USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 27
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Born in Scotland, February 10, 1848, Mr. McCredie is a son of William and Mar- garet (Limmond) McCredie, also natives of that country. The father was born in Wig- tonshire, and was the only son of Peter and Margaret (Fraser) McCredie, farming peo- ple, who spent their entire lives in Scotland, the foriner dying at the age of sixty-two years, the latter at a much more advanced age. They had one daughter, Elizabeth, who married George Jamieson and both are
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WM. McCREDIE.
LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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now deceased. The mother of our subject was one of a large family of children whose parents were Quintin and Margaret (Mc- Adam) Limmond, natives of Ayrshire, Scot- land.
William McCredie, Sr., who, born in 1806, was a farmer by occupation, emi- grated to Canada in 1872, but after residing there for seven years, he returned to his native land in 1879, on a visit, and died there. While on this side of the Atlantic he visited Illinois. He died in 1880, aged seventy-five years, a faithful member of the Presbyterian church and a most excellent that church, now lives with her daughter, Jane, in Elgin. The subject of this sketch is the oldest of their nine children, and, like all his brothers, is engaged in the creamery business. Quintin, who was engaged in business in Huntley, Illinois, died in Mc- Henry county, in 1888, aged thirty-eight years. Margaret Ann is the wife of James Campbell, who is also engaged in the cream- ery business in Jefferson, Wisconsin. Eliza- beth is the widow of Robert Marshall, a Scotch-Canadian, and is a resident of Mar- shall, Wisconsin. Jane lives with her mother in Elgin. Thomas Limmond is a resident of Ohio, Illinois. James makes his home in Earlville, this state. Robert Cumming lives in Mt. Morris, Ogle county, and Edward Limmond, in Ohio, Bureau county, this state. Our subject had two half brothers. The older, Captain Patrick Mc- Credie, was a sea captain, and was in sev- eral ship wrecks. While commanding the Greta, he saved the crew of the ship Great Britain, which was destroyed during a gale on the British Channel, March 11, 1876, and for his bravery displayed by this act he received a written communication from the
committee of "Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society " commending his gallant service. John McCredie, the other half brother, was also a sailor for twenty years, but when the family came to America he accompanied them, and now lives with his widowed sister, Mrs. Marshall, in Wis- consin.
Reared on a farm, William McCredie continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until twenty-seven years of age, when he became interested in the creamery business, working for the firm of Braman, Horr & Warner, at. Elyria, Lorain county, Ohio, man. His widow, who is also a member of , for three years. He then came to Algon- quin, Illinois, and near that place engaged in the same business with Robert McAdam until 1881, when he purchased his partner's interest after being together for three years. Since then he has carried on operations at different places, including Barrington Sta- tion, Barrington Center, and Elgin, where he still resides in active business. He owns one creamery in Lee county which is under the management of his brother James, and is also interested in many others. For twenty years he has successfully engaged in this business, and the prosperity that has- crowned his efforts is certainly well de- served for in him are embraced the charac- teristics of an unbending integrity and in- dustry that never flags.
On the 23d of January, 1884, in Halton county, Ontario, Mr. McCredie was united in marriage with Miss Mary Jane Marshall, a native of Canada and daughter of John and Margaret (Archibald) Marshall, who emigrated from Scotland to that country at an early day. Her parents celebrated their golden wedding in 1892, at which time all of their large family of children were present as well as many other guests.
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Since then the father has passed away, dy- ing in 1896, but the mother is still living on the old home farm in Canada. With one exception her children are also living. Mr. and Mrs. McCredie have three children, namely: Maggie Jane, William, and Mar- ian Elizabeth.
Politically Mr. McCredie is independent, generally voting for the man rather than the party, though he is rather inclined to- ward Democracy. He is a prominent Ma- son, belonging to the blue lodge of Barring- ton. Illinois; L. L. Munn chapter; Bethel commandery, Elgin; and Medinah Temple, Knights of the Mystic Shrine, of Chicago. With the First Congregational church of Elgin he and his wife hold membership and by all who know them they are held in high regard. He has several times visited his native land, but has no desire to return there to live. As a representative business man and highly respected citizen of Elgin none are more deserving of honorable men- tion in a work of this character than Will- iam McCredie.
W ILLIAM BURTON has been identi- fied with Kane county for more than half a century, and has contributed his share to its material progress and prosperity, but has now laid aside all business cares and is enjoying a well-earned rest at his pleasant home in Elgin. He was born November 26, 1821, in Sherrington, Province of Que- bec, about twenty-seven miles from Mon- treal, and is a son of John and Jane (String- er) Burton.
The father was born in North Burton, Yorkshire, England, in 1791, and in 1819 emigrated to Canada, locating in Sherring- ton, where he engaged in farming. He had
three brothers, namely: William, Richard and Francis. He was short of stature, of light complexion, of positive character, but of gentle disposition. In religious belief he was an Episcopalian, as was also his wife. In manner she was rather firm, and was char- itable to an eminent degree. She was born January 31, 1796, in Hunenby, Yorkshire, England, of which her parents, Richard and Hannah (Wallace) Stringer, were also na- tives. They removed to Canada in 1818, and in that country her father died, but her mother spent her last days in Kane county. Besides Mrs. Burton, they had three sons and one daughter, namely: Mark, George, John and Alice, wife of Ar- thur Allison, all now deceased, with the ex- ception of Robert, who makes his home in El- gin. The father of our subject continued to reside in Sherrington, Canada, until killed at the battle of Odeltown, November 9, 1838. The mother died in Elgin township, Kane county, April 9, 1864.
In the family of this worthy couple were nine children, of whom William is the old- est; Richard, born September 13, 1823, died in August, 1897; Mary, born August 14, 1825, married George Marshall; John, born September 19, 1827, died in Elgin, in 1870; Francis, born December 14, 1829, of whom see sketch elsewhere in this volume; George B., born February 9, 1831, died De- cember 12, 1838; Alice, born December 7, 1833, married George Church, and died in Dayton, Washington, November 19, 1886; Mark, born September 6, 1835, died July 27, 1883, in Helena, Montana; and Annie, born July 4, 1838, married George Cook- man, and died April 11, 1891, at Mason, Iowa.
Upon the home farm in Canada, William Burton was reared, and in the schools of
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the neighborhood acquired his education. On leaving the parental roof at the age of sixteen, he went to Albany, New York, to learn the blacksmith's trade, but not liking that occupation, he obtained work on a farm in Cherry Valley, New York, where he remained for two years. After his father's death he returned home to look after the family, remaining in Canada until 1844, when he left for the far west, accompanied by his uncle Robert, uncle Mark and brother Richard. They made the journey by way of the lakes to Chicago, and from there on foot to Kane county.
In 1845 William Burton purchased a tract of two hundred and forty acres. in Plato township, to the cultivation and im- provement of which he devoted his time and attention for sixteen years. Having se- cured a comfortable competence, he then retired from the arduous duties of farm life and removed to Elgin, where he erected a pleasant residence on Walnut avenue. Five years ago he sold his farm, which was one of the best in Kane county. While engaged in agricultural pursuits, he and his brother Richard built a cheese factory in Genoa, De Kalb county, Illinois, which they op- erated for five years. There they also bought a tract of two hundred and ninety acres of land, which they converted into a dairy farm, keeping thereon fifty head of cattle. When they finally divided the prop- erty, the brother took the farm and our sub- ject the factory, which he later sold. He also built the first factory in Plato town- ship, Kane county, in partnership with John McDonald, but later sold his interest. Upon his farm in that township he kept forty head of cows for dairy purposes.
In St. Charles, Kane county, Mr. Bur- ton was inarried January 1, 1855, to Miss
Sarah Poole, a daughter of Charles Poole and wife, natives of England, now deceased. Her father lived to the extreme old age of one hundred and nine years. The children born of this union were as follows: Clara, born December 24, 1855, married Samuel Buckley, a farmer of Marshall county. Kan- sas, and died July 10, 1874; Georgiana May, born May 6, 1857, is the wife of George Burton, of Genoa, De Kalb county; Alice Maud Mary, born May 13, 1859, is the wife of. Peter Young, a resident of Pot- tawatomie county, Kansas; Ernest W., born December 9, 1860, is a carpenter living in Elgin; and John Francis, born February 21, 1863, is a farmer of Marshall county, Kansas. The mother of these children, who was a consistent member of the United Brethren church, died March 27, 1863.
Mr. Burton was again married, July 18, 1863, his second union being with Miss Jane Cookman, a native of Yorkshire, Eng- land, as were her parents, Francis and Maria (Dibbs) Cookman. She was a Meth- odist in religious belief, and died in that faith, June 16, 1892, being laid to rest at Udina, Kane county, where Mr. Burton's mother, his children and grandchild have . all been buried. By his second marriage he had four children, namely: Margaret, born June 3, 1865, is the wife of Nelson Their and lives in Missouri; William C., born July 23, 1867, died August 30, 1880; Sarah Ann, born June 28, 1870, keeps house for her father; and Mary, born February 26, 1872, died August 20, 1880.
At local elections, where no issue is in- volved, Mr. Burton votes independent of party ties, but at other times never fails to support the Republican ticket. While liv- ing on his farm he efficiently served as school director most of the time. Prior to
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coming to Elgin he held membership in the United Brethren church, but as there was no church of that denomination in this city, he united with the Methodist congregation. During the long years he has been a resi- dent of Kane county, he has championed every movement designed to promote the general welfare, has supported every enter- prise for the public good, and has materially aided in the advancement of all social, edu- cational and inoral interests. After a use- ful and honorable career he can well afford to lay aside all business cares and live in ease and retirement. His daughter pre- sides over his home, which, in its appoint- ments, evinces the refinement and culture of the inmates.
JAMES SHAW, city librarian and clerk of the city court, Aurora, Illinois, was born in Lancashire, England, July 9, 1840, and is the son of James and Anna (Gould) Shaw, both of whom are natives of England. The parents came to America during the in- fancy of our subject and sertled in Ports- mouth, New Hampshire, where James was reared and educated in the common schools and graduated from the high school. After leaving school he entered the office of the daily " Chronicle," at Portsmouth, to learn the printer's trade and was there nearly five year.
In the summer of 1862, Mr. Shaw en- listed as a private in Company K, Sixteenth Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteer In- fantry, with which he was sent to the southeast, the regiment being assigned to the Nineteenth Army Corps, under com- mand of General Banks. It was engaged in the Port Hudson campaign. His term of enlistment expiring, he returned home in the
fall of 1863. After spending a year as clerk in the navy yard at Portsmouth, he came west to Chicago, and engaged in the print- ing business. In the following winter, how- ever, he went south to Mobile, Alabama, being one of the army of " carpetbaggers " and was there some six years, engaged in newspaper publishing, and assisted in re- construction generally. In 1873 he camne north and in 1874 joined Pierce Burton in the publication of the Aurora " Herald." He remained with that paper six years, when the partnership with Mr. Burton was dis- solved. He was soon afterward elected clerk of the city court, to fill a vacancy, and by re-election has held the office until the present time. In 1884 he was appointed librarian, which position he has also held until the present time. In 1888 he was appointed by recommendation of the whole bar, official reporter of the circuit court of Kane county, which position he held for three years. He ran the Aurora Centre for the University Extension Course of Lectures for popular instruction, Mrs. Pierce Burton being the first secretary, and our subject the second one, which office he has since con- tinued to fill.
On the 30th of June, 1885, Mr. Shaw was united in marriage with Miss Ella D. Lowd, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to which place he returned for that purpose. Her parents were William D. and Rebecca Lowd, on the mother's side being a direct descendent of the martyr, John Rogers, who was burned at the stake during the reign of Bloody Queen Mary. The great-great- grandfather of Mrs. Lowd was for inany years a minister, at the little stone church on one of the Isles of Shoals, on the coast of New Hampshire, and now a famous watering place or summer resort. To Mr.
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and Mrs. Shaw two children have been born -Alice Ada, attending the schools of Aurora, and Marian H., who died at the age of seven years.
Mrs. Shaw is a consistent inember of the Episcopal church. Fraternally Mr. Shaw is a member of the Masonic order, and also of the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he is a Republican, and takes an active interest in his party. He is a man of studious habits, of positive convictions and indomitable energy, and for what he believes to be right, will stand against all odds.
AMUEL L. ADAMS, who is now effi- S
ciently serving as justice of the peace in St. Charles, was for many years one of the active, enterprising and representative business men and farmers of Kane county, dating his residence here from the spring of 1860. He was born in Cavendish, Wind- sor county, Vermont, June 16, 1820, and is a worthy representative of a very old and prominent family of New England, belong- ing to the "presidential branch " of the Adams family. Benjamin Adams, the grand- father of our subject, was a native of Mas- sachusetts, and was one of the minute men of the Revolutionary war, taking part in the battle of Bunker Hill.
Samuel Adams, Sr., our subject's father, was born in Vermont about 1790, and man- ifested his patriotism by serving as a soldier in the war of 1812. He married Miss Calista French, also a native of Ver- mont, and a daughter of Josiah French, who also belonged to an honored family of Massachusetts. Samuel Adams, Sr., was a tanner and currier by trade, but in early life followed farming. He was one of the most prominent and influential men of his
town and county, served as justice of the peace for nearly half a century, and also filled the offices of selectman, town clerk and other positions of honor and trust. He died in Vermont in 1875, and his wife passed away the year previous.
Mr. Adams, of this review, is the oldest in their family of seven children, two sons and five daughters, who reached mature years, the others being Josiah Quincy, who still resides at the old homestead in Caven- dish, Vermont; Marietta, who is now the widow of Friend Weeks, of Rutland county, Vermont, and is now a resident of Caven- dish; and Marcella, a resident of Chester, Vermont, and the widow of Ira H. Adams, who died in 1896. Jane, Ellen and Betsy are deceased.
In his birthplace Samuel L. Adams spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and in the schools of that place obtained a fair education, which enabled him to engage in teaching for three years in Vermont. He also learned the tanner's and currier's trade which he followed for a number of years before coming to Kane county, Illi- nois in 1860. Landing here in March of that year, he located on a farm in St. Charles township, where he engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits until 1876, and also fol- lowed school teaching during three winter terms. On selling his farm, which adjoined the corporation limits of St. Charles, he lo- cated in the village where he has engaged in merchandising at three different times, some seven or eight years in all, the first three years being devoted to the grocery trade.
On the 2d of July, 1848, in the town of Cavendish, Windsor county, Vermont, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Adams and Miss Betsey M. Parker, also a native of that
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state, and a daughter of Dr. Isaiah Parker, who belonged to a Massachusetts family, and lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years. During her girlhood Mrs. Adams obtained an excellent education and success- fully engaged in teaching both in Vermont and after coming to Illinois. She died Jan- uary 26, 1882, leaving a sorrowing husband and many friends to mourn her loss. Hav- ing no children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Adams adopted Ella D. Howard at the age of four years. She was reared and educated by them, and is now the wife of A. D. Bell, of St. Charles.
Although not old enough to vote at the Presidential election of 1840, he carried a banner in the processions during the cam- paign of that year, his interests being with " Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," and on be- coming a voter he supported the Whig party until the organization of the Republican party, voting for John C. Fremont in 1856. He has served as a delegate to many of the county conventions of his party, and has been called upon to fill the offices of super- visor seven years, township trustee, and commissioner of highways twelve years. He was one of a committee of three who built the present bridge across Fox river at St. Charles, and was also secretary of the build- ing committee of supervisors when the pres- ent fine court house and jail of Kane county were erected. He has been a member of the old town council, was president of the board of trustees, and has now acceptably served as justice of the peace for five years. In all of these various positions he has dis- charged his duties with promptness and fidel- ity, proving a most capable and popular official. Socially he is a prominent mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, is past grand of his lodge, has served
as secretary of his lodge and also the en- campment in the grand lodge several terms, has been chief patriot and filled all the chairs in the encampment. For thirty years he has been identified with the interests of Kane county and has become widely and fa- vorably known throughout this section of the state.
C HARLES OSCAR CUMMINGS, de- ceased, was born in New Albany, In- diana, June 6, 1845, died at his residence in New Orleans, Louisana,. August 16, 1882. About 1850, his father moved to New Or- leans, which continued to be the family residence. He attended private schools in that city, and later Professor Soule's Busi- ness College. His father having died in 1855, he early became the mainstay of the family and contributed to the support of his mother and sisters from the age of fifteen. He secured a place as clerk in a store, and while thus engaged, attended business college. Having saved from his earnings, he later in partnership with his brother-in-law, went into the commission business, in which he prospered through strict integrity and honest dealing, accumulated a comfortable com- petence. Owing to ill-health, he traveled in the north every summer, sometimes on the Atlantic coast, and again in the lake regions of Wisconsin and in Maine. In July, 1882, he bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Kane county, near his wife's birthplace, in order that he might have a home of his own to go in summer when he so desired. But he never had the pleasure of spending his time on the place, his death occurring but a month later. He was an affectionate husband and father, honored and respected by a wide circle of
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friends. In politics he was a Democrat and a Confederate during the war. He was reared a Methodist but when married he united with the Episcopal church.
Charles O. Cummings was the son of Thomas Cummings, who was born in Balti- more, November 25, 1816, and at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, October 10, 1838, married Mary Jane McConnell, a daughter of Hugh McConnell and Mary (Perrine) McConnell. She was born in New York, November 24, 1822, and is yet living in New Orleans. The mother of Thomas Cummings died when he was quite young. His father mar- rying again, he left home and soon lost track of his family and therefore knew little of his ancestors. He learned ship carpen- tering in his youth and held a position for many years on boats running north from New Orleans. While repairing a wheel of his boat he got wet, took cold, and after a short illness died November 15, 1855.
The subject of this sketch married in New Orleans, January 1, 1872, Miss Susan Jane Babcock, who was there on a visit to her half-brother, Professor George Soule, who was a Confederate colonel in the Rebellion, was taken prisoner at Shiloh and taken to Johnson's Island for five months, in whose business college Mr. Cummings had received his business education. She was born in Barrington, Yates county, New York, April 6, 1844, and is a daughter of William H. and Cornelia E. (Hogeboom) Babcock. The latter was born in Green county, New York, November 8, 1814, and died September II, 1893. She was the daughter of Andrew and Julia (Distant) Hogeboom, the father being a farmer by occupation. His wife at- tained the age of ninety years. Cornelia E. Hogeboom first married Ebon Soule, a Frenchman, by whom she had three sons,
Andrew, George and Stephen. George is a professor in a business college in New Or- leans, while the other two live in California.
William H. Babcock, the father of Mrs. Cummings, was born in New York, Octo- ber 10," 1816, and died in Kane county, Il- linois, September 12, 1884. By occupation he was a farmer after coming west in 1854. By trade he was a mason, and an excellent workman. On coming to Kane county, he settled on section 30, Hampshire township, where he purchased forty acres of land ad- joining a forty-acre tract his wife received from her father. He was the son of Abiram Babcock and Susan (Lee) Babcock, the lat- ter being a cousin of Robert E. Lee. To William H. Babcock and wife nine children were born as follows: Sallie, who died at the age of six months; Mary, who married David Davis, and lives in Beloit, Wiscon- sin; Julia, who married Hiram S. De Witt, and is living in Hampshire, Illinois; Abiram Lee, who resides in California; Susan J., widow of our subject; Lucy, who married James F. Bell, and is living on section 30, Hampshire township; Charlotte, wife of John Oesterman, residing on the old home farm on section 30; and Phebe E., who married Edward Everitt Crawford, a mer- chant of Genoa, Illinois. One son was a member of the Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry in the war for the Union.
To Mr. and Mrs. Cummings four chil- dren were born in New Orleans --- Mary Cor- nelia, Charlotte E., William Arthur and George Bidwell. The daughters are teach- ers of recognized ability in Kane county. Mrs. Cummings resides on the farm, to which she gives her personal attention. She also owns a house and lots in Hampshire and several fine building lots in Elgin, in a select quarter of the city.
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G EORGE P. MARSHALL, deceased, was one of the honored pioneers and highly respected citizens of Kane county, with whose agricultural interests he was prominently identified for many years. He was born May 9, 1817, in Ryther, York- shire, England, a son of James and Ann (Parker) Marshall, also natives of that place. In that country they spent their entire lives, the father dying in 1883, at the advanced age of ninety-five years; the mother Au- gust 22, 1872, at the age of eighty-five.
In 1842, at the age of twenty-five years, George P. Marshall crossed the broad At- lantic and first located in Canada, where he spent two years. In his native land he had learned the carpenter's trade, but after com- ing to the United States he devoted his en- ergies exclusively to farming. It was in 1844 that he became a resident of Kane county, at which time most of the land was still in its primitive condition, and he and his young wife were forced to endure all of the hardships and trials incident to pioneer life. After renting a farm for two years near Plato, he purchased seventy-seven acres on section 29, Elgin township, and thereon erected the first frame house in the township. He also employed the first teacher in his district, the pupils being two of his own children and one of the teacher's. Upon the farm which he first bought, he continued to reside until called to his final rest October 3, 1881. In England he had joined the Odd Fellows Society, but in this country held membership in no secret or- ganization. He was always loyal to his adopted. country and her institutions, and most acceptably served his fellow citizens as school trustee, road commissioner and thistle commissioner.
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