in. Kane Township, which he conducted until 1882, when he bought his present farm, which is located on section 25 of Pierce Township.
Mr. Shoop was married May 9, 1871, to Kate Gusler, who died Sept. 31, 1877, aged 33 years, leaving two children, Charles H. and Glen Edward. Her parents were early settlers of Du Page County. The second wife of Mr. Shoop, to whom he was married April 30, 1878, was Emma, daughter of Jacob and Jane Harter. She was born in Center Co., Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Shoop have one child, Jessie. Mr. Shoop's mother died in Pierce Town- ship, Feb. 20, 1885, aged 69 years. She was born in Columbia Co., Pa.
oseph Bartlett, deceased, one of the pioneer settlers of Paw Paw, was born in North- ampton, Mass., Jan. 27, 1790. His parents were Joseph and Lucy (Post) Bartlett. When 19 years of age he moved from Massachusetts to Geauga Co., Ohio, in which county, in Hamp- den, March 23, 1810, he married Miss Temperance Pomeroy, daughter of Ichabod Pomeroy. They had five sons and five daughters, viz .: Wealthy, born Dec. 18, 1810, is the wife of Shadrach Bosley and resides in Iowa ; Sally (Ist), born May 7, 1812, died Dec. 12 following; Sally (2d), born March 15, 1813, is the wife of Lorenzo Fitch, of Ohio; Marcus A., born Dec. 25, 1816, married Mary A. Fowler and resides in Paw Paw Township ; Roxana, born April 22, 1818, is now the widow of Charles Firkins, and resides in Paw Paw Township; Lucy, born April 9, 1820, be- came the wife of Cyrus Bosley, and died April 20, 1879; Moses, born Oct. 11, 1825, first married Miss Martha Harper and afterwards Mrs. Mary Christy, and now is a resident of Paw Paw Township ; Joseph, born Aug. 17, 1827, married Ann Graves and resides in Colorado ; Lester A., born Oct. 3, 1829, died Aug. II, 1842 ; and Eli O., born March 17, 1831, married Harriet Wales, and is a resident of Paw Paw Town- ship.
Mr. Bartlett maintained positive and strict princi- ples in regard to morality, religion and governmental policy. He was an enthusiastic and practical tem-
perance and anti-slavery man. He " harbored " and assisted many a fugitive slave making his way from Egypt to Canaan, that is, from the land of bondage, ignorance and misery to the land of freedom, Canada, on the " under-ground railway." In his religious his- tory he, as well as his wife, was in early life a Pres- byterian, but after coming to Paw Paw he joined the Congregational Church.
enry Cristman, deceased, formerly a resi- dent on section 8, South Grove Township, was for many years a leading agriculturist and a prominent citizen of De Kalb County. He was born Feb. 1, 1830, in Herkimer Co., N. Y. His parents were of German extraction, and are deceased. Mr. Cristman grew to manhood in his native county and obtained his education in the common schools. On attaining his majority he began to operate as a common laborer, and soon re- alized 'the reward of thrift and industry. He was married Dec. 29, 1853, when he was 23 years of age, to Louisa Pooler. She was born Feb. 6, 1837, on the German Flats, in Herkimer County, and is the daughter of Henry Pooler (see sketch), who was a prominent actor in the history of that county. He was extensively interested in agriculture, acquiring considerable property in that business. He came to Illinois and settled on a tract of 300 acres of land, which he purchased in the township of Cortland and where he has since resided, on one of the most valu- able farms in the county. The mother of Mrs. Cristman, Margaret (Shoemaker) Pooler, was born in New York, and is still living. Mrs. Cristman is the mother of three children: Emma is the wife of Amos Willis, of Kingston, and has had two children : Ida, who married Fred Goodrich, a farmer in South Grove Township, and has had two children; and Mary (Mrs. Schram) has one child.
About one year subsequent to marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Cristman came to Illinois and purchased 128 acres of improved land. The proprietor exercised the same proclivities which had proved efficacious in his early experience, and made additions to his estate until it aggregated 600 acres. He engaged in general farming and in raising stock, also entering largely into the manufacture of cheese. Later on,
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he became interested in traffic in horses, and en- gaged to a considerable extent in buying and ship- ping to Eastern markets. He had a wide reputation as a judge of horses and stock generally, and his herds on his farm made a good exhibit of cattle, sheep and swine of excellent grades.
Mr. Cristman died Jan. 4, 1883, in the prime of his manhood and at the height of his success and popularity as a man and citizen of De Kalb County. He was a Republican in politics and had held the most responsible local official positions. His estate is managed by his heirs, who conduct its affairs on the same basis as formerly.
Among the many valuable portraits of prominent citizens of De Kalb County included in this valuable volume, will be found those of Mr. and Mrs. Crist- man, made from photographs taken in 1874.
than A. Pritchard, deceased, was former- ly a lawyer, and a farmer on section 29, in Clinton Township. His parents, Reuben and Maria (Mason) Pritchard, natives of New York State, had four children, who in order of birth were Reuben M., Ethan A., Ira and Maria. He was born in Malone, N. Y., Nov. 8, 1832, and came in 1845 to this county with his parents, who settled in Clinton Township. In the fall of 1857 Ethan A. moved to Aurora, Ill. In April, 1861, he enlisted for the war in defense of his country, in the 13th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served three years, participat- ing in the sieges of Vicksburg and Jackson, Miss., and other heavy engagements, as well as in many skirmishes, etc. He was promoted from the private ranks to the position of First Lieutenant. After his term of enlistment expired he returned to Aurora, and in March, 1865, to Clinton Township, and died the following 29th of July, of consumption. When about 24 years of age he took up the study of law, and practiced that profession with marked success. At the time of his death he owned 353 acres of land in Clinton Township. In religion he was a member of the Congregational Church, and in politics a Re- publican, and at the date of his death he was a nom- inee for County Treasurer.
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