USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 19
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W TILLIS LYMAN BLACK .- One of the prominent representatives of the journalist profession is the gentleman whose name heads this brief notice, junior mem- ber of the firm of Lowrie & Black, proprie- tors of the "Daily News" and "Weekly Ad- vocate," of Elgin, Illinois. He is one of the leading and prominent business men of the city, being especially interested in its bank- ing institutions.
Mr. Black was born in Elgin, where the Baptist church is now located, April 18, 1855, and is a son of Lyman and Harriet (Weston) Black. His paternal grandfather, James Black, spent his entire life in Massa- chusetts. The father, Lyman Black, was born in Granville, that state, October 26,
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1815, and was the youngest in a family of eight children. In the spring of 1836 he came to Elgin, passing through Chicago, where he was offered the block on which the Palmer House now stands for a pair of boots he was carrying over his shoulder, but he declined the offer. On the present site of Elgin he engaged in farming for some time, but later in life devoted his time and atten- tion to the banking business, being one of the organizers of the First National Bank, and also the Elgin City Banking Company, more familiarly known as the Savings Bank, and in both of these institutions he was a director and vice-president. He continued his connection with them until his death, which occurred May 15, 1889. He was a man of medium size, was quite domestic in his tastes, was pleasant and genial in his disposition, and was gifted with a fine mem- ory, which was of great benefit not only to himself but to others who desired informa- tion concerning current matters. His wife was born in Utica, New York, December 16, 1823, and was the daughter of James and Margaret Weston, who, in 1846, came to Elgin, where Mr. and Mrs. Black were married June 27, 1847. She was a devot- ed member of the Baptist church, and died in that faith November 26, 1891. Of their five children three died in infancy, and Weston died at the age of eighteen years from the effects of a kick from a horse.
Our subject, the only one of the family now living, acquired his primary education in the public schools of Kane county, later graduated at the Elgin Academy, and in 1874 entered the Chicago University, where he was graduated with the class of 1878. For a year after leaving college he was ein- ployed in Chamberlain's clothing house, and then entered the office of the "Advocate"
to learn the business. In 1886 he purchased a half interest in that journal and the "Daily News," the former of which was founded in 1848, the latter in 1873. The "Advocate," now the oldest paper in the county, is a seven-column quarto, and en- joys the largest circulation of any paper in the district. It is published on Saturdays. The "News " is the same size, and is also the oldest daily in the county. The office of these journals is equipped with modern machinery, including type-setting machines and Webb press, and in connection with the printing department there is also a bindery. Both papers are unwavering in their sup- port of the Republican party and its prin- ciples, and are devoted to the interests of Elgin and Kane county. Mr. Black is a heavy stockholder in both the First National Bank and the City Savings Bank, in which he is a director and vice-president.
On the 4th of September, 1884, Mr. Black was united in marriage with Miss Etta D. Roe, who was born in Rolling Prairie, Indiana, May 4, 1864, a daughter of George W. and Marietta (Drummond) Roe, of Chicago. She is the second in or- der of birth in their family of four children, the others being Alta May; James, who was drowned at Rolling Prairie, Indiana, in 1883; and Clifford G. Mr. and Mrs. Black have two children: Lyman Foster, born March 16, 1887; and Mareta Vergine, born August 31, 1892. The family have a beau- tiful home at No. 237 Villa street, Elgin, which was erected by Mr. Black, and also have a cottage at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where they spend the summer months.
Politically, Mr. Black is a Republican, and socially is an honored member of the Century Club, while his wife is an active and prominent member of the Coffee Club
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and the Every Wednesday Literary Club. Of high social qualities, they are very pop- ular, having a most extensive circle of friends and acquaintances, and their home is the abode of hospitality and good cheer.
C' HARLES P. DEANE, a well-known retired business man living in Elgin, was born in Worcester county, Massachu- setts, April 4, 1813, a son of Cyrus and Nancy (Howe) Dean, also natives of that state, where they spent their entire lives, the father dying at the age of eighty-seven in the house where he learned his trade, and the mother at the age of eighty-five. Throughout life he worked on watches and clocks at the goldsmith's trade, and gave his entire time to his business affairs, taking no active part in public life. Both he and his wife were faithful members of the Con- gregational church, and were held in high esteem by all who knew them. Of their seven children only two are now living: Charles P .; and Nancy, wife of Charles Lyon, of Oak Park, Chicago.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of Massachusetts, and when his school days were over he went to New York, where he was employed at various occupations for a few years. For four years he engaged in the planing-mill business in Lewiston, Maine, and then re- turned to Massachusetts, assisting his brother George in the manufacturing business at Malden for two years. Coming west in 1857, Mr. Deane located in Elgin and opened up and developed a good farm two miles northwest of the city, but now within the corporate limits. To agricultural pur- suits he devoted his energies for six years, and then erected a store on Grove avenue, . and favorably known.
Elgin, purchased a stock of goods, and began business as a merchant, being thus engaged until 1880, when he sold out, and has since lived retired.
On the 3d of July, 1841, Mr. Deane was united in marriage with Miss Mary P. Bald- ridge, who died April 21, 1851, aged twenty- seven years. To them were born three children, namely: Cyrus F., born Novem- ber 13, 1842, was a member of the Army of the Southwest during the Civil war, and was mortally wounded at the battle of Stone River in 1862, dying at Nashville, January 15, 1863; Maria N. married Daniel W. Brown, also a Union soldier, who died in Elgin, and to them were born three chil- dren-Edna, Charles and Cyrus; she resides in Elgin. Charles H., the youngest of the family, died February 25, 1850, at the age of six years.
Mr. Deane was again married, March 24, 1853, his second union being with Miss Abbie M. Haskell, by whom he had four children: Mary A. is now a successful kin- dergarten teacher in Elgin; Ella J. is the wife of Joseph Mitchell, of Elgin, and has three children, Howard, Deane and Ethelyn; Lizzie A. died March 7, 1859, when only six months old; and Julia F. is a stenog- rapher and type writer employed in an office in Chicago.
Politically Mr. Deane was originally a Whig, but since the dissolution of that party he has been a stanch Republican. For many years he was one of the active and progressive business men of the county, as well as one of its most reliable and hon- ored citizens, and now in his declining years he is enjoying a well-earned rest, free from the cares and responsibilities of business life. Throughout Kane county he is widely
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D AVID HILL, proprietor of the nursery near Dundee, has been a resident of Kane county since 1872. He was born in Hartfordshire, about thirty miles from Lon- don, England, January 17, 1849, and is the son of Henry and Martha (Graves) Hill, both of whom were natives of the same shire. In his native land he grew to manhood, and had fair educational advantages. He com- menced nursery work in Bedford, England, in early life, and worked there for some years. In 1871 he came to the United States, forming one of a party of three young men. Going to Boston he made application for work at the Young Men's Christian Association rooms, and on the advice of the secretary went to Wood- stock, Windham county, Connecticut, where he secured work in the Spaulding's nursery and fruit farm, where he remained about one year. In 1872 he came west to Dundee, and went to work on a farm near that place for one winter. The next season he com- menced work in the nursery then owned by William Hill, and continued with him until his death. He then succeeded to the busi- ness through his wife, who was a niece of William Hill, and came with him from Scot- land when a child. At that time the place consisted of six acres, with but two in nurs- ery stock. An incumbrance was on the place of two thousand dollars. Our subject went to work and put out more stock, and buying land from time to time is now the owner of one hundred and six acres, all of which is near, but not contiguous, to the old place. He has put out nursery stock until he has in all some eighty-five acres. - He grows for the wholesale trade as well as re- tail. His specialties are hardy evergreens, shade, ornamental and forest trees, although he grows and deals in fruit trees and small
fruit. His trade is mostly in the western states, and he has built up an extensive business, employing from seventy-five to one hundred men in packing and shipping in the busy season.
In June, 1878, Mr. Hill was united in marriage at Dundee, Illinois, with Miss Maggie Grant, a native of Aberdeen, Scot- land, and a niece of William Hill, who came with him to the United States when a miss of twelve years. Her education, began in her native country, was completed in the schools of Kane county. By this union there are six living children-George W., Arthur H., Waudie, Mabel, Vernon and Florence. They lost one daughter, Marguerite, who died at the age of six months.
Politically Mr. Hill is a stanch Republic- an, his first Presidential vote being cast for James A. Garfield. Since becoming a resi- dent of this country he has always mani- fested a commendable interest in its political affairs, though not in a strictly partisan sense. A friend of education and the public schools, he has given of his time to advance their interests as a member of the school board. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the blue lodge at Dun- dee, and the chapter at Elgin. With his estimable wife he holds membership in the Baptist church.
Mr. Hill has now been a resident of Illi- nois for twenty-nine years. His life affords an example to the young in that he com- menced his life here without money or friends, but having a determination to suc- ceed he industriously applied himself until he has acquired a good property and a large and fairly prosperous business. He is well known throughout Illinois and other west- ern states for his sterling character and worth.
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M ERRITT HARGER, an honored and highly respected citizen of Elgin, is now retired from the active labors of life and occupies a comfortable home on Hen- dee avenue, overlooking the Fox river. He was born July 31, 1819, in Lewis county, New York, a son of Noah N. and Lucy (Gillette) Harger, who were both born and reared in Connecticut. The father was a carpenter and joiner, and also followed the occupation of farming. In 1855 he came with our subject to Kane county, Illinois, where he died April 11, 1863, his wife hav- ing previously passed away at their old home in New York, on the 20th of May, 1850. Both were consistent members of the Presbyterian church, and in politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican. Their children were Morgan and Mrs. Maria Arthur, both deceased; Madison, who died in Ohio; Mary, now the widow of Henry Ragan, and a resident of Syracuse, New York; Milton, deceased; Merritt, the sub- ject of this sketch; and Lydia and Mar- tha, both deceased.
In the county of his nativity, Merritt Harger grew to manhood, obtaining his edu- cation in the district schools, and early be- coming familiar with the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. There he continued to follow farming until 1855 when he came to Kane county, Illinois, and bought a small farm in Plato township, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his energies for ten years. Sell- ing that place, he purchased four hundred and ten acres of slightly improved land in the southern part of the same township, which he placed under a high state of culti- vation. He erected thereon good and sub- stantial buildings and made many other use- ful improvements, which added to its value
and attractive appearance, making it one of the best farms in the county. He was one of the first men in the community to engage in sheep raising to any great extent, but when wool became so cheap that it proved unprofitable he discontinued the business. He then directed his attention to dairying, and was one of the first to engage in the manufacture of cheese, which was then in demand. At one time he sold his cheese by the ton at twenty cents per pound. After residing upon his second farm for twenty-nine years, he decided to retire from active work, and removed to Elgin, where he has since made his home, enjoying the fruits of former toil.
In Lewis county, New York, Mr. Harger was married October 17, 1843, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Jonathan and Eliza- beth (Herin) Rogers, natives of the Empire state. Her paternal grandfather was born in Connecticut, and was one of the first set- tlers of Lewis county, New York. Soon after our subject came west, Mr. and Mrs. Rogers also came to Kane county and located in Elgin township, where he pur- chased and operated a large tract of land. Besides Mrs. Harger, their other children were Betsy Ann, Grange L. and Henry C., all deceased; and Nelson, John H. and Jane, still residents of Illinois. Mrs. Harger de- parted this life September 2, 1895. By her marriage to our subject she became the mother of one child, Lucy Maria, who was born December 21, 1864, and married James M. Buzzell, now deceased. She died September 22, 1884, leaving no children. Mr. Harger was again married, November 26, 1896, his second union being with Adella Kenyon, a daughter of Lafayette and and Mary (Winsor) Kenyon.
Mr. Harger cast his first presidential
MERRITT HARGER.
LIBRARY Ot THE UNIVERSITY Of ILL.NOIS.
64g
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vote for William Henry Harrison in 1840, during one of the most exciting campaigns ever held in this country. His support is now given to the men and measures of the Republican party. He has sold his farm and has invested in real estate in Elgin, which is proving quite profitable. Mr. Har- ger is widely and favorably known through- out Kane county, and it is safe to say that no man in Elgin county has more or warmer friends.
H TOWARD L. PRATT, M. D .- Among the well-known representatives of the medical profession in Elgin, whose reputa- tion is not confined alone to the city in which he makes his home, but who is favorably known in several counties and in at least two states of the union, is the subject of this sketch. Born at Unionville, Lake coun- ty, Ohio, February 27, 1850, he is the son of George and Adaline S. (Torrey) Pratt, the former a native of Ohio, the latter of New York. They were the parents of five children, of whom three are now living: Howard Lewis, our subject; Mary E., wife of F. E. Miller, of Chicago; and Edith, wife of Frank McAllister, of Chicago.
George Pratt, the father, grew to man- hood in his native state, and in youth learned the trade of a blacksmith, which trade he followed until his removal to Illinois in 1855. While yet residing in Ohio he mar- ried Adaline S. Torrey, a daughter of Ira · Allen Torrey, a native of Vermont, and a hotel keeper for many years, who later emi- grated to Neenah, Wisconsin, where his death occurred at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife traced her ancestry back to Tabitha Goodenough, her great-grandmother. Mrs. Torrey's father, who bore the name of Wallis, was a soldier of the war of 1812,
and died while held a prisoner by the British in Canada.
On coming to Illinois with his family, in 1855, George Pratt located at Woodstock, McHenry county, where he followed his trade and engaged in farming for some years, besides being interested in the lumber busi- ness. He later removed to Chicago, where his wife died in January, 1895. She was a conscientious Christian woman, a member of the Baptist church for many years, and died in the faith of a resurrection beyond the grave and a re-union of loved ones. After her death her husband returned to Woodstock, where he is now working at his"." trade, although seventy-five years of age. He is yet hale and hearty.
Lewis Pratt, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Vermont, and was numbered among the pioneers of the "Western Reserve," settling in Ash- tabula county, Ohio. His death occurred after a short illness while he was on a busi- ness trip to western Ohio, before he was forty years of age. His brother, Charles, built by contract the first government har- bor at Ashtabula. His family consisted of three sons and four daughters who grew to mature years. By occupation he was a farmer, following that vocation during his entire life. His father, the great-grandfa- ther of Dr. Pratt, was a Baptist minister in Vermont, and lived to the age of ninety- nine years and six months. He was a man of remarkable mental and physical activity. At the age of ninety he invited his grand- son, Charles, Jr., who was visiting him, to go with him to the barn to see a favorite colt. On reaching the farmyard gate he placed his hands on the top bar and cleared it with a leap, saying, "Charles, you can't do that."
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Howard Lewis Pratt was but five years old when he was brought by his parents to Illinois. His literary education was obtained in the public schools of Woodstock, Mc- Henry county, and in Todd's Academy, now conducted as a seminary at that place. In 1874 he commenced reading medicine and the following year entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, an institution noted for the better class of its graduates, from which he received a diploma in 1878. Returning to Woodstock, he at once commenced prac- tice with his preceptor in the city in which he was reared and where his manner of life was well known. Kansas, the great Sun- flower state, was now having a boom and a large number of people were attracted there. Dr. Pratt was among the number, and in April, 1879, he took up his residence in Wellington, that state, where he resumed practice.
While in Wellington, on the 21st of Oc- tober, 1880, Dr. Pratt married Miss Edith A. Smith, a daughter of Joel and Emaline L. (Brown) Smith, of Marengo, Illinois, the latter a native of Cortland, New York, and one of the early teachers in the public schools of Dundee, Illinois, and the former of Rut- land, Vermont. Her father was a pioneer of DuPage county, Illinois, where he located in 1857. To Dr. and Mrs. Pratt two chil- dren were born-Ada A. and Alice M., who yet remain at home.
In October, 1883, Dr. Pratt removed with his family to Elgin and in the fifteen years that have since passed he has built up an extensive practice. His office is in his own home at No. 266 Chicago street. He is engaged in general practice. He was elected in 1897 president of the Fox River Valley Medical Association.
Dr. and Mrs. Pratt are members of the
First Baptist church of Elgin. In the work of the church they both take a lively inter- est. Politically he is a Republican. So- cially the family move in the best circles and are universally esteemed for their many excellent qualities of head and heart.
JOHN A. RUSSELL, a representative J of the legal fraternity, with office in Cook block, Elgin, is a native of Kane county, Illinois, born in St. Charles, Oc- tober 4, 1854. He is the son of John and Jeanette (Beith) Russell, natives of Scotland, and the parents of three children, the others being Wm. B., of Newhall, Iowa, and Hannah M., of Elgin. John Russell, the father, was a stone mason by trade, and on coming to America located at St. Charles, where he died in 1857, while still a young man. His wife died the previous year. Both were members of the Congregational church.
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Both the paternal and maternal grand- fathers of our subject were of Scotch birth. The former, the father of four sons, died in his native land at an advanced age. The latter, Robert Beith, came to America with his wife, Barbara, in company with Mr. and Mrs. Russell, and also located at St. Charles, where he died at the age of about seventy years: His wife lived to be ninety. Robert Beith was in comfortable circumstances financially and lived a retired life in St. Charles.
John A. Russell was but two years of age when his mother died, and only three years old when his father passed away, so that he never knew the great love of father or mother. When five years old he was taken from his native town and for five or six years was in Minnesota and Iowa. Return-
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ing to Kane county, be attended Elgin Academy for a time, and then read law in the office of Botsford & Barry. After com- pleting his studies he passed a successful ex- amination at Springfield and was admitted to the bar January 3, 1879. Opening an office in Elgin he has since continued to practice there with good success.
Mr. Russell was married December 24, 1888, to Miss Clara Mair, of Batavia, Illi- nois, daughter of James Mair, a well-known resident of that place. Two children have come to bless this union: Marion and Mar- jorie. In her religious views Mrs. Russell is a Methodist, holding membership in the church of that denomination in Elgin.
Fraternally Mr. Russell is a member of Monitor lodge, No. 522 A. F. & A. M .; Loyal L. Munn chapter, No. 96, R. A. M .; Bethel commandery, No. 36, K. T., all of Elgin, and Medina Temple of the Scottish Rite, Chicago. Politically he is an enthu- siastic Republican, and in the welfare of his party takes great interest. He has been a member of the county central committee four years; chairman of the senatorial com- mittee of the fourteenth senatorial district two years; and was also secretary of the State League of Republican clubs two years, preceding the campaign of 1896. For some years be has done more or less campaign work, taking the stump in Kane and adjoin- ing counties. A fluent speaker, he has done much to keep his native county in line with the Republican party.
It is as an attorney, however, that Mr. Russell is best known, the one profession in which he takes great delight. His ability in this calling is unquestioned and success has crowned his efforts. In addition to his private practice he served three years as city attorney of Elgin, and four years as
state's attorney of Kane county. Law breakers had reason to fear him as a prose- cutor.
While confining himself principally to his legal business Mr. Russell has always felt an interest in the manufacturing institutions and other industries of the county. He is now serving as secretary of the W. H. How- ell Company, of Geneva, that manufactures six tons of sad irons per day in connection with a machine shop where many other ar- ticles of usefulness are manufactured.
An almost life-long resident of the coun- ty, Mr. Russell has an extended acquaint- ance in all parts, and this acquaintance is not confined to Kane county, but extends throughout the state, his position as secre- tary of the Republican League bringing him in contact with many of the oldest and best men in the state. His pleasant manners and good conversational powers make him friends wherever he goes.
W WILLIAM HENRY GOETTING, pro- prietor of the Elgin Steam Laundry at 115-117 Division street, has for fifteen years been a resident of Elgin. Through- out his career of continued and far-reaching usefulness his duties have been performed with the greatest care, and his business in- terests have been so managed as to win him the confidence of the public and the pros- perity which should always attend honorable effort.
Mr. Goetting was born in Schaumberg, Cook county, Illinois, October 9, 1859, and is a son of Charles and Dorothea (Kraegel) Goetting, in whose family were five chil- dren, but only two are now living, the other being Matilda, widow of Jacob Theobold. The father, who was a brick and stone
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mason and a plasterer by trade, came to America from Germany in 1863 and first located in Addison township, Du Page coun- ty, Illinois, but later took up his residence in Cook county, where he died in 1888, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife had passed away some years previous, dying in 1873, at the age of fifty. Both held mem- bership in the Lutheran Church, and were widely and favorably known. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a laboring man and while serving in the German army was killed by a French soldier. He had only one son. Dietrich Kraegel, the ma- ternal grandfather, also served for some time in the German army, but later came to America, and his death occurred in Du Page county, Illinois, when in his eight- ieth year. By trade he was a tailor. In his family were six children.
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