The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 36

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

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Mr. Boldt was born in Tessin, Mecklen- burg Schwerin, Germany, November 6, 1858, a son of Ernest J. and Mary (Hoff- After eight months Mr. Day removed to man) Boldt, also natives of Germany. The former was an officer on board a German vessel and followed the sea during the greater part of his active business life, mak- ing a number of trips to India on merchant marines. At the age of sixty-five he laid aside business cares and lived retired in the enjoyment of a well-earned rest until his death, in 1862. He was at the time in his sixty-ninth year, his birth having occurred in 1791. In religious belief he was a Lu- theran. Mrs. Mary Boldt, who was his second wife, is now living in Elgin, at the age of sixty-three years. They had three children: E. J .; Adolph, employed in the postal service of Germany, and Caroline, wife of John Wagner, who resides on a farm near Dundee, Illinois.

Mr. Boldt, of this sketch, completed his literary education by his graduation in a high school at Tessin, about 1873. He then entered upon an apprenticeship to the painter's and decorator's trade under Will- iam Toellner, painter and decorator, com- pleting his term at the age of nineteen, but remaining with his employer through the following year. When twenty years of age he entered the German army and on the ex- piration of his two years' term went to Hamburg, where he worked at his trade for six months. He then again entered the army, being called for a drill of six weeks. On once more returning to civil life, he de- termined to seek a home in America, and on the 22d of October, 1881, landed in

made this place his destination by reason of his uncle, F. O. Hoffman, living on a farm near here. After visiting his uncle for two weeks he secured employment with the firm of Day & Fencher, painters and decorators. Syracuse, New York, and Mr. Boldt entered into partnership with Mr. Fencher, a con- nection which was maintained for a year.

Since that time Mr. Boldt has been alone in business, and has met with a splendid success, which he well merits. He carries a large and well-selected stock of wall paper, and has taken contracts for papering, . painting and decorating some of the finest structures that have been erected in this part of the state. His business has con- stantly grown in volume and importance, and has now assumed extensive proportions. The frescoing in some of the churches in Elgin, Barrington, Hampshire and Geneva has been done by him and able assistants. He has taken contracts for painting many of the public buildings, and now has a con- tract for such work in the new park pavilion in course of construction; also a large new club-house at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. He has painted and tinted the inside walls of most of the Elgin school buildings, and in papering and decorating private residences he has a very large business. His artistic taste at once recognizing harmony in colors and tints, and grasping almost intuitively the effect that will be produced by certain combinations proves a very valuable factor in his work. He keeps always on hand a force of employes, and during the busy season frequently has as many as sixteen skilled workmen.

On the 4th of October, 1884, Mr. Boldt was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie, daugh-

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ter of Fred Yurs, an agriculturist living near Elgin. They now have an interesting family of three children: Walter A., A. Herbert and Hazel Esther. The parents are mem- bers of the Evangelical Lutheran church, and in social circles occupy an enviable position, their generous hospitality being enjoyed by many friends. Mr. Boldt gives his political support to the Republican party, but has never aspired to office, preferring to · devote his time and energies to his business, in which he has met with signal success.

EBENEZER P. EATON, deceased, was widely and favorably known through- out various sections of the west, with whose business interests he was prominently iden- tified. He was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1821, and when a lad of ten years removed to Waterloo, New York, with his parents, Ebenezer and Mary (Stuart) Eaton. His father was a descend- ant of Francis Benjamin Eaton, a Pilgrim who came to this country in the Mayflower.

About 1843 or 1844 Mr. Eaton came west and first located in Milwaukee, Wis- consin, where he was employed as a clerk in a hotel for three years. Becoming thor- oughly familiar with that business, he opened a hotel in Chicago, which he con- ducted for two years, and subsequently he was successfully engaged in the same busi- ness at Elkhorn, Walworth county, Wis- consin, for sixteen years. In 1865 he re- moved to Clinton, Iowa where he engaged in hotelkeeping and also conducted a livery stable for ten years. Removing to Dixon, Illinois, in 1875, he carried on a livery there until 1880, when he retired from act- ive business, enjoying a well earned rest at his pleasant home in Elgin, where he lived

for two years. A pleasant, genial gentle- man, he made a most popular and success- ful landlord, and his house was always a great favorite with the traveling public. His politicalsupport was always given the men and measures of the Democratic party, and fraternally he affiliated with the Masonic order, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In Clinton, Iowa, on the 23d of January, 1891, he was called to his final rest, and his death was mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances as well as by his immediate family.

In early manhood Mr. Eaton married Miss Julia Harriman, a native of Canada, born at Jerusalem, thirty miles from Mon- treal. She is a representative, however, of some of the oldest and most highly respected families of the United States. Her paternal grandfather, Rufus Harri- man, was born in Vermont of New Eng- land parentage, and married Lucinda Dav- is, a native of Connecticut, and a daugh- ter of Samuel and Abigail (Clark) Dav- is, who were also descended from old Colonial stock. Mrs. Eaton's father, Noah Harriman, was born in Vermont, but spent - much of his early life in Canada and New York, coming west in 1844 and locating in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, where he died in No- vember, 1894, at the ripe old age of eighty- eight years. By occupation he was a farm- er, and he had the respect and esteem of all who knew him. Mrs. Eaton, who is a most estimable lady, has a pleasant home at No. 363 Park avenue, Elgin, where she expects to spend her declining years.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Eaton, as follows: (1) Orien C., who makes his home with his mother in Elgin, was in the one-hundred-days' service during the Civil war, and is now a traveling salesman

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for a Chicago house. He married Eva Bab- cock, now deceased. Politically he is a Democrat, and socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity. (2) Edgar Stewart, a grocer of Elgin, is a Republican in polit- ical sentiment, and is also a Mason. (3)

Dora Louisa is living with her mother. (4) Stella M. is the wife of Walter Bates, a traveling salesman of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and has one child, Dorothy.

station agent at McQueen Station, Plato township, is a native of Kane county, born in Elgin, October 31, 1855. He at- tended the public schools of that city until about fourteen years of age, when it became necessary that he should find some useful employment, and for about six years he worked in the condensing factory, planing mill and in other places. In 1875 his father bought a farm of ninety acres, lying in Plato and Rutland townships, to which the family removed. For his father Charles worked until he purchased the farm to which he has since added twenty additional acres, bought of Andrew McCornack. The farm is used for dairy purposes, Mr. Ander- son shipping the products to Chicago.

John Anderson, the father of our sub- ject, was born in the city of Boroas, Swe- den, and came to America in 1854, sailing from Gottenberg, and landing at Boston, where he remained six months. He then went to Chicago and thence to Elgin, and labored at what he could find to do. For a time he followed mattress making, and worked in the condensing factory until he purchased his farm in 1875. He has now retired from active work and makes his home with our subject. . While residing in

Sweden, he married Anna Peterson, by whom he had seven children, five of whomn reached maturity-Andrew, who was born in Sweden, six months before sailing, died in Elgin, at the age of forty-seven years; Sophia, living in Chicago; Louise, now Mrs. Peder Rovelstad, of Elgin; and Charles J., our subject, and his twin brother, William, who resides at South Manchester, Con- necticut.

The subject of this sketch was married at McQueen's Station, February 10, 1887,

C HARLES J. ANDERSON, farmer and. to Miss Christine Caroline Johnson, a na- tive of Sweden, who came to America with her brother in 1880. By this union five children have been born-Agnes, Anna, Antonia, Clara, and Carl William. The first named died at the age of three years and eight months. Mrs. Anderson died April 15, 1898. Her funeral was held in Elgin, and was attended by many friends who knew her in this life and who grieved with husband and motherless children. Her remains were laid to rest in Bluff City cemetery.

Since September, 1882, Mr. Anderson has served as station agent at McQueen's Station, and has been postmaster since Harrison served as president. He is a mem- ber of the Swedish Lutheran church of El- gin, of which body his wife is also a mem- . ber. In politics, is a thorough Republican. As a citizesn, he stands high in the estima- tion of his fellow men.

L ABAN HAYWARD, who is now living retired in Aurora, but who for over forty years was one of the active, enterpris- ing and representative business men of the city, dates his residence in the state since 1849, and in Aurora, Kane county, since

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1865. The Hayward family are of English descent, the first of the name settling in Vermont at a very early day. In that state Asa Hayward was born in 1784, and died in 1868. His son, Willard Hayward, was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in 1808. . He was there reared, and married Betsy Bradish, the youngest of a family of eight children of Jonas M. Bradish, who was also a pioneer of Vermont. After his marriage Willard Hayward engaged in farming in Rutland county, Vermont, where he re- mained until 1849, and then moved west by way of the Erie canal and the lakes to Chi- cago, where he secured teams to haul his family and personal effects to Will county, Illinois. He there purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, and commenced the improvement of the place. For thirteen years he resided there, engaged in agricult- ural pursuits, then moved to Aurora and purchased residence property, where his death occurred in 1880, at the age of sev- enty-two years .. His good wife survived him for over eleven years, being called to her reward in 1892. Their remains lie buried in Spring Lake cemetery, where a substantial monument marks their last rest- ing place. They were the parents of two sons and one daughter: Henry, who for some years was an invalid, died in 1855; Mary E. married William Hattery, who is a business man residing in Waterloo, Iowa; Laban, the younger son, completes the family.

Laban Hayward was born in Rutland county, Vermont, August 21, 1836, and was a lad of thirteen years when he came with the family to Will county, Illinois. He there grew to manhood, and assisted in the cultiva- tion of the home farm. His educational ad- vantages were limited, but he acquired suffi-

cient knowledge to pass an examination, and for two winters engaged in teaching in the public schools. . He has been twice mar- ried, his first union being with Miss Emer- ancy Moore, a native of New York, where she was reared and educated, and who for some time was a teacher in the public schools. The wedding ceremony took place August 19, 1858. On the 30th of Novem- ber, 1861, she was called to her final rest, leaving two children-Ada, wife of James A. Cook, of Waterloo, Iowa, and Eva, wife of Mr. Banister, of near Dwight, Illinois.

Mr. Hayward's second marriage was in Will county, September 24, 1863, when he wedded Elizabeth Barclay, a native of Glas- gow, Scotland, born November 18, 1841, and who came with her father, James Bar- clay, to this country in 1857. Her father was for years a prominent farmer in Will county, but now resides in Aurora, living a retired life. By this union there were six children, of whom one is deceased, Clara, who died in childhood. The living are: Mary, wife of S. D. Brown, who holds a position with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad; Martha, formerly a teach- er in the Aurora public schools, residing at home; George, Arthur and Charles, who succeeded their father in the grocery busi- ness at the old stand.

After his first marriage, Mr. Hayward took charge of the old homestead, and for nine years was there engaged in farming. He then moved to Aurora and engaged in the butchering business on the east side. Three years later he built a business house on Broadway, and continued in the meat business, later adding a stock of groceries. For five years he engaged in meat packing, in connection with his other lines of trade, also in buying and handling fruit and veg-

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etables. Until January, 1898, he was act- ively engaged in business, when he was succeeded by his sons. Success crowned his efforts in every respect, his trade at all times being quite extensive, due in a great measure to his public spirit and the deter- mination to succeed. He is now a stock- holder, and for several years was a director in the First National Bank of Aurora. He is also a stockholder in the Home Building and Loan Association, the Aurora National Loan Association, and the Ice Company. In many of the business enterprises of Aurora, in the past thirty years, he has lent a helping hand.

The first ballot cast by Mr. Hayward for president of the United States, was in 1860, when he voted for Abraham Lincoln. From that time to the present, he has been an earnest advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and has voted for each of its presidential nominees. For two years he served as alderman of his ward, during which time he was on several important committees, including the railroad commit- tee, that secured the building of the viaduct over the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad. In his second year he was chair- man of the committee on sewers, and was instrumental in having built the large sewer on the east side. He has ever been a friend of education and the public schools, and has given earnest support to every effort calculated to advance the school interest. While not a member of any church, he has assisted in the erection of several of the church buildings in the city, and has con- tributed of his means to other benevolent purposes. Mrs. Hayward is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. Fra- ternally he is a Mason, a member of the blue lodge and chapter, and has represented

the former several times in the grand lodge of the state.

Mr. Hayward has been a resident of northern Illinois for forty-nine years, almost a half a century. For thirty-three years he has resided in Aurora. He has witnessed the growth and development of this part of the state, seen it change from a wilder- ness, and in its transformation has borne no inconsiderable part. Identified with the institutions of the city, and the prosperity of its people, he is numbered among the hon- ored old settlers of Kane county. He is a man of good business ability, of exemplary habits, of tried integrity and worth, and he and his most estimable wife and family are esteemed and respected by all, and their many friends will be pleased to read this short sketch in the Biographical Record of Kane county.

JOHN HENRY KARL, deceased, was J for years one of the active business men of Aurora, and one of its most highly- esteemed and valued citizens. He was of foreign birth, but his duties of citi- zenship were performed with a loyalty equal to that of any native son of America, and, when this nation was imperiled by the hydra-headed monster, Rebellion, he went at once to its defense. ` Mr. Karl was born in the principality of Reis, Germany, No- vember 15, 1835, of which place both his father and mother were natives. The father was by trade a builder and contract- or and èmigrated to America in 1850, set- tling in Buffalo, New York, soon after, and there engaged in business, very extensively, in contracting and building.

John Henry Karl had attended school in Germany and continued his studies in

J. HENRY KARL.

LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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Buffalo, principally at a night school, work- ing during the day. In that city he learned the drug business thoroughly, then removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he carried on the business for a time. In 1859 he came to Aurora, in response to a call from John Stout, and entered the drug business with that gentleman, on Broadway street. There he continued in active operation until the breaking out of the war in 1861, when he hired a man to represent him in the busi- ness and joined the Thirty-sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Grisel, his position being that of hospital steward. After serving eleven months, on account of sickness, he was discharged for disability. Returning home to Aurora, and after recuperating, he entered into the act- ive duties of his business again, still in part- nership with Mr. Stout. The business was continued until 1870, at which time the stock was sold and the partnership dis- solved.

In the spring of 1872, Mr. Karl bought the undivided half interest in the Aurora stone quarry, in partnership with Blasius Berthold, and the business was carried on under the firm name of Berthold & Karl. The same year Mr. Berthold was killed by the explosion of a pump engine, and the widow of Mr. Berthold and Mr. Karl car- ried on the business in partnership for a time, until she sold her interest to Mr. King. The partnership of Karl & King was very brief, a brother of his former partner, Mr. Berthold, Antone Berthold, buying Mr. King's interest, and for eight years Karl & Berthold successfully worked the quarry. Ever since his return from the army Mr. Karl had experienced delicate health, and in 1880 he sold out his interest in the quarry to his partner, and in April, 1881,

he died and was buried in Spring Lake cemetery, his death being mourned by a large circle of friends.

The marriage of Mr. Karl to Elisabeth Leppert, daughter of John and Helena (Baum) Leppert, was solemnized in June, 1867. To this union five children were born, all of whom are yet living-Robert Henry, Edward George, Oda Leonora, Louis William and Harry Herman. All are yet residing in Aurora, and Robert H. was married to Martha Swartz, of Columbus, Ohio. Louis and Harry are conducting a drug store in the Coulter block.

Mr. Karl served several years in the volunteer fire department of Aurora, and was a member of the Aurora Rifle Com- pany. In 1867 he erected a residence on Broadway, which he afterward sold, and then erected a beautiful home at 189 South LaSalle street, in which the family yet re- side, and also a prominent business block, and was the owner of other business prop- erty in the city. A good business man, conscientious in all his dealings, his death left a void in business circles. Mrs. Karl and the family occupy a prominent position in the social circles of Aurora and are held the in highest esteem.

S N. HOOVER is numbered among the ablest young attorneys of Kane county, and although but a few years a citizen of the county he has attained high rank at the bar. His office is in the Mercantile Block, Aurora, He was born in Clermont county, Ohio, and is the son of Peter H. and Au- gusta A. (Prather) Hoover, both of whom are natives of Ohio. The father has been a farmer for a number of years. He came to Illinois, in 1868, locating in Randolph

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township, McLean county, where he pur- chased a quarter section of land, and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He is now living retired in the city of Bloomington. Although an ardent Republican, and one who in almost every campaign has made many public speeches in the interest of his party, he has never aspired to office. He favored a vigorous prosecution of the war, and was a strong Lincoln man. Although about seventy-six years of age, he is a well- preserved man, physically and mentally, and is yet strong in the faith of his party, · being a great admirer of William McKinley. His wife died January 5, 1892, at the age of sixty-three years. Both parents were of the Methodist faith and communion. The Hoover family of Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania, are of the same stock, and were originally from Frankfort-on-the-Main, Ger- many. Our subject is the youngest of five children, born to Peter H. and Augusta A. Hoover, the others being Orlando J., a res- ident of Paoli, Kansas; Nettie, now Mrs. W. P. Jones, of Bloomington, Illinois; Thomas Henry, a resident of San Fran- cisco, California; and Williamn W., who re- sides at Manson, Iowa.

The subject of this sketch was educated at the Illinois Wesleyan University, at Bloomington. Leaving college, he studied law with Brock & Holly, of Bloomington, and then taught school at Rankin, for two years. Removing to Red Cliff, Colorado, he there engaged in teaching for two years, and on June 1, 1891, was admitted to the bår, and began the practice of his profes- sion at that place. Soon after his admis- sion to the bar, he was elected district at- torney for the fifth judicial district of Col- orado; was re-elected, but resigned the position to come to Aurora, in 1893. In

July, 1892, he was chairman of the commit- tee on resolutions in the silver convention of the Pacific states in Denver, and intro- duced a resolution by which the convention declined to co-operate with any political party. This resolution being carried and Mr. Hoover having taken a decided stand in a speech before the convention in its favor, he was antagonized by Governor Waite and the Populists who were seek- ing to commit the convention to the support of their candidates. While in Col- orado he was a candidate for the legislature on the Republican ticket, and during the campaign of 1892 he stumped that state for General Harrison. While attending the Columbian exposition at Chicago, in 1893, he determined to cast his lot with the peo- ple of Aurora, and removed to the place in the fall of that year. He then formed a partnership with Senator George E. Bacon. Mr. Bacon died in 1896, since which time Mr. Hoover has been alone in the practice. His ability was soon recognized by his fel- low members at the bar, and he was ap- pointed in 1894, assistant state's attorney for Kane county, which position he resigned in July, 1896, at which time he left the Re- publican party, on account of his position on the silver question, which was antago- nistic to the party platform, adopted at St. Louis, in the convention which nominated William McKinley. His position on the silver question, and the ability displayed by him, in presenting his views to the peo- ple, secured for him the nomination for congress, in the Eighth congressional dis- trict, by the free silver Republicans and the. Democratic party. At the convention, where his nomination was made, in Aurora, he made a speech, that was attentively listened to by the large crowd assembled,

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and which carried conviction to the minds of many personsr Notwithstanding the · strong canvass made, and that he ran ahead of his ticket, he was defeated for election by Mr. Hopkins, the candidate of the Re- publican party, which has an overwhelming majority in the district.

Mr. Hoover was married August 29, 1888, to Miss Carrie I. Lowry, a daughter of James B. Lowry, of Yorkville, Kendall county, Illinois, to which place Mr. Lowry removed from Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he had attained prominence, and had served as the first county clerk of Erie county. He came to Illinois, in the latter part of the forties, and was numbered among the early settlers of Kendall county. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoover one child, James Blaine Hoover, was born, January 23, 1893.

Fraternally Mr. Hoover is a Mason, and in politics is a silver Republican, and is a committee man at large for the state of Illi- nois. He is recognized as an able orator, and since coming to Aurora has built up a large and profitable practice, and occupies a position second to none as a member of the Kane county bar.

JAMES W. HIPPLE, an enterprising farmer residing on section 32, Elgin township, was born in Landisburg, Perry county, Pennsylvania, September 11, 1835. His father, Jesse Hipple, was a native of Pennsylvania, as was his grandfather, John Hipple. The latter dying when quite young, but little is known of his ancestry, save that the family, consisting of five brothers, came to this country prior to the Revolutionary war. John Hipple was a blacksmith by trade, and was employed in that capacity during the war for independence. He owned

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The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 36

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