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 82
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Mr. French has been a farmer of Illinois since 1853. In that year he came to Kendall County and bought land in Big Rock Township, which he man- aged three years. He went thence to the township of Wheatland in Will County, and was a farmer there five years, removing thence to Clinton, De Kalb County, where he maintained his residence six years. He bought the farm where he now resides in 1868. The place includes 100 acres of land, and is all im- proved. Mr. French has been prominent in public life, both in his native State and in Illinois. He was a member of the Legislature of Vermont in 1851-2, be- siJes holding a number of minor offices in that State, and while a resident of Clinton, officiated three years as Township Clerk, and has held other offices here.
enry Von Ohlen, farmer, section 29, Vic- tor Township, is the son of Christian Henry and Johannah (Burneman) Von Ohlen. They were natives of Brunswick, Germany, and on the 19th day of October, 1855, came to Sandwich, De Kalb Co., Ill. After a residence there of two years the family came to Victor Town- ship, where the father died April 15, 1880, the mother's demise occurring Nov. 27, 1882.
The son, who is the subject of this sketch, first became a land-holder in the township of which he is a citizen, in 1857, when he bought 80 acres of land, on which he has since pursued his agricultural de-
signs, and also on 160 acres on the same section, which he has since purchased. He is engaged in the various branches of husbandry common to prairie farms, and he owns a fine assortment of stock. Mr. Von Ohlen is a respected citizen of his township, and is a Republican in political principle.
His marriage to Caroline Likert took place Oct. 9, 1865. She is a native of Germany, and the house- hold now includes five children,-Alvena M., Clara, Henry J., Emma L. and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Von Ohlen belong to the Lutheran Church.
ohn Syme, manager of the R. Ellwood Manufacturing Company at Sycamore, was born Nov. 15, 1833, on the Scottish coast at a point eight miles south of Edinboro, and is the son of James and Ann (Young) Syme. The father removed the family to Ballymena, in the North of Ireland, Mr. Syme being a lad at the time of the transfer. He secured a good education and became a book-keeper later, engaging in the manufacture of hats at Limerick, in which occupa- tion he was interested four years.
He came to this country in 1861, making his way through Canada to Chicago, where he entered the employment of Low Brothers, an extensive grain and produce firm, as traveling salesman, in whose inter- ests he operated about two years. In the fall of 1863 he came to Sycamore, and established himself in the same business, buying and shipping grain, produce and live stock, in company with Roswell Wheeler. 'They also were the proprietors of a lum- ber yard, in which they conducted a considerable re- tail business. In 1865 he built an elevator, which is now owned by the railroad company. In 1868 he became associated with his brother, David A. Syme, holding with him a joint ownership in a hardware store, in the sale of agricultural implements, and also in buying and shipping grain, etc. In 1876 the hardware department was sold, and the remaining branches of business divided, Mr. Syme continuing the sale of agricultural implements until 1880, when he sold out and became a stock-holder in the busi- ness in which he is now interested, and which had been re-organized. Mr. Syme was elected manager, and has since operated in that capacity. When the
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works are running on full time, about 130 men are employed. The products are cultivators, hay-racks, harrows, sulky-plows, etc. Mr. Syme is a member of the firm of H. T. Lawrence and Co., dealers in wagons, carriages and agricultural implements at Sycamore. He has been three times elected Alder- man and has served six years in that capacity. In 1878 he was elected Captain of Co. A, Third Regi- ment of Illinois National Guards, a position he held two years. He is prominent as a Republican, and has been Chairman of the County Committee during the past ten years. He belongs to the Sycamore Com- mandery, K. T., No. 15.
Mr. Syme was married in September, 1876, to Carrie W. Waterman. Their children were as fol- lows: John W., Aug. 16, 1878, and Kate Irene, Aug. 22, 1882. Mrs. Syme is the daughter of the late John C. and Caroline (Hoyt) Waterman, and was born at Sycamore.
homas F. Latham, retired farmer, section .26, Somonauk Township, was born Feb. 23, 1812, in Groton Township, New London Co., Conn. Joseph Latham, his father, was a farmer in early life, and in 1824 a dealer in fish in the city of New York, becoming the husband of Mary Fish.
In 1833 Mr. Latham engaged in mercantile trans- actions in New York, in which he was interested until 1838, the year in which he removed to De Kalb County, accompanied by his wife and one child, now deceased, and his brothers Joseph and Hubbard. The latter is a resident of Willamet, Ill. The former is deceased.
Mr. Latham settled on a claim of 300 acres, which included what land he now owns in the township of Somonauk. His brothers also secured claims. Joseph resided on his farm, situated north of that of his brother, until his death in March, 1883.
In 1849 Mr. Latham went with the tide to Cali- fornia, remaining in the gold mines five years. He returned to Illinois and resumed charge of his farm- ing interests, laboring in that capacity four years. In 1858 he again went to California and spent seven years, with unsatisfactory results. In 1880 he went to the mining district of Colorado and has passed five
summers there prospecting for gold and silver. He owns three claims in Chaffee County, which are be- ing worked. The farm in Somonauk Township is conducted by his son, Thomas J.
The marriage of Mr. Latham to Jane Ayres took place March 27, 1837. She was born Feb. 25, 1820, near Cleveland, Ohio, and is the daughter of Enos and Jane (Debow) Ayres. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Latham: Julia H., deceased, Feb. 22, 1838; Thomas J., June 14, 1841; Mary, wife of G. S. Serine, of Iowa, April 23, 1843; Aurelia April 7, 1847; Franklin, Nov. 25, 1856.
Christian Miller, farmer, section 34, Victor Township, was born June 8, 1837, in Germany. He was an inmate of the parental household until he was 15 years old, and passed the next three years in farm labor. When he was 18 years old he set out for America, and on landing on the shores of the New World he made his way to Aurora, Ill .; he worked there five years on a farm, when he bought 80 acres of land on section 34 of Victor Township and estab- lished his homestead. He is prosperously engaged in agriculture, and is earning the right to his privileges of American citizenship. He is a Republican in political principles. The parents of Mr. Miller, Christian and Louise (Gobel) Miller, were natives of Germany.
He was married March 5, 1866, to Christina Roth, a lady of German birth and parentage, who came from her native land in 1865. Their five children are named Louise J., Frederick C, Henry F., John C. and Emma A.
harles H. Pratt, senior member of the mercantile firm of Pratt Brothers, at Sand- wich, was born Feb. 19, 1846, in Deep River, Middlesex Co., Conn. His father, H. H. Pratt, was born in Connecticut, and is now living at Sandwich. Mary J. (Comstock) Pratt, the mother, is deceased. They had seven children, of whom two (daughters) died in infancy. Five sons survive: Merritt C. is a hardware merchant at
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North Loup, Neb .; Wilbur A. and Ashley W. are druggists at West Paw Paw, Ill .; Burton E. is a member of the firm of Pratt Brothers.
· Mr. Pratt was reared on a farm to the age of 16 years, when he became clerk and book-keeper in a banking house at Sandwich. He remained in this position two years, after which he became a clerk in the dry-goods store of Harvey Toombs, of Sandwich. Six months later his employer sold out his establish- ment to A, B. Crofoot, and he continued to officiate in the same capacity under the new order of things about two years, at which time he was admitted to a partnership. The firm of A. B. Crofoot & Co. existed five years, when it was terminated by the junior part- ner selling his interest to Mr. Crofoot, and the former then embarked in the sale of boots and shoes, in which he was interested about a year. At the end of that time the firm of Pratt, Goodman & Gurley was constituted, and their business relations were extended until they were engaged in the prosecution of a profitable trade in general merchandise. Later they opened a branch store at Walnut, Bureau Co., Ill. After three years Mr. Goodman withdrew and Pratt & Gurley maintained their business relations until April, 1882, when the firm became Pratt Broth- ers by the sale of one-half the interest to B. E. Pratt. (See sketch.)
Charles H. Pratt is a member of the fraternity of Odd Fellows, and also of the Masons, and belongs to the Blue Lodge, Chapter of R. A. M., and to Aurora Commandery.
He was married Oct. 10, 1871, to Martha S., daughter of Frederick A. and Martha W. Slack. She was born Oct. 10, 1854, in Ottawa, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt have one daughter, Mabel J., born Oct. 12, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt are both members of the Congregational Church.
eorge Rompf is a farmer of Victor Town- ship, resident on section 35, and he was born March 20, 1813. His parents, Jacob and Margaret (Stahl) Rompf, was born in Germany, where he was reared at home to the age of 20 years. He was apprenticed to learn the boot and shoe trade, and was a craftsman about 12 years in his native country.
He was married March 29, 1843, to Henrietta
Thomas, previous to coming to America. He made his way hither in 1853, and proceeded immediately to Northville, La Salle Co., Ill. There he bought 10 acres of land, and also worked at his trade. He sold his property there three years later, and became a farmer of De Kalb County, buying 80 acres of land in Victor Township, on which he has since lived and conducted his agricultural labors, with a success that may be inferred from the fact that in 1876 he bought 160 acres of land on section 34, for which he paid $8,000. In political views and actions he is a Republican. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, to which also his wife belongs.
Mr. and Mrs. Rompf have had six children, four of whom are still living: Adolph W., Paulina, Ed- ward and Ferdinand. All are married. Adolph W. married Rebecca Price, March 18, 1873, and they have four children : Eveline B., Ada M., George R. and Frank A. Paulina is the wife of Frederick Schroder, to whom she was married in 1868. Their children are named Amanda C. and Ervin E. Ed- ward married Louisa Hein, Oct. 24, 1879, and they have two children, George W. and Lillie M. Ferdi- nand was married to Mary J. Sinith, Feb. 22, 1882. .They have one child, Conrad E.
.
M. Arnold, liveryman, at Sandwich, was born May 10, 1843, within the (now) cor- poration of Sandwich. His father, Dr. Stephen Arnold, was born in Vermont and married Dorcas Loofborrow, of Delaware Co., Ohio, where he engaged in the practice of his profession until 1836, when he came to De Kalb County, and bought 320 acres of land. The northern part of the city of Sandwich is now located on the southern portion of the farm, which was divided among the children on the death of their father. Dr. Arnold died March 22, 1845, while on a professional trip to Big Rock, Kendall Co., Ill. The wife of Dr. Arnold died at Sandwich, Feb. 26, 1884. They had nine children, three of whom are living: Wesley W., Hester A., wife of Harrison Robb, of State Center, Iowa, and Mr. Arnold of this sketch.
The latter remained on the place where he was born 25 years, and in 1868 opened a livery stable at Sand- wich, which he conducted five years. In 1873 he
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purchased 112 acres lying a few iniles west of Sand- wich, where he interested himself in progressive agriculture eight years and converted the place into a fine and valuable farm. He disposed of his property there in September, 1883, and March 19, 1884, he bought the equipments and stand, where he has since conducted a popular and successful busi- ness.
He was united in marriage Sept. 9, 1864, to Hat- tie, daughter of William and Eleanor Ryan. She was born July 11, 1842, in Little Rock Township, Kendall Co., Ill. One child, John W., was born to Mr. and Mrs. Arnold, Feb. 12, 1867.
Following is the record of the deceased brothers and sisters of Mr. Arnold : John L. Arnold, M. D., was a graduate at the Medical College at St. Charles, Ill. He went in 1849 to California and died at Marysville. Mary D. married George L. Ismon, of Sandwich, where she died, leaving a daughter- Louise, now the wife of Burr Kennedy, of Deering (Chicago). Elias C. was a farmer of Somonauk Township. Another child died in infancy.
ewis Von Ohlen was formerly a farmer on section 31, Victor Township. He was born in Germany, where his parents, Christian Henry and Johannah (Bruneman) Von Ohlen, were also born. They came to the New World in October, 1855, and on landing at New York proceeded to Illinois and located at Sand- wich.
Mr. Von Ohlen lived there with his parents until he was 20 years of age, receiving a fair elementary education. He was occupied in various places for a short time, and in 1865 bought the farm where he lived until his death. He was a Republican and held several official positions in the township where he was a citizen, the last in which he officiated being that of Road Commissioner. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Alwine (Schulz) Von Ohlen was born in Ger- many and came to America with her parents, who are still living at Somonauk. She was married July 22, 1845, to Lewis Von Ohlen, and they became the parents of five children-Herman E., Emil A.,
Lewis J., Edward and Ida. Mrs. Von Ohlen resides on and manages the farm of 155 acres left to his family by her deceased husband.
rs. Elsie C. Van Olinda is a resident on section 15, Somonauk Township. She was born Jan. 3, 1823, in the township of Washington, Morris Co., N. J. Her parents, Jacob and Lenora (Welch) Frace, were · natives of the place where they died, and in 1854 she came to Kane Co., Ill., to live with her brother, Jacob M. Frace. She was married there Nov. 17, 1857, to John D. Van Olinda, and removed thence to the farm of her husband, where he has since resided, and which became his property in 1854. The place is finely located and valuable and includes 120 acres. Mr. Van Olinda died Dec. 2, 1874, and was buried on his farm. He was born near Water- ford in Saratoga Co., N. Y., June 19, 1814.
Three children were born of their marriage : Lenora died in infancy; Elsie resides at home ; Laura is' the wife of George Hanson, a farmer of Somonauk Township.
Wesley W. Morse, the manager of the estate of Mrs. Van Olinda, was born Jan. 15, 1857, and was adopted by her in February, 1858.
Burkhart, furniture dealer at Sandwich, was born Oct. 18, 1820, in Bavaria, Ger- many, and is the son of Adam and Bar- bara (Schale) Burkhart. After attending school through the period required by the laws of his native country, he served four years as an ap- prentice at cabinet-making, after which he worked as journeyman five years, traveling through the prin- cipal German cities. He was at one time a workman in the palace of the Emperor William at Berlin.
Mr. Burkhart was married in Bavaria in 1847, to Catherine, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth Bradey, by whom he has had four children. After the event of his marriage he was in business for himself six months, and in 1852 came to America. He worked at his trade in Utica, N. Y., three years, and in 1855
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came to Sandwich. After working at his business a year in the interest of an employer, he opened an establishment for himself in the same line. In 1858 his works were destroyed by fire, the disaster causing a total loss, and leaving him with a debt of $700 on his hands, without insurance. His credit was good, and he again started his business, in which he has met with success, and is now associated with his son. In the fall of 1874 he erected his business building, 22 x 60 feet in dimensions, two stories in height above the basement, and built of brick. His stock is generally estimated at about $8,000. He is a mem- ber of the Order of Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 212, and the family belong to the Lutheran Church.
Two of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Burkhart were born in Germany. Phillipena (deceased) was married to Gustavus Short, a farmer in Nebraska. Jacob is in business with his father at Sandwich. He was married May 2, 1872, to Augusta Turk, of Sand- wich, and they have three children-Jacob, Edward and William. Elizabeth married William Huerke, a harness-maker at Sandwich. Caroline is deceased
savid G. Carson is a farmer of Victor Town- ship, residing on sections 4 and 9. David Carson, his father, was of Scotch descent, and married Jane Shannon, who was of Ger- man origin. The son was born in 1830, at Es- perance, Schoharie Co., N. Y., and at the age of eight years became a member of the family of Bar- tholomew Keene, in the village of Esperance. With him he remained six years and attended school five years. He next went to live with Sander Deffen- dorf, where he was an assistant on the farm six months and went to school. Subsequently he worked three years on the farm of Thomas Curry. He passed alternate summers and winters in farm labor and in attendance at school until he was 21 years of age, after which he spent two years working farms on shares. At the expiration of this time he came into possession of his father's farm by will, and he rented the place two years. After giving it his per- sonal attention one year, he sold the place and came to De Kalb Co., Ill. He took possession of 80 acres of land on section 4, and there still maintains his residence.
The quality of his prosperity is manifest from the
fact that he is now the possessor of 500 acres of finely improved farming land. He is a Republican and has held various town offices. He has been Road Commissioner 15 years. He was once elected Justice of the Peace, but declined to qualify.
He was married Dec. 15, 1857, in Fulton Co., N. Y., to Mary, daughter of John Brewer, and they have had five children, four of whom are still living- John H., George L., Kit C. and George M.
B enjamin Wilsey, jeweler at Sandwich, was born Jan. 14, 1831, in the township of Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y. His parents, Archibald M. and Phebe (Manches- ter) Wilsey, belonged to the farming class, and the former was born in the city of New York, Jan. 18, 1800. In 1844 they removed to Illinois, and the father died in Fox Township, Ken- dall County, Oct. 4 1882. The mother was born in Rhode Island, and died in December, 1845, in Newark, Kendall County. Five of their nine chil- dren are living : James W. is a farmer near Aurora, Ill. ; Margaret married W. Hull, of Newark; Benja- min is the next in order of birth; Mary married Merritt Winchell, of Vallejo, Cal. The youngest living child is Andrew J.
When he was 19 years of age Mr. Wilsey bade farewell to farm labor. During that winter he attended school, and in the spring of 1851 went to Ottawa, Ill., and entered upon the business of learn- ing his trade with J. H. Morrill. After an apprentice- ship of four years, he engaged in business for him- self in Ottawa, but continued only a short time, going thence to Newark, where he remained until December, 1862, the date of his coming to Sand- wich. He exhibits a fine stock of watches, clocks, jewelry, silver and plated ware, Johnston's Optical Company's goods, and all goods common to a first- class establishment, and suited to his patronage. He is also engaged in general repairing, and is doing a prosperous business.
Mr. Wilsey was married Feb. 25, 1858, in Fox Township, Kendall County, to Leonora, daughter of Lewis and Sabrina Robinson. She was born Dec. 15, 1 840, near Spencer, Tioga Co., N. Y., and died in
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Sandwich, March 2, 1875. She was the mother of three children : Charles B., born Dec. 7, 1858, is the only one who survives. Leonora and Gracie, twins, were born Feb. 23, 1875. The latter died March 19; following her birth, and 17 days after the decease of her mother. Leonora died Sept. 10, 1875, a little less than six months old. Mr. Wilsey was again married Feb. 21, 1884, in Princeton, Bureau Co., Ill., to Anna L. Stannard. She was born at Dover, Ill., and is the daughter of Norman and Almanda Stannard.
dward Lewis, a resident of Sandwich, was born June 1, 1815, in Wales, and is the son of Lewis and Ann (Lumley) Lewis. He was three years of age when his parents came to America and settled in Oneida Co., N. Y., where his father bought a farm in the township of Trenton. He was reared to the age of 14 years on a farm and passed four years subse- quent to that in obtaining a knowledge of the tan- ner's business. In 1833, when he was 18 years of age, he went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he was con- nected with a construction corps in building the Buffalo & Black Rock Railroad, the first line of rail- road that was built running into that city. He was engaged a short time after the road was completed as a conductor, going next to Clarence, Erie Co., N. Y., where he passed a year and a half as a gen- eral laborer. His next transfer was to Little Rock, Kendall Co., Ill. He there bought 40 acres of land and engaged in farming. To this he added by sub- sequent purchase until he owned upwards of 300 acres, on which he resided until 1864, when he sold the place and removed to Sandwich. On the organ- ization of the Sandwich Manufacturing Company of that place, he invested his means in its· relations, and was for years connected with the corporation. He acted as a night watchman nearly 13 years. Since September, 1880, he has not been actively en- gaged in any variety of business.
Mr. Lewis was married at Little Rock, Dec. 28, 1839, to Maria A. Hadden, She was born May I, 1810, in Westchester Co., N. Y. Four of their five children are living: Noel B. was born Oct. 18, 1840; Mary E., born Sept. 20, 1842, is the wife of J.
D. Kern, of Sandwich; Caroline was born Sept. 5, 1845, and is the wife of Thomas E. Culver, of Sand- wich. James C., born Sept. 11, 1849, is an employee of the Sandwich Manufacturing Company ; Edwin, born May 2, 1852, died six days after birth. The wife and mother died at Sandwich, April 23, 1883. Mr. Lewis was a second time married Sept. 11, 1884, at Yorkville, Kendall Co., Ill., to Mary E. Humis- ton. She was born Aug. 3, 1827, near Littlefield, Grayson Co., Ky., and is the daughter of Anthony and Susan (McClure) Litsey, who were married in Kentucky and came to Illinois in 1829, located in Tazewell County, and in 1830 came to Kendall County. The mother died in Kentucky when the daughter was two years old. The father was mar- ried again, moved to Iowa, and died in 1859. Mrs. Lewis is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
illiam Fraser, farmer, section 14, Somo- nauk Township, was born April 29, 1816, in the township of Hebron, Washington Co., N. Y. Isaac Fraser, his father, was born in North Adams, Mass., and died in He- bron, aged 84 years. The mother, Mary (Mun- son) Fraser, was a native of Washington Co., and was about the same age as her husband at the time of her death. Seven of their ten children are living. David is a retired farmer of Salem, Washington Co., N. Y. Lyman is a retired farmer and resides at Sandwich. John is a retired merchant at He- bron. Lonson is an attorney at Salem, N. Y. Aurilla A. is the wife of Charles Wilson, a farmer of Salem, N. Y. Mary is the widow of Peter Larkin and resides at Salem.
Mr. Fraser is the fourth of the surviving children of his parents. He was brought up on his father's farm, where he was instructed in agricultural pur- suits. In 1843 he came to Illinois and bought a farm of 80 acres near Plano, Kendall County. On this he resided until his removal to his present loca- tion, where in 1854 he bought at first 300 acres of land. He is now the owner of 370 acres, situated on sections 13, 14 and 15, which is managed by his son- in-law, Pernett Potter. Mr. Fraser has been a num- ber of years in retirement from active life.
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He was married in Greenwich, Washington Co., N. Y., to Mary Faxon. Following is the record of their children : Caroline married John J. Arm- strong, a farmer of Somanauk Township. Ira M. is deceased. Horace W. is a farmer in Ford Co., Ill. Charles H. resides in Sandwich, and is a teacher by profession. Mary married James Crinklaw. William is a farmer of Somonauk Township. Martha mar- ried William Potter, a farmer in Missouri. Edith is ' the wife of Pernett Potter, and resides on the home- stead. Arthur is the youngest. Mrs. Fraser was born Oct. 31, 1819.
uke A. Warren, resident at Sycamore, was born in Andes, Delaware Co., N. Y., Dec. 19, 1819, son of Luke and Mary (Baird) Warren, natives of "York State." His father inoved to Allegany County, that State, in 1832, and settled in Rockford Township. The land on which he settled was timber, and after building a log house he set about to clear and improve his land. In 1850 he disposed of his land and moved to Michigan, where he died shortly after.
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