The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 2

Author: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 798

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Reared on the old farm in Boone county, Illinois, Isaac H. Warren obtained his early education in the public schools of the local- ity, and he was later a student in Beloit College, of Wisconsin, having secured the

means to continue his studies by teaching for four years in the country schools. When his literary education was completed, he read law in the offices of several attorneys, and in January, 1891, was admitted to the bar, being licensed to practice before all the · courts of the state. He at once opened an office in Elgin, and now enjoys a good practice.

On the 16th of May, 1882, Mr. Warren was united in marriage with Miss Viola O. McAllister, daughter of S. McAllister, of Elgin, and to them have been born two daughters: Louie O. and Vera L. Mr. Warren is a member of the Congregational church, while his wife is a Baptist in relig- ious belief. Socially he is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows' lodge of Elgin,: in which he is now serving as treasurer, and has passed through all the chairs in the Royal League, being past archon and deputy of the same. As a Republican he takes an active interest in political affairs, and has held some minor offices, including that of township collector and school director. In all the relations of life Mr. Warren displays that integrity of character that wins and holds the confidence of all with whom he comes in contact, and his many estimable traits of character have gained for him a' host of warm friends. As a citizen he holds a prominent place in the regard of his fellow- townsmen.

D' ANIEL VAN GORDER, a well-known contractor, and one of the highly re- spected citizens of Elgin, living at No. 432 Fulton street, is a native of New York, born May 15, 1830, near Aurora, on Lake Cay- uga, in the town of Scipio, Cayuga county,: and is a son of John and Sarah (Helms) Van

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Gorder, who were born in Pennsylvania, of Holland ancestry. Throughout his business career the father engaged in contracting and hotel keeping, conducting a popular hostelry in Geneseo, New York, for more than ·twenty years. He was widely and favor- ably known, and well deserved the reputa- tion he enjoyed of being one of the best landlords in his section of the state. He died August 20, 1852, aged sixty years, and his wife seven days later, at the age of fifty- nine. She was a devout and earnest Chris- tian woman, a faithful member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and the poor and needy were never turned fromn her door empty-handed. She was kind and obliging at all times, and her home was the favorite stopping place with the minister. Of her nine children, Daniel is the eighth in order of birth, but only three are now living, the others being Selah, a contractor and builder, residing in Elmira, New York; and Amy, widow of Henry Boughton, and a resident of Galena, Kansas.

The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent in his father's hotel at Geneseo, New York, which he visited a few years since, and in the public schools of that city he acquired his education. After leaving the school room he learned the painter's trade and for some years engaged in house painting, after which he was employed as clerk in hotels in New York City, Newark, New Jersey, and Rochester, New York. He began contracting in 1855, in New York, where he was employed as foreman on the Erie canal, but in 1857 came west, stop- ping first in Chicago. Subsequently he went to Dubuque, Iowa, and still later to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, where he spent some years as a railroad contractor. He has engaged in the same business in

many states, including Colorado, New York, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Minne- sota, Iowa, Kansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Alabama and Mississippi. From Memphis, Tennessee, he came to Elgin in 1889, and here he has since made his home while continuing to engage in both railroad and general contracting.

In 1849 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Van Gorder and Miss Laura Welton, daughter of Amos Welton, of Canandaigua, New York, and to them was born a son, Charles, now a job printer and prominent citizen of Elgin, who married Hannah Bundy and has two children, Prentice and William. The first wife of our subject died in 1864, at the age of twenty-three years, and in 1866 he wedded Miss Susan Bundy by whom he has one daughter, Lucille, a proficient and popular music teacher, now connected with the Hecker's College of Music in Elgin. In religious belief the the mother is an Episcopalian.

In 1859 Mr. Van Gorder was made a Mason at Prairie du Chien lodge, No. 106, F. & A. M., and has since affiliated with that fraternity. Politically he is not identi- fied with any party but votes independently, endeavoring to support the man best quali- fied for office regardless of party ties. As a citizen he ever stands ready to discharge every duty devolving upon him, and he has a large circle of friends and acquaintances in the various states where he has been located at different times throughout his active and useful career.

JUDGE R. N. BOTSFORD, senior mem- J ber of the firm of Botsford, Wayne & Botsford, lawyers, Cook block, Elgin, is one of the truly representative members of

JUDGE R. N. BOTSFORD.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALLTNAIS.

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the legal profession in Kane county. What- ever may be said of the legal fraternity, it cannot be denied that inembers of the bar have been more prominent actors in public affairs than any other class of the commun- ity. This is but the natural result of causes which are manifest and require no explana- tion. The ability and training which qual- ify one to practice law also qualify him in many respects for the duties which lie out- side the strict path of his profession and which touch the general interests of society. This is what makes him a leader of men and often leads him, sometimes in reality against his will, into the political arena, and in times of war into the military serv- ice as commander of regiments, brigades, divisions and corps. That the subject of this sketch has left his impress upon the history of Kane county, its annals for the past fifty years will duly attest.

Richard N. Botsford was born in New- ton, Fairfield county, Connecticut, October 28, 1830, and is a son of Austin N. and Volucia V. (Glover) Botsford, also natives of the same state, and the parents of eight children, five of whom are now living: Richard N., our subject; Eugene M., of Newton, Connecticut; Austin N., of Fort Dodge, Iowa; Caroline, wife of Edward Parsons, of Connecticut; and Alosia, wife of Reuben Johnson, of New Haven, Con- necticut.

Austin N. Botsford, the father, was a man of marked ability, and by occupation was a farmer. He served his district as a member of the legislature, and was also a captain of the state militia. Religiously he was a Universalist. His death occurred in 1842, at the age of forty-four years. After his death his wife married W. Northrup, who died many years ago. She lived to be

eighty years of age, dying in 1894, in New Haven, Connecticut.

The paternal grandfather, Philo Bots- ford, was a native of Connecticut, of Eng- lish stock. He was the father of two chil- dren. His death occurred at the age of seventy-eight years. The maternal grand- father Glover was also born in Connecticut and died at the age of about fifty years.

The subject of this sketch grew to man- hood in his native state and is a graduate of the State Normal School, at New Britain, Connecticut. For some years after his graduation he taught school in Connecticut, Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri. While engaged in teaching he read law, and in 1857 was admitted to the bar in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Removing to St. Charles, Kane county, for a time he was engaged in publishing a newspaper, and in 1858 coin- inenced the practice of law there. In 1869 he removed to Elgin and has here continu- ously made his home from that time, en- gaged in the practice of his profession. While yet residing at St. Charles, in 1861, he was elected county judge and acceptably filled out a four-years' term.

On the 27th of December, 1860, Judge Botsford was united in marriage to Miss Ellen E. Bundy, daughter of P. E. and Pamelia (Lowell) Bundy. By this union two children were born, Carl E. and Alosia. The latter died in 1892 at the age of eight- een years. The former is now the junior member of the firm of Botsford, Wayne & Botsford.

Politically Judge Botsford is a Democrat, and although he has always taken an active part in political affairs he has never been an office seeker. Business and professional interests have demanded of him his time, and he therefore left to others office seek-

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ing. His reputation as an attorney secured him the nomination of his party for the of- fice of supreme judge, in June, 1897, but as his party is in a strong minority in the dis- trict, he failed of an election. That he would have creditably filled the position is acknowledged by all, especially the legal fraternity.

The Judge comes of a long-lived race, his maternal grandmother living to be one hundred and two years old. Although near the three-score-and-ten mark, he is a well- preserved man with physical and mental abilities unabated. With the exception of a short time in Missouri and Wisconsin, he has been a resident of Kane county since 1851, and as stated, the impress of his mind has been left upon the county. He is hon- ored and respected by all.

ELISHA WEED is a retired farmer living in the village of Hampshire, and is well and favorably known throughout Kane coun- ty. He was born in Bloomfield township, Trumbull county, Ohio, August 20, 181.7. His educational advantages were such as were provided in the early days in his native county, when teachers were paid eight dol- lars a month and board around, many of them knowing but little more than some of their pupils. The school houses were built of logs and provided with wooden benches for seats.

John Weed, the father of our subject, was born near Bangor, Maine, and by oc- cupation was a farmer. In the war of 1812 he served two years as sergeant in a Maine regiment and was in the battle of Sackett's Harbor. In Ohio he married Jemima Big- elow, daughter of Timothy Bigelow, a sol- dier of the Revolutionary war, who came

with the family to Ohio, where he died. His wife was a Miss Hovey. In 18.15 Tim- othy Bigelow moved with his family from Vermont to Ohio, the father and son walk- ing all the way, the mother driving a four- horse wagon containing all their earthly possessions. In Cattaraugus county, New York, wolves killed one of their horses, and from there they drove three. They settled in Ohio when that was a wilderness and lived the life usual to pioneers. Of the nine children born to John` and Jemima Weed, four are yet living, as follows: Elisha, our subject; George N., living in Ohio; Eliza- beth, wife of John Burns, of Hampshire: and William, who resides in Missouri.

At the age of nineteen our subject went to Indiana, working in Bartholomew, Johnson, Floyd and Tippecanoe counties, at one time being employed on the old state road, from New Albany northwest. While at this work the contractor failed, and Mr. Weed could get no pay for his labor. The contractor promised to pay him, however, and agreed to keep him until he was paid. Mr. Weed walked one hundred miles to the contractor's home, where he remained for some time and was finally paid. For a time he rented land in Indiana and engaged in farming.

On the 10th of March, 1842, at Blue River, Bartholomew county, Indiana, Mr. Weed was united in marriage with Miss Julia A. Hartman, who was second in order of birth in a family of eleven children born to Francis and Magdeline (Gilbert) Hart- man, both of German origin. . She was born near Little York, Pennsylvania, July 22, 1822. A few years later her parents moved to Indiana and settled in Bartholomew county, at a time when the country was comparatively new, and where they had none of the comforts of their old Pennsyl-

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vania home. The mother cried over the desolate outlook, but after a time became more contented. By this union there were five children: the first named died in infancy ; Helen M. married E. L. Starks, of Starks Station, and died, leaving one daughter, Mabel H., while one child died in infancy ; Francis W. married Rachel Dean, by whom he has four children, Carrie A., Harry, Edith and Frederick, and they reside in Sac county, Iowa; George A. married Jane Tait, and lives in Sac county, Iowa; and Frederick P. A., who married Harriet Plum- mer, and lives on the old home farm.

In 1845 Mr. Weed came to Kane coun- ty, Illinois, traveling by wagon drawn by oxen, and located in Hampshire township, where he bought forty acres on section 27, to which he later added one hundred and twenty acres. His deeds, signed by James K. Polk, then president of the United States, have never been transferred. Deer, wolves and wild game abounded in the country at that time and the few neighbors were very far apart. It was nearly all raw, unbroken prairie and timber.

Mr. Weed is a member of the Masonic order, and is the last of the charter mem- bers living, of Hampshire lodge, No. 443. He has been a Mason for over forty years. In early life he was a Whig, his first vote being for William H. Harrison, in 1840. Since the formation of the Republican party he has been a strong advocate of its princi- ples, and has voted his party's ticket. In early life he served as constable, road com- missioner, school director and in other minor official positions. He is now one of the solid and substantial men of Hampshire township. The conditions of life now ex- isting are very different from what they were when Mr. and Mrs. Weed came to

Kane county, a young married couple. Mrs. Weed learned to spin, weave linen and wool, and in early days made all the clothes for herself and family. After a long and useful life they are now living in retirement, enjoying the fruits of their former toil, and surrounded by those who have intimately known them in days gone by.

J JOHN R. POWERS, of the firm of Baldwin & Powers, attorneys of Elgin, was born in the city which is still his place of residence, April 6, 1870, his parents being John and Johanah (Sutton) Powers, who were natives of Ireland and Illinois respect- ively. . The father was a cooper by trade, and at the beginning of the Rebellion he laid aside all business cares and offered his services to the Union, enlisting as a mem- ber of the Fifty-second Illinois Infantry, with which he went to the front. After- ward he joined Company K, Sixteenth New York Cavalry, serving during the greater part of the war as a scout. His command often engaged in skirmishes with Mosby's cavalry, and in one of these engageinents he was wounded, and was sent to a hospital in Washington. A few days after his re- covery he was sent out with a company to hunt up Booth, the assassin, and was in the command that captured him. After his return from the war he secured a position on the police force of Elgin and served creditably in that capacity until he was chosen for the office of city marshal in 1870. For eighteen years he filled the latter posi- tion, discharging his duties with marked fidelity and ability, a fact which is plainly indicated by his long continuance in office.

On his retirement from that position he was elected supervisor and served for one

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term, after which he filled the office of con- stable, was then deputy sheriff, and was at one time alderman from the Seventh ward. When he left the office of marshal he pur- chased a half interest in the Elgin Ice Com- pany, with which he was connected for two years. In 1897 he was again appointed marshal by Mayor Price, and is now serv- ing in that capacity. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He has a family of five living children-John R., May, Celia A., Mabel and Charles L., and has lost one daughter, Nellie.

John R. Powers, of this review, pur- sued his elementary education in the public schools of Elgin and afterward attended the Elgin Academy. At the same time he read law with the firm of Botsford & Wayne, and and was admitted to the bar at Ottowa in June, 1897. He soon afterward entered into partnership with W. W. Baldwin, under the firm style of Baldwin & Powers, and the firm is now enjoying a fair clientage. They have pleasant offices in the Spurling Block, and they have already met with creditable success, while the business is constantly increasing. Mr. Powers is a young man of strong intellectuality and ex- cellent business ability, and has the energy which always overcomes obstacles and ultimately reaches the goal of success. He is now holding the position of first sergeant in General W. F. Lynch camp, Sons of Veterans, also secretary of the Philomenian Club, and a member of several other social organizations. He has many friends in the community in which his entire life has been passed, and enjoys the confidence and respect of all.

M OSES H. THOMPSON .- The sub- ject of this sketch has been almost a lifelong resident of Kane county, having come here with his parents in 1834, when but one year old. His father, Captain Thomas H. Thompson came to Chicago in 1833, returned to Plattsburg, New York, in 1834, and at once removed his family to Illinois, settling in Du Page county, and from there removed to Fox river valley in 1835, settling in what is now Dundee town- ship, Kane county. Like all country boys in pioneer days, Mr. Thompson remained at home, working on his father's farm until twenty-one years of age.

When wishing for a broader and bet- ter education than could be obtained at the public schools, he took a course in civil engineering, which profession he fol- lowed for many years, beginning in the Ga- lena and Dubuque lead mines about in 1858, and then upon government surveys and the early railroad lines west of the Mississippi. About 1860 he concluded to abandon the engineering and surveying business and en- gage in map publishing, which he did, con- fining himself almost exclusively to county map work, being the pioneer publisher in the west to show the name of each land owner upon each tract. This business was extended over nearly all of the northwestern states. In Illinois alone nearly one-third of the entire state was thus mapped. These maps were made so thorough and complete that copies were added to many of the libraries of the most prominent geograph- ical societies of the world.

In 1872 Mr. Thompson became con- nected with the Elgin Gas Light Company, as its secretary and manager, in which po- sition he continued about ten years. He then became identified with the South-

M. H. THOMPSON.

LIBRARY OF THE THISFORCITY OF H. UNE

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western Lumber Company, as president and manager, but after four years' active management of the company's affairs, on account of ill health, it was determined to sell the property of the company, consist- ing of mills and pine lands in the state of Arkansas. After this Mr. Thompson re- turned to Elgin, his old home, where he has since resided. In 1864 he purchased one of the largest farms in Dundee town- ship, from which time he has been largely engaged in the dairy business, and was among the first to make Elgin a pronounced dairy district. He was the first secretary of the Illinois State Dairymen's Association and continued as such for several years, al- ways taking an interest in whatever per- tains to the dairy interest of the state of Illinois. Mr. Thompson is now serving as president of the Elgin National Bank and has been since its organization in 1892. He is also president of the Old Settlers' Association of Fox River Valley. He is a member of the Lakeside, Century and Wal- tonian ,Clubs. In politics he is a stanch Republican, his father, Captain T. H. Thompson being one of the founders of that party.

his ancestors, was among the foremost to make history during the American Revolu- tion. The paternal ancestors of our sub- ject were also among the defenders of the rights of this country.

D EWITT C. ADAMS, now living a re- tired life in the city of Dundee, but who for years was one of the active, enter- prising and respected business men of this section of the state, is numbered among the old settlers who date their residence in Illi- nois since 1842. He was born in Cortland county, New York, January 29, 1824, and is of English descent, the family coming to this country at a very early date in its his- tory. ... William Adams, his father, was born in Saratoga, ~Northumberland county, New York, in 1784, and was the son of Oliver Adams, also born in New York. Oliver Adams moved to Cortland county about 1804, and there made a home in the wilder- ness, where he reared his family. William Adams married Phebe Lewis, also a native of New York. After residing in Cortland county a number of years he removed to Syracuse, New York, and resided there four years. In 1842 he came to Illinois and set- tled in Cook county, where he spent the re- mainder of his life, dying at the residence of his son, DeWitt C., in 1859. His wife uary 1, 1864. They were laid to rest in the cemetery at Dundee. William Adams was a well-posted man and while taking an act- ive interest in political affairs never sought nor would he hold public office.

In 1862 Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Clarissa I. Miller, daughter of David and Clarissa Miller, and to them have been born two children: Walter M. and Clara I. Walter M. married Miss Elizabeth Cliff, · survived him five years, passing away Jan- December 16, 1885, and they have two children: Arthur C. and Kathryn. Clara I. was married to John A. Carlisle in 1891, and they now have one son, Donald T. The parents of our subject, Captain T. H. and Sarah (Hoit) Thompson, were na- In the family of William and Phebe Adams were three sons and two daughters who grew to mature years, as follows: Maria, wife of John Van Hoesen, of Hastings, Min -. tives of Maine and Plattsburg, New York, respectively. The mother was a daughter of Colonel Moses X. Hoit, who, as well as

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nesota. Oliver, who was for many years a publisher of school records in Chicago, is now deceased. He was well-known through- out the state and elsewhere among educators as the publisher of Adams School Records and various school supplies which are yet used to some extent. DeWitt C., our sub- ject, is next in order of birth. Harriet S. married Edward F. Wells, with whom she removed to San Diego, California, where she died .. John C., who resides in Chicago, is a practical jeweler and was one of the original founders of the Elgin watch fac- tory. He is now living a retired life. One daughter, Betsy, died at the age of fourteen years.

The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent in Cortland county, and in the city of.Syracuse, New York. He had fair educational advantages, which he improved as well as. possible, but is mostly a self-edu- cated man. He was eighteen years of age when he came with the family to Cook county, Illinois. For three winters after his arrival there he taught in the public schools, being one of the pioneer teachers of Cook county. His life work, however, was that of a farmer .. Soon after coming of age he purchased two hundred forty acres of land in Barrington township, which he put under a high state of cultivation and on which he resided for many years. In 1883 he rented the place and moved to Dundee, purchased some lots and built his present residence. Previous to this, however, he had become interested in business in that city, having become part owner in a lumber and coal yard. After his removal to the city he took an active part in the management of the business · for several years, but lately sold out and is now practically living a retired life.

Mr. Adams was married in Elgin No- vember 25, 1852, to Mary E. Harvey, a native of New York, born in Herkimer county, and a daughter of David Harvey, a pioneer settler of Plato township, Kane county. She was reared in this county, and received her education in the schools of Elgin. For some years previous to her marriage she was a successful teacher in the public schools. She died at her home in Dundee, February 19, 1895, leaving one son and one daughter. The son, William H., is now a business man residing in Chi- cago, while the daughter, Mary E., yet re- sides at home, and is her father's house- keeper. She is a well-educated lady, a graduate of the Loring Young Ladies' School of Chicago. One daughter, Carrie, died at the age of seven years, while one son, Louie, died at the age of two and a half years, and another, Charles, died at the age of nine months.

In early life Mr. Adams was an old-line Whig, and, like his father, was a strong be- liever in the principles of that party. A friend of liberty, he united with the Repub- lican party on its organization, and voted for its first presidential candidate; John C. Fremont, in 1856. Being a strong temper- ance man, he has of late identified himself with the Prohibition party. He has ever been a friend of education and the public schools, and has at all times used his influ- ence in their behalf. Religiously he is a Baptist, of which church he has been a member for forty-eight years. The cause- of the Master has ever been dear to his heart, and he has ever been willing to sac- rifice time and money to advance its inter- ests. For some years he was an active member of the Masonic fraternity, but of late has been dimitted.

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The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 2

Author: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Number of Pages: 798

Author: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 798