USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 17
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neva, Aurora, Wheaton, Hinsdale, Downer's Grove and various other places in Illinois. In Chicago he delivered four speeches, also at Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, La Porte, In- diana, and other points outside the state. While his professional duties have com- manded much of his time, he has yet served his township and city, first as supervisor from Virgil in 1881-2, and was assistant supervisor of Elgin in 1885. He was cor- poration counsel for the city of Elgin from May, 1895, until May, 1897, and discharged the responsible duties of that position in a most creditable manner.
A resident of the county since 1858 and for eighteen years a member of the bar, Mr. Irwin has gone in and out among the people, making many friends and establish- ing a reputation as one of its leading attor- neys. Genial and affable, possessed of a logical mind and of rare persuasive powers, he is enabled to appear well before a jury and to exert over it a wonderful influence. As a citizen he has at all times the good of the community at heart and all his abilities are exerted to make the city and county of his adoption rank among the brightest and best of all composing this great common- wealth.
ELON G. DOUGLASS, a prominent citi- zen of Elgin, now retired from active business cares, is one of the men who make old age seem the better portion of life. He is a very intelligent and well-informed man, and to those who have the pleasure of his acquaintance his well-stored mind and con- versational powers are a source of perpetual pleasure.
. Mr. Douglass was born near Gorham, Ontario county, New York, and is a worthy representative of an honored old family of
the east. His father, George Douglass, was a native of Connecticut, born in 1804, and was a son of Rev. Caleb Douglass, also a native of that state, whence he removed with his family to Ontario county, New . York, settling near Whitesboro. He died at Gorham in 1835, at a very advanced age, being blind for the last seven years of his life. His father, a colonial soldier in the Revolutionary war, was one of three broth- ers who crossed the Atlantic from Scotland at a very early day, and who first located in Massachusetts, but afterward removed to Connecticut. One brother settled in New York, the other in Pennsylvania.
. George Douglass, our subject's father, was unusually well educated for his time, and successfully engaged in teaching when a young man, after which he served as school inspector in New York for many years, while he followed the occupation of a farmer. In 1856 he became a resident of Kane county, Illinois, and here died ten years later. In early life he married Miss Eliza Metcalf, who was born in the town of Gorham, On- tario county, New York, about 1809, of English ancestry, and who was called to her final rest in 1894. Her father, Irwin Metcalf, who died in New York at about the age of eighty years, was three times married, his first wife being the mother of Mrs. Douglass.
The subject of this sketch is the second in order of birth in the family of four chil- dren, the others being as follows: Mary died in July, 1897; Ada, who was the wife of Ogden Seward, of Dutchess county, New York, died in May, 1893; Ora P. enlisted in September, 1861, in the Union army during the Civil war, was wounded at the siege of Vicksburg, and died at Jefferson Barracks in June, 1863. Going to see him,
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our subject wished to bring him home, and it is probable that he might have lived if permitted to come.
Elon G. Douglass began his education in the public schools of his native county, sub- sequently attended the Canandaigua Acad- emy, and after his removal to Rochester, New York, at the age of twenty years, he attended the Rochester University for four years. Having thus obtained an excellent education, he successfully engaged in teach- ing school for several years during early life. In April, 1856, he became a resident of Kane county, and has since been identi- fied with its interests. By rail he and his father came to Chicago, thence proceeded to DuPage county, Illinois, Rock Island, and on to Iowa City, Iowa, looking for a suitable location, and finally decided to set- tle in Kane county, with which they were best pleased. Our subject remained in El- gin while the father returned for the family, which arrived in June, 1856. Upon section 22, Elgin township, the father bought one hundred seventy-two acres of prairie land, and also eleven acres of timber, and with him the son engaged in farming until the father's death. On first locating here Mr. .
Douglass gave his attention principally to the raising of cereals adapted to this climate- wheat, corn, oats, etc. - later engaged in stock raising, and finally devoted his ener- gies to dairy farming, being thus employed from 1879 until 1895. Having met with a well-deserved success in his undertakings, he has now laid aside business cares, and is enjoying the fruits of his former toil at his pleasant home, at No. 636 Lillie street, Elgin, where he has resided since August, 1895.
In Rochester, New York, October 7, 1856, Mr. Douglass married Miss Angie
Bradbury, a native of Erie county, New York, and a daughter of William B. and Maria (Van Scoten) Bradbury. Her mother's people came to this country with the Van Rensselaers and other patrons from Holland. Her father, who was quite prominent in musical circles, was born in Bath, England, in 1787, a son of William B. Bradbury, Sr., and when three years of age he came to America. He was a farmer by occupation, and having accumulated a comfortable competence, he spent his last years in ease and retirement from active labor. At about the age of thirty-five he was married to Maria Van Scoten, by whom he had nine children, Mrs. Douglass being the fourth in order of birth. Only four are now living, the others being two older sisters and a younger brother. The father died at Caledonia, Livingston county, New York, at the age of ninety years, and Mrs. Doug- lass had an uncle who lived to the extreme old age of one hundred four.
Two children were born to our subject and wife-Ella and Irving -- but both died when young. Mr. Douglass' nephew, Ora Seward, now makes his home with them. He is a graduate of the Elgin Academy and the Chicago University, completing both the literary and law courses in the latter in- stitution, and for a time he engaged in the practice of his chosen profession in Ne- braska. He also taught in Shurtliff Col- lege, Upper Alton, Illinois; Elgin Academy, and in the Lake Forest Seminary; and is now taking a post-graduate course in lan- guages. He studied in Europe for fourteen months.
Mr. and Mrs. Douglass are devout and earnest Christians, are active and promi- nent members of the Baptist church of El- gin, and take considerable interest in all
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kinds of church work. Mr. Douglass can well remember the exciting campaign of 1840, when the Whig cry was "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too." He now gives his un- wavering support to the men and measures of the Republican party, but has never cared for political honors. He is, however, one of the representative and honored citizens of his community, having the respect and esteem of all who know him.
L YSANDER STOWELL, for many years one of the leading agriculturists of El- gin township, Kane county, and one of its honored pioneers as well as highly respect- ed citizens, was born October 21, 1824, near Hartford, Connecticut. With his father, Seth Stowell, he came to Elgin when there was but one house standing in the prospective city, and with the growth and development of the county he was prom- inently identified until his death. The father, a cabinet maker by trade, manufact- ured the first organ built in St. Charles. He became quite well-to-do, owning a large tract of land three miles in extent in Elgin and St. Charles townships, and to each of his three sons, Lysander, Washington and Franklin, he gave a farm.
Reared to agricultural pursuits, Lysand- er Stowell adopted farming as a life work, and in his undertakings met with excellent success. He died upon his farm in Elgin township, May 18, 1889. He was a man of studious habits, always a great reader, and was well posted on the leading questions and issues of the day. He was a supporter of the Republican party, but never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. As a citizen and neighbor he mer-
ited and received the high regard of the en- tire community.
In 1884 Mr. Stowell was united in mar- riage with Mrs. Martha Knettle, widow of George Knettle. She was born March 16, 1831, near Warm Springs and Randesburg, Pennsylvania, fifteen miles from Carlisle, and is the daughter of Jesse and Mary (Stone) Hipple, also a native of that state. Her maternal grandfather, Richard Stone, was a native of London, England, while her paternal grandfather, John Hipple, was one of five brothers who left their old home in Germany and together came to America prior to the Revolutionary war. He served as a farrier through a part of that struggle and shod a horse for General Washington. He was a well-to-do farmer, but on selling his farm received his pay in Continental mon- ey, which proved useless and he lost all. Jesse Hipple, Mrs. Stowell's father, was born October 11, 1800, and died in Geneva, Illinois, at the age of eighty-three or eighty- four years. By trade he was a tailor, but for some years prior to his death he lived retired. In his family of six children, Mrs. Stowell was the fourth in order of birth.
George Knettle, Mrs. Stowell's first hus- band, was born near Mifflintown, Cumber- land county, Pennsylvania, December 18, 1806, a son of Henry and Hannah (Walker) Knettle, who were born near the Delaware river in Bucks county, that state. His pa- ternal ancestors were from Wurtemburg, Germany, while the Walkers were of Scotch descent. His grandfather was George Knet- tle, who married a Miss Sleuker. George Knettle, Jr., was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Steward, also a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he has four children -one son and three daughters. In Chica- go he married Miss Martha Hipple, and to
LYSANDER STOWELL.
LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY UP ... . 10IS
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them were born three children: One died in infancy, unnamed; Lacy, deceased; and Grace F. Mr. Knettle was a prosperous business man and accumulated considerable property. Going to Minneapolis in 1857 he purchased a large tract of timber land in "The Big Woods" west of that city, where he erected large sawmills and became exten- sively interested in the manufacture of lum- ber. He sustained heavy losses, however, through fire, and in 1868 came to Kane county, Illinois, where he rented a farm and established a cheese factory. Later he re- tired from active business and returned to Minnesota, where he died April 10, 1883, honored and respected by all who knew him. Mrs. Stowell now makes her home at No. 304 Walnut street, Elgin, and is surrounded by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
F 'RANK KRAMER .-- Much of the civili- zation of the world has come from the Teutonic race. Continually moving west- ward they have taken with them the enter- prise and advancement of their eastern homes and have become valued and useful citizens of various localities. In this coun- try especially have they demonstrated their power to adapt themselves to new circum- stances, retaining at the same time their progressiveness and energy, and have be- come loyal and devoted citizens, true to the institutions of "the land of the free " and untiring in promotion of all that will prove of benefit to their adopted country. The German element in America forms an im- portant part of American citizenship, and of this class Mr. Kramer is a worthy repre- sentative. He is now editor and proprietor
of the "Deutsche Zeitung," of Elgin, and has made his paper an important factor in the public welfare of the city.
Mr. Kramer was born in Bodenheim, Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, April 24, 1838, a son of John Kramer, also a native of that locality, who was a son of Bernhardt Kramer. The father of our subject was a farmer and grape cultivator, and spent his entire life in his native land, where he died in 1882. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Kirchner, was a, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Koegler) Kirchner, and her father was one of the soldiers who fought under the great Napoleon. She died in 1890. The parents of our subject had four children, of whom he is the sec- ond. The others are Henry, John and Elizabeth, who are still living in the Father- land. The sister visited Mr. Kramer in El- gin during the summer of 1893, and also at- tended the Columbian Exposition in Chi- cago.
Frank Kramer was educated in the schools of his native land and when nineteen years of age bade adieu to home and friends and sailed for America, landing in New York in 1857. He spent a short period .in Elmira, New York, then went to Chicago, and at Elmhurst, Illinois, took up his resi- dence. He worked there as a farm hand for a time and then went to the lumber woods of Wisconsin, after which he returned to Elgin and again secured work on a farm.
Later he located in the city of Elgin, where he learned the cooper's trade, which he followed five years in Elgin and Chicago. Returning to Elgin, he entered the employ of Dr. H. K. Whitford, with whom he re- mained six years, looking after the Doctor's collections and other business interests. He then engaged in the dray business on
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his own account, and was thus engaged un- til 1880, when he established the Elgin " Deutsche Zeitung," which he has since published with good success. He has en- larged it from a six-column quarto to a six- column five-leaf paper, and now has a large circulation among the German population of this section of the state. Its political sup- port has ever been given the Democratic party, and it strongly advocates the free silver and other planks of that platform. However, at local elections, where no na- tional issue is involved, it upholds the best man regardless of party affiliations. Its circulation is now the largest of any Ger- man weekly paper in the county. The paper is a neat and attractive sheet, devot- ed to the best interests of the community, and to the advancement of the sons of the fatherland. Its editorials are interesting, just and progressive, and the " Zeitung " is a popular visitor in many homes.
Mr. Kramer has not always been a Democrat. In ante bellum days he was an abolitionist. He voted for Lincoln and in 1868 for Grant, but in 1872 supported Horace Greeley and has been a Democrat since that time. In 1878 he was elected as an independent candidate to the office of town collector and filled that position in a most creditable way. From 1888 to 1891 he represented the first ward of Elgin in the city council and was chairman of the finance committee. In 1897 he was appointed by Mayor Price, park commissioner for a term of three years and has ever proved a capable and faithful public officer. He owns con- siderable real estate, having made judicious investments in various parts of the city.
On the 26th of October, 1860, Mr. Kramer married Miss Carrie H., born in Chicago September 8, 1840, daughter of
Joseph and Mary (Atzel) Markel, natives of Alsace and Loraine, Germany, respectively. They died in Hanover township, Cook county, Illinois.
Mr. and Mrs. Kramer are the parents of the following namedchildren: John F., who is now in the express business and also deals in coal and wood; Henry J., a ranchman of Cus- ter county, Montana; Katherine E., a gradu- ate of the Elgin high school, who was for three terms deputy town collector and for seven years a deputy in the county treasurer's office during the busy season; Martha M., a graduate of the high school, who married Ed Dolph, of Chicago, and has one child, Alvin; Mamie A., a graduate of the high school and of a short hand and typewriting course, in Kimball's College, Chicago, who died February 9, 1896; Carolyn H., who attended the high school and Drews Busi- ness College; Rutherford B., a graduate of the Elgin Academy and now a student in the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor; William M. and N. Elsie, who are now students in the pub- lic schools of Elgin.
Mr. Kramer is president of the Elgin German Benevolent Society, the oldest or- ganization of the kind in the county, and at intervals has served as its president for twelve years. The family attend the First Baptist church. Mr. Kramer belongs to that class of men whom the world terms self-made, for coming to this country empty- handed, he has conquered all obstacles in the path to success, and has not only se- cured for himself a handsome competence, but by his efforts has materally advanced the interests of the community with which he is associated. He is a prominent figure in business, political and social circles and ranks among the leading citizens of Kane
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county. Mr. Kramer has twice visited his old home in Germany, once in 1881 and again in 1891.
EDWARD S. ENO, superintendent of the Elgin branch of the New York Condensed Milk Company, Elgin, Illinois, is one of the best known and highly esteemed citizens of the place. He traces his ances- try back to James Eno, who was of French extraction, but who came to this country from England in 1648, locating in Windsor, Connecticut. A sword said to have been brought by him from England has passed from father to eldest son from that day to this, and is now in possession of John S. Eno, of Brewster, New York.
Samuel Eno, the great-great-grandfather of our subject, was the father of Daniel Eno, who married Chloe Mills, December 23, 1809, by whom he had six children- Charlotte, Esther, Erastus S., Emeline E., Daniel Mills and Aurelia E.
Daniel Mills Eno was born October 28, 1812, in Connecticut, where he grew to manhood, and was there married March 30, 1836, to Eunice C. Sage, a native of the same state, born in 1813. Later he moved to Wayne county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred December 25, 1891. He was a good man, a member and deacon in the Presbyterian church for many years, and from time to time held a number of minor official positions. His wife, who was also a member of the same religious body, is yet living, an honored resident of Seeleyville, Pennsylvania. They were. the parents of ten children, eight of whom are yet living. In order of birth they are as follows: (1) John S., a resident of Brewster, New York,
married Susan Clark and had five children- Clark, Emma, Frank, Daniel (deceased) and Susan. (2) Eunice is the wife of John E. Woodward and is the mother of two children-Anna M. and Alfred. (3) Susan is the widow of John K. Jenkins and had nine children-Frederick W. (deceased), Mary, Benjamin, Laura, Martha, Susan, John K., Gail and Grace. (4) Laura is the wife of Eben H. Clark and has five chil- dren-Elizabeth, Herbert, Edward, Bertha and Daniel. (5) Edward S., our subject, is the next of the family. '(6) George died in infancy. (7) Alfred W. married Rose Miller and has two children-Daniel and Helen. (8) Fred K. died in infancy. (9) Lillie G. is at home. (10) Charlotte E. is the wife of J. O. Southard, by whom she has one child, Eunice.
Edward S. Eno, our subject, was born in Seeleyville, Pennsylvania, May 26, 1848, and was reared on his father's farm in Wayne county, being educated in the public schools. After leaving school he clerked for about eighteen months in a hardware store in his native town, and in 1870 commenced work for the New York Condensed Milk Company at Brewster, New York. From that time to the present he has been connected with that company and has served in almost every capacity, commencing work in the least responsible position and working his way up to the superintendency of one of the most important branches of the business. They manufacture Gail Borden's condensed milk.
Mr. Eno was married in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, October 21, 1873, to Miss Helen A. Conyne, a native of that county, and a daughter of Alexander and Laura (Gregory) Conyne, the former a native of New York, the latter of Susquehanna coun --
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ty, Pennsylvania, who removed to Wayne county in a very early day. Alexander Conyne was by occupation a stationary en- gineer, and followed that pursuit within a few years of his death, when he purchased a farm and engaged in agriculture. His death occurred April 1, 1876. His wife, who is a member of the Baptist church, is still living and makes her home with her children. They were the parents of ten children, as follows: George W., who mar- ried Charlotte Webster (now deceased) and resides in New Haven, Connecticut; Charles W., deceased; Frank F., a resident of Mon- tana; Helen A., wife of our subject; Clara P., wife of Horace White, of White Valley, Pennsylvania; Charles G., who married Anna Hawkins and now resides in Mandan, North Dakota; Case V., who married Mary Pullis and lives in Bangor, South Dakota; Eva L., wife of Fred W. Chase, of Butte, Montana; Fannie I., also a resident of Butte; and Herbert A., of Anaconda, Mon- tana.
To Mr. and Mrs. Eno four children have been born: Charles Edward, who died at the age of fifteen months; and Herbert S. Laura E. and Alfred W., all of whom are yet under the parental roof. The family reside in a neat and comfortable home on North Spring street, Elgin, where they de- light to entertain their many friends. The parents are members of the Prospect Street Congregational church, in the work of which they are actively engaged. Fraternally, Mr. Eno is a member of Monitor lodge, No. 522, F. & A. M .; and Washington lodge, No. 13, A. O. U. W., of Elgin.
In politics Mr. Eno is a thorough Re- publican, and has been identified with that party since casting his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant. His business interests
have usually been such that he could not give much of his time to political affairs, more than to attend the conventions of his party, vote its ticket and in a quiet way advocate its principles. In the municipal affairs of his adopted city he has always manifested the greatest interest, and in the discharge of his duties as a citizen he has done his full share in its development. For two years he served as alderman from his ward, and his record as a member of the city council is a commendable one. While serving in that capacity he was chairman of the finance cominittee and of the special committee on water works. To him prob- ably as much as any other man is due the present fine water works in Elgin, acknowl- edged to be among the very best in the en- tire country. To secure the admirable sys- tem he devoted much time and study. He also served three years as a member of the board of education.
For some eight or .ten years Mr. Eno served in the fire department of the city, only resigning his position because he could not give it the time and attention necessary. The same energy shown in creating and making efficient the water works was dis- played by him in the fire department.
It is, however, as superintendent of the Elgin Branch of the New York Condensed Milk Company that he is best known through- out Kane and adjoining counties. In 1870 he came to Elgin as a representative of that company, and in 1882 he was made super- intendent, and has since occupied that posi- tion. In 1870 there was comparatively lit- tle doing in the milk business in Elgin, and what little milk found its way into this mar- ket was shipped to Chicago. With the es- tablishment of the condensed milk factory the business began rapidly to grow until
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to-day Elgin is recognized as the leading place in the United States for this industry. In addition to the large quantity used by the New York Condensed Milk Company, vast quantities of milk are used in the man- ufacture of butter and cheese. All con- versant with the subject acknowledge that to Mr. Eno and his wise management of the affairs of the company much of this success is due. In all the thirty-three years in which the company have operated here there has never been a strike among its em- ployees, and the best feeling is always main- tained by all connected with it. The super- intendent is honored and respected by the men and he honors and respects them. Dur- ing the campaign of 1896 a lot of politicians were discussing the relation between em- ployers and employees, one party endeavor- ing to show that they were antagonistic, one to the other. Reference was made in proof of this to several large institutions, when some one mentioned the Elgin branch of the New York Condensed Milk Company. The contending party at once objected to refer- ence to that company, stating aside from the New York Condensed Milk Company his contention was true. "In that com- pany," said he, " the superintendent and employees are too much like one family." A greater compliment could not have been bestowed upon Mr. Eno. All classes and all professions speak of him in the highest terms of praise.
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