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 81
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He was married July 23, 1849, to Jane Leslie Voorhees. She was born Sept. 10, 1824, in Lysander, Onondaga Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of James L. and Martha (Northrup) Voorhees. Her parents were natives respectively of New York and Connecticut. Following is the record of the children of Dr. and
Mrs. Bryan : Urania V., born June 9, 1850, became the wife of Edward Crist, of Sycamore, and died June 14, 1883; Florence was born Sept. 24, 1851, and died Dec. 26, 1853; Martha, born Sept. 6, 1854, died April 23, 1861 ; Martin L., born July 9, 1858, died June 26, 1879; James L., born May 25, 1862, died June 24, 1883; Jane Leslie, fourth child in or- der of birth, is the only survivor. She was born Feb. 24, 1857, and married Elthom Rogers, of Syca- more, May 6, 1880.
'The name and career of Dr. Bryan are inseparably connected with the history of Sycamore. In its early days he was a part of its pioneer households, his pro- fessional duties bringing him to an identity of inter- ests with the entire community. He exerted his skill in behalf of those who suffered from the illness inci- dent to a developing section, and in his professional capacity came to have a personal relation to the affairs of those with whom his lot was cast. With many he began his association at the opening of their lives, and went with them until they were gathered into final rest. His face was as familiar as those of the household to which they belonged, and was regard- ed as one of their greatest benefactors. The resident pioneer physician of a community is by far the most important personage in it, and his mission is one that bears with it its own weight of importance. While the personal records collated in this volume have each its own value to the work, that of Dr. Bryan is presented with a peculiar satisfaction, from the fact that while it reflects great credit on the an- nals of De Kalb County, its subject holds a relation to the people of Sycamore of paramount importance.
A portrait of Dr. Bryan appears on a preceding page.
A ndrew Graham, farmer, section 12, Victor Township, was born Dec. 9, 1844, in Franklin Co., Ohio. His parents, Robert and Sarah (Williamson) Graham, were natives of New York and removed thence to Illinois in 1850, when their son was six years old. As he advanced in age he received a good education, and at the time he attained his legal freedom he be- gan farming on his own responsibility. He took a farm to work on shares, and made a success of the
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venture, in which he was occupied two years. Sub- sequently he devoted the avails of his labors to the payment of his expenses at Monmouth, where he was engaged in study three years and obtained a superior education. He spent eight months in teaching, after which he took farms on shares and operated in that method five years. He then pur- chased 200 acres of land, where he has since been occupied in general farming.
Mr. Graham is a Republican in political principles and takes the interest of a man of understanding who knows the responsibilities of citizenship. He has officiated in the local offices of his township.
His marriage to Mary McEachron took place Dec. 26, 1872, and they have' four children,-Walter, Bertha J., Sarah W. and Thomas H. Mrs. Graham is a native of the Empire State.
dmond B. Harned, farmer, section 17, Sycamore Township, was born July 13, 1829, in Smithtown, Suffolk Co., N. Y., and is the son of Hosea Harned. His great grand- father, Jacob Harned, was a native of Perth Amboy, N. J., and located on a tract of 1,100 acres of land on Long Island, which came into his possession about the date of the war of the Revolu- tion. He belonged to the sect of Friends, or Quakers ; and, although the principles of the society would not permit him to go to war, he aided in the construction of barracks for the soldiery, as that variety of assis- tance fell under a possible higher law of rendering help to the needy. He died on Long Island, about 1824. Hosea Harned, his son, was born Jan. 2, 1798, in Smithtown, Suffolk Co., L. I., and was there brought up, under the care and instructions of his father, who gave him a through training in agricultural arts. He was married Sept. 27, 1818, to Rosetta Brown. She was born in Smithtown, Sept. 24, 1799, and died Sept. 27, 1833, leaving four children, two of whom still survive,-Edmond B. and Amelia. Mr. Harned was married a second time Nov. 5, 1833, to Mrs. Fanny (Hoag) Babcock, widow of the Rev. James Babcock, a Methodist clergyman.
Mr. Harned went from Long Island to Ohio in 1832, leaving his home by way of Sandy Hook, pro- ceeding up the Hudson River until he reached the
Erie Canal, by which he went to Buffalo, and went from there by lake to Painesville, Lake Co., Ohio. He located in Leroy in that county, which was theń included in the county of Geauga and lived on a farm there four or five years, which he sold. He then removed to another, which he bought, near Madison in Lake County. After a few years he bought a third farm, near Monticello, in Geauga County, which he sold four years later and removed to Streetsboro, Portage County, where he bought a fourth farm. He decided on coming farther West, and in 185 1 disposed of his estate in Ohio and set out for De Kalb County, whither he came with two two-horse teams and wagons. During the first year after his arrival he rented a farm, meanwhile pros- pecting for a desirable location. In the spring of 1852 he bought a farm on section 8, Sycamore Township, one of the earliest settled in the township . or county, and which he purchased from the widow of one of the leading pioneers of Sycamore, Lysander Darling. The farm remained in his possession until 1865, when he again sold out and removed to the village of Cortland. After a residence there of four years, he went to Grundy Co., Iowa, to live with his daughter at Fayette, where he died May 6, 1877. Of his second marriage five children were born, four of whom are now living-Lyman, Mary (Mrs. Enoch Wheeler, of Fayette, Iowa), Angeline, widow of David Underwood, of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Wal- ter, resident at Steamboat Rock, Franklin Co., Iowa.
The youngest son enlisted in 1864, in the 147th Reg., Ill. Vol., and died while in the service at Dal- . ton, Ga. The eldest daughter by the first marriage is the wife of Fitz Henry Talcott, and lives at Wal- dena, Fayette Co., Iowa.
Edmond B. Harned accompanied his parents from Long Island to Ohio and thence to Illinois. He was in early manhood when they located in De Kalb County. In the fall of 1853 he went to his native State and passed a year there. He was married Oct. 21, 1855, at Sycamore, to Susan H., daughter of James M. and Prudence (Eaton) Sivwright. She was born Jan. 6, 1833, in Nova Scotia. After his marriage, Mr. Harned rented the property known as the Tower farm, and a year later (in 1856) bought a farm on section 16, on which about four acres had been broken. He built a house and stable, broke and fenced the land, and there conducted his agricultural projects until 1865, when he sold it and bought his
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father's farm on section 7, where he is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Harned have five children living. Rosetta married Charles C. Pond, · Merton R. is a graduate from the Dental College at Philadelphia, and is engaged in the practice of his profession at Oregon, Ogle Co., Ill. · · Armanella P., James E. and Susan A. are the names of the youngest living children. Eugene, the eldest. was born June 29, 1856. He was completing a business education at the Gem City Business College, when he died, April 19, 1876.
clark L. Barber, one of the pioneers of the county and now a resident at De Kalb, was born in the town of Pike, then in Alle- gany, now in Wyoming, Co., N. Y., June 29, 1812. His parents, Levi C. and Sally (Rood) Barber, natives of Vermont, settled in the township in 1811, as pioneers. He (the senior Bar- ber) bought land of the Holland Purchase Company four miles east of Pike Hollow, in the wilderness, having to follow a line indicated by marked trees in order to find his place. Here he immediately erected a log house (in which Clark L. was born), cleared a farm and made considerable advancement toward the establishment of a comfortable home; but in Feb- ruary, 1835, he started with a pair of horses and a sleigh for the Prairie State. Arriving in this county, he took a claim on section 15 of what is now De Kalb Township. He was accompanied by his two eldest sons, Lyman and Harry, who also took claims and afterwards entered the land when the Government had surveyed it and placed it in market. This was their home until the death of the father, in 1859. He was a stirring man, full of energy and enterprise. He had been Sheriff of Allegany Co., N. Y., for a number of years. Six of his children by his first wife -Lyman, Harry, Clark L., Amelia, Adelia apd Polly -grew up to years of maturity. The first two, who settled on land adjoining that of their father, are now deceased. Amelia is the wife of Luman Huntley, now of [Dixon, Ill. Adelia is the wife of Franklin Burr and lives at Lincoln, Neb .; her second son, Car- los C., is a member of the Nebraska State Senate. The elder Barber's second wife was Mrs. Hannah Brownell, and by this marriage there were three
children, two of whom are now living, namely : Wan- ton B., now a resident of De Kaib Township; and Laura E., who married Clark Carter, of De Kalb.
Mr. Clark L. Barber, the subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in his native township, being brought up to farming pursuits. In 1836, accom- panied by two sisters, he started to meet their father in Illinois. Leaving his sisters in Chicago, he started on foot for that part of Kane County now included in De Kalb County, where he found his father. He first made a claim on what is now called Geneva Lake; but he abandoned it and took one on sections 15 and 16, in "Orange Precinct," now in De Kalb Township. Here he built a log house, a chimney with sticks and mud, making the roof with " shakes " split from oak timber, and the floor of puncheons. From this rude beginning Mr. Barber improved the place to its present fine proportions, the farm con- taining several hundred acres. In 1883 he sold it, and he has since traveled extensively, visiting Kansas and Nebraska. In Chase County, in the latter State, he purchased a farm of 400 acres. The same year, 1883, he also bought a large farm in Iroquois County, this State.
Mr. Barber has filled offices of trust in the town and county ; was Deputy Sheriff six years, under C. C. Landis, and Assessor of his township several years,
He was married in May, 1839, to Mary M. Spring, a native of the town of Woodhull, Steuben Co., N. Y., and they have two children living, namely : Louisa, who is the wife of Jacob Crawford, and lives in De Kalb; and Harriet, who is the wife of Newcomb Crawford, and lives near Woodstock, McHenry County.
eorge B. French, farmer, section 9, Somon- auk Township, was born in the house in which he now resides, Dec. 19, 1850. His father, William French, was a carpenter and came to Illinois, driving a team from Chi- cago to Somonauk Township, arriving June 2, 1842. He took up a claim of 160 acres of mixed prairie and timber land, and became a prominent and successful farmer. He was born Dec. 30, 1811, in Washington Co., N. Y., and was married Oct. 29, 1833, in his native county, to Isabella Beveridge (see
A
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sketch of J. H. Beveridge).
She was born in the same county, Nov. 17, 1815, and is still living. The father died July 19, 1880. born to them yet survive :
Five of seven children Ellen A., wife of Chester Henry, of Somonauk Township; Mary C., deceased ; Sarah A., wife of Martin McCleary, a farmer of Morris Co., Kan .; John B., deceased; George B .; Andrew L., a farmer near Pawnee City, Neb .; and Jeannette, wife of Thomas McElheny, a farmer in Nebraska.
Mr. French has always resided on the farm where he was born 35 years ago, and he is a substantial and successful agriculturist. In connection with general farming he owns about a score of cows, of the Short-Horn Durham breed, for dairy purposes.
His marriage to Clara M. Kirkpatrick occurred in Squaw Grove Township, Dec. 31, 1879, and they have two children : Mary E., born Oct. 21, 1880, and William I., born Nov. 6, 1882. Mrs. French was born May 4, 1853, and is the daughter of Isaac and Sarah Kirkpatrick, pioneer settlers of Squaw Grove Township.
hristian Von Ohlen, farmer, section 29, Victor Township, was born April 27, 1830, in Braunschweig, Germany. He was educated according to the laws of his native country, and was under the authority of his parents until he was of age, and he spent ten subsequent years in their support. Oct. 1, 1851, he was conscripted and served in the Army of Germany until April, 1853, when, by request of the authorities, he was released from military obligations to maintain his parents and the other members of the family. He came to America in 1854, and landed Dec. 13, in the city of New York, whence he proceeded to Plano, Ill., where he arrived Dec. 22,-nine days later. His first employment was in the capacity of. assistant on the farm of Washington Walker, with whom he engaged to remain one year, at the aggre- gate wages of $150. In 1856 he was occupied in the same capacity on a 40-acre farm near Yorkville, Kendall Co., Ill. The subsequent year he rented a farm containing 80 acres, which he conducted one year. In 1858 he came to the township of Victor. On the first day of April he took possession of 160
acres of land he had purchased the previous autumn. He brought to the furtherance of his agricultural projects his old country thrift, industry and persistent energy, and has risen in accumulations and standing to a far better position than the classes in his own land who would deem it beneath their dignity to have offered him a civility on his native soil under the flag he was forced to defend for them. He is a Republican, and rejoices that he is also a citizen of a land that recognizes liis claims as a man. In 1867 he sold 80 acres of his first claim to his brother, and in 1873 he bought 80 acres on section 21, which is still in his possession.
His wife, Louise Merkel before marriage, is a native of Germany, and of their six children five are still living,-Christian W., Anna, Ernst, France and Juliana. Mr. and Mrs. Van Ohlen are members of the Lutheran Church.
ilas O. Vaughan, City Clerk of De Kalb, was born in the town of Hanover, Grafton Co., N. H., June 6, 1821. His father, Silas T., was a native of Royalton, Vt., and his mother, nee Polly Ingals, of Hanover, N. H
When the subject of this sketch was 13 years of age he began to learn the blacksmith's trade, and served an apprenticeship of seven years. He then moved to the State of New York, locating in the town of Attica in that part of Genesee County now included in Wyoming County, where he was employed as foreman in a shop until 1844, when he came to Illi- nois and located in Naperville. There, in company with others, he purchased the Naperville Plow Fac- tory, the largest factory of the kind in the State at that time, and was connected with the institution 14 years. Then, in 1858, he came to De Kalb and opened an establishment for the manufacture of plows and general blacksmithing, which he carried on for a number of years; and since he has been here he has held various local offices,-among them, Village and City Clerk for 20 years. He has once been elected a member of the Board of Trustees, of which body he has also been once chosen President. For some years past he has also been engaged in the insurance business, and now represents 12 solid and reliable companies. He is a member of De Kalb Lodge, No.
e
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144, A. F. & A. M .; he first joined the order in 1850, at Naperville. For seven years he has been Master of the Lodge, and for 13 years High Priest of De Kalb Chapter, No. 52 ; in 1880 he was Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Illinois. For 18 years he has been a member of the Ancient Scotclı Rıte.
Mr. Vaughan was married Sept. 11, 1850, to Caro- line Sabin, daughter of S. and Mary M. Sabin. She was born in Alexander, Genesee Co., N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. V. have three children,-Edmond E., Willie and Mary Marcy.
acob M. Hall, an early settler, has been a resident of the township of Somonauk since 1838. He was born Dec. 2, 1815, in Ontario Co., N. Y. His father, William C. Hall, was born in Connecticut, Sept. 1, 1787. He married Dorcas Thurston, and afterwards settled in Bradford Co., Pa., where he died in 1852. The mother was born Feb. 16, 1794, and died May 26, 1852, in the same place where the demise of her husband occurred. Five of their nine children are living.
Mr. Hall came hither in the month of January, and located on 80 acres of land, which he entered and plowed when it came into market. The entire acreage is now platted, and a portion of it is known as Hall's Addition to Sandwich. The residence of Mr. Hall is established on four lots of his original purchase. In 1869 he bought 120 acres of land on section 36, Somonauk Township, whither he removed and resided seven years, converting it into a fine farm, which he still owns. In 1876 he removed to Sandwich for a permanent abode.
He was married Nov. 7, 1842, to Lurano, daughter of Major and Eunice Dennis, who were among the earliest settlers of De Kalb County. The marriage service was conducted in the log house which Mr. Hall built on taking possession of the farm, and which afterward became his legal property. Mrs. Hall was born June 29, 1815, in Dartmouth, R. I. Of her union with Mr. Hall five children have been born : Dorcas, widow of Charles W. Humiston, resides at Sandwich. She was born July 26, 1843. Alvira, born March 2, 1845, died Sept. 24, 1866.
Sarah A. was born July 8, 1846. Myron C., a farmer in Somonauk Township, was born Sept. 2, 1848. John W. H., born July 30, 1851, rents his father's farm in Somonauk Township. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a Class-leader in the society at Sandwich.
ewis Dieterich, senior member of the firm of Dieterich & Ebinger, manufacturers of drain tile and brick on the Somonauk road, one mile west of Sandwich, is the son of George and Margaret (Breidenstein) Dieterich, and was born Dec. 26, 1842, in Baden, Germany. His father was a brick-maker and died in Germany. The son was 12 years of age when he accompanied his mother and stepfather, George Ebinger, to America. They had seven children besides him, of whom six are now living. They came across the sea in 1854 and settled at a place now called Streator, La Salle County. They went thence soon after to Ottawa, in the same county, where Mr. Ebinger had a brick- yard and where the younger members of the family were employed early in life, and also secured a com- prehensive knowledge of the business. Mr. Dieterich also learned the trade of shoemaker at Ottawa, and in the fall of 1857 came to Sandwich, where he was employed at his trade in the winter seasons, and passed the summers on the farm and in the brick- yard. About 1862 he was placed in charge of En- mons & McCoy's brick-yard at Sandwich, and offi- ciated in that position two years. In 1864 he bought . the claim of Mr. McCoy, and the firm of Emmons & Dieterich operated about two years, when his brother George became a half owner. He carried on his business in this connection two years, when he pur- chased the entire property, and removed the machin- ery to its present location about 1870. He bought six acres where the kilns are now situated, and was engaged there in the manufacture of brick. He bought 124 acres adjoining, together with a nice resi- dence. In 1882 he admitted his half-brother, Valen- tine Ebinger, as a partner, and they are now engaged in the prosecution of an extensive business, including also the manufacture of tile. They have three kilns, and their respective buildings are 36 x 96, 36 x 36
DE KALB COUNTY.
741
and 20 x 60 feet in dimensions. The first, a main building, is three stories high : the others are two stories in height. The main structure is heated by steam, and they employ on an average about 20 men. Their works are in operation all the year, and their products are utilized chiefly by home patrons. They do about $20,000 worth of business yearly, and their wares are always in demand, their surplus being shipped West.
Mr. Dieterich was married in Sandwich, Jan. I, 1866, to Phebe Haibach, daughter of Adam and Anna L. Haibach. She was born Nov. 14, 1846, and came to the United States in extreme childhood,- when less than three years old. Their children were born as follows : Amelia, Nov. 4, 1866; Adeline K., Nov. 10, 1868; Ellen E., Feb. 27, 1871; Lewis Franklin, Dec. 10, 1872; Martin G., April 27, 1875 (died Dec. 18, 1878); Herbert M., Feb. 9, 1877 (died Dec. 13, 1878); Milton G., Jan. 1, 1880; Alvah E., March 3, 1882 ; Roy O., Aug. 22, 1884. The deaths of the deceased children were but five days apart.
F. Stout, a farmer of Victor Township, resident on section 15, was born Sept. 14, 1814, in New Jersey, and he is the son of John V. and Elizabeth (Field) Stout. After he was 18 years of age he learned the trade of a carpenter, previous to which he had passed his time in attending school and in farm labor. He operated as a carpenter one year, receiving a dollar a day for his services. He came to Illinois in 1836, locating in Fairview, Fulton County, where he found abundant employment and worked by the day or job at his trade at that place until 1852, when he came to De Kalb County and purchased 40 acres of land in Victor Township. He is now the owner of 200 acres of land, having purchased 160 acres lying ad- joining the tract he first purchased. He has a fine and valuable farm, whose improvements are the re- sults of his own efforts, judgment and good taste. The place is supplied with fruit and ornamental trees, every one having been set by the hands of the proprietor himself. He is also the owner of valuable herds of stock of several varieties.
Mr. Stout was married Oct. 16, 1844, to Ann M. Suydam, who was born in New Jersey, and is the
daughter of S. B. and Johannah Suydam. Her par- ents removed from New Jersey to Ohio and came thence three years later to Illinois, settling in Victor Township. Her mother died July 7, 1882. Her father is 82 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Stout have three children, -- John, Cornelius and Mary E. The daughter is married and lives in Iowa. The sons are married also and reside in California.
C. French, farmer, resident on section 11, Somonauk Township, was born March 27, 1819, in Wallingford, Vt., and is the son of Isaac and Rebecca (Cummings) French. Both parents were natives of Cornish, N. H., and belonged to the agricultural class. Two of their four children are living: Betsey, the sister of Mr. French, of this sketch, married James H. Mig- hell, a farmer of Hamilton Co., Iowa; Abigail, de- ceased, was the wife of Silas Edson ; and Loomis is deceased.
Mr. French is essentially a farmer by descent and inheritance, and has spent a large portion of his life in teaching. He obtained a practical education in Vermont, and there engaged in teaching winters. The aggregate number of times in which he operated in that capacity comprised 15 seasons in New Eng- land, and seven since his removal to Illinois. He was first married in Wallingford, to Mariette Thomp- son, by whom he had a son -- Wallace-since de- ceased. The wife and mother died Sept. 12, 1859, in Wheatland, Will Co., Ill. Mr. French was a sec- ond time married Dec. 12, 1866, to Mrs. Lucy A. Congdon. of Wallingford, Vt., where she was born Aug. 28, 1835. Mrs. French is the daughter of Lev- erett and Abigail (Hart) Culver. The former was born in 1800, in Wallingford, and died there July 4, 1866. The latter was also a native of Wallingford, and was born in 1807. She died Jan. 14, 1861. The record of their family is . remarkable : they had 14 children-seven sons and seven daughters-all of whom reached adult age and all are yet living save one son, who died from the effects of a wound re- ceived at the siege of Petersburg during the Civil War. Lucinda is the widow of Allen Edgerton, of Wallingford, Vt. Abigail is the widow of A. K. York and lives in the vicinity of Wallingford. Eli-
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phalet ; Harry enlisted in a Vermont regiment of Sharp-shooters, and was killed June 18, 1864. Lucy Ann and Laura Aun, twins, were born next in order. The sister of Mrs. French is the wife of Seneca Cul- ver, of Sandwich. Melvina married James C. Patch, of East Wallingford. Daniel is a farmer in Walling- ford. Luke is a farmer in Fond du Lac Co., Wis. Mary is the widow of Wallace Johnson and lives at Wallingford. Elmer is a farmer in Illinois. James is a farmer of La Salle Co., Ill. Chauncey is a farmer in Somonauk Township. May is Mrs. Cornelius Patch, of East Wallingford. The paternal grandpa- rents of Mrs. French were James and Hannah (Tucker) Culver; on the mother's side they were Amasa and Abigail (Fenn) Hart. Mrs. French was a teacher in Wallingford a number of years, and taught one term of school in Fond du Lac Co., Wis.
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