The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 22

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

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To Mr. and Mrs. Loomnis six children were born, as follows: Elizabeth, who died at the age of two years; Elmer Ellsworth, who died aged one year; Grant, who died

when three months old; Amasa Sherman, who died at the age of six years; Alvin, who married Rose Emory, of St. Louis, by whom he has two children, Edna Belle and Lilian Jennett; and Benjamin Franklin, who married Ellen, Suttle, of Evansville, Indiana, by whom he has one child, Mabel Julia.

Mr. and Mrs. Loomis are members of the Congregational church, in the work of which they are much interested. Politic- ally, he is a Republican, with which party he has been connected ever since its organ- ization. While taking an interest in polit- ical affairs it has never run in the direction of office seeking, and he has held but one local office, that of_school director. A man of the strictest honor and integrity, he is esteemed for his many excellent traits of character.

C HARLES A. GRONBERG, of Aurora, Illinois, is a representative of the Swedish-Americans of Kane county, which has been his home since 1854. He is a na- tive of Sweden, born May 23, 1837, and is the son of Charles P. and Johanna (Hem- ming) Gronberg, both of whom were also natives of Sweden, and who emigrated to this country in 1853, locating first in Chi- cago. The father was a machinist by trade, and in 1854 moved to Geneva, and found employment in the reaper factory, at that place. Three years later he moved to Au- rora, started a factory, and engaged in the `manufacture of reapers. He carried on business in Aurora, until 1872, when he moved to Elgin, and there engaged in the same business. His death occurred in El- gin about 1881, his good wife dying some twenty years previously. Of their family

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of five sons and one daughter, John was a soldier in the Thirty-sixth Regiment, Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, and now resides in Evanston, Illinois; Otto was a member of the Fifty-second Regiment, Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, and after the war served for years as chief engineer at the asylum at Elgin, but is now deceased; Christine, wife of Charles Barlow, a merchant tailor of Aurora; Oscar, an employee of the Elgin Watch Factory; and Gustave, also in the watch factory at Elgin.

The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent in his native land, and when about sixteen years old, he came with his parents to America. In the old country he had good educational advantages in his own language, and also in the German tongue. On coming to this country, he attended school at Geneva and Montgomery, that he might acquire the English language. With his father he learned the trade, and also drawing, becoming a superior draughtsman. He worked in the factory with his father. and also in the shops in Aurora with him, and later in the car shops at Aurora. In 1886 he went to Pullman, Illinois, as fore- man in the machine shops at that place, continuing there until 1893, since which time he has lived retired. While in Pull- man he still maintained his residence in Aurora.

Mr. Gronberg was married in Rockford, Illinois, in 1862, to Miss Charlotte Lin- guist, a native of Sweden, where she was reared and educated. By this union were two daughters, Alma and Esther Iliana. The former holds a position with the Prang Educational Company, of Chicago. The latter 'also holds a position in a business house in Chicago. Immediately after mar- riage, Mr. and Mrs. Gronberg located in

Aurora, and two years later he built a resi- dence on River street, where they resided about eighteen years. He then erected his present residence on 233 West Park avenue, and since 1882 it has been their home.

Politically Mr. Gronberg is a steadfast Republican, with which party he has been identified since casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln, in 1860. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, of which body his wife is also a member. Fraternally he is a Master Mason. As a citizen he has ever been willing to do his part, to advance the material interests of his adopted city and county. For forty- four years he has gone in and out among the people of Kane county, with whom he is held in the highest respect.

F CRED R. BRILL, the efficient postmas- ter of Hampshire, Kane county, Illi- nois, was born in Shaumburg, Cook county, Illinois, January 5, 1870, and with his par- ents came to Hampshire in 1876. Here he attended the village school until the age of fourteen, then worked in a grist-mill for his father for three years, and then he entered the office of the Hampshire "Register," under the control of G. E. Sisley, and after thoroughly mastering the trade and having also considerable ex- perience in editorial work, in 1889, in part- nership with C. H. Backus, they purchased the plant and continued the publication of the paper, with our subject as editor until 1892, when he purchased Mr. Backus' in- terest and alone continued its publication. Having received the appointment as post- master of Hampshire, on July 1, 1897, he took his brother, William C. Brill, into partnership, and the duties of editor and

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manager devolved upon the junior member. One year later the plant was leased to Will- iam C. Brill, who is now in full control of the paper.

Mr. Brill was married in Hampshire, to Miss Nellie M. Backus, a native of Chap- lain, Connecticut, and a daughter of Jirah L. Backus, of which further mention is made in the sketch of C. H. Backus, found elsewhere in this work. Although deprived of as extensive schooling as he desired, Mr. Brill through the educational advantages of his profession, made up that deficiency, and ambitious of learning, has completed the Chautauqua course and pursued independ- ent study, until he is possessed of a liberal education, which is above the average. He is fond of good books and knows how to use them.

In politics Mr. Brill is a stanch Republic- an and is a local leader in politics. He has attended various county, district, state and national conventions of his party, and in the great convention at St. Louis in 1896, in which William McKinley was nom- inated for President, he served as assistant sergeant-at-arıns. For six years prior to his appointment as postmaster he served as clerk of the village and township. Frater- nally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of the Globe, Modern Woodmen of America and Royal Neighbors. In each of these orders he has filled nearly all the official chairs.

John Brill, the father of our subject, was born in the village of Abterote, Hessen Cassel, Germany, April 27, 1831. He is the son of Martin Brill, also a native of Germany, who followed farming and lime burning in the old country, where his entire life was spent, he dying in 1849, at the age of about fifty years. John Brill attended

the common and Latin schools in Germany, until the age of fourteen. For some years he lived in Albungen, where he married Martha Seppel, a native of that city, and in 1851 they emigrated to America, sailing March I from Bremen, on the sailing vessel Victoria, and after a voyage of six weeks landed at Baltimore. From that city he came west to Chicago, where he lived one month, and then located at Hoosier Grove, Cook county, where he followed his trade of shoemaking six years. In 1875, he moved to Hampshire, followed his trade a short time, and then engaged in other lines of business for six years. In 1883 he bought the mill at Hampshire, and ran the same until 1896, when he sold out and retired, and is now living in a comfortable home in' the northern part of the village.

William C. Brill, the brother and part- ner of our subject in 1897-8, was born in Hampshire, April 24, 1875, and received his education in the village schools, graduating from the high school at the age of seven- teen. Since boyhood he worked in his father's mill during vacation, and when out of school. He became an expert engineer, and passed the state examination for an en- gineer's certificate, before attaining the age required for such certificate. Having also spent much spare time in his brother's printing office, he learned type-setting and press work, so when his father sold his mill in 1895, William C. entered the printing office, and, as before stated, became a part- ner in the publication of the paper in 1897.

In addition to the work in the office of the "Register ," he had somne experience in editorial work elsewhere. While Mr. G. E. Sisley, of the " Genoa Issue," was absent, attending to his duties as clerk of the state senate, he did editorial work on his paper.

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He was also einployed three or four months on the " Harvard Herald." A ready and fluent writer, he is making of the " Regi- ter" a No. I home paper. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of the Globe, and politically he is a Republican.

IMON P. BROWN, M. D., is recog-

S nized as one of the leading physicians of Kane county. His office is room 18, Spurling Block, Elgin, and he has been a resident of the city since 1874, during which time he has built up an extensive practice. He is a native of New Hampshire, born in Concord, June 11, 1832, and is a son of Manley H. and Hannah (Martin) Brown, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter of New Hampshire.

The Browns are of English descent, the first representative of the fainily coming to this country early in the seventeenth cen- tury, locating in Providence, Rhode Island. Rudolphus Brown, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Orange coun- ty, Vermont, and died at the place where . he was born and reared. By occupation he was a farmer. Of his family of fifteen chil- dren, Manly H., our subject's father, was the youngest. Jacob Martin, the maternal grandfather, was a native of Scotland. On coming to this country he located in New Hampshire, and on the farm selected on his arrival lived, and died at the age of about seventy-six years.

· Manley H. Brown grew to manhood in his native state, and there learned the tan- ner and currier trade. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and while living in the east served as captain of a company in the state militia, and also served as justice of the peace. His marriage with

£ Hannah Martin was celebrated while living in New Hampshire in 1831. With a laud- able desire to better himself and give his children better opportunities to advance in this world, he came west with his family in 1843, and located on a farm in Du Page county. His ability was soon recognized by his neighbors, and in 1846 he was elected a member of the legislature from Du Page county, but died the same year before tak- ing his seat, while in his thirty-seventh year. His wife died in 1840. They were the par- ents of four sons and one daughter, of whom our subject is the oldest.

Simon Preston Brown was eleven years of age when he accompanied his parents west. While in his native state he attended the public schools, and on coming to Illi- nois he attended first the Warrenville Acad- emy and later entered Wheaton College, where he pursued his studies about two years. In 1856 he began studying medicine at Danby, Illinois, with Drs. Newton and Potter, and in 1860 entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, graduating from that in- stitution in the spring of 1868.

On receiving his diploma Dr. Brown went to Arlington Heights, Illinois, where he' opened an office and commenced the practice of his profession. He continued there with good success for eight years, and then went to Polatine where he re- mained two years. Desiring a more ex- tended field he came to Elgin, where he has now been some twenty-four years. While engaged in general practice, he has made a specialty of diseases of women, and on that subject is an acknowledged authority. His practice has been for years a large and extensive one, and his success has been such as to warrant it.

On the 15th of October, 1863, Dr.

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Brown was united in marriage with Miss Mary Hitchcock, of DuPage county, daugh- ter of Earl and Mary (Miller) Hitchcock. By this union seven children have been born, namely: Frank died June 3, 1892; Kate died November 15, 1894; Harriet Ann is now the wife of George E. Haskell, of Grand Junction, Colorado; William is at home; Georgie and Mary Jeannette both died in infancy; and Cora J. is at home.

The Doctor and his wife are members of the Universalist church, of Elgin, and fra- ternally he is a member of Palatine lodge, F. & A. M .; Palatine chapter, R. A. M .; and Chicago consistory. Politically he is a Democrat, and while he takes that inter- est in political affairs that all patriotic American citizens should take, he has never sought official position, perferring to give his time to his professional duties. Profes- sionally he is a member of the Fox River Medical Association, and in its work has taken an active interest.

The Doctor resides with his family in a comfortable home at No. 402 North Spring street, Elgin. He has been prospered in a financial way, and in addition to his city residence has a fine farm of two hundred and thirty-four acres five miles south of Elgin, and one near Palatine, Cook county, of two hundred and twenty acres. A resi- dent of the state a period of fifty-five long years, and a practitioner of thirty years, he has been brought in contact with the best people of Cook, DuPage and Kane counties, and his friends are numerous in each. By all who know him he is held in the highest esteem.

AMUEL SWITZER, section 15, St.

miles north of the city of St. Charles. He is numbered among the settlers of 1849, and is a native of Canada, born near Toronto, May 8, 1829. He is the son of Joseph Switzer, a native of Ireland, who went to Canada a young man, with his father, Samuel Switzer, who settled near Toronto. He there mar- ried Selina Switzer, a native of New Jersey, but reared in Canada. They were the par- ents of ten children, all of whom grew to mature years, save one. In order of birth they are as follows: Samuel, of this review; Martin, a farmer residing in 'St. Charles township; Charles, of St. Charles; Sarah, wife of E. W. Blackman, of Elgin; Mary Ann, wife of I. C. Towner, of Elgin; Eliza- beth, who married Stephen Gates, is now deceased; Russell, who resides with our subject; William H., a farmer residing in California; and Jabez, who resides in Pin- gree Grove, Illinois.

In 1849, Joseph Switzer came to Illi- nois, and located in St. Charles township, Kane county, Illinois, where he purchased a farm of over four hundred acres, and here died in 1853. · His wife died in Canada, just previous to his removal to the States .. Satnuel Switzer; our subject, was twenty years old when he came with the family to Kane county . . In his native country, he re- ceived a fairly good education in the Churchville Academy. He remained on the farm with his father, until the latter's death. On the sixteenth of June, 1853, in Kane county, he married Harriet Louisa. Towner, a native of Lower Canada, born near Mont- real, where she remained until sixteen years of age, when she came to Kane county, her father, William A. Towner, and family coming several years after her arrival. His his son in Elgin. By this union are six

S Charles township, is actively engaged. last days were spent at tlie residence of in farming and in dairying, two and a half

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living children as follows: Philene M., wife ty, and in that time he has done much of M. W. Stanhope, of Elgin; Joseph E., towards its growth and development. On the 21st of March, 1889, he lost his resi- dence and household effects by fire, which was a very severe loss. With characteristic energy, he rebuilt better than ever. Mr. Switzer is well known in Kane county, and he and his estimable wife are honored and respected by all who know them. married and is a contractor residing in St. Charles; Florilla, wife of Walter Hare, of St. Charles, Illinois; Mary S., wife of Donald McDonald, of Brookwalter, Pawnee county, Nebraska; Hattie M., wife of C. Arthur Purcell, of New Haven, Connecticut; and Nellie M., wife of George Simmons, who is assisting in managing the home farm. They have lost three sons and two daughters-Henry C., who grew to the age of twenty-two years; I. C., who died at the age of eighteen; Grant, who died in child- hood; Kate C., who died at the age of four- teen years; and Alice Belle, who died in childhood. They are also the grandparents of ten children.

Soon after marriage, Mr. Switzer located on a part of the old homestead, having suc- ceeded to one hundred acres. After re- maining upon that place three years, he sold out and moved to Palatine, Cook county, Illinois, where he purchased a farm and there remained twelve years. About 1867, he came back to Kane county, and purchased the farm where he now resides, which since coming into his possession has been greatly improved. Since residing here he has built a large residence, three good barns, erected a pump and wind mill for grinding feed, and otherwise improved the place, making it one of the best farms on Fox River, on which it is located. For some years he has been principally engaged in dairying and has kept on an average about thirty cows.

Since 1856, when he gave his support to John C. Fremont, he has voted the Repub- lican ticket at every presidential election. While always interested in political affairs, he has never held office. For forty-eight long years he has been a resident of Kane coun-

P ERSONS C. GILBERT, deceased, was for many years one of the leading agri- culturists and representative citizens of El- gin township, Kane county, but spent his last years in retirement in the city of Elgin, where he was also numbered among the valued and highly respected citizens. He was born in Cassanovia, New York, Octo- ber 23, 1812, a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Wells) Gilbert. The father, born August 29, 1789, died in 1816, and the mother, born March 25, 1790, departed this life in 1889, when in her one hundredth year. At the age of eighty-four she came from the east all alone to visit friends in Elgin. She was a cultured and refined lady of pleasing presence and was always very active. Our subject was the second in order of birth in the family of three children, the others be- ing George, a farmer, who died in New York state; and Mary Ann, who married Gardner Wescote and both are now de- ceased.

Being only four years old at the time of his father's death, Persons C. Gilbert was reared by his grandparents, Theodore and Lydia (Albard) Gilbert, of Cassanovia, New York, remaining with them until he attained his fifteenth year, and acquiring his educa- tion in the public schools. Twice he un-

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY Of ILLINOIS

PERSONS C. GILBERT.

MRS. P. C. GILBERT.

LIBRARY OF THE HIMVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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dertook to learn a trade, but was obliged to give it up owing to ill health. tory in Elgin. He was a very successful farmer, owning at one time several fine In his native state Mr. Gilbert worked at farm labor until twenty-three years of age, when, in 1835, he came to Illinois with two aunts-Fannie, wife of Dr. Nathan Collins, who settled at St. Charles; and Emeline, wife of Dr. Joseph Tefft, who located in Elgin. The journey was made in two wagons, each drawn by three horses, one wagon containing Dr. Collins' family, and also Dr. Tefft's. They were accompanied by Jonathan Tefft and family in the other wagon. These physicians were important factors in the new settlement, where fever and ague held sway, and at an early day their practice extended over a wide territory. farms, including the old homestead, which originally contained two hundred and twelve acres, and after selling a right of way to a railroad company still comprised one hun- dred and sixty acres. He continued to re- side upon that place until 1843, when they removed to the farm of one hundred and seventy-six acres on the St. Charles road, adjoining the city limits of Elgin, where they resided until their removal to the city of Elgin in 1869, locating on the lot where his widow still lives. His fellow-citizens recognizing his worth and ability, offered him the nomination of mayor of the city, but he refused all public positions, only Dr. Tefft was the first physician to locate in - serving as a member of the school board, as Elgin, and for many years was its most he always took a deep interest in educational affairs. Politically he was first a Whig and later a Republican. He was a man of ex- cellent business qualifications, was enter- prising and industrious, and was justly re- garded as one of the valued and useful citi- zens of his community. Wherever he went he commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. He died April 22, 1895. prominent one. Later he was elected pres- ident of the Elgin Academy and served in that capacity until his death. He was wide- ly and favorably known both as a physician and educator, was president of the Scientific Society, and was the first mayor of Elgin, serving as such two terms. He was born August 29, 1812, and died in 1888, being buried on the seventy-sixth anniversary of his birth. His first wife, Mrs. Emeline (Gilbert) Tefft, died August 18, 1844, and the two children born to them are also de- ceased. For his second wife Dr. Tefft married Mrs. Lavina Ormsby, who died in July, 1897, when over eighty years of age, and to them was born a son, Dr. L. E. Tefft. The mother had a daughter by her first marriage, Cornelia Ormsby, now Mrs. Strothers, of Texas.

After coming to Kane county, Mr. Gil- bert took up a tract of government land and subsequently purchased a claim, the first tract being the present site of the shoe fac-

On the 30th of September, 1840, Mr. Gilbert was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Tefft, who was born in New York, a daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Col- lins) Tefft, the former a native of Rhode Island, the latter of Poughkeepsie, New York. Her påternal grandparents were Jeremiah and Rhoda (Hoxie) Tefft, also na- tives of Rhode Island, and they died in 1823 and 1832, respectively. The maternal grand- parents were Solomon and Sarah (Perry) Collins, the latter a cousin of Commodore Perry. Mrs. Gilbert still lives at the old home in Elgin, where she is surrounded by

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many warm friends and acquaintances who appreciate her sterling worth and many ex- cellencies of character.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gil- bert were as follows: (1) George P., born August 20, 1841, began his education in a private school and later became one of the first students in the Elgin Academy. He was a bright young man and was his father's able assistant on the farm until July, 1861, when he responded to President Lincoln's first call for three hundred thousand volun- teers, being one of the first of the town to enlist. As a member of Company A, Sev- enth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, he went to the front and assisted in the destruction of a railroad. While thus employed he was drenched by a cold rain, from the effects of which he took a violent cold which settled on his lungs, causing his death. He died on his way back to Cairo, Illinois, February 4, 1862, and while on this journey his regi- ment took part in their first battle, that of Fort Henry, Tennessee. (2) Melissa, born August 1, 1843, died August 25, 1844. (3) Mary G. is now the widow of A. D. Martin, of.Elgin, by whom she had two children: Percy G. and Alla May. Percy married Leah McComb and has two children, Earl G. and Harry P. (4) Ada H. Baird, an adopted daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert, always found a happy home with them. She is now the wife of George W. Hinsdale, of Elgin, and has two children, Lillian and Ray W.

JAMES WALKER, ex-mayor of Aurora, J and for forty-one years foreman of the blacksmith department of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad at Aurora, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, Novem-

ber 20, 1834, and is the son of William and Demaris (Patchet) Walker. Early in 1841 the family emigrated from Delaware to De- troit, Michigan, and while en route, at Har- risburg, Pennsylvania, they received the news of the sudden death of President Har- rison. Soon after their arrival in Detroit the father was taken down with typhoid fever, from which he never recovered. The mother long survived him, dying at the age of eighty-four years. They were both mem- bers of the Baptist church, and lived and died in the faith. Of their family of seven children our subject was second in order of birth, and of the number six are still liv- ing, and all save our subject reside in Mich- igan.

James Walker was but seven years old when his parents settled at Detroit, Michi- gan. He there grew to manhood, and in his youth began to learn the blacksmith and machinist trade, which he has followed throughout life. After obtaining a thor- ough knowledge of his trade, when but nineteen years of age, he was chosen to take charge of the blacksmithing depart- ment of the Chicago Steam Engine Works, in Chicago. This responsible position he held until chosen to hold a position with what is now the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company. On the Ist of June, 1857, he accepted a position with the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Com- pany as foreman of their blacksmith shop at Aurora, with which corporation .he has since been connected, a term of service which is without a parallel in the state for long, efficient and satisfactory service. He has from sixty to one hundred men under his supervision.

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The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 22

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