USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 24
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George S. Chisholm was reared princi- pally in Elgin, and in the Elgin Academy completed his literary education. For some years he successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in. Du Page county, Illinois, where
he owned a fine farm of four hundred acres,' which he sold about ten years ago. In connection with general farming he was also· extensively engaged in the raising of fine stock, making a specialty of Norman horses, shorthorn and Durham cattle and Poland China hogs, getting his stock from Ohio; but in 1887 he disposed of that business and has since devoted his time and attention to his mining and real-estate interests. The shares of the Eureka mine, above referred to, are owned by Mr. Woodman, George S. Chisholm, his brothers, William W., O. P., Robert B., and their sister, Mrs. Bennett, William W. being the secretary and treas- urer of the company. . The mine has now been in successful operation for twenty
In 1872, Mr. Chisholm, the subject of . this sketch, was married to Miss Angeline Hatch, a daughter of James C. Hatch, who is now ninety-four years of age, and is still well preserved both physically and mental- ly. Her mother died in 1877, at the age of sixty-five years. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Chisholm are: Cora May, Marie Louise, Archie S., James Harold, William Wallace, Olive Edith, and George Edward, who are all living, except Cora May, who died October 15, 1878, and. Olive Edith, who died on the Ist day of August, 1896, at the age of four years.
Mr. Chisholm takes some interest in po- litical affairs, but votes rather. for the man'
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than for the party which he represents. Socially, he is a prominent Mason, belong- ing to Monitor lodge, No. 522, F. & A. M., and the consistory and Medinah Temple of the Mystic Shrine of Chicago. He also belongs to the Uniformed Rank, Knights of Pythias. He takes a deep interest in every- thing pertaining to the public welfare of his adopted city, and withholds his support from no enterprise calculated to prove of public benefit. His wife is a member of the Congregational church, also a member of the Elgin Woman's Club and the Elgin Philharmonic Society, and in the social circles of Elgin they occupy an enviable po- sition.
H ON. SILVANUS WILCOX, ex-judge of the twenty-seventh judicial circuit " of Illinois, now residing on the corner. of Bridge and West Chicago streets, Elgin, is one of the best-known and most distin-
New York, September 30, 1818, and is a son of Elijah and Sally (Shuler) Wilcox, both of whom were natives of New York, the former born in Charles, and the latter in the town of Florida, Montgomery county. Of their ten children, eight grew to manhood and womanhood, and five are yet living- Silvanus, our subject; Hannah Maria, wife of Charles R. Collins, of Elgin; Edward Sanford, of Cloud Chief, Oklahoma; John S., of Elgin; and Captain William H., also of Elgin.
Erie canal, and held various town offices. He also served as general in the state militia. By occupation he was a farmer. In 1842 he came to Illinois, bringing his family with him, and located on' a farm of three hundred acres two and a half miles west of Elgin. Three years later he was elected a member of the state senate, the duties of which office he discharged in a most satisfactory manner. The farm on which he settled was in an almost primitive condition, and he at once began its improve- ment. His death occurred there in 1862 at the age of seventy-two years. His wife sur- vived him some years, dying at the age of eighty-five. In early life she was a Pres- , byterian, but later in life became a Univer- salist, accepting the faith of her husband, who was steadfast in that belief.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Silvanus Wilcox, was a native of Dutchess county, New York, of Welsh origin. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and was one guished citizens of Kane county. He was . of the guard at Tarrytown when Major An- born in Charleston, Montgomery county, / dre was captured, and was present at the execution. His death occurred at Fulton- ville, Montgomery county, New York, when he was eighty-seven years old.
The maternal grandfather, John Shuler, was also a native of New York, born near Catskill, of German parents. For years he served as justice of the peace and held other minor offices in the town of Florida, Mont- gomery county. He was a very able inan and one of strong intellect. He was eighty- six years old at the time of his death.
The subject of this sketch was reared in Elijah Wilcox was a man of marked ' his native county, and received his primary ability, and in his native- state was duly honored by his fellowmen. For some years education in the common schools of the town in which the family resided. Later he served as county commissioner of Mont- : he attended the academy at Amsterdam, gomery county, was collector of toll on the ' and in July, 1836, was appointed a cadet at
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West Point, his examination giving him fifth place in a class of fifty. On account of failing health he resigned August 15, 1839. His room mates were H. W. Hal- leck, R. Q. Butler, Stewart Van Vliet and Schuyler Hamilton, all of whom are dead except Van Vliet. In 1861, at the Planters House in St. Louis, he met Hamilton going up the stairs and accompanied him to Hal- leck's room. He was a great friend of these gentlemen, and on meeting thein Hal- leck exclaimed "Wilcox, I thought you were dead." He corresponded with them all through the war. Besides those men- tioned, Williamn T. Sherman and George H. Thomas, both famous generals of the Civil war, were his classmates. The following is a letter to Mr. Wilcox from the superin- tendent of the military academy at West Point:
MILITARY ACADEMY,
WEST POINT, December 4, 1839. S Mr. S. Wilcox:
SIR: Your friend, Cadet Van Vliet, has requested me in your behalf for such a state- ment of standing and merit in your studies and character relative to conduct, as the records of this institution will enable me to give.
It appears that you joined the Academy as a cadet in July, 1836, and that, at the last examination at which you were present, the Academic staff pronounced you the fourth in order of merit in mathematics, the ninth in French, and the thirteenth in draw- ing; which, when compared with the rest of your class, then consisting of fifty members, secured you the fifth place in general merit. It also appears from the records of the In- stitution that you left here in bad health, and that, after a protracted illness of more than a year, you tendered your resignation,
which was accepted by the secretary of war, to take effect the 15th of August, 1839.
It gives me much pleasure to have it in mny power to put you in possession of such highly favorable testimonials of your con- 'duct and talents when a member of this In- stitution.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
RICHARD DELAFIELD.
Major of Engineers, Superintendent of Mili- itary Academy.
For over two years after his resignation froin West Point Mr. Wilcox was an in- valid, but in 1840 he came west to Elgin, and located some land in that vicinity. Re- turning to New York for a time, he acted as agent for his father for a line of boats running from New York City to Utica.
On the 27th of August, 1840, Mr. Wil- cox was united in marriage with Miss Jane Mallory, daughter of Henry and Polly Bent Mallory, of Yankee Hill, town of Florida, Montgomery county, New York. One son was born to this union, Silvanus Marcus, who died at the age of thirty-two years. Mrs. Wilcox died in Elgin April 24, 1884. Religiously she was a Universalist, as is also the Judge. She was a woman of do- mestic tastes and habits, one who tried to make a happy home, and in this she suc- ceeded admirably.
In May, 1844, Mr. Wilcox came with his family to Elgin, and here has since made his home. Since 1845 he has lived upon the site of his present home, except five years, when he resided upon his farm near Elgin. About the time he came here he commenced the study of law, and in 1846 was admitted to the bar, and at once commenced an active practice. His success was assured from the very start, and it was not long before he secured recognition as
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one of the most active practitioners in his circuit. His standing among the legal fra- ternity was such that in 1867 he was nomi- nated and elected circuit judge, and served the full term of six years. In the spring of 1873 he was re-elected for another term, but in the fall of 1874 he was compelled to resign on account of ill health. The im- partiality displayed as a judge, and the just- ness of his decisions, is well known and duly acknowledged by all his circuit.
For some two or three years after his resignation from the bench, Judge Wilcox devoted his time principally to regaining his health and looking after his private business interests. In 1891 he platted a part of a farm, and for a time was engaged in the dis- posal of town lots, with which he combined other real estate business, greatly to his profit. In addition to his other private business, he was a stockholder in the Elgin Condensed Milk Company, and was its president for three years. In every enter- prise in which he engaged he brought to bear a well-trained and well-balanced mind, and was therefore greatly relied on by his business associates.
The Judge has traveled extensively for business and pleasure, and has visited every state and territory in the United States. In 1891 he went to the Pacific coast, and on this trip visited Salt Lake City, San Fran- cisco, Portland, Tacoma, Seattle and Yel- lowstone Park. His next trip was from Portland, Oregon, thence to Tacoma, then to Sitka, Alaska. His third long trip was · to Mexico, at which time he visited nearly every city of any note in that country.
Politically the Judge is a gold Demo- crat, from the fact that in order to have genuine prosperity in the country its cur- rency must have stability and be accepted at
its face in any country in the civilized world. He has never cared for political office, and has held but few. In 1844 he was appoint- ed and served as postmaster of Elgin until 1849. As a citizen he is honored and es- teemed by all. The Judge, B. F. Law- rence, Walter Pease and Henry Sherman were instrumental in locating the Elgin watch factory in this city; was also identi- fied in locating the Elgin Packing Company.
JOHN GUSTAVUS LINDGREN, a rè-
tired mechanic, who for thirty-five years was a trusted employe of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad shops at Aurora, dates his residence in Kane county from 1854. He is a native of Sweden, born March 18, 1826, and in his native country grew to manhood, and received a common-school education. His knowledge of the English language was obtained after coming to this country. In Sweden he learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, serving a regular apprenticeship. The chance for advancement in the countries of the old world are very limited, and the as- piring young man usually thinks very seriously of emigrating to the United States, where golden opportunities are offered to every one. Our subject had heard inuch of this country and here deter- mined to make his home. Accordingly in June, 1854, he took a sailing vessel at. Gut- tenberg, for Boston, and was six weeks on the Atlantic, making landing July 24, and coming direct to Chicago, and thence to Geneva, where friends had previously settled. He immediately began work at his trade, and soon engaged in contracting and building.
On the 6th of May, 1855, Mr. Lindgren
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was united in marriage with Miss Mary Olson, a Swedish lady, born in 1822, in the same neighborhood as her husband, and who came with him on the same vessel to the new world. By this union there are three children-Charles John, married and re- siding in Aurora, and employed as foreman in the foundry of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad; Christine, wife of Ed- ward Lundgren, a machinist residing in Aurora; and F. W., married, and who is also a machinist in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad.
In 1860 Mr. Lindgren began work at the reaper shops in Geneva, and in December of that year moved to Aurora, and com- menced work in the railroad shops, doing the wood work for the locomotives. He re- mained in the employ of the company for thirty-five years, a length of time which tested his ability, and showed the estimation in which he was held by the Company. Soon after coming to Aurora, Mr. Lindgren erected a neat residence and is now the owner of another which he rents. Both himself and wife are members of the Swedish Lutheran church. Politically he is a Republican, with which party he has been identified since becoming a naturalized citizen. While Swedish born, he is a thorough American, and has great love for the country of his adoption. A man of ex- emplary habits, and upright character, he has many friends in Aurora and Kane county.
M AJOR J. S. VAN PATTEN is a well- known business man and the present efficient postmaster of St. Charles. He has been a resident of the city since 1854, a period of forty-four years, and in that time
has built up a reputation and established a character which will be as enduring as time. He is a native of the grand old Empire state, born in Preble, Cortland county, July 23, 1823, and is a son of Ryer and Mary (Spence) Van Patten, natives of Schenectady county, New York, and County Down, near Belfast, Ireland, respectively.
The Van Pattens are of Holland de- scent, the grandfather of our subject being a native of that country, from which he emi- grated at a very early day. A year or two prior to the opening of the present century he located in Schenectady county,. New York, and was one of its pioneers. Ryer Van Patten, his son, and the father of our subject, was born in Schenectady county, in 1789, but in 1809 removed to Cortland county, where he opened up a farm, mar- ried Mary Spencer, who was born near Bel- fast, County Down, Ireland, of Scotch par- ents, and reared his family of two sons and seven daughters. His death occurred there in 1874 at the age of eighty-five years. John R. Van Patten, his son, yet occupies the old homestead, which comprises about three hundred and fifty acres, but he owns adjoin- ing lands sufficient to make in all twelve hundred acres, and which is a most valua- ble property.
On the home farm in Cortland county, New York, our subject spent his boyhood and youth. His education, begun in the common schools, was completed in Cort- land Academy. Like the average farmer boy, he did his share in the work of cultivat- ing the soil, but his tastes were not in that direction. At the age of nineteen he com- menced teaching and for three winter terms was in charge of the same school. How- ever, he commenced farming on his own ac- count in his native county, and continued in
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that line until his removal west to Kane and others to prevent the calamity, it broke county, Illinois, in 1854.
In December, 1847, Mr. Van Patten was married in Cortland county, New York, to Louisa R. Bacon, who died six years later in 1853, leaving one son, Dr. Louis Van Patten, one of the leading physicians of St. Charles. The following year Mr. Van Pat- ten took up his residence in St. Charles, purchasing the drug business which was es- tablished in 1842 by Elisha Freeman, and which was then enjoying a good patronage. This business he yet continues, and it is one of the oldest establishments in the city.
After residing in St. Charles about two years, Mr. Van Patten was again married, his second union being with Miss Jane A. Clark, a native of Green Oak, Michigan, where she was reared and educated. She removed with her parents to Chicago, where she was married December 18, 1856. By this union two daughters were born: Eve- line, now the wife of Lorenzo Van Patten, of Cortland county, New York; and Mabel, wife of Frank Rockwell, assistant postmas- ter of St. Charles, by whom she has three sons.
The first seven years of Mr. Van Pat- ten's stay in St. Charles covered a very try- ing period in the history of the country. In that time occurred the financial panic of 1857, which destroyed many valuable busi- ness concerns in all parts of the country, but which was particularly severe upon the west, which was flooded with worthless Ne- braska currency. This panic he passed through safely with well-established credit.
But a more trying period was close at hand. The war cloud which commenced forming about this time continued to grow in size, and notwithstanding the heroic efforts of the lamented Stephen A. Douglas
upon the country in 1861, upon the inaugu- ration of President Lincoln. The southern states, restive for some years, committed the overt act, firing upon Fort Sumter in April of that year. A call was immediately made by the president for troops to put down the rebellion. The first call was fol- lowed by others until soon the armies ranged upon either side were greater than those in any modern war.
Through the stirring scenes of those first days of the war our subject was not an unconcerned witness. As soon as possible he offered his services to his country and was commissioned quartermaster of the first battalion of the Eighth Illinois Volun- teer Cavalry, with rank of first lieutenant. In February, 1862, he was promoted regi- mental quartermaster and served in that capacity until November, 1862, when he resigned. He was at once, however, com- missioned first lieutenant of Company M, and was detailed April, 1863, as acting com- missaty of subsistence of the cavalry divis- ion, Army of the Potomac, Major-General A. Pleasanton commanding, when he re- turned home.
Nine months later, Mr. Van Patten again re-enlisted in the Eighth Cavalry, and in February, 1864, was appointed quarter- master in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry. In May, 1864, he was commissioned captain and assistant quartermaster United States Volunteers, and was assigned to Vicksburg, where he remained as post quartermaster until November 3, 1865, when he resigned and again returned home in March, 1866, when he was breveted major by President Johnson, and as such was mustered out of service.
On his return to St. Charles, Major Van
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Patten again resumed the drug business, and in 1872 was elected cashier of the Kane County National Bank and served in that capacity for six years. During all the time, ' either in the military service or in the bank, he retained his interest in the drug store, and when released from the latter duties again took his place in the store. He has always enjoyed a good trade.
Politically Major Van Patten has always been a Democrat, having an abiding faith in the principles of that party as best calcu- lated to subserve the best interests of the people. In 1894 he was commissioned postmaster of St. Charles, and yet fills that position acceptably to the people. In the great campaign of 1896 he espoused the gold wing side of his party. Fraternally he is a Master Mason. As a citizen he is greatly esteemed and his friends are numer- ous throughout the entire county.
P HILIP FREILER, the leading whole- sale liquor dealer of Elgin, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, April 3, 1860, his parents being Joseph and Mary (Bachrach) Freiler. His father was a native of Austria, born near Prague in 1833. He came to the United States about 1850, locating in Hart- ford, where he engaged in the wholesale meat business. About 1863 he removed to New York city, where he conducted a hotel until 1867, when he went to Chicago. He engaged in the wholesale liquor business in that city until 1878, when he removed to Elgin, carying on business along the same line and at the same time retaining his busi- ness interests in Chicago. In 1883, owing to failing health, he sold out to his son Philip and went abroad, remaining in Europe for about six months, after which
he returned to this country. He died on the 6th of August, 1884. He was a man five feet, eight inches in height, solidly built, and of genial temperament. In his political views he was a Democrat. His wife was a daughter of Jacob Bachrach, who was born near Frankfort-on-the-Rhine. Crossing the Atlantic, he located at Hart- ford in 1860, having a daughter living in that city. Later he took up his residence in Chicago, where he died in 1884, at the age of ninety-seven years.
Joseph and Mary Freiler had a family of seven children, namely: Emma, wife of Adolph Stein, of Chicago; Philip; Frances, wife of Lewis Kuhn, now deceased; Moses J., a resident of Chicago; Benjamin, de- ceased; and Julia, wife of Bernard Stein; and Harriet, wife of Nathan Herzog, of Chicago. The mother is still living and makes her home with her daughter Frances.
Philip Freiler spent the first five years of his life at Hartford and afterward at- tended school during a three-years residence in New York. He then removed with his parents to Chicago, where he continued his studies in the German high school, later pursuing a course in the Dryenfurth Educa- tional and Business College. He entered upon his business career in connection with his father and his brother-in-law, Adolph Stein, who were at that time in partnership. Later Mr. Stein purchased his partner's in- terest and our subject continued with his brother-in-law until 1883, when he came to Elgin. Here he began business on his own account as a wholesale liquor dealer on River street, near his present location and from the beginning he prospered in his undertakings, his trade constantly extending until it covers the territory embraced within the Dakotas, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wis-
PHILIP FREILER.
HURANY or THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
consin, Iowa, Indiana and Missouri. He
has the largest jobbing trade of any dealer in the west outside of Chicago, and his ex- tensive patronage has brought to him a handsome competence. As his financial re- sources have increased he has made judi- cious investments in real estate and is also a stockholder in banking institutions and in city railway lines.
Mr. Freiler was married July 8, 1883, in Elgin, to Miss Lizzie Ehrlich, daughter of Joseph and Kate (Smith) Ehrlich, the former a native of Austria and the latter of Frankfort, Germany. Mr. Ehrlich is now deceased, but the mother is still living. Mrs. Freiler is a native of New York city, and by her marriage she has become the mother of four children; Florence, who is attending school: Helen, deceased; Hilda, who is also in school; and Ruth.
In his political affiliations Mr. Freiler is a Democrat. He held the office of treasurer of the Insane Hospital for four years under Governor Altgeld, but has never been a poli- tician in the sense of office seeking, prefer- ring to devote his energies to his business interests, in which he has met with signal success. He is a prominent Mason, holding membership in the blue lodge of Chicago, the chapter of Elgin, and the consistory and mystic shrine of Chicago. He is also connected through membership with the Knights of Pythias, Korassin, Foresters, Red Men and the Free Sons of Israel of Chicago. He is a man of sound judgment in business affairs, reliable and trustworthy, and is very popular with all who know him.
C 1
APTAIN A. C. GRAVES, a veteran of the war of the Union, and a pioneer of the state of 1834, but now living a retired 12
life in the city of Aurora, is well known throughout Kane, Du Page and adjoining counties. He was born in Cortland county, New York, February 15, 1825, and is the son of Phineas and Anna (Kendall) Graves, the former a native of Cortland county, New York, and the latter of Vermont. Phineas Graves grew to manhood in his native state, where his marriage with Ann Kendall oc- curred. By occupation he was a farmer, and with that laudable desire to better him- self lie determined to come west. Accord- ingly on the 10th of February, 1834, with his family, accompanied by his brothers, Amos and Jesse, he left his old home and drove through with teams, being thirty-one days on the road. He first located in Will county, three miles from the present village of Lockport, where he bought a claim, on which was a log house, and which had eight or ten acres broken. This was known as canal land. Three years later he sold out and moved to Du Page county, located near Warrensville, taking up a claim of one hun- dred and sixty acres, which he improved and made one of the finest farms in the county. He later sold that farm and purchased another in the same township, where he re- resided a number of years and reared his family. He subsequently sold the farm, and moved to Aurora, where he died De- cember 24, 1889, in his ninetieth year. His wife passed away February 8, 1887, and they were laid to rest side by side in the west side cemetery, where a substantial monument marks their last resting place.
Captain Graves is the oldest son and second in order of birth of the family of eleven children born to Phineas and Anna Graves. The others are Lucy Ann, wife of Samuel Bartholomew, who resides near Turner Junction, Du Page county; Capt.
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