USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 26
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Socially, Mr. Brown is a member of the Masonic order, the Modern Woodmen of America, and ·Genoa post, G. A. R .; while politically he has always been an uncom- promising Republican, doing all in his power to advance the interests and insure the suc-
he served as school director in New Leb- anon, Illinois, and was commissioner of highways for the same length of time. He is a man of recognized ability and, with his amiable wife, stands high in the cominuni- ties where they have made their home. Those who know them best are numbered among their warmest friends, and no citi- zens in Kane county are more honored or highly respected.
A UGUST JAPP, a retired farmer living in the village of Hampshire, is a rep- resentative of the German-American citi- zens, who by their industry and thrift, have done much in making Kane county occupy its proud position among the counties of the great state of Illinois. He was born in the village of Hanshagen, province of Meck- lenberg Schwerin, Germany, October 5, 1847, and is the son of August Japp, Sr., and Dorothy (Bottcher) Japp, the former a native of Jesse, Mecklenberg Schwerin, Germany, born in 1813, and is yet living at the advanced age of eighty-one years. His father was Hans Japp, a native of the same country. Dorothy Bottcher was a daugh- ter of Hans Bottcher, who lived and died in . Germany.
The subject of this sketch attended the parochial schools in his native country un- til the age of fourteen, when he engaged in farm work, which he continued until his re- moval to America in 1865. He was then but eighteen years of age and left just be- fore he would have been called into the serv- ice of his country in the German army. The family sailed from Hamburg, October 27, 1865, on the steamer Saxonia, and after being twenty-two days upon the water
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landed at New York. They came at once to Cook county, Illinois, and located at Shaumberg. For two years our subject worked as a day laborer at anything he could find to do. His father then rented a farm and for the four succeeding years he worked with him, giving him his time until twenty-five years of age. He then formed a partnership with his father, which was maintained for four years.
On the 21st of September, 1872, Mr. Japp was united in marriage with Miss Wil- helmina Bredemeyer, who was born in the village of Katherinshagen, Hesse, Germany, in 1852, and who came with her parents to America in 1853. By this union eight children have been born, Mina, 1st, de- ceased; Lena, who married Henry Koerner, of Genoa township, DeKalb county, Illinois; Mina, who married John Bottcher, and lives in Genoa township, De Kalb county; Louisa, deceased; August, John, William, and Henry at home.
Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Japp moved with his young bride to Hamp- shire township, and a few years later bought one hundred and forty acres in sections 18 and 19, and two hundred and fifty acres across the line in De Kalb county, making him a fine farm of three hundred and ninety acres. He there carried on mixed farming, giving special attention to stock and grain and making many improvements upon the place. He was a good farmer, industrious as the day was long, and success crowned his efforts in a remarkable degree, enabling him to rent the place and in the spring of 1898 move to the village of Hampshire, where he is now living a retired life. Po- litically Mr .. Japp is a Republican and for sixteen years was school director of his dis- trict, and served as road commissioner for
two terms. He is a member of the Luth- eran church, of which body his wife is also a member, and was the first to suggest the organization of a church of that denomina- tion in Hampshire township in 1876. Both are held in the highest esteem in Hamp- shire township and wherever known.
O TIS N. SHEDD, now living a retired life in the city of Aurora, but who for years was one of the active; enterprising and representive business men of the city, is numbered among the settlers of 1856. He is a native of Maine, born in Oxford county, July 10, 1831, and is the son of Silas Shedd, a native of Massachusetts, born Oc- tober 2, 1794. His father, the grandfather of our subject, was also a native of Massa- chusetts. Otis N. Shedd is the seventh generation from Daniel Shedd, a native of England, who settled in Bramtree, Massa- chusetts, in 1644.
Silas Shedd, the father of our subject, grew to manhood in his native state, and served in the war of 1812, for which he drew a pension until his death at the advanced age of ninety-onė years. He married Miss Clarissa Noyes, a native of New England, born in 1800, and a daughter of Captain Ward Noyes, who for many years was a captain in the militia of his native state. Silas Shedd was a cooper by trade, and also engaged in agricultural .pursuits. His wife preceded him to the land beyond, dying in 1880. They were the parents of four chil- dren, of whom our subject was third in order of birth. Of the others, Calvin married and settled on the old homestead, where his death occurred; Alice N. married Robert Frost, and they reside in Norway, Maine; and Caroline, who inarried Benjamin Henry
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Noble, and after making their home in engaged in tlre manufacture of candles. In Maine for a few years, removed to Cali- the same spring he laid out Beach & Shedd's fornia, where they now reside.
In his native county and state, Otis N. Shedd spent his boyhood and youth on the farm, and during the winter months attended- the public schools, and later a private school taught by Samuel Cobb, a brother of Sylvanus Cobb, a noted educator and divine. Before attaining his majority he taught in his home district, and was quite successful. A young man, he removed to Lawrence, Massachusetts, and there engaged in a woolen mill, now known as the Washington Mill. Later he went to work in a soap fac- tory, where he continued three years, and learned the business of soap making: While residing in Lawrence he was married August 28, 1853, to Miss T. F. Hawkins, a native of Vermont, reared and educated in Bruns- wick, that state, and a daughter of W. W. and Susannah (Wait) Hawkins, of Bruns- wick, Vermont. By this union are five children, one of whom died in infancy, and Otis N., who died in his sixth year. The living are Clara A., wife of Dr. S. S. De- lancy, of Williamsport, Indiana, and they have two children, Helen Delancy and Julius; Isabella F. widow of Professor Stein, of Aurora, by whom she had two children, Alma F., and Edwin Arthur; and Alma E., who married Mr. Merrill, moved to Tacoma, Washington, and there died leaving one daughter, Elizabeth.
In 1855, Mr. Shedd moved west to Chi- cago, and there resided one winter. In the spring of 1856, in company with Mr. Beach, a former employer, he came to Aurora, and bought a farm of one hundred acres, which now lies within the city limits. On that farm he located, and began its improve- ment, and also started a soap factory and
addition to the city of Aurora. He later bought thirty-seven acres more, which he płatted as Shedd's subdivision. In addition to this, he purchased another tract which was laid out as Shedd & Nobble's subdivi- sion. He also had charge of the old fair grounds, and with Mr. Dickinson had a por- tion of it surveyed and platted, and it is now known as Dickinson & Shedd's addition. Since its organization, he has been a stock holder in the Aurora Silver Plate Manufact- uring Company, and was a director in it for a number of years. He also owns stock in the building and loan association and in the German National Bank.
Politically Mr. Shedd is a Republican, his first presidential ballot being cast for John C. Fremont, and from that time to the present, he has never faltered in the sup- port of the men and measures of that party. He has taken quite an active part in local politics, and has served four years as alder- man, three years as commissioner of high- ways, and as supervisor of the town two years and has been a delegate to various county and congressional conventions. He is a man of good business ability, and in whatever position he has been tested, has proven his true worth.
C YRUS H. LARKIN, a farmer and dairyman residing on Larkin avenue, Elgin, Illinois, has made his home in Kane county for over sixty years, and his name is inseparably connected with its agricultural and business interests. His thoroughly American spirit and his great energy have enabled him to mount from a lowly posi- tion to one of affluence. One of his lead-
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ing characteristics in business affairs is his the Revolutionary war. In Brandon, Ver- fine sense of order and complete system, and the habit of giving careful attention to details without which success in an under- taking is never an assured fact.
Mr. Larkin was born in Waterville, Vermont, May 20, 1830, and is a son of Cyrus and Sarah A. (Horner) Larkin, also natives of that state. In their family were only two children, and Emily W. is now deceased. The father was a woolen manu- facturer in early life and later a farmer. On coming to Illinois, in 1837, he secured a farm in Dundee township, Kane county, five miles from Elgin, and four years later he removed to that city. As he was in poor health our subject took charge of the farm at the age of nineteen, and in 1865 he built his present commodious residence, his par- ents living with him until called to the world beyond. The father died June 17, 1885, aged eighty-five years, and the mother November 11, 1887, at the age of eighty-two years and three months. In early life they were members of the Congrega- tional church, but later joined the Method- ist Episcopal church, and died in that faith. The father never sought office, but was fre- quently called upon to fill some local posi- tions, the duties of which he faithfully and capably discharged. His first purchase in Kane county consisted of one hundred and sixty acres of land, but this he sold, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres, which are still owned by our subject.
Joseph Larkin, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a son of Edward Larkin, in whose family were several sons, Joshua and Lorin being among the nuinber. Joseph was a lumber manufacturer and was killed in the mill yard. He had aided the colo- nies in achieving their independence during
mont, March 24, 1785, he married Miss Hannah Winslow, and at that place all of their children were born. She was a lineal descent of Edward Winslow, who lived in England in 1560. Among his sons was Kenelm, and in the next generation two Kenelms. Kenelm Winslow, of this third generation, came to America with his brother Josiah on the Mayflower in 1629, but pre- vious to this time Edward Winslow, the second, came over in the same vessel, ac- companied by his brother Gilbert, they being among the first detachment of Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock, May 20, 1620. Gilbert afterward returned to England where he died, but Edward was the leader of the colony from the beginning, was afterward chosen governor of the same, and possessed considerable ability as a statesman. Jede- diah Winslow, the father of Hannah, was born March 26, 1727, in Rochester, Massa- chusetts, and died in Brandon, Vermont, April 5, 1794, while his wife, Elizabeth (Goodspeed) Winslow, was born in Barn- stable, Massachusetts, in March, 1750. They had a family of ten children.
Cyrus H. Larkin was but seven years old when he came with his parents to Kane county, where he has since made his home. His early education was received under the instruction of his father, but he afterward attended school in Elgin, and later was a student in the college at Beloit, Wisconsin. For five years he successfully engaged in teaching, but since that time has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits and his other business interests. He is now the owner of four hundred acres of valuable farming land adjoining the city of Elgin, is a stockholder in the First National Bank of that place, and is interested in a large mer-
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cantile establishment in Texas and also in the cattle business in that state.
On the 24th of August, 1854, Mr. Larkin married Miss Jane E. Johnson, a daughter of Ashbel Johnson, and to them were born two children. (1) May, who is now the wife of D. B. Hoornbeek, of Al- pine, Texas, and has two children-Brew- ster and Etta May; (2) Fred A., M. D., a physician of Englewood, Illinois. The mother of these children, who was a con - sistent member of the Methodist church, died May 2, 1874. Mr. Larkin was again married December 27, 1888, his second union being with Mrs. Jeannette Crane, widow of Franklin Crane.
Politically Mr. Larkin is a stanch Repub- lican, and has served as supervisor several terms and also town treasurer. He is justly regarded as one of the most progressive and reliable business men of Elgin, and in all life's relations merits the confidence so freely accorded him. His residence in Kane county covers a period of sixty years, during which he has ever borne his part in the work of development and progress, and is therefore deserving of honorable mention among the pioneers.
W ILLIAM E. CONSTANT, M. D., a successful and popular physician and surgeon of St. Charles, is a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred in San- gamon county. February 28, 1854. The Constant family is of French origin and was early founded in Kentucky, where Isaac Constant, our subject's grandfather, was born. The Doctor's father, Dr. Jacob Constant, was also a native of Kentucky, born near Winchester, in 1826, but when only a year old was brought to Sangamon
county, Illinois, by his father, being num- bered among the pioneers of the state. The latter pre-empted land in Sangamon county, near Springfield, and from the wild tract developed a good farm, upon which he reared his family.
At an early age Dr. Jacob Constant took up the study of medicine, becoming a stud- ent of the great Hahnemann, and later en- gaged in the practice of his chosen profes- sion, while he also owned and operated a farm. In Sangamon county he married Miss Lillian Wilson, a native of Scotland, and a daughter of James Wilson, also an early settler of Sangamon county. Mrs. Constant was reared and educated in Edin- burg, Scotland.
In the county of his nativity, Dr. Will- iam E. Constant grew to manhood, and in its public and high schools obtained a good practical education. Under the direction of Dr. Morgan, a leading physician of Springfield, he commenced the study of inedicine, and in 1881 entered Hahnemann Medical College, of Chicago, where he grad- uated with the class of 1883. He began the practice of his profession in Decatur, Illinois, later was located for about twenty months in Arcola, Douglas county, and for the following five years successfully engaged in practice in Rochelle. On selling out there, he came to St. Charles, where he soon succeeded in building up a large and remunerative practice. He keeps abreast with the latest discoveries and theories in the science by his perusal of medical jour- nals, and his skill and ability is attested by the liberal patronage he enjoys.
In Rochelle, on the 28th of November, 1888, Dr. Constant was united in marriage to Miss Belle Ogden, a native of Ogle coun- ty, Illinois, who completed her education in
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the high school of Rochelle, and is a daugh- ter of John Ogden, a substantial farmer of Ogle county. Politically the Doctor is a stanch Republican, but has never aspired to office, preferring to give his undivided at- tention to his professional duties. Frater- nally he is a member of the Masonic lodge of Rochelle, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias. He has made many warm friends since coming to St. Charles, and in social as well as professional circles occupies a prominent position.
C HARLES MELMS, SR., after years of honest toil, is now living a retired life in the village of Hampshire. He was born in the village of Rostow, Pomeramia, Prus- sia, January 15, 1838, and is the son of John and Christina (Heckstadt) Melms, both of whom are natives of the same coun- try, the latter dying when our subject was only three years of age, and the former when he was nineteen years old. After the death of his mother, he lived with an uncle until fourteen years old, and then with a sister until he attained his majority. From the time he was seven years old, until the age of fourteen, he attended the public schools of his native land. In his youth he worked on the farm and spent one year at the wagonmaker's trade. In October, 1862, he sailed from Hamburg, in the two masted sail vessel, Helena, and after a voy- age of eight weeks and two days, landed at New York. He came west, working two years at Waukesha, Wisconsin, after which he spent some four or five years in different states, going as far south as Helena, Arkan- sas, and points in Mississippi, Kansas, Mis- souri, Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin as far north as Lake Superior, working at what-
ever he could find to do. He then went to Chicago, and on the 13th of May, 1867, married Christina Richter, who was born in Tridelfitz, the province of Pomeramia, Prussia, and the daughter of George and Hannah (Krumhorn) Richter, whose lives were spent in Germany. She came to America in 1858 at the age of twenty-three years. By this union five children were born, as follows: Charles, Jr., and Henry, of whom further mention is made in this sketch; William, in the milk business in Chicago; Bertha, wife of Frank Channing, a conductor on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul road, running between Hampshire and Chicago, and Mary, wife of John F. Janeck, Jr., a prominent young business man of Hampshire, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.
After his marriage Mr. Melms settled down to business and for a time was em- ployed in a lumber yard and on vessels. He then ran a fruit and vegetable wagon two years in the city, saved his money and went into the wood and coal business, in which he was engaged seven years. In the mean- time he invested in real estate in Chicago, which he traded for land in Hampshire township, on closing out his coal business, and here moved with his family and en- gaged in farming. He secured a hundred and fifty acres and later bought a farm ad- joining consisting of one hundred and three acres. Subsequently he bought another farın of one hundred and sixty acres and a ten-acre timber tract, in all four hundred and twenty-three acres. He continued to actively engage in farming until March 1, 1891, when he leased the farms to his sons, Henry and Charles, removed to the village of Hampshire, built a handsome modern house and is living in ease and comfort.
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CHARLES MELMS, JR., the son of Charles Melms, Sr., and Christina (Richter) Melms, was born in Chicago, April 28, 1868, and came to Kane county, in 1876, and grew to manhood on his father's farm on section 14. He attended school in the Bean dis- trict until eighteen years of age, and from the time he was old enough to hold a plow assisted in the cultivation of the farm. He remained under the parental roof until February 24, 1891, when he was united in marriage at Huntley, Illinois, with Miss. Emma Schrader, who was born in Huntley, and a daughter of Henry and Dora (Dueses- ing) Schrader, the former a native of Han- over, Germany, and now residing in Hunt- ley, at the age of sixty-seven years. By this union are two sons-Glen, born January 23, 1892, and Harry, born September 1, 1894. In March, following his marriage, he began farming for himself, renting the farm of his father on section 14, for two years. He then came to his present farm, which is a well-improved dairy farm of one hundred and fifty acres, on which he keeps thirty-five head of cows, and is meeting with good success. In politics he is inde- pendent, and fraternally a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
HENRY MELMS was born in Chicago, De- cember 10, 1869, and came to Kane county, Illinois, in 1876, with his parents, Charles Melms, Sr., and Christina (Richter) Melms. He attended school in the Bean district during the winter months until fourteen years of age, and remained at home assist- ing his father until twenty-one years of age. On the 12th of April, 1891, he married Lena Reinking, who was born in Ontarioville, Illinois, July 5, 1870, and is a daughter of Deitrich and Dora (Fisher) Reinking, and to them have been born four children-Elma,
Myrtle, Frank and an infant. The first named died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Melms are members of the Lutheran church and in politics he is à Republican.
DOMEO W. MARSHALL, who is living retired in the city of Aurora, and who came west in 1868, was born in Trenton Falls, Oneida county, New York, January 12, 1824. His father, Romeo W. Marshall, Sr., born in 1787, and his grandfather, John Marshall, were natives of Connecticut. The latter served as a teamster in the Revolution- ary war. The Marshalls are of Scotch de- scent, but came to this country from Eng- land. There were two brothers, one locat- ing in Rhode Island, from which branch of the family our subject was descended, while the other located in North Carolina, and was an ancestor of Chief Justice Marshall.
When a young man, R. W. Marshall, Sr., moved from Connecticut to New York with his father, first locating in Herkimer county, where the father died when ninety- eight years old. In that county R. W. Marshall, Sr., married Harriet Van Antwert, a daughter of Lewis Van Antwert, a native of Holland. Soon after their marriage they moved to Oneida county, New York, where they resided for some years, and then re- moved to Jefferson county, on the St. Law- rence river. In the vast wilderness he opened up a farm of two hundred acres, and there spent the last years of his life, dying in 1874. His wife passed away three years previous. In the war of 1812 he served for a short time, and for a number of years served as postmaster in both Oneida and Jefferson counties. Of their nine children four are yet living.
The subject of this sketch was reared in
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Jefferson county, New York, where he helped to open up and develop the farm. His educational advantages were very limited, but he made the best use of them, and in after years by reading and observation he has become a well informed man. He re- mained on the home farm until twenty-six years of age, and on the 13th of March, 1850, married Mary A. Jewett, of Windsor, Vermont, where she was reared and edu- cated, and a daughter of Rev. Jewett, who died when she was a mere child. He was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. For some years previous to her marriage she was a teacher in the public schools. By this union there were three children: Phila, who resides at home; C. N., married and engaged in merchandising in Aurora; and Josephine, wife of John W. Miller, a busi- ness man of Aurora, by whom she had one child-Marshall J.
Soon after their marriage Mr. Marshall bought a farm in Jefferson county, near that of his father, and engaged in farming and butter-making for some years. Selling out the farm he engaged in the hotel business at Redwood, Jefferson county, New York, which he continued for five years, and in the fall of 1868 came to Aurora, and located in the suburbs of the city. In 1875 he en- gaged in the hotel business, and for thirteen years was proprietor of the city hotel, where he did a large and profitable business, hav- ing a feed barn in connection, and catering to the country trade. On the organization of the Merchants' National Bank he pur- chased some stock, and is now one of the directors of that financial institution. He is now residing in a neat and attractive home on South Lake street, where he delights to entertain his many friends.
Politically Mr. Marshall is a stanch Re-
publican, with which party he has been identified since its organization, having voted for its first presidential nominee, General John C. Fremont. He has voted for every presidential candidate of that party up to the present time, with one exception. He never wanted or would accept official posi- tion, giving his time and attention to his business interests. While not connected with any church organization, Mr. and Mrs. Marshall attended the People's church. He is a man of exemplary habits, upright char- acter, and is classed among the representa- tive business men of Aurora.
WILLIAM McCREDIE .- A brilliant example of a self-made American citizen and a grand exemplification of the progress that an ambitious foreigner can make in this country of unbounded oppor- tunities, is shown in the case of Mr. Mc- Credie, a leading business man of Elgin, whose home is at No. 138 North Gifford street. His wonderful success is due to his own energy and the high ideal which his lofty and laudable ambition placed before him. Success in any walk of life is an indi- cation of earnest endeavor and persevering effort-characteristics that he possesses in an eminent degree.
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