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 63
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Kan .; Peter is practicing law in Joliet; Franklin lives in Rooks County, Kan. The deceased chil- dren are Sarah, who died in infancy, and Mary who breathed her last in February, 1890.
Mr. Shutts has taken quite an active part in poli- tics, exercising the right of suffrage in behalf of the Democrat party. He has held the office of As- sistant Supervisor of Joliet Township several terms, and has been School Director thirteen years. He manifests a deep interest in the cause of education, as in other elevating movements, and as an official is judicious and able. He is a member of the Pres- byterian Church, to which his deceased wife also belonged.
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u LYSSES S. G. BLAKELY. editor and pro- prietor of the Plainfield Enterprise, though one of the youngest members of the editor- ial profession, has already won his way to a high position among the journalists of Will County, and his bright and newsy paper is classed among the ablest of its kind in this part of the State. Our subject comes of good New England stoek, and is himself a native of that part of the country, the town of Elmore, Lamoille County, Vt., being the place of his birth, and May 9, 1868, the date thereof. llis father. Caleb Blakely, was also born in the Green Mountain State. He was a natural me- chanie, and early learned the trade of a coachmaker, and followed it in Vermont till 1875, when he took advantage of a fine opening in Neenah, Wis., and was engaged at his trade there the ensuing three years. He then turned his attention to farming, purchasing a fine farm in Harrisville, Marquette County. He lived there and managed his farming interests until 1882, when on account of ill health. he was obliged to retire from active life, and rent- ing his farm, he moved to Chilton, and continued his residence in Wisconsin until his death in 1884. The maiden name of his wife was Catherine Deyo. She departed this life in Vermont. Eleven of the fourteen children born to them were reared to ma- turity, and ten of them are still living, as follows : William A., Hartland, Eliza, Mrs. Cram; Carrie, Mrs. Barrows ; Mary, Mrs. Bedell ; Ida, Mrs.
Sharpe; Nellie, Mrs. Scott; Myrtle, Mrs. Hamlin ; Eva E., Mrs. Marvin : Ulysses S. G.
The latter, of whom we write, was but four years of age when he had the sad misfortune to lose his mother. and he subsequently accompanied his father to Wisconsin. Ile remained with him until he was nine years old, and at that early age the manly, active, self-reliant little lad began to make his own way in the world, finding employment on a farm in Marquette County near Packwaukee, where he remained two years. We next hear of him in Michigan, where he was engaged in a chair factory in Reading, Hillsdale County. Two years later he threw up his situation there, and returned to Chil- ton, Wis. At the expiration of a year he again went to Michigan, and worked in a machine shop in Reading for some time. In 1887, he entered upon his career as a journalist, as he then came to Plainfield and in company with his brother-in-law, Rial A. Marvin, established the Plainfield Enter- prise, and opened a job printing office at the same time. After Mr. Marvin's death in August, 1888, our subject bought out his interest in the business and has ever since carried it on alone. Mr. Blakely is a bright, wide-awake young man, and while he has had no special training for his profession, he being mainly self-educated. his clear, well-balanced mind seems to be especially adapted to newspaper work, and he has achieved remarkable success in his calling. By his energetic management he has worked up the circulation of his paper to one thou- sand and fifty copies weekly, a remarkable list of subscribers for a country paper. His editorials are clear-cut, vigorous and right to the point, and al- ways display an intelligent knowledge of the subject under discussion. ilis paper is not the organ of any political party, but is independent in all things.
Mr. Blakely was married in September, 1887, to Miss Linnwood Bartholomew, a native of Reading, Hillsdale County. Her father. Amos Bartholomew, was born in Pompey. Onondaga County. N. Y., June 11, 1815, a son of Daniel Bartholomew, who was born November 18, 1777. fle, in turn, was a son of Joseph Bartholomew, who was born in Wal- lingford, Conn., August 25, 1752. He was a pio- neer of the town of Pompey, and there died in 1808. The maiden name of his wife was Esther
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Osborn. Daniel Bartholomew was married to Lucy Holliday. November 15, 1803. and died in Genesee County. N. Y .. December 2, 1851. Mrs. Blakely's father was reared and married in his native State, and going to Michigan in 1836. became one of its sturdy, enterprising pioneers. He bought a traet of timber land near Reading, and cleared a good farm from the wilderness. He now lives in honor- able retirement in the village of Reading. He was twice married. The maiden name of his second wife. Mrs. Blakely's mother, was Abbie Van Buren, and she was born in Charleton. Saratoga County. N. Y. Her father, Martin C. Van Buren, was a native of Broadalbion, Fulton County. N. Y., and married Nancy Vedder, who was born at the same place, and was of Holland descent. The father of Martin C. Van Buren was a brother of President Van Buren. John A. Van Buren. an uncle of Mrs. Blakely, was taken prisoner on June 1, 1864, and lived until January, 1865, when he died at Ander- sonville Prison. Mrs. Blakely was one of three children. Her sister Lizzie married Lester Rogers. and resides in Coldwater, Mich .: Mira E. the youngest of the three. died in 1882, aged eleven years.
ON. THOMAS J. KELLY. This gentleman, whose name will be at once recognized by many as that of a prominent merchant of Joliet, is serving that city as her Mayor for his third term, of two years each. His incum- beney of the office is marked by steps that reflect credit alike upon himself and the constituency that elected him and prove acceptable to the entire community. The dry-goods establishment on Jef- ferson Street that is conducted by Mr. Kelly is a flourishing enterprise, its patrons being sure of courteous treatment at the hands of the employes and of a strictly honorable dealing from all. no other method being permitted by the proprietor but that due to his self respeet and integrity.
The greater part of the life of our subject has been spent in this vicinity, although the Emerald Isle claims him as her son. He was born lune 24. 1841, and with his parents. Edward and Rose Kelly,
crossed the briny deep when about six years old. The father bought a farm five miles south of the city of Joliet, later becoming the owner of one three-fourths of a mile north of the city limits, upon which he resided until his death in 1871. The mother is still living, her home being in the city. The family were early members of St. Patrick's Church. The household band comprised four sons and three daughters, three of whom have joined their father beyond the tomb. Patrick Il. and Edward died in Watsonville, Cal .; Mary also is de- ceased. The survivors are T. J., the third in order of birth; Joseph A., the fifth; Kate and Bridget. Being a prosperous farmer and the owner of a fine property of three hundred and twenty acres of land, the elder Kelly was able to give his children good educational advantages and secure for them that best heritage.
With the exception of the time devoted to study in institutions of learning distant from his home, Thomas Kelly grew to maturity upon his father's farm. Ile attended the I'niversity of Notre Dame, at South Bend. Ind., and St. Mary's College at Wil- mington. Del .. completing his thorough course of study at the College of the Holy Cross in Montreal, Canada. For a time after being graduated he car- ried on agricultural work on the old farm, but since 1887 has been continuously in business in the city of Joliet. He had become one of the prominent farmers of the county as he is now one of the prom - inent merchants of the city.
The career of the Ion. M. Kelly as a public ser- vant began in 1880 when he was elected Supervisor of Joliet City and township. The following year he was re-elected and in 1883 was the successful candidate for the Mayoralty, continuing in the office four years. In 1881 and 1886 he was also Assistant Supervisor of the township and city, and for a year or two was Chairman of the County Board. Again has he been elected to act as Mayor. a place for which his high mental attainments and good judgment amply qualify him.
The estimalde wife of Mr. Kelly bore the maiden name of Mary Fitzpatrick, the rites of wedlock having been celebrated between them September to, 1868. Mrs. Kelly is a daughter of Patrick Fitzpatrick, an early settler of the county in which
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he located in 1832. She was born on the farm di- reetly west of Lockport, was educated at St. Mary's Academy, at South Bend, Ind .. and possesses many fine traits of character.
St. Mary's Church was organized as a parish in 1867. with Father Flannigan as the first pastor in charge. He was succeeded in 1869 by the Rev. P. W. Riordan, now Archbishop of San Francisco,and he in turn by Rev. J. Mackin now of Elgin, Kane County. The Rev. Thomas Murphy was the next incumbent in charge, he being the man who began the erection of the new church, dying suddenly of apoplexy before its completion in 1877. The next pastor of the church was the Rev. M. F. Burk, who completed the building to its present condition and erected the fine stone building on Eastern Avenue that accommodates the parochial school. The latter editice compares favorably with any school build- ing in the city. It is known as the Sacred Heart. and is conducted by the Ladies of Loretto. After a most successful pastorate of ten years, Father Burk was appointed Bishop of Cheyenne, and was succeeded here by the present pastor, the Rev. Father Thomas P. Mangan.
RED EBERHART. It does not take a vis- itor long to determine the status of the business houses which line the streets of any town, and to decide who among the trades- men are popular, as well as of good repute in financial circles. 1 cursory view of the business houses of Manhattan would lead to the opinion that the gentleman above named occupies the front rank among the dealers in that flourishing corpo- ration. He is engaged in the sale of lumber, coal, paints and oils, and general building material, and also does a good business as a contractor and builder. In fact, during the last few years he has put up the most of the houses which have been built.
The immediate progenitors of this gentleman are Benediet and Anna (Palmer) Eberhart, both na. tives of Switzerland. The father was born in Can- ton Berne, and reared upon a farm there. lle
emigrated to America when twenty-one years old, immediately after his marriage, and settled near Frankfort, this eounty. For a time he rented land but finally purchased a good farm in the same township upon which he resided until 1877. He then sold it and buying one hundred and sixty acres of improved land on section 11, Manhattan Township, changed his place of abode to that which he is now occupying. Although sixty years of age he is still active and able to continue the control of his estate. Politically, he is a Democrat, and religiously, a Presbyterian. Ilis father-in-law, Jacob A. Palmer, also came to America in 1851, and after living in Frankfort Township for a time. re- moved to LaPorte, Ind., where his comfortable cir- enmstances enabled him to live in retirement until his death.
The parental family, of which our subject is the oldest member, also includes John, whose home is at Ft. Sidney, Neb .; Charles. who resides in Joliet; Louis, who is at home; llenry. with our subject; Albert and Mary, at home; Anna, a milliner and dressmaker in Manhattan ; and Mrs. Rosa Morse, who lives in Manhattan Township.
The natal day of our subject was February 29, 1856, and his birthplace a farm in Frankfort Town- ship. Ile enjoyed the privileges afforded by the common schools and the Frankfort graded school, and like most lads reared upon a farm, began to lend a hand while still quite young. He divided his time between his school and farm labors until the age of twenty-five, when he became a elerk in a grocery store in Spencer. After a time he went to Chicago, where he officiated as scaleman at the Kinzie Street Station.
The next change of Mr. Eberhart was to Man . hattan, this county, in 1879. Here he became a clerk for J. Cockle, the first merchant here, and sold the first groceries over a counter in the village. After clerking a year the young man returned to Chicago and began speculating in the bucket-shop adjoining the Board of Trade on LaSalle Street, getting his real start in life there as a successful broker in every article of trade. In the fall of 1882, he came again to Manhattan, bought out A. H. King. a lumber dealer, and has since conducted a very successful business in that line. Manhattan
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is a good business point, with a rapidly increasing trade, and the various articles in which Mr. Eber- hart now deals are in constant demand. He owns block 3, where the sheds for lumber, coal, ete., are located. He also owns several town lots here and in the West, together with three hundred and twenty acres of farming land in Cheyenne County, Neb., near Ft. Sidney.
After having lived in single blessedness until the age of thirty-two years, Mr. Eberhart contracted a matrimonial alliance on February 2d, 1889. Ilis chosen companion was Miss Minnie Jacobs, who was born in Green Garden Township, comes of re- speeted parents and is herself a fine specimen of noble womanhood. She is the daughter of Corne- lius Jacobs, a farmer. Mr. Eberhart helped to in- corporate the village of Manhattan and was elected a member of its first Board of Trustees, hold- ing the office until 1890. He was Township Clerk for eight years, resigning all public office in 1890, and retiring to private life.
Mr. Eberhart, as will be seen from the above notes, is personally responsible for his substantial finances and the high position which he occupies as a business man and citizen. He is one of those zealous men who devote much time and ability to the improvement of the town with whose citi- zens they have cast in their lot, and to whom is dne in a large measure the prosperity of the entire community. Ile is a Democrat and has served as a delegate to county conventions. He is a social man of jovial and kindly nature and a popular member of society.
B. BENSEN, dealer in eoal and ice at .lo- liet. established himself in his present busi- ness in 1881. lle is still a young man, having been born February 3, 1856, and his native place was on the other side of the Atlantic, in Sweden. His parents were Benjamin and Jennie (Hawkinson) Bensen, who died when their son, our subjeet, was a small child. He thereafter made his home with his grandparents. but at an early age struck out for himself and has fought his own
way in the world. He came to America when a lad of fifteen years, landing in the city of Quebec, Canada. in the year 1871.
Mr. Bensen did not sojourn very long in the Do- minion, but coming to Bureau County, this State, located in Princeton and employed himself as a clerk in a grocery store. remaining in Bureau County about eighteen months. Thence he came to Joliet, and for a period of ten years was in the employ of J. D. Paige, the well-known soda water manufacturer. At the expiration of this time he embarked in the grocery business, in which he was engaged two years successfully, but believing there were better returns in coal and ice, transferred his interests accordingly to the latter. lle is looked upon as one of Joliet's live business men, being possessed of temperate habits and the straightfor- ward methods which can hardly result other wise than in success. Mr. Bensen is an admirer of fine horses, having a number in which he justly takes pride.
ICHAEL E. BANNON. For the past twenty years, Mr. Bannon has been success- fully engaged in the grocery trade at Jol- iet. Ile has thus become widely and fav- orably known to a large number of its people and by upright dealing and prompt attention to the wants of his customers. has built up an extended patronage. His native haunts were on the other side of the Atlantic. in County Roscommon, Fre- land, where he was presented to his parents on Christmas day, 1816. The latter were Edward and Catherine (Lennon) Bannon who emigrated to Ameriea in 185t. and in the spring following located in Joliet. The father, an honest and indus- trious man, employed himself as a laborer and de- parted this life in Joliet, in 1881. The mother is living in Joliet.
To the parents of Mr. Bannon there was born a family of eight children, five sons and three daugh- ters of whom M. E., was the eldest. One son and two daughters are deceased. P. R .. is numbered among the contractors and builders of JJoliet; lobn M., occupies himself as a butcher; Edward follows
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carpentering in this city; Kate is at home with her widowed mother; M. E., our subject, although but five years old when leaving his native Ireland, carries in his mind a picture of his old home, and many of the incidents occuring on the trip across the ocean.
Mr. Bannon was not permitted to spend very much time in school during his boyhood and when but a lad assumed the sterner duties of life, going into the country to work for a farmer by the name of Michael Bannon at 86 per month. He was z occupied in farm pursuits until a youth of about eighteen years, and then for two years went into the stone quarries of Sanger & Steele. He, how- ever, could only work in the quarry during the summer time and in the winter he dealt in coal.
In 1869, Mr. Bannon embarked in the grocery business which he has since successfully followed. In 1884, he invested some of his capital in the tile business which proved a bad venture, and he states that whenever he has experimented with any busi- ness outside of groceries and provisions, he got the worst of the bargain. When reaching his major- ity he allied himselt with the Democratic party, and in religion he adheres to the Catholic faith of his forefathers.
Mr. Bannon took uuto himself as wife and help- mate. August 28, 1886, Miss Anna, daughter of James O'Reilly, of Joliet, and they are the parents of three bright children, . Maurice, Eviline and Margaret.
SEL KENDRICK HYLAND is the owner of a good farm in the fine farming country embraced in Will County. It is beautifully located on section 36, of Plain- field Township, four and one-half miles northwest of Joliet, and under his skillful management has been brought to a high state of improvement and productiveness. His residence is especially com- fortable, and a view of it with the farm surround- ings, appears on another page.
Mr. Hyland is of New England origin, born among the pleasant hills of Roxbury, Vt., July 2.
1840. Ilis father, Consider Hyland, is thought to have been a native of the same State, where he was reared to agricultural pursuits. He bought a farm and operated it until 1844, when he left the Green Mountain State to take up his residence in the wilds of Will County, Ill. Accompanied by his wife and seven children. he started on the journey with a team and proceeded to Lake Champlain and cross- ing that eame by Champlain and Erie Canals to Buffalo,and thence by the lakes to Chicago, where he took a team for Plainfield. At that time Will County was sparsely settled and had few of the ad- vantages of civilized life.
Mr. Hyland bought a traet of land partly im- proved and situated one and one-half miles north- east of the village. The people lived in the most primitive manner. there being but few traveling facilities, no railways or canals. Chicago was the nearest market, and it was the custom for five or six of the neighboring farmers to go into the city at the same time, the most of them using ox-teams and traveling over the prairies, there being no roads as yet made. Mr. Hyland resided on bis farm and engaged in its improvement until death closed his useful career August 9, 1854. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Minerva Farwell. She was a native of Vermont, and passed her last years quietly on the old home- stead in Plainfield. There were eleven children bom to herself and husband, eight of whom were reared to years of maturity.
*The son of whom we write was a lad of four years when he came to lllinois with his parents. Ile attended the pioneer schools which were con- dueted in the primitive schoolhouse, with its home- made furniture and rude fireplace. He was initi- ated into the work of the farm and remained with his mother until he was twenty-three; after his mar- riage, he bought the interest of the other heirs in the old homestead and resided there one year. He then sold it advantageously and bought a farm in the same township, which he ocenpied one year, after which he disposed of it and purchased another not far away. He lived on the latter seven years, and, then selling, turned his attention to the butcher's business in which he was engaged for nine months. In 1873 he bought the place where
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RESIDENCE OF A. K. HYLAND , SEC. 36. PLAINFIELD TP. WILL CO.ILL.
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' EVERGREEN STOCK FARM"RESIDENCE OF THOS. CLARK, 1/2.M. NORTH OF BEECHER, ILL.
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he now resides. It comprises eighty acres of valua- ble farming land in an excellent condition and sup plied with all desirable improvements, including a substantial dwelling and other needed buildings.
The marriage of Mr. Hyland with Josephine Green was solemnized in 1864, and has proved of mutual benefit. They have four children : Emma. Bert, Gertrude and Howard. Mrs. Hyland is a na- tive of Will County, and a daughter of Deacon Dennison and Otilla Green. Her father was a na- tive of Westfield, Otsego County, N. Y., and was born February 13, 1807. to Archibald and Hannah (Brown) Green. At the youthful age of twelve years Le commenced to learn the trade of a black- smith, and served an apprenticeship of nine years in his native town. After that he did journeyman work, and then moving to Oneida County, estab- lished himself at his trade, opening a shop and carrying on the business there until 1836. Then with his wife and one child he started for Illinois, coming via the Erie Canal and the lakes to Chi- cago, and thence by stage to JJoliet, which was at that time but a small hamlet. the only tavern there being kept in a little unpainted frame house. Two of his brothers-in-law lived but a short distance away and he engaged there in a saw-mill for nearly two years; then. buying property at Joliet, be built a house and shop and carried on blacksmithing until 1845. In that year he came to Plainfield, and buy- ing property built a home and a smithy which he managed many years. He acquired a comfortable competence and now lives in honorable retirement. Deacon Green was married January 26, 1831. to Miss Otilla Wheeler, a native of Lebanon. N. Y., | and a daughter of Samuel and Mercy (Bently) Wheeler. All of the five children born to thea are still living and are named as follows: Judson D., Lovi. Emma S., M. Josephine and B. Wheeler. Deacon Green and wife have a proud record as church members, they having been faithful work- 1 ers in the Baptist Church for nearly sixty years, joining the First Baptist when it was organized at Joliet, and Mr. Green was soon made Deacon.
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A son of a pioneer and one who has done pioneer work himself in the improvement and cultivation of a farm, our subject is a regular and welcome at- tendant at all pioneer meetings. He is a well-read
man and is well informed on topies of generat con- versation. lle is a man of excellent habits and good principles and in every relation is true to himself and those around him. He and his family are people of good standing in religious and social circles in the community and are regular atten- dants of the Baptist Church. Politically, he is a supporter of the Republican party.
6 HOMAS CLARK, a practical and successful breeder of Hereford cattle. is located on a fine farm, one mile northeast of Beecher. It comprises one hundred and twenty acres on see- tion 9. Washington Township, that were selected with a view to their present use, and are adapted by nature and improvement for the purpose. The " Evergreen Stock Farm ' is known far and near, and well repay- a visit, the owner being thoroughly posted regarding the stock in which he takes such delight. Perhaps the most noticeable feature of the improvements is the commodious stock-barn, 67×07 feet, with a capacity for one hundred head of cattte and a large amount of hay and grain. All the buildings are well. constructed and suffici- cutly large for the various purposes for which they were designedl.
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