USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 13
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Dr. Rosencrans was the fourth in order of birth in a family of nine children, and during his boyhood and youth he assisted his father in the work of the farm, acquir- ing his literary education in the public schools. He accompanied his parents on their emigration to Illinois, studied medicine, and in the latter part of the '40s graduated from Rush Medical College. He began the practice of his chosen profession in Crystal Lake, Illinois, and later opened an office in Elgin.
The Doctor was one of the '49ers, hav- ing crossed the plains to California during the great gold excitement of that year, on a prospecting tour. Later his brother Garrett also went to the Pacific coast, and after about a year spent there, they returned to- gether. Dr. Rosencrans did not engage in mining on account of the rough crowd with which he would have to associate. Locat- ing in Calhoun county, southwestern Texas, he there engaged in the practice of medi- cine until 1863, when he was forced to leave, his life being in great danger. He was a man of deep convictions and dared even in Texas to make known his sentiment. He was warned by his friends that he must go, as an attack upon him was being planned. The Doctor was a physician in whom the best people of his acquaintance put im- plicit confidence and he was the only
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HALSEY ROSENCRANS, M .D.
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IL. . WHIS
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one in his community that could han- dle yellow fever. Many of his south- ern friends told him: " If ever I have yel- low fever, I want you to attend me, without reference to what it will cost or how we may differ in politics." His professional skill they admired, and they wanted his at- tention in case of sickness, hence he was permitted to remain in Texas long after others of his political faith were driven away, but finally he was forced to leave. Before the war he passed through two epi- demics of yellow fever, and at one time he and a priest were the only ones left to care for many of the poor sick and dying who could not get away. . From Texas he went to New Orleans, which was then in the hands of the Union forces, and was soon afterward appointed assistant surgeon in a hospital. Later he was transferred to an- other hospital on the Brazos, and continued to serve as surgeon in the Union army until the war ended. Subsequently he returned to Texas and resumed practice in the com- munity where he had previously lived. In 1873 he came to Elgin, but two years later, during the terrible yellow fever epidemic, he went to Indianola, Texas, feeling it his duty to assist in caring for those suffering with that dread disease. Returning to El- gin, he successfully engaged in practice here for several years.
Dr. Rosencrans was twice married, his first union being with Miss Eliza Hale, by whom he had three children: Fannie is the wife of Captain Theodore Hayes, of Texas, and has four children-Charles, Wiltsie, Minnie and Fannie. Captain Hayes was an officer in the Union army. Lizzie is the wife of H. H. Bilter, a farmer of Eola, Illinois, and has four sons-Raymond, Carl, Eugene and Hale. Cora is the widow of
Thomas O'Neal, by whom she had seven children.
Mrs. Rosencrans died in New Orleans in 1863. The Doctor was again married Sep- tember 11, 1873, his second union being with Miss Cynthia E. Bowen, and the mar- riage ceremony was performed by Professor C. G. Finney, president of Oberlin College. of which Mrs. Rosencrans is a graduate. She is a daughter of Lucius E. and Marga- ret (Dildine) Bowen, of Oberlin, Ohio, who now sleep side by side in the cemetery at that place. Mrs. Rosencrans is a consistent and faithful member of the Congregational church of Elgin, and both she and her hus- band held membership in the Scientific So- ciety of that place. In social circles they also occupied an enviable position.
In 1886 Dr. Rosencrans went to Indi- anola, Texas, to visit his daughter, and at that place was killed on the 20th of August of that year. During a storm he was in his office, which was located in the same building with the signal service office. He and Captain Reed, who had charge of the signal service, were together. The Doctor told him they had better leave the building as it was swaying and would likely be blown over soon, but before they could do this another blast came and the building fell burying the Doctor and his friend, who were instantly killed by the falling timbers. They were soon covered with water and it was some hours before their remains could be removed. This was on Matagorda Bay in the region of the terrible storms to which that place is frequently subjected. Dr. Rosencrans was an eminent physician, hav- ing the professional skill which comes from faithful study and long and successful expe- rience in his chosen calling. He was also an able writer, contributing many articles
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of merit to papers and medical journals. Being genial and companionable, he was a favorite in society and wherever known was held in the highest regard.
A LDEN KENDRICK WRIGHT, who has for many years been at the liead of one of the departments of the Elgin watch factory, is a native of New Hamp- shire, born November 8, 1842, in Hanover, of which place his parents, Horace and Mary Ann (Foster) Wright, were also na- tives. The paternal grandfather, Asa Wright, was born on the old homestead at Hanover, which had been in the family for many years. The Wrights were of Scotch origin, and came to the new world prior to the Revolutionary war. The grandfather of our subject was a farmer by occupation, but the father engaged in the tanning busi- ness, learning his trade with his father-in- law, Caleb Foster, and while in his service he became acquainted with his future wife. Throughout the greater part of his life Horace Wright lived in Hanover, New Hampshire, but spent his last days in Leb- anon, that state, where he died October 13, 1871. He was a Universalist in religious belief, and in politics was first a Whig and later a Republican, joining that party on its organization, as he had ever been an anti- slavery man and was connected with the " underground railroad." He was of medium size, of a genial, though quiet disposition, and was very domestic in his tastes. Wher- ever known he was held in high regard, and was often called upon to hold different offi- cial positions, including those of selectman and tax collector. His wife, who was a faithful member of the Congregational
church, also died in Lebanon, November 24, 1872. She was a daughter of Caleb and Mary (Putnam) Foster, and granddaughter of Richard and Sarah (Greeley) Foster, the last named being a relative of Horace Greeley.
The subject of this sketch is one of a family of four sons, the others being Ros- well F., still a resident of Lebanon, New Hampshire; Orin S., of Clinton, Iowa; and William H., of Newport, New Hampshire. In the common schools of Lebanon Alden K. Wright began his education, later attend- ing the Kimball Union Academy at Meridian, New Hampshire. When his school days were over he went to Haverhill, that state, where he served an apprenticeship to the watchmaker's trade, after which he was em- ployed for three years by the firm of E. Howard & Company, at Roxbury, Massa- chusetts. While with this distinguished company he acquired his great skill in the business of watch-making. For a year and a half he was with the United States Watch Company, was with the Hampden Company for about the same length of time, and for the following three years was with the American Watch Company at Waltham, Massachusetts.
It was in 1874 that Mr. Wright came to Elgin and entered the employ of the Elgin Watch Company, with which he has ever since been connected, serving at first as in- spector of watches. Being appointed assist- ant foreman, he served in that capacity for seventeen years, and for the past three years has been foreman in the finishing de- partment B, overseeing about two hundred workmen. Through his vast experience in every department of watch manufacture, he is able to preside over his department with great skill, as he is qualified to quickly
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detect any imperfection in the mechanism of the watches, which makes him a valuable man to the factory-one of superior useful- ness.
In Boston, Massachusetts, May 21, 1874. Mr. Wright was united in marriage with Miss Nannie H. White, a native of that city, and a daughter of Henry Kirk and Harriet (Thompson) White. Her mother, a native of Gloucester, Massachusetts, died in September, 1897, the father dying in February, 1898, at Wrentham, that state. Their children were: Henry K., William N., Louis B., Alice P., wife of Adelbert Newton, of Boston; Nannie, wife of our sub- ject; and Caroline, of Brooklyn, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have three children: Louis W., Helen, and Arthur K.
Mrs. Wright is a member of the Univer- salist church of Elgin, and Mr. Wright, who is a good musician, has sung nearly all his life in church choirs until lately. Politic- ally he is a supporter of the men and meas- ures of the Republican party, while frater- nally he is a prominent ineinber of the blue lodge, No. 522, F. & A. M .; Loyal Legion, Munn chapter, R. A. M .; and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. For the past two years he has been a member of the board of education in Elgin, and taking a deep and commendable interest in educa- tional matters, has made him a very active and efficient member. He owns a pleasant and commodious home on Spring street, where he and his family delight to entertain their many friends. His chief source of recreation is found in hunting and fishing, of which sports he is extremely fond. Though a hard worker, he believes in de- voting a portion of one's time to judicious and healthful recreation, and like most men who care for these sports, he is genial, gen-
erous and kind-hearted, being very popular with all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
A NSON W. ROOT, who is now practi- cally living retired fromn business cares at his pleasant home, No. 277 Chicago street, Elgin, was born December 20, 1823, in Genesee county, New York, a son of Dr. Anson and Lucinda (Wilson) Root. The paternal grandfather, Ephraim Root, served in the Colonial army during the Revolution- ary war, as a recruit from near Haverhill, New Hampshire, and as he carried a sword it is believed he was an officer. He spent his entire life in the east, dying in Gen- esee county, New York, when past the age of eighty years. By occupation he was a farmer. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sally Skinner, died at the age of eighty-five years. The maternal grand- father of our subject, Amos Wilson, de- parted this life at the advanced age of nine- ty-six years. One of his sons was Judge Isaac Wilson, of Batavia, Illinois.
Dr. Anson Root, our subject's father, was also a native of Genesee county, New York, and was surgeon of a regiment in the war of 1812, receiving for his services his regular pay as a surgeon and later a land warrant, which he located near Lake Ge- neva, Wisconsin. He also served as a sur- geon in the Canadian rebellion. In 1838 he came west, and after spending a year on the Fox river he took up his residence in Elgin, where he made his home until called to his final rest in 1866, at the age of eighty years. For fifty years he successfully en- gaged in the practice of his chosen profes- sion, was one of the leading pioneer physi- cians of this section of the state, but spent his last years in retirement, enjoying a well-
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earned rest. He served as alderman of Elgin for a time and held other public positions of honor and trust. His wife, who was for many years a consistent member of the Baptist church, died in 1847, at the age of fifty-four years. In their family were eight children, two sons and six daughters, but only three are now living: Orpha, widow of Samuel Burdick, and a resident of Elgin; Martha, wife of C. H. Loomis, of Los Angeles, Cal- ifornia; and Anson W., of this sketch.
On leaving the home farm at an early age, Mr. Root, of this review, learned the trade of a clothier, and for about ten years engaged in the manufacture of cloth, after which he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, following it some years. For twenty years he was also interested in the milling business, and still owns a good mill prop- erty in Elgin, which he rents, besides a number of houses there and a good farm near Beloit, Wisconsin, deriving from these a good income. He also has money securi- ties.
In 1846 Mr. Root led to the marriage altar Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William Himes, of Michigan, and to them was born a son-William A., a resident of Elgin, who married Alda Gray, and has one child, Kate. The wife of our subject, who was a con- sistent member of the Baptist church, died in 1856, aged thirty-two years, and the same year Mr. Root married Miss Harriet B. Parmelee, a native of Waterloo, Canada, and a daughter of Rufus Parmelee. Two daughters blessed this union: Ida R., wife of R. E. Linkfield, of Minneapolis, Minne- sota, by whom she has two children, Alice and Edith; and Alice M., wife of F. E. Wolcott, of Chicago, by whom she has one child, Maud.
In 1853 Mr. Root was initiated into the
mysteries of the Odd Fellows' society, and with one exception is now the oldest mem- ber of Kane lodge, of Elgin, in which he has filled all the chairs, and also been rep- resentative to the grand lodge. He was for about ten years a member of the Masonic order. His political support has always been given the Republican party, but at present he is what is termed a silver Repub- lican, advocating the free coinage of silver. From 1847 until 1867 he made his home in Beloit, Wisconsin, and while there served as assessor eight years, alderman nine years, and was undersheriff and acting as deputy provost marshal during the Civil war, aiding in the capture of deserters, etc. For five years he also served as county superintend- ent of the poor, for the same length of time was county supervisor; and in Elgin also served as county supervisor five years and assessor three years. He is one of the reliable, enterprising men of the city, is deservedly popular with all classes of citi- zens, and his many estimable traits of char- acter have won him a host of friends. His wife is a consistent and active member of the Baptist church.
T HOMAS W. TEFFT .- If one desires to gain a vivid realization of the rapid advance in civilization which the last few decades have brought about, he can listen to the stories that men who are still living among us, and by no means overburdened with years, can tell of their boyhood. The log cabin home, the still ruder school house with its rough seats made of slabs, its lim- ited range of studies and its brief terms, arranged on the subscription plan, the rou- tine of work at home, unrelieved by any of the modern devices by which machinery is
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VI IME UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
THOMAS W. TEFFT.
p
MRS. T. W. TEFFT.
1 ..... UNIVERSITY OF ILINTUIS
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made to do in a short time what formerly occupied the entire year,-these and many similar descriptions will bring up in sharp contrast the advantages of to-day. The subject of this sketch, a highly-respected citizen of Elgin, and the present alderman from the Sixth ward, has many interesting reminiscences of this sort.
Mr. Tefft was born in the town of Leb- anon, Madison county, New York, October 30, 1824. a son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Collins) Tefft, a sketch of whom is given in connection with Jonathan Tefft, Jr., on another page of this work. In the schools of his native county our subject began his education, and after the emigration of the family to Kane county, Illinois, in the fall of 1835, he pursued his studies in the old log school house on Gravel Hill, on the Bos- worth farm, south of Elgin, and later in a school in the township of St. Charles until twenty-one years of age.
Mr. Teft remained with his father until he attained his majority, aiding in the ardu- ous task of transforming the wild land into highly-cultivated fields, and then he and his brother Eli operated the old homestead on the shares for one year. Coming to Elgin in 1846 he worked at anything which he could find to do. He purchased a team of oxen, with which he plowed gardens for the villagers. In the fall he worked with a threshing machine, which he and his brother subsequently leased and operated through the winter. As the entire country was de -. voted to the raising of grain at that time, there was much threshing to do. In the spring Mr. Tefft again broke prairie, some- times using twelve or thirteen yoke of cat- tle to a plow. ' He continued to follow these occupations until March, 1849, when he started to California in a party of six men,
making the journey in two wagons. In May they crossed the Missouri river thirty miles above St. Joseph, and in September reached their destination, having avoided large par- ties in order to have plenty of feed for their cattle. Fortunately they were not troubled by the Indians. Mr. Tefft went direct to the mountains in Calaveras county, and in the summer of 1850 was joined by two brothers. He stayed in California two years, and always regrets that he did not remain there, buying land near Sacramento. He met with fair success in gold mining, and during the time when nothing else could be done he engaged in hunting, and sold the game not needed by himself and partners. Venison brought three shillings per pound.
In the fall of 1851 Mr. Tefft returned to Elgin by way of the Isthmus, New York and Chicago. The following year he built a large brick livery stable on the west side, Elgin, which he owned until 1865 conduct- ing it for several years. He served his fel- low citizens as constable, policeman and city marshal most of the time. In 1862 he enlisted in Company B, Sixty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three months, was commissioned second lieutenant, and was stationed in Chicago. Subsequently he re- enlisted in the one-hundred-days' service with the rank of first lieutenant, and was stationed most of the time at Columbus, Kentucky, doing guard duty.
After the war Lieutenant Tefft bought his brother Jonathan's farm, lying partly in section 36, Elgin township, Kane county, while part lies in Hanover township, Cook county, which he still owns, while his brother Jonathan, purchased the old homestead. Retiring from farm labor in 1876 our sub- ject purchased a residence on Chicago street, Elgin, where he lived until 1881, when in
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partnership with his brother, Eli, he bought a stone quarry at South Elgin and moved there to superintend the working of the quarry. After operating it successfully un- til 1884, they sold and he returned to his home on Chicago street, Elgin. The fol- lowing year, however, he purchased a thir- ty-five-acre farm south of the asylum, on which he lived for six years, selling in 1891, when he bought his present home at 403 Jewett street.
Mr. Tefft has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Emily B. Joles, daugh- ter of Spencer Joles, and to them were born five children: Egbert, who died at the age of four years; Harvey, who now lives in Idaho; Emma, who married Sylvester Mead, and has five children-Wilbur, Frank, Ar- chie (deceased), Roy and George; they make their home with our subject; Albert P. and Bertram W., who are also residents of Idaho. . Mrs. Tefft died in April, 1869, and he subsequently married Mrs. Frances (Gould) Kinloch, who by her first husband had one son, Sanford G. Kinloch, who made his home with our subject until he attained his majority and then bought Mr. Tefft's thirty-five-acre farm south of the asylum. The second wife died May 12, 1887.
Mr. Tefft was a charter member of Clin- tonville lodge, No. 511, F. & A. M., of which he was master for twelve years, and he now holds membership in Elgin Lodge, No. 117. Politically he is a stalwart Demo- crat. He has always taken an active inter- est in political affairs, and in the spring of 1897 was elected alderman from the sixth ward-a position he is now creditably and satisfactorily filling. He is always num- bered among Elgin's valued citizens, and on the rolls of Kane county's honored pioneers his name should be among the foremost.
ALACHI CHRISTIAN GETZEL- M MAN, of Elgin, is now living a re- tired life in the enjoyment of a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves by reason of his industrious efforts of former years. Accomplishment and progress ever imply labor, energy and diligence, and it was those qualities that enabled our subject to rise from the ranks of the many and stand among the successful few. He is now one of the highly-respected citizens in Elgin, and his long residence in Kane county and the active part he has taken in its develop- ment well entitles him to representation in its history.
Mr. Getzelman was born in Bavaria, Watirtzburg, Germany, January 1, 1837, a son of Malachi and Mary (Getzelman) Get- zelman. His father was a mason by trade, and in 1848 came to the United States, locating in Hampshire township, Kane coun- ty, where he purchased forty acres of un- improved timber land and began the devel- opment of a farm, to which he added until at the time of his death his homestead com- prised one hundred and fifty acres of valua- ble land. In politics he was a Republican, and in religious belief was a Lutheran in early life, but later joined the Evangelical church. His death occurred in August, 1862, and his wife passed away on the Ist of August, 1882. They were parents of five children who reached mature years: Mi- chael, Jacob, Malachi, Margaret, wife of John Haible, of Elgin, and Henry, who died in Nevada about twenty years ago.
In the land of his nativity Mr. Getzel- man, of this · sketch, attended the public schools, and at the age of eleven he accom- panied his parents to America. He assisted his father in the operation of the home farm until after the inauguration of the Civil war,
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· when his loyalty to his adoptcd country prompted his enlistment, and on the' ist of October, 1861, he joincd Company K, Fifty- second Illinois Infantry, going into camp at Geneva. About the Ist of November he went to St. Louis, thence to St. Joseph, Missouri, and later returned to Kentucky. With his command he started to Fort Don- elson, making forced marches, but arrived just too late for participation in the battle. His company was then sent as guard over the prisoners to Chicago. On their return to the south they participated in the battle of Shiloh, followed by the sicge and battle of Corinth, and all the battles from Look- out Mountain to the capturc of Atlanta, in- cluding the memorable march with Sherman to the sea. From Savannah they marched through the Carolinas, joining Grant's army on the march to Richmond, and on the 24th of May, 1865, participated in the grand re- view in Washington, the most celebrated military pageant seen in the history of this country. £ Mr. Getzelman passed through the war uninjured, save on one occasion, when he received a slight bullet wound un- der the arm. At that time he and several companions were ont on a foraging expedi- tion, and werc discovered and pursued by a band of Rebel cavalry. So greatly wcre they outnumbered by the boys in gray that they decided the best thing to be done was to flee, but the Rebels were well mounted and escape seemed almost impossible. How- ever, fully aware that capture meant the horrors of Libby and Andersonville, Mr. Getzelman determined to escapc if he could, feeling that he would rather be killed than enter one of those southern prison pens. Mounted on a mule, hc put the animal to its best possible speed, but as he rcachcd a fence the mule refused to jump it, and our
subject, then tumbling over the fence, made his way toward a swamp, pursued by the bullets of the enemy, several of which pierced his clothes, making him think that his earthly career was drawing to a close. However, he succeeded in reaching the swamp, and ultimately arrived at camp once more, but his companions were cap- turcd. The next day, when his colonel suggested that he had better go on another foraging expedition, he asked to be excused!
Mr. Getzelman was mustcred out of the service July 6, 1865, and rcsumed agricult- ural pursuits which he successfully conduct- ed for many years. He purchased eighty acres in Hampshire. township, and for six- tèen years made his home thereon, but in the mcantime incrcascd the boundaries of his farm until it comprised seven hundred acres of rich land in onc tract. He placed much of this under cultivation, made many . excellent improvements and developed one of the finest farms of the county. For a number of years he engaged in general farm- ing, but later years turned his attention more specially to dairying. He was very industrious and enterprising and his well directed efforts, capable management and honorable business methods brought him a success which year by year added to his in- come until he is now the possessor of a very handsome competence. On leaving the farm he spent five years in the village of Hampshire and in 1893 removed to Elgin, where he purchased the Crosby residence on Highland avenue, a fine home in which he is now spending his declining days, sur- rounded by the comforts that go to make life worth the living. He has sold a portion of his old farm, but still retains the owner- ship of the homestead of three hundred acres, which he rents. He also has a farm
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