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 67
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Mr .. Stephens was married in. Sycamore, Jan. 4, 1881, to Martha M., daughter of Coles and Jane L. Cook. She was born in Monkton, Vt., April . 26, 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Stephens have one child, Her- bert C., born Sept. 14, 1883, at Sycamore.
iram Kirkpatrick, farmer, section 27, Clin- ton Township, is a son of Jesse and Ruth (Smiley) Kirkpatrick. (See sketch of Jesse Kirkpatrick.) Hiram was born in Perry Co., Pa., July 23, 1827. He received a common- school education and lived on the parental homestead until 1845. He then apprenticed himself to learn the blacksmith trade and worked three years in Cumberland Co., Pa., under his indentures. After mastering his trade, he worked for his old em- ployer two years, and then entered into partnership with him. The partnership existed for one year, when it was dissolved by mutual consent.
In the spring of 1852 Mr. K. moved to Dayton, Ohio, and was there employed in a machine shop for about one and a half years. In the summer of 1853 he removed to Hagerstown, Ind., and for a year was foreman in a car shop, and also worked at his trade one year.
In 1856 Mr. K. came to this county with his wife and child, and purchased 85 acres of land on sec- tions 22 and 27, Clinton Township, on which he set- tled and continuously resided until the present time. He is at present the owner of 400 acres of land, all situated in Clinton Township, 350 of which is in a good tillable condition. After coming to this county he followed his trade at his home until 1862.
Mr. Kirkpatrick was united in marriage to Mary M. Thomas, in Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Pa., Nov. 16, 1854. She was a daughter of William and Susanna (Aply) Thomas, natives of Verinont and Pennsylvania. They were married and resided in that State until the date of her father's death, March 9, 1839. After her father's death her mother came
to this county and made her residence with her daughter, Mrs. K., until her death, June 8, 1874. They were the parents of four children, namely : Samuel, Caroline, William B. and Mary M.
Mary M., wife of Mr. K., was born in Gettysburg, Pa., March 9, 1831, and is the mother of five chil- dren by Mr. K. The livingare: Arestes J., Ira T., Niles H. and Minnie M. One child died in infancy.
Mr. Kirkpatrick has held the office of Highway Commissioner for several years, that of School Di- rector and other offices of minor import. In poli- tics he is a Republican. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. K. united with the Methodist Church in York Co., Pa., when she was 15 years of age, and has been a communi- cant of that Church and the Presbyterian ever since.
Mr. Kirkpatrick has been a resident of this county for nearly. 30 years, and during that period has woll the esteem and respect of a large circle of friends ex- tending throughout the county. As a worthy gentle- man and representative citizen of De Kalb County, we insert his portrait in this volume.
ames Hunt, retired farmer at Malta, is a native of county Waterford, Ireland, where he was born April 15, 1825. His parents were natives of Ireland, and spent their lives on the soil where they were born. They died about the year 1864.
Mr. Hunt was reared a farmer, like his father be- fore him, and obtained such education as the com- mon schools of his native land afforded. When he reached man's estate he came to America. He was the youngest of four children-two boys and two girls-and is the only one of his family who left their native land .. On his arrival in the United States he went to Charlemont, Mass., and was occupied there as a common laborer on various farms. He was married in that vicinity, to Mary Phipps. She was born Aug. 23, 1832, where she was afterward married, and where she spent her youth and girlhood. After the event of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hunt con- tinued to reside for a time there on a farm, coming West to locate about 1854. They made their first settlement in Sugar Grove Township, Kane Co., Ill., but decided on another transfer three years later, and
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came to De Kalb County to make a permanent resi- dence. Mr. Hunt purchased 160 acres of land on section 34, Malta Township, on which he located and entered at once upon its improvement. It is now in an advanced agricultural condition, and its value is materially increased by the addition of excellent farm buildings. In 1881 Mr. Hunt leased the place and settled in Malta, where he purchased a house and lot.
Mrs. Hunt died in January, 1881. She was a per- son of fine mind, and exercised a wide influence in her social circle previous to the loss of her reason, some time before her decease. Every possible means was used for her restoration, but to no avail, and her life terminated at Elgin, where she was taken for treatment. No children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hunt. They adopted a daughter, Ida M., who was born May 23, 1862. Mr. Hunt is an adherent of the Democratic element in politics.
orman H. Powers, deceased, was born in Vergennes, Vt., Aug. 20, 1819. He ac- & companied his parents in childhood to Canada, and resided there from 1832 to 1839. In August of the latter year he moved to this State and located in La Salle County, where he was engaged in farming until 1849. At that date he came to this county and located on section 33, Paw Paw Township. In 1852 he crossed the plains to California, and spent about a year and a half in the gold regions. Although he took a mining claim which subsequently proved to be very rich, he did not work .it, as he preferred the slower and safer course, and engaged in getting out cord-wood and ship timber. This work proved profitable, and he returned to the "States " well satisfied with his venture.
He carried on his farm till the breaking out of the late war, when he enlisted as a private of Co. I, Fourth Ill. Cav., in August, 1861. He was promoted as Sergeant, and was seriously wounded by a burst- ing shell at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, April 6, 1862. The serious nature of his wound disabled him for further duty, and he was given an honorable dis- charge in the following August. Within three days after his return to his home, his son Edward B, en-
listed in the same company and regiment to which his father had belonged, and served till the close of the war.
Mr. Powers removed to Earl in 1875, and six years later he removed to Scranton, Greene Co., Iowa, in the spring of 1882, where he died suddenly while talking to his horse in the barn, June 7, 1882! His wife survives him and continues to reside at Scran- ton. Mr. Powers was married to Catharine Hart, daughter of James and Elizabeth Hart. Mrs. Powers was born in England, Oct. 11, 1816. They had a a family of five children, two boys and three girls : Edward B., born Sept. 16, 1841, married Nancy A. Weddell, and lives on the old homestead in Paw Paw Township; Christianna, born Feb. 22, 1846, is the wife of Hon. H. M. Boardman, of Paw Paw Township; Susan A., born July 29, 1847, is the wife of James E. Moss, of Greene Co., Iowa; Elizabeth, born April 3, 1849, died April 13, 1861; Horace E., born Sept. 21, r850, married Nettie B. Porter, and lives at Blair, Neb.
Mr. Powers returned from Canada to Illinois, and was engaged in farming in La Salle County till 1849, when he moved to Paw Paw Township, De Kalb County, and settled on section 33. He served in various official capacities in Paw Paw Township, having been Township Supervisor, Assessor and Justice of the Peace several years each. He was a consistent Christian from early life, and was an influ- ential member of the Congregational Church. In early life he was a Whig in politics, but on the organ- ization of the Republican party he espoused that cause, and always afterward voted that ticket.
ewell F. Butler, farmer and breeder of stock, residing at Malta, was born Aug. 5, 1845, in Du Page Co., Ill. Joseph Butler, his father, was born and reared in the State of New York and there followed the vocation farmer. He married Abigail West and soon after removed to Illinois, settling in Du Page County at a period when the State was in its pioneer condi- tion, and where he was among the first to locate in the township of Bloomingdale. He is the owner of 320 acres of land where he first settled, and is one of the foremost citizens of the county. The mother died
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there May 5, 1834, aged 62 years and eight months. The father is 68 years old.
Mr. Butler continued to reside in his native county until he was 28 years of age. In 1873 he went to Buchanan Co., Iowa, where he was married March II, 1874, to Sarah, daughter of Andrew and Abigail (Peck) Payne. She was born March 15, 1849, in Delaware Co., N. Y., which was also the native place of her parents. The family went to Iowa when the daughter was seven years of age, and she was the youngest of ten children. Her father died a short time before her marriage. Her mother is 75 years of age, and is still a resident of the homestead in Bu- chanan County.
Mr. and Mrs. Butler came to Malta immediately after their marriage and located in section 24, where they owned 135 acres, on which they carried on agricultural operations until May, 1882. In that month the farm was leased and the family removed to the village of Malta. Mr. Butler purchased two acres of land within the village corporation, includ- ing an improved lot and available buildings. He is also the owner of 40 acres of land on section 23, one- half of which is within the incorporated limits of Malta. Mr. Butler is a Republican of decided stamp.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Butler are: Helen M., born Feb. 27, 1871; Adelia, Sept. 4, 1880, and Elijah, Jan. 15, 1884.
olomon V. Butterfield, farmer, section 20, Paw Paw Township, has 240 acres of land. The subject of this sketch is the oldest living representative of the pioneers of 1835 of this township. He was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Aug. 26, 1826, and is the son of Edward and Polly (Harris) Butterfield. He went to Michigan in 1830 with his parents, and came to Paw Paw Township, De Kalb Co., Ill., in July, 1835. He was brought up on a farm, and has made this township his home for 50 years. He was married in Paw Paw Township, Dec. 20, 1847, to Miss Polly Burch, daugh- ter of Zebulon Burch. Mrs. Butterfield was born in Washington Co., N. Y., about 1826. They had two children, Mary Belle, born April 5, 1852, wife of John Spier, of Earlville, Ill. The youngest died in
infancy. Mrs. Butterfield died in 1855. Mr. Butter- field was married again May 8, 1856, at Earlville, Ill., to Miss Helen M., daughter of Levi S. and Loretta (Brewer) Wales. Mrs. Butterfield was born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., June 21, 1834, and came West in 1855. They have had three children : Charles E., born March 31, 1858, died May 11, 1858; Sidney E., born Oct. 30, 1859, married Ida Braith- waite, and lives at the old homestead; John H., born July 25, 1865, died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. But- terfield are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. B. is a Democrat.
ames Lock, farmer, section 33, Malta Town- ship, was born May 28, 1831, in Somerset- shire, England. His father, James Lock, senior, was a farmer in England and died there when his son was but four years of age. The latter was for some years under the care of his mother, Mary (Norman) Lock, supporting him- self after arriving at a suitable age. She died in 1859. In 1857, in company with Robert Willis, who now lives in the township of South Grove, they left England for America, and pressed forward in their journey until they reached South Grove Township.
Mr. Lock passed two years in farm labor, and in 1859 purchased 80 acres of land in Mayfield Town- ship. On this he operated three years, then selling out and removing to South Grove Township, where he bought 160 acres of land. He was there resident until February, 1869, when he came to Malta. He purchased 248 acres of land where he has since pur- sued his agricultural operations, improved the place and erected good farm buildings. He has yet 140 acres, all under cultivation. He is a practical and prosperous stockman and farmer. He is a Republi- in political principles, and has held most of the town- ship offices.
His marriage to Nancy Safford took place Sept. 15, 1859. She was born in Pittsburg, Mass., Dec. 4, 1842, and her parents, Oliver and Nancy (Andrews) Safford, were of New England origin and ancestry. Her father was a carpenter, and both her parents died in South Grove Township, whither they had re- moved in the pioneer days of that township. Mrs. Lock
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was four years of age when they became residents of South Grove. She has been the mother of 13 children, two of whom are deceased. They were born in the following order : Thomas, James, Clara, Oliver, Nancy, William, Mary, Charles, Alice, John and Robert. Frank and George died in infancy. The parents were reared under the regulations of the Church of England.
acob Morsch, farmer, section 29, Squaw Grove Township, was born Oct. 29, 1833, in Germany. He has been a resident of the State of Illinois since he came to the United States in 1847, when he was but 14 years old. He lived in La Salle County until 1869, when he bought 440 acres of land in Squaw Grove Township, of which he took immediate pos- session and commenced the work of improving a farm. He has prospered by his industry and good judgment, and is now the owner of 600 acres of land in Squaw Grove Township.
He is a Republican in political affinity, and has been School Director and Highway Commissioner.
Mr. Morsch was married Nov. 25, 1860, in Ottawa, Ill., to Elizabeth Smith, a lady who, like himself, is a native of Germany, and they have had 12 children, five of whom are still living, namely: Henry, J. William, John, Emma and Lizzie. The deceased are H. Hammond, Julia, Anna, and four who died unnamed in extreme infancy.
aniel D. Hunt, farmer, section 34, and Supervisor of De Kalb Township (1885), was born Sept. 19, 1835, in Wyoming Co., N. Y., and is the son of Isaac and Martha (Ludington) Hunt. His parents were na- tives of Herkimer Co., N. Y., and became residents of De Kalb Township in 1857, where his father died within a year. The mother died April 12, 1865.
Mr. Hunt accompanied his parents to De Kalb County, and he has continued to reside therein with- out intermission since. He is the owner of 160 acres of land in a creditable state of cultivation, and
stocked with 125 swine, 26 head of cattle and eight horses. He is a Republican in political sentiment and has been an occupant of responsible local posi- tions of trust for many years. He officiated 16 years as School Trustee, and was elected Supervisor of his township in the spring of 1884. Mr. Hunt is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to Lodge No. 144, De Kalb Chapter, No. 52, and Syca- more Commandery, K. T., No. 15.
His marriage to Evaline L. Preston occurred Oct. 28, 1856, in Wyoming Co., N. Y. She was born in that county Nov. 12, 1837. Earl H., only child of Mr. and Mrs. Hunt, was born July 24, 1857, and was married Feb. 9, 1885, to Lena Mixer, at Leslie, Mich. She was born at Machias, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., March 17, 1863.
acob Deily, farmer, section 5, Malta Town- ship, has lived in De Kalb County since about the year 1850, when he came with his widowed. mother to Pierce Township. He was born Nov. 22, 1845, in what is now Niles, Cook Co., Ill. John Deily, his father, was born in Germany and married Elizabeth B. Lipp after he came to America. The mother was a German by birth and came to Ohio with her patents from the "fatherland" when 11 years of age. They settled in Columbiana County, where they were married, and came thence to Chicago, where the father died, in 1849, of cholera, which was then epidemic in that city. He was 33 years of age. The children born of this marriage included two daughters and two sons, Mr. Deily being the third child ; and he was four years of age when his father died. His mother married Jacob F. Plapp, a farmer of Pierce Township, and is yet living. Mr. Deily entered the army of the United States to fight for the Union, enlisting before he was of age, March 4, 1864, as a recruit of Company K, 15th Ill. Vol. Infantry. He was in constant warfare . to the collapse of the rebellion, his regiment being assigned to the command of Sherman and accom- panying him to the sea, marching with his legions of war through the Carolinas and to Alexandria. Mr. Deily was honorably discharged Sept. 16, 1865, at
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THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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Fort Leavenworth, Kan. He was mustered out of service at Springfield, Ill., and on returning to Pierce Township he began to work at the trade of a mason, and pursued that business at odd intervals for sev- eral years. After that he operated somewhat as a farmer, and in January, 1869, located on his farm in Malta Township. He had made his claim three years previous, which included 80 acres on section 5 and now contains 40 acres additional. The place is all under excellent improvements, well cultivated, stocked with good grades of cattle and supplied with a creditable class of farm buildings. In his political convictions Mr. Deily is an inflexible and uncompro- mising Republican.
His wife, to whom he was married June 16, 1867, was formerly Miss Caroline Buerer. She was the daugher of Gotlieb and Henrietta (Garlach) Buerer, who were born respectively in Baden and Wurtem- burg. After coming to America they located at Geneva, Ill., where Mrs. Deily was born March 6, 1849. Her parents removed when she was six weeks old to Pierce Township, De Kalb County, where she grew to womanhood on her father's farm and was taught in the common school. She has been the mother of six children, one of whom (John) is de- ceased. Those yet surviving (1885) are named Sarah M., David H., Mary E., Carrie A. and Frank E.
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saac Leonard Ellwood, of De Kalb, is one of the most prominent business men in the entire West, and his name is a synonym for one of the most important industries in the country. He was born at Salt Springville, Montgomery Co., N. Y., Aug. 3, 1833.
Mr. E. is the seventh son of Abraham and Sarah (Delong) Ellwood (see biography of C. Ell- wood for sketch of parents), and received from his parents a common-school education of the limited character of the times. Upon quitting his studies he commenced life for himself by driving a team on the Erie Canal at $to per month. Afterwards he became a clerk in a store where he was occupied until he reached the age of 18 years. In 1851 he went to California, where he remained between three and four years. He passed the first year in mining, after which he became a clerk in a store in Sacra-
mento. He had simple, unostentatious tastes and habits, and he saved his accumulations and returned East in 1855 with the means to start a hardware en- terprise of moderate dimensions, in the village of De Kalb. He gave his attention to his business, managed its relations to accommodate his patrons, and while he won general esteem he gradually placed his affairs on a substantial basis of prosperity, which he continued for about 20 years. 'During this time that he was engaged in the hardware business, he was extensively employed as auctioneer, locally at first ; but after a few years his success as a sales- man became so great that his services were fre- quently in demand in distant portions of the State, and for the time he was interested in this line no one ever achieved greater success than he. He had long considered the necessity which depressed the hopes of Western farmers,-that of the want of suitable fencing material; and it is impossible to con- sider the subject without a feeling of wonder that 40 years of active agricultural exertions, with always the same need impending, elapsed before the simple de- vice that solved the difficulty entered the mind of man.
In the year 1874 Mr. Ellwood invented and obtained one of the earliest patents on. barbed fenc- ing, since which time he has been engaged in the manufacture, improvement and building up of the barbed-wire industry. Through his influence and by his foresight all of the underlying and first patents on barbed wire and machinery for making the same were combined together, enabling him with the as- sistance of others to build up one of the largest and most successful business enterprises in the liis- tory of this country. For a time he was associated in the manufacture of barbed wire with Mr. J. F. Glidden, and later with the Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company, of Worcester, Mass., but at present he is exclusive owner and proprietor of the large manufacturing establishment at De Kalb doing business under the firm name of I. L. Ellwood & Co. The capacity of these works at this time is nearly 12 car-loads of finished fencing each ten hours. While there have been a great many differ- ent persons engaged in the barbed-wire business, and manufactories are scattered all through the western country, Mr. Ellwood has been a recognized leader in the conduct of the business, and there is no ques- tion with those who are acquainted with its details,
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but that it is almost exclusively through his efforts that the great success of the business has been achieved.
It is but justice to Mr. Ellwood to say that no man ever pushed a meritorious enterprise to great success with fewer motives of selfishness than he. Genera- tions to come must know that no more unpretentious man ever lived than he; and in all the prosperity that 'has fallen to his lot, his chief delight and satisfaction is in having been the instrument . of good to his fellow-men. A warm welcome will be accorded to the portrait of him which appears on a preceding page, and it is presented with a double satisfaction, for reasons which have direct reference to the fraternal relations of Mr. Ellwood, five of whose brothers resident in the county are similarly presented, and to his business· relations, which ren- der him in a certain sense the property of his country and generation.
The subject of this sketch, with limited education, inheriting little save integrity and ambition to achieve something in the world's work, conscientious, hum- ble, he met and recognized a great opportunity ; and it is eminently true of him that the prosperity which has resulted is looked upon as having fallen into de- serving hands, and therefore awakens no jealousy. Reading and observation, coupled with reflection and judgment, have furnished and disciplined a mind of uncommonly fine faculties, and he is in no rate the inferior of men who have spent their lives among books and in scholarly associations. He is self-reli- ant, self-poised, self-respecting, and is esteemed ac- cordingly. An undeviating Republican in political sentiment, he has never sought or held a local office, save being elected for one or two terms to the City Council of De Kalb. No deserving man or woman has ever applied to Mr. Ellwood without receiving liberal aid, and his greatest pleasure is in doing sub- stantial acts of kindness for the poor in their vicinity.
He was married to Harriet A. Miller, only daugh- ter of William A. Miller, at her father's residence in the village, now city, of De Kalb, Jan. 27,' 1859. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ell- wood,-three daughters and four sons,-of whom three daughters and two sons are still living.
His eldest son, William L., has been engaged for several years in the importing and breeding of French draft horses, making annual trips to France
and attending to the purchase of his stock in person ; and during this year (1885) he expects to import from . 75 to 100 head. He also has entire charge of his father's stock farms in the vicinity of De Kalb, containing some 3,400 acres, all under a high state of cultivation,and with all modern improvements for stock-raising.
homas J. Tindall, stock-raiser and farmer, residing on section 15, Malta Township, was born in Tecumseh, Lenawee Co., Mich., June 29, 1840. When Thomas was one year old his parents moved to Buffalo Grove, Ogle County, this State, and one year later came to this county and located on a farm in South Grove Township. Here, Thomas assisted his father on the farm and attended the common schools until he at- tained the age of 17 years. At this age he entered the college at Wheaton, the county seat of Du Page County, this State, and pursued his studies in that institute for four years. From Wheaton College he went to college at Beloit, Wis., and there completed his course of study. Soon after leaving college, in October, 1864, Mr. Tindall enlisted in Co. K, 42d Ill. Vol. Inf., Capt. J. N. McClellan, to serve in the late Civil War. His company was in the Army of the Cumberland, and was in the Division commanded by Gen. Thomas. Mr. Tindall participated in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, promin- ent among which were Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville, Tenn .; and after faithfully serving his country for 14 months he received an honorable dis- charge at Lavaca, Texas, in December, 1865, and re- turned to the home of his father in South Grove Township, this county.
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