Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 65

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 65

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From the foregoing history, we see that Mr. Elliott of this sketch comes from the old "Revolutionary stock," of which an American of this generation may justly feel proud. He was born in the town of Thornton, Grafton Co., N. H., Nov. 18, 1809. He was an inmate of the family household and assisted on the farm until he attained the age of manhood. In addition to the education he received at the com-

mon schools he was, through the generosity of an uncle, an attendant at an academy for a year.

He came to Kane County, this State, in 1839, and remained at the residence of a married sister for about six months, and then returned to New Hamp- shire. Previous to coming his parents died, and Mr. Elliott sold the old homestead. On returning to his native State, he purchased a farm in Merrimac County, four miles from Manchester in the same State, on which he lived and which he cultivated for several years and then sold. In the spring of 1855 he again came to this State, accompanied by his wife and son, and on June 27 of that year pur- chased the farm on which he at present resides. It was a wild piece of land, in the natural condition, and Mr. Elliott, having faith in the future develop- ment of the country, and a desire to establish a home, entered at once upon the laborious task of its improvement. He has planted about six acres of timber.

When he first came to the State he made the trip overland with a horse and buggy, with others who were seeking a home in the West.

. Mr. Elliott has been twice married. His first matrimonial alliance was with Miss Elmira, daughter of Nathan and Mary (Basford) Carr, and occurred Dec. 14, 1837. She accompanied him to this county on his second trip, and lived on the farm until her death, Oct. 6, 1855. She was the mother of one child by Mr. Elliott, Wm. Francis, born Nov. 17, 1840, and at present living on the old homestead.

He was married a second time at Dixville, Oneida Co., N. Y., Jan. 28, 1858, to Mrs. Hannah J. Kelley, widow of William C. Kelley, who died at the age of 33 years, in Westchester Co., N. Y. He was the father of one child, T. Augustus Kelley, born in Westchester County, March 1, 1849. He is now liv- ing in Calhoun Co., Iowa, near Lake City, at which place Mr. Elliott has a farm of 160 acres adjoining that on which the son resides. The maiden name of Mrs. Elliott was Hannah J. Parker.

Mr. Elliott has been Highway Commissioner and School Director, the latter of which offices he held for nine years. Politically he is a Republican.

The portrait of Mr. Elliott appears in this work, and, in company with this brief sketch, will stand for ages to come, as portraying and representing a man respected and esteemed by the community in which he lived.

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rederick Clapsaddle, farmer, section 24, Paw Paw Township, postoffice, Leland, La Salle County, has 1757/2 acres, a por- tion of which lies in Victor Township, and two and one-half acres in Ross Grove. He was born in Frankfort, Herkimer Co., N. Y., April II, 1827, a son of George A. and Nancy (Bellinger) Clapsaddle, was brought up a farmer, came to Paw Paw in the spring of 1851, settled on his present farm, and has made this his home continually since. Was married in Frankfort, Will Co., Ill., Nov. 10, 1853, to Marenda Hare, a daughter of Nicholas and Mary (Rice) Hare. She was born in Houghton, Can- ada, Nov. 6, 1836, and came to Ohio with her par- ents in 1849. Their children were: Dan, born March 29, 1855; Myron H., Oct. 30, 1859, lives in Iowa; Omer, born Dec. 3, 1861 ; Harry B., June 26, 1869; Hattie M., Sept. 23, 1871 ; Andrew F., March 12, 1874; Neva M, June 28, 1879. Dan married Mrs. Ida Everson and lives in East Paw Paw, Lee County; Omer married Mary C. Cox and lives in Paw Paw Township.

In politics Mr. C. is Democratic.

ohn B. Fulle, farmer, section 16, Clinton Township, is a son of Peter and Mary A. (Enderle) Fulle, who were natives of Ger- many and spent their entire lives in their na- tive land. They had 16 children, all of whom are deceased, excepting the subject of this sketch, the youngest of the family.

Mr. Fulle was born in Germany, Aug. 26, 1836, and when 18 years of age he emigrated to the "land of the free." After a year's residence in New York city he was employed about six months in New Jersey on a farm, then about four months on Long Island, next about ten months in a machine-shop at Buffalo, N. Y., one year in Chicago at various occupations, a few months in a woolen mill at Aurora, Ill., and finally, in the summer of 1856, he came to De Kalb County and purchased 80 acres of section 16, Clinton Town- ship, where he resided until about 1871. He then built the " Clinton House," a hotel, which he con- ducted about five years, when he rented and after-

ward sold the property, returning to his farm, where he has since lived, in the successful prosecution of agriculture. In political matters he generally votes the Republican ticket.

He was married in Kane Co., Ill., April 14, 1862, to Margaret Jones, daughter of Joseph and Mary Jones, and they have had three children-Ida M., Mary E. and Henry F. They also have an adopted daughter, named Mabel E. Cutler. Mrs. Fulle was born in Wales, May 27, 1840. Her brothers and sister are William, Walter, Henry and Anna.

euben Challand, retired farmer, residing at Shabbona, was born in East Bridgeford, Nottinghamshire, England, Feb. 7, 1821, and is a son of Charles and Ann (Freeman) Challand, natives of that country. Reuben Challand received a good common-school ed- ucation in his native country. Early in life he en- gaged to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he mastered and followed in his native country until 1851. During that year he emigrated to the United States, arriving at New York city May 30. He spent three months in Genesee County, that State, then came to Aurora, this State, remained nine months and then removed to Shabbona Grove, this county. On arriving at the latter place, he opened a shop and worked at his trade for three years. He had meanwhile purchased a farm on section 8, Shabbona Township, on which, after disposing of his shop at Shabbona Grove, he moved his family. He subse- quently increased his original purchase to 2531/2 acres, and continued to reside on the farm until 1875. He then retired from farming and removed to Aurora, and the following year (1876) sold his farm. He lived at Aurora two years, until 1877, and then moved to Shabbona, where he has resided since, and where he has a fine residence and six lots.

Mr. Challand was married May 15; 1843, to Miss Rebecca Brownlow. She was a daughter of Thomas Brownlow, and was born in England, March 8, 1820. They had seven children, four born in England, namely: Charles, Feb. 11, 1844; Elizabeth, Aug. II, 1845; George, Oct. 12, 1846; and Reuben, March 5, 1849. Sarah N., born May 2, 1854 ; Es- ther R., Oct. 14, 185'6; and Emily M., June 16,

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1859, are natives of this country. Charles is a phy- sician at Charlotte, Iowa, and married Annie Mark- ham. Elizabeth is the wife of Charles Hallam, of Shabbona. George married Alice Greenfield and resides in Iowa. Reuben married Mary Cutts and lives on the old homestead in Shabbona Township. Sarah N. is the wife of Weekman Stimpson, of Shab- bona. Esther is the wife of George Cutts, resident in La Salle Co., Ill. Emily M. is the wife of Wm. Van Velzor, resident of Shabbona.

Mrs. Challand died March 24, 1873, and Mr. Challand was again married Dec. 30, 1874, at Naperville, Ill., to Mrs. Ann Ashland, widow of John Ashland and daughter of William and Nancy (Hurt) Wells. She was born in Northscar, Lincolnshire, Eng., Oct. 16, 1818, and came to the United States in 1850. By her first marriage she had four chil- dren, one son and three daughters, namely : Jennie, born June 1, 1848; Helen, Nov. 24, 1850; Annie, Nov. 4, 1853; and William W. A., Jan. 1, 1856. Jennie was the wife of William North and died June 8, 1876, in Du Page County. Helen is the wife of Wallie Jones, a resident of Du Page County, and they have one son, Frank J. Annie was the wife of Hiram Davis and died Sept. 22, 1881, leaving one child, Gracie. William W. A. is single and resides on a farm in Du Page County.

Mr. Challand is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and one of the respected and esteemed citizens of Shabbona.

illiam D. Weddell, a pioneer farmer of Paw Paw Township, section 21, has 517 acres of land. He was born in West- moreland, Pa., March 8, 1824, and is the son of Jesse and Nancy Weddell. He re- moved to Indiana in childhood with his parents. He was brought up on a farm and subsequently learned the carpenter's trade. In 1849 he went to Iowa, where he bought land, but did not become a resident. He came to Paw Paw the same year and purchased his land on section 21, where he engaged in farming and stock-growing on a large scale, till the spring of 1883, when he retired from active farming.

He was married in Indiana to Agnes G. Vail, daughter of Charles C. and Ann (Jeffries) Vail. Mrs.

Weddell was born in Fayette Co., Pa., April 9, 1829. They had three children-one son and two daugh- ters: Nancy A., born March 22, 1851, wife of E. B. Powers, of Paw Paw Township; Charles V., born Aug. 9, 1853, married Mary Nisbet and lives in Paw Paw Township; the youngest, Elma A., was born Nov. 6, 1866, and is unmarried. Mrs. Weddell .died Dec. 16, 1881, and Mr. Weddell was married again in June, 1883, to Mrs. Priscilla M. Upton, sister of his former wife.

Mr. Weddell is a member of the Congregational Church. In politics he is a Republican.

artin L. Posson, Treasurer of Pierce Township, was born July 8; 1833, in the town of Knox, Albany Co., N. Y. His parents, John and Betsey ( Partridge) Pos- son, were both natives of the State of New York, and reared their son to a knowledge of agricultural pursuits, meanwhile giving him a fair education in the common schools.

When he was 21 years of age he went to Tama Co., Iowa, for the purpose of buying land, and after accomplishing his purpose he went back to the State of New York. He was married Feb. 5, 1857, to Sophia E. West. She was born May 28, 1837, in the town of Berne, Albany Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of Benjamin C. and Eunice (June) West. A few weeks after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Pos- son went to Iowa City by rail and then by stage to Tama County. But they made only a short stay there, returning to Joliet, Ill. There Mr. Posson was · employed as an assistant in the construction of the State prison. He acted in the capacity of teamster and drew some of the first stone used in the build- ing. In the fall of the same year he negotiated for the management of a farm adjoining Joliet and con- ducted its affairs one year, after which he spent an- other year on a rented farm and in the spring of 1860 came to De Kalb County and exchanged his land in Tama County, Iowa, for 80 acres of land on section 35, on which he commenced the work of improvement. He plowed the land, set out an or- chard, dug a well and after adding to the buildings sold the place, and bought 160 acres of land on sec- tion 34. This was in a backward state, and he has

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placed it under advanced improvements and has it well stocked. He is showing some valuable grades of cattle. Mr. Posson has been a member of the School Board some time and has officiated as Treas- urer of the township 11 years.

Mrs. Posson died July 14, 1869, leaving four chil- dren-Wallace S., Myron J., Leah M. and Martin Luther, jr. Mr. Posson formed a second matrimonial alliance Dec. 6, 1870, with Phebe, daughter of Cyrus B. and Fanny (Larkin) Hopkins. Her parents were pioneer settlers in Cortland Township, where she was born Aug. 14, 1848. She is the mother of two children-John H. and Chester G.

enry Grim, farmer, section 27, Pierce Town- ship, was born July 24, 1831, in what was designated the Armstrong Valley, in Dau- phin Co., Pa., and is the son of John and Cath- erine Grim. His father and mother were both born in Pennsylvania and settled in Dauphin County soon after marriage. His father bought timbered land and cleared a large farm, assisted in the labor of improvement by his children. He is still its occupant and is 90 years of age. He was a soldier in the second war with Great Britain.

The first 20 years of life Mr. Grim passed on the paternal homestead, and after arriving at a suitable age joined in the work of making a homestead in the Pennsylvania forest. He became the maker of his own fortunes when he reached the year preceding his majority, and left home to try a different portion of the world. He first came to Kane County and spent a season in farming. In the fall he went to Kaneville and worked a year with a carpenter, with the intention of learning the business, but his employer failed and he was forced to seek another situa- tion. He returned to his native State at the expira- tion of two years, and on the second day of Febru- ary, 1853, lie was married to Abby Laudermilch. She was born in Jackson Township, Dauphin Co., Pa., and is the daughter of Adam and Mary (Kreiner) Laudermilclı, both of whom were born in Pennsyl- vania. In March following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Grim canie to Illinois and settled in the town- ship of Mayfield. The husband rented a farm, which he managed three years. He saved his earn- ings, and in 1856 bought 80 acres of land on section

27, Pierce Township, at the rate of $24 per acre. The land had been improved to some extent, a frame house had been built and a grove set out. He brought all his energies to bear on the final payment, and in a few years he had cleared himself from debt and had become the owner of 1,400 acres of valuable land, all in the highest state of cultivation. In 1882 he commenced buying farms in Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, and has now 1,200 acres there and other tracts in adjoining counties.

Following is the record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Grim : Charles M. was born April 29, 1856, in Mayfield Township, and married Alida Shoop, daughter of Solomon and Catherine Shoop, who was born in Pierce Township. They live in Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa. George W. was born Sept. 25, 1858, and married Henrietta Callanan, a native of Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, where they reside. Aaron was born Aug. 27, 1863, and married Isola Bartmess, born in Kane Co., Ill. They live on the Grim homestead in Pierce Township. Alice M. was born Aug. 26, 1867 ; Elmer S., Nov, 24, 1872 ; Eugene, Jan. 19, 1875. All the children of Mr. and Mrs. Grim, except the oldest son, were born in the township of Pierce.

Mr. Grim is one of the most prominent and suc- cessful farmers in De Kalb County. He began his agricultural operations by raising stock and grain. In 1860 he harvested 3,200 bushels of small grain, among which was barley, which he sold at $2.18 per bushel. He sold his entire grain crop. in De Kalb County. The family attend the assemblies of the Evangelical Association, of which Mrs. Grim is a member. Mr. Grim is a Republican in political sen- timent.

pencer Griffeth, farmer, section 8, Paw Paw Township; postoffice, East Paw Paw ; he was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Jan. 21, 1847, and is the son of Wright and Susan (Smith) Griffeth. His parents were of Amer- ican birth and of Welsh descent. He came to Illinois with his parents in 1854, and settled in the township of Paw Paw. He was educated at Clark's Seminary, of Aurora, Ill., and at Humboldt College in Iowa. Mr. Griffeth has made farming his business, and resides on the old homestead. He

Q. R. Kallar

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owns 300 acres of land. He was married in Paw Paw Township, Jan. 15, 1879, to Miss Mary Adams, daughter of James L. and Martha J. (Barnes) Adams. Mrs. Griffeth was born in East Paw Paw, Ill., Feb. 10, 1854. They have two children, a girl and a boy ; Edith, born Sept. 22, 1881, and Howard, June 28, 1884.

Mr. Griffeth is the present Township Treasurer, and is also the secretary, solicitor and surveyor of the Paw Paw Mutual Fire Insurance Company. He is a member of the Congregational Church, and politi- cally a Republican.

dwin R. Zellar, farmer, section :6, De Kalb Township, was born. Sept. . 14, .1836, in Herkimer Co., N. Y. His' father and, mother, Jacob and Fanny Zellar, were natives; of the State of :New York, and. settled in 1864 in the township of De Kalb. The mother died Nov. 21, 1883. The father still survives: ' Theit fam-) ily comprised five children, as follows : Edwin R.,; William W., George W., Charles and Ruth ... . i. :

Mr. Zellar came to Illinois in 1857, and located in' Plano, Kendall County. To hiin, as to millions, the' call of his country came with unmistakable import, and he responded as did the million's, placing his' young life and the strength and energies' of his open-' ing manhood at her service. He enlisted in 1861, in the 36th Ill. Vol. Inf., and during the time he was. in the army saw much arduous service. He was' under fire at Pea Ridge, Perrysville, Stone River, Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain. At Mission Ridge he received a shot in the elbow of his right: arm, necessitating amputation just above the joint. He was wounded Nov. 25, 1863, and was confined to the hospital six months. On recovery he was dis- charged, and on leaving the army went to Jefferson Co., N. Y., where he remained six months, coming thence to De Kalb. He is now a successful and substantial farmer, owning 176 acres of land, con- stituting a valuable estate, all the acreage being cul- tivated and improved. Mr. Zellar is a Republican in political faith and connection.

He was married in De Kalb, March 26, 1868, to Mercy Ą. (Ferguson) Chappell, and they are the

parents of one child-Marvin, born Sept. 22, 1880. Mrs. Zellar was born May 18, 1838, in Jefferson Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of Luther and Alvira (Gardner) Ferguson. Her father was born in Can- ada and died March 15, 1852, in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. The mother came with her two children, Samuel and Mercy A., to Illinois, in September, 1860, and: settled in Malta Township, where she died Nov. 21, 1871. The first marriage of the daugh- ter occurred. in De Kalb, June 27, 1862, when she became the wife of Charles Chappell .. He was a na- tive of the State of New York and settled in Malta Township, where he deserted her, leaving one child, Olive A., who was born May 18, 1863.

: "Mr. Zellar is a member of Edward Bridge Post, No: 21, G. A. R.

: As one of the leading and representative agricul- turists of De Kalb County, we place Mr. Zellar's portrait in this work. It is engraved from a photo- graph taken in March, 1885.

enry Ramer, deceased, formerly a farmer, resident of Pierce Township, was a pioneer . settler of De Kalb County. He was born in Dauphin Co., Pa., Aug. 8, 1804, and was there brought up and instructed in agricultural

- pursuits. His marriage to Susannah Troup oc- curred April 1, 1826. She was born Nov. 2, 1808, in Dauphin County. In 1833 they emigrated to Ohio, moving there in what was then known as an emigrant wagon, but is called in Illinois a " prairie schooner."

Mr. Ramer purchased a tract of timber land in Richland County, made a clearing, built a log house and lived on the place until 1846, clearing and im- proving 65 acres. In that year he bought another place near by which he sold a year later and came to Illinois. The journey thither was accomplished by the aid of three horses, a pair of oxen and two wagons, and they brought with them their household goods and provisions. They were 17 days on the road. They rented a farm in Du Page County, where they operated until 1849, when they settled in town- ship. No. 39, range 5 east, which afterwards became Pierce Township. Mr. Ramer purchased 160 acres of land in its original condition on section 27. He built a frame house upon it, for which he drew the

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lumber from Du Page County. On this he lived until his death. His first wife died Jan. 9, 1877. He married Catherine Smith, who lived but five months after marriage. Mr. Ramer died in April, 1881. He was the father of 10 children by his first wife,-,-Maria, Catherine, Peter, Levi, Lavina, John, Henry, Philip, Anthony and George.

Peter, oldest son and third child, was born Aug. 4, 1830, in Dauphin Co., Pa., and was but three years of age when his parents went to Ohio. He came with them in their journey to Illinois and helped to drive their one cow. . He was married July 2, 1853, to Elizabeth, daughter of David and Wilhelmina (Hoover) Gerlach. Her parents were natives of Germany. In 1850 Peter Ramer had bought 80 acres of land on section 29, and built a frame house, with a car-shaped roof. The year subsequent to his marriage he, with his wife, lived on the farm of Moses Hill, after which he took possession of his own property. In 1862 he erected a commodious frame house, drawing the required material from Chicago with horse teams. In 1872 he built a fine frame barn, 36 x 46 feet in dimensions, and has since erected another adjoining, 38 x 50 feet in size. His farm contains 320 acres and is supplied with modern farm machinery and well stocked. The family in- cludes five children,-Mina S., Elihu B., Frankie C., Grant A. and Ella E.

$11:49

dward B. Powers, farmer, section 33, Paw Paw Township, postoffice Earl, La Salle Co., Ill., was born in La Salle Co., Ill., Sept. 16, 1841, and is the son of Norman H. and Catharine (Hart) Powers. He came to Paw Paw Township, De Kalb County, with his parents, in June, 1849, and spent his boyhood on his father's farm. He enlisted in the late war Aug. 13, 1862, as a private of Co. I. 4th III. . Cav. He was captured by the enemy during a skirmish at Chest- nut Bluffs, Tenn., in November, 1862, but was paroled the same day. He was soon afterward ex- changed and resumed his connection with his com- pany, and served till the last of June, 1865, or til! the close of the war.

He was married in Paw Paw Township Dec. I, 1867, to Miss Nancy A. Weddell, daughter of Will-

iam B. and Agnes (Vail) Weddell. Mrs. Powers was born in Paw Paw Township, March 22, 1851. They have two children (daughters) : Katie C., born in Paw Paw Township, Sept 29, 1868; and Agnes G., Jan. 2, 1873.

Mr. Powers is the present Assessor of Paw Paw Township. In politics he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Powers are members of the Congregational Church of Ross Grove.

enry Till, deceased, was formerly a farmer on section 5, Malta Township. He was born in Suffolkshire, England, about 1824, and was the son of Christopher and Mary (Hutton) Till, also of English birth and parent- age. The mother died when her son was in childhood. The latter was reared by his father, who gave him a fair common-school education, and when he grew to manhood he followed the customs of the class to which he belonged, and became a laborer on the farms of his native shire. He was thus en- gaged until his marriage Aug. 27, 1848, in Dorset- shire, England, to Sarah Coombs, and afterwards continued in the same line of employment in his na- tive country eight years. In 1856 they came to America, and with little delay at the port of landing came to De Kalb County. They located in the township of the same name, where Mr. Till engaged in farming on shares. In 1868 he purchased 80 acres of land, where he pursued the vocation of farming, with success, until his death, and doubled his landed' estate, owning 160 acres, all of which Was well improved and stocked. He died Jan. 17, 1881, aged about 57 years. He was a Republican in political opinions, and was much respected for his excellent traits of character. Since his death the management of the farm has been conducted by Mrs. Till.

She was born June 10, 1819, in Burton Bradstock, County of Dorsetshire, England, and is the daughter of Giles and Mary (Wills) Coombs. Her parents were of English origin and lineage and belonged to the yeomanry of their native land, tracing their name and line of descent back to ancestry of the earlier days of England. The father of Mrs. Till died in 1831, the mother in July, 1848. Mrs. Till passed

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her life previous to her marriage near the place of her birth, and attended the public schools. She has one child,-Sarah J.,-born Aug. 20, 1858. She was married Oct. 29, 1881, to Herman Sandgren, a native of Sweden. He camne thence when 21 years of age, and has since resided in Illinois. To him and his wife one child, Agnes J., has been born. The family of Mr. Sandgren reside on the estate of Mr. Till.

illiam Gibbons is a representative farmer of Victor Township, where he owns a val- uable estate on section 10. Henry Gib- bons, his father, was a native of England and emigrated thence to Potsdam, N. Y., where he married Betsey Ames. He was a farmer and trafficked in real estate, buying timber land, and after improving it selling it again, in which manner he operated 21 years. In 1864 he sold his interests in the State of New York and removed to Waupaca, Wis., where he bought 140 acres of land and was occupied 10 years in farming. In 1874 he sold his farm preparatory to retiring to private life in the village of Waupaca, where he died in 1880. The mother is still living.

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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 65

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

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