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 64
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Politically, Mr. Ames is a Republican .. He has held the office of School Director, Overseer of the Poor and Overseer of Highways.
ames Harper, farmer, residence East Paw Paw, on section 18, has 6281/2 acres of land, 158 acres of which lies in Lee County, the balance being in De Kalb County ; was born in Paw Paw Township, De Kalb Co., Ill., Dec. 2, 1854, and is the son of William and Sarah (Kirk) Harper. He received a common- school education and was reared on his father's farm. He has always made this township his home.
He was married at East Paw Paw, April 10, 1878, to Bertha Patrick, daughter of William and Mary (Congrave) Patrick. Mrs. Harper was born in Du Page Co., Ill., April 7, 1858. They have three chil- dren, all boys : Floyd E., born March 9, 1879; Frank W., born Nov. 23, 1881 ; and Jesse C., born Dec. 10, 1883.
Mr. Harper made his home on section 14 of this township immediately after his marriage, where he still has a farm, and continued to reside there till 1883, when he removed to East Paw Paw, his pres- ent home. Politically, he is a Republican.
illiam Howison, farmer, section 33, Clin- ton Township, is a son of George and Margaret (Brown) Howison, natives of Scotland, who emigrated to America in 1834 and settled in New York in 1844 and came to Somonauk Township, this county, where they passed the reinainder of their lives.
They were the parents of James, William, Eliza, Alexander and Robert.
Mr. Howison, of this sketch, was born also in Scotland, Oct. 18, 1821, and in 1843 he emigrated to this country, coming direct to De Kalb County. He first resided about four years in Somonauk Township, and then, in 1847, he moved to Clinton Township, where he purchased a quarter of section 33, settled upon it and has since resided there. He
is now the owner of 500 acres of land in Clinton Township, most of which is in a state of good cul- tivation or pasture. He keeps about 250 head of hogs, 60 of cattle and 14 horses.
In his political principles he is identified with the Republicans. He has been entrusted with the offices of Highway Commissioner, School Director, etc. He and Mrs. H. are both members of the United Presbyterian Church.
He was married in Clinton Township, Oct. 18, 1855, to Catherine Walls, who was born in Washing- ton Co., N. Y., Dec. 25, 1824, and they are the par- ents of James A., William J., Robert W., George W., Albert and Mary M. The first-born, James A., died March 15, 1882.
ranklin O. Stevens, farmer, owning 120 acres on section 30, Shabbona Township, was born in West Haven, Rutland Co., Vt., Sept. 14, 1832. His parents, Amma and Polly (Talmadge) Stevens, moved from Ver- mont to Parma, Monroe Co., N. Y, in which vicinity his father soon after engaged in farming.
Franklin O. was raised on his father's farm, alter- nating his labors thereon by attendance at the com- mon schools. In 1840 he came, with his parents, from New York and located in Cook County, this State. They resided in the latter county for about three years, then moved to Du Page County, and in 1848 came to this county and located on a farm.
Mr. Stevens was married Feb. 15, 1855, to Loticia M. Erwin, who died Dec. 8, same year, leaving a son, Terry G. He was born Nov. 14, 1855, married Cora Allen and resides in Montana. Mr. Stevens was a second time married Sept. 13, 1857, at Shabbona, to Miss Ann, daughter of Lyman and Hannah (Gates) Norton. She was born in Parkham, Geauga Co., Ohio, July 22, 1835, and came to this State with her parents in 1845. The issue of their union was two children : Murray L., born Oct. 6, 1868, married E. Hattie Ray and resides on a farm in Shabbona Township; Curtis E. was born Feb. 13, 1874, and is living with her parents.
Soon after the breaking out of the late Civil War, Nov. 2, 186r, Mr. Stevens enlisted in Co. C, 50th Ill. Vol. Inf., was a Sergeant and served in the Army of the Tennessee. He received an honorable
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discharge June 17, 1862, on account of physical dis- ability.
Mr. Stevens settled on his present farm and has constantly resided thereon except two years he spent in Oregon and the time he was in the army. In May, 187 1, he, with his family, went to Oregon via the Union Pacific Railroad. He traveled by stage about 300 miles and located in Jacksonville, Jackson County. He spent two years there, and then re- turned to his farm, which he had rented during his absence, arriving in the fall of 1872.
Politically, Mr. Stevens has been identified with the Republican party ever since its organization.
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eorge Harrington, farmer, section 13, Squaw Grove Township, was born Sept. 26, 1835, in New Berlin, Chenango Co., N. Y., and is the son of Rufus and Eliza (Welch) Harrington. (See sketch of Rufus Harrington). He obtained his education in the public schools of his native State and of Illinois, having been about 13 years of age when he came to De Kalb County. His first act of unusual importance was his enrollment in the Union army. He en- listed Aug. 15, 1862. in the 105th Ill. Vol. Inf., as a private in Co. H. He served until the close of the war, and obtaining his discharge returned to Squaw Grove. He is the owner of 120 acres of land, which is under advanced cultivation and forins a valuable property. He is a Republican and is a member of Aurora Post, No. 20, G. A. R. He has held several local offices, of different degrees of re- sponsibility.
Nov. 25, 1858, he was married at Sandwich, to Elvira A. Ward. She was born Dec. 24, 1835, in Ohio, and they have three children,-Jessie A., Ruth E. and Stella M. Mr. and Mrs. Harrington are members of the Baptist Church.
artman Schule, farmer on section 21, Pierce Township, was born April 24, 1803, in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. He grew to manhood in his native State, and was married May 20, 1830, to Elizabeth Roth. In 1847 the family, including the parents and five children, set out for America, landing at the port of New York.
Mr. Schule found employment there and saved suf- ficient of his earnings to come to Illinois after a year and a half, and in the fall of 1849 settled in Du Page County, where he was engaged in farm labor until 1853, when he settled in Pierce Township, to which place he had come a year before and purchased 240 acres of wild land situated on section 21, at the rate of $3 per acre. They first built a shanty with a shed-roof, which served a few months for a shelter and was then replaced with a more commodicus frame house. Their children are named Catherine, John, Henry, Elizabeth and George. The latter is the only one living in the township of Pierce. He was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and was married Dec. 2, 1862, to Mary A. Shoop, a native of Crawford Co., Ohio, and daughter of Solomon and Catherine (Eberly) Shoop. They have five children,- Adelia Jane, William Henry, Emma Ellen, Nelson George (Postmaster at Pierceville) and John Harvey.
On coming West from New York, they came by the Hudson River and Erie Canal to Buffalo, and thence to Chicago by steamer. From the last place they came to Du Page County on foot. The family homestead is in fine and valuable condition, with good farm buildings, orchard and shade trees.
amuel M. Swift, retired farmer, residing at Waterman and owning land on section II, Clinton Township, is a son of Samuel and Betsey M. (Woodworth) Swift, natives of New York. They moved to Calhoun Co., Mich., where they located and resided until their death. Seven children were the issue of their union, namely: Samuel M., Elizabeth 'M., Nathaniel, Charles, David, Harriet, Woodworth and Kent.
Samuel M. Swift, the subject of this biographical notice, was born in Columbia Co., N. Y., March 27, 1820. He lived at home, aiding in the support of the family, working on the farm and attending the common schools until manhood. On attaining that age, he set forth to meet life's obstacles with a deter- mination to accumulate a competency. He came to Kendall County, this State, where he remained until the spring of 1854, and then came to this county. On his arrival. he purchased 160 acres of land on section 11, Clinton Township, on which he at once located and resided until the spring of 1885, when
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he moved to Waterman. All of his land is in good tillable. condition. Politically, Mr. Swift is identified with the Republican party, and has held the offices of . School Director and Highway Commissioner.
Mr. Swift was united in marriage to Miss Harriet M. Shonts, April 7, 1846, in Little Rock Township, Kendall Co., Ill. She is the daughter of Andrew M. and Mariam. (Buck) Shonts, natives of New York and Connecticut respectively, and of German and American extraction. They moved about the year 1840 to Kendall Co., this State, where they died. Their family comprised r2 children, namely : Eber,, Anthony, David, Eliza, Angeline, John, Mariam Harriet M., Mary, Andrew, Edwin and Jeremiah.
Harriet M. Swift was born in Saratoga Co., N. Y., Nov. 16, 18rg. She was an inmate of her father's family until the date of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Swift "are the parents of seven children, namely: Drew C .; Emma M., Eber M., R. K., Earnest, Ells- worth and Elizabeth. Emma M. and Elizabeth are deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Swift are members of the Baptist Church.
enry Corson, farmer, section 28, Genoa Township, whose portrait is given on the opposite page, was born July 8, 1825, in Lycoming Co., Pa. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Buck) Corson, were born in the Key- stone State. The former was born Feb. 5, 1788, and died in Pennsylvania April 16, r842. The mother came to De Kalb County after becoming a widow. She was born Oct. 15, 1795, and died in January, 1882, in McHenry County. They were the parents of ri children,-Hannah, Catherine, Peter, Sarah, Susan, Henry, Lovinia, Daniel B., Alfred, Harriet and Lucretia.
Mr. Corson was a farmer in his native county un- til the spring of 1864, when he removed with his family, consisting of his wife and four children, to De Kalb County. He bought 140 acres of land in Genoa Township, on section 3, immediately after his removal hither, on which he prosecuted his agricul- tural work until 1877, about which time he rented the place to a tenant and bought 40 acres on section 28-since constituting his homestead. In the spring of 1878 he went with his family to Colorado and
New Mexico, and spent about nine months, return- ing to his home in Genoa Township. In political principle and preference he is identified with the Democrats.
The marriage of Mr. Corson to Eliza A. F. Hew- lett took place Oct. 3r, 1850, in Lycoming Co., Pa. Mrs. Corson is one of r2 children,-Edward, Caro- line, Charlotte, Sophia, Drusilla, Eliza A. F., Thomas, Angeline, Charles, Catherine, William E. and Henry C. Mrs. Corson was born Feb. 5, 1831, in Lyco- ming County, and is the daughter of Charles and Martha (Croft) Hewlett, the former a native of Eng- land, the latter of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Corson have had four children born to them,-Hor- ton H., Angeline, Mary D. and Carrie E. The youngest child died when 16 months old.
ohn Ray, farmer, residing at Shabbona, was born. in Nassau, Germany, Jan. ro, 1820, and is a son of John J. and Catharine Ray, natives of that country. He received a good common-school education in his native coun- try, and prior to majority had mastered the stone-mason's trade. In 1849 he emigrated to the United States, arriving in New York city July 15 of that year. He proceeded from that place to Monroe County, that State, where he resided for about four years and then came to this State, locating at Plano, Kendall County. He followed the vocation of a farmer in that county for five years, when he re- moved to Victor Township, this county, and contin- ued in the same occupation until 1864. During the latter year he moved to Shabbona Township and on Feb. 9, of that year, purchased r60 acres of land. lo- cated on section r5, that township.
On the construction of the railroad through Shab- bona Township, Mr. Ray gave the right of way through his farm, and also donated an undivided half interest in 17 acres to secure the establishment of a station at Shabbona. He aided by his liberality and public-spiritedness very materially in establishing the village of Shabbona.
Mr. Ray was married in his native country Jan. 10, 1843, to Miss Elizabeth Enders. She is a daughter of George and Mary Enders, and was born in Nassau, Germany. They have been blessed with nine chil-
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dren, three of whom were born in Germany, namely : William H., the present editor and publisher of the Shabbona Express ; John Ferdinand died in this country, aged 12 years and 8 months ; Lissette H. is the wife of George Hochstrasser and resides at Wil- low Creek, Lee Co., Ill. The remaining six children were born in this country. "They are : John P., married Lotta Heun; Benjamin F. married Laura Linthicum; George A. married Miss Sarah J. Houghtby; John A. died in infancy; Emma A. is unmarried and lives at home; Esther H. is the wife of M. L. Stevens and resides in Shabbona.
Mr. Ray and his sons are Republicans. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church of Shab- bona.
araras ichael Zeigler, a farmer on section 22, Pierce Township, was born Sept. 20, 1820, in Wurtemburg, Germany. His father, Michael Zeigler, was a native of Baden and married Elizabeth Steinle, who was born in Wurtemburg. He was a land-holder five miles from the chief city of his province, and his residence was in the village of Pfahlbash.
Mr. Zeigler was sent to school eight years and obtained a good education. In 1847, accompanied by his brother, he set out in a sail vessel for America, and in 28 days landed at New York. He proceeded from that city to Pennsylvania and spent a few months as a clerk. He came next to Chicago, where he prospected for a couple of weeks, and went thence to Michigan. He spent a few months as a saw-mill assistant, but he contracted the ague and returned to Chicago, where he remained until he recovered his ·health. He next made his way to Du Page County, and during the summer following worked on a farm in Kane County. In 1850 he contracted the Califor- nia gold " fever," and in company with five men and six teams set out for an overland journey to the land of promise, carrying with them their supplies. The journey consumed four months. Mr. Zeigler passed three years in the mines at different localities and with varying success. In 1853 he returned, making the route across the Isthmus and by steamer, thence to New York, coming from there to De Kalb County. He bought 160 acres of land on section 22, Pierce
Township, which included 20 acres of broken prairie and a log house. At date of writing, 32 years after making his purchase, Mr. Zeigler has his farm all improved and excellent farm buildings. His marriage to Laura Ramer took place in 1853. Their children are-Ferdinand, Edward, Reuben and Melinda.
Imon W. Lake, farmer and stock-grower, section 25, Paw Paw Township; . post- KOOPER office, Leland. He was born in Sterling, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Oct. 13, 1829, and is the son of John and Catharine (Van Tassel) Lake, of English descent on the father's side, and of German on the mother's. When 10 years of age he emigrated to Hancock Co., Ill., arriving May 31, 1840. In the spring of 1845, he came to Paw Paw Township, De Kalb County, and purchased a part of his present farm, of the Government, in 1849. He worked out at $1 1 a month to earn money to pay for it, and subsequently purchased another tract of 80 acres, making 160 in all. He was married in Paw Paw Township, Jan. 5, 1860, to Mary E. Dennis, daughter of John and Margaret (McFarland) Dennis. Mrs. Lake was born in the township of Argyle, Washington Co., N. Y., April 16, 1842. They have one child, a son, Myron E., born Jan. 15, 1863.
· In politics Mr. Lake is a Republican and has voted that ticket since the organization of the party.
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le Jorgensen Prestegard, of the firm of Christopher & Jorgens, dealers in grain, lumber, coal and live stock, in the village of Lee, was born in Norway, April 23, 1841, the son of Jorgen and Gruenelda Prestegard. He emigrated from his native land to America in 1864, coming directly to Illinois and settling in the township of Alto, Lee County, where he engaged in farming. He purchased 320 acres of land, situ- ated on sections 35 and 36, which he still owns and on which he still resides.
In 187 1 he formed the existing partnership with C. Christopher, in the business above mentioned. He moved to the village of Lee in September, 1874,
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where he resided till the spring of 1885, and he then removed to the farm in Alto, still continuing his business at Lee. As a business man he has a repu- tation for enterprise and fair dealing of which any man might be proud.
Since declaring his intention to become a citizen, he has always voted with the Republican party.
He was married in Alto Township Dec. 24, 1868, to Gorend Pedersen, daughter of Lars and Segeri Pedersen. She was born in Norway. They have had a family of eight children, namely: Gruelda, Lars, Gorgen, Sarah (Ist) deceased, Sarah (2d), Peder O., deceased, and Olaf G.
dward Molitor, M. D., practicing physican and surgeon at Somonauk, is the son of Dr. Nicholas and Rosa (Salmon) Molitor and was born in Somonauk, Dec. 31, 1862. His father was a native of Bavaria and was graduated at Rush Medical College in Chicago. He came to Somonauk in 1860. He was for 23 years a practicing physician and surgeon at Somo- nauk. He died March 12, 1883, at Somonauk, aged 58 years.
He educated his son in his profession, and the latter was graduated Feb. 20, 1883, at Rush Med- ical College, and on his father's decease a month later succeeded to his office and practice, and is doing an extensive and prosperous business. Dr. Molitor was a student at Notre Dame, Ind., two terms, 1879-80, previous to his matriculation at Rush College, and received a medical certificate from that University, dated June 23, 1880.
ussell R. Brown, deceased, formerly a far- mer on section 36, Clinton Township, was born in the State of New York, in Septem- ber, 1816. In the family of his parents, James and. Fanny (Scott) Brown, were five children,-Russell R., Morris P., Adelia, Abi and Emma.
Mr. Brown came to De Kalb County with his parents in 1846 and entered a quarter-section of land in Clinton Township, where he followed agriculture
until his death, which was a most distressing circum- stance. He was driving a team of spirited horses near his home, when they became frightened and ran, throwing him out and breaking his back. He died ten days afterwards, from the result, July 3, 1864.
Mr. Brown was married Dec. 19, 1850, to Miss Nancy Warner, daughter of Ralph and Clara Warner. She came to Henry Co., Ill., with her parents in 1845 and to De Kalb in 1850. In her father's family were JI children, namely : Wilson, Amos, Hester, Rhoda, Nancy, Calvin, John, Marrilla, Orman, David and Mary A. The deceased are Rhoda, Marrilla and Mary A. Mrs. Brown was born in Elizabeth- town, Canada, March 10, 1826. She is the mother of five children, namely : Fred A., born Sept. 16, 1851; Ralph R., born Oct. 7, 1853, married Anna M. Beveridge Feb. 18, 1880, and resides in Clinton Township; Grace was born March 27, 1855, and married A. G. Case, July 14, 1878 ; he is a hardware merchant at Aurora; Sarah, was born July 13, 1860, and died Nov. 4, 1862 ; Grant, born March 14, 1864.
mma Stevens, deceased, formerly a citizen of Shabbona, was born in Connecticut,
A Sept. 21, 1788, and was a son of Daniel Stevens. He was seven years of age when his parents moved with him to Vermont. In 1836 he moved to Parma, Monroe Co., N. Y., and in 1840 to Cook Co., Ill., where he resided three years ; next, in Du Page Co., Ill., for a time, and finally, in 1848, he settled in Shabbona, where he lived until his death, which occurred Feb. 9, 1870.
He was married Nov. 24, 1814, in West Haven, Vt., to Miss Polly, daughter of Wm. Talmadge, and a native of the Green Mountain State. They had a family of five children, namely : Edwin F., born May 3, 1821, was drowned in Lake Michigan Oct. 23, 1841; Demmon D., born June 2, 1823, married Charlotte E. Smith and lives in the town- ship of Shabbona; William H. O., born Jan. 30, 1827, married Elnora Waters and resides in Shab- bona; Enoch W., born Nov. 15, 1830, married first Elizabeth Park and afterward Hannah Kittle, and is now living in Shabbona Township ; and Franklin O., born Sept. 14, 1832, was also twice married, first
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to Loticia M. Erwin and subsequently to Ann Nor- ton. He also is a resident of Shabbona.
In his life-time, Mr. Stevens was a Jackson Dem- ocrat, and since the organization of the Republican party he was a member of that body. Mrs. S., his widow, who was born June r7, 1793, departed this life July 4, 1873.
ohn H. Larson, farmer, section 3, Paw Paw Township, has 216 acres in this township and 83 acres in Shabbona township. He was born in the town of Adams, La Salle Co., Ill., Feb. 14, 1847, and is the son of Lars and Caroline (Holverson) Larson. His parents were born in Norway and came to America in child- hood.
John H. was brought up on a farm, and was mar- ried in Dodge Co., Minn., Jan. 8, 1868, to Miss Sarah Stevenson, daughter of Sjure and Annie (Seeverts) Stevenson. Mrs. Larson was born in the town of Rutland, La Salle Co., Ill., July 18, 1847. They have had seven children,-five boys and two girls : Edward L., born Oct. 7, 1868; Frank S., July 16, 1870; Albert O., Oct. 3, 1872; Nellie A., May 10, 1876; Emma C., Sept. 9, 1878; John C., Nov. 13, 1881 ; and one child died in infancy unnamed.
Mr. Larson was engaged in farming in La Salle County till the fall of r875, when he purchased his present farm upon which he moved in January, 1876, and has made his home here continuously since. Mr. Larson is one of the most successful farmers and stock-growers in Paw Paw Township. Politically he 3 is a Republican.
A albert Hinds, farmer and tile manufacturer, section 29, Clinton Township, is a native of the Empire State. His parents, Thomas and Phebe (Bent) Hinds, were natives of Massa- chusetts, married in Vermont and settled in New York State, where they finally died. They had a family of 13 children.
The subject of this sketch, the ninth in the above family, was born in Champion, Jefferson Co., N. Y.,
March 29, r818. He lived in his native State until his emigration westward, with the exception of about three years, which he spent in Canada. In 1849 he settled in Clinton Township, this county, purchasing · a farm of 65 acres, which he afterwards sold. He then bought 300 acres on sections 29 and 30, most of which is tillable, where he now resides.
In public affairs Mr. Hinds holds the principles of the Republican party, has been School Director about 30 years, and held other positions of public trust.
He was married in Canada August 20, 1843, to Fanny Richardson, a daughter of William and Jane (Schermerhorn) Richardson, who was born in Cana- da, March r4, 1824. Mr. and Mrs. H. have become the parents of six children, four of whom survive, namely : Albert, Jr., William R., Carlos W., and Or- vis. The deceased are Emily and Gilbert L.
euben Allen, deceased, formerly a farmer of Shabbona Township, was one of the early pioneers of that section of the county. He was born in the town of Ira, Rutland Co., Vt., July 30, 1787, and was married Feb. 11, 18r3, to Miss Nancy Andrews, who was born in the town of Canaan, Litchfield Co., Conn., Dec. 25, 1792. He removed in early manhood, with his family, to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where he was one of the first pioneers, and where he engaged in farming a number of years. He next removed to Jefferson County in the same State, where he carried on the dairy busi- ness. In his younger days he had been brought up to both farming and dairying.
In the spring of 1845 he emigrated to the West, settling at Shabbona, this county, where he entered land at Government price, on section 24 of town 38, range 3 east, and on section 19, town 38, range 4 east,-320 acres in all. Here he continued his agri- cultural pursuits until his death, which occurred Sept. 20, 1850. He was a Justice of the Peace sev- eral years, and also held other offices. In politics he was a Free-Soil Democrat. He was an honorable, upright man, who commanded the respect and esteem of his neighbors and fellow citizens.
By his death, Mr. Allen left a widow, four sons and two daughters. The children were Benjamin F .; Harvey E .; Almira M., wife of Earl B. Hines, of
THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
J. R. Elliott.
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Jefferson Co., N. Y .; Hiram P .; Laura E., wife of William Bowers, of Clinton, Ill .; and Martin V., of Shabbona. Mrs. Allen, an estimable lady, survived her husband about 16 years, dying in 1866, at the old honiestead.
appan R. Elliott, farmer, residing on sec. 4 (and owning the west half of lots 1 and 2 of the northeast quarter), Afton Town- ship, is a son of Ephraim and Mary (Robie) Elliott, natives of Chester, Rockingham Co., N. H. His father was a young man at the date of the Revolutionary War, and, sympathizing with the " sons of freedom " in their battle for liberty and country, enlisted as a privateer on board an American vessel. He was captured and sent to the " Old Mill " prison, Ireland, and was kept there until the end of the war. The prison was said to be haunted, and the fact was so thoroughly impressed on the minds of the prisoners that it added twofold to the misery of their confinement. He had the small-pox, as the result of vaccination. Mr. Elliott also had an uncle who was a Lieutenant in the Rev- olutionary Army. He participated in the battle of Bennington, and during that memorable engagement received a gunshot wound, the ball entering one side and was extracted at the other; but he recovered from its effect. At the close of the war the father of Mr. Elliott was exchanged and returned to New Hampshire, where he engaged in farming, and where he resided until his death. He was appointed En- sign of the Militia in 1793, and Lieutenant in 1795, by Gov. Bartlett, and in 1800 he was appointed Cap- tain of a company by Gov. J. T. Gilman ; he was also a member of the New Hampshire Legislature.
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