Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 55

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 55

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He was married July 20, 1856, at Linwood, Benton Co., Iowa, to Miss Sarah E., daughter of Josiah and

Locena (Hodges) Wilkins. Her parents were natives of the State of New York, had a family of 13 chil- dren : Elizabeth, Anson T.,Dayton, Alfred T., Josiah, Sarah E., Araminta, Ursula, Newton J., Mary A., Hannah J., and two who died in infancy. Mrs. Pritchard was born in Ontario Co., N. Y., Jan. 24, 1833, and is the mother of three children,-Ethan A., who was drowned when about seven years old at Aurora on Fox River, Elotia A. and Elliott A. Mrs. Pritchard is a member of the Congregational Church.

ra Park, retired farmer, residing at Earlville, La Salle Co., Ill., was a pioneer of Shabbona Township, De Kalb Co., having located here in 1838. He was born in Massachusetts, in 1812, and is a son of Jonathan and Patience (Fox) Park.' His parents moved to Ohio when the son was four years of age, where he grew to man- hood. He followed the vocation of a farmer while in that State. He was married in Marion Co., Ohio, to Matilda McNeal, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Finley) McNeal. She was born March 2, 1815, in Ireland, and came to America with her parents when she was two years old.

Mr. and Mrs. Park were the parents of six chil- dren, as follows : Elizabeth was born in Marion Co., Ohio, Aug. 13, 1832, and died Dec. 18, 1876 ; John B. was born in Marion Co., Ohio, Oct. 26, 1834; Sarah A. was born at Holderman Grove, Ill., Feb. 10, 1838, and died Dec. 15, 1865 ; Levi W. was born in Shabbona Township, June 12, 1841, and died May 7, 1869; George F. was born June 17, 1849, in Shab- bona Township; and one child died in infancy.

Politically, Mr. Park is a Republican ; and himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

umphrey Roberts, a prominent pioneer of Clinton Township, is a native of Wales. His parents, Humphrey and Mary (Owens) Roberts, natives also of that county, emigrated to America in 1832 and settled in Oneida Co., N. Y., where his father died, in June, 1854; his mother died in Wyoming Co., N. Y., Dec. 28, 1867. They had a family of eight children, namely, Mary,

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Owen, Griffith, Robert, John, Thomas, Ellen and Humphrey.

The youngest above mentioned, the subject of this brief biographical outline, was born Dec. 22, 1823, and was ten years old when he came with his par- ents to America. Remaining at the paternal home until 23 years of age, he married, and a year after- ward he came to Kane County, this State, where he followed farming for ten years. In 1857 he came to De Kalb County and settled upon a quarter-section of land in Clinton Township, which he had bought some six years previously. After successfully prose- cuting agricultural pursuits there about 25 years, he built a fine residence in Waterman, into which he moved in 1882. He is the possessor of 340 acres of land in Clinton Township, besides 100 acres in Lee County. The village of Waterman, which he platted, is located upon what was once his land. He has held the office of Highway Commissioner two terms, and has had minor official trusts. In his political views he is a Republican, and in religion a Baptist.

Mr. Roberts was married in Oneida Co., N. Y., Jan. 7, 1846, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Wm. G. and Grace (Williams) Jones. Her parents were natives of Wales, and emigrated (before marriage) to the above mentioned county, where her parents died. Her mother died June 6, 1830. Their two children were-Catherine and Wm. G., Jr. Mrs. Roberts was born in that county, July 23, 1824. Mr. and Mrs. R. have had six children, namely : William W., born Oct. 16, 1846; John Q., March 12, 1849; J. Delos, July 7, 1851 ; Helena W., Jan. 28, 1853; Grace A., Nov. 30, 1855; Humphrey, Jr., April 28, 1858. John Q. died Aug. 31, 1851, and Helena W., Aug. 21, 1857-

le A. Hommersand, of the firm of Eide & Hommersand, dealers in general merchan- dise, at Lee, was born near the city of Stavanger, Norway, Aug. 16, 1858, and is the son of Andreas and Lena (Irubs) Hommers- and. He emigrated from Norway to the United States in the spring of 1871, and until De- cember, 1874, made his home on a farm near Lee, in De Kalb County. Returning then to his native country, he was employed as a merchant's clerk until

1881, when he came again to the land of greater opportunity, engaging the next year as a clerk in the general store of Berlizheimer & Stensland at Lee, this county. On the 16th of October, 1883, he formed the present partnership with T. Eide, and their business is in a prosperous condition.

In his political views, Mr .. H. is a Republican, and in religion he is a member of the Lutheran Church.

A bijah Little, Jr., retired farmer, residing at Waterman, Clinton Township, is a son of Abijah, Sr., and Elizabeth (Bean) Little, na- tives of New Hampshire. His father's family comprised 10 children, of which Abijah, Jr., is the fifth in order of birth. He was born in Canada June 9, 1809. His early years were spent on his father's farm, assisting in its cultivation and attending the common schools in Canada. June 20, 1848, he came to this State and purchased an entire section of land (section 8) in Clinton Township, this county. He subsequently disposed of a part of the land, and continued to reside on the remainder until the spring of 1875. At that date he retired from the farın and erected a fine residence at Waterman, where he is at present residing. He learned the car- penter and joiner's trade in his younger days, and did the larger portion of the work on his residence at Waterman himself. His present arable possessions comprise about 170 acres in Clinton and Shabbona Townships, most of which is in a tillable condition.

Mr. Little has been twice married. He was first united in marriage Sept. 20, 1830, in Canada, to Miss Eleanor McNorton, who was a native of New Hamp- shire, of Scotch parentage. The union was blessed with seven children, namely : William, born Aug. 20, 1831; John, born in September, 1832; Elizabeth, born in November, 1834; Edwin, born July 7, 1835 Jennette, born in August, 1838; Edgar and Ellen, twins, born in April, 1841.

The wife and mother died in Clinton Township, in August, 1860. His second marriage occurred April 27, 1867, at De Kalb. Mrs. Lucy Fearon, widow of Alfred Fearon, was the bride. Her husband died in Canada Nov. 29, 1857. Her maiden name was East- man and she is a daughter of Peter and Thankful (Powley) Eastman, and was eighth in order of birth of

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Io children born to them. She was born in Canada May 24, 1829, and is the mother by Mr. Fearon of two children, namely: Ida A., born Nov. 9, 1852, and Alfred J., born April 21, 1854.

Mr. Little was the first Mayor of Waterman. In politics he is a Democrat and has held many of the minor offices of his township.

awling A. Morey, farmer, section 30, Paw Paw Township, was born in Ballston, Sara- toga Co., N. Y., Dec. 14, 1829, and was brought up on the farm. His parents were Jesse and Amanda (Pawling) Morey. On coming to Illinois in 1853, he spent a short time in prospecting in La Salle and De Kalb Coun- ties, and returned East.

. In the spring of 1855 he came to De Kalb County and located in Shabbona Township, where he pur -. chased a quarter of section 33, in partnership with Cyrenius Bailey. After a residence of four years there he purchased a place on section 3, Paw Paw Township. In 1869 he bought his present farm of 160 acres, on section 30, where he prosperously man- ages a comfortable home. In his political views he is independent.

He was married in Paw Paw Township Feb. 22, 1859, to Miss Sallie A., daughter of Peter and Maria (Wilkison) Hagadorn. She was born in Albany, N. Y., Aug. 1, 1827. Mr. and Mrs. Morey have two children, namely: David C., born in Shabbona Township, Dec. 18, 1860; and Jessie A., in Paw Paw Township, Dec. 20, 1865.

oseph Dyas, proprietor of the Sandwich House at Sandwich, is the son of Joseph and Abigail (Abbey) Dyas, and was born Jan. 1, 1825, in Albany, N. Y. In early life he passed some years as a saw-mill assistant, and later went to Wisconsin, buying 160 acres of land in the township of Harris, Marquette County, where he was engaged eight years in farming. He went thence to Green, Lake County, in the same State, where he passed two years on 80 acres of prairie farm land. He went in 1861 to Minnesota,

where he had previously purchased a farm about 30 miles southeast of St. Peter's, and not long after went to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and in company with a brother- in-law, G. N. Miner, entered into the manufacture of lumber and also of flour barrels, heading and staves, in which line of business he was interested two years. He exchanged his property for 160 acres of land in De Kalb County, township of Shabbona, which he managed three years. In the fall of 1865 he came Sandwich and bought the hotel which he has since conducted. The house is the leading place of public entertainment at Sandwich, and can accommodate about 40 guests.

Mr. Dyas was married in Peru, Berkshire Co., Mass., May 9, 1847, to Mary Ann Miner, and they have three sons : Joseph P., born June 4, 1848. He married Carmina, daughter of Carmi and Mercy (Phelps) Wells. Webster M. was born Sept. 28, 1852, and married Caroline Gertrude Sedgwick, daughter of Hon. W. W. Sedgwick. He is a druggist at Arlington Heights, Ill. Charles De Witt Clinton, born Dec. 14, 1857, is a traveling salesman.

miley Kirkpatrick, farmer, section 22, Clinton Township, is a son of Jesse and Ruth (Smiley) Kirkpatrick, natives of Penn- sylvania, who in 1855 settled in the above mentioned township, where they spent the re- mainder of their life: he died Dec. 19, 1857, and she Oct. 8, 1880. They had six children, namely, Ann, Isaac, Smiley, Hiram, Margaret and Eleanor.

The subject of this sketch was born in Perry Co4, Pa., March 31, 1825. He received his education at the common school and at New Bloomfield Academy in his native county, attending the latter about two years. His father had a saw-mill, and he assisted in the operation of the mill and also of the farm, un- til zo years of age, when for seven months he taught school. He followed clerking in a store for a time and traveled a period .. In 1855, when 30 years of age, he came to this county, settling upon 80 acres of land in Clinton Township, which he had bought in 1853. At the same time he purchased a quarter- section of Government land in Milan Township. Since that date he has resided in Clinton Township,

THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Spafford Smith

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and is now the owner of 320 acres, all in good .till- able condition. At the present time he has his two sons, Marvin H. and I. Frank, associated with him in the management of his farm. He keeps about 135 head of live stock.

Mr. Kirkpatrick has held the office of Justice of the Peace one term, that of Township Clerk two terms, and other offices. He is a Republican in his political views, and in religion a member of the Pres- byterian Church, as is also Mrs. K.

He was married in his native county, Sept. 15, 1853, to Anna M. Hipple, daughter of Lawrence and Sarah (Heafy) Hipple, who were also natives of the Keystone State, of Holland ancestry. They had a family of 11 children. Mrs. K. was born in Carl- isle, Cumberland Co., Pa., March 27, 1831, and she has had 10 children : Marvin H., Elmer H., I. Frank, Emma S., Mary E., Jesse L., William L., Albert O. and a pair of twins who died in infancy.

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C pafford Smith, whose portrait appears on the page opposite, is a retired farmer, and is resident at Sycamore. He was born May 18, 1809, in Windsor, Vt. He is the son of Asahel and Elizabeth (Kendall) Smith, and his father was the son of one of the pioneer settlers of Windsor, who died there in 1810. The family originated in Connecticut, and Asahel Smith was born in Farmington in that State, Oct. 15, 1756. He was nine years of age when his parents joined the pioneers of the Green Mountain State, then known as the New Hampshire Grants. He became a soldier of the Revolution and saw much active ser- vice in the course of that struggle. He was present at the surrender of Burgoyne at the battle of Sara- toga. He died in Windsor, in 1848.

The father of Mr. Smith was a farmer and reared the son to habits of thrift and industry, giving hini what was then considered a fair education. He was apprenticed at 17 years of age to learn the business of a carpenter, and after obtaining a thorough knowl- edge of all its details he pursued it as a vocation summers and taught school winters. Later, he oper-

ated as a contractor and builder, and managed a considerable business until 1839, when he came to De Kalb County. He became the proprietor of 300 acres of land in Mayfield Township, and for a period of seven years worked as a carpenter and managed his farm. At the expiration of that time he found the twofold duties inconvenient and injurious, and he relinquished the pursuit of his trade as a builder. At the time of his arrival in De Kalb County the homes of the few settlers were built of logs; there were no roads, and the nearest market place was Chicago. When he built a house a pound of nails was worth a pound of butter. There was one hotel at Sycamore and three small houses, and he has been the witness of the entire growth and progress of the place. There was no school at Sycamore for several years, and for nearly two years after he came here there was no meeting held, the community being too small in number to form a respectably sized congre- gation.

Mr. Smith has been a resident of the city of Syca- more since 1870, and has been actively interested in whatever enterprises have promised permanent ben- efit to the place. He is a sincere friend of morality in every phase and has been a substantial promoter of religious interests, aiding with his means in the building of the various church edifices, and has been a stockholder in the different manufacturing interests of the place. He is a member of the Baptist Church in which he is an official, and has also done effective service in the temperance ranks. He has served his generation in official capacities, has been Assessor several times, and has taken an active interest in school matters, discharging the duties of the several official positions.

Mr. Smith has traveled considerably in his own country, visited the Centennial Exposition and spent ten days in the City of Brotherly Love. He has journeyed through New England and in the West, particularly in Nebraska. He has suffered from ac- cident more than most men in the ordinary walks of life, sustaining at one time a fracture of four ribs. At another he had a shoulder broken, and afterwards the other shoulder, and is still in unbroken health, and sound in constitution.

He was married June 9, 1835, to Eliza Sholes, and they had three children,-Louisa, Eliza Ann and Edwin P. They also had an adopted daughter,

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Jennie. The mother died in 1880, and Mr. Smith was a second time married in December, 1882, to Mrs. Marcia Van Horn.

acob F. Plapp, deceased, was one of the earliest of the permanent pioneer settlers of the township of Pierce, where he located in 1848. ' He was a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, where he was born June 29, 1816. According to the law of that country he was placed at school at the age of six years and continued there until he was 14 years old. He was then em- ployed in a vineyard where he spent two years, after which he engaged in the management of a dairy, which he conducted r8 months. He next passed six months at home, and then re-entered the service of his first employer, with whom he continued about one year and was subsequently engaged in agricul- tural labor until he decided to cross the ocean and cast his fate in another land and among another people. In 1838 he set out for the Western Conti- nent on a sailing vessel, and after a passage of 42 days' duration landed at Baltimore. He found him- self in the beautiful Monumental City without money, but his readiness to work soon obtained employment, and a month later he had sufficient means to set out for Pennsylvania. He left Baltimore on foot, and 14 miles from the city he obtained employment on a farm at $6 a month. He worked at that point five months, and then made his way to his uncle's in Erie Co., Pa. He remained there engaged in farm- ing and chopping wood until 1844, when he located in Kane Co., Ill. He was there employed by the Howard Mill Company and assisted in erecting the mills at Geneva, after which he engaged in farming.

When he came to De Kalb County, in 1848, he settled on the east half of the northeast quarter of section 24, township No. 39, range 5 east, now in- cluded in Pierce Township. He had saved his earnings, and at once proceeded to the land office at Chicago, and had a sufficient sum to pay the re- quired amount in full. He worked the first year for a Mr. Churchill in Kane County, and in 1849 built a small frame house on his land and began the im- provement of his property. He owned at the time of his death 80 acres, all under good improvement,

with a fine frame house and fruit and shade trees. He was also the owner of 50 acres of land in Kane County, situated across the road from his homestead. This is devoted to the growth of grain and stock- raising.

Mr. Plapp was married in 1850, to Elizabeth Lipp, She was born Sept. 25, 1820, in Wurtemburg, Ger- many. Nine of their children are living,-Mary, Re- becca, Jacob, David, Philip. Elizabeth, Jonathan, Catherine and Aaron. The father and mother are members of the Evangelical Association.

When he first fixed his residence in Pierce Town- ship, Mr. Plapp was obliged to go to Geneva, 16 miles distant, for mill privileges, and he took his first crops to Chicago,-60 miles,-with an ox team. The condition of the roads, sloughs not being bridged, re- tarded progress to such extent that four days were commonly consumed in going there.

Mr. Plapp died at his residence in Pierce Town- ship, Jan. 25, 1885, loved and respected by all who knew him.

gorace Root, farmer, section 7, Clinton Town- ship, is a son of Lawrence and Rocksa (Pratt) Root, natives of New York. They came to this county in 1856 and settled in De Kalb Township, where they resided until their death. Of 14 children born of their union II survive, namely, Icy, Fanny, Jerome, Rocksa, Caro- line, Horace (2d), Cynthia, Philo J., Lewis A., Ger- main (2d), and James M. Germain (Ist), Horace D. (Ist) and an infant are deceased.

Horace Root was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Feb. 24, r833. He resided on his father's farm, as- sisting in the cultivation of the same, and attending the common schools during his early years, until he was 28 years old. At that age he accompanied his father to this county, in 1856, and located. Soon thereafter, Mr. Root rented a farm in Sycamore . Township, which he cultivated one year, and then rented a farm in De Kalb Township. He cultivated the latter farm two years, then moved to Muskegon, Mich., and engaged in carpentering, which trade he had mastered in York State. He followed his trade at the latter place for two and one-half years, then returned to this county and from his savings pur-

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chased 99 acres of land situated on section 7, Clin- ton Township, on which he moved and is at present residing. His land is all in a tillable condition.

Mr. Root was married in De Kalb, Dec. 20, 1860, to Miss Mary A. De Long. She is a daughter of Hiram and Eliza (Post) De Long, natives of New York. They came to this county in 1855 and set- tled in the village of De Kalb. To them were born six children, namely : Mary A., Elizabeth, James, Matilda A., Elinor and Hiram A.

Mrs. Root was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Oct. II, 1837. They have one daughter, adopted, Nora A., born Dec. 29, 1869.

Politically, Mr. Root is a Republican. He has held the office of Road Commissioner, School Di- rector and others of minor import.

eorge R. Holmes, farmer, section 25, Paw Paw Township, is a son of Richard and Lucretia (Smith) Holmes, and was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., June 11, 1840. His father was a farmer by occupation and during the in- fancy of his son George, moved his family to Jefferson Co., N. Y. He left that county in 1846 and came with his family to this county, settling in Paw Paw Township.

George Holmes consequently came to this county with his parents when in his sixth year, and has re- sided here ever since. He was brought up on his father's farm, in Paw Paw Township, and received an academic education.

Mr. Holmes was married at Leland, La Salle County, this State, Dec. 24, 1861, to Miss Frances M., daughter of Dr. Darwin and Martha C. (Smith) Hinckley, of Leland. She was born in Mercer, Som- erset Co., Me., July 24, 1844, and came to Hardin, this State, with her parents when four years of age. Seven children constituted the issue of their union, namely : Ella M., born Oct. 6, 1863, in Leland. Mary C., Oct. 23, 1865. S. Wright, July 17, 1868. George H., Aug. 11, 187 1, Frances L. (called "Tot"), Oct. 31, 1877. Bert D, Feb. 8, 1881. Clyde R., July 13, 1883.

Mr. Holmes has a well improved farm of 240

acres, and is one of the active, energetic farmers of the county. Politically, he votes and acts with the Democratic party.

ohn Kuter, deceased, a former resident of Pierce Township, was born in 1792 in Brooks Co., Pa. His parents were both natives of Pennsylvania, and his father was a Revolutionary patriot. He died at the age of 91 years. In early life, John Kuter bought a ' farm in Schuykill Co., Pa. Previous to that he had learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed but a few years. He married Lydia Kahler, also a native of Pennsylvania, and in 1850 sold his farm in the Keystone State, and, accompanied by his son, Israel, came to De Kalb County and bought 400 acres of land on section 25, of township 39, range 5. He secured his claim by payment of part of the Government demand and stipulated for the payment of the remainder in the spring of the year to follow. He returned to Pennsylvania and spent the winter, and set out for his farm in Illinois in the spring, car- rying with him $4,000 in gold and silver coin. It was too heavy to be carried like any other baggage, and was placed in a wooden box and strapped with iron and wooden hoops. It was missent from Harris- burg, and he was delayed at Detroit while awaiting its return from St. Louis. He wished to take the box with him in the car in which he traveled West- ward, but the railroad officials decided against him, and it was placed in a freight car, from which it was stolen. Through an attorney of Chicago he brought suit against the railroad company for the recovery of the value of his property, and won the case, which was sent to the Appellate Court and the judgment sustained. He recovered a portion of his loss. After remaining a year on the land for which he had bargained, he relinquished his claim, and purchased the southeast quarter of section 24 in the same township, where he resided until death. He became the father of 12 children, nine of whom are living.

Israel Kuter, eldest son, was born June 23, 1824, in Schuykill Co., Pa. He was reared on the farm and taught in the public schools. At the age of 15 years he connected himself with the Evangelical Association, and as soon as practicable began to pre-

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pare for the ministry. He entered upon the duties of a preacher in the Naperville circuit of the Evan- gelical Church, and continued his efforts in ministe: rial labors until 1878, preaching at Chicago, Milwau- kee, Racine, Winona, and other places. He was stationed at the place last named seven years ; in all, he officiated as Presiding Elder eight years. Some years previous he had purchased the family home- stead in Pierce Township, and of this he took pos- session in 1878. Since that date he has put the place in excellent condition, erected good farm buildings and set out fruit, shade and ornamental trees.

He has been twice married. Elizabeth Louter- mich, to whom he was married May 6, 1849, was born June 4, 1830, and died Dec. 20, 1861. Of this union three children were born named Henry, George and Sarah. The last named was born Dec. 17, 1859, and died July 25, 1881. Mr. Kuter was married again Oct. 16, 1862, to Margaretta Schweit- zer, a native of Freeport, Stephenson Co., Ill. She is the daughter of John and Barbara (Kaercher) Schweitzer, and her parents were pioneers of Free- port. Her father went to California, and her mother, during his absence, settled at Preston, Fillmore Co., Minn., where she bought a claim of land. On this land now stands the beautiful village of Preston, the present county seat of Fillmore County. Mrs. Schweitzer proved to be a better financier than her husband, for, during his absence she made more money in Minnesota than he did in California! Mr. and Mrs. Kuter have six children,-Albert H., Luella I., Charles E., Daniel M., Ida M. and Ruth- erford L.

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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 55

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

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