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 79
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tion 14, Sycamore Township. He retained his own- ership two years, and in 1840 sold and bought on section 3 of the same township. There he built a log house and entered into the work of making im- provements. He died on the place Feb. 5, 1854. Of six children born to himself and wife, four reached adult age,-Lorenzo Dow, Lucinda, Ira and Mary Belinda. The latter married Alfred King, and died Oct. 2, 1880. The mother resides with her son, Lo- renzo Dow Evans.
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zel P. Stone, florist, at Sycamore, was born Nov. 11, 1815, in Franklin Co., Vt. His father, James Stone, at the outset of his business life, was a tanner and currier, and later was a farmer. He was a native of Hav- erhill, N. H., and in 1837 came to Allegan Co., Mich., where he died. The mother, Chastina Stone, was born in Haverhill, N. H., and died in Paw l'aw, Mich. Four of their nine children are living: A. P. is the oldest; Irena is the widow of E. A. Kinney, of Prairie Ronde, Mich .; Clarinda is the wife of Norman Rice, of Paw Paw, Mich .; Emeline married Frank Taylor, of Medicine Lodge, Kan.
Mr. Stone was reared to the callings of his father, in the tan-yard and on the farm. He came West, to Allegan, Mich., in the fall of 1835, and learned the trade of mason. He was married there July 16, 1839, to Mary, daughter of David and Ruth Schurt- leff Her parents were among the early pioneer settlers of this portion of Illinois. Mrs. Stone was born on Stanstead Plains, Canada. Six children have been born of her marriage to Mr. Stone : Mary A., deceased, was the wife of C. H. Beach, of Syca- more ; Herbert F. is a manufacturer of agricultural implements, wind-mills, etc., at Appleton, Wis .; Edwin is deceased-he was a cheese manufacturer at New Lebanon, Ill., for some years, and later was an insurance agent at that place; Nellie B. is the wife of Harry Ewing, photographer at Sycamore ; James B. is a machinist at Batavia, Ill .; and Clarence is an assistant in the office of the Minnesota Lumber Company, at Sycamore.
Mr. Stone went to Kenosha, Wis., where he followed his business as a mason and builder for a score of years, operating as a contractor and erecting a num-
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ber of fine and valuable buildings at that place. He went in 1860 to Central City, Colorado, taking with him a quartz mill and entering a gold claim. He met with a reasonable degree of success, and after a stay there of two years he came to Geneva and purchased 184 acres of land, took up his residence there, and engaged in its improvement until his re- moval to Sycamore in 1875. He first embarked in the purchase and shipment of farm produce, in which he was occupied two years. He then built a feed mill at New Lebanon in this county, which he continued to manage three years. In 1882 he estab- lished the business in which he has been since en- gaged. His grounds are 190 x 85 feet, and his green- house stocked with finely assorted varieties of plants. He sends the cuttings to Chicago, and supplies the home demand for cut flowers and designs. Mr. Stone is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Stone is a communicant in the Episcopal Church, of which her family are attendants.
enry B. Gurler, farmer and a resident of De Kalb, was born in Chesterfield, Cheshire Co., N. H., May 21, 1840, and was eight years of age when his parents, Benjamin (see sketch), and Harriet (Hopkins) Gurler, moved to Keene, N. H., where they resided until 1856, when they came to De Kalb County, settling on sec- tion 32, De Kalb Township.
On the latter place the subject of this sketch made his home with his parents until his enlistment, July, 1861, in the 42d Ill. Vol. Inf., Co. K, which was ordered first to Missouri, then to Kentucky and Miss- issippi. He was honorably discharged in September, 1862, but in May, 1864, he re-enlisted, in Co. K, 132d Vol. Inf., and was placed on garrison duty in Kentucky, as Second Lieutenant. On the expiration of his term of service in October, 1864, he returned home and engaged in the grocery trade in De Kalb, which he continued until 1868. The next two years he took charge of his father's farm, and then pur- chased a farm on section 5 of Afton Township, whereon were a small house and barn. He has since added to the dimensions of his house, erected a good frame barn, corn-crib and other farm buildings, be- sides a creamery. At present, in company with his
brother, he has creameries at Malta, De Kalb and Hinckley. In March, 1882, he moved into the village of De Kalb, and since then has bought his residence on Fourth Street He still owns and manages the farm.
Mr. Gurler was married March 27, 1867, to Sale- nia Rolph, a native of Oxfordshire, England, who emigrated to this country when ten years of age, and was reared in this county. Mr. and Mrs. G. are the parents of three children,-Stella F., Lulu May and Hazel. The youngest died March 24, 1885, aged two years and four months.
illiam J. McAlpine, member of the firm of Willard & McAlpine, contractors and builders at Sycamore, was born Aug. 15 1852, in Ashtabula, Ohio. His father, Dr. Lemuel McAlpine, was born in Connecticut, and was a physician while in active lite. He is living in retirement at Aurora, Ill. The mother, Sarah (Price) .McAlpine, was born in the State of New York, and is yet living. Ella, their youngest child, resides with them; Thomas, older son, is a farmer in Cortland Township. In 1853, Dr. McAl- pine transferred his family to Illinois and settled on a farm of 200 acres in the township of Cortland, in De Kalb County, which they occupied until their re- moval to Aurora, in 1871.
Mr. McAlpine is the second of three children born to his parents, and was reared on a farm in this State. When about 17 years of age he went to Aurora, Ill:, and entered upon an apprenticeship to acquire a knowledge of his trade, and served two years. He passed a period of three years in work at various places in New York and Michigan, and in the fall of 1873 returned to Sycamore. After working a short time at his trade, he entered into a business relation with Jacob Deily as contractors and builders. Their joint transactions covered a period of three years, and was terminated in 1877. In 1879 the present asso- ciation of Willard & McAlpine was formed, which has since been in operation. A number of the prom- inent edifices in De Kalb and adjoining counties were built by them. Their buildings at Sycamore comprise the Congregational church and a number of prominent residences.
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Mr. McAlpine was married Jan. 12, 1876, in Syca- more, to Mattie Manning, daughter of John Manning. She was born Dec. 6, 1857, in Plano, Ill.
A braham Ashelford, retired farmer and stockman, resident at Sycamore, formerly a resident on section 31, South Grove Township, was born Feb. 24, 1832, in Somer- setshire, England. His parents were George and Sarah (Blackmer) Ashelford (see sketch of George Ashelford).
Mr. Ashelford came to America in October, 1855, having passed his minority in his native country un- der the circumstances of the class to which he be- longed. After a brief stay in Ontario, he came to De Kalb County, arriving at the city bearing the same name on Christmas day of 1855. In March, 1856, he returned to Canada, remaining, however, but a short time and came back to Illinois, making a permanent location in South Grove Township. He was almost wholly without means, but obtained em- ployment on the farm of John Orfut and worked some time for him and his brother. With his first earnings he bought a yoke of oxen, and worked land on shares for a time, subsequently leasing a large farm for a period of five years. At the end of four years he had saved sufficient money to buy 160 acres of the farm which he had leased, and whereon he established his homestead. To this he has added by later purchases until he owns 680 acres of the best quality of land, under the best type of improve- ments, the condition being manifest from the fact that the proprietor has laid 29 miles of tiling. _ The farm buidings are of a character in keeping with the value of the estate. Mr. Ashelford makes a specialty of raising Durham cattle and half-breed Norman horses. All the land he has improved was in its primeval condition when it came into his possession.
Mr. Ashelford cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has since been an ardent ad- herent of the " grand old party."
He was married in Pierce Township, Kane Co .; Ill., Feb. 3, 1863, to Ellen McMurchy. She was born July 6, 1834, in Ontario, Can., and was brought in her childhood to Kane County by her parents. She died May 27, 1877, aged 43. years, and was the
mother of five children : Sarah was born Dec. 7, 186 -; James, Jan 22, 186 -; Lizzie, Feb. 12, 1872; Robert, May 1, 1875. John died when two years old. Mr. Ashelford was again married Jan. 8, 1878, in the township of Malta, to Mrs. Mary J. Crandall. She was born Nov. 13, 1833, in Columbia Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of Delaware and Dolly (Head) Foster. Her parents were of French extraction and of New England ancestry and were born in the State of New York, where they lived all their lives. The father died about 1872, the mother in May, 1876. Both were aged 76 years. Mrs. Ashelford was first married in her native county in 1855, to Morgan L. Crandall, a native of Delaware Co., N. Y. In 1856 she accompanied her husband to Malta Township and settled on a farm. Mr. Crandall's demise oc- curred Feb. 2, 1874, at the age of 44 years. Five children were born of this union. Ida is married and lives. on her mother's estate in Malta. Hattie resides in Malta. Cary lives in Mayfield Township. Charles is in the charge of his uncle in Malta Town- ship. Mary died at the age of 19 years, in Malta Township.
gr. Basil Ruby, physician, residing at De Kalb, was born in Bedford Co., Penn., Oct. 5, 1811, and is a son of Arthur and Sarah (Conaway) Ruby, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Virginia.
When about three years of age, the parents of Mr. Ruby moved to Perry Co., Ohio, where they resided two years, then removed to Muskingum County, same State; resided there six months, then moved to Licking County, that State. In the latter county Dr. Ruby resided, working on his father's farm, attending the common schools and developing into manhood.
In October, 1832, Dr. Ruby was united in marriage to Miss Mary Mackrel, a native of Pennsylvania. Thirteen months afterward she died, and he was again married in 1836, to Miss Isabell Hiland, a na- tive of Huntington Co., Pa.
They settled in Licking Connty, where he followed the vocation of a farmer until 1849. During that year he started with a team of horses, overland, for this State, and 14 days later arrived in De Kalb.
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He purchased a lot in the village, erected a dwelling thereon, and then engaged in the mercantile busi- ness with John M. Goodell. which relation existed for six months, when the same was dissolved, and in the spring of 1850 Dr. Ruby engaged in business on his own account, continuing two years. At the expi- ration of the latter date, Dr. Ruby, in company with Jackson Hiland, purchased the business of Mr. Goodell, and the firm name became Ruby & Hiland. They carried on the business, which consisted of two stores, and also engaged in the sale of drugs, groceries and dry goods, until 1855, when they closed.
Dr. Ruby had been a medical student in Ohio, completed his study of medicine after coming to this county, and commenced his practice in 1855. After closing his business, in 1865, his son bought the building, moved it and converted it into a dwelling, in which they resided until 1883, when it was burned, and he built his present residence.
Dr. Ruby is a member of the Advent Church, and Mrs. Ruby of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They are the parents of two children-Baxter W. and Mary D.
ohn Buckardt, farmer, section 16, Victor Township, was born Aug. 22, 1825, in Pomerania, Prussia. His parents, Jacob and Caroline (Wokossen) Buckardt, were na- tives of Germany, and there spent their lives. The son remained an inmate of his father's house until he was 24 years of age. He attended school during the period prescribed by law, and on leaving school learned the trade of mason, the statute requiring that every boy be taught a trade. He served three years in its acquisition and pursued it as a business from 1844 ta 1859.
In the year last named he emigrated to America and located in Somonauk, De Kalb County, where he spent five years in working at his trade and other- wise. He then rented a farm in Victor for three years, and at the end of that time, in 1868, he be- came the owner, by purchase, of 160 acres of land on section 16. This he has since held and has added II0 acres to his original purchase. Mr. Buckardt is one of the leading farmers of Victor Township, and has been successful in his methods of operation. He
is justly esteemed for his character of benevolence and energetic perseverance.
His marriage to Caroline Gruel took place Nov. 2, 1849, and they have had 12 children, six of whom are living,-John A., Herman A., August A., Ida J., Bertha M. and Henry V. John married Caroline Kelso, Aug. 1, 1881; Herman was married Dec. 2, 1883, to Caroline Kukuk. Bertha was married to John M. Kukuk, July 22, 1840. Ida J. was married Oct. 26, 1884, to Gus. Johnson. The two oldest sons are marketmen at Somonauk. Mrs. Buckardt, the mother, is a native of Germany.
F. Warren, jeweler at De Kalb, and and whose portrait appears on the oppo- site page, was born in Rushford, Allegany Co., N. Y., July 5, 1848, and is a son of Luke A. and Ursula (Foster) Warren. His parents were both natives of York State, his father of Delaware and his mother of Orleans County. In 1864 they moved to Whiteside County, this State, where they resided two years, and then removed to Ogle County, where, in Monroe Township, his father purchased a farm.
Mr. Warren remained on the farm about a year and then concluded to abandon that vocation. He accordingly left the place and went to Sycamore, where he engaged with J. E. Southworth, a jeweler, and with whom he remained until 1871. He then engaged with Frank Smith, successor of Mr. South- worth, and worked for him two years. By this time he had thoroughly mastered the trade in all its var- ious branches, and established a business of his own.
In 1875 Mr. Warren formed a partnership with Frank W. Lott, and they jointly conducted the busi- ness until 1877, when Mr. Warren sold his interest to his partner and moved to De Kalb, and estab- lished his present business. By strict attention to business, and fair and honest representations, Mr. Warren has built up a good and constantly increas- ing trade.
He was married to Mariam E., daughter of John and Mary (Johnson) Woodworth, July 5, 1870. They have two children,-J. Lott and John Lyle.
Mr. Warren is a member of Sycamore Lodge, No.
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134, A. F. & A. M. He has traveled extensively in this country, and in 1880, accompanied by his wife, visited his old home in "York State." In 1883 he accompanied the Knights Templars' excursion to California, visiting all the places of interest in Colo- rado and the Territories, as well as in the "Land of Gold," and keeping a diary of the principal events of the trip. He has a lot and residence at De Kalb and is succeeding well in his business.
enry B. Hemenway, of Sycamore, was born in the town of Williamsburg, Hampshire Co., Mass., June 17, 1813. His grand- father, Ichabod Hemenway, was a native of Framingham, Mass. He was a patriot of the Revolution, and was in the actions at Saratoga and Schuylerville (now Herkimer), N. Y., and in other important battles. He was one of the first to locate at Williamsburg, whither he went on foot from Framingham carrying an ax, Hampshire County then being in its primitive condition and covered with heavy timber. He improved a farm and resided there until his death about 1823.
Mr. Hemenway is the son of Elijah and Amy (Budlong) Hemenway. He was married April 14, 1836, in Conway, Hampshire Co., Mass., to Eunice Guild. She was born Nov. 12, 1814, in Brookfield, Vt., and is the daughter of Israel and Rachel (Kel- logg) Guild, both natives of the State of Vermont. In September, 1836, the Hemenways, father and son, with their families, set out for Illinois. Public convey- ances of travel were the exception rather than the rule, and the journey from Massachusetts to Albany, N. Y., was made by private conveyance, whence the party came to Buffalo by way of the Erie Canal. From there they traveled by steamer to Chicago, whence they went by team to what is now Du Page County, then included in Cook County for municipal purposes. The land had not been surveyed, and the elder Hemenway made a claim in what is now Wayne Township; and when the land came into market he entered the claim. This was his home until his death in 1862. His wife died in 1860.
H. B. Hemenway bought a claim in Wayne Town- ship, on which there was a log house, of which the family took possession. In 1838 he cut a quantity
of oak logs, drew them to the mill, and with the lumber built the first frame house in the township of Wayne. It was finished with pine lumber, which was drawn from Chicago. In 1843 he went to Chicago and there secured the title to his land. In December, 1862, he enlisted in Co. C, 12th Ill. Cav. At Harper's Ferry he was taken prisoner, being cap- tured in August, 1862. He was held five days and released on parole, when he came home, and in Sep- tember, 1862, was honorably discharged on account of illness.
In 1870 he sold his farm in Wayne and removed to a farm situated two and a half miles east of the city of Sycamore, in De Kalb County. He sold the place five years later and bought a residence in Syca- more. Mr. and Mrs. Hemenway have eight children. Edward is a merchant at Bartlett Station, Ill .; A. Dwight lives in Chicago; George W. resides at Greenwood, Kan., where he is a farmer; Ellen mar- ried Charles Stevenson, of Sycamore ; Elma is the wife of James Congleton, and lives in Wheaton, Du Page County; Sarah E. married Walter Scott, a grocer in Chicago. Lyman is a practicing physician at Pingree Grove; William is in the grocery business in Chicago.
acob Gletty, a pioneer farmer of Somonauk Township, resident on section 5, is the son of George and Frederika Gletty, and was born Oct. 10, 1802, in Alsace, France. He was bred to the calling of his forefathers, that of agriculture, which he has pursued all his life. He was reared to manhood in his native land, and was married there, June 22, 1836, to Betsey Yant. She was born Aug. 20, 1816, in France, where six children were born to her and her husband.
In May, 1844, the family bade a perinanent fare- well to " Fair France," and came to the New World, arriving in the township of Somonauk July 28 of the same year. Mr. Gletty bought 80 acres of land, where he at once settled and commenced the work of improving, subsequently adding to his acreage until he now has 132 acres. He is living in retirement, his sons, Louie and Henry, conducting the affairs of the farm. His wife died Sept. 16, 188t. Six chil- dren were born to them after their removal to Amer
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ica: Charles is a farmer. Louisa is the wife of Frank Goradot, of Somonauk. Louie is next in order of birth. Jacob lost his life in the Civil War. Wil- liam is a farmer in De Kalb County. Henry is the seventh child. Daniel is deceased. Josephine resides at home. Caroline is Mrs. Julius Schidecker. David is a farmer in Somonauk Township. Adeline is the wife of George Beck, of Sandwich.
ames W. Arkills, farmer and breeder of stock, resident on section 15, Victor Town- ship, was born Dec. 18, 1849, at Richmond, McHenry Co., Ill. His parents, John and Maria (Eastwood) Arkills, were native's of the State of New York and settled in McHenry County in 1839. After a residence there of 33 years, they removed to the township of Victor, where they settled in 1873, locating on section 15. The father died there in 1884.
Mr. Arkills was educated in the .common school, and has always lived with his parents. In 1884 he succeeded to the ownership of his father's home- stead. He is a progressive farmer, and is breeding Hambletonian horses, also fine grades of Short-Horn Durham cattle. He is a Republican, and takes a zealous interest in all movements and measures that seem likely to benefit the general public.
Mr. Arkills was married Feb. 21, 1872, to Mary Eastwood, and they have had one child, Ada M., who died when she was 15 months old.
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J. Woodworth, resident at Sycamore, is the agent for the estate of Mrs. James S. Waterman. He was born Dec. 10, 1850, in Brownhelm, Lorain Co., Ohio. His father and mother, John and Mary (Johnson) Wood- worth, were natives of Chenango Co., N. Y., and located soon after their marriage in Sandusky. In 1853 they caine to Illinois, and the senior Wood- worth bought a farm in Cortland Township, De Kalb County. The land was in its original condition. At the date of its owner's death, which occurred Aug. 27, 1858, it was all improved.
Mr. Woodworth went to live when he was nine
years of age with Milo Wells, of Sycamore, and work- ed on a farm except in the winter seasons, when he attended district school. In the summer of 1870, when 19 years old, he suddenly formed a resolution, while engaged in farm labor, that he would not be an agriculturist through life, and he then and there laid down the implement he was using and went to Syca- more, where he formed a partnership with F. B. Col- ton in the sale of musical instruments. In the spring of 1872 he went to Madison, Wis., and there pursued a course of study preparatory to a business career, attending the Northwestern Commercial College. In . the spring of 1873 he went to Quincy, Ill., and en- tered upon the duties of a teacher of plain and orna- mental penmanship, book-keeping and business cor- respondent in the "Gem City Business College." He resigned the position July 15, 1876, to enter upon the responsibilities of Principal of the " Theoretical Bus- iness and Penmanship Departments of Jacksonville Business College," at Jacksonville, 111., which he held until July 25, 1883. At that date he resigned to assume the position he now occupies.
He was united in marriage, June 6, 1876, to Nellie L., daughter of Dr. Charles W. and Lucia C. Bab- cock. They have five children,-James A., Jessie M., Arthur C., Charles J. and Edward G. Mrs. Woodworth is the niece of Mrs. James S. Waterman.
ansing De Forest, retired farmer, residing in De Kalb village, was born in Southville, Herkimer Co., N. Y., May 10, 1832. His parents, John and Elizabeth (Pooler) De For- est, were also natives of the Empire State. He remained with them until 12 years of age, and until 17 years old he worked out during the summer seasons, attending school during the winters ; thence- forward he devoted his whole time to manual labor.
Feb. 5, 1852, he married Lurena L. Kingsbury, who was born in the town of Turin, Lewis Co., N. Y., the daughter of Flavel C. and Tryphena (Holmes) Kingsbury, both the latter being natives of Connect- icut, and settling in the State of New York after mar- riage. At the time of his marriage, Mr. De Forest located in German Flats, N. Y., where he rented a saw-mill for one year, and then a farm until the spring of 1856, when he moved to Rome, N. Y. In
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the spring of 1857 he came to this county, locating near Cortland, where he followed farming a year, and the next spring he purchased 80 acres of land on sec- tion 24, Afton Township, where there were only a small frame house and a small stable. Six years afierward he sold that place and bought 160 acres, on the same section, where there were a small frame house and a straw stable. This place he still owns, having improved it in every way, erecting a good frame house, a frame barn, corn-crib, etc., and plant- ing shade and ornamental trees. Having bought other land adjoining, he now has a total of 310 acres all improved and fenced. In April, 1884, he leased his farm and moved to De Kalb city, where he now lives, on Third Street, North, in a residence he had previously purchased.
Mr. and Mrs. De Forest have had seven children, namely : Mary Ella, wife of Ellis Ingham and living in Afton Township; Albert Eugene ; Lizzie A., wife of J. Charles Smith, and also living in Afton Town- ship; Smith; Inverna B., who died at the age of nine years and four months; Sarah Phenie, wife of Ernest Chambers, and resides in Afton Township; Carrie Melvina, the wife of Grant E. Mosher, and resides in Afton Township ; and Lettie E.
eter H. Lawyer, retired farmer, resident at Sycamore, was born Jan. 12, 1824, in the town of Wright, Schoharie Co., N. Y. His parents, David S. and Maria (Snyder) Lawyer, were natives of the State of New York. His grand parents on both sides were Germans, and were among the early settlers of Schoharie County. David L. Lawyer removed with his family to De Kalb County in 1853 and settled in the township of Cort- land, on section 8, where he died April 2, 1879. His first wife died about .1840, and he was married a second time, to Maria Settle, and she resides on the homestead.
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