USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 32
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to protect us from the pests. Were paid off at Springfield on January 10, 1866, nearly four and one-half years after first muster. Mr. Vollor is proud to say that he has no hospital record, being one of those who es- caped being shot and had little sickness. Although has at times been laid up for sev- eral weeks by rheumatism and having heart trouble, has not drawn a pension.
After the war Mr. Vollor returned to Batavia for a time, and then was employed as bookkeeper in a wholesale house in Chi- cago. Later went into wholesale wooden- ware, cordage and notion business, and was cleaned out by the big fire of 1871. In 1872 went to Portland, Maine, and for two and one-half years had charge of the busi- ness of Curtis & Son, and then returned to Elgin and for many years did an extensive business as a manufacturer of chewing gum. Mr. Vollor is one of those who believes "the laborer is worthy of his hire," and always paid nearly double the wages that any other manufacturers of chewing gum did.
In 1868 Mr. Vollor married Miss Martha C. Waldron, a daughter of Andrew J. and Calista S. (Smith) Waldron, and to them have been born three children: Joseph Tru- man died in Portland, Dunbar W. married Grace Bristol, of Galesburg, Illinois, and has one daughter, Madelin. He is now em- ployed in the Home National Bank of El- gin. Helen is with her parents. Mrs. Vollor is a member of the Universalist church, and a most estimable lady.
Since casting his first vote for John C. Fremont-first candidate of the Republican party for the presidency-Mr. Vollor has been unwavering in his support of the G. O. P. He is one of the most prominent members of Veteran post 49, G. A. R., of Elgin; served four years as its quartermaster,
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two years a junior vice-commander and three years as commander. He is also a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, and at the present time is president of the Veteran Republican Club, which is composed of old soldiers, also president of Forty-second Illinois Veteran Association. He served on staff of Commander-in-chief Adams, and on the staff of three different department commanders. His loyalty as a citizen and his devotion to the interests of his adopted country have been among his most prominent characteristics. He is more thoroughly American than many who are native born. The community is fortunate that numbers him among its citizens.
J ABEZ SWITZER, now living a retired life in Plato township, traces hts descent back to one of three brothers of Swiss origin, who were residing in France and were com- pelled, on account of religious persecutions, to flee the country during the time of Louis XIV. They enlisted under the banner of William, Prince of Orange, were officers, and participated in the battles of Boyne, and were allotted portions of the territory for their services. From one of these brothers descended John Switzer, who set- tled in Tipperary. His son, Martin, was the first of the family to come to America. In 1803, Martin Switzer married Mary Maurice, and in July, 1804, came to Amer- ica, settling at Elizabeth, New Jersey, where he lived until after the war of 1812. He then moved to New York, and later, in 1820, to Canada, where he secured one hundred acres of land and engaged in farm- ing. Martin Switzer was the father of Samuel, whose third son, Samuel, was the father of Jabez Switzer, of this sketch.
One of the ancestors of Mary Maurice was among the supporters of Cromwell in 1640.
Jabez Switzer was born near Streets- ville, Ontario, Canada, August 7, 1848, and was ninth in a family of ten children. One year later his parents came to Kane county, locating three iniles from St. Charles. On his father's farm he grew to manhood, and received his education in the country schools, supplemented by an attendance in the St. Charles High School. His mother died in Canada while he was an infant, and his father in 1853, when he was but five years old. His brother was appointed his guardian, and with him he remained until he was eighteen years of age, when he married and rented a farm near Chebanse, Iroquois county, Illinois, one year, and one year near Kankakee. He then returned to Kane county, and for a short timne worked for his brother, when, in 1867, he came to his present farm on section 11, Plato township, which he rented one year on shares, and three years for cash. In 1871 he bought the farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, and for some years engaged in raising grain principally, but for the past few years has devoted himself to dairying. On the first of March, 1898, he retired from active farming, leasing his farm to his son, Ira J., who is now in control of the place.
Jabez Switzer was married, February 14, 1866, in St. Charles, Kane county, to Miss Elizabeth Banks, a native of England, who came to America at the age of ten years, lived in Canada four years, and then came to St. Charles, Kane county. She is the daughter of Robert and Hannah (Butler) Banks, the latter being a daughter of John Butler, who died when she was quite young, so she knew but little of his ancestry. Han- nah Banks dying, her husband married
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Rachel Swales, daughter of William and Elinor Swales, by whom Hannah was reared. A drinking glass that belonged to them is treasured by Mrs. Switzer for its age and associations.
Robert Banks was born at Water, York- shire, England, in 1814, and died July II, 1877. He was a man of fine education, a writer of no little literary ability, and a teacher for some years. In England he was a mill-owner and lived at Brampton, near Scarborough. In emigrating to America, he sailed from Liverpool, on the 21st of March, 1849, and was six weeks in making the voyage, which was a stormy one, the captain declaring it the worst that he had experienced in twenty years. At one time the ship was on fire, and the passen- gers were greatly alarmed. They landed at New York and in a few days went to To- ronto, Canada, and later to Simcoe county, where he settled, and bought two hundred acres of land. After residing there three years, he sold out and came to Illinois, and rented a farm near Fayville. He also taught school near Huntley. Later he re- moved to St. Charles, and worked at mill- ing until he retired from active life. Of the ten children born to Robert Banks and wife, all attained maturity and six of these still survive.
To Jabez and Elizabeth Switzer, thir- teen children were born, nine of whom are yet living: (1) Ray, deceased. (2) Hor- tense, who married E. D. Pease, of Elgin, by whom she has five children: Helen J., Minnie L., Elizabeth E., Clarence D. and Glenn I. (3) Joseph Robert, who married Emma Robinson, by whom he has one son, Robert J., and they now reside in Chicago. (4) Ira J. married Mamie Brady, born in North Plato, and daughter ` of Henry
and Lily (Collins) Brady, and they have one son, Arthur Walter, born June 20, 1895. Ira J. Switzer attended the Pingree Grove School, Elgin Academy and Drew's Busi- ness College. Fraternally he is a member of Pingree Grove Camp, No.655, M. W. A. (5) Salina E., who married Charles Camp- bell, by whom she had one son, Lawrence C. Her husband is now deceased. (6) Grace A., deceased. (7) Blanche. (8) Mabel, deceased. (10) Eva May. (II) Minnie, deceased. (12) Alice I. (13) Boyd.
Mr. Switzer is a member of Oak Leaf Tent, No. 22,508, K. O. T. M. of Pingree Grove. Politically he is a Democrat and served some years as school director. As a citizen he has done his full share in develop- ing the inaterial interests of Kane county.
EDWARD S. SMITH, who is engaged in the real estate, insurance and loan busi- ness, at Batavia, has been a resident of Kane county for a period of forty-five years. He is a native of New York, born in Es- sex county, on the borders of Lake Cham- plain, March 20, 1832, and is the son of Elias Smith, born in Washington county, New York, of which his father was an early settler. Elias Smith, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, for which service he received a land warrant, grew to manhood in his na- tive county and there married Miss Zeruiah Reed, also a native of Washington county, New York. Soon after their marriage, they moved to Moriah, Essex county, near Lake Champlain, where the remainder of their lives were spent, and where they reared their family, and where they both died, the fa- ther at the age of eighty-three years, the mother at the age of forty-one years.
Until the age of fifteen years, our sub-
E. S. SMITH.
LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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ject remained under the parental roof, and M., who is now one of the teachers of the received his education in the public schools West Batavia public schools. and the academy. He then went to Sara- toga, and spent one year, then accepted a position in the mercantile establishment of J. & J. H. Peck & Company, of Burlington, Vermont, where he received his business education, remaining with them five years. In 1853, a young man who had just passed his majority, he came to Batavia, Illinois, and for the first year was in the grain busi- ness, as the junior member of the firm of Rogers & Smith. He was then associated with Mr. Harris Hoyt, in the manufacture of barrels by machinery for about two years, the business proving financially disastrous. For a time he was connected with various enterprises and for many years agent of the American Express Company. In 1861, he was appointed by Montgomery Blair, post- master-general under President Lincoln, as postmaster of Batavia, and by successive re- appointments served a period of twenty-five years, under seven different presidents. That he made a satisfactory officer is at- tested by his long continued service.
Mr. Smith was united in marriage, in Batavia, Illinois, April 15, 1861, to Jane M. Mallory, a native of Penn Yan, Yates coun- ty, New York, who came to Batavia, Illi- nois, when fifteen years of age, and was educated in the schools of Batavia and Evanston, Illinois; her father, Smith L. Mallory, was a prominent railroad contract- or. By this union are five children, as fol- lows: Elinor Louise, now the wife of Rev. P. C. Walcott, of Highland Park, Lake county, Illinois; Mary W., wife of Fred H. Burke, a resident of Batavia; Ed- ward M., who is associated with his father in the insurance and real estate business. Frank P., who resides at home; and Jessie
Mr. Smith first began the insurance biisi- ness in 1859, but abandoned it after receiv- ing his appointment as postmaster. When he retired from that office, he again re- sumed the insurance business, in which he has continued to the present time. In July, 1890, he was appointed to a position in the sub-treasury, by Colonel Dustin, and served during Harrison's administration. He has been identified with the Republican party since its organization, and has never missed casting his vote for the presidential noini- nee of that party, up to the present time. In addition to the offices already mentioned as held by him, he has served as town clerk, village trustee and other minor posi- tions. In the various conventions of his party he has frequently served as a delegate, and in them has wielded considerable influ- ence. Religiously, he is liberal in his views but attends the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member, while some of the family are Protestant Episcopal. Fraternally, he is a Master Mason and for many years served as secretary of the lodge. As a citizen he is held in the high- est esteem and is popular with all classes in the community.
JACOB R. GORHAM .- In the respect that is accorded to men who have fought their way to success through unfavorable environments we find an unconcious recog- nition of the intrinsic worth of a character which cannot only endure so rough a test, but gain new strength through the disci- pline. The following history sets forth briefly the steps which our subject, now one
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of the substantial citizens of St. Charles, overcame the disadvantages of his early life. Coming to this section of the state Novem- ber 18, 1852, he was for many years active- ly identified with the farming and stock raising interests of Du Page and Kane coun- ties, but having secured an ample fortune, he has now laid aside all business cares.
Mr. Gorham was born September 26, 1830, in Dutchess county, New York, a son of William Gorham, whose birth occurred in Stratford, Connecticut, about 1780. His grandfather, Stephen Gorham, was a native of France, and came to the new world with General LaFayette to aid the colonies in their struggle for independence during the Revolutionary war. Subsequently he lo- cated in Stratford, Connecticut, and for the remainder of his life was a pilot, holding a government license, which allowed him to conduct vessels through Hell Gate. In his family were five sons who were reared in Connecticut. Two of them located in Great Barrington, Massachusetts; Louis, a farmer by occupation; and Le Grand, a mil- ler and hotel keeper; Kirk was a tailor by trade; Benjamin went to the West Indies. Two of these never married.
William Gorham, our subject's father, completes the family. At an early day he removed to Pawling, Dutchess county, New York, where he established two tan yards, being a tanner and currier by trade, and also engaged in farming and merchandizing with good success, accumulating a nice estate. He married Sarah Holloway, a native of Pawling, and a daughter of Justin Holloway, who was also born in Dutchess county. Our. subject's great-grandfather Parks, on the maternal side, was a Revolu- tionary soldier, and lived to the advanced age of ninety years. Mr. and Mrs. Gor-
ham came to Illinois and spent their last years in Will county, the father dying dur- ing the Civil war. The mother survived him a few years, passing away at the age of eighty-four years.
In their family were the following chil- dren: Hannah Etta married a Mr. Dodge, and first located in Dutchess county, New York, but later came to Will county, Illi- nois, where she died; Mary Ann is the widow of R. H. Leake, and is a resident of St. Charles; Akin H. died at his home in Will county; Emma E. married a Mr. Cald- well, of Dutchess county, New York, and both are now deceased; Jacob R., of this sketch, is the next of the family; Elijah is engaged in the grain business in Russell county, Kansas; and William was killed by lightning at his home in Du Page county, Illinois.
Reared in Dutchess county, New York, Jacob R. Gorham obtained a good com- mon-school education, and assisted his fa- ther in the work of the farm and tan yard until twenty-one years of age. Determined tò try his fortune in the west, he came alone to Du Page county, Illinois, and at first worked on a farm in Wayne township. With a partner, he afterward engaged in farming, and in 1853 successfully operated a farm on the shares. Borrowing one hun- dred dollars, he began buying and selling cattle, and in this business cleared about eight hundred dollars. The following fall he returned to New York, but after visiting his parents and friends for three months, he again came to Wayne township, Du Page county, where he purchased a farm, though he went in debt for it. In connection with farming, he continued to engage in stock dealing, and after operating that place until 1860, he sold and bought a larger farm in
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the same neighborhood, residing there for five years.
In Du Page county, Mr. Gorham was married in 1855 to Miss Adelia Read, a na- tive of that county, and the only daughter of Horace Read, one of the earliest settlers of that county, having located there in 1836. He was a native of Cambridge, Vermont, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and died in this state in 1867. After his death, Mr. Gorham sold his place in Wayne township and removed to the Read farm, which he operated for a number of years and still owns. He was one of the most successful stock dealers in this section of the state, and through his own unaided efforts and ex- cellent management, he has acquired a handsome property, including a farm of three hundred and thirty-seven acres in Wayne township, Du Page county; another of one hundred and forty acres in Campton
township, four miles west of St. Charles, - cessfully conducted a drug-store since Au- and three hundred and twenty acres of land . gust, 1883, and has also engaged in the in Kansas, besides his pleasant home in St. Charles. He removed to that city in 1884, and has since lived retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. During his resi- dence here, however, he has stimulated in- dustries in Kane and Du Page counties, by loaning money.
Mr. and Mrs. Gorham have four daugh- ters, namely: Mira, now the wife of F. W. Leake, a merchant of St. Charles; Augusta, wife of C. S. Green, of Kane county; Edith L., wife of Merritt Green, now of Dutchess county, New York; and Mamie, who is a graduate of the St. Charles high school, and resides with her parents. Since retiring from active business, Mr. and Mrs. Gorham have traveled quite extensively over the south and west, and also frequently visited his old home in Dutchess county, New York.
Politically he has always been a stanch sup- porter of the Democratic party, but has never had any aspiration for office, prefer- ring to give his undivided attention to his business interests. In the Methodist Epis- copal church, of St. Charles, he and his family hold membership, and in the social circles of the community they occupy an en- viable position. A man of strict integrity and sterling worth, Mr. Gorham commands the respect of all with whom he comes in contact, and.the success that he has achieved in life is certainly well deserved. For forty- five years he has been identified with the interests of this section of the state and his circle of friends is extensive.
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H ARMAN Y. LONGACRE, M. D., is an enterprising and representative busi- ness man of St. Charles, where he has suc- practice of his profession to a limited extent. He was born December 31, 1853, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a son of David and Hannah B. (Reinhart) Longacre, also natives of the Keystone state. The paternal grandfather was born in Saxony, Germany, and was an early settler of Pennsylvania. For many years the Doctor's father engaged in the drug business near Philadelphia, but is now spending his declining years upon a farm. The mother died in 1870. In the family were two sons and two daughters who reached years of maturity, the brother of our subject being Milton P., who mar- ried and engaged in the manufacture of lumber in Indiana, where his death occurred.
In Pennsylvania Dr. Longacre grew to manhood, completing his literary education in the State Normal School at Millersville,
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and subsequently he successfully engaged in in that state in 1876. He has filled all the chairs in the former order, and is past grand of the latter. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. A very agreeable and affable gentleman, he has made made many friends during his resi- dence in St. Charles, and receives and merits the high regard of the entire com- munity. His estimable wife is a member of the Congregational church. teaching school for about two years. In his father's store he became thoroughly familiar with the drug business, which has principally claimed his attention throughout his business career. Entering the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, in 1874, he at- tended medical lectures there for two years, graduating with a class of sixty in the spring of 1876. He then located in Titusville, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the practice of medicine for two years, and for the same length of time practiced in Olney, Illinois. At the end of that time he went to Chicago and took charge of a drug-store, which he conducted for two years. In August, 1883, we find him in St. Charles, where he has since made his home, while he has been actively and prominently identi- fied with the business interests of the place. Purchasing a drug-store, he successfully carried on the same until April, 1885, when his stock of goods and building were de- . of Matthew and Mary (Dowling) Atchison, stroyed by fire. With characteristic energy, however, he had opened another store in the Hunt block at the end of three months, and is now doing an excellent business. He also gives some attention to the practice of medicine, though principally confined to an office practice.
In St. Charles, Dr. Longacre was mar- ried in 1884, to Miss Nettie B. Norton, who was born, reared and educated in Kane county, and they now have one son, Frank H. Since attaining his majority the Doctor has been a stanch supporter of the Repub- lican party, but has never cared for official honors, preferring to give his undivided at- tention to his business interests. Fra- ternally he is a Royal Arch Mason, having joined the blue lodge in Pennsylvania, and also united with the Odd Fellows Society
RI EV. W. D. ATCHISON, chaplain of the insane hospital at Elgin, has de- voted his life to the ministry and in that noble calling his influence has been wide- spread, bringing comfort and happiness to many saddened hearts, while into many darkened lives he has brought the light of Christianity. He was born in Mercer coun- ty, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1833, a son who were also natives of the Keystone state. On the paternal side he is of Scotch descent, his grandfather, John Atchison, having been a native of that land of hills and heather. Coming to America, he lo- cated in Redstone, Washington county, Pennsylvania. He was accompanied by two brothers, one of whom. Matthew, took up his residence in Ohio, while the third set- tled in Kentucky. The grandfather spent the remainder of his life in Pennsylvania, where he died at an advanced age. The maternal grandfather of Rev. Atchison was James Dowling, who was born in the north of Ireland, of Scotch lineage. He came to the United States about the time of the Revolutionary war, and followed farming as a life occupation. His death occurred at the age of sixty years. The history of the
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Dowling family can be traced back prior to the advent of Christianity in Ireland. The wife of James Dowling was a relative of Lord Nelson, the great Irish admiral.
Matthew Atchison, father of our subject, was a millwright and carpenter, following those pursuits in order to provide for his large family. He died in his native state when about forty-four years of age. By his marriage he had thirteen children, nine of whom are now living, while four have reached the age of three score and ten. Those who still survive are: James, who is living near Kirwin, Kansas; Sarah, wife of Donald McKenzie, of Elizabeth, Illinois; John, of Lena, Illinois; Nelson, of Eliza- beth, Illinois; Mary, wife of Solomon Snod- grass, of Jo Daviess county, Illinois; Will- iam Dowling; Jane, widow of Samuel Mc- Grath, of Freeport, Illinois; Samuel, of La- nark, Illinois; and Matthew, of Elizabeth, Illinois, are half brothers, the mother having married for her second husband Thomas Gault.
Rev. William D. Atchison resided in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, until fourteen years of age, and then came to Illinois with his mother and stepfather, locating in Jo Daviess county, about fifteen miles from Galena, where he resided until eighteen years of age. In the meantime he had in contemplation the work of the ministry. When only thirteen years of age he was converted and felt the call to preach and all his aims and hopes were directed toward that end. Prayer was always to him a means of strength and help and the study of the Bible his delight from boyhood. His early literary education was acquired in the schools of Jo Daviess county, and later he entered Mt. Carroll Collegiate Institute, and subsequently was a student of languages
in Beloit College, under the tutorage of Professor Emerson, and a Greek professor, a native of Smyrna. When eighteen years of age he began teaching in Jo Daviess county, using the money thus earned to pre- pare for the ministry. While in Beloit College he received a call to teach in Elizabeth, and there remained for one year. At the age of nineteen he entered upon the work of the ministry to which he has since devoted his life. Joining the Rock River conference in 1854, he was first assigned to the church at Twelve Mile Grove, Stephen- son county, Illinois, where he remained one year, then spent two years in Pleasant Val- ley. He had charge of a mission in Savan- nah, Illinois, for two years, after which he was pastor of the churches in Elizabeth, Cedarville and Belvidere in turn.
On leaving the latter place Rev. Atchi- son became chaplain of the Forty-fifth Illi- nois Infantry and went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea and through the Carolinas. After the war, in the fall of 1865, he came to Elgin as pastor of the First Methodist church, continuing in that place for three years, during which time the house of worship was erected. For three years he filled the pulpit of his church in Kankakee and for a similar period was pas- tor of the church in Aurora, and spent one year in Oak Park, Illinois. After three years passed in Waukegan, he was called to Sterling, and afterward filled the pulpits of the churches in Princeton, Sycamore and Galena. For four years he continued to minister to the spiritual needs of the people of Galena, and then assumed a superanu- ated relation with the church, since which time he has acted as supply at different points. On the 4th of April, 1897, he was appointed chaplain of the Illinois Northern
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