The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 25

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

USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 25

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A. C .; Mary, widow of Lucius Bartholo- mew, residing in Batavia, Illinois; Juliet, widow of Richard S. Reynolds, residing in Iowa; Betsy, widow of Orlando Stolp, re- siding in Missouri; Ellen S., wife of James Vallett, of Naperville; Martha, now de- ceased, was the wife of Norman T. Gaz- ette, of Chicago; Emma, wife of Samuel Wright, of Denver, Colorado; Addison B., of Lamont, Will county, Illinois; James D., of Chicago; and A. Judson, of Calhoun county, Iowa.

The subject of this sketch came to Illi- nois with his parents, a lad of nine years, and was twelve years old when the family moved to Du Page county. He there as- . companying Col. Hammond, of the One sisted his father in opening up, and carrying on the home farm. His educational advan- tages were very limited, and were confined to the country district schools. After arriv- ing at mature years, he settled on a farm of sixty acres adjoining that of his father, which he operated for some years, then sold out and moved to Naperville.

Mr. Graves was married in Du Page coun- ty, December 3, 1847, to Mary A. Buck, a native of Erie county, New York, and a daughter of Stephen Buck, who was one of the pioneers of Du Page county. She was reared and educated in her native state, and previous to her marriage was a teacher in the public schools of Du Page county. By this union are four daughters: Julia E., wife of Judge Gary, of Wheaton, Illinois; Anna P., wife of William Judd, of Aurora; Eva Viola, wife of Oscar Hamilton, of Au- rora; and Bertha, wife of Lemuel Northam, of Joliet, Illinois.

In 1862, Mr. Graves raised a company, and was commissioned captain of Company D, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, and with his regi-

ment went immediately to the front. He served on detached duty, and was in charge of a company of mounted scouts, having under him when he first started about seventy-three men when considered neces- sary. After serving through the winter of 1862-3, he was compelled to abandon act- ive duty on account of ill health, having been taken down with typhoid fever. After he had somewhat recovered, he was placed on duty in the spring of 1863, on the staff of General Granger at Nashville. Pre- vious to his being assigned to the staff of General Granger he had been home on sick furlough, and returned to' the front, ac-

Hundredth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with a large body of recruits. Joining his own command, he was in various engagements, including Dalton, Burnt Hickory, Kene- saw Mountain, New Hope Church, Big Shanty, Peach Tree Creek, and a number of lesser fights and engagements. After the Atlanta campaign, he was ordered back to Lookout Mountain, and reporting to the medical board, was sent to the hospital. Feeling that he could no longer remain in the service on account of his health, his res- ignation was accepted, March 8, 1865.

Returning home, he again commenced farming, at which he continued two years, when he moved to Aurora, and has since been a resident of this city. He lately sold his original farın but still has other farms and some Iowa land. He has always been quite active in political affairs, and since the organization of the party has been quite active in political affairs, and since the or- ganization of the party, has been a stanch Republican. While yet residing in Du Page county, he was honored by his fellow citi- zens, with various official positions. For

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three years he served as collector of his township, and in 1855. was elected sheriff of the county, and moved to Napersville. After filling out his official term, he engaged in merchandising in Naperville and served as deputy sheriff two years. He was then re-elected sheriff and served another term. He also served his township as a member of the board of supervisors several terms; since coming to Aurora he served as city marshal four terms in succession. In what ever position held, he discharged its duties faithfully and well.

Captain Graves and his wife are mem- bers of the Aurora Baptist church. For some years he was a member of the Masonic lodge at Naperville, but is now a dimitted member. For sixty-four years he has been a resident of the Prairie state. On his ar- rival here, Chicago was an insignifigant vil- lage, which he has lived to see become the second city in the union. Northern Illinois was then a vast wilderness, while to-day it is acknowledged to be the garden spot of the Northwest. In its transformation Captain Graves has borne no inconsiderable part.

A' BRAHAM P. SHERWOOD, who for many years was actively identified with the agricultural interests of Kane county, but·is now living retired at No. 226 Hamil- ton avenue, Elgin, was born in the town of Sweden, Erie county, New York, July 5, 1827. His father, John Sherwood, was a native of the same state, born April 6, 1790, and was a son of Hezekiah Sherwood. In 1836 John Sherwood, who was a carpenter by trade left New York and removed to Canada, but ten years later came to Kane county, Illinois, making the journey by boat from Chatham, Canada, to Detroit, and

thence overland to Chicago and Kane coun- ty, being twenty-two days en route. On his arrival his cash capital consisted of about ten dollars, but he rented a farm in Plato and Campton townships, and began life in earnest on the western frontier. A year later he purchased eighty acres of land on section 19, Plato township, and. to the cultivation and improvement of his place he devoted his energies until called to his final rest on the 20th of May, 1879. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and at the battle of King's Mountains was taken prisoner, but was soon paroled and sent home. In early life he was a Democrat, but being a strong Union man he joined the Republican party about the time of its or- ganization, and continued one of its stanch supporters. In religious belief he was a Methodist.

John Sherwood was twice married, his first union being with Sybil Jeffords, by whom he had three children. For his sec- ond wife he married Sarah Pease, a daugh- ter of Abraham and Sarah (Dunham) Pease, and to them were born six children, namely: Seth, who was for many years a partner of our subject in business; Abraham P., of this sketch; Melton, a resident of California; Martha, wife of Charles Harvey, of the same state; John, a resident of Nebraska; and Mary, deceased.

Mr. Sherwood, of this review, began his education in the public schools of New York, later attended the subscription schools of Canada, but as his father was in rather lim- ited circumstances his school privileges were meager, and he is almost wholly self-edu- cated. At the age of nineteen years he ac- companied the family on their emigration to Kane county, and he and his oldest brother assisted the father in paying for his

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eighty-acre farm. Later the sons embarked in business on their own account, at first renting a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, which they successfully operated. Meeting with success in this undertaking, they purchased land, and being thrifty, energetic and of good business ability, they were soon able to add to their original pur- chase, increasing the boundaries of their land from time to time until they had nearly two thousand acres at the time of the divis- ion of the property. Their success was marvelous when compared with the careers of others who began life with them under far more advantageous conditions. Besides general farming, Abraham P. Sherwood was interested in dairying, and also in buying, feeding and shipping cattle. He continued to engage in active business until 1891, when, having secured a comfortable com- petence, he laid aside business cares, leas- ing some of his land, while other tracts he gave to his sons. Since then he has lived retired at his pleasant home at No. 226 Hamilton avenue, Elgin.

On November 11, 1852, Mr. Sherwood was married in Plato township, to Miss Phœbe Ann Wright, a native of New York state; and a daughter of E. Baldwin and Eliza (Foster) Wright. Her father, who was a soldier of the war of 1812, was a son of Solomon and Zelpha Wright. Her ina- ternal grandparents were James and Phœbe Foster. To Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood were born six children, as follows: George W. married Lillie Warner and is engaged in farming on section 30, Plato township; John B., who is also engaged in farming on the same section, married Jennie Mckellar and has two children-John Leroy and Harry; Margaret is the wife of A. M. Chapman, of Elgin; Lewis H. inarried Etta Haygreen

and lives in Elgin; Benjamin A., a farmer on section 25, Burlington township, married Etta Cripps and has two children-Dewitt and Gracie; and Elizabeth Ann died at the age of two years.

Although an ardent Republican in pol- itics, Mr. Sherwood has always refused to accept office of any kind, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his exten- sive business interests. His life record is one well worthy of emulation and contains many valuable lessons of incentive, showing the possibilities that are open to young men who wish to improve every opportu- nity for advancement. Upright and hon- orable in all the relations of life, he merits and receives the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact. Mrs. Sherwood is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

E CRASTUS W. BLACKMAN .- Canada has furnished to the United States many bright, enterprising young men who have left the Dominion to enter the business circles of this country with its more pro- gressive methods, livelier competition and advancement more quickly secured. Among this number is Mr. Blackman, who was for many years successfully engaged in agricul- tural pursuits in Kane county, but is now living retired at No. 610 West Chicago street, Elgın.

He was born in Toronto, Canada, June 18, 1825, a son of Zenas and Elvira (Mitch- ell) Blackman, the former a native of Ver- mont, the latter of Canada. In early life the father emigrated to Lower Canada, and . from there to Upper Canada, where he opened up a farm. He was born in 1795, and, although quite young, he participated

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in the latter part of the war of 1812, receiv- ing for his service a land warrant, which he traded for land in Canada without seeing the tract. In 1848 he came to Kane coun- ty, Illinois, and first located at St. Charles, but renioved to Wheeling, Cook county, in 1868. He died in 1878, and his wife in 1896, at the age of eighty-one years. Both were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church and took an active part in its work.

Our subject is the oldest of their ten children, of whom eight are still living. Three of the sons were soldiers of the Civil war. At President Lincoln's first call for two hundred thousand volunteers, Ephraim enlisted in Dodson's Cavalry and served three years in the Western army, during which time he was never wounded or taken prisoner. He is married and resides in Arkansas. George enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, which was also assigned to the Western army, and he participated in many important battles. His arduous serv- ice broke down his health, and he died at his home in Kansas, leaving a widow and one child. As soon as old enough Emer- son A. enlisted in the artillery service as a private, and with the Army of the Potomac took part in some hotly contested engage- nients, including the battle of Gettysburg, where he was the last one to leave a gun which was captured by the Rebels. He was never wounded. Our subject's sisters are Matilda, wife of William Comfort, a farmer of Independence, Iowa; Eliza J., widow of Lucian Scott, of Elburn, Kane county; Ada- line, deceased wife of Walter Sutherland, a farmer of Kansas; Adalaide, wife of Nelson Sales, of Nebraska; and Laura, wife of Herbert Johnson, a farmer of Kansas.

In the schools of Canada Erastus W. Blackman obtained his education. Through- out his business career he successfully en- gaged in farming, and on coming from Canada to Illinois, in 1848, he purchased one hundred acres of land in Wheeling township, Cook county, twenty-two miles northwest of Chicago, between Arlington Heights and Palatine. Subsequently he traded that place for two hundred acres in Kane county, five miles northwest of St. Charles, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his time and attention for twenty years. On selling out to his son, he bought his present comfortable home in Elgin, where he now enjoys a well-earned rest.

Mr. Blackman was married May 2, 1852, to Miss Sarah Jane Switzer, a daughter of Joseph and Salina Switzer, natives of Can- ada, where Mrs. Blackman was also born. Her mother died in that country at the age of forty-three years, and the father after- ward married Catherine Robinson, by whom he had one daughter, Amelia, who is now the wife of Jacob Miller, of St. Paul, Min- nesota, by whom she had seven children. He came with his family to Illinois in 1849. Both the mother and daughter are still liv- ing but Mr. Switzer died in 1855, aged fifty-three years. By his first marriage he had ten children, eight of whom still sur- vive, namely: Samuel; Martin; Charles; Mrs. Blackman; Lizzie, · who married Stephen Gates and died about 1857, at the age of twenty-two years; Mary A., wife of I. C. Towner, of Elgin; Joseph Russell, a resident of St. Charles, Kane county; Will- iam Henry, of California; Jabez, a farmer of Kane county; Emma, who died in in- fancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Blackman have seven chil-

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dren : Salina is the wife of L. A. Hovey, a railroad man residing in Elgin, and they have three children-Lucia, Julia and Vine; Frank M., who has been a policeman in Aurora for many years, wedded Mary Fish and has two children-Claud M. and May; Emma M. is the wife of Bela Ward, a farmer of Campton township, Kane county, and has two children-Pearl and Ruby; Mary E. is the wife of Charles Searles, of Freeport, Illinois, and has three children- Earl, Paul and Charles Raphael; Ray Allen, of St. Charles, married Ella Shaw and has one child, Myrl; Amelia is the wife of Arthur Bullock, who is employed in the watch factory at Elgin; and Philo M. is a machinist, residing with his parents.

In the Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. and Mrs. Blackman and several of their children hold membership, while he has served as steward and filled other offices in the same. For thirty-eight years he has been a teacher in the Sunday-school, and for many years was superintendent, always taking an active and prominent part in all church work. He is a grand, good man, upright and honorable in all his dealings, and commands the confidence and respect of all with whom he comes in contact. For many years he served as school director in his township.

H ERMAN F. DEMMER, chief of police of Aurora, was born in Germany, and with his parents started for America, when about two months of age. Soon after their ·arrival, the mother died in St. Louis, with cholera during the great epidemic of that ·disease in that city. The father died about one year later in Buffalo, Iowa. In their family were four children, Herman F., our

subject; Lena, now the wife of B. F. Stevens, of Orion, Henry county, Illinois; Anna, widow of Andrew Bolden, now resid- ing in Chicago; and Ida, wife of George E. Hampson, a retired farmer of Millford, Illinois.

After the father's death, Herman was bound out to a Mr. Dodge, in Buffalo, Iowa, with whom he remained a number of years. He was educated in Moline, Illinois, where he resided after leaving Iowa. In 1861 he came to Aurora, which has since been his home with the exception of about six years. During the late war he enlisted and served about five months and on his re- turn went to railroading for the Chicago, . Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, until 1868, when he left the service of that company and was engaged with the Hanni- bal & St. Joseph Railroad Company. At Davenport, Iowa, January 5, 1870, he en- listed in the regular army, and was sent to Fort Leavenworth, where he remained a month. He was then sent west and served on the plains for two and a half years. He was then sent to Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, thence to Little Rock, Arkansas, from which place he was again sent west to en- gaged in the Modoc war, but order counter- manded before they got to Council Bluffs. He was next stationed at Fort D. A. Rus- sell, and later at Fort Laramie. He was discharged at the latter place, having served five years, lacking five days. His record was an excellent one.

Returning to Aurora, Mr. Demmer again began railroading, first as brakeman, and then conductor. After about four years spent in that service, he again left the road, and for a time engaged in business. He was then appointed on the police serv- ice, and served as patrolman two years,

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when he received the appointment of chief of police, which position he yet holds, making eleven years continuous service, which is the longest continuous service of any chief ever having been employed in this city. At present he is president of the Chief of Police Union of the state of Illinois, which position he has held for five years. This is certainly an acknowledgment of his ability, by the chiefs throughout the state.

On the 15th of January, 1881, Mr. Demmer was united in marriage with Miss Alma Steele, of Aurora, and a daughter of Catherine Steele, who is the mother of four children-Dyer, a railway brakeman, residing in Aurora; Mary A., who married S. M. Farwell, and died in Aurora, at the age of forty-four years; Nelson, deceased; and Alma. To Mr. and Mrs. Demmer seven children have been born, five of whom are living-Daisy, Mabel, Nellie, Anna, and Lily. Those deceased are Frank and George.

In politics Mr. Demmer is an ardent Re- publican, who takes pleasure in upholding the platform and measures of his party on all occasions. He is one of the reliable men of Aurora, and his many admirable qualities have tended to make him popular with all classes with whom he comes in con- tact. As a public officer he has given the fullest satisfaction through his constituency. Socially he is a courteous gentleman, and is a man whom misfortunes have not disheart- ened, nor has disaster had an appalling effect. He was nominated by the Repub- lican party for sheriff in 1898.

M ANLEY P. TREADWELL, residing on section 10, Elgin township, was born on the farm where he now resides.

His father, William Treadwell, was born July 22, 1823, in Almyr, Ontario, Canada, and came west in 1840, and later purchased a farm on section 10, Elgin township, where he resided for many years. He was the son of Anson and Nancy (Somers) Tread- well, natives of Canada and New York, re- spectively. Martha A. Adams was the daughter of Edward and Abigail (Padel- ford) Adams. To William M. and Martha A. Treadwell three children were born, as follows: William E., a physician and sur- geon at Maple Park; one who died in in- fancy; and Manley P., our subject.

The boyhood and youth of Manley P. Treadwell were spent upon the home farm, and his education was obtained in the dis- trict schools and Elgin Academy. At the age of eighteen years he went to Chicago, and was there engaged in the milk business one year. He then returned and farmed with his father one year, after which he moved to Elgin, and for one year was en- gaged in teaming, and in the watch factory for seven years. In 1886 he again returned to the farm, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres of fine arable land, and where he has since continued to reside. He usually keeps about fifty head of cows, the milk from which he sells to the condensing factory at Elgin, and ships to Chicago.

On the 16th of February, 1882, Mr. Treadwell was married in St. Charles, Illi- nóis, to Miss Kate Vanderwalker, born in Chester, Warren county, New York, and eighth in a family of nine children born to William and Sophia (Churchill) Vander- walker, the latter a daughter of Otis Churchill. Her father did good service in the war of 1812. By this union one child has been born-Alice M., who yet resides under the parental roof.

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Mr. Treadwell in politics is thoroughly independent, voting for such men as he thinks best qualified for the office. For many years he served as clerk of the board of school directors of his district and was annually re-elected, until he refused longer to serve. He is a member of the Baptist church, of which body his wife is also a member, and was one of the main pro- moters of the chapel built near his residence in 1896. Fraternally he is a member of Monitor lodge, No. 522, A. F. & A. M., and of Silver Leaf camp, No. 60, M. W. A.

For some years the family has been ac- customed to taking long trips overland, for health and pleasure. A number of seasons they drove through to St. Paul and back, returning on the west side of the river,, and camping by the way. They have also trav- eled east, visiting many of the large cities of New England and the central states. As as farmer, Mr. Treadwell ranks among the best, his farm being well supplied with sub- stantial buildings, and it is well watered by a large stream which flows through it. The farm lies very near the corporate limits of Elgin.

G EORGE W. L. BROWN, a well-known real-estate dealer of Elgin, living at 158 North Liberty street, is proud to claim Illinois as his native, state, his birth having occurred in Cook county, April 19, 1848. He is a representative of one of its old and highly respected pioneer families, his parents being Schuyler and Mary Ann (Youngs) Brown, the former a native of New York and the latter of Canada. Of their seven children, only two are now living-Charles and George W. L. The father, a farmer by occupation, came to Illinois as early as 1833, with a Mr.

Scuttler and located at old Fort Dearborn, now Chicago. He carried on farming seven miles west of Blue Island, in Cook county, and there reared his family, but in 1856 he removed to Humbolt county, Iowa, where he engaged in his chosen calling until 1887, when he returned to Genoa, Illinois, to live with our subject. His wife, who was a consistent member of the Methodist church, had died in 1869, at the age of fifty years, and his death occurred in Genoa, in 1892, when in his eighty-eighth year. During his early manhood he was a member of the New York State Militia, and originally he was a Dem- ocrat in politics, but, after voting for Lin- coln in 1860, he continued to support the Republican party. Wherever known he was held in high regard, having the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact.

Hugh Brown, our subject's paternal grandfather, was born in New York state, of English ancestry, and throughout life principally engaged in farming. He reared a family of eleven children, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was over seventy years of age at the time of his death. The ma- ternal grandfather, Jerry Youngs, was a na- tive of Canada and died at an advanced age.

Upon his father's farm, Mr. Brown, of this review, spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and in the district schools of Cook county he acquired his education. At the early age of fifteen, however, he laid aside his text books to aid his country in the struggle to preserve the Union, enlisting in Company G, Thirty-ninth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, " Yates' Phalanx." He served a little less than two years and during that time participated in the battle of the Wil- derness, the siege of Washington, the bat- tles of Hatchie's Run, Petersburg and many

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

G. W. L. BROWN.

MRS. G. W. L. BROWN.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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skirmishes. He had entered the service as cess of his party. For about thirteen years a private, but was promoted corporal on the day he was shot, but did not hear the order of promotion. It was on the 2nd of April, 1865, at the battle of Petersburg, that he was wounded, and, being sent to the hos- pital at Fortress Monroe, he remained there from the 4th of that month until July 19, when he was honorably discharged and re- turned to his home in Cook county.

Soon after the war Mr. Brown removed to De Kalb county, Illinois, where he made his home for three years, and then went to Humbolt county, Iowa, engaging in farming there until his return to De Kalb county, in 1872. On the Ist of March, 1893, he came to Elgin and has since successfully engaged in the real estate business in this city. Be- ing an honorable, upright business man, he has met with a well deserved success in his undertakings, and is to-day numbered among the leading and valued citizens of the place.

On the 14thof October, 1869, Mr. Brown married Miss Margaret J. Vote, a daughter of John and Anna Maria (Karn) Vote. The children born to them are as follows: Charles Elmer, who died in infancy; Clara Belle, . who is now the wife of G. H. Brown, of Genoa, Illinois, and has three children, Hazel May, Clayton George and Floyd Har- vey; Maggie May, who is the wife of J. B. Brown, a brother of George H., and has one child, Raymond Claire; George W. L., Jr., a graduate of Callow's Business College; and Charles F. and Alta Adell, both at home.

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The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 25

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