USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 37
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a farm which he sold about the close of hostilities and was paid in Continental money, which proved to be worthless, so all was lost. Our subject has some of the old money yet in bills of twenty dollars, eight dollars, one dollar and other smaller denom- inations.
Jesse Hipple, our subject's father, was born October 11, 1800, and died at the age of eighty-three or eighty-four years, at Ge- neva, New York. In early life he learned the tailor's trade, which occupation he fol- lowed until retiring at an advanced age. He married Miss Mary Stone, born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, and daughter of Rich- ard Stone, who came from London, Eng- land, and who was an only child of his par- ents. He left his native land when quite young, and never but once visited his par- ents in the old country, since which time all trace of them was lost. Their estate is still due the heirs. To Jesse and Mary Hipple were born six children-George, living re- tired in Chicago; Catherine, who died at the age of six years; Jane, wife of Israel Knettle, of Elgin; Martha, widow of Lysamder Stowell, now living in Elgin; Ann, wife of David R. Shively, of Chicago; and our sub- ject.
James W. Hipple remained under the parental roof until sixteen years of age, and during that time received a good common- school education. He then went to Geneva, New York, and worked at the tailor's trade and was there engaged in business. He later formed a partnership with his brother, which continued a few years, and, being dissolved, he went to New York City and for a time was engaged as a traveling sales- man for a wholesale house dealing in men's furnishing goods. While residing in Geneva, New York, he was united in marriage, Feb-
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ruary 15, 1859, with Miss Arrietta T. Beck- er, a native. of New York City, and daugh- ter of Vrooman Becker, who was born in Schoharie county, New York, July 4, 1808, and died July 16, 1865, in Chicago. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1855 came west to Chicago, and became an extensive lumber merchant in that city, his business being later transferred to his son and our subject. He was four times mar- ried, becoming the father of ten children. His first marriage was with Eliza Van Dol- son, daughter of Garrett Van Dolson, a soldier of the war of 1812. She was born February 24, 1814, in New York City, and died in Geneva, New York, March 19, 1842. His second marriage was with a Miss Ans- ley, and his third one with Martha Van Dol- son, a sister of his first wife, who became the mother of two children, both deceased. His fourth marriage was with Miss Cornelia Dodge, by whom he had four children: Edwin D., Sarah L., Albert and Kate. Of the four children by his first wife, two sur- vive: Helen, wife of George Hipple, of Chicago; and Arrietta, wife of our subject. The deceased were Gideon L., who was a partner with our subject in the lumber business; and John William, who served during the late war and was wounded at the siege of Vicksburg, and who died in Chicago in 1897.
To our subject and wife five children were born: (1) Jesse Vrooman, born Janu- ary 30, 1862, married Lena Peterson, daugh- ter of Peter Peterson, by whom he has three children, James David, John Becker, and Annie Elizabeth. (2) Gideon Becker, at home. (3) James Stone, a student of me- chanical engineering in the state university at Champaign, Illinois. (4) Marietta, a graduate of the Elgin Academy, and in the
class of 1898, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. (5) Annie Louisa, a graduate of the Nurses' Training School of Elgin.
After being upon the road for some time Mr. Hipple decided to again go into busi- ness, and located at Watkins, New York, but soon removed to Geneva, at the other end of the lake, and opened a store next to that of his brother .. After remaining there a short time he sold out to his brother, re- moved to Chicago, and worked for his father-in-law in an agricultural implement factory for one year, at the expiration of which time he engaged in the lumber busi- ness until the great fire of 1871 wiped him out. Soon after the fire, in partnership with Jacob Oestmann, he opened a lumber yard and conducted the same until 1875, when our subject disposed of his interests, and in the spring of that year moved to his present farm which he had purchased some time previous to the fire.
The experience of Mr. Hipple and his family were thrilling during the fiery ordeal. Owning teams for delivery of lumber, he was enabled to move his household effects to vacant property at a safe distance, and by strenuous efforts saved his house from burn- ing and prevented robbery by the lawless thugs that infested all parts of the city, from which the inhabitants had fled.
On coming to his farm, a fine tract of three hundred acres, Mr. Hipple began its improvement. He rebuilt the barn, which is now forty by one hundred and forty-eight feet, with high basement stables for nearly one hundred head of cattle. He also built an addition to the dwelling house making it one of the most comfortable country resi- dences in the county. Agood tenant house was also erected, a residence for his married son. A horse barn was also built separate
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from the main cattle barn, and a nice milk house, where milk is cooled before taking to market. The farm is now thoroughly under- drained, with some twenty miles of tiling, main and lateral. Two-thirds of the land is under cultivation and all crops are used on the farm. He keeps an average of eighty milk cows in addition to young stock.
In his political views Mr. Hipple is a Republican. He would never accept public office save of that of school director, which he filled for six years, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his private business interests. The family is held in the highest esteeni throughout the commu- nity. Religiously, Mrs. Hipple is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which our subject is an attendant.
T HERON BAKER, a well-known resi- dent of St. Charles, is a man whose successful struggle with adverse circum- stances shows what can be accomplished by industry and economy, if guided by sound judgment and good business ability. From the early age of fourteen years he was obliged to make his own way in life without the aids which are usually consid- ered essential to success, but now in his de- clining years he is able to live retired and enjoy the fruits of his former toil.
Mr. Baker was born in Genesee county, New York, November 7, 1817, a son of George and Phoebe (Hall) Baker, also na- tives of the Empire state, the latter born in the town of Hartford, Washington coun- ty. The Baker family is of Welsh descent, and was founded in New York at an early day in the history of this country. Our subject's father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and for his services he subsequently
received a pension. In Genesee county, New York, he followed farming until 1843, when he came to Illinois and settled in Waukegan. Later he removed to Bureau county, this state, but spent his last years in Wichita, Kansas. In his family were nine children-five sons and four daughters -all of whom reached years of maturity, and three sons and two daughters are still living.
The subject of this sketch spent his boy- hood and youth in Genesee and Wyoming counties, New York, acquiring a very mea- ger education, but his training at farm work was not limited. In Wyoming county he was married, December 22, 1842, to Miss Isabella Culberson, a native of Ireland, who came to the New World when a child of ten years. Coming west in 1843, they first located in the town of Delavan, Walworth county, Wisconsin, where Mr. Baker had entered a tract of forty acres the year pre- vious. Upon the place he built a log house, and to the improvement and cul- tivation of his land he devoted his ener- gies for thirteen years, transforming it into a good farm. He then sold and re- moved to Green county, Wisconsin, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land and opened up another farm, making this place his home for fifteen years. On disposing of that property he came to Kane county, Illinois, in Septem- ber, 1870, and bought a farm of forty-one and one-half acres in St. Charles township, on the Elgin road, two miles from St. Charles. He completed the house, built a good barn and substantial outbuildings, set out an orchard. and made many other im- provements upon the place which added greatly to its value and attractive appear- ance. After successfully operating the farm
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for twenty-two years, he sold it and bought a residence lot in St. Charles, on which he erected a comfortable home, where he is now living. Besides this property he owns one good residence which he rents, and also seven building lots.
Mr. Baker lost his first wife December 12, 1887, and in Kane county was again married, September 12, 1888, his second union being with Miss Harriet Butler, a sis- ter of O. M. Butler, an early settler and prominent manufacturer of St. Charles. She was born in Rochester, Windsor coun- ty, Vermont, and was reared in Essex, Chittenden county, that state. She ob- tained a good education, and in early life was a successful teacher in Kane county, Illinois, having come to the west in 1847. Religiously she is a member of the Congre- gational church of St. Charles and takes an active interest in its work.
Politically Mr. Baker is a stanch Repub- lican, and has never failed to cast his ballot for its candidates at every presidential elec- tion since voting for John C. Fremont in 1856. He has never aspired to office, how- ever, preferring to give his attention to his private affairs. His business undertakings have been crowned with success, and he has not only secured a comfortable compe- tence, but has gained the respect and es- teem of all who know him.
L'
YMAN D. MORGAN, who resides on section 25, Hampshire township, was one of the " boysin blue, " who, at their coun- try's call, went out in defense of the Union, and gave between two and three years of his young life to the service of his country. He was born in Coral township, McHenry coun- ty, Illinois, May 9, 1845, and is the son of
Lyman Morgan, Jr., who was born in Pom- pey, Onondago county, New York, and who married Polly Thomas, also a native of Pompey and a daughter of John Thomas, of that place. The paternal grandfather, Lyman Morgan, Sr., was likewise a native of Pompey, New York, and there died when about eighty years of age. Lyman Morgan, Jr., left his native state in 1839, came west and settled in McHenry county, Illinois, and there engaged in farming, and where he died in 1866, at the age of fifty-six years. His family consisted of seven children of whom two only are now living-LeRoy, who is living at Platte, Michigan, and who served during the war in the Fifty-second Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry; and Lyman D., our subject.
The subject of this sketch grew to man- hood on his father's farm and attended the district schools until the age of fourteen years. In 1859 the family moved into Kane county, Illinois, locating on the farm which is now owned by our subject. Mr. Mor- gan enlisted October 17, 1862, as a member of Company B, Seventeenth Illinois Cav- alry, and served until December 15, 1865. He went first to Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis, Missouri, and thence to Alton, Illi- nois, guarding prisoners. At that place he was taken ill, from impure water and food, and would have died but for the kindness and care of an old Scotch woman. He was next sent to St. Joseph, Missouri, thence to Weston, south of St. Joseph, doing scouting duty, which kept him out most of the night in order to prevent bush- whackers and thieves from depredation. From Weston he went to Macon City, Missouri, then to Brookfield and Laclede. For a while he was stationed at Fort Leav- enworth, and then sent to do scouting duty
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around Fort Scott and west of that place to Humboldt, Kansas. While there they learned that their command had been or- dered to Lawrence, Kansas, at the close of the war to be discharged .. The troops be- came incensed at the officers for not com- plying with orders. The officers desired promotion before disbanding and for that reason withheld the orders. The troops mutinied, when they learned that instead of being mnstered out they were to be sent west to fight Indians, and many of them deserted. Those who stayed went west to guard the Butterfield overland dispatch and the government mail. Some stole cavalry horses and escaped with them. Our sub- ject was sergeant of the guard during the last days and tried to hold deserters in check. He was at last mustered out, at Fort Leav- enworth and was discharged at Springfield, Illinois.
After receiving his discharge, Mr. Mor- gan returned home and worked for his father until the latter's death in 1866, about the time he attained his majority. He promised his father on the latter's deathbed to remain with his mother. He intended to study for a profession, having a thirst for learning, and was well fitted, mentally, for success in any profession. His life work, however, was changed by the death of his father. After returning home he attended school for two years in winters, one year of which time he was in Elgin Academy, and being a diligent student he secured a teacher's cer- tificate and taught in the old village of Hampshire.
Mr. Morgan was promised the home farm on condition that he take care of his mother, but had to buy the interest of the other heirs in the estate. He secured sixty acres of the original farm and bought ten acres
additional. In 1871 he went to Otter Creek, Michigan, and went into the wood business in partnership with an uncle, supplying wood to be used in an iron furnace. The iron company failed and they had thirteen hun- dred cords of wood left on their hands, which was a severe financial loss. In 1874 he returned to the farm and has here since resided.
On the 9th of May, 1874, at Platte, Benzie county, Michigan, Mr. Morgan was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Ann Helmer, born at Rainham Centre, Haldiman county, Canada, and a daughter of Jonas E. and Sophie (Miller) Helmer. The father of the latter, Joseph E. Miller, was a soldier under the great Napoleon. Jonas E. Helmer was born in Ohio, from which state he moved to Canada, where he lived several years, and in 1858 returned to Ohio. In the latter state Mrs. Morgan grew to womanhood. To Mr. and Mrs. Morgan seven children were born: Alice M., deceased, was burned to death, her clothes taking fire while burn- ing brush; Ora, Mabel L., Izo T., Ambert Delos, Eugenia and Lyman Judd. Ora at- tended the State Normal school two years and has taught school in the district in Mc-, Henry county, where his father attended when a boy. Mabel has also engaged in teaching, and for three years had charge of a school at Old Hampshire, where her father taught when a young man.
Fraternally, Mr. Morgan is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Knights of the Globe, and of the Royal Neighbors. In the latter order Mrs. Morgan also holds membership. They attend the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics he is a Republican. Among the local offices held by him is that of school trustee and school director. As a citizen he is held in the
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highest esteem and is ever ready to do his and his widow now resides in Tome, Chili. part in whatever tends to advance the in- terest of his county and state.
M OSES W. HAWES, deceased. In stud- ying the lives and characters of prom- inent men, we ars naturally led to inquire into the secret of their success and the mo- tives that prompted their action. Success is a question of genius, as held by many, but is it not rather a matter of experience and sound judgment? When we trace the career of those who stand highest in public esteem, we find in nearly every case that they are those who have risen gradually, fighting their way in the face of all opposi- tion. Self-reliance, conscientiousness, en- ergy, honesty-these are the traits of char- acter that insure the highest emoluments and greatest success. To these we may at- tribute the success that crowned the efforts of our subject.
Moses W. Hawes was born September 2, 1814, in Watertown, New York, receiv- ing his early education in that city. Later he went to Baltimore where he learned civil engineering, and in 1837 was sent . from that city to the province of Conception, Chili, South America, to erect and put into operation the second flouring mill in that country. He was chosen from among one hundred applicants for the position. In that country he became a very prominent man and there continued to live for over twenty years. Being a first-class engineer he became a large government contractor and built many bridges, docks, etc. While residing in Chili, he married a Spanish lady, by whom he had six children, only one of whom is now living, a daughter who mar- ried Bernardo Bambach. He died in 1877,
In 1859 Mr. Hawes went to China and completing the circumnavigation of the globe returned to the United States. His wife having died, Mr. Hawes was married February 12, 1860, to Miss Jennie Rosen- crans, who was born October 4, 1833, and is the daughter of Asa and Jane (Cole) Ros- encrans. On the first of August, 1860, ac- companied by his wife Mr. Hawes went to Chili, where he remained until the autumn of 1869, when they returned to the United States and first located in Elgin, Illinois. In 1870 he went to Mendota, Illinois, where he was engaged in the lumber busi- ness until 1872, when he returned to Elgin. After a short time he went to Europe and subsequently made two other trips across across the ocean.
In 1877 Mr. Hawes was called home to serve as president of the Home National Bank, which position he resigned in 1879 and again moved to Mendota. In 1892 he once more returned to Elgin where he re- mained until his death, November 22, 1894, at the age of eighty-three years. He was a consistent member of the Congregational church, to which Mrs. Hawes also belongs. She is a lady of pleasing presence, and scholarly attainments, and is the only rep- resentative of the Rosencrans family once so prominent in Kane county.
JAMES C. BROWN, whose home is at No. 403 North Spring street, Elgin, was for many years prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Kane county, but is now living retired. He was born in Steuben county, New York, March 20, 1832, a son of Henry and Lois (Colvin) Brown, the former a native of Dublin, Ire-
M. W. HAWES.
LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF HLINDIS.
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land, the latter of Connecticut. While living in the east the father worked at the tailor's trade, but after coming to Illinois, in 1844, he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, buying a tract of government land in Hampshire township, Kane county, which he transformed into a good farm. His wife died in May, 1845, at about the age of thirty-six years, and he subsequently mar- ried Lavina Gleason. He cared nothing for official honors, perferring to devote his en- tire time and attention to the development and improvement of his farm. In 1850, accompanied by our subject, he went to California by the overland route, starting from Grundy county, Illinois. On reaching Green River, Utah, the son was taken ill, so that he did not reach his destination un- til in 1851. The father remained on the Pacific slope, dying in Oregon, in 1870, when about seventy years of age. He was a con- sistent member of the Free Will Baptist church, to which the mother of our subject also belongs. Fraternally he was a Mason of high standing. In the family of this worthy couple were nine children, of whom five are still living: Betsy A., now residing on Ashland avenue, Elgin, is the widow of Willard B. Allen, who died at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, while serving in the Union army during the Civil war; Charlotte is a resident of Hampshire, Kane county; James €. is next in order of birth; and Lois V. and Henry W. are both residents of California.
In the schools of New York, James C. Brown began his education, which was completed after the removal of the family to Illinois in 1844, by attending the public schools in Kane county. He assisted his father in the work of the home farm until the Ist of May, 1850, when they started for California. For eleven months he remained 18
in Salt Lake City, becoming well acquainted with Brigham Young, and at balls would dance with several of his wives the same evening. He attended one wedding where the bridegroom, a Mr. Cook, married two sisters, standing up between them, the veil being over them all. This was a common occurrence in Salt Lake City at that time. Mr. Brown boarded with a man who had four wives living in the same home. Meet- ing with many interesting experiences, he thoroughly enjoyed his trip to California, in which state he engaged in mining for a year, and later farmed in the Suisun Valley for two years.
After about four years spent upon the Pacific slope, Mr. Brown returned to Illinois in the fall of 1853, having met with mod- erate success. Two years later, on the 23d of September, 1855, Mr. Brown was united in marriage with Miss Teressa P. Harney, who was born in Massillon, Stark county, Ohio, a daughter of T. J. and Mary (Bur- gess) Harney, natives of Canada. She was educated in a private school on the Western Reserve in that state, and at the age of eighteen began teaching near Massillon. After coming to Kane county, in 1854, she' taught in the schools of Hampshire, teach- ing boys and girls, whose children years later attended a school conducted by her daughter, Mrs. Hollenbeck. Mrs. Brown is the only survivor in a family of six chil- dren, three of whom died when young. Thomas, the oldest, was a soldier of the Mexican war. and Sarcfield M. was a sol- dier of the Civil war. He was the first sol- dier whose remains were brought back to Elgin for interment.
To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born four children, namely: (1) Lillie was educated in the Elgin Academy, began teaching in
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the schools of Hampshire township, and later taught for six years in the graded schools of Elgin. In 1884 she married Ralph D. Hollenbeck, who is a prominent attorney and graduated in the same class with his wife, by whom she has one child, Helen. In 1891 she was elected a member of the school board and served in that ca- pacity for two terms, being chairman of the teachers committee for three years. Since its organization she has been identified with the Woman's Club, which is one of the best and largest clubs of the kind in the state outside of Chicago. It has erected and con- ducts an excellent hospital in Elgin, and has taken an active part in many enterprises for the good of the city. In its work Mrs. Hollenbeck has borne an active and promi- nent part. (2) Ira J., the second child of our subject, finished his education at the Elgin Academy, and is general milk solicitor for the Illinois Central Railroad, having charge of all the milk carried by that road. He married Estella Wilcox, by whom he has three children-Calvin W., James P. and Harry H .- and they live in Genoa, Illi- nois. (3) Dairy died at the age of eleven years. (4) Mary L. is the wife of Walter P. Johnson, a grandson of Gail Borden, and they live in southern California. Their chil- dren are Borden, Calvin, Gail and Richard.
On his return from California Mr. Brown invested his capital in a farm in Kane county, to which he added from time to time until he had one of the most val- uable and desirable places in the commu- nity. To agricultural pursuits he devoted his energies until elected sheriff in 1870, when he removed to Geneva to assume the duties of that office, which he so acceptably discharged that in 1872 he was re-elected, serving in all two terms.
In October, 1861, during his country's hour of peril, Mr. Brown laid aside all per- sonal interests and enlisted in Company B, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, under Colonel Farns- worth. For three years he was in the serv- vice, participating in all the battles in which his command took part, and when his term of service had expired, he was hon- orably discharged October 18, 1864. For- tunately he was never wounded, taken pris- oner, sent to the hospital, nor confined in the guard house during the entire time, though he met with inany narrow escapes. For a time he was on detached service. Since his retirement from the office of sheriff he has made his home in Elgin.
Socially Mr. Brown affiliates with the Masonic order and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while politically he is iden- tified with the Republican party. Besides serving as sheriff of the county, he has filled all the township offices while residing in Hampshire township, and has always been recognized as one of the valued and useful citizens of his community. . His wife and some of their children are members of the Congregational Church, and in social cir- cles the family is one of prominence.
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