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 73
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Thomas W. lived under the parental roof-tree, assisting the father. on the farm and taking advan- tage afforded by the common schools of the county until he attained the age of maturity.
On attaining his majority, Mr. Dodge engaged in the occupation of teaching, which vocation he fol- lowed, with no small degree of success, in the com- mon schools of his native county until 1867. During the summer of that year he came to De Kalb, this county, and the following year moved to Malta Township. He purchased 160 acres of partly im- proved land, situated on section 10, that township, and at once entered on the laborious task of improv- ing the same. How well his energetic labors have succeeded is observable in the fine condition of his farm to-day. The entire tract is in a good state of cultivation, and the farm .is well supplied with all necessary farm buildings, including a small but com- fortable residence.
Mr. Dodge was united in marriage July 1, 1867, in Windham Co., Vt., to Miss Eugenia Upham, daughter of Gardner and Eunice (Emory) Upham, natives of New England, of English extraction, and
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date the origin of their family in the United States to the early English settlements in Massachusetts. Her father follows the vocation of a farmer, and still re- sides in Windham Co., Vt., having attained the ven- erable age of 87 years. Her mother died in the lat- ter county in 1848, while in her 46th year.
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Mrs. Dodge was born March 4, 1843, and remained at her father's home, attending the common schools of her native county, until her marriage. Prior to the latter event she engaged in teaching, which voca- tion she began when 15 years of age, and a number of years (until her marriage) followed with success.
Mr. and Mrs. Dodge are the parents of five chil- dren, namely : James W., born July 25, 1868; Ma- bel E., born May 1, 1871; Arthur U., born Aug. 3, 1875; Edmond Roy, born Dec. 29, 1878, and Nellie E., born April 10, 1881. The family attend the ' Congregational Church, of which Mrs. Dodge is a member. Politically, Mr. Dodge affiliates with the Republican party, and has held some of the minor offices of his township.
acob Siglin, farmer, section 15, Sycamore . Township, was born in Chestnut Hill, Northampton (now Monroe) Co., Pa., July 19, 1810, and is the son of Jacob and Susan (Singer) Siglin. His father was born in New Jersey, and settled in Pennsylvania with his .parents when he was young. His mother was also a native of the same State.
Mr. Siglin was reared on his father's farm, and lived in his native town until his marriage in March, 1832, to Hannah J. Setzer. She was born in Ham- ilton Township, then Northampton County. Her great-grandfather was born in Germany, and his wife was a native of Paris, France .. Both her grand- sires were soldiers in the Revolutionary war.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Siglin settled on a farm he owned at Chestnut Hill, which he had previously purchased, and on which they resided un- til 1853, when Mr. Siglin sold out and came to De Kalb County. He bought a farm on section 15, Syc- amore Township, of which 75 acres was broken to the plow, and the place was provided with a small log house. It now contains 216 acres fenced and mostly improved, and he has erected good frame buildings and set out orchards of apples and small fruits.
They have ten children. Rachel married Thomas Marshall, of Sycamore Township. Mary is the wife of Royal Wright and lives in Floyd Co., Iowa. Jacob is a practicing attorney at Marshfield, State of Ore- gon, and is serving his second term as a Senator of that State. Susan is the wife of Albert Olmstead, and lives in Genoa Township, De Kalb County. Joshua married Delia Dean and lives at Sycamore. Isaiah married Sarah Scott and resides in Crawford Co., Iowa. Taylor is in the employ of the Govern- ment in Oregon. Michael married Lottie Lawrence and lives in Dallas Co., Iowa. Jennie is the wife of Harvey Barlow, of Dallas Co., Iowa, and Ellen mar- ried William Whipple, of Sycamore.
armon Paine, a citizen of Sycamore, was born July 25, 1822, in the town of German Flats, Herkimer Co., N. Y. His father, Chester Paine, was born Aug. 21, 1792, in Con- necticut, and when in infancy was taken by his parents to the State of New York, the removal being accomplished by means of ox teams. Chester Paine grew to manhood in Herkimer County and married Angeline Vedder, who was born in the Em- pire State, Jan. 16, 1786. After their union they lo- cated on a farm in German Flats, where they were the first cheese-makers. Angeline (Vedder) Paine. died Sept. 5, 1822, and Chester Paine Sept. 10, 1850.
Harmon, the subject of this sketch, was brought up on his father's farm, and was married Jan. 13, 1842, in Springfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., to Clarinda Van Horne, a native of that place, born Feb. 26, 1824. After a residence of a year's duration at Ger- man Flats, they bought a farm near Stone Mills, Jef- ferson Co., N. Y., which they sold after three years and went back to the home of their early married life, where they settled on the homestead and lived until 1855. In that year the family removed to Syc- amore, and Mr. Paine bought the Wyoming House, which was built by Marshall Stark, on the present site of the Ward House. This was conducted as " Paine's Hotel " 14 years, when the proprietor sold out, and, in company with E. F. Dutton, he engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he has since contin- ued, though he has remained a resident of Sycamore. He has also trafficked in farm produce. During the
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war he was occupied in buying horses for the United States Government. In 1876 he bought the site for his residence in Sycamore.
Following is the record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Paine: Julia A. was born Jan, 29, 1843, and died March 20 following. Rosa A. is the wife of E. F. Dutton (see sketch). William B. was born Aug. 29, 1847, at Orleans, Jefferson Co., N. Y. He mar- ried Sadie Ellwood and resides at Sycamore. Ida D. was born at German Flats, May 1, 1850, and is the wife of Edward Boynton, of Sycamore.
ohn Henaughan, farmer, section 20, Pierce Township, is one of the pioneer settlers of De Kalb County. He was born in June, 1828, in County Mayo, Ireland. He was brought up on the farm where his parents lived and was sent to the subscription school, His parents, Malachi and Mary (Gibbons) Henaug- han, were both natives of County Mayo, and in 1849 the family sailed from Ireland for America. After a sailing voyage of seven weeks and four days, they landed at New Orleans, and proceeded thence up the Mississippi to the Illinois River, by which they came to Peru in La Salle County, and from there on the canal to Ottawa. His father came with a part of the family to De Kalb County, making the journey with a team. The family of Michael Walsh, who were friends and neighbors in the "Green Isle," had lo- cated a home in the township of Pierce, and thither they made their way. A purchase of 160 acres of land on section 19 was made, and the necessary steps taken to secure the claim from the Government.
Mr. Henaughan, of this sketch, had obtained a job in Ottawa, where he passed two months before join- ing the family of his father in their new home. The latter, with the aid of his sons, improved a home- stead. They lived at first in a rude, hastily con- structed shanty, which they occupied a year, and afterward erected a more comfortable shelter. The first year the father broke ten acres of prairie and sowed it the next year to wheat. The yield was about 30 bushels to the acre. In the year following a much larger acreage was sown, and the surplus marketed at St. Charles. The parents lived on this
place until death. That of the father occurred Dec. 31, 1875, when he was 88 years of age. The death of the mother took place in July, 1879, at which time she was 79 years of age.
Mr. Henaughan was married Nov. 26, 1853, to Mary, daughter of Michael and Ellen (Philbien) Walsh, and they lived with his parents until 1858, when he settled on his farm on section 20, now well tilled and valuable from the skill and good judg- ment exercised in its management. The buildings are of a good type, and the place has a good orchard, including small fruits of several varieties. The pro- prietor is interested in the production of both grain and stock. The family includes 11 living children,- Malachi L., Michael J., Stephen M., Patrick J., El- len A., Mary A., John, Thomas, Mark, Bridget and James. The first-born son is married and lives in Greene Co., Iowa. Michael is a merchant at De Kalb. The family belong to the Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Henaughan is a leading agriculturist and a prominent citizen of his township. He has been a School Director nearly 25 years, and has served as Assessor and Road Commissioner. In 1878 he re- turned to Ireland to rest his eyes once more on the place of his nativity and to renew friendly ties with those to whom he is allied by association and con- sanguinity.
aptain John H. Luther, a citizen of Syc- amore, was born Dec. 16, 1825, at Somer- set, Bristol Co., Mass., and is the son of Wheaton and Mary A. (Hood) Luther. His parents were born in Massachusetts, and in the paternal line he is a descendant from two ancestors named Luther, who came front Germany to America in the 17th century. His grandfather Luther was born in Swansea, Mass., and was a Revo- lutionary soldier, and during the closing years of his life drew a pension. His mother's father was a sol- dier in the War of 1812, and an officer. Wheaton Luther, then but 15 years of age, was aid on his staff, and later married his daughter. His wife is still liv- ing and receives a pension.
Captain Luther was brought up in his native town, and passed his earlier years on the farm and in at- tendance at the public schools. He became a sailor
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before the mast when he was 17 years of age, but he soon worked his way up the scale of promotion and eventually became master of a sailing vessel, and was in the merchant service until 1870, engaged in the South American and European trade.
On leaving his maritime calling, Captain Luther came to Sycamore and bought an interest in the flax- mill with Mr. Loomis. He was married Oct. 16, 1856, to Josephine, daughter of Daniel A. and Abby E. (Windsor) Brown. She was born in Providence, R. I., of which State the preceding generations of her family were natives and were of English descent, Mr. and Mrs. Luther have three children,-Amy Howard, John H., Jr., and Mary A.
rederick Love, deceased, was one of the pioneer settlers of this county, and was born Oct. 18, 1793, in New York State. The maiden name of his wife was Jane De- Mott, and after marriage, which occurred March 7, 1813, they settled in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where they resided until 1833. During that year they moved to this State and located in Kane County. In 1835 they pushed further West and located on section 6, now known as De Kalb Township, this county. After the land was surveyed and was offered to settlers, he entered it and at once commenced vigorously the laborious task of improv- ing it. He lived on this land until ,1862. In 1853 he made an overland journey to California, to visit a son. He returned via the Isthmus, after an absence of about a year. In 1862 he again attempted to cross the plains, but turned back after he had crossed the Missouri River. He then moved to De Kalb. He was a man of considerable attainment, for that age, being kind and generous, and popular, among his fellow men. He held various offices of trust and was the first Superintendent of Schools in De Kalb County. His death occurred at De Kalb about June, 1874. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, only two of whom survive, namely : Lewis, a resident of Portland, Oregon ; and Melinda, wife of F. P. Wright, who lives in East Pierre, Dak.
Frederick Love, son of Frederick, Sr., and Jane (DeMott) Love, was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Nov. 11, 1827, and was in his eighth year when his parents moved to this State. He grew to manhood
in De Kalb Township, working on the farm and at- tending the common schools. He was married March 31, 1853, to Alice C., daughter of David and Sarah (Chapin) West, pioneers of De Kalb County. He purchased 80 acres of land on section 7, Cort- land Township, built good frame buildings, planted fruit, shade and ornamental trees thereon and 'en- tered on the task of cultivating the land. He was industrious, a good manager and soon added to his landed possessions, and in 1862 purchased the old homestead of his father in De Kalb Township, on which he moved his family. He continued to operate both farms until the date of his death, March 15, 1865. He.and his wife were the parents of seven children, five of whom, two sons and three daughters, survive. They are all married except the youngest son, and living in comfortable homes of their own. Their names are Lewis D .; Carrie E., wife of Robert Whittaker, resident of Cortland Township; Sarah J., wife of M. D. Barber, resident of Cortland Township; Alice M., wife of George E. Robinson, resident of Cortland Township; and Frederick C.
Lewis D., the eldest son, was born July 7, 1855. He received his early education in the schools of De Kalb and matriculated at Gem City College, Quincy, Ill. After completing his studies at the latter place he returned home and assumed the management of the homestead farm, on which he is at present re- siding. He was married June 31, 1877, to Miss Minnie I., daughter of Sylvester and Elizabeth (Badger) Taylor. She was born in De Kalb Town- ship, Nov. 16, 1858. They are the parents of three children. Frederick D., Zuella A. and Marion Joy. The youngest son, Frederick, matriculated at Hills- dale College, Mich., and is at present a teacher in the schools at De Kalb.
ames C. Fulkerson, of Sycamore, was born in the township of Greenwood, Craw- ford Co., Pa., July 30, 1822. His father, Cornelius Fulkerson, was born in New Jersey, and married Annie Custard, who was a native of Pennsylvania. They removed during the infancy of their son, to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where the father bought timber land in the town of Busti. He improved a farm there and died in 1836. James C. is the oldest of six children, and after
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the decease of his father he spent some years in aid- ing in the support of the family. He operated as a farm assistant and worked the first year at $4 per month. The second year he obtained an advance of $2 on his monthly wages. Between the ages of 16 and 20 years he worked for a man named Eliakim Garfield, engaged in farming and lumbering. The. year before he was 21 he went with his mother on a visit to Crawford Co., Pa., and after a brief stay returned to " York " State. In the winter following he went to Crawford Co., on foot, and engaged as a laborer on his uncle's farm. He was married there, Jan 23, 1845, to Olive E. Moyers, a native of that county. In February, 1846, he went to the State of New York, where he was engaged for a month in lumbering and rafting, and when the river opened he went with a raft down the Allegheny River to Pittsburg, and thence to Cincinnati. He went from there to the Mississippi on a steamer and then up that river to Galena. At that place, in company with five others, he went by hired conveyance to Freeport. He set out thence to walk to Belvidere, but his feet became sore, and after he had walked 12 miles he took the stage. The coach was full, and he was obliged to take an outside seat, which was far from pleasant, as the day was rainy. Three miles out from Rockford the stage became fast in a slough, an incident which characterized every journey in the early days of Illinois. But a " breaking " team was at hand, and the difficulty overcome. Belvidere was reached, and there the traveler spent the night, setting out on foot the following :norning for Genoa, in De Kalb County. Reaching Deer Creek, he found the water high and no bridge available. He took off his clothes, strapped them on his shoulders and swam across. He stayed a few days with some friends in Genoa, and proceeded to Burlington, Kane County, where he remained until July, when he re- turned to Pennsylvania, by way of Chicago and the lakes to Cleveland. He started to go from there to his home on foot,-a distance of 90 miles. At the close of the first day he was seized with ague and hired a man to take him home. In the spring of 1847 he started with his family for Kane County, driving the entire distance with a span of horses and a covered wagon. On the 23d of May they arrived in Burlington, where Mr. Fulkerson rented a piece of land and raised a good crop of corn. In the spring of 1848 he came to De Kalb County and rented
land in Kingston Township, which method of opera- tion he continued until 1857, when he bought 80 acres of unimproved land on section 4, in the town- ship of Mayfield. He at once erected a frame house and proceeded to reclaim his land, and in the course of a few years he had the entire place im- proved and well supplied with necessary farm build- ings. In 1859 he drove through to Pike's Peak, and after spending two months there in the mines he re- turned home. He went back in 1860 and returned to his farm in De Kalb County in 1861. In 1869 he rented his farm and removed to Sycamore, where he bought two lots and a residence. To the latter he has made additions, and has built another dwelling on his land. After settling at Sycamore he engaged in the lumber business with James Harrington, in which he was engaged five years. After that he was employed by the Marsh Harvester Company as an expert in machinery.
Four children are living: Ann E. is the wife of Wentworth Sivwright. Sophia married John W. Os- terbout, of Johnson Co., Neb. David E. lives in Chicago. George P. resides at Sycamore. James Harvey, oldest child. died in 1872, aged 22 years.
athew Nisbet, deceased, was a pioneer of Paw Paw Township of 1841. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, April 1, 1820, and was the son of William and Isabella (Drew) Nisbet. He emigrated from Scotland to America in 1840 and made his home near London, Canada West.
In 1841 he came to Paw Paw Township, De Kalb Co., Ill., on foot from Chicago, searching for a site for a home. In passing through this township he was delighted by the beautiful appearance of the country about Ross Grove, but he continued on farther west, crossed the Mississippi into Iowa, and traveled sev- eral weeks. Not finding anything to suit him better, he returned to Ross Grove and made a claim at the south side of the Grove on section 22, taking up 160 acres of land, which he entered at Government price. He continued to occupy the home of his choice to the time of his death, which occurred March 23, 1874. He had increased his acreage to 360 acres.
He was married at Ross Grove, Ill., May 3, 1847,
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to Agnes Harper, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Black) Harper. Mrs. Nisbet was born in the town of Argyle, Washington Co, N. Y., May 3, 1825, and came to Illinois in September, 1845. Six children were born of their union,-three boys and three girls : Elizabeth, born Feb 3, 1848, is the wife of James Harper (son of Robert Harper), residing in Paw Paw Township; Isabella, born March 1, 1849, is the wife of William Hyde, and is living in Taylor Co., Iowa; William, born Jan. 28, 1851, married Lillian Laport and lives in Paw Paw Township; James, born Oct. 28, 1853, married Lemira Bartlett, and is also a resident of Paw Paw Township; Mary, born Nov. 28, 1855, is the wife of Charles V. Wed- dell, of Paw Paw Township; Lawrence, born Sept. 14, 1860, single, is living at home.
Mr. Nisbet was a man of upright principles, and held in high esteem by a wide circle of acquaintances. Although not a member of any Church, he was a fre- quent attendant at the United Presbyterian Church of Ross Grove. He was one of the most liberal contributors toward the building of that church, and subsequently a generous supporter of it.
His estimable wife survives him, and with her youngest son occupies the old homestead, of 200 acres. She is a consistent Christian and at present a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Freeland.
esse Alden, of Sycamore, was born March 2, 1821, in Lyme, Grafton Co., N. H., and is the son of Ezra and Clarissa (Beal) Al- den. He is a descendant from the first Al- dens who came to the New World, whose unique courtship has handed their names down to posterity, and is in the seventh generation from the John who told his story to Priscilla in behalf of another man. He lived in Lyme until the years of his minority were passed, and at 21 he went to Natick, Mass. He there obtained employment in the shoe factory of the Hon. Henry Wilson. He continued there three years, when impaired health compelled his return to his native place. He lived at Lyme until 1355, when he came West and located in De Kalb County, buying a farm on sections I and 2, in De Kalb Township. He greatly improved the
place and resided upon it until 1862. In that year he sold it and removed to the village of Sycamore, where he embarked in the provision business, and was occupied in its relations three years. Mean- while he bought a farm in Mayfield Township, and superintended its management. In 1875 he bought the farm he now occupies, situated on section 31, Sycamore Township. It contains 110 acres of land, and is situated adjoining the city. It is well im- proved, and the buildings are of an excellent class.
He was married Sept. 12, 1847, to Mary E. Dur- kee, who was born in Hanover, N. H., Sept. 12, 1826. Mr. and Mrs. Alden have three children : Clara E. is the wife of John F. Tudor, of Sycamore ; Flora R. married John A. Rankin, a lawyer of Girard, Kan. Mary H. is a teacher in the High School at Sycamore. She is a graduate from the Normal School at Oswego, N. Y., and has been a teacher in California.
imothy Solon, general farmer, section 13, Malta Township, was born May 15, 1822, in County Mayo, Ireland. He is of un- mixed Irish blood and descent, his parents, Patrick and Sarah (Craby) Solon, having been born of Celtic parentage in the same country. They died in County Mayo, where they passed their entire lives.
Mr. Solon passed his entire minority in his native county and was married there Feb. 7, 1848, to Mary Welch. She was born in County Mayo in 1823, and is the daughter of Martin and Mary (Kelley) Welch, both of whom have been some years deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Solon nine children have been born, five of whom are no longer living: John S., Anna, William and Ella, are the names of the children yet surviving. Michael, Mary, Thomas, Sarah and Jane are deceased.
Mr. Solon was 25 years of age when he became the head of a family, and soon after the incident of his marriage he set out with his wife to seek a home in what was to him the land of promise. Proceeding from New York, the port of landing, they first located in Herkimer Co., N. Y., where they continued four years. They came thence to Elgin, Ill., where they were some time residents, while Mr. Solon operated
THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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as a section man on the line of the Northwestern Railroad. Two years later he accepted the position of foreman of a construction corps on the main line owned by the Northwestern corporation, his route ex- tending from "Turner's " to Rochelle, a distance of 46 miles. He acted as section foreman between De Kalb and Creston from the completion of the road in 1854 to 1873. Meanwhile, in 1864, he purchased 160 acres of land near Malta, which he rented to others until 1872, in which year he settled with his family on the place. Since 1874 he has devoted his time exclusively to agriculture, and his improved farm is a testimony to the quality of the effort and judgment he has exercised. In political views Mr. Solon is a Democrat.
ulius Chapman, farmer and miller, resident in the township of Kingston, was born Nov. 23, 1812, in Morgan, Ashtabula Co., Ohio. He passed the first 23 years of his life in his native town, obtaining as good an education as was possible in those days. He came in March, 1837, to De Kalb County, which was then included in Kane County for municipal purposes. He had learned the trade of carpenter in Ohio, and during the first 10 years which he spent in Illinois he followed that branch of business. He entered a claim of 40 acres of land in what is now the town- ship of Genoa, in 1841, which he afterwards sold. About 1843, in the year in which the land came into market, he obtained a claim of 240 acres of land on sections 14 and 15, Kingston Township, which is still in his possession. He has added to his estate until he now owns 1,400 acres in De Kalb County, nearly all of which is under improvement. He set- tled upon section 14 in the spring of 1844, and en- entered with vigor into the work of improving his property and adding to his estate, and operated from that point until 1877, when he removed to the village of Kingston, where the family resided one year. They returned in 1878 to the farm and resumed united associations and their accustomed avenues of employment, in which they continued two years. At the end of that time they went to Kingston village for a permanent residence.
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