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 63
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eneral Daniel Dustin, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Recorder ex officio of De Kalb County, resident at Sycamore, was born Oct. 5, 1820, in Topsham, Orange Co., Vt. John K. Dustin, his father, was a farmer, born Jan. 24, 1784, in Atkinson, New Hampshire, near the border line between that State and Massa- chusetts. He died in Topsham, Vt., in August, 1858. His wife, Sally (Thompson) Dustin, was born in Newbury, Vt., Jan. 15, 1788, her death transpiring in Topsham, Vt., Dec. 14, 1829. The immediate ancestors of John K. Dustin were Nathaniel Dustin and Judith (Knight) Dustin. The former was born Sept. 8, 1756, and died March 3, 1815. The latter was born May 2, 1756, and departed this life June 3, 1842.
The Dustin family is of Scotch and English de- scent, and the first authentic record of them in this country was of Thomas and Hannah Dustin, of Ha- verhill, Massachusetts, in 1677, which was at the
time of their marriage. "Hannah Dustin," says the historical record, "became the mother of 13 children. She was taken prisoner by the Indians in the attack on Haverhill March 15, 1698, her nurse and infant one year old being also taken, but the child was soon afterward killed. She was placed in an Indian fam- ily of 12 persons on an island (Dustin's Island), in the Merrimack River, near the mouth of the Conto- cook, in New Hampshire, and with the aid of the nurse and a white captive boy she killed all the In- dians in their sleep except a squaw and a boy who escaped. She returned to Haverhill with their scal ps."
General Dustin is the seventh of a family of 13 children, and remained with his parents on the farm until attaining his majority. He received a good common-school and academical education, and after studying medicine at Topsham and Corinth, at- tended three full courses of medical lectures at Dartmouth College, at Hanover, N. H., graduating therefrom in 1846. His labor upon the farm had been interspersed with the duties of a teacher in the district school. Thrown mainly upon his own re- sources, he continued teaching at intervals while a medical student at Dartmouth. After being gradu- ated he first established. himself in the practice of medicine at East Corinth, his native county, remain- ing there for a period of three years. In March, 1850, like many other adventurous and ambitious young men, he was pursuaded by the glowing reports of gold discoveries in California to try his fortunes in the new Eldorado, whither he went and engaged in mining operations until 1853, when, in connection with mercantile pursuits in which he had become en- gaged, he resumed the practice of his profession. The political abilities which have always distinguished the General soon attracted favorable attention, and in 1855-6 he was chosen to represent Nevada Coun- ty in the Legislature of that State.
In 1858 he was induced by the representations of friends to come to Sycamore, where he became asso- ciated with J. E. Ellwood in the sale of drugs and medicines. He continued in business until the breaking out of the Rebellion, when in response to the call of the Government for troops he disposed of his interest to Mr. Ellwood and assisted in raising the 8th Regt. Ill. Cav. The regiment was organized at St. Charles, Ill., September, 1861, was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and General Dustin went
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to the front in command of Co. L. In January, 1862, he was made a Major of the 8th Cav. In March, 1862, his regiment joined in the general ad- vance on Manassas, in General Sumner's Division. In the early part of the spring of that year, at four different times it drove the enemy across the Rap- pahannock. His regiment did important service at Gaines' Hill and Malvern Hill, and was on picket duty while the army laid at Harrison's Landing; it led the advance on the second occupation of Mal- vern Hill, and with Benson's Battery, United States Artillery, bore the brunt of the fight, and brought up the rear of our retreating forces at Barrett's Ford and Chickahominy. At the opening of the "Seven Days' Fight " General Dustin was in command of a squadron 'of the 8th on the extreme right of our lines, and where the rebel troops first encountered the Union army; and the first volley of musketry on the first day of that memorable succession of en- gagements was fired at Major Dustin, his orderly and a captain of his command, by the advance guard of the enemy at close range, the captain being shot down by the Major's side.
In July, 1862, under the call for more men, the 105th Regt. of Ill. Inf. was raised. It was mustered into the service Sept. 2, 1862, at Dixon, Ill., and the General became its commanding officer. The regi- ment joined the Army of the Cumberland, with which it remained through the war. In the spring of 1864 the regiment was brigaded with the 102d and 129th Illinois, the 70th Indiana and the 79th Ohio, the same being in the Ist brigade, 3d division of the 20th Army Corps. After the Atlanta campaign Col. Dustin was placed in command of the 2d brigade of the same division and corps and remained in command of that brigade during the war. He accompanied Gen. Sherman in his grand march to the sea. After the battle of Averysboro, N. C., he was brevetted Brigadier General, a promotion which his coolness, dash and bravery in that engagement had well merited. It may be said here that he has a spotless military record, and was one of the most gallant officers sent from De Kalb County. Upon being mustered out of the service June 7, 1865, at Wash- ington, where he took a proud part in the Grand Re- view of the armies, Gen. Dustin returned home, and in the fall of that year was elected to the office of County Clerk, without opposition, which position he held for four years. He was subsequently elected
County Treasurer for one term, and in the fall of 1880 was elected Circuit Clerk and Recorder. He was re-elected in 1884, and with the expiration of his present term will have completed sixteen years of official service in the Court-House at Sycamore. It is needless to say that he has performed the several important trusts reposed to his keeping by the people of the county with signal fidelity and ability. As a Republican none have been more active and influen- tial in local politics. The General has twice been the choice of Republicans in De Kalb County for Congress, and in both instances has he withdrawn in favor of personal friends, preferring in his modesty and humility to remain in comparative obscurity, although second to none in influence and fitted in every sense to confer honor upon any position to which he might be called. He has been a stanch Republican from the first, and in every political cam- paign since his return from military to civil life he has done yeoman service for his party. Intellectually gifted, he is fluent of speech and possesses that rare grace and power of oratory which is at once most pleasing and effective on the stump. He is a man of warm and generous impulses and never fails in his appeals to the patriotic feelings of those whom he addresses. In this respect he is exceptional. His fine presence and courtly manners, added to his un- swerving integrity and his utter unselfishness, have won for him a host of friends and enthusiastic ad- mirers. De Kalb County is proud of him, and loves him for the gallant soldier that he was, for the faith- ful and able part he has borne in the administration of its civil affairs and for his manly and devoted spirit in all things pertaining to their interests. As a neighbor he is conspicuous for his kindly ways and his ready response to every appeal in behalf of charity and benevolence. He is one of those worthy sons of New England who have left the impress of their character and good deeds upon the institutions and people of the West.
He has been twice married. His first wife being Isabel, daughter of Colonel Gouldsbun Taplin, of Corinth, Vt. Their marriage took place at Topsham Vt., in 1846, and of their union three children were born. Emma A. married William B. Myers, a woolen manufacturer of Carthage, Mo. Electa J. is the wife of Walter Waterman, a merchant at Sycamore. Wil- liam G. is connected with a prominent journal pub- lished at Rockford, Ill. The mother died at East
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Corinth, Vt., which was also the place of her nativity. The second marriage of General Dustin, to Elmira E. Pauly, occurred Oct. 15, 1854, and they have one daughter, Zada Belle. Mrs. Dustin was born in War- ren Co., Ohio.
In 1859 the General became especially interested in the Masonic Order and is now a Mason of the 32d degree. He is a member of Sycamore Lodge, No. 134; Sycamore Chapter, No. 49; Sycamore Council, No. 36, and Sycamore Conimandery, No. 15. In 1872 the Knights Templar of Illinois elected him to the highest office within their gift, that of Right Eminent Commander of the Grand Com- mandery of the State.
Mr. and Mrs. Dustin, together with their daugh- ters, are members of the First Congregational Church of Sycamore, in which society the General has held important offices, being at present Clerk of the Church.
The portrait of General Dustin on a preceding page is presented by the publishers with a satisfac- tion which will meet with a corresponding degree of appreciation wherever the subject is known.
eorge C. Cooper, deceased, for many years a resident of Paw Paw Township, was born in the town of Salem, Washington Co., N. Y., Oct. 2, 1808, and is the son of William and Sarah (Crage) Cooper. His parents were born in Washington Co., N. Y., of Irish descent. He moved to Cayuga County, with his parents, in 1810, became a farmer and was married in Sterling, N. Y., Sept. 26, 1831, to Miss Elizabeth Moore, daughter of James and Letitia Moore. Mrs. Cooper was born in Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y., of English and Irish descent, April 20, 1810. They had two chil- dren, both born in Sterling, Cayuga Co., N. Y., a son and a daughter : James C., born Feb. 2, 1833, married Margaret Newton, Feb. 21, 1856, and died Oct. 22, 1869; Mary C., born May 30, 1835, wife of Joseph L. Holmes, married Feb. 28, 1858, and resides in Leland, Ill.
Mr. Cooper emigrated with his family to Illinois, in 1848, and arrived in Paw Paw Township, De Kalb County, July 24. He purchased 320 acres of Gov- ernment land, and subsequently bought an 80-acre
tract at private sale, making 400 in all. He was en- gaged in farming and stock-growing to the time of his death, which occurred July 20, 1862. In politics he was an earnest Republican, with Abolition sym- pathies. He always took a warm interest in political affairs, and was a zealous advocate of temperance principles. He was a man who aimed to advance the best interests of society, and was highly esteemed by his fellow citizens. His wife survives him, and still resides at the old homestead, on section 23, where she is held in high esteem by neighbors and friends.
ames McCleery, Supervisor of Clinton Township, residing and farming on section 34, is a son of James and Jane (Thompson) McCleery, natives of New York and Scotland respectively. They were married and settled in Canada, and eight years later moved to Wayne Co., Ohio.' From Ohio they came to this county in 1851, and settled in Somonauk Township, and afterward removed to Victor Township, where, May 29, 1859, his mother died. His father then removed to Washington Co., Iowa, where he is at present residing, at the advanced age of 81 years. Nine children constituted the issue of their marriage. Six survive, namely, John, James, Mary A., Margaret, Elizabeth, and William D. The deceased are Hugh, Robert and Jane C.
James McCleery, Jr., was born in Canada, near Gault, Waterloo County, June 18, 1835. He was seven years of age when his parents moved to Ohio, and remained on his father's farm, assisting in its cultivation and attending the common schools until he attained the age of 22 years. Arriving at that age, he set out to fight life's battles alone. He at first engaged in farming, which vocation he followed in Ohio until 1851, when he came to this county.
In 1855 Mr. McCleery.came into possession of 120 acres of land situated in Victor Township. He at once settled on his land and lived thereon for two years, when he traded it for 187 acres in Clinton Township. He moved on the latter farm in 1861, and is still a resident thereon. He is at present the owner of 292 acres of land, all situated in De Kalb
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County, and of the entire amount 220 acres are under a good state of cultivation.
Mr. McCleery was united in marriage to Margaret Graham, in Victor Township, Feb. 1, 1858. She is a daughter of Robert and Sarah (Williamson) Graham, natives of Washington Co., N. Y. They came to this county in 1850 and lived for one year in Somonauk Township, then removed to Victor Township, where they at present reside. They are the parents of six children, five of whom survive, namely, Margaret, Mary A., Andrew, Russell and James. One died in nfancy.
Margaret McCleery, wife of the subject of this biographical notice, was born in Washington Co., N. Y., June 15, 1837. She remained an inmate of her father's family, assisting in the household duties and attending the common schools until her marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. McCleery are the parents of ten chil- dren. The living are Sarah J., Mary, Fanny E., Adeline I., William R., Raymond and Jeannett. The deceased are John, Andrew and Margaret.
Mr. McCleery was appointed Supervisor of Clinton Township in the spring of 1883, and in the spring of 1884 Was elected to the office, and now holds the same. He has also held other minor offices in his township. Politically, he is a Republican. Relig- iously, Mr. and Mrs. McCleery are members of the Presbyterian Church.
homas Wright, farmer and stockman, resi- dent on section 34, De Kalb Township, is one of the leading agriculturists of his county. On attaining his majority he settled on the farm on which he has since resided and carried on his successful operations. His estate includes 226 acres of land, all under a high order of cultivation and devoted largely to the rearing of stock of excellent grades, comprising 44 head of cattle, 120 swine and eight horses. He is a Repub- lican in political connection.
Mr. Wright was born March 11, 1833, in Oneida Co., N. Y. He acquired a fair degree of education in the common schools, and after the death of his father, which occurred when he was three years of age, was brought up by his mother, who supported her family of four sons and two daughters and reared
them to a period when they could make their own way in the world. From the age of 12 years until is manhood, he was a farm laborer. He was seven years of age when the family came to De Kalb ยท County. Before coming of age, in company with his brother Jabez, he bought 160 acres of land, of which he afterwards became by purchase sole proprietor and which is now included in his homestead.
The marriage of Mr. Wright to Amanda Richard- son took place Dec. 21, 1854, in De Kalb Township. Her parents, Abiel and Sophia Richardson, were natives of Vermont, and removed from that State to Illinois in 1837, becoming pioneer settlers of De Kalb County. The former died April 14, 1869; the de- cease of the latter occurred March 12, 1871. Mrs. Wright was born Aug. 18, 1836, in Addison Co., Vt. Frank E., only child of Mr. and Mrs. Wright, was born March 19, 1857.
evi Hurst, a retired farmer, residing in the village of Shabbona, was born at Eaton, Nottinghamshire, England, Nov. 23, 1823, and is the son of James and Mary (Bowskill) Hurst. In youth he was employed in farming and other service, and, May 15, 1849, he was married, at Troxford, England, to Miss Sarah Burdin, daughter of John and Ann Burdin, who was born in Bothamsall, England, Feb. 7, 1828.
Mr. Hurst and family emigrated to America in 185 1, and after spending two years in Seneca Co., N. Y., removed, in 1853, to Batavia, Kane Co., Ill., where they resided one year. Then they were resi- dents of Victor, De Kalb County, three years; then again in Seneca, N. Y., three years ; next, in 1859, they returned to Victor; and finally in 1864, Mr. Hurst purchased a farm of 160 acres in the town- ship of Shabbona, being the southeast quarter of sec- tion I. He carried on his farm successfully till 1881, when he sold, and Feb. 20, 1882, removed to the vil- lage of Shabbona, where he has a pleasant and com- modious residence.
The living children of Mr. and Mrs. Hurst are seven in number, besides two deceased, and all born in America except the oldest, as follows : John, born April 14, 1850, married Eva Wigton and lives in Hamilton Co., Iowa ; Mary A., born June 20, 1852,
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died July 1, 1852; George, born Aug. 10, 1853, mar- ried Franc Bronson and lives in Hamilton Co .. Iowa; James H., born Sept. 12, 1855, married Sarah Wescott and resides also in Hamilton Co., Iowa; Sarah E., born May 29, 1858, is the wife of William Launsbury and lives in Hamilton Co., Neb .; Eliza J., born Nov. 11, 1860, is the wife of Charles R. Dodd and is a resident of Humboldt, Iowa; Ann M. was born Feb. 4, 1863; Lillie M., July 22, 1865 ; and Joseph, born Oct. 23, 1868, died June 2, 1873.
ames McFarland, deceased, was a re- spected pioneer of Paw Paw Township of 1845. He was born in the town of Salem, Washington Co., N. Y., Sept. 24, 1797, and was the son of John and Janet. McFarland. His- parents were of Scotish birth, and had emigrated to the State of New York in an early day. He moved with his parents to Cayuga County in boy- hood, where he was engaged in farming and lum- bering.
He came to Illinois in 1845 and settled on section 23, Paw Paw Township, De Kalb County. He pur- chased his land of the Government (160 acres), and made this his home continuously till the time of his death, which occurred Dec. 27, 1876. He was married in Cayuga Co., N. Y., March 6, 1832, to Miss Mary Harper, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Black) Harper. Mrs. McFarland was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, April 10, 1809. She emi- grated with her parents to America during the War of 1812. The family settled in Washington Co., N. Y., and subsequently removed to Cayuga County, same State, where she was married. Three children were born of this union, one boy and two girls : Elizabeth, born Feb. 10, 1833, became the wife of Charles S. Hubbell, and died Feb. 24, 1875, leaving three children, all girls; the next younger than Elizabeth was Janet, who was born Nov. 14, 1835, and died June 24, 1848; Thomas, born in 1837, died in infancy.
Mr. McFarland was an earnest member of the United Presbyterian Church from boyhood. He took an active part in building the church at Ross Grove, and was one of the most liberal in its support. He was a man of the strictest integrity, and com-
manded the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. His wife, a lady justly held in high esteem, survives him and still occupies the old homestead. She is a consistent Christian and has a membership in the United Presbyterian Church of Freeland, De Kalb County.
ewis H. Crego, farmer, residing on section 36, De Kalb Township, was born in Che- nango Co., N. Y., Jan. 1, 1841. He is the son of Daniel Crego, a native of New York, and was born in Herkimer County, that State, April 30, 1801. He followed the business of a farmer in that county until his .removal to this State in 1852, when he settled in Kane County. In 1857, he came to De Kalb County, which is now their place of residence. His father was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., in 1750, of Holland parentage. His wife, Polly (Stanehan) Crego, was born in Chatham, N. Y., and they moved to Chenango Co., N. Y., where she died, in 1829, aged 69 years; and his death occurred in 1836. They were the parents of nine children,- two daughters and seven sons. Daniel Crego, their eighth son, was married to Ann Kelley, who is the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Stall) Kelley, natives of New York, both of whom died the same year, the father in February and the mother in July, 1837. There were seven children in the family of Daniel and Ann Crego, namely, Sarah, George M., Polly J., Owen C., Lewis H., Nancy E. and Ellen.
Mr. Crego, the subject of this sketch, is a promi- nent agriculturist of De Kalb County, of which he has been a continuous resident since 1857. He has a valuable farm, which comprises 480 acres of land, devoted to the raising of stock and general farming of an advanced character. Mr. Crego's political views are in harmony with those of the Democratic party.
The marriage of Mr. Crego to Millie Souders took place in Kane Co., Ill., March 1, 1873, and they be- came the parents of four children : John S. and Dan S., twins, were born June 28, 1875 ; Floyd O., Aug. 14, 1876; Mabel M., July 14, 1879. Mrs. Crego died Oct. 28, 1879, in the township of De Kalb. She was born in Kane County, Nov. 27, 1842, and was the daughter of John and Polly Souders, natives of
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Ohio, who were the first settlers on Blackberry Creek in Kane County.
As one of the prominent and representative agri- culturists of De Kalb County, we take pleasure in presenting Mr. Crego's portrait in this work among other leading and representative men; and as a fit and worthy companion picture of Mr. Crego, we place by it that of his estimable wife. The photographs from which the engravings were made were taken in 1878.
athaniel Smith, deceased, formerly of Sandwich, came in 1858 to that place from Little Rock, Ill., where he had located in 1849. He was born in Providence, Sara- 6 toga Co., N. Y., Dec. 2, 1822.
After completing a course in the State Normal School of New York, he was appointed Public School Inspector in his native State. Mr. Smith was a man of artistic tastes and was one of the best photogra- phers in the west. He was the instructor of C. D. Mosher, of Chicago, who has a national reputation. Nathaniel Smith died at his home in Sandwich, Jan. 24, 1878.
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rastus Dean, proprietor of a drug store and meat-market at Waterman, is from the Empire State. His parents, Smith and Delilah (Wright) Dean, also natives of that State, came to Kane Co., Ill., in 1846, where where they resided the remainder of their lives. Their seven children were Erastus, Althea, John, Robert, Lewis, Miriam and Nathaniel.
The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was born in Putnam Co., N. Y., July 18, 1831, came to this State with his father in 1846, lived at home till 1855, and came and purchased a farm of 146 acres in Afton Township, this county, where he lived about 14 years, and then rented his farm and removed to Shabbona, where he engaged in the meat business about five years; he then removed to Waterman, where he has since been employed in the same voca- tion, adding to his business a stock of drugs in 1884. In his political views Mr. Dean is a Democrat.
He has been one of the Trustees of the village of Waterman for four years, School Trustee, etc.
He was married in Afton Township, this county, Oct. 12, 1859, to Miss Charlotte L., daughter of Orson and Betsey (Brainard) Pearl, natives of New York State, who came to this county in 1854, settling in Afton Township, where Mrs. Pearl died. Mr. P. afterward married and moved to Waterman, where he at present resides, at the advanced age of 81 years. His children are Julius, Mary A., Charlotte L., Sarah, Ellen and Charles. Mrs. Dean was born in the State of New York, July to, 1841. Mr. and Mrs. D. have 12 children, namely: Alice, Smith A., Charles O., Amzy, William E., Bertie P., Cornelius, Jennie, Lulu, John W., Fred and one who died when an infant.
zra M. Ames, farmer, section 33, Clinton Township is a son of Elijah and Cynthia Ames, natives of Vermont, and is the youngest of 15 children who constituted the issue of their marriage.
He was born in Potsdam, St Lawrence Co., N. Y., June 5, 1822. He was a resident of " York State " for 25 years, until 1847, when he came to Du Page County, this State. He lived in the latter coun- ty three years, until June 1850, when he came to this county and purchased 80 acres of land in Clinton Township, on which he located and where he is at present residing. He is the owner of 204 acres of land, 180 of which are in a good tillable condition.
Mr. Ames was united in marriage to Miss Orpha M. Ames, Jan. 9, 1846, in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y, She is a daughter of Elijah and Mable (Pierce) Ames, natives of Vermont and Massachusetts respectively, and are the parents of 12 children.
Orpha M. Ames was born in Canton, St. Lawrence Co, N. Y., April 27, 1822. She is the mother of eight children by Mr. Ames, namely: Marion E., born April 9, r847 ; Almeda, born March 6, 1850; George W., born April 15, 1852; Ota E., born Nov. 23, 1856 ; Charlie I., born March 30, 1859: Ethan E., born Dec. 21, 1860; Myron P., born May 29, 1863, and Cora M., born Dec. 5, 1865. Marion E. died April 19, 1868. Almeda is the wife of James
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Merritt, and resides in Waterman. Ota E. married Miss Ella Hill and resides in Sycamore.
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