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 77
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The foriner enlisted as a private in Co. C, 27th Michigan Regiment Vol. Inf. Soon after the organ- ization of his company he was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant, and he passed the several grades of promotion for meritorious conduct, leaving the army at the close of the war with the rank of Brigadier General, by brevet. He is living at Lena, Stephenson Co., Ill., and is engaged in the banking business. He was wounded in the battle of the
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Wilderness. Jasper enlisted in 1863, in Co. C, 17th Ill. Cav. He went to the front as Lieutenant of his conimand, and was promoted to a Captaincy. He served until the close of the war, and during the closing months was a member of the staff of Gen. Curtis. Orlando, Edwin and John are farmers on section 34. The former has traveled extensively on his native continent, has been to California twice, and on the second occasion extended his trip to British Columbia, where he passed three years. Edwin Waite is an enterprising and prominent citi- zen of his township, and has devoted much time and attention to the interests of the general public. He is a voracious reader, and has a well stored and dis- ciplined mind. He was formerly engaged in the sale of McCormick's farm machinery. The broth- ers Waite have a valuable and well improved farm, with good buildings and orchard. The sisters Waite reside with their brothers.
ackson Hiland, farmer, section 25, De Kalb Township, was born in Licking Co., Ohio, in September, 1832, and is a son of Joseph and Hannah (McKillup) Hiland. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and settled in Ohio a few years after his marriage, where he resided until about 1846. During that year he started with five horses and two wagons for an overland trip to Illinois, accompanied by his family. He arrived in De Kalb Township and pur- chased a farm from the widow of one Jacob Cox, lo- cated on sections 13 and 14. There was a double log house and a stable covered with straw on the place, but he soon erected a comfortable frame house and fenced the land. He then sold the farm and moved to De Kalb, where he died. There were eight children in his family, seven of whom grew up and six of whom are yet living.
Jackson Hiland, the subject of this notice, soon after coming to this county, engaged with Dr. Ruby in the sale of drugs, groceries and dry goods. The relation existed for five years, when Mr. Hiland, in company with J. W. Stone, opened a jewelry, drug and grocery store and continued to operate it jointly until 1861. During the latter year he en- listed in the 42d Regt., Douglas Brigade, and served nine months, in the late Civil War.
On receiving his discharge, Mr. Hiland returned to De Kalb and worked at the jewelry trade until 1867. He then purchased an improved farm on section 25, De Kalb Township. He has since erected thereon a good frame barn and otherwise improved the place.
Mr. Hiland was married June 8, 1857, to Juliet, daughter of David and Juliet (Smith) Price, and a native of Otsego Co., N. Y. They have one child, Carrie, wife of Luzerne Hopkins, a farmer of De Kalb Township.
illiam J. Bates, dealer in agricultural ma- chinery at Cortland, was born Oct. 15, 1830, in Chenango Co., N. Y. He came in 1844 to De Kalb County with his parents and located in what is now Cortland Town- ship. In 1848 the family went to what is now Pierce Township and settled on the northeast corner of section 5, where the senior Bates bought 40 acres of land. His mother, Cynthia Bates, died there. His father, J. J. Bates, continued to reside on the farm some years and was occupied in its improve- ment. Later on he took up his residence with his son William in Cortland, where he passed his last days.
Soon after coming to De Kalb County, Mr. Bates bought his time of his father, paying him $50 there- for, and in the winter of 1850-1 he taught the first school in the township of Pierce. He chopped the wood and furnished the stove in which it was burned. He was to receive $15 per month for his services as pedagogue and waited two years for his pay. He continued to operate as a teacher 24 years, pursuing that vocation winters and farming summers. He taught 20 terms in District No. 3, Pierce Township.
Mr. Bates was married March 28, 185 1, to Sarah, daughter of Daniel and Polly Hunt. She was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., and came to Illinois with her parents in 1844. Mr. Bates bought a farm on section 5, Pierce Township, where he built a house, after a primitive fashion,-driving posts in the ground and boarding outside, while the inside was plastered. He is the owner of 160 acres of fenced and well im- proved land. In : 1856 he began the sale of farm machinery, and in 1860 he established his present
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business at the village of Cortland, where he has built a commodious warehouse for the storage of ag- ricultural implements. Mr. Bates was the first Clerk of Pierce Township, and officiated six years success- ively as Assessor in Cortland. To him and his wife six children have been born, only one of whom, Wal- ter H., survives. Three children died in infancy. Charles A. died when 13 years of age, and Sarah J. when she was three years old.
ylvester Pasley, deceased, formerly a far- mer on sections 13 and 14, De Kalb Township, was born in July, 1842, in the township in which he lived until his death. His father, James Pasley, one of the pioneers of this county, was born in Kentucky, April 11, 1807. When seven years of age, his parents moved to Hamil- ton Co., Ohio, where he lived and grew to manhood. He married Sarah Carney, a native of that State, born Jan. 30, 1808, and about 1834 they moved to Indiana and located on the Wabash River, near the mouth of the Shawnee. He was a carpenter by trade, and was engaged in making flat-boats in the latter State until the spring of 1836. At that time he, with his family, started on an overland trip to Illinois and arrived in that part of Kane County now known as De Kalb. He immediately entered a claim on sections 13 and 14 of what is now De Kalb Township, this county. He at once set about to build him a log house, split shakes to cover the roof, and in lieu of nails used heavy poles to keep the roof in place, and for a floor used puncheons split from basswood logs .. Having faith in the future de- velopment of the country, and desiring to establish a home for his family, he entered vigorously upon the laborious task of improving his land, and continued to reside thereon and labor until his death in 185 1. Ten years later, in 1861, his wife joined him in the unknown world. They were the parents of six chil- dren. Henry died in Indiana, and William Hamil- ton died in this county ; May married Arthur Pasley and died in De Kalb Township. William and Ben- jamin are the only survivors, and the latter is a res- dent of Story Co., Iowa.
Sylvester Pasley was brought up on the home- stead and assisted his father in its development.
He was a recipient of the advantages afforded by the common schools and remained on the home- stead until he attained his majority. When the late Civil War broke out, Mr. Pasley was among the many who responded to the call for troops and en- listed December, 1861, in Co. G, 58th Ill. Vol. Inf. He veteranized in 1863 and continued in the service until April, 1866. Among the more important bat- tles in which he participated, were Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, Nashville, Fort Blakely, and Spanish Fort, besides numerous minor battles and skirmishes. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh and thereby incapacited from service for about four inonths, ex- cepting which time he was continuously in active service. He was mustered out with the regiment in 1866, and was the only one of 17 front this county in his company who had not previously received his discharge.
In the spring of 1867 Mr. Pasley went to Colo- rado, where he engaged in teaming between Denver and the mines. After three years' sojourn in that State he returned to this county, remained a year and then went back to Colorado. He remained at the latter place six years, variously engaged, and then returned and settled on the old homestead on which he resided until his death, which occurred March 30, 1885.
Mr. Pasley was married Feb. 11, 1878, to Miss Sarah Kessler, a daughter of Michael and Mary A. Kessler, pioneer settlers of Pierce Township, in which township she was born. They have four chil- dren,-Ida M., Henry C. and Alonzo A. The old- est child, Eliza D., died when one year and one month old.
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osea W. Willard, contractor and builder at Sycamore, was born July 17, 1826, in Windsor Co., Vt. His father, Oliver Will- · ard, was born Aug. 5, 1789, at Windsor, Vt., and died Jan. 2, 1854. His mother, Lucy · (Weeden) Willard, was born Oct. 24, 1796, at - Hartland, Vt., and died Dec. 9, 1849. They re- moved from the Green Mountain State to Sycamore, Ill., in 1846. Five of their II children are living. Mr. Willard is the eldest who survives, and is the fifth in the order of birth. Charles is a mason in
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Boone Co., Iowa. Marcia is the wife of Spafford Smith, a retired farmer of Sycamore. Helen married Robert Rowe, a merchant in Story Co., Iowa. Cur- tis is a mason and pursues his trade in Boone Co., Iowa.
Mr. Willard was reared to the age of 16 on a farm. In the fall of 1843, an elder brother, Oliver, now de- ceased, came to Sycamore and engaged in the busi- ness of a mason. Hosea accompanied him and obtained employment as a carpenter. After working at his trade for a time he began to operate as con- tractor, which method of business he has since pur- sued. He has erected a number of fine residences and prominent buildings in Sycamore.
He was married in Derby, Orleans Co., Vt., to Martha A. W., daughter of Thomas and Susan Weeden and 'a native of Hartland, Windsor Co., Vt. They have two children : Clarence H., now follow- ing the business of photography, was born Feb. 19, 1856; and Oliver T., born July 1, 1868, is a tele- graph operator.
dwin L. Mosher, retired farmer, De Kalb, was born in Providence, Saratoga Co., N. Y., Jan 2, 1834, and was 12 years of age when his parents, Levi and Caroline L. (Smith) Mosher, natives of the same county, removed to the town of Yates in Orleans County, same State, where he was reared to man- hood on the farm and at the district school.
In 1854 he was married to Miss Mercy A. Water- bury, who was born in the town of Yates above mentioned. They then resided in the town of Ridgeway, same county, for a period of three years, and then, in 1857, removed to Clinton, this county ; but within two years returned to New York State and worked his father-in-law's farm in Ridgeway for three years. Coming again to this county, Mr. Mosher bought a quarter of section 16, De Kalb Township, of his brother, Charles D., who now resides in Chi- cago. He managed that farm until 1882, when he left his son in charge of it"and moved to the city of De Kalb, occupying his present residence on Fourth Street.
Mr. and Mrs. Mosher have had four children, namely : George W .; Charles W. is married and
settled on a farm in Carroll Co., Iowa; Grant E., now living on the home farm; and Frank, now a clerk in De Kalb. George W., the first child, was born Sept. 14, 1858, and died Dec. 9, 1877.
orter Swift Coolidge, farmer, resident on sections 9, 5 and 4, Cortland Township, was born Sept. 28, 1829, in the town of Frank- fort, Herkimer Co., N. Y., and is the son of Warren and Rachel (Swift) Coolidge. Both his parents were natives of Massachusetts, and when a young man his father went to the State of New York, to seek a home. After a stay of a year at Frankfort Hill, he returned and was married. At the date of his settlement in Herkimer County, there was but one log house on the present site of Utica. He bought a tract of land, which was all covered with timber. He was in a position to secure the choice of land in the Mohawk Valley, but he had been cau- tioned against it as a fever-and-ague district, and made his selection on the hills instead. He went on foot from Albany, and on arrival at the place where he had determined to locate, with the necessary and trusty ax, he took up his lodgings in a hollow log. In this he slept, and a few mornings after taking pos- session he found a bear in the other end of the log! He made a clearing, built a house and started vari- ous plans in the way of pushing his work for estab- lishing a home. To this place he brought his wife. The first stove he owned he bought with 40 cords of split body maple wood and drew it four miles.
Twelve children were born to Warren and Rachel Coolidge, all of whom attained maturity, Porter being the youngest. . The mother died in 1837, and the father in 1842.
After the demise of the latter, Porter took charge of the farm and conducted its affairs, in company with his three sisters. He obtained a good common- school education, and afterwards attended Sauquoite Academy three years. On leaving school he set out for Illinois, and in the winter of 1850-1 taught school at Naperville. In the spring following he went to California, making the route there via Nicaragua. He spent six months there on the Middle Fork of the American River, after which he proceeded to the Santa Clara Valley, near San Jose Mission, where he spent 18 months as a farmer. He then returned to
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Illinois, coming thither by Panama and New York to De Kalb County. In company with Stephen A. Bemis, he leased the stock farm of John R. Hamlins, which contained 1,000 acres. He went to Ohio and Kentucky, and purchased horses, and they interested themselves in breeding horses, mules and cattle, having about 100 head of each. They continued their joint operations five years, after which Mr. Coolidge sold his interest to Mr. Bemis and Nathan Lattin, and the stock was taken across the plains to California.
Mr. Coolidge was married July 26, 1858, to Mary M. McLagan. In the fall of that year he bought his farm, which was one of the first settled in that part of De Kalb County, having been improved by Phineas Joslyn (see sketch). It had a small frame house and a small barn. The house in which he now re- sides was built in 1875. In 1874 he purchased the Churchill farm, which contained 212 acres, located on sections 4 and 5. He now owns nearly 400 acres, all of which is under improvement. On the comple- tion of the Central Pacific Railroad, he returned to California, of whose climate he had always held a favorable opinion, and had cherished a plan to es- tablish his home there. But the soil had deteriorated to such an extent that the yield of grain was less than one-half of that at the date of his earlier visit, and he did not continue there. In 1881 he made a third trip to California, going there by the Southern Pacific Railroad, and making a tour of the State from north to scuth. He still had the purpose of estab- lishing a home in a milder climate, but was again disappointed in the Golden State and returned to Illinois, not deeming it wise to risk the certainties of a farm in the Prairie State for the uncertainties of the lands of California.
Mr. and Mrs. Coolidge have six children-Carrie E., Porter B., Irving A., Ida L., Gertie M. and Abbie Blanche.
homas A. Luney, cashier of the De Kalb National Bank, was born in the city of
Rockford, Winnebago Co., Ill., July 2,
X 1853, and when a year old his parents, Ed- mund and Catherine (Hogan) Luney, moved with their family to De Kalb, where he grew to years of maturity and received a thorough education
at the district school. When 16 years of age he en- tered the bank of R. Hopkins & Co., as clerk, and since that time he has been closely identified with that bank, till its dissolution in 1874, and with its successors through all the changes of proprietorship, policy and name. Before it was made a National bank it was conducted as a private institution for several years. At the time it was organized as a National bank, Mr. Luney was appointed to his pres- ent position as cashier. Mr. Luney is an independ- ent Democrat in politics, and has held the office of Township Treasurer since 1877.
Mr. Luney was married in 1878, to Miss Anna A. Solon, who was born in De Kalb County, and from infancy to the time of her marriage lived in Malta. She is the daughter of Timothy and Mary Solon. Mr. and Mrs. L. have two children,-Ella Agnes and Francis Solon.
ylvanus Holcomb, of Sycamore, was born March 23, 1803, at Sangerfield, Oneida Co., N. Y. He is the son of Orator and Hannah (Perry) Holcomb. His father was born in Mas- sachusetts and went in early manhood to the State of New York, where he met and married his wife, who was a native of Connecticut, and had moved from that State to New York with her parents. They lived in Sangerfield until 1805, when they moved to Ontario.Co., N. Y., and after a residence of four years they removed to that part of the Hol- land Purchase included in Genesee County, where he bought land and improved a large farm.
When Mr. Holcomb was 17 years of age his par- ents went to the township of Darien. He was mar- ried there Oct. 4, 1826, to Julia B. Joslyn. He bought a farm in the same township, which he re- tained in his possession until 1839, when he started for a home in the West. He drove with his own team to Buffalo, where he embarked for Toledo. He drove thence to De Kalb Co., Ill., and bought a claim on section 34, in what is now the township of Sycamore. The tract consisted of unbroken prairie, and Mr. Holcomb built a log house, 18 x 24 feet in dimensions. There was but one house in sight, and the neighbors were the deer and wolves, which then were in abundance. One night the fire went out,
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and as they were without matches, Mr. Holcomb was obliged to go more than a mile to obtain fire. In the year in which he made his location, he broke 10 acres and tried to raise a crop on it in 1840, but it was almost a failure. He rented land the same year on which he raised a crop of oats. Soon after- ward he began to raise wheat, which he marketed at Chicago, then and for some years subsequently the nearest available point. He improved 175 acres of land, and built two dwellings besides other farm buildings. He sold his farm in 1863 and moved to Sycamore.
His first wife died Dec. 20, 1864, leaving seven children. He married Betsey C. Adams, Jan. I, 1866, who died Dec: 27, 1882.
oses W. Jordan, farmer, resident on sec- tion 16, Cortland Township, was born Dec. 5, 1819, in the town of Moriah, Es- sex Co., N. Y. He was the fifth child of Rufus and Rebecca (Bacon) Jordan. His father was born Sept. 21, 1783, in the town of South Brimfield, Mass. His mother was born March 22, 1788. The parents of his mother, Thaddeus and Polly (Daly) Bacon, were natives of the State of New York. John Jordan, father of Rufus Jordan and grandfather of Moses, was born Dec. 19, 1752, in Massachusetts, and was born of English . ancestry. He settled in Moriah in the early part of the 18th century, where he was engaged in farming. He, in connection with his son Rufus, bought timber land, from which he cleared two good farms. He was prominent in town and county affairs, acting some years as Justice of the Peace. His records as a Magistrate (dating back to 1809) are now in the possession of Mr. Jordan of this sketch. He died March 19, 1813, and the demise of his wife occurred Oct. 30, 1810. His son Rufus was married Feb. 4, 1808, and settled on a farm adjoining his father. In 1830 he removed to Gainesville, Genesee Co., N. Y., which is now included in Wyoming County, buying a farm where he spent many years, afterwards retiring from active life and buying a residence near his daughter. He died Nov. 1, 1862, and his wife died in Cortland, April 29, 1865. Four of their children are still living: Hiram is a farmer at Gainesville but
much of his time has been spent in teaching; Lucina is the wife of F. H. Jennison, of Gainesville ; Moses W. and Lydia, wife of C. F. Ely, live in Cortland.
Mr. Jordan of this sketch was reared on the farnı and educated in the public schools. He continued to live with his parents until 1843, when he went to Warsaw, the county seat of Wyoming County, and operated there as a carpenter and joiner and also as a farmer, having bought a small farm. He lived in Warsaw until 1852, in which year he settled on his farm in Cortland Township. In the spring of 1853 he bought land on sections 9 and 16, containing 69 acres, of which 15 acres were broken prairie, with a small log house and an orchard of limited extent. The place is now in advanced cultivation, with valuable buildings, fruit, shade and ornamental trees. While a resident at Warsaw he studied medicine with C. A. Dake, M. D., after which he operated to some extent as a practitioner while yet in his native State, and also has been similarly occupied since coming West.
In December, 1839, he joined the Methodist Epis- copal Church at Gainesville, and immediately de- voted himself to the study of the Bible with a view of preparing for the ministry. While living in the State of New York he was an active member of the Church, a Class-leader and Steward. In 1869 he was or- dained at Freeport as a local preacher. He has always been warmly interested in educational affairs and an earnest and decided anti-slavery, anti-tobacco and anti-liquor advocate.
He was united in marriage Feb. 27, 1843, to Miss Betsey Perkins. She was born in Hampton, Wash- ington Co., N. Y., Aug. 5, 1817, and is the daughter of. Sylvester and Ruth (Hooker) Perkins The family consisted of three sons and six daughters, she being the youngest daughter. Mr. Perkins was born in Connecticut, and his wife in Poultney, Rutland Co., Vt. Only one child was born to Moses and Betsey Jordan, Edward Franklin, whose birth occurred Sept. 21, 1847, in Warsaw, Wyoming Co., N. Y., and he married Lucy J. Gale. She was born May 2, 1875, in Pierce, De Kalb Co., Ill., and is the mother of two children,-Ethel and Carmi. E. F. Jordan is the manager of his father's farm. He is apt with the use of tools, and his readiness in mechanical arts is of special value in his business as a farmer and to his neighbors.
Mrs. Jordan is a lineal descendant of Rev. Thomas
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Hooker, who came from England with his Church and settled at Hartford, Conn., in 1600, and her father was a local preacher in the Methodist Church. David Star Jordan, son of Hiram Jordan, is a graduate from Cornell University at Ithaca, N. Y., the author of several modern, standard text-books on natural science, and is at present residing at Bloomington, Ind., where he is President of the State University.
on. A. W. Lloyd, of Sycamore, was born Dec. 14, 1800, in the town of Blandford, Hampden Co., Mass. His father, James Lloyd, was born in Massachusetts, of Scotch parentage, and married Sally White, of English descent, and belonging to the posterity of Pere- grine White, the first white child born in Massachu- setts.
Mr. Lloyd was educated in the public schools of his native county, and was taught the details of farming on his father's estate. In 1825 he married Parthenia, daughter of Roger and Mary (Webster) Haskell, both of Massachusetts. She was borr. in Peru, Berkshire County. Her father was of French descent, and was a patriot of the Revolution. After marriage, Mr. Lloyd and his wife occupied the home- stead until 1854, when they sold their interest and came to De Kalb County, where they bought a tract of unimproved land in South Grove Township. Dur- ing the first year he broke 100 acres on his own land, and built a house; this he did in addition to man-" aging the affairs of a farm he rented. In 1855 the family took possession of the place. Mr. Lloyd im- proved and operated nearly the entire acreage of the farm-240 acres-erected a large frame house and barn, a granary and other farm buildings, and con- verted the place into one of the best and most val- uable farms in De Kalb County. In 1872 he placed his son in charge of the estate and removed to Syca- more, where he bought a residence. In April, 1884, he removed to another location on the same street.
Mr. Lloyd became a distinguished citizen of Berk- . shire County, and held important township offices. He also represented his district two terms in the State Legislature. He also became prominent in local military affairs. He was commissioned Ensign of the State militia Feb. 10, 1823, and assigned to
the Fourth Regiment of Infantry in the First Brigade and Fourth Division. He afterwards received the following commissions : Jan. 7, 1828, Captain of the same company ; Major of the "Fourth " March 13, 1829; Lieut .- Colonel, June 9, 1830; and Colonel, Feb. 21, 183 1.
His wife died July 2, 1867, and left seven chil- dren : Paulina resides with her father at Sycamore; William is a Congregational clergyman at Ravens- wood, Ill .; Mary is the wife of A. J. Vanderen, who is engaged in mining at Boulder, Col .; Sergius is the manager of the homestead in South Grove Town- ship; Louis is in business in Chicago; Alice married William M. Rule and lives at Boulder, Col .; and Eli W. is a farmer in Malta Township.
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