USA > Illinois > Will County > Souvenir of settlement and progress of Will County, Ill. A review of the lives of our presidents, political, military and commercial history of the United States and of the state of Illinois Business directory of Joliet Comp. specially for the people of the county > Part 36
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The last report to the Annual Conference returned 232 mem- bers and the church property was valued at $13,000. The pres- ent church edifice is the third that this church has built and used. It is a fine stone structure with anditorium capable of seating 400 persons.
In 1880 this church celebrated its semi-centennial with a
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366
PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP HISTORY.
jubilee meeting of three days duration, and several of its early and more recent pastors were present and participated in the exercises.
In 1836 this society erected the first house of worship in the town. In 1854 the church here was consolidated with the soci- ety at Lockport. In 1868, after a separate station was formed, the present house of worship was erected at a cost of $22,000. It was built of Plainfield stone.
Baptist Church was organized by Rev. J. E. Ambrose, Octo- ber 16, 1834, with the following members :- Leonard Moore, Elizabeth Moore, Thomas Rickey and wife, Rebecca Carmon, and Alfred B. Hubbard. In 1836 the first house of worship was erected, and continued in use until 1857, when the present church was built at a cost approximating $5,000.
Congregational Church was organized by Rev. N. C. Clark in September, 1834, with James Mather and wife, Ezra Good- hue and wife, Andrew Carrier and wife and Oliver Goss and wife. The total abstinance resolution formed a characteristic of this society. During the winter of 1835-6 the Methodists, Baptists and Congregationalists joined in revival services, after which, the church as constituted in 1834 ceased. In the summer of 1836 a Presbyterian society was organized by Rev. N. Gould, which continued until March 14, 1843, when the Congregational form of government was re-adopted by the following members: Ezra Goodhue, Martha Goodhne, Catharine G. Hagar, Martha Jane Goodhue, Jonathan Hagar, Andrew Johnson, D., Laura Johnson, D., Sarah G. Royce, Ada Royce, Juliette Olmsted, D., Maria Morgan, Wealthy Beckwith, Phebe Pettingell, Marietta Foster, Ex. Rev. Isaac Foster, 1836, Rev. E. G. Howe, 1841, and Rev. E. E. Wells, 1842, were the pastors during the earlier years of this society. E. W. Champlin was pastor in 1843; Daniel Chapman in 1845; D. R. Miller, 1854, and W. D. Webb, 1854; Timothy Lyman in 1859; Josiah A. Mack in 1862; Daniel Clark in 1866; Norman A. Millard, Edward Ebbs, A. E. Alla- ben, and Rev. Lyman S. Keen, the present pastor. The mem- bership is 86, with property valued at $3,000.
Evangelical Society was formed about 1851, and a house of worship erected in 1855, at a cost of $3,000. Here the North- western college was established in 1851, and conducted under the auspices of this church until 1869.
Tile Factory .- This is one of the manufacturing industries of the township. The Plainfield Tile Company was organized in May, 1883, with William Lascom, president; A. G. Brown, secretary; and C. G. Frazier, treasurer. The capacity is about 1,000,000 tiles annually-giving employment to from twelve to fifteen men yearly. They have invested in building, machinery, etc., nearly $10,000.
Tax-Payers of Plainfield Township .- For the following list
367
PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP HISTORY.
the post-office address is Plainfield, with very few exceptions, which are noted.
Abel, Aug., 21
Brown, T. W., 18
Annis, Matilda
Brown, C. M., 28
Anglemere, E.
Brown, E. F.
Amon, Lucius, 24
Bristoll, George S., 33
Arbiter, Charles, 32
Brown, E. F.
Colson, William Cobb, Benjamin Cotton, William, 21 Countryman, Nancy, 26
Ashley, Cyrus Ashley, R. B.
Brainard & Murray, 16
Ashley, J. R.
Bronson, Lucinda
Colson, William, 35
Asher, John
Brown, Oliver G.
Cropsey, D. W.
Aspel, John
Bronson, Colman
Cropsey, S., Mrs.
Ashley, R., 10
Bronk, Jonas
Crouch, John Crawford, William
Austin, C. T. E., 8
Bucks, Henry, 15
Culver, Serena, 14
Austin, F. E.
Burchart, Peter, 15
Culver, Harvey
Austin, Charles
Burch, Eliza H., 15
Aultman, Cornelius, 10, Burkstaller, T., 15
Canton, Ohio.
Burdick, Harrison, 20
Darr, Emma
Bartholp, Gillian
Burdick, Louis, 19
Daly, George
Barber, D. N.
Bump, Jennie
Darr, George
Bangs, R. W.
Burdick, Esther
Davis, Delos W.
Bartlett, R. T., 10
Bartlet. Dewan
Beckwith, Albert, 22 Beebe, Frank
Burns, John
Davis, William
Beggs, James W.
Burrill, John, 24
Daily, G. R.
Beggs, S. R., 15
Caswell, George T
Davis, E. G.
Beggs, James
Cain, W. H.
Daily, J. J.
Belmont, Fannie
Catchpole, Daniel, 10
Demeritt, Charles, 9
Caldwell, J. B., 22
De Long, Benjamin
Caton, W. R., Joliet
Deveraux, R.
Beckwith, A. S.
Carter, Marlby C., 19
Deveraux, R. F.
Bennett, George
Cain, William H., 10
Deveraux, R. T., 16
Bishop, J. E., 15 Bingham, E.
Caton, Arthur
Dockenlorf, Theodore, 29
Bills, John, 11 Bliss, Allen
Carey, George Cary, G. N., 21
Drouden, Felton, 20
Bolton, Hugh, 24
Caswell, R. H.
Drumm, Adam 30
Bolton, H. M., 24
Chittenden, G. N., 28
Drumm, W. H.
Boland, Patrick, 25 Bond, George T.
Church, M. E.
Drouden, John, 21
Bolton, A. E.
Cheeney, Mrs.
Drew, Phebe
Book, Peter, 4
Chaplin, James, 4
Dundore, B. K.
Boniface, M.
Cheeney, Dan., 9
Dundore, P. Y.
Boyd, S. H., Mrs.
Chittenden & Smillie
Dunlap, Wilson
Bowering, John
Chittenden, G. N. & Co. Dunkle, Moses, 15
Book, Peter Brainard, S., 3
Clark, W. E.
Dundore, Benjamin, 3
Brisbin, James R.
Clippinger, E. C., 7
Duncle, John
Brown, James, 22 Brown, Elisha, 19
Colson, Judson, 10 Corbin, Elihu Corbin, Laura, 7
Essington, Geo., 24
Brown, Thomas, 18 Bristol, E. E.
Colegrove, S. G., 10
Evans, Milton H.
Brogan, Emma, 33
Conant, O. E., 23
Everton, T. J., 34
Collins, James H
Evans, C. W.
Brown, Charles Brown, Willard T., 32
Corbin, Sarah A
Evans, E. 15
Billings, Henry, 15
Caton, J. D., Ottawa. Cadd, W. G.
Dice, Michael
Diltman, L. E., 26
Doud, J. L.
Bedford, John, 28 Beebe, A.
Burdick, Abigail, P. O. Darr, James Washington Ter.
Dailey, Jacob 13
Burch, Walter, 10
Davis, Joseph
Cup, F. Darr, James
Ashley, Abigail
Burch, W.
Brown, E., 19
Countryman, Joseph Collins, Harriet Corbin, A. F.
Clippinger, J. A.
Dunn, Robert Dunkle, Mrs.
Etter, Louis
Chase, E. T., Joliet
Drouden, Michael, 29
368
PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP HISTORY.
Evans, John
Geist, Jacob, 18 Geist, Samuel, 27
Geist, Hiram G., 35
Geist, L.
Geist, Albert Geist, J. Wesley Geist, Chas. W.
Gibson, Michael 35
Gillespie, Mary Mrs.
Gilbert, E. W.
Hill, Hannah
Hicks, Joseph
Highland, A. K., 35
Glascow, J. S., 20
Hoffer, Geo., 23
Hoag, T. C., Evanston
Horton, Chas., 18
Finch, Martha M. Mrs.10 Grundy, Samuel, 18
First, H. C. Fickes, John
Green, B. W., 16 Greenwood, Wm., 10
Hyland, F. B.
Fitch, Wm.
Green, D. D., 10
Green, M. V., 19-10
Hyland, Granville D.
Hyland, E. J., 28
Grant, Justus, 15
Hyland, F. B., 10
Flagg, B. H., 10
Green, R. M., 17
Flagg, W. H., 10
Grooses, R. B., 22
Hyland, Sarah E
Flagg, G. W., 3
Hahn, J. D., 1
Jacobs, Mary J.
Folsom, E. Mrs.
Hahn, Wm. F.
Jackson, Wm., 18
Foster, LaFayette, 9
Hager, Jonathan Harshbarger, Geo. H., 8 Jennis, T. W.
Foster, Lyman, 27
Harlong, Elias
Jordan, Allen, 10
Fouser, David W., 13
Hayes, James
Jones, Lydia, Detroit, M.
Fouser, Geo. W., 13
Harmon, Ann
Johnson, John W.
Fouser, Jacob
Harrmon, C. H
Johnson, W. M.
Fouser, Henry, 15
Harris, Jedediah, 14
Johnson, J. W.
Foss, L. T., 25
Hatch, S. S. Mrs.
Johnson, W. M.
Foss, B. C., 25
Hamlin, Henry S., 15
Kanaga, J. M.
Foss, Wilber
Harmon, Sheldon
Keen, James C.
Fouser, E. Fouser, J. J.
Harbaugh, Isaac
Kennelly, Daniel, 35
Foster Estate
Hartranft, E
Keene, W. S.
Frasier, Charles, 15
Hamlin, Harry
Kerwin, M.
Frasier, Harvey R.
Haywood, James
Kennelly, S. M.
Fry, G. H.
Hamlin, N. S., 14 Hall, W. P.
Keene, Lucy
Fraumhoff, Wm., 20 Fry, Jacob
Hatch, A. J. Hahn, G. D.
King, T., 8
Friend, Mrs. C. M.
Hartigan, Patrick
King, A. J., 15
Fraser, Ellen E. Mrs.
Hager, Adeline E., 20
King, Daniel
Fridley, D., 4 Frank, A. A Fraser, C. E.
Hartwich, Mrs. C., 21
Koch, Eva
Harford, C. and L. C., 16 Kopps, Ferd.
Hanson, James
Kopps, Joseph
Fridley, John Fry & Garvul, 21
Hartwich, Fred., 16
Kune, S. S.
Funk, W., 27 Gardner, Martin Gates, Isaac
Harlong, J. J., 23 Heinstret, Alonzo, 10
Lawrence, M.
Gascoigne, Wm.
Heiss, Rolland
Leppert, Jacob Lockwood, W. C.
Garberman, A. Garberman, H., 21
Henry, Isaac, 13
Luce, Bella Luce, G. B., 10
Gaylord, John
Hess, W. S., 21 Herron, Jacob
Martin, A. R.
Herron, Albert, 17 Hertzog, George, 21 Hertzog, George Heis, R. B., 12 Heoffer, Philip
Hess, R. W., 21
Hess, D. W. Hicks, Joseph, 9
Hicks, James F.
Gilmer, John, Sr., 6 Gleason, James
Glascow, R., 19
Goodson, Wm., 33
Hoag, Chas.
Hyland, Granville, 2
Hyland, E. N.
Flagg, Wm. H. Flagg, Geo., 3 Flanders, Jason, 9
Graves, R. B
Hyland, A. K.
Jessup, D. W.
Fouser, Jacob
Hartwich, August, 16
Kean, Wm.
Kenneson, M. J.
Kesser, S. S.
Frey, Jacob, 28
Hagar, T. E., 20
Kops, John, 28
Hammond, J. K., 27
Lang, Thomas J., 3
Evans, Frank S Fairbaim, John, 6 Falson, Mrs. E., 7 Ferguson, Andrew, 5 Fellows, G. Fellows, John Feddyment, Fred., 17 Fellows, George Ferguson, Robert, 35 Fellows, George, 21 Fellows, Jeremiah Ferner, G. W. Ferguson, Jos. M. Fiches, David, 1
369
PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP HISTORY.
Martin, A. R., 25
Norris, P. F.
Norton, H. S., 3
Schreffler, E. C. Schwab, Mrs.
Mather, Joshua E., 27 Martin, A. R., 25 Martin, J. P. Manville, A. M., 1
Offerman, H., 28
Scott, Robert J.
Offerman, John, 21
Schimarr, Mat, 1
Martin, Jesse, 25
Owens, John C.
Schofield, Mary J.
Mack, F. K.
Parr, J. L.
Schofield, S. S., 10
McChester, Geo.
Padley, Geo. M.
McElhose, Martha, 33
Peer, Mrs. L.
Schofield, A.
McElhose, Wm., 27
Perry, S.
Sennit, John, 16
McNeal, James
Perkins, A. J., 22
Senenbaugh, S. F.
McClellan, John, 21
Pennick, James
Shutt, Peter, 22
McCreary, Joseph, 27
Perry, L.
Sharp, James, 15
McCloskey, Wm.
Phillip, Jos.
McClintock, Joseph, 27
Pilcher, Mrs. M. L.
McAllister, Edward, 23
Pickel, Geo., 24
McCloskey, D. E.
Pike, W. D., 10
Shaw, W. E.
McCloskey, E. J.
Platt, J. W.
Shaw, George E., 27
McCloskey, Alex., 12
Platt, E. D.
Shelk, G.
McCarty, Wm.
Platt, John, 15
Shelken, G., 21
McCreevy, A. J.
Pratt, Samuel S.
Simmons, And., 25
McMucken, John
Pratt, S S.
Simm, James, B'dwood.
McCleary, James, 28
Pratt, H. S., 7
Sims, Joseph, 10
Metcalf, Judith
Price, H. S.
Simmons, A. T.
Metcalf, Samuel W., 27
Rathburn, B. F., 1
Simmons, S. W., 10
Metcalf, August
Ray, Alonzo, 21
Simmons, S., 10
Metcalf, Edw. H.
Rauch, Michael
Sloan, G. W.
Metcalf, T. H., 27
Rathburn, S. R.
Sloan, Sally
Metcalf, S., 27
Rafter, John, 28
Sly, Seneca
Miles, O.
Rafter, Patrick, 36
Smith, J. S., 4
Miller, H.
Raush, Peter, 32
Smith, Geo. F.
Mottinger, A. E.
Rank, Mrs.
Smith, C. E.
Mottinger, Caroline
Raber, Cyrus
Smiley, James H.,
Mottinger, John
Reese, A., 36
Smith, John
Mottinger, S. L., 11
Reeves, Parker, 10
Smith, Conrad, 12
Moody, Mary L.
Reeves, Jerome B., 11
Smith, Geo. Y., 1
Mottinger, L. H.
Rease, John
Smith, George, 12 Smith, J., 2
Mottinger & Simmons,
Richardson, Henry, 6
Mottinger, Leo, 10
Richmond, R., 8
Moss, Wm., 5
Richmond, Margaret Rohe, J.
Souden, James, 24
Moss, Wm., Sr., 5
Robertson Bros.
Sontagg Bros. Spangler, Adam, La Port
Morgan, Samuel W.
Royce, Miles
Spangler, Samuel, 1
Moss, G. B.
Roberts, Harriet E.
Spangler, W. Z.
Moss, G. B. & Wm.
Rock, Martin, 11
Spangler, P. W., 10
Murray, Mary J., 25
Munroe, Mary J.
Robertson, Daniel Rose, O. H. Roberts, Emma
Spangler, Henry, 15 Spangler, Z., 11 Spangler, John
Murray, Frank Needham, Charles
Robertson, A. L. Royce, Mrs. Russell, W., 26
Spangler, John, 5 Spencer, Horace Stewart, T. A., 27
Neiswender, H., 15 Neiswender, Eliza Niver, Morris
Ryburn, David, 26
Niver, Wm. M., 25
Ryburn, A. C., 26 Ryburn, Thos. A.
Steigle, Charles, 5
Nixon, Robert Norton, Harriet
Scofield, Wm.
Snapp, George
Schofield, Amos H.
Striker, Peter
Mottinger Bros.
Rhodes, Eli
Smitz, J. P. Snowden, M. A.
Snyder, Richard
Moss, W. F., 4
Monroe, Hugh
Royce, Miller
Munroe, S. D. Mrs., 27
Spangler, A. S., 10
Ruban, Mary A.
Stratton, H., 21 Stratton, H. H., 9
Niver, Elias, 25
Oliver, M. E. Mrs., 10
Schimar, Mat
Schofield, A. H., 10
Sharp, William, 17 Sheffler, J. D., 21 Sharp, Mary E.
370
PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP HISTORY.
Stewart, Thomas A.
Vanderwort, K. M., 19 Willis, J. C.
Steiner, Fred, 6
Van Horn, L. M. Willard, John
Sundland, Noah, 3
Vinson, William, 9 Willis, W., 10
Sunderland, N.
Vinson, Thomas
Wiley, John, 6
Sweetwood, W. P.
Warner, William Wood, E. J., 9
Talson, Mrs. E., 7
Wagner, John B.
Woodhouse, Charles W.
Thorp, Henry Wagner, James
. Worst, Albert
Thompson, William
Watkins, Eliza
Wood, M. R., 16
Thurston, John
Waltz, Nathan
Wright, R. B.
Tonner, Luella
Wagner, John B., 12
Wright, W.
Tobias, T. R.
Watkins, Henry
Wraith, James
Townsend, William, 12
Webb, K., 16
Wright, Mrs. E.
Turner, Moz, 10
Webb, Robert D.
Wright, Erza
Turney, Thomas
Wentzbacher, Mrs. E.
Wright, R. B., 9
Tyler, S. B., 1
White, William P.
Young, Henry, 10
Tyler, A. H. Mrs.
Whitley, B.
Zimmerman, E. C.
Vanolinda, Ira
Wirtzbacher, P. W., 13
Zimmerman, D.
Valentine, Daniel, 6
Willard, John
Zimmerman, H.
Van Horn, John, 27 Williams, A. Mrs.
The school report for 1883 gives the following statistics :- 734 persons under 21 years, 473 enrolled ; 11 teachers ; 8 school buildings, etc., valued at $15,700; total expenditures for year, $5,663.15.
Personal History .- In the following Biographical notices many of the pioneers of this township are referred to:
Rev. Stephen R. Beggs, born in Rockingham county, Va., March 30, 1801 ; moved to Will county in July 1821, and settled near his present homestead, on section 15. The old home was known as Fort Beggs. He was married in Washington, Taswell county, Ill., in 1831, to Miss Elizabeth Heath, daughter of Wm. Heath, of that county. He married his present wife, Miss Sarah R., daughter of Amos Dibbell and Charlotte Williams, of New York State, in 1868, at Woodford, Ill. He has served the ministry of the M. E. Church for the past sixty-two years, preach- ing his first sermon at Charleston, Ind., in 1821. He is one of the oldest, if not actually the oldest resident of Will county.
George Bennett, born at Detroit, Mich., September 1, 1818, settled in Will county in 1855, and has been a resident of Plain- field since that time.
A. G. Beckwith, son of the late Dudley Beckwith, was born in Lawrence county, N. Y., in 1817; came with his parents to Chicago at an early day, and settled at Plainfield village in 1835. His marriage with Miss Laura Foster, daughter of Lyman Fos- ter, took place in 1842. Dudley Beckwith settled here with his family in 1835, and established his blacksmith shop the same year.
Lorin Burdick, deceased, was born in Chittenden county, Vermont, April 30, 1797; settled in York State in 1830 and six years later came to Plainfield township. He purchased the quarter section now known as the McNeff farm, on which he resided until 1858 when he removed to the home of his later
371
PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP HISTORY.
years. When the pioneer court house of the county was being erected it was Mr. Burdick who hauled the lumber from Chicago; it was he who hewed the lumber for the first bridge, first mill, first house of worship and first hotel in Plainfield. He, with Messrs. Bump and Brunson, laid out the old cemetery on the site of the present one, and he assisted in the first burial there, that of Mrs. Brunson. He burned the first coal pit at Plainfield, and thus inaugurated many of the first industries and public improvements. His death occurred August 3, 1878, the result of taking a solution of Paris-green instead of sulphur. He served at Plattsburg in the war of 1812; sent one son to the Mexican war who died there, and contributed three sons to the defense of the Union, 1861-5. (See record of Louis and Josiah Burdick, 100th Illinois Infantry). Samuel Burdick served among the Iowa Volunteers. Lorin Burdick was married to Miss Esther Bixby of Essex county, Vermont, August 12, 1796.
Harrison Burdick, son of Lorin Burdick, was born in Ver- mont, March 31, 1833, resided with his father until 1854 and settled on his farm in section 20 in 1865. Miss Harriet Paul, to whom he was married, died September 21, 1870, leaving eight children.
Jonas Bronk, born at Albany, New York in 1829; settled in Kendall county, Illinois in 1854, where he resided until 1882, when he located at Plainfield township where he owns 145 acres of land on section 16. He was married in 1853 to Miss Footbeg of Albany, New York.
Jasper Bronk, son of Jonas Bronk, born in Kendall county, Illinois in 1861, was married to Miss Emma Highland, March 11, 1884.
Daniel Catchpole, section 10, was born in Norfolk, England, in 1816; came to Jefferson county, New York in 1835 and to Plainfield, Illinois in 1837. He was married in 1840 to Miss Margaret Burdick, daughter of the late Lorin Burdick. They are the parents of seven children.
George N. Chittenden, born in Summit county, Ohio, April 15, 1818; began the study of Medicine in 1838; entered on practice in 1843 which he continued until 1847 when he located a farm in Michigan; in 1849 he moved to South Bend, Indiana to take the management of a woolen mill there; in 1851 he settled at Lockport, Illinois, and in 1852 he located at Plain- field with the business, at which village he has been promi- nently identified. His public record is given in the Official History. In 1876 he was delegate to the Cincinnati National Convention. His business interests here are under the manage- ment of W. H. Chillender and Alfred T. Corbin (see Business Directory).
Elihu Corbin, born in Rutland, Vermont, May 28, 1813;
372
PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP HISTORY.
came to Will county in 1832, and settled on his present home- stead. He was married at Cleveland, April 16, 1837, to Miss Eliza Ann Fish, daughter of Ebenezer Fish of Connecticut, then residing at Cleveland, Ohio. Has a family of six children, three sons and three daughters-Lewis B. and Alfred T. are with Chittenden & Co., Plainfield; Edward W. with Webb & Co., Salida, Colorado; Miss Hannah Corbin was married to Captain Darius Sullivan of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry; Miss Emily Corbin to Em. Holbrook of Batavia, Illinois. Mr. Corbin has been elected and re-elected as justice of the peace for the last twenty-four years.
Lester G. Colgrove was born in Franklin county, Vermont, in 1818; moved to Will county in 1840, and settled in Wheat- land township; he removed to his present residence in Plainfield village in 1873. Was married in this county in 1840, to Miss Lucretia Ingersoll, daughter of the late Chester Ingersoll, who laid out the town of Plainfield. He has a family of five daugh- ters, viz :- Flavilla Colegrove, married to Joseph Buffham, farmer of Calhoun county, Iowa; Eliza Colegrove, married to George Rivett, farmer of Grundy county, Illinois; M. Colegrove, married to George Flagg of Plainfield; Ida Colegrove, married to Wheeler Green of Plainfield; Miss Dell Colegrove.
A. E. Conant, born in York county, Maine, December 9, 1818; settled in section 25, Plainfield, 1854. His marriage with Miss Eliza Philbrook of Kennebec county, Maine, took place June 8, 1853.
O. J. Corbin, M. D., deceased, was born in New Hampshire, May 2, 1807; graduated from Dartmouth Medical College; settled at Plainfield in 1836, as a physician; died April 3, 1869. He married Miss M. L. Goss, who settled here with her parents in 1833. This lady died in 1864, aged forty-eight years.
Daniel W. Cropsey, born at Peterboro, New York, February 15, 1797, came to Will county in 1846; purchased 480 acres of land from Chester Ingersoll, and located his home on the north- west quarter of section 36-an 80 acre tract, which took the prize, as being the best cultivated farm of that area in the county, offered by the County Agricultural Society in 1859. His official record is given in the history of Wheatland, and of the county. Miss Elizabeth Straight of Argyle, New York, to whom he was married February 14, 1819, died in August 1871. One of his sons, Andrew J. Cropsey served in the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois Infantry, and was Lieutenant Colonel of that command.
Sereno Culver, born in Washington county, Vt., June 22, 1818, came with his parents to Plainfield in 1834. In 1840 Mr. Culver settled on his farm on section 14. Four years after (October 30, 1844), he married Miss Polly Miller, born in Wash- ington county, Vt., daughter of Horace and Lucy (Bryant) Mil-
373
PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP HISTORY.
ler, of Massachusetts and Canada, respectively. (See Official History.)
Daniel Culver, born in Connecticut, settled at Plainfield in 1834, and died there August 15, 1834. His wife, Miss Betsy Lyman, also a native of Connecticut, died at Plainfield, May 9, 1854.
John Day, born in Lincolnshire, Eng., in 1837, settled in DuPage township, in 1855, located at Plainfield in 1884. Miss Catherine, to whom he was married in 1864, was a resident of Wyandotte county, O. His family consists of one son and three daughters.
Charles Demerritt, born in Channahon township in 1830, is the son of the late Harry Demerritt, a pioneer of the county. He settled on section 9, Plainfield, in 1843, was married in 1862 to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of the late George Mottinger, of Plainfield. His sons, Charles K., William A., and Ralph, are residents of Plainfield. (Harry Demerritt .- See General His- tory).
Theodore Dockendorf, born in Germany, October 26, 1838, came to Will county in 1857, and in 1861 purchased his farm on sections 29-32. In March, 1884, he located at Plainfield village. He was married in 1860 to Miss Louisa Bullock, daughter of Ephraim Bullock, of Plano, Ill. Daniel O. Dock- endorf resides in O'Brien county, Iowa. His other children are residents of Plainfield.
John Drauden, born in Prussia, March 1831, came to Amer- ica in 1854, and to Plainfield in 1858. In 1867 he purchased his farm on section 21, where he made his home. His marriage withi Miss Eliza Roush, born in Prussia, September 28, 1834, took place October 3, 1868.
George R. Dyer, of Plainfield, son of Quarter-Master Dyer, organized a cavalry company, 29th Missouri cavalry, at Pilot Knob, Mo., was chosen captain, took part in the affair at Chickasaw Buyou; suffered much from diseases contracted in the campaign, and returned home to die.
M. H. Evans, born in Clark county, Ill., October 8, 1831, came to Plainfield with his parents in 1835. From 1852 to 1865 he was engaged in farming in Kendall county. From 1865 to the present time, he has resided on his farm in section 17, Plain- field. He was married to Miss H. C. Tenney, of Grafton county, N. H., November 14, 1850.
Reuben Flagg, born in 1798; came from Vermont with his family July 9, 1830, and settled on section 10, where he died November 9, 1869. His wife, Mrs. Betsy K. Flagg, born in 1805, died February 20, 1876. She was the mother of the first white child born in the county. (See Black Hawk War and Pioneer History.)
William Flagg, son of the late Reuben Flagg, a pioneer
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PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP HISTORY.
settler of the county, was born on his present homestead, in section 10, Plainfield township, in 1841; was married in 1869 to Miss Margaret Van Horn, daughter of Cornelius Van Horn, of this county. Has a family of five children all living in this county.
Benjamin Franklin Flagg, born at the Flagg homestead April 5, 1835; married Russeline, daughter of Russell Oviett, of Richfield, Ohio, September 1, 1859, who now resides here. Mr. Flagg died August 19, 1882.
Jason Flanders, born at Hebron, Vermont, August 18, 1810; was married to Miss Lucy Ann Clark March 29, 1833, and with her arrived in Will county June 20, 1833. He purchased a tract of Government land which he cultivated until 1841, when he located his home at Plainfield, where he resided until his death, February 26, 1874. George Flanders, one of his sons, died at Bowling Green, Kentucky, November 25, 1862, while in the military service of the Union. (See Military Chapter.) James Flanders is a leading attorney of the county. (See Political Chapter and Pioneer History.)
Henry S. Fowser, born in Stark county, Ohio, July 5, 1837; settled on his present farm (section 15) in 1856. He was married in 1859 to Miss Mary, daughter of John Frankford, of Lockport. His sons are Allen J., of Ringold county, Iowa; Charles E. and Henry H., of Plainfield.
J. J. Fowser was born in Stark county, Ohio, on August 13, 1827, and came to Will county in 1854. Was married in Sum- mit county, Ohio, on April 11, 1848, to Miss Hester Ream, daughter of George Ream, of that county. Has a family of two sons and two daughters living. Has served one term as town trustee, and was elected justice of the peace in 1881.
T. Lafayette Foster, born August 9, 1824, in Otsego county, New York, came to Plainfield October 10, 1844, and located his homestead farm on section 9. He was married in Iowa January 21, 1860 to Mrs. L. M. (Ashley) Morgan, daughter of Cyrus Ashley.
Giles D. Foster, born in Otsego county in 1820; settled in Plainfield township in 1844; moved to Plainfield village in 1863; was married in 1878 to Miss Emma Hawkins, daugher of Ephraim Hawkins, of Joliet. He was elected justice of the peace in 1877, and has served continuously since that year.
Harrison S. Hamlin, born in Florence township, 1852; was married in 1873 to Miss Katie. J. Hahn, daughter of J. D. Hahn, of this township. His farm of one hundred and twenty acres is situated in section 23.
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