Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 80

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

USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 80

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The son was reared on the homestead faim, and was educated in the public schools. He was mar- ried Dec. 23, 1853, to Eva Schoolcraft, a native of Schohaire County. After his marriage, Mr. Lawyer lived on the farm where he was born and brought up until 1857, when he came to De Kalb County and bought an improved farm in Cortland Township,

located on section 17. The farm had a small house on it, which Mr. Lawyer rebuilt, and he also added other farm buildings. In 1875 he rented the place and moved to Sycamore where he already owned a residence. Mr. and Mrs. L. have one son, Jay, who is traveling for his health in California. Mrs. Law- yer was born May 5, 1827, and is the daughter of Adam and Catharine Schoolcraft. They were natives of York State, where the mother died, when the daughter was eight years old ; and the father came to Illinois when she was 18 years old and died in Belvidere, Boone Co., Ill., in 1861.

genry A. Severy, farmer and stock-breeder, resident in Somonauk Township, is the owner of 200 acres of land on sections 16 and 21. He was born Oct. 7, 1851, in Lawrence, Mass. Dexter Severy, his father, is a native of Maine, and is engaged in raising stock, associ- ated with his two sons, Henry and Charles A. Their father resides in Leland, La Salle Co., Ill., and the second son is prosecuting his branch of the business in Victor Township, De Kalb County. Their aggre- gated herds include more than 200 head of fine blooded stock, of which 125 head are thoroughbreds. Mr. Severy's individual herd includes usually about 25 cows. He has several registered animals, among them Princess Anna, No. 685, Julia A., No. 798, Princess of Brabant the Fourth, No. 1,027, and Hilke, No. 3,460. The head of the herds of Messrs. Severy is Lawrence Marion, No. 2,050, from Lawrence, Mass., and he is a lineal descendant from the Lord Clifton and Aaggie family. (On the farm of C. A. Severy are kept Lord Clifton, Sir Newton of Aaggie, No. 1,858, and several others registered and num- bered.) Thirty-five fine thoroughbred animals were added to the herds during 1884. The Messrs. Severy are practically pioneers in raising fine stock west of Ohio, having been in the business 12 years. They are members of the Holstein Breeders' Asso- ciation, have bought a number of thoroughbreds from the East, and have imported stock. They rank among the most reliable dealers in the West and have issued a catalogue annually for 11 years. C. A. Severy raises trotting horses from the well-known stock Basha and Hambletonian. Mr. Severy of this

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sketch is President of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company.

He was married March 23, 1875, to Julia A., daughter of Hon. Hiram and Amanda Loucks, of Sandwich. (See sketch of H. Loucks.) She was born Dec. 5, 185 1, in Oneida Co., N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Severy have one son-Frank D., born April 13, 1878.

The family of Mr. Severy came to De Kalb County in 1854. The elder Severy was born March 4, 1820, and his wife in November, 1821. They have but two children; and the family circle intact. Mr. Severy took possession of his present farm April 1, 1875.

eorge W. Weeden, deceased, a former res- ident of Sycamore, was born Dec. 23, 1807, in Hartland, Windsor Co, Vt., and was the son of Samuel and Mrs. M. Weeden. He learned the trade of a brick and stone mason, at which he worked in his native State until 1843. In that year he came to Illinois to find a broader field for a life of activity than that afforded in the narrow valleys of the Green Mountain State. He crossed the Green Mountains and reach Whitehall, at the foot of Lake Champlain, went to Albany by the Champlain Canal, thence by the Erie Canal to Buffalo, whence he came to Chicago by the lake route. At that city he hired a " prairie schooner " to bring him to De Kalb County. The land was in market that year and he entered a claim of 80 acres on section 31, Sycamore Township, and bought 130 acres adjoining. He built a log house, in which his household found shelter seven years; after this period they occupied a brick house which Mr. Weeden built on his farm The place was sold in 1855 and a removal to Sycamore effected, where Mr. Weeden bought town property and worked at his trade.

His marriage to Sarah Pearsons occurred Jan. 29, 1834. She was born Jan. 7, 1812, in Reading, Wind- sor Co., Vt., and is the daughter of William and Azubah (Brockway) Pearsons. Her parents were both born in Vermont. Two of the six children of Mr. and Mrs. Weeden are living,-Alvin G. and Al- bina S. The latter married S. C. Hale and is now

living near Laddonia, Audrain Co., Mo. Mr. Weeden died Aug. 16, 1870.

Alvin G. Weeden was born Nov. 16, 1834, and was but nine years of age when his parents removed from Hartland, Vt., his birthplace, to De Kalb County. He assisted his father in improving his farm and acquired a thorough knowledge of the vo- cation of a stone and brick mason. He has been for a number of years engaged in the business of a con- tractor. He was married Aug. ro, 1857, to Louisa, daughter of Enos and Celina (Reed) Whitmore. They have two children,-Lillie M. and Leon F.

euben Nichols, a pioneer of De Kalb County, of 1837, was born May 23, 1770, in Dutchess Co., N. Y. His parents were of Connecticut origin, and soon after their marriage located in the State of New York. His father bargained for a farm a few miles from Poughkeepsie, and took possession. He had saved sufficient money to pay for the place, but the marauding English soldiery in the Revolutionary War invaded the house and carried off the money. He managed by hard labor and economy to secure his title, and died on his farm Nov. 22, 1802, aged 74 years and 11 months. His wife died May 21, 1820, at the age of 88 years and 11 months.

Reuben Nichols grew to mature life in Dutchess County, and learned the trade of liarness, and boot and shoe maker. He was married to Mercy Caverly, a native of Ulster Co., N. Y. After marriage they located for a short time near Newburg, where Mr. Nichols worked at his trade and managed a tannery several years, after which he went to Ontario, Can- ada. The location caused him to fall into ill health, and he returned to Ulster Co., N. Y. After a short stay there he went to Sullivan County, in the same State, and bought a farm, which he cultivated until 1837. In 1835 a son-John Nichols-came to De Kalb County and settled on a claim on section 13, of township 41, range 4 east, now Mayfield Town- ship.

The senior Nichols sold his farm in 1837, with the intention of establishing a home in De Kalb County, and he started in company with his wife, four chil- dren and two sons-in-law. They made the journey

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overland, driving through, and were on the road six weeks. They first stopped in Mayfield Township, at the home of their son. Mr. Nichols bought the claim, and when the Government survey was made and the land put upon the market, he went to Chi- cago and secured the claim. He raised his first crop of grain in 1838. He died May 5, 1844, and his wife survived him several years, dying Sept. 6, 1851. Their children were named Benjamin, Esther, Amy, Peter, Ephraim, Abigail, Phebe, John, Ira, Amos and Latin.

Latin Nichols, a resident of Sycamore, was born Dec. 4, 1820, in the township of Neversink, in Sulli- van Co., N. Y., and was 17 years of age when he came with his parents to De Kalb County, and he lived at home until the death of his father. After spending a few seasons as a farm laborer, he bought 80 acres of land on section 10, Mayfield Township. He built a small frame house on the place, and broke and plowed a part of the land the same year he became its owner.

He was married July 3, 1847, to Armena, daughter of Abner and Mary (Kendall) Jackman, who were pioneers of the township of Sycamore. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols settled on the farm he had prepared for his residence, and which they occupied until 1882, when it was sold, and the family removed to Sycamore. Three children were born of their union : Mary E. married William B. Dunmore, and resides at Sycamore. Martha L. was born Oct. 30, 1855, and died Jan. 4, 1861; Clara E. married William Ault and lives in Mayfield Township.

oseph Cox, farmer, section 25, Victor Township, was born April 22, 1840, in Lincolnshire, England. His parents, Joseph and Jane (Wilson) Cox, were also born in Eng- land and emigrated thence in 1863 to the United States. They first found a home in the State of New York, where they maintained a resi- dence three years. In 1866 they came to Illinois, where the father died in 1872. The mother is still living.

Mr. Cox left his native land for America three years before his father and mother came hither. On landing at the Port of New York he came at once to Victor Township. He was 20 years of age when he

left home, and had received a limited education. After coming to Victor Township he became a farm laborer and continued in that capacity three years. He subsequently managed a farm on shares, in which he was occupied three years. He then bought the estate he now owns, then consisting of 80 acres, and he has also added thereto 80 acres more. Mr. Cox is a Republican, and has held several offices in the township in which he is a citizen. He has reaped the reward of faithfulness and merit in all his busi- ness relations.

He was married Jan. 1, 1867, to Alice Arnold, a native of England. Four children were added to their household,-Jonathan, Alice, Betsey and Cyn- thia.

enry M. Thorp, farmer, section 17, Somo- nauk Township, was born Sept. 25, 1836, in Otsego Co., N. Y., and is the son of Leon- ard and Eliza (Miller) Thorp. His father was born April 4, 1802; his mother, Nov. 20, 1805, and were both natives of the State of New York. They had ten children, seven of whom are still liv- ing. The family came to Illinois at a period when Chicago was in its infancy, there being but 11 houses in the now monster metropolis when they passed through it on their way to " Big Woods," near Aurora. The senior Thorp kept what was then known as a stage house at Bristol for a period of two years, after- wards removing to Plano, Kendall County, where the parents are now living, probably the oldest couple of the pioneer settlers now living there.

Mr. Thorp was married in January, 1856, at Plano, to Belinda Loomis. Mrs. Thorp was born May 22, 1839, in Lewis Co. N. Y., and is the daugh- ter of Emery and Nancy (Lane) Loomis. Of their marriage three children have been born : 'Emery (Jan. 30, 1859) is a farmer in Lee Co., Ill .; Leonard, born Feb. 3, 1861, resides on the family homestead ; and Lyman was born Oct. 7, 1867.

Mr. Thorp came to Somonauk Township in the spring of 1860. He rented the farm of which. he is now the proprietor, then comprising 320 acres, and continued its management 13 years, when he pur- chased the property. He has made additional pur-

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chases, and the farm now includes 453 acres. He is the owner of 163 acres in Lee Co., Ill., and 431/2 acres in Iowa. In connection with his agricultural operations, Mr. Thorp has been largely interested in the business of threshing and corn-shelling. In the course of his transactions in these avenues he has worn out 12 threshing-machines and several shellers. During one season he shelled 80,000 bushels of corn, and has averaged a daily amount of 2,460 bushels. He keeps from 20 to 35 head of horses and mules. He is the owner of a Clydesdale and Norman registered stallion and an English draft horse, and is interested in breeding fine animals for market.

ustave Walter, manufacturer of carriages, road carts, cutters, sleighs, etc., at Sand- wich, is the son of Christian and Sarah Walter, and was born Oct. 3, 1849, in Alsace, France. He began his apprenticeship to learn his trade wlien 14 years of age and served three years. In 1868 he came to America and lo- cated at Ottawa, Ill. After working there one year, he came to Chicago, where he remained two years. He proceeded thence to Peoria, Ill., whence he went nearly a year later to Woodstock. At that place he opened his business, which he prosecuted two years, going next to Serena. Two years later he made an- other transfer, to Plano, where he continued one year. In 1876 he located his business at Sandwich, buying his present location. He has three buildings-one 36 x 48 feet, built of brick, constituting a general blacksmithing department; another is 24×48 feet, and is used as a repository ; a third, 24 x 30, is the wood department. His business transactions amount annually to $25,000, and includes all varieties of popular vehicles. The usual working force includes about 10 men. Mr. Walter is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, Blue Lodge and Chapter of Sand- wich and Aurora Commandery.

He was married at Woodstock, Ill., July 20, 1872, to Sophia, daughter of Christian Retterer. She was born April 10, 1851, in Alsace, France. Charles A.,

born Feb. 26, 1876, Laura A., Aug. 1, 1877, and Mabel E., March 17, 1882, are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Walter.

C charles D. Jackman, deceased, was born July 7, 1837, in Sycamore. His parents, Abner and Mary (Kendall) Jackman, were among the pioneer settlers of De Kalb County, and were born in the State of Vermont.

Mr. Jackman was born and bred on his father's farm, and attended the district school. He was married Nov. 10, 1857, to Eunice Halladay. She was born in the town of Horicon, Warren Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of Harvey and Betsey (Hollon) Halladay, who were natives of Vermont, and were among the earliest of the permanent settlers of Syca- more. Mr. and Mrs. Jackman located on the Jackson farm, on section 5 in that township. The husband became a soldier in the Union army, and enlisted in August, 1862, in Co. C, 105th Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf. He participated in all the closing campaigns of the war in which the Army of the West was involved, marched with Sherman to the sea and through the Carolinas to Washington, where he was a part of the Grand Review. He was mustered out of service at Chicago, and resumed farming on the homestead in Sycamore Township, where he died, Jan. 18, 1879, leaving four children : Merton resides in McHenry Co., Ill .; Adelbert, Abner and Mary live with their mother on the homestead, on section 5.

ames B. Glidden, teacher and farmer, re- siding in De Kalb, was born in Clarendon, Orleans Co., N. Y., May 10, 1819. His father, Jacob Glidden, was a native of the town of Unity, Sullivan Co., N. H., where the " Glid- den farm" has remained in possession of the family for more than 200 years. He settled in Or- leans Co., N. Y., soon after the War of 1812, emi- grating from his native State in the winter, with two yoke of oxen and sleds. He was a very early settler in that portion of the Empire State, bought a tract of

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timber land, cleared a farm and spent the remain- der of his days there. His wife, nee Sarah Smith, was also a native of the town of Unity, Sullivan Co., N. H. They had 13 children, of whom James B. was the youngest, except one brother. Both were born in Orleans County.

Mr. Glidden was brought up on the farm and at- tended the district school. In April, 1841, he mar- ried Miss Juliet Beard, a native of the town of Lyons, Yates Co., N. Y. He bought a farm of 58 acres, which three years afterward he sold, and he rented a farm until 1852, when he purchased another in Van Buren Co., Mich. In the winter of 1852-3 he was employed as foreman in the construction of the Chi- cago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, and with that ex- ception, and teaching school during the winter seasons, he has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He commenced teaching school at the age of 18, in the State of New York, and has taught for 20 winters. In 1860 he sold his farm in Michigan and came to De Kalb County, this State, buying. a farm on section 10, in Afton Township. Here, at that time, there were but a few acres broken, and he proceeded to place the farm in a fine and presentable condition, by fencing, breaking, setting out fine shade and ornamental trees, erecting buildings, etc; but he sold it in 1878, in order to take charge of farms in the county belonging to his cousin, J. F. Glidden. He occupied his farm residence until 1884, when he moved into the village of De Kalb.

The four children of Mr. Glidden are Orson E., Varnum A., Frances and Chase E.

ohn Brechbiel, farmer, section 35, Victor Township, is a native of Germany, where he was born Oct. 28, 1848. His father, John Brechbiel, was also born there, and mar- ried Mary Hanse. The former removed with his family from the Old World to the New in 1859, and landed in the city of New York, conting thence to Somonauk, DeKalb County, where the father bought 80 acres of land on section 35. After a residence thereon of five years he died, in 1865. The family included two children, but Mr. Brech- biel, of this sketch, is the only one living, to whom the homestead was willed, and he has been since its

manager and the custodian of his mother. He has since purchased 46 acres joining his homestead, besides two tracts of 40 acres each, situated respect- ively on sections 26 and 27. Mr. Brechbiel is a Democrat in political faith.

He was married March 9, 1869, to Mary A. Lutts- mann, and they have six children-Ann, Louise, Emma, George E., Mary M. and Ida. Mr. Brech- biel and his wife are members of St. John's Lutheran Church, at Somonauk.

oseph Allen, deceased, was a pioneer of De Kalb County, and for some years a resident of Sycamore Township, where he located in 1846. He was born Sept. 26, 1790, in Kingsbury, Washington Co., N. Y. In his early manhood he was a miller by vocation. He was married Dec. 23, 1810, to Sally Allen, who was born Sept. 14, 1793, at Thurman, Washington Co., N. Y., and they had 14 children, 12 of whom grew to adult age, and seven are still living. Annie is the wife of C. B. Vaughn, of Montgomery, Kane Co., Ill .; Abisha is the widow of Eldad Calkins and lives near Aurora, Ill .; Charles lives in O'Brien Co., Iowa; William is a resident of Kane Co., Ill: ; Joseph is a farmer of Decatur Co., Kan .; Angeline and Benjamin were born next in order ; Henry is the youngest living, and resides in Gentry Co., Mo.

At the time of their marriage they settled at Fort . Ann. Mr. Allen was a " minute man " during the War of 1812, and with his company made a forced march to Plattsburg, where they arrived just in time to witness the retreat of the British soldiers. Mr. Allen pursued his trade at different parts of his native county until 1845, when impaired `health furnished an imperative reason for a change of loca- tion, and he set out to seek a home in the West. He came to Kane County, where his family joined him, and in the following year he came to De Kalb County and settled on land owned by his daughter in Sycamore Township. His death occurred there Nov. 27, 1853. Mrs. Allen died Aug. 28, 1873.

Benjamin Allen was born April 20, 1829, and was 16 years of age when he came with his mother and the other children of his father's family to Kane County. He remained under the parental authority

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until the years of his minority were passed, and afterward found employment in the vicinity. . He had bought 40 acres of land on section 25, Syca- more Township, and he devoted his earnings to pay- ing for his land, on which he settled after marriage, and where he had built a house. He afterward pur- chased 20 acres adjoining and improved the entire property. He was its occupant until 1865, when he sold and bought a farm on section I, Cortland Town- ship, which is in good agricultural condition. Mr. Allen is a Republican. While a resident of Syca- more he was a member of the School Board, and has also been Road Commissioner.

His marriage to Abigail Lhommedieo took place Oct. 10, 1852. She was born at Smithville, Che- nango Co., N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have an adopted child-Benjamin Arthur

genry Miller, a farmer of Victor Township, who is a landholder on section 32, was born April 30, 1837, in Germany. His parents, Christian and Louise (Gobel) Miller, were na- tives of Walden, Germany. His mother died there. Mr. Miller was thrown upon his own exertions for a livelihood when he was 12 years of age. He had received a common-school education, and after the age named he became a farm laborer, in which capacity he was employed until he was 22 years of age. In 1845 he left his native soil to win for himself an opportunity that a republic offered for the better development of his manhood's ambitions ; and, after landing at New York, he pressed on to Illinois, making his first stop at Aurora, where he found employment four years, going thence to Plano. He was married there Nov. 24, 1859, to Elizabeth Buckardt, who also is a native of Germany. Seven children have been born of their union: William H., Henry W., Mary L., Fritz J., Christian J., Charles F. and George S. The oldest son and the only daughter are married.

Mr. Miller made his first purchase of land in Vic- tor Township, in 1859, when he bought 160 acres of land, on which he has made all the improvements. He has also bought 80 acres on section 28, and is engaged in general farming. He and his wife belong

to the Lutheran Church at Leland. Christian Mil- ler, the father, came to America in 1850.

rlando M. Bryan, M. D., of Sycamore, is one of the pioneer physicians and surgeons of the portion of De Kalb County of which he has been for 40 years a citizen. He is a self-made man in the best sense of the term, possessing the qualities of industry and judg- ment requisite for the exertion of his natural traits of character, and the exercise of the discrimination and good sense which, under the privileges of the times, places a man securely on the plane for which he is fitted, both by nature and training.

Dr. Bryan was born July 6, 1823, in Fairfield, Her- kimer Co., N. Y., and is the son of Dr. M. L. and Phebe (Whiteside) Bryan. He inherited from his father his predilection for his profession, and obtained an elementary training from association and observa- tion that was especially valuable, although its impor- tance as a molding influence was neither recognized nor understood at the time. He received an excel- lent fundamental education at Fairfield Academy, an institution of acknowledged reputation, and at 17 years of age he began the regular course of reading for his profession with Dr. G. Sweet, of Fairfield, one of the first preceptors of the place and period. He attended lectures at Geneva, N. Y., and also at the University of New York City, where he was gradu- ated and received his degree in 1844. He began his professional career with Dr. Sweet, at Fairfield, and had the benefit of the association and the office rela- tions of his preceptor until 1846, when he came to De Kalb County. He was only 23 years of age when he sought to test the promise of the West, and he brought to his work therein the fresh hopes of his young and ardent manhood.

Sycamore was but the germ of a village when Dr. Bryan identified himself with its people and inter- ests, and he grew up and developed with it. He gave his undivided attention to his local medical duties until 1861, a period of 15 years, and won a substan- tial reputation. In the first year of the war he was appointed by Governor Yates to a position on the State Board of Medical Examiners to determine re-

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garding the qualifications of army surgeons, and was made Secretary of that body. While engaged in the discharge of the duties of the position he was sum- moned by Secretary Cameron to report at Washington for examination for the position of Brigade Surgeon. He was found to be qualified, and was commissioned by President Lincoln as Brigade Surgeon, with the rank of Major.' Pending the preliminaries, after pass- ing the ordeal of examination, he returned to Spring- field and served in his former position until he received his commission and orders to report to Gen. Fremont in the State of Missouri., under whom he remained until his commanding officer was super- seded by General Hunter. He was made a member of the staff of the latter, and was attached to the command through the actions at Island No. 10 and New Madrid. He was in charge of the general hos- pital of the Army of the Mississippi, at Farmington, near Corinth, whither he went with General Pope's command the day following the battle of Shiloh. He was already suffering the effects of over-exertion and a relaxing climate, and while at Corinth he made ap- plication to the Surgeon-General at Washington to be transferred to New Mexico for the benefit of his health. He soon received orders to report at Santa Fe to Surgeon Bailey of the Regular Army, and relieve him from duty as Medical Director and Pur- veyor of the Department of New Mexico. He occu- pied this position nearly three years, until mustered out of service. Dr. Bryan was in the service through- out the entire Rebellion, and remained in New Mex- ico until the border disturbances were under control. He obtained his discharge in 1866, and was mustered out of the service of the United States at Santa Fe, N. M., while he had the rank of Colonel, by brevet. During his connection with the army at that point he made extensive tours through Mexico, New Mex- ico and Colorado, and secured great benefit to his health. He resumed his practice at Sycamore, and prosecuted his business vigorously until 1873, when failing health again compelled him to seek another climate, and he has since passed several winters in Colorado.

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Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 80

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

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