USA > Illinois > Will County > Portrait and biographical album of Will County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 21
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1838, he emigrated to Illinois and has since been a resident of Homer Township, this county.
The early years of Mr. Paddock were spent in a comparatively uneventful manner, in attendance at the district school and learning the various arts pertaining to farm life. He was content to adopt this as his life vocation and has been uniformly successful as a tiller of the soil, securing a home and a competence for his declining years. When nearly thirty years of age he was married in Iomer Township February 25, 1817, to Miss Jane S. daughter of the late T. T. and Mary ( Hollenback) Roberts, who were natives of Vermont.
After marriage the newly wedded pair settled on a farm on section 21, Homer Township, whence in 1849, they removed to that which they now own and occupy. The household circle was com- pleted by the birth of five children, the eldest of whom, a son, George A., died September 9, 1887, at the age of thirty nine years. Jerome is farming in Homer Township; Florence died when three years old; Elmer E. and Merton F., are farming in Ilomer Township. Politically, Mr. Paddock is in accord with the principles of the Republican party. He has represented Homer Township in the County Board of Supervisors for a period of six years and has also officiated as Assessor several terms. The cause of education has ever found in him a firm friend. He has officiated as a School Trustee, also as tlighway Commissioner and Town- ship Collector, and to whatever position he has been called, he has fulfilled its duties in a manner creditable to himself and satisfactory to all con- cerned. Mrs. Paddock belongs to the Congrega- tional Church in Homer Township.
The father of our subject was Jonathan Paddock, a native of Washington County, N. Y., who mar- ried Miss Merey Weaver, who was also born in the Empire State. The parents were married in Wash- ington County and settled in Onondaga County, whence they removed later to the town of Aurelius, in Cayuga County, where they both died at the age of sixty-six years. Nine of their children lived to become men and women; seven are now living and residents mostly of Michigan, New York and Illi nois.
Mrs. Paddock was born March 11, 1825, in Men-
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don, Monroe County, N. Y .. and was the third in a family of eight children. She came with her parents to Ilinois about 1815. The latter were natives of Vermont and after their removal to New York State with their respective parents were residents of Monroe and Niagara Counties. Mrs. Roberts de- parted this life at Lemont, Ill., a few years ago. Mr. Roberts died in Momence about 1851. They were most worthy and estimable people, enjoying the respect of all who knew them.
ACOB KARCH. One of the most enterpris- ing and publie-spirited farmers of Frankfort Township is the gentleman above named, whose pleasant home is located on section 25. Ilis estate comprises one hundred and sixty broad and fertile aeres, which under his careful and intelligent control produce abundantly and make their cultivation both pleasant and profitable. A full line of farm buildings is conveniently dis- posed, and a fine orchard supplies an abundance of fruit as well as adorning the farm with its pleasing shade and waving boughs. Mr. Karch raises grain and cattle and a good grade of draft horses, of which he keeps about fifteen head.
This gentleman is of German ancestry, his father. Henry J. Karch, having been born near Frank- fort on the Rhine. He was a baker there but after- ward engaged in hotel-keeping until 1838, when he came to America and located in Herkimer County, N. Y. There he continued the occupation of an hotel keeper and also conducted a farm finally operating one hundred acres. In 1850 he changed his location to Will County, IH .. buying two hun- dred and forty aeres on section 36, Frankfort Township. Here he broke the soil and made all the improvements, carrying his produce to Chicago by teams an l consuming three days in the trip. lle was a very successful farmer and eventually be- eame the owner of five hundred and sixty aeres of land which is divided into three improved farms. He held township offices at various times, built the first school-house and church in his vicinity and manifested a high degree of public spirit. Hle be-
came well-known as a straightforward business man. In politics he was a strong Republican and in religion a member of the German Methodist Episcopal Church in which he was Class- Leader and otherwise prominent. He died on his homestead in 1888, at the advanced age of eighty years.
The wife of Henry Karch was Catherine Fecter. who was born in Bayren, Germany, and who died on the home farm four weeks after her husband. She had borne eight children named respectively, Catherine, Caroline, Henry, Charles, Jacob, Martin, Margaret and Fred. Henry was a member of the One Hundredth Ilinois Infantry, in which he on- listed in 1862, and was killed at the battle of Chick- amauga.
The gentleman with whose name we introduce this sketch was born on the Mohawk River, near Frankfort, Herkimer County, N. Y., September 5, 1816. He was but four years old when his father removed to the Prairie State, the journey being performed by rail to Chicago and by team to the farm in this county. Here the lad grew to man- hood amid the usual surroundings of a farmer's son and was early set to work in the fields. His education was received at what was known as "Skunk's Grove Knowledge Shop," an old log schoolhouse with slab benches and the other prim- itive furnishings common in new settlements.
During the boyhood and youth of our subject wild game was still plentiful in the vicinity of his home and oxen were used upon the farms, several yoke being attached to the breaking plows, and which he learned to drive. On one occasion when about fourteen years of age he was sent to Chicago to sell a yoke of fine large oxen. On the way he had to cross a ereek which was frozen over and the cattle refused to go upon the ice. As soon as they came to the edge of the stream they would back and in spite of his efforts they continued this process for about an hour when the boy thought of a scheme by which he could get them across. Turn- ing them with their heads toward home he backed them on to the ice and as soon as they saw it before them, they continued the backing process very rapidly.
Young Karch remained at work for his father until about twenty-four years old when he took
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personal control of the farm, continuing it some three years. He then purchased his present place, the quarter section having no improvements except the breaking. The soil being all tillable except what is left in the timber and the owner having the knowledge and experience of a practical farmer. he soon brought it to its present condition of beauty and worth. The lady to whom he owes the com- fort of his home life was known in her maidenhood as Miss Louisa Schraeder. She was born on board a Mississippi steamer when her parents were com- ing from New Orleans. Her father, Martin Schrae- der, was formerly a farmer at Blue Island, Cook County, but is now residing in Chicago, having be- come well-to-do and retired from his active labors four years since.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Karch was celebrated in this county in 1873, and has been Ilest by the birth of six children named respectively. Albert. Laura, Charles. Carrie, Lydia and Arthur. Their home being but two miles from Frankfort, they have excellent advantages which combine the best of country and town life,and their children are being well reared and educated. Mr. Karch was School Director nine years and was the means of placing the school on the improved footing in which it is now carried on. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church at Frankfort, in which he has been Steward and Trustee. In politics he is a stanch Republican, His personal popularity is great and all recognize his worth as a man and cit- izen.
ON. MICHAEL COLLINS. Day by day each human being is building & monu- ment more enduring than Time itself- one which for grandeur and sublimity depends entirely upon the subject and is in no wise affected by what " they " say or do. This is the monument of a life, and the pleasing task of the biographical writer is to set this upon the printed page. When the mind and heart of men are attuned to noble deeds and upward growth, it needs not that we add to the simple record what wonkl but " gild refined gold " but to call attention only
to what has been done in business, office or society, and the traits that a personal acquaintance will reveal.
The Irish raee is honored in the person of the gentleman named above, who is now engaged in business in Peotone, owning a large grain elevator there, and also holds membership on the Chicago Board of Trade. lle is a self-made man, as will be seen, and the reason therefor understood by fol- lowing the facts of the parental history. His parents, John and Bridget ( Mulvihill) Collins, were born in County Clare, Ireland, the one in 1815 and the other in 1817, the father being a gardener in his own land. They were married in 1843, and became the parents of five children- Michael; John, deceased; Martin, who is in the hardware business in Peotone; Thomas, Illinois Central Agent at Grand Crossing ; and Mary, wife of William T. Shaffer, a farmer in Wayne County.
When the Emerald Isle was sorely afflicted by famine in 1848, Mr. Collins eame to America and obtaining work on the Vermont Central Railroad earned money to send his suffering family and finally to bring the mother and two sons-the fam- ily then-across the briny deep. A temporary home was made in the Green Mountain State, whence they removed to Canada. There the father worked on the Great Western Railroad for six years or until its completion, then locating in Fayette County, Ill., where he still resides. He helped to build the Illinois Central Railroad, continning his arduous labors until about a dozen years ago. He is still active, bearing his years well, but his wife is not in robust health. They were not able to bestow upon their children all the advantages that would be possible if they were young now, but gave them good advice and what education they could.
Michael Collins was born in County Clare, near the historic ground of the Shannon River, October 15, 1845. and was about five years old when brought to America. The schooling he received was barely sufficient to give him an understanding of the rudiments of education, but since attaining manhood he has diligently applied himself to study and made wonderful progress. He has carried on a systematic course of general reading, including
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law, politics and ethics; and has collected one of the finest and best selected libraries in this locality. It contains standard works on almost every con- ceivable subject, searcely a topie referred to in his home being without its volume for consultation.
When sixteen years old young Collins began life for himself by securing a clerkship in a store at Farina, Fayette County. The opportunity for ad- vancement seemed limited and his ambition led him to desire a broader field. He therefore went to Kinmundy, Marion County, where he learned telegraphy and station work on the Illinois Central line. In 1863, he was appointed night operator at Gilman, Iroquois County, and a month later was transferred to Makanda, Jackson County, as agent and operator for the Illinois Central Railroad. He performed the duties of the office but a year when on account of fever and ague he obtained a trans- fer to Peotone, where he added the duties of ex- press agent to those he had formerly carried on.
For twelve years Mr. Collins held the position here. satisfying his employers and the publie, and he then resigned in favor of his brother Thomas. himself entering into the grain and hay business in company with Robert Rains, under the firm name of Rains & Collins. In 1875, the connec- tion was dissolved and a new partnership formed, the firm of Schroeder, Smith & Collins embarking in the sale of general merchandise and carrying it on five years. During that time our subject and Mr. Schroeder were also connected in the grain business, the style of the firm being Collins and Schroeder.
The same year that Gen. Garfield was elected to the Presidency, Mr. Collins made the race in this distriet for the Legislature and was elected on the Republican ticket by a large majority. His record in the Thirty-second General Assembly of Illinois is one of an opponent of all ring jobs, unnecessary and extravagant appropriations, and the friend of every means of real development and moral growth. Ile has held local offices for many years and his popularity is indicated in the fact that he has repeatedly defeated candidates of the German race which predominates in his locality. He has been Supervisor of Peotone Township for years, has also been Chairman of the County Board, member
of the Village Board and School Director. He has likewise been Justice of the Peace, although he read law for purely business purposes and not with the intention of practicing it other than in his own affairs.
The same fall that he was elected to the legisla- ture, Mr. Collins sold out his interest in the gen- eral merchandise business and bought out his part- ner in the grain trade, to which he has given his exclusive attention as a means of support and gain. The trade has constantly grown in his hands, the month of May, 1890, having brought him $20,000 in business in Peotone. In connection with that business he holds a membership in the Chicago Board of Trade, thus being able to operate among the bulls and bears of the grain market that almost rules the deals of the country. Mr. Collins also has a half interest in the Tile Works at Peotone, and a share with his brother in the hardware busi- ness.
Mr. Collins was fortunate in his choice of a life companion.gaining for his wife Miss Caroline Folke, who became Mrs. Collins. December 2, 1869. She looks well to the ways of her household, graciously pre- sides over the tasteful dwelling. and surrounds her family with the joys of home only possible to a true and devoted woman. She was born May 22. 1552, was educated in the common schools and belongs, like her husband, to the Presbyterian Church. Her father, Dr. Henry Folke, was a prom- inent physician of this county for many years; he died in 1879. Iler mother bore the maiden name of Louisa Klinsman and is still living, making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Collins. Dr. and Mrs. Folke were born in Germany whence they came to America many years ago.
To Mr. and Mrs. Collins three children have been born-Kittie. Grace and Paul. Miss Kittie was graduated from the Peotone High School in 1890, and will take a course of instruction in instrument- al and vocal music at Lake Forest University, near Chicago, next year. Miss Grace will accompany her and take a classical and scientific course, while it is the intention of the parents to give Master Paul equally good opportunities as his years increase.
Mr. Collins is Eller and Trustee in the Presby-
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terian Church and Superintendent of the Sunday School. Miss Kittie teaches the infant class. In principles and practice, Mr. Collins is a temperance man. He has been a Republican since he arrived at manhood and was a member of the Union League when it was dangerous. in Southern Illinois, to belong to it or the Republican party. He has taken an active part in conventions, county, State and Congressional. Hle belongs to Peotone Lodge, 636, A. F. and A. M., in which he has occupied the Secretary's chair many times.
The residence of Mr. Collins was a purchase and has been remodeled and beautified since he became the owner. It is furnished throughout in accor- dance with the taste of the occupants and is a pop- ular gathering place for the best citizens. A few years ago Mr. Collins platted Collins' Addition to Peotone. He has owned several farms but only for purposes of speculation, selling when good oppor tunities came. When three years old he had the small pox, and, taking cold, the disease settled in his right side and limb. permanently crippling him.
SHOMAS CULBERTSON. This gentleman is numbered among the old settlers of Will County, in which his residence began in 1836. a few months after he had attained his ma- jority. The long years which he has spent here have given him an extended acquaintance through- out the county, and he is well-known as one whose years have been spent in industry and good citi- zenship. lle is the youngest of ten children who comprised the family of Thomas and Mary (Wood) Culbertson, parents and children being natives of New Castle County, Delaware.
The eyes of our subject opened to the light Au- gust 23, 1811, and his boyhood was passed in the pursuit of knowledge and the home duties suited to his years. When sixteen years old he learned the miller's trade, at which he was occupied in his native State until he came to Joliet. Here he found employment in the McKee mill, in which he remaided until August, 1838, after which he spent two or three months in the Norman mill, the dam
of which was then taken out for the canal. He then went to Wilmington, finding employment at his trade in the mill of Dr. Bowen, and after twelve months spent there returned to Joliet and entered the Robert Jones steam mill. There he was engaged but a few weeks, leaving to settle on llickory Creek, where he engaged in milling for himself. The old Red Mill having been begun but left unfinished, Mr. Culbertson rented and fin- isbed it, operating it for two years prior to his purchase of the property, which he continued to manage until the summer of 1865. Since that time he has followed different occupations, having sold his mill a short time after he gave up oper- ating it, and having since his marriage occupied the homestead on section 12. His home is one of comfort, the dwelling being a cozy one, and the land which accompanies it sufficient in extent to furnish farm products "enough and to spare" for the use of the family. The little farm com- prises thirteen acres, which under careful control is of more value than many estates much greater in extent.
In March, 1850, having been attacked by gold fever, Mr. Culbertson, with several companions left Joliet to cross the plains to California. Their journey to the Eldorado and the experiences which Mr. Culbertson passed through in the four years of his residence upon the Coast, become very interesting when graphically pictured by himself. but it is not our purpose to attempt their recital here. Suffice it to say that the mining to which he devoted himself proved more lucrative than in the case of many who had left home and friends and exposed themselves to danger and pri vation in their search for the precious metal.
On November 19, 1856, in Joliet Township, Mr. Culbertson was united in marriage with Miss Mar- tha M., daughter of Lewis and Mary ( Runyon ) Ker- cheval. The bride was born in Preble County. Ohio, October 9, 1824, and was six years of age when brought by her parents to the Prairie State, their settlement being made in New Lenox Town- ship, this county, where they abode until death. Mr. Kercheval was a native of Virginia and his wife of Kentucky. They had ten children, of whom Mrs. Culbertson is the fifth in order of
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birth. She had the advantage of excellent home training, acquiring many useful arts, together with the qualities of disposition and character which make her respected and admired, and which have been a potent factor in the comfort of home life. She has borne her husband three children- Thomas E., Mary E. and Anne E. The son is now book-keeper for Sanger & Moody, in Chicago; Mary is the wife of Wilbur HI. Smith, of Joliet; Anne died when about nineteen months ofd.
Mr. Culbertson has served both as School Direc- tor and School Trustee, fulfilling the duties of the offices in a ereditable manner, and evincing a deep interest in the progress of education. In politics he is a Democrat. Both himself and wife have many warm friends in the county, and although they are highly regarded for the labors of their earlier years and their record as old settlers, the respect in which they are held is due still more to their pleasant natures and upright characters.
EVI M. CLAYES. This name represents one of the oldest living pioneers of Will County. He came to this region as early as 1832, when the present site of Joliet was covered with weeds fifteen feet high. The main thorough- fare through this part of the country terminated at Lockport, which was a hamlet of half a dozen shanties located near the river. Mr. Clayes took up a tract of Government land in the vicinity of Loekport, and after making some improvements left it and went to Chelsea, now Frankfort, where he established a store of general merchandise, having mostly the red men of the forest for his customers.
Mr. Clayes likewise was one of the first Postmas- ters in Will County, and conducted the office and his store until failing health compelled him to a change of occupation. He then turned his atten- tion to farming on the section of land of which he was the owner and became well-to-do, bringing a large portion of his land to a good state of culiva- tion and putting up fine buildings. He also set out
an orchard with numbers of other fruit and shade trees, while about one mile south grew up by de- grees the town of Frankfort.
In March, 1868, Mr. Clayes sold out and re- moved to another farm belonging to him and lo- cated in the same section. There also he operated a steam sawmill and in this manner disposed of about eighty acres of oak and walnut timber. The Rock Island Railroad furnished him abundant ship- ping facilities and he realized from this venture handsome returns. He remained there until wisely deciding to lessen his labors and cares, and in 1873 removed to Joliet and erected a large fine house at the intersection of Scott and Webster Streets. This forms one of the most attractive homes of the city. The dwelling stands back from the street and in front of it is an extensive lawn while the general surroundings of the place indicate the cultured tastes and ample means of the proprietor. Mr. Clayes is the owner of other valuable city property and a farm in Green Garden Township, besides real estate in Wilmington. He has accumulated his possessions by his own industry and economy, hav- ing at the start no resources but those with which nature had endowed him. He has had little time to meddle with political matters, aside from giving his unqualified support to the Republican party.
During his younger years Mr. Clayes enjoyed in more than an ordinary degree youthful pleasures and recreations, and in company with Mr. Stillman, inaugurated the Erst ball ever given in the county. The invitations were gotten up in fine style, the paper being embellished with the United States coat-of-arms and the American eagle. They were headed "Union Ball" and read as follows: "The managers present their compliments and respect- fully solicit the company of - at the Joliet Hotel, Thursday, the 21th inst., at 3 o'clock. P.M., fall of 1834.
O. W. Stillman, J. W. Brown. O. T. Rogers. L. M. Claves. S. S. Chamberlain. C. Sayre. A. Castle. R. Nixon, S. Munson, Managers.
(). W. Stillman, L. M. Clayes, Floor Managers."
The subject of this notice was born February S. 1808, in New Hampshire, and is the son of Peter and Lois Clayes, who were natives of Scotland and Massachusetts, respectively. and spent their last
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years in Frankfort, Will County. Peter Clayes was the original manufacturer of the Chickering Pianos at New Ipswich, N. Il. L. M. when a young man removed to Pittsford near Rochester, N. Y. When reaching manhood he repaired to Pittsburg, Pa. and subsequently to Louisville, Ky., in both of which places his brother-in-law, Sylvanus Lathrop, was engaged as a builder and contractor, mostly of bridges, and put up several large structures of the kind at both places. He came to Illinois when about twenty-three years old and was subsequently married in Mokena. Ill., November 21, 1858, to Miss Parthena F. Benedict. This lady was born in Colborne, Canada, June 29, 1832. Of this union there are two daughters, viz. : Ilattie A., the wife of C. IL. Talcott, Cashier of the Will County Bank, and Louise B., who remains at home with her par- ents. The parents of Mrs. Clayes were Amzi L., and Lucy (Hoyt) Benedict, natives of Connecticut and New Hampshire, respectively, now deceased.
MIOMAS D. FERGUSON. Farming has been the chief occupation of Mr. Ferguson since he reached man's estate, and he now gives his attention to that and to the dairy busi- Dess at his pleasant home on section 6. New Lenox Township. Although still on the sunny side of forty, having been born March 31, 1853, Mr. Ferguson has manifested the qualities of true manbood, and won an honorable name among his fellow-men. His estate comprises eighty-eight acres, on which a complete line of farm buildings has been erected, all above the average, while other improvements are in accord with the edifi- ces. The snug estate is so well managed that it affords an excellent income and is more profitable than a larger number of acres woukl be if under less efficient control.
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