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 58
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Mr. Smith acquired a fair education in the public schools and was thoroughly trained in a knowledge of agricultural pursuits. He came to Illinois when he was 20 years of age, and became a farm laborer in Kane County one year. He then rented and worked on a farm five years, and returned to Ohio and worked four years with his brother, who was a carpenter and builder by trade. He then returned to Illinois to establish a permanent home on a farm
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on section 23 in Pierce, which he had bought two years previously. The place now boasts of a good dwelling-house, fruit and shade trees and commodi- ous farm buildings. In political sentiment Mr. Smith is independent of any organized party. He votes according to his judgment irrespective of party or politics. His wife is a member of the Evangelical Association. He has filled various township offices, among them School Trustee, Assessor and Collector, and in 1883 was appointed to fill a vacancy as Su- pervisor, and he was elected to the incumbency in 1 884. 1
He has continued resident on his farm, but has devoted his attention to his trade of contractor and builder, in which he has operated successfully 15 years. Among the dwellings he has constructed are the residences of John Pooler and Nicholas Klemm in Afton Township, P. W. Gallagher, Thomas Gal- lagher, George Schule and William Van Ohlen, in Squaw Grove Township.
He was married in March, 1863, to Mary Ann Shoop. Three of their children are living,-Harvey W., Sarah Alice and Alta G. Ella, second child in order of birth, died when about three years of age. Mrs. Smith is the daughter of John and Sarah (Shultz) Shoop. Her parents were born in Pennsyl- vania and were among the earliest permanent settlers in "Kane Co., Ill.
eorge N. Maxwell, Principal of the Shab- bona schools since Jan. 1, 1883, was born in Assonnett, Bristol Co., Mass., Oct. 30, 1847, and is a son of Rev. John S. and Lucy (Babcock) Maxwell, and removed with his parents to La Salle County, this State, in 1868, settling near Leland. He was educated in Grundy Co., Ill., at the common school.
In the winter of 1868-9 he commenced teaching school, and continued in that profession during the winter seasons for ten years, alternating with farm labor during the intervening summers ; but since his removal to Shabbona his only occupation has been teaching. He was married in Highland, Grundy Co., Ill., Oct. 4, 1871, to Miss Emma, daughter of Alonzo and Maria (Andrews) Spink, who was born at Blackberry, Kane Co., Ill. They have had three
children, namely : Alice, who died aged one year, Charles E., and Arthur W.
Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell are members of the Con- gregational Church of Shabbona.
eorge Easterbrook, deceased, was a farm- er on section 14, Pierce Township, and had been a landholder in De Kalb County from 1856 to the date of his death. In that year he purchased 80 acres of unimproved land on the northeast quarter of section 14, and four years later he purchased an additional 80 acres on section 14. In 1883 his wife made a third purchase, of 80 acres on the section last named, and the estate now includes 300 acres of land, under good improvements, provided with suitable farm buildings and a good orchard.
Mr. Easterbrook was born Dec. 29, 1825, in Sack- ville, Westmoreland Co., New Brunswick, where he was reared to the pursuits of agriculture and also in- structed in the vocation of stone mason. In .1847 he came to Freeport, Ill., and there worked as a farm assistant and also as a mason, alternating be- tween the two callings for two years. Subsequently he went to Kane Co., Ill. He was there married Feb. 17, 1853, to Priscilla, daughter of James and Eliza- beth (Reed) Outhouse. Her parents were both born in the province of New Brunswick, and were pioneers of Kane County, whither they removed in 1834. They are of Holland descent and are, at. present date (1885), residents in Blackberry. The parents of Mr. Easterbrook were of English birth, and his paternal grandfather was for many years a member of the House of Commons in England, and his father served as a member of the Canadian House of Par- liament.
Soon after his marriage, Mr. Easterbrook went to Iowa and purchased 200 acres of land in Black Hawk County. He made no location for a home, but re- turned to Kane County, where he remained until the year named, in which he settled in Pierce Township. He died Dec. 9, 1864, leaving five children,-Isa- bella, James George, Susan Emma, Wilson E. and Alvin W. After his decease, his wife rented the farm and returned to Kane County. She bought a farm, where she resided until 1875, when she re-
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turned to the homestead in Pierce Township." [Her sons are continuing the management of the estate in a highly creditable manner. Isabella married John Vosburgh, of Kingston; Susan E. is the wife of William Postle, and lives in Virgil Township, Kane County. James G. Easterbrook is the Assessor of Pierce Township.
havid Orr, hardware merchant at Water- man, Clinton Township, is a son of Samuel and Mary (Burnett) Orr, natives of Ireland and New Jersey. The record of their family is as follows: Jane, David, Thomas B., Smith, Samuel, Levi and William. Three children are dead-James, Alfred and one child that died in infancy.
David was born in Ohio, May 10, 1818. He lived on the farm, assisted in the support of the family and attended the common schools until he attained the age of 21 years.
For one year after attaining his majority, Mr. Orr was engaged in clearing land, and then hired to learn the carpenter's trade. He soon mastered the same and was engaged in following it for 13 years.
In 1852 Mr. Orr came to this county and settled in Somonauk Township. He remained there only a short time and rented a farm in Clinton Township, which he cultivated one season.' Previous to this, when he first came to the county, Mr. Orr entered a quarter section of land in Clinton Township. After managing a rented farm one year, he moved on his homestead, and at once entered vigorously upon its improvement. He lived on this farm for 20 years, with the exception of about two years, which he spent working at his trade, and succeeded in · placing it in a good tillable condition.
In r872 Mr. Orr sold his farm and moved to Waterman> His son, J. D., had engaged in the hard- ware business a year previous, and Mr. Orr formed a partnership with him, which only continued a short time, as the son died in December, r872. Mr. Orr carried on the business for three years alone, when another son, Levi R., was admitted to the firm part- nership, and the business is now conducted under the firm name of David Orr & Sons, David E. hav- ing been admitted to the firm in 1884. The busi-
ness is a progressive and successful one, and their sales approximate annually to $65,000.
Mr. Orr was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth McCleery, in Wayne Co., Ohio, Jan. r4, 1845. She was born in " York State " about 1817, and was the mother, by Mr. Orr, of six children, namely, Mary A., James D., Ellen, John S., William and Smith. John S. and Ellen are the only ones surviving. Ellen is the wife of Charles A. Low, and resides in Iowa. Mrs. Orr died Feb. 25, 1858. Mr. Orr was again mar- ried, March 1, 1860, to Miss Martha J. McAffee, daughter of William and Martha (Ray) McAffee. She was born in Ireland, in February, 1825, and emi- grated to the United States in r837.
Four children were born of his second union, two of whom are deceased. The living are, Levi R., born Dec. 3, 1860; and David E., Feb. 13, 1865, both of whom are associated with their father in busi- ness.
Mr. Orr affiliates with the Republican party ; has held the offices of School Director and Highway Commissioner, and has been one of the village Trus- tees for several years.
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phraim Depue, farmer, section 13, Genoa Township, is the son of Samuel and Eliza- beth (Ogden) Depue, and is one of a family of 10 children. Ose, Sarah, Benjamin, Jesse, Phebe and Theo C. are the names of his broth- ers and sisters who reached mature life. Three children died in infancy.
Mr. Depue was born Oct. 11, 1816, in Sussex Co., N. J. At the age of 18 years he was apprenticed to acquire a knowledge of the wagon-making trade, and served an indentureship of three years. He em- barked independently in the business, in which he operated about 20 years. In 1848 he became a citi- zen of Illinois, taking up his residence at Elgin, Kane County. He passed three years there in the pursuit of his trade, and about r851 entered the employment of the old Galena, Chicago & Illinois Central Rail- road Company, his route extending from Chicago to Freeport and from Dubuque to Centralia.
He came to De Kalb County in 1861 and bought 90 acres of land in Genoa Township, moving his family hither in the autumn of the same year. His
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homestead farm now comprises 360 acres, with 230 acres under improvement, supplied with suitable and creditable farm buildings and well stocked. In political faith and connections Mr. Depue is identi- fied with the Republican party ; he has officiated as School Director and in other local offices.
He was married April 2r, 1838, in New Jersey, to Catherine M. Dennis, and they have five surviving children,-Lucy, Elizabeth, Henry C., Allen and Emma. Anna M., Catherine M. and Caroline A. and a child unnamed died in infancy. Mrs. Depue was born Sept. 26, 1813, in New Jersey, and is the daughter of John and Lucy Dennis. She had two brothers and two sisters, born in the following order : Elizabeth, Henry C., Allen and Emma. She is the oldest of her parents' children, and is a member of the Congregational Church.
The publishers of this ALBUM take pleasure in presenting to the public of De Kalb County a litho- graphic portrait of Mr. Depue, as one of the worthy and representative farmers of Northern Illinois.
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ohn H. Merritt, farmer, section 5, Clinton Township, is from the State of New York. His parents, Joseph and Esther (Dean) Merritt, were also natives of that common- wealth, and passed their lives there.
The subject of this sketch, who was the third in order of birth of ten children, was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., Oct. 6, 1828, and when about seven years old went to live with a family by the name of Hanford, in Westchester Co., N. Y. He lived there until 1849, when he came to De Kalb County, this State, and purchased 80 acres in Somo- nauk Township. He remained in that township un- til the summer of 1852, when he moved to the place where he now resides, and where he owns 100 acres of good land, and five acres of timber in Shabbona Township. Mr. Merritt has held the office of Road Commissioner, Overseer of Highways, School Direc- tor, etc., and politically is identified with the Repub- lican party.
He was first married at Freeland's Corners, this county, Oct. 11, 1854, to Rhoda S. Fay, a native of the State of New York, who died Nov. 12, 1862, in Clinton Township. She was the mother of two chil-
dren,-Charles H. and Fred F. Mr. Merritt was again married Oct. 10, 1865, to Mrs. Betsey (nee Simpson), widow of Ira Chamberlain, who died in Orleans Co., N. Y., Feb. 8, 1857. She had had by her first marriage two children,-Clara V. and Kate. Mrs. M. was born in Clarendon, Orleans Co., N. Y., Dec. 20, 1830, her parents being Ira and Fanny (Cox) Simpson, natives of that State. Mr. and Mrs. M., by their present marriage relation, have had two children, namely, George and Emma. George died when about one year and three months old.
A dam Palm, retired farmer, residing in the village of Shabbona, is the son of John and du Catharine (Flick) Palm (see sketch of John Palm), and was born Jan. 7, 1832, in Trumbull Co., Ohio. He came to Illinois in 1846, one year later than his father, and began farming on section 14, Shabbona Township. He has since exchanged this for one on section 22, of 120 acres. Besides this, he is at present the owner of three vil- lage lots in Shabbona. He retired from the active duties of farming life in 1884, moving into the vil- lage. In political matters he votes with the Repub- lican party.
He was married at Paw Paw, Jan. 1, 1857, to Miss Elmina, adopted daughter of David R. and Angeline Fuller. Mrs. Palm was born in Geauga Co., Ohio, Aug. 14, 1839, and came to this State in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Palm have had one child, a daughter, now the wife of Ira E. Stevens and residing in the town- ship of Shabbona.
ohn Cain, farmer, section 27, Squaw Grove Township, is a son of John and Mary (McElwain) Cain, who were natives of Ire- land and had a family of six children, namely : Samuel, John, Eliza J., Margaret, James and Joseph H. The subject of this sketch was born in Ireland, March 17, 1832, and was about eight years old when his parents emigrated with their family to America. He lived at home until about 26 years of age, and in 1856 came to De Kalb
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County, first settling in Paw Paw Township, next in Somonauk Township, and in 1865 in Squaw Grove Township, where he now has 119 acres of land, all of which is in cultivation.
He was married in Paw Paw Township Dec. 23, 1858, to Elizabeth McElwain, a native of Ireland. The have five children, -Charles A., Hattie L., Mary A, Margaret R. and Fanny J. Mrs. Cain died June 21, 1872, in Squaw Grove Township. Mr. Cain was again married Feb. 19, 1874, in the same town- ship, to Miss Mary J., daughter of Gerrit and Mary Brower, and born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., Jan. 28, 1845.
Mr. Cain, in his political views, is a Republican, and in his district he has held the office of School Director.
Christopher, of the firm of Christopher & Jorgensen, dealers in grain, lumber, coal and live stock at Lee (on the county line be- tween this and Lee Counties), their business house being located in this county, was born in Norway, April 7, 1832, and is a son of Chris. and Juliane Christopher, natives of that country.
He was reared and educated in his native country, where he learned the carpenter's trade and followed it, in Norway and Sweden, until 1855. July I, of that year he emigrated from the latter country to the United States, came direct to this State and located in Bradford Township, Lee County. He worked at his trade and farming until 1863, when he purchased a farm located on section 1, Willow Creek Township, that county, and with his family moved on it, and at once entered on its improvement and cultivation. He subsequently purchased additional land in Alto Township, that county, and at present is the owner of 200 acres.
In 1867 Mr. Christopher visited his native country, where he remained enjoying the hospitality and company of his relatives and friends for almost a year. He then returned to this country and contin- ued his labors on the farm. In 1871, in company with Ole Jorgensen Prestegard, he opened the first busines house at Lee station under the firm name of Christopher & Jorgensen, which relation still exists. The firm is widely and favorably known as enter-
prising and fair-dealing, and to be composed of men of unquestioned integrity, and their business is a steady, increasing and prosperous one. Mr. Chris- topher was prominently identified with the growth and development of the village of Lee, and, his resi- dence being in the village, is at the present time one of its enterprising business men.
Mr. Christopher was married in Bradford Town- ship, Lee County, Oct. 17, 1857, to Miss Betsy, daughter of A. and Annie Aadson. She was born in Norway, March 16, 1838, and emigrated to the United States in 1854. Of their union, six children were born, namely : Juliane, May 23, 1858, married Holden L. Reisetter Nov. 11, 1875, and resides in Willow Creek Township, Lee County; Annie, born Nov. 13, 1860, married Wm. K. Reisetter March 29, 1880, also a resident of Willow Creek Township; Betsy, born July 26, 1862, married Ole Solomonsen June 9, 1881, and resides in the same township; Lena, born Aug. 25, 1864; Christina, Feb. 10, 1869, and Maria, Oct. 24, 1876. The latter three reside at home. Politically, Mr. C. is, and always has been since the formation of the party, a Republican. He has served as School Director many years, and Trus- tee of the village of Lee several years. Religiously, he and his family are members of the Lutheran Church.
dward Boyland, farmer, section 4, Clinton Township, was born in Ireland, June 14, 1823. 'His parents, Patrick and Sarah (Robinson) Boyland, natives also of that coun- try, passed their entire lives there.
When 25 years of age, Edward emigrated to the "land of the free and the home of the brave," landing in New Orleans, La., and coming soon after to Chicago, 111. In the fall of 1851 he came to De Kalb County and purchased 162 acres of land in Clinton Township, on section 4, where he has since resided. He now owns 242 acres, most of which is good farming land. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religion both himself and wife are members of the Catholic Church.
He was married in Chicago, Sept. 17, 1851, to Mary A. O'Brien, a native also of " Erin's green isle."
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The living children of Mr. and Mrs. Boyland are three in number, namely, Sarah, James and Cather- ine. They have lost to the other world Patrick, Jane, Edward and Mary.
arcus A. Bartlett, farmer, residing on sec- tion 8, Paw Paw Township, is the owner of 80 acres of land. He is a native of. the State of Ohio, and was born in Thomp- son Township, Geauga County, Dec. 25, 1816. His parents, Joseph and Temperance (Pome- roy) Bartlett, were residents of Geauga County, where the father followed the occupation of a farmer.
Marcus was brought up on his father's farm in Geauga County. He attended the common schools, and assisted in clearing 300 acres of land (of the timber that grew thereon), and aided in the cultiva- tion of the same.
He was married Jan. 1, 1839, to Miss Mary A., daughter of Capt. John and Nancy (Crane) Fowler. She was born in Westfield, Hampden Co., Mass., Oct. 10, 1811. In 1840 he and his family emigrated from Ohio to this State and located in Bureau County, where he was engaged in farming until Feb- ruary, 1844. At that time he came to Paw Paw Township, this county, and made a claim on section 9 of that township. He sold his claim the following year and purchased the property on section 8, same township, on which he has constantly resided to the present time.
Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett have been blessed with five children, four girls and one boy. Their record is given as follows : Cora was born June 17, 1840, in Ohio, is the widow of Joseph Haslett and resides in West Paw Paw. Louisa was born in Bureau County, this State, Oct. 6, 1842, and died Feb. 24, 1865. The three younger were born in Paw Paw, namely : Alice, Oct. 10, 1846, is the wife of A. E. Gamet, of Chicago; Emma J., May 17, 1849; Albert F., Sept. 9, 1852. The two youngest are single and reside on the homestead.
Politically, Mr. B. was a member of the old Whig party, but on the organization of the Republican party joined it and has always been identified and voted with it. He was elected one of the first Board
of Trustees of Paw Paw Township, and has also served as Road Commissioner and held various school offices.
Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in early life, and have been con- nected with that denomination at East Paw Paw for many years, of which Mr. B. has served as Class- Leader and Steward for over 30 years.
ames Fulton, merchant at Waterman, Clin- ton Township, is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Thompson) Fulton, natives of Scotland. They emigrated to Canada in 1842, where his father died. His mother still resides there. They were the parents of six children. The mother was married a second time, to a Mr. Cole, by whom she had two children,-Robert J. Cole, a farmer of Vinton Township, and Mrs. J. A. Armstrong, of Somonauk Township.
James Fulton was the youngest of his father's family and was born in Haldimand Co., Ont., May 12, 1846. He resided at home, took advantage of the opportunities afforded by the common schools, attended the High School at Seneca and the Normal School at Toronto, and developed into manhood. After obtaining his majority and leaving school, he engaged in teaching, which vocation he followed for six years, meeting with success. Leaving the chair of the teacher, Mr. Fulton turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, and engaged in business at Lang- ton, Ont. He continued in his business at that place for three years, then sold out and came to Sandwich, this county. On arriving at the latter place he engaged as a clerk and followed that voca- tion for seven months.
In the winter of .1881 Mr. Fulton removed to Waterman and engaged in general mercantile busi- ness, which he has continued to the present time. When he first came to Waterman, he formed a part- nership with J. A. Arnistrong, which relation existed until September, 1884, when Mr. Fulton purchased his partner's interest and has since conducted it alone. His business is a progressive and successful one, and his stock ample to meet the wants of his customers. His annual sales approximate $40,000.
Mr. Fulton was married Nov. 14, 1871, in
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Canada, to Miss Jane E. Gray. ' She is a daughter of George and Jane (Charlton) Gray, natives of New York and England respectively.
Mrs. Fulton was born in Portage, N. Y., May 19, 1846, and is the mother of eight children by Mr. Fulton, namely : George T., born Aug. 18, 1872; William J., Jan. 14, 1874; Annie E., Oct. 19, 1875 ; Robert B., May 13, 1877 ; Walter S., March 23, 1879; James T., Sept. 26, 1880; Frederick G., Sept. 30, 1882, and Ella C., Aug. 25, 1884.
The husband and wife are both members of the Presbyterian Church. Politically Mr. Fulton is a Republican.
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A. Kellogg, liveryman at Sycamore, was born July 10, 1853, in the township of Genoa, De Kalb County. His father, Le- ander P. Kellogg, was born in the State of Ver- mont and came to De Kalb County when a young man. He is a pioneer of De Kalb County, and married Melissa Hutchinson subsequent to his removal to Illinois. He settled where he still resides in Genoa Township, and is the proprietor of a large and valuable farm, containing more than 200 acres of finely improved land.
Mr. Kellogg is the fourth of seven children born to his parents. He passed his minority under the authority of his parents on the farm, and at the age of 21 he made a contract for the control of the stage and mail route between Sycamore and Marengo, which he managed seven years. In the fall of 1881 he purchased 300 acres of land, two /miles east of Genoa, in the township of the same name, and was a resident there. . He is now the owner of 194 acres, which he rents. After residing on his farm two years, he bought a livery stable at Sycamore and rented another, situated immediately adjoining, where he is engaged in the traffic common to livery establishments, keeping about a score of horses, with an excellent quality of equipments, and also man- ages a feed and sale stable. He also conducts a considerable trade in carriages, dealing chiefly in the Lewis Cook manufacture, of acknowledged repute. During the summer seasons he keeps a hack line in operation between Sycamore and Genoa, a distance of eight miles, making three daily trips.
Mr. Kellogg was married Oct. 11, 1876, in Genoa,
to Ida M. Wager; they are the parents of one child, Flossie Pearl, born Feb. 10, 1884. Mrs. Kellogg was born Aug. 13, 1858, and is the daughter of Henry and Deborah Wager. Her father was born April 19, 1819, at Davenport, Delaware Co., N. Y. He be- came a pioneer of the State of Illinois in 1837, and died in Genoa in 1875.
He lived at Genoa for more than 30 years, well known throughout the county and universally re- spected. In the City Weekly, of Sycamore, there appeared at the time of his death a sketch of his life, in which were mentioned some of his characteristics of mind and heart. The following is the tribute re- ferred to:
He successfully battled with the difficulties con- nected with a new country, and by diligence and economy succeeded in gathering around him an abundance of this world's goods. . Mr. Wager was possessed of fine business 'ability, and by strict at- tention to his own business was enabled to possess and enjoy the large property he has left behind him. He was a man of sterling integrity, fine tact and no- ble sentiment. He died as he had lived (as far as we know), without an ememy. Mourned by many friends, he passed slowly and gently away, the victim of the cruel disease, consumption. 'Liberal, but un- ostentatious, kind, manly and upright, death had no terror for him, nor the life across the river nothing but anticipated happiness and everlasting rest. To the last he lived the golden rule, thinking more for others than for himself. Death did not come unan- ticipated. Before the cold hand had been placed upon him, he had said, calmly and peacefully, "I am ready to die." In his death, as in his life, there was an example and a lesson. The funeral service was held in the M. E. Church, of which he was a mem- ber for over 25 years. Rev. Joseph Caldwell preached the funeral sermon. A large and sympathetic con- gregation assembled in the church to pay their last tribute of respect to their friend and neighbor. The family circle has lost a husband and father; the Church, a brother and friend: the community, an honest and faithful citizen. He leaves a widow and ten children, some of whom are married and settled in life. His happy soul is at rest in the heaven of eternal peace. Among his friends and relations
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