USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 21
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Politically Mr. Sawyer is a Republican and a strong believer in the principles of that party. While taking an active interest in political affairs, especially local politics,
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his business interests have been such as to preclude his holding public office. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Maccabees, and the Knights of the Globe, while Mrs. Sawyer is a member of the Daughters of the Globe.
A lifelong resident of Kane county, Mr. Sawyer has gone in and out among its peo- ple, attending strictly to business, and is regarded as one of its valued citizens. Few men are better known throughout Kane and adjoining counties and he is held in the highest esteem by all.
E "ZRA M. STARR, who is spending his declining years in ease and retirement at his pleasant home, No. 539 Ryerson avenue, Elgin, was born June 23, 1836, in Cattaraugus county, New York, of which state his parents, William B. and Sallie M. (Bailey) Starr, were also natives. There the father continued to engage in agricult- ural pursuits until 1860, when he emigrated to Kane county, Illinois, purchasing a farm in the town of Campton, where he made his · home until called to his final rest in 1892, at the age of eighty-two years. He held mem- bership in the Universalist church, and was widely and favorably known throughout Kane county, having lived in several differ- ent localities.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Samuel Starr, was born August 4, 1780, and died February 23, 1856. He served for three months in the war of 1812, being dis- charged at Sackett's Harbor, November 12, 1814, and for his services he received a land warrant. He was in every way a most re- liable and excellent man and most capably filled the offices of township clerk and jus- tice of the peace. Religiously he was a con-
sistent member of the Presbyterian church. He married Miss Catherine Wright, who was born May 10, 1783, and died April 7, 1848. They reared a large family of chil- dren, but Mrs. Shaw, of Toledo, is the only one now living. Her husband was a pioneer of Lucas county, Ohio, and served as its first sheriff.
The subject of this sketch is the oldest of five children, the others being as follows: William A., one of the early settlers of La- bette county, Kansas, died there at the age of thirty-five years, at which time he was serving as county auditor. He was also a successful teacher of that state, was quite an influential man, and was a niost intimate friend of Senator Plum, of Kansas. Mil- lard F. is a resident of Rutland, Kane coun- ty, and has served as assessor and in other county offices. Lydia C. is the wife of Frank P. Shepard, of South Elgin. Arthur died in infancy.
In the public schools of New York state, Ezra M. Starr acquired his education and upon the home farm early became familiar with the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He first came west in 1854, but later returned to New York. In 1857, however, he located in Ripon, Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where he worked at brick making for fifteen dollars per month and board, remaining there two years. He then came to Hanover, Cook county, Illi- nois, where he worked by the month for two seasons, and in 1863 purchased two hun- dred acres of land in Elgin township, Kane county, of Virgil B. Bogue, Mrs. Starr's father, who was one of the early settlers of the county. Our subject successfully en- gaged in the operation of this farm until laying aside business cares after a long and useful career.
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On the 7th of January, 1863, Mr. Starr was married to Miss Jane Clarissa Bogue, who was born on the farm in Kane county which her husband purchased of her father. Four children graced this union, namely: Gertrude M., wife of E. D. Wheeler, a trav- eling salesman residing in Elgin; Chester, a cattle dealer of Kane county; and Catherine and William Virgil, who are attending school. Catherine gives lessons on the vio- lin at the College of Music, Elgin, and well understands the art of bringing forth sweet strains from that favorite instrument.
Mr. Starr is a progressive and enterpris- ing citizen, is broad and liberal in his views, and keeps well abreast with the times. He is quite domestic in his tastes, his greatest enjoyment being found in his home, and through his own efforts, he acquired a com- petence which now enables him to lay aside business cares and enjoy his quiet home life. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and he has served his fellow citizens as super- visor of his township two years and school director twenty years.
- EVI S. STOWE .- There is particular L satisfaction in reverting to the life his- tory of the honored and venerable gentle- man whose name initiates this review, since his mind bears the impress of the historical annals of Kane county from early pioneer days, and for many years he has actively and prominently identified with the com- mercial and business interests of Elgin, in which city he is now living retired.
Mr. Stowe was born June 24, 1826, in Granville, Washington county, New York, and is a son of Asahel and Lydia (Daven- port) Stowe. The father was born April 24, 1795, and was the son of Cyrus Stowe,
who was born July 16, 1769, a descendant of Lord John Stowe, who on account of re- ligious persecution was driven out of Eng- land and came to America, settling in either Massachusetts or Vermont. At an early day members of the family removed to New York. The Davenports were also early settlers of that state; but little is known of their history.
Leaving New York, Asahel Stowe, with his family, journeyed westward by team, and on the 28th of September, 1843, ar- rived in Elgin, Illinois, where his brother, Cyrus Stowe, had located three years previ- ously. Besides these two brothers, the other children were Polly E., Samuel, Han- nah, Edwin C., William C., Parley W. and Wealthy B. Cyrus C. Stowe was an active and prominent member of the Congrega- tional church, of Elgin, in which he served as one of the first deacons. The children born to Asahel and Lydia (Davenport) Stowe were as follows: William H .; Louise J., wife of Jesse Rose; Marilla, wife of Theodore Cowen; Levi S .; Rebecca L., wife of Monroe Hammon; Electa and Eve- line, who both died in childhood; Albert, deceased; Edwin, deceased; Martha, widow of William Battles. Of these, only five are now living: Levi S .; Henry; and Louise, of Martin county, Minnesota; Rebecca, of Michigan; and Martha, of Marseailles, Illi- nois. The mother of these children died in Conewango, Cattaraugus county, New York, in 1841, the father in Sycamore, Illinois, in June, 1859. In religious belief he was a Congregationalist, and in politics a Whig, until 1856, when he became a Republican.
On coming west with the family, Levi S. Stowe found employment in Elgin at chopping wood for twenty-five cents per cord, and subsequently he went to De Kalb
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county, where he engaged in farming for about three years. The following three years were spent in farming and lumbering in Wisconsin, and on his return to Illinois he located in Sycamore, where he remained for one year. After passing a year at St. Charles, he came to Elgin, where he first conducted a restaurant, and then opened a general store on Chicago street in the build- ing now occupied by the Barclay hardware firm, carrying on general merchandise very successfully there for almost a quarter of a century. Since selling out his store in 1881, he has practically lived retired. Besides his own pleasant home at No. 56 Villa street, he owns considerable real estate, in- cluding residence property in the city which he rents.
Mr. Stowe was married October 26, 1852, to Miss Jane E. Holgate, of Elgin, Kane county, who was born in Franklin county, New York, April 27, 1833, a daugh- ter of Rev. Ozem and Angeline (Safford) Holgate. She died in Elgin on the 6th of July, 1855, a worthy member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which her father was a minister. On October 3, 1857, Mr. Stowe was again married, his second union being with Miss Betsy Lessenden, who was born in 1835, a daughter of Ephraim and Caroline -(Anderson) Lessenden, natives of Sheerness, Kent county, England. In 1849 they became residents of Kane county, Illi- nois, where the father engaged in farming many years, and both died in Elgin in 1895. They were earnest and faithful members of the Methodist church. Of their five chil- dren, John is now a resident of Osawatomie county, Kansas; Sarah, born in 1832, mar- ried Edwin Stowe, and both died leaving two sons, Sherman and Warren, residents of Elgin; Mrs. Betsy Stowe is next in order
of birth; George is a resident of Osawatomie, Kansas; and Jane is the wife of Milton Townsend.
In his political views Mr. Stowe is a Republican, and has ever taken a deep and commendable interest in public affairs, giv- ing his support to all measures which he be- lieves calculated to prove of public benefit. He is one of the few early merchants of El- gin now living, and with the growth and up- building of the place he has been prominent- ly identified. His wife holds membership in the Congregational church, and they have the respect and esteem of all who know them.
H ENRY J. GAHAGAN, M. D., is a skilled physician and surgeon of Elgin, whose knowledge of the science of medicine is broad and comprehensive, and whose ability in applying its principles to the needs of suffering humanity has gained him an envi- able prestige in professional circles. A na- tive of Grafton, Illinois, born December 27, 1866, he is of Irish lineage. His paternal grandfather, a native of the Emerald Isle, having emigrated to America, died in New York at the age of one hundred and four years. His wife passed away in Ireland at the age of seventy.
The Doctor's father, Bernard Gahagan, was born in County Sligo, Ireland, and on coming to America located near Lake Cham- plain, New York, whence he afterward re- moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Later he floated down the Mississippi river on a raft and became one of the pioneer settlers of Jersey county, Illinois, locating at Graf- ton, where he lived for many years. He was a contractor and builder by occupation. He married Ellen Armstrong, also a native of County Sligo, Ireland, as was her father,
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who crossed the Atlantic to America in an early day, and spent the remainder of his life in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Gahagan became the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters, four of whom are now living: Michael, of Tus- can, Arizona; Bernard, who is living in New York city; Henry J .; and Kate, wife of Simon Conroy, of Grafton, Illinois. The father of this family passed away in 1881 at the age of fifty-four years, and the mother's death occurred several years before. Both were members of the Roman Catholic church.
The Doctor was reared in his native town, was graduated in the high school there, and later attended a private school in Chicago. He also pursued a private course in medicine for two years, and in 1890 matriculated in the Rush Medical College of that city. in which institution he was graduated in 1893. During that time he had charge of the surgical instruments de- partment of the Cook county hospital.
On leaving Chicago Dr. Gahagan ac- cepted the position of assistant physician in the Eastern Illinois Hospital for the Insane, at Kankakee, and a few months later, at his own request, was transferred to the North- ern Illinois Hospital for the Insane, at Elgin, having charge of the annex building until Elgin for private practice and has already succeeded in establishing a good business. On the 20th of May, 1897, he was appointed city physician. He is already popular with Elgin's citizens as an able physician and his practice is constantly increasing in volume and importance. As he is yet a young man and possesses enterprise and laudable ambi- tion, a successful future is undoubtedly be- fore him.
The Doctor was married August 12, 1893, to Miss Della Cullen, daughter of William and Ellen (Conners) Cullen. They have one child, Edna. The parents are members of the Roman Catholic church, and the Doctor is a valued member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity of Elgin, in which he is now serving as chancellor com- mander. He is a medical examiner of the male and female Catholic Order of Forest- ers, Elgin court No. 137, St. Regina court No. 92, and of courts located at Elburn, Batavia, St. Charles, Huntley and Rutland, and belongs to Silver Leaf camp, Modern Woodmen of America; the Columbus Club, of Chicago; the Fox River Valley Medical Association, being chairman of its executive committee; the Illinois Medical Society and a charter member of the Association of As- sistant Physicians of Hospitals for the In- sane. In his political predilections he is a Democrat, but has never sought official preferment, desiring rather to give his en- tire time and attention to his profession, in which he is winning a desirable reputation.
April 1, 1897. He then opened an office in . representative of one of the most prominent
J JUDGE JOHN W. RANSTEAD, who has attained distinctive prestige at the bar of Kane county, was born in Udina, Kane county, Illinois, June 14. 1843, and is a and honored old families in this section of the state. His great-grandfather was one of the heroes of the Revolution and fell at the battle of Bennington, giving his life for the cause of his country. The grandfather of the Judge was John Ranstead, a native of New Hampshire, and his son John was also born in the Granite state. The latter mar- ried Mercy West, a native of Vermont, and a daughter of Albert West, whose birth also
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occurred there. He studied for the medical profession but died in early life. In 1837, John Ranstead, father of the Judge, came with his family to Kane county, Illinois, lo- cating in Udina, where he carried on agri- cultural pursuits. His ability for leadership made him one of the prominent citizens of the community and he was honored by an election to the state legislature, serving in the years 1852 and 1853. He died in 1868 at the age of sixty-five years, and his wife, who was a member of the Methodist church, passed away in 1895, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. Their family num- bered one son and two daughters, the latter being Julia W., now deceased, and Sarah, wife of G. H. Britton, of Udina.
Judge Ranstead was reared on his father's farm in Kane county, and in early life at- tended an old-time subscription school. He afterward pursued his studies in the public schools and Elgin Academy, leaving the last named institution in 1858 to enter Lombard University at Galesburg, Illinois, where he continued his studies until 1863. Having determined to enter the legal profession he matriculated in the law department of Mich- igan University and was graduated in the class of 1866.
In 1868 Mr. Ranstead came to Elgin, where he opened a law office. His success at the bar was marked and immediate, and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow- townsmen was indicated in 1873 by his election to the office of county judge, in which capacity he served for nine consecu- tive years, discharging his duties with marked fairness and displaying in his decisions a comprehensive knowledge of the science of jurisprudence. Since his retirement from the bench he has engaged in private practice and has an extensive clientage which has
connected him with much of the important litigation of the district during his affiliation with the Elgin bar. He is also a director in the Home Savings Bank and is the presi- dent of the Home National Bank.
On the 2nd of April, 1867, the Judge wedded Miss Eugenia A. Fuller, a daughter of Rev. J. P. and Adeline (Cady) Fuller, of Galesburg, Illinois, both natives of Con- necticut. One child graces this union -- Janet M. The Judge and his wife attend the Universalist church, and in his social relations he is a Master Mason and a mem- ber of the Elgin Waltonian Club and the Black Hawk Club. His political support has always been given the Democracy, and of the principles of the party he is a stanch advocate. His entire life has been passed in Kane county, and his useful and honor- able career commends him to the confidence of all. In his profession he has won the success which only close application and earnest purpose can bring, and in private life he has gained the respect which is ever accorded genuine worth.
A NTON F. SCHADER .- Germany has furnished to the New World many of her best and most useful citizens. It has furnished not only needed workmen, skilled and unskilled, but enterprising merchants, manufacturers, artists and apt dealers upon our marts of trade. It has also naturally embraced the various professions, where these German-Americans prove themselves useful, talented and influential. Among Elgin's leading citizens is Anton F. Schader, native of the Fatherland, who is now the well-known and popular editor of the "Week- ly Herald," and the " Germania."
He was born April 24, 1868, in Mayence,
A. F. SCHADER,
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, of which place city until May, 1891, and then came to his parents, Frank and Anna (Haas) Elgin, Illinois, accepting the position of editor of the Elgin "Deutsche Zeitung." About two months after his arrival the proprietor, Mr. Kramer, went to Europe, leaving him in charge. Upon his return Mr. Schader, in connection with Otto May. started a· paper of his own-" The Herold " -which he has successfully published since 1891 .. They began in a small way, at first having the paper printed in Chicago, but meeting with success they enlarged the busi- ness, and in 1895 Mr. Schader purchased his partner's interest, being now sole pro- prietor. "The Herold " is now home-print- Schader, are still residents. The father was - born in Worms, Germany, in 1844, a son of Frank Schader, Sr., while the mother was born in Bodenheim, Germany, in 1846, a daughter of Anton Haas, a school teacher, whose father, who was also a school teacher, bore the same name. The father of our subject is a well educated man, of scholarly tastes, who has for many years been profes- sor of mathematics in the schools of May- ence. Anton F. is the oldest of his four children, the others being Frank, who is with his brother and is now serving as 'assist- ant editor; Lina, wife of Jacob Wollweber, ..... ed, and is a seven-column quarto published of Mayence, Germany, and Elizabeth, who is still with her parents.
Anton F. Schader began-his education in a private school, later attended the gymnasium at Mayence, and also took up the study of languages. After leaving col- lege he studied pharmacy and chemistry at a pharmaceutical institution, and then went to Darmstadt with the view of preparing for that profession, but was obliged to give up his plans on account of ill health. In 1887 he entered the German army after having passed an examination which required of him to serve only one year. He entered the artillery service as a private, but at the end of six months was promoted to assistant corporal, and before the end of his year was made a non-commissioned officer. He suc- cessfully passed an examination for the rank of lieutenant, but at the end of his time, resigned his position in the army.
In the fall of 1888 Mr. Schader began traveling over Europe for pleasure and in- · struction, and in April, 1889, sailed for the United States, arriving in New York on the 24th of that month. He remained in that
every Saturday, while the " Germania " is issued on Wednesday. Both papers have a very good circulation, and are proving quite profitable. They have a better advertising patronage than any weekly in the county. In connection with the regular plant Mr. Scha- der has a job printing office, where first-class work is done in both German and English. There are now seven employees in the office.
On the 29th of September, 1892, in Elgin, Mr. Schader was united in marriage. with Miss Anna M. Muetterries, a native of Westphalia, Germany, who, when a little child, was brought to the United States by her parents, Conrad and Catherine Muetter- ries. Two children grace this union, namely, Anna and May.
In his political views Mr. Schader is a Republican, and gives his personal influence and support of his papers to the financial policy of that party. Being a young man of excellent education, he is well fitted for the profession he now follows, and is most ably conducting his journals. He is also serving as notary public. Socially he is a
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member of the Royal Arcanum, the Knights of the Maccabees, the Foresters, and the Order of Mutual Protection, being president of the last named. In 1897 he returned to Germany, visiting his old home, relatives and friends.
A MASA WIGHTMAN LOOMIS, residing on section 29, Elgin township, was born in the town of Sangerfield, Oneida county, New York, May 12, 1818, and is the son of Alvin and Wealthy (Wightman) Loomis, the former a native of Wethers- field, Connecticut, and the latter of the town of New Berlin, Ottego county, New York. Alvin Loomis was born in August, 1781, and lived in Connecticut until the age of twenty-five years, when he emigrated to the wilds of central New York, locating in Oneida county. In his youth he served as a sailor for a time and was once taken prisoner by the French, then fighting under the great Napoleon. In Oneida county he purchased a farm and engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, dying there in 1856, at the age of seventy-six years.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Stephen Loomis, served through the Revolu- tionary war as teamster. He furnished his own teams and hauled provisions to the various camps of American soldiers. During the winter, when nothing could be done, he returned to his home in Connecticut, and in the early spring again engaged in transport- ing provisions. At the close of the war he was paid in continental money, which de- preciated until it became utterly worthless. He died at an advanced age. The Loomis family were among the first to settle in Connecticut.
The subject of this sketch remained
upon the home farm until the age of eighteen years, assisting in its cultivation, and as the opportunity was afforded him attended the Waterville Academy. On leaving home he worked by the month on farms in New York, until coming west in 1846. Previous to this time his brothers, Hemen and Amenzo, came west, the former locating in Burlington, Wisconsin, and the latter at Half Bay, Lake county, Illinois. In 1842 Amenzo took up a claim of one hundred and twenty acres for our subject near Half Bay, and land was inspected by him in the fall of 1844, when he came west and remained one month. In 1846 he located upon his farm at Half Bay where he resided until 1850, when he went to California, taking passage on the steamer Illinois at New York city, for Aspinwall. At Panama he found all passage by steamer engaged many months ahead. Securing passage in a schooner he sailed for San Francisco, but the vessel was driven far out of its course and very nearly wrecked on a sharp needle of rock, rising from the ocean. He reached San Francisco July I, being nearly two months in making the voyage. During the first year of his stay in Cali- fornia, he prospected with varying success. In 1851 he did much better, and continued to do fairly well until 1853, when he re- turned home with some "dust," though not a fortune.
In 1854 Mr. Loomis sold the Half Bay farm and purchased two hundred and forty- seven acres of G. W. Raymond, in Han- over township, Cook county. In 1864, he bought one hundred and sixty acres in Plato township, near Plato Centre, which he sold in 1882, and bought his present farm of one hundred and ninety acres in sections 29, 32 and 33, Elgin township. The farm is de-
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voted to grain and dairying purposes, on which he raises about two thousand bush- els of corn each year. He usually keeps about thirty-three head of milk cows. Fire destroyed all his farm buildings, November 5, 1893, since which time he has erected all the buildings on the place, which, though not large, are well adapted to the purposes for which they are used.
Mr. Loomis was married, October 18, 1859, to Mrs. Julia A. Jones, widow of William Jones, whom she married in 1845, and who died in 1856, leaving four chil- dren, only one of whom is now living, Franklin Jones, superintendent of the Ter- minal Railroad in Missouri. Mrs. Loomis was born October 2, 1824, and is the daughter of Judge Joshua Carmen and Almeda (Moore) Morgan, natives of Con- necticut. -
Judge Morgan was the son of Isaac Mor- gan, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and a pensioner of that war, and who died at the age of seventy-four years. Isaac Morgan married Margaret Carmen, a daughter of Rev. Joshua Carmen, a pio- neer Baptist preacher. The Morgans are of Welsh descent. In early life Judge Morgan moved to Ohio, and, later, to San- gamon county, Illinois, where he served as county judge. He also held that position until his death, after removal to Tremont, Tazewell county. He served in the Black Hawk war, and at Starved Rock found a tomahawk, which was probably left by one of the Illini Indians starved there. The relic was preserved in the family for many years.
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