USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 18
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H ENRY BLAZIER is a retired farmer residing in the village of Hampshire. His father, John Blazier, was born in the village of Diefenalern, Bavaria, May 28, 1819. In his native country he learned the trades of cooper and brewer, and, while yet
residing there, served three years in the Ba- varian army. He remained in his native land until 1847, when he started for Amer- ica with the design of enlisting in the Mexi- can war, but the war was closed before he reached the field. He sailed from Hamn- burg and landed in New York after a voy- age of forty-nine days. He there secured work, and for a time was engaged in the tile factory across the river in New Jersey. Desiring to come west he ascended the Hudson, and by canal went to Buffalo, New York, and thence by lake to Chicago. Coming to Kane county, he settled in Hampshire township, but secured work for a time at the cooper's trade in Belvidere, Boone county, and then worked for various farmers in the neighborhood. During the war he bought land in Hampshire county, and, as wheat, during the latter part of the struggle, was two dollars per bushel, he was enabled to add to his original purchase, paying cash for the same. In the fall of 1881, he rented his farin and moved to the village of Hampshire, where he is living re- tired.
John Blazier is the son of Wolf Blazier, of French descent, who fought against Na- poleon, and who served as a revenue officer in Germany. John Blazier first married in New York Barbara Ber, by whom he had seven children, five yet living, as follows: Henry, our subject; Carrie, who, on the 29th of March, 1880, married Albert Eich- ler, a native of Saxony, Germany, born March 15, 1853, and who died May 17, 1885. He came to this country with his parents, George and Sophia Eichler, and later purchased a farm in De Kalb county, Illinois, which is yet owned by his widow. They were the parents of two children, Al- bert and Ida, who now attend the public
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schools of Hampshire; George is a farmer best citizens. He was one of her native in Hampshire township; Mary married Will- sons, of whom she had every reason to be justly proud. On the 2d of May, 1845. he began his earthly pilgrimage, which was ended December 7, 1892, covering a life- span of forty-seven years. iam Huber, by whom she has one son, Frank Blazier, and they reside in Kane county, Illinois; John is engaged in farming in the south end of Hampshire village.
Henry Blazier was born in Woodbridge, New Jersey, April 15. 1858, and came west with his parents at the age of two years. He first attended school in Reid's district, and later in the Bean district, until twenty years of age. He then hired to his father, and remained with him until 1887, when he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in section 16, and boarded with a family on an adjoining farm, and for eleven years was en- gaged in its cultivation with good success. In the spring of 1898 he rented the farm, and now makes his home with his sister, Mrs. Carrie Eichler, who has recently moved to the village of Hampshire. Mr. Blazier engaged principally in dairying while on the farm, usually having some twenty to thirty head of cows. His place was well improved, being tilled and ditched at a cost of one thousand dollars, and having a barn 36 x 68 feet, and a good dwelling house at a cost of eighteen hundred dollars. In poli- tics he is a thorough Republican.
V INCENT S. LOVELL, deceased, through the years of his identification with Kane county, enjoyed the highest re- spect of his fellow townsmen by reason of his strict integrity, true manhood and intel- lectual attainments. He was a gentleman of refinement and culture, and his deport- ment was always courteous and kind. His devotion to the public welfare also made him a valued factor in public life, and by his death Elgin was deprived of one of her
Vincent Smith Lovell was a son of Vin- cent Sellar and Lucy (Smith) Lovell, and in a private school conducted by his mother he acquired his elementary education, which was supplemented by a course in the Elgin Academy. At the age of fourteen he began learning the printing trade in an office in Chicago, and after learning that trade he secured a position under Pinder F. Ward in the abstract office of Geneva, Illinois. Later the mother removed with her two sons to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in order to give them the advantages of a college education, and in 1872 our subject was graduated in the State University. He then secured a place on the staff of the "Argus," a journal pub- lished in Albany, New York, with which he was connected for two years, when he again came to the west and became a member of the staff of the Chicago "Post and Mail," with which he was associated until entering into partnership with his brother, Judge Lovell, in the real-estate business and law practice. They thus carried on business until the death of our subject, and their ju- dicious management, keen foresight and un- flagging enterprise brought them a gratify- ing success.
Mr. Lovell was married at Frankfort-on- the-Main, Germany, August 19, 1876, to Miss Eliza A. Hadwen. The lady was born near Halifax, Yorkshire, England, a daugh- ter of Thomas Wilson Hadwen, who, like his father, John Hadwen, was a wealthy cotton and silk manufacturer. The last named married Margaret Lovell, a daugh-
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ter of John J. Lovell, a gentleman fariner of England. The father of Mrs. Eliza Lo- vell had retired from business, and with his family was living abroad at the time of her marriage. Mr. Lovell continued in active business in his native city until called to the home beyond. Although not connected with any church, his life was permeated by true Christian principles. He was consid- erate of the welfare and rights of others, had great sympathy for his fellow men, was benevolent, and never spoke an uncharita- ble word. His ability was recognized by his fellow citizens, he serving as mayor of the city, discharging the duties of the office in a highly satisfactory manner until he resigned for the reason that he could not conscien- tiously perform the duties of his office. He also served for some years as director of the public library. He was, however, very re- tiring, and few knew the depths of his na- ture, but his intimate friends had an appre- ciation and respect for him which arises only from true worth.
S AMUEL C. ROWELL, deceased, was for many years one of the leading men of Hampshire township. He was born at East Plainfield, Sullivan county, New Hamp- shire, April 13, 1819, and was the son of Jacob and Mary (Currier) Rowell, the for- mer being a farmer in New Hampshire, where he was born, and where his entire life was spent, dying after having passed his three score years and ten. His father, the grandfather of our subject, was Enoch Rowell, who was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war.
Samuel C. Rowell was reared on a farm and attended the district schools until the age of fifteen, when he entered Kimball
Union Academy, at Meriden, New Hamp- shire, where he spent three years. He taught school winters and worked on farms other seasons for a time, and while working with a companion, laying stone wall one hot day, both resolved to leave the stony country and get a living more easily else- where. Accordingly, in 1840, he went to Kentucky, where Yankee teachers were in demand. He there engaged in teaching for about three years, and then came to Kane county, Illinois. riding on horseback some eight hundred miles. After examining con- siderable country, looking for a location, he finally decided to locate in Hampshire town- ship, where he bought a farm of one hun- dred and eighty acres from the government, on which he erected a dwelling house and then returned south teaching school in Ten- nessee.
On his return north, Mr. Rowell stopped in Kentucky to marry the girl of his choice, who had been a pupil of his while teaching there. He was married May 13, 1844, in Fairview, Fleming county, Kentucky, to Miss Elizabeth Ball, a native of that place, born December 11, 1823, and a daughter of Silas and Tennie (Brown) Ball, the former born in Mason county, Kentucky, in March, 1800. He was the son of Benjamin Ball, a soldier of the war of 1812, who was born in Virginia, and who married Nancy Cook. Benjamin Ball was a farmer, a relative of Mary (Ball) Washington, the mother of George Washington. He died when about eighty years of age. Silas Ball followed agricultural pursuits all his life, dying. in 1830. Elizabeth was first in the family of twelve children, born to Silas and Tennie Ball. To Mr. and Mrs. Rowell six children were born, of whom four survive, as follows: (1) Mary, wife of Corydon L. Dickson, of
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Plato township, and the mother of two one of the incorporators of the new village children-Luella, and Ethel. The former married Edward Walgren, by whom she has one child, Eugene. (2) Fremont, who is in partnership with his mother, in the mercantile business. He married Nellie Ketchum, born in Hampshire, and a daugh- ter of Martin Van Buren and Sophronia (Buzzell) Ketchum, the former a native of New York, who died at Rouse's Point, on Lake Champlain, when Nellie was an infant. Her father was a son of Horace Ketchum, and her mother a daughter of Aaron Buz- zell. To Fremont and Nellie Rowell have been born two children: Beulah and Leone. (3) Jessie C., who married Edward Buzzeil, of Leaf River, Illinois, by whom she has two children --- Walter and Arthur, twins. (4) Olivia, who married George York, of Lyons, Iowa, and they have one child, Jessie.
After his marriage Mr. Rowell brought his bride to Hampshire township and en- gaged in farming, which occupation he con- tinued until 1850, when he sold his farm and devoted his time to mercantile pursuits, having acquired an interest in a store at the old village of Hampshire, where he was in business until 1875, when he removed to the new village, soon after the completion of the railroad to that point. He erected one of the first business buildings in the village, and purchased the interest of his partner, and continued in the mercantile trade. Later he took into partnership his son, Fremont, and the business is still con- ducted under the firm name then adopted, Samuel C. Rowell & Son, Mrs. Rowell re- taining a half interest.
of Hampshire, and was the first president of the village board. From 1858 to 1861 he served as supervisor of the township, and again from 1864 to 1867. For twenty years he was postmaster of the village, and during that time would open office any time, day or night, for the accommodation of pa- trons. During his incumbency the office was moved from the old village to the new. For forty years he served as justice of the peace, and his administration of that office was satisfactory in every respect. He also served as school inspector before the office of county superintendent of public schools was established.
Mr. Rowell was made a Mason at Ma- rengo, Illinois, in 1850, and was one of the charter members of Hampshire lodge, serving as secretary of the lodge for over thirty years. Prior to the war he was a Demo- crat, but when the South rebelled he be- came a Republican, with which party he was identified until his death, which occurred November 24, 1892. He was a man of broad character and liberal views, univer- sally respected, and was greatly missed from his accustomed place when called to rest.
C OL. RICHARD PARRAM McGLINCY, eldest son of George D. and Rukamah McGlincy, of English and Irish descent, was born in Shepardstown, Jefferson county, West Virginia, and at an early age entered the printing office of John H. Yittle, of the " Shepardstown Register," where he re- mained, except during the time of the Civil war, rising from the position of errand boy, at the age of eleven years, when not much taller than a common ink keg, to that of ,
Mr. Rowell was a very prominent man during life, his superior education giving him an advantage over others. He was' foreman of the office, which he occupied
COL. R. P. McGLINCY.
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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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from the close of the war. He was fully equipped for all newspaper work, for which he had a passionate love. Trusted and helpful to his employer, the latter said, " As Dick has always stood by me, through thick and thin, come weal or woe, I am loth to part with him," when he married Asenath R. Wells, a graduate of the Mount Morris, Rock River Seminary, and at the time of marriage assistant principal of the Martins- burg, West Virginia, public schools, and left for Chicago in 1868. He was there engaged in newspaper work on the "Inter Ocean," and other papers, until he came to Elgin, Illinois, in 1869, where he entered more fully into the editorial and printing work. He soon became dairy editor on the Elgin "Gazette," and also of a Minneapolis paper, taking an active part in the great dairy interests of Elgin and the Northwest, often serving as president of prominent so- cieties, and acting as secretary of two or three at the same time, publishing their annual reports, board of trade reports, etc. During his last ten years in Elgin he was the honored and valued secretary of the Elgin Board of Trade. He was very prom- inent in all dairy circles, so that hardly any of their conventions were considered com- plete without an address from him, and he was called to many states and cities to or- ganize boards of trade. He was therefore well and favorably known to most men in his line of work.
A typical Southerner, whole-souled and generous, he made friends wherever he went, prominent among them being ex-Gov. W. D. Hoard, of Wisconsin, who was one of his dairy co-laborers. Being an Odd Fellow of many years standing, he was very prominent in that order in Elgin, and on all public occasions was generally their repre-
sentative and spokesman. He held the position of deputy grand master for many years, and retained his membership in the Elgin encampment up to the time of his death. Col. McGlincy served with dis- tinction all through the Civil war, and part of the time fought under Stonewall Jack- son. His father, a very prominent, dyed- in-the-wool West Virginia Democratic poli- tician, died at Shepardstown, that state, in 1885, leaving a wife and five children, all of whom are living with the exception of Richard P., in Washington, District of Columbia.
In the fall of 1887, Colonel McGlincy went to San Jose, California, where he be- came very highly esteemed and prominent in the state, on account of his interest in all that tended to its advancement, espe- cially its horticultural and fruit interests. He was extensively engaged in the fruit raising and its shipping, and was given charge of the Santa Clara county fruit and wine exhibit at the Columbian World's Fair, at Chicago, in 1893, where many of his old friends were glad to see him.
On his return to California after the fair, Colonel McGlincy received much favo -· rable newspaper mention as a representa- tive to the state legislature. He became deputy internal revenue collector, and was holding the position at the time of his cruel murder, in May, 1897. In California, as always before, he was prominently active among, and helpful to the Odd Fellows, who honored and loved him in life, and now, as brothers, sincerely mourn his sad fate and untimely death. The hall of Morning Light lodge, which he had organ- ized at his home town, is decorated with his portrait, and Odd Fellows souvenirs, which he had received from Illinois friends.
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Mrs. Asenath Rhodina (Wells) McGlincy was born and spent the early years of her life at the foot of the Alleghany mountains, in West Virginia, on the banks of the Val- ley river, whose bed is almost one contin- uous heap of stones. No wonder she sees " books in running brooks," reads "ser- mons in stones," and having often picked chestnut burrs from the trees, while stand- ing on the rocks, and there gathered mosses, wild spice, holly and wintergreen, and at- tended "sugaring off," in the maple woods, sees in the groves, "God's temples, the hills his dwelling place," and loves the rocks the more the higher they tower. Being the eldest daughter of David and Mary Ann Wells, of Scotch, German and · English origin, she largely inherits Scotch characteristics and their love of the scrip- tures, the German literary taste, with love of flowers and home, and a puritanic rever- ence of much in our forefathers, which so conspired to make our loved America great as it is.
In her early life her parents came west, and with a family of eight children, settled near Galena. Having made good progress in her studies, at the age of twelve she was placed in the noted school of A. B. C. Campbell, in that hilly city, the early home of U. S. Grant, then all surrounded by rich lead mines. From Galena she became a neighbor and schoolmate of John A. Raw- lins, first on General Grant's staff, and later, secretary of war in General Grant's cabi- net. At this country school they sat together on backless benches, ran races, played ball and " spelled down"-the con- test always hot between the two. From this country school both went to Rock River Seminary, at Mt. Morris, Illinois, then the most prominent Methodist educational in-
stitution in Illinois-to the state then, what Evanston is now. After years of hard study, alternated with teaching in Mt. Morris, and other places in the country, she com- pleted her course of study in the seminary, and went again to Galena, and assisted her brother, Jatnes William Wells, who was principal of its public schools. From that position she went in charge of the Galena · Academy, remaining until her brother de- cided to go to California, in 1850, when she left and took the principalship of the Shulls- burg, Wisconsin, school, where she gave good satisfaction for years. Her next teaching was as assistant principal in the Dubuque, Iowa, schools, and from there in 1863, she took the principalship of the Des Moines, Iowa, schools, remaining until near the close of the late Civil war. In April, 1865, as she was boarding a train for a visit to her early West Virginia, home the news came of President Lincoln's assassination. While in this old mountain home, visiting and teaching, the last of which was as assist- ant principal in the Martinsburg, West Virginia, schools, she formed the acquant- ance of Richard Parran McGlincy, to whom she was inarried in July, 1868. Coming immediately west, by way of Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Niagara Falls to Chicago, they there re- sided until March, 1869, and then settled in Elgin, Illinois. After coming to Elgin she engaged in teaching in a select school for a number of years, having among her scholars many young men and women now promi- nently engaged in business in Elgin and elsewhere. She is a Chautauqua graduate, now holding her certificate as a graduate of the Chautauqua National Literary Circle. She now lives again on the banks of a river, in the lovely valley of the Fox, in her own
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beautiful home, trying to make the most and best of life, for self and others, surrounded by and loving as ever, her flowers and books.
D R. BEEBE, a well-known insurance agent living at No. 41 I Walnut avenue, Elgin, was born September 6, 1847, in Co- lumbia county, New York, of which state his parents, Riley and Ainelia (Bunker) Beebe, were also natives. The father, who was a cooper by trade, removed from New York to Kane county, Illinois, in 1852, locating in Geneva, where he engaged in farming and gardening for some years. Subsequently he came to Elgin, where he passed away in his eighty-eighth year, while his wife died in May, 1897, in her eighty-second year. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while she was a Spiritual- ist in religious belief.
Born to this worthy couple were four- teen children, but only six are now living, three of whom are residents of Kane coun- ty, those beside our subject being Amos C., a blacksmith employed in the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad shops at Aurora, and Mrs. Mary E. Olson, of Elgin. Four of the sons were numbered among the defenders of the Union during the Civil war. Thomas J., the oldest, who is now a resident of Anthony, Harper county, Kansas, enlisted August 7, 1861, in an in- dependent company, known as the Kane County Cavalry, which afterward served as body guard to Generals Halleck, Curtis and Steele. He entered the service as a pri- vate, was made orderly, and on the 2d of October, 1863, was commissioned captain of his company, which was afterward con- solidated by the War Department and made a part of the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry. He
remained in the service three years, and was in many important battles. James E. was a member of the same company, but at the end of nineteen months of faithful service he was honorably discharged on ac- count of physical disability. On regaining his health, he re-enlisted and served until the close of the war, being in Texas with the last remnant of the forces against Kirby Smith. He died October 8, 1895, at the age of fifty-four years. John W., who was born December 5, 1843, enlisted at the same time as his older brothers in the same com- pany, in which he served as a private until mustered out at the expiration of his three years' term of enlistment. He died Sep- tember 27, 1883.
Our subject, also one of the boys in blue, was reared and educated in Kane county, and when only sixteen years of age joined the Union army, enlisting November 18, 1863, in Company B, Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry. He wasengaged in the most dan- gerous kind of warfare, that of hunting bushwhackers, never being able to meet them in fair field. After the surrender of Lee the company of which Mr. Beebe was a member was ordered to the plains under command of General Dodge, and there took part in several engagements with the hos- tile Indians, being stationed on Big creek in western Kansas. There were no railroads or settlements in that region, but Mr. Beebe enjoyed the time spent there, as he had ample opportunity to engage in his favorite sport, that of hunting, killing many buffa- loes and wolves. In December, 1865, he was honorably discharged, after having served two years and one month, and re- turned to his home.
On starting out in life for himself Mr. Beebe was employed as a blacksmith's
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helper in the C., B. & Q. shops at Aurora. In 1872 he went to Guthrie county, Iowa, and for about four years was engaged in farming near Casey. He then removed to Marshalltown, Iowa, where he was em- ployed in the railroad shops for six years. Later he worked in the Iowa Central rail- road shops, where he learned railroad spring making, at which he worked for about three years, returning to Kane county at the end of that time, and was employed in the Elgin Watch Factory for about twelve years. Since the spring of 1893 he has successfully engaged in the insurance business in Elgin, representing the Mutual Benefit, of Newark, New Jersey, and the Atlas Accident Com- pany, of Boston.
While in Iowa Mr. Beebe was married, October 7, 1874, to Miss Angeline C. Por- ter, who successfully engaged in teaching in that state for four years, conducting one village school and the others in the country. Her parents, James and Lucy (Carpenter) Porter, were natives of Ohio, born near Zanesville. Her father, who served as county superintendent of schools in Jasper county, Iowa, for six years, always took an active and prominent part in educational affairs. He also filled the office of justice of the peace. His death occurred in 1876, when he was fifty-eight years of age, but his widow is still living and now makes her home in Nebraska. Of their six children, five are also living. They are as follows: Lyman, an attorney of Loveland, Colorado; Angeline C., wife of our subject; Horace, a farmer of Cozad, Nebraska; Frank, a farmer of Casey, Iowa; George, also a farmer of Cozad, Nebraska; and Docia, who was the second in order of birth and died at the age of thirteen months. Mr. Porter's ma- ternal grandfather served for seven long years
in the Colonial army during the Revolutionary war, and in the possession of the family is an old brass kettle which he captured full of butter from the Tories at the battle of Monmouth.
To Mr. and Mrs. Beebe were born four children, namely: Edgar D., who is now working in a shoe factory in Elgin; Edith, who died at the age of one year; Ethel May and Ruth, both at home. Mrs. Beebe holds membership in the Eastern Star and the Woman's Relief Corps, having served as president of the latter for three terms. Mr. Beebe is the present recording secretary of the Court Bluff City, No. 74, Independent Order of Foresters of Illinois, and for three years he has also served as commander of Veteran post, No. 49, G. A. R., of Elgin. He is very progressive in his views, believ- ing in keeping abreast with the latter day nineteenth-century progress. In 1892 he was elected alderman of Elgin, and accepta- bly filled that position for two terms.
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