The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 39

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

USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 39

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Dr. Pratt has been twice married, his first union being with Miss Mattie Patrick, born in Bloomingdale, Illinois, and a daugh- ter of Hiram Patrick. After her death he married Katie Gibbons, daughter of John and Mary (Prendergast) Gibbons, by whom he has six children -Walter, Matie, Alice, Ada, Alpha, and William A. The first two died in infancy.

Dr. Pratt is a scientific and expert breeder and is an acknowledged authority on cattle. Cedarside farm, which adjoins the corporate limits of Elgin, is one of the

best known farms in this section of the state. His dwelling house, which is of the Italian style of architecture, occupies an ex- ceedingly fine location, with fine groves sur- rounding the house and cedars lining the roadside. Soon after electric roads were ® built to Dundee, the Doctor laid out a fine park of thirty-five acres, which he gave the name of Trout Park, making of it a fine summer resort. All kinds of outdoor amusements are provided for its patrons in · the summer and Trout Lake is well stocked with brook trout secured from Seth Green. Politically Dr. Pratt is aRepublican and fra- ternally a member of Lochiel lodge, No. 105, K. of P., of Elgin.

B RYANT DURANT .- Years of quiet usefulness and a life in which the old- fashioned virtues of sincerity, industry and . integrity are exemplified have a simple beauty that no words can portray. Youth has its charms, but an honorable and hon- ored old age, to which the lengthening years have added dignity and sweetness, has a brighter radiance, as if some ray from the life beyond already rested upon it. Mr. Durant, one of the oldest residents of St. Charles, is also one of the honored pioneers of Kane county, where he has made his home since May, 1837, and it is safe to say that no citizen of the community is held in higher esteem than he.

In the town of Ware, Hampshire coun- ty, Massachusetts, Mr. Durant was born December 14, 1807, and is of the eighth generation of the family in this country. His ancestors were among the earliest set- tlers of the old Bay state, making their homes in Boston and Newton, and among their number were several who participated

395

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. .

in the Revolutionary war, aiding the col- onies in their struggle for independence. Our subject's grandfather, Denny Durant, was born in Newton, near Boston, of French extraction, and the father, John Durant, was a native of the same place. The latter engaged in merchandising in early life, but later turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He married Abigail Ward, also a native of Massachusetts, and a daughter of Elijah Ward, another representative of one of the first families of that state, and a Revolutionary soldier. In 1849 John Du- rant joined our subject in St. Charles, where he spent his last days, and now he and his wife, who survived him about two years, sleep side by side in the cemetery at that place.

The subject of this sketch attended the public schools of his native state to a limited extent, but is principally self-educated and is a well-inforined man. During his youth he learned the bricklayer's trade, at which he worked at Cambridge, Brighton and Newton for about sixteen years, and also engaged to some extent in farming in Mas- sachusetts. In 1837 he came to Illinois, by way of the lakes to Chicago, where his brother James engaged in merchandising for many years. He arrived in that city in March, and the following May came to Kane county, where, in company with his brother and another gentleman, he bought a claim of .one thousand acres, which he at once began to open up and improve. After fol- lowing agricultural pusuits for two years, he had the farm operated by others while he worked at his trade in St. Charles and in different sections throughout Kane county for some years, though he still continued to live upon the farm. When the property was divided he obtained two hundred acres,

on which he erected a substantial brick res- idence, good barns and other outbuildings, and made many other valuable improve- ments. The place is pleasantly located only two miles from St. Charles. About 1881 he rented the farm and removed to St. Charles, where he has since lived retired, enjoying the rest he has so well earned and so richly. deserves.

At Genoa, DeKalb county, Illinois, Mr. Durant was married in 1842, to Miss Jerusha Shurtliff, who was born and reared in Lowell, Massachusetts Her father, David Shurtliff, was born in Plymouth, that state, and belonged to one of its earliest families. Mr. and Mrs. Durant have six children, namely: Julia is the wife of J. W. Johnston, of St. Charles; Henrietta is the widow of Frank Herrington and now resides in Ober- lin, Ohio; William H. is a business man of Chicago; Emma is the widow of Dr. Lane, who was a leading physician of St. Charles for some years, and she now resides with her parents, while she is successfully en- gaged in teaching in St. Charles, being a lady of superior education; Abbie is the wife of Henry Allen, of Iowa; and Charles is married and engaged in farming in Kansas.

Since the election of General Jackson to the presidency, Mr. Durant has always been found at the polls on each election day, sup- porting first the candidates of the Whig party, and since the organization of the Republican party has been one of its earnest advocates, voting for John C. Fremont in 1856. He attended the convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presi- dency, and was always a warm admirer of the martyr president and his policy. Be- lieving that a protective tariff is best suited to the needs of the American people, he

396

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

gives it his hearty support, and he is also a stanch supporter of the gold standard of currency. With the Congregational church he and his wife hold membership. Although their lives have been quiet and unassuming, they have made hosts of friends throughout Kane county, and by all who know them they are held in high regard.

H L ORACE J. SEYMOUR, a well-known contractor and builder residing at No. 40 Jefferson avenue, Elgin, is a native of Illinois, born in Cook county, February 10, 1851, and is a representative of one of the oldest and most distinguished families of the United States, its members being well represented in the early wars of the coun- try. On the paternal side he traces his an- cestry back to 'Richard Seymour, who came to the New World about 1635, and was the first mayor of Hartford, Connect- icut, his name appearing on the monument erected to the first settlers of that place, in Center church burying ground. His son Thomas was the father of Captain Matthew Seymour, whose son, Captain Thomas Sey- mour, took an active and prominent part in the French and Indian war. The son of the last named, Ebenezer Seymour, was born May 16, 1729, near Greenwich, Con- necticut, and married Ruth Scribner, who was born in 1730 and died in 1820. Their son Jesse, who was the great-grandfather of our subject, was a commissary in the war of the Revolution, and emptied his private purse to pay for food for the sol- diers. He married Mercy Fancher, of Dutchess county, New York, and to them were born fifteen children.

John Seymour, our subject's grand- father, married Elizabeth Wright, who was

born November, 1794, and was one of a family of six children, whose parents were Ephraim and Martha Wright, the former born February 6, 1766, the latter April 8, 1770. Her grandparents were John and Elizabeth Wright, the former born Decein- ber 25. 1736, the latter May 2, 1746. John Wright was a son of John and Ruth Wright, the former born April 5, 1703, a son of Gideon and Margaret W. Wright. Gideon Wright was born in Germany, January 8, 1675, and was the founder of the branch of the family in America. To John and Eliz- abeth (Wright) Seymour were born the following children: Samuel, Susan, Wright, and Ephraim, all deceased; Hannah, who *is still living; Elizabeth and Frederick, both deceased; and Harvey, Joseph, John W:, Cordelia, deceased, and Deziah, all living. The mother of these children died September 28, 1816, aged sixty-six years, nine months and twenty-seven days, and the father passed away at the home of John Seymour, in Elgin, aged ninety-seven years, nine months and seven days. Both were laid to rest in the cemetery at Barrington, Cook county.

Our subject's father, Joseph B. Sey- mour, was born near Dundee, Steuben . county, New York, and on coming west in 1844 located upon a partially improved farm in Barrington township, Cook county, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until his removal to Aurora in 1867. There he still continues to reside at the age of seventy-four years .. He married Mary S. Haven, who was born in Carthage, Jeffer- son county, New York, November 28, 1832, a daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Strong) Haven. Her mother was born in Stafford, New Hampshire, August 22, 1799, and died November 22, 1874. Mrs. Seymour is one

397

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of a family of seven children, of whom only two are now living, the other. being Martha Malvina, who was born in Carthage, New York, July 9, 1836. The parents of our subject are both earnest and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are held in high regard by all who know them.

Horace J. Seymour was reared upon the home farm in Cook county, and after the removal of the family to Aurora continued his education, taking a miscellaneous and business course. He is the only child of his parents. After his marriage he en- gaged in farming for three years in Cook county, and for the following four years was employed as clerk and driver by the Amer- ican Express Company at Aurora. He then engaged in farming near Kankakee for three years, after which he lived in that city for two years, and in 1884 came to Elgin in time to vote for James G. Blaine for presi- dent. Having learned the carpenter's trade in early life, he has successfully en- gaged in contracting and building in Elgin, erecting residences principally. He has also been interested to some extent in the real- estate and mercantile business, and in his undertakings has met with a fair degree of success.

On the 20th of March, 1872, Mr. Sey- mour was united in marriage with Miss R. Jennie Smith, a daughter of Reuben B. Smith, of Lamont, Cook county. Her great- grandmother, a Mrs. Streator, of Washing- ton county, New York, lived to the extreme old age of one hundred six years. Her seven brothers all went as volunteers in the Con- tinental army during the Revolutionary war, while the sisters were left at home to carry on the farın. Mr. and Mrs. Seyinour have two children: Hattie and Fred Wesley.

The former is now the wife of H. T. Pix- ley, of Marion, Iowa, and has two children: Merle Seymour and Ira A.

Our subject, his wife and children all hold membership in the Methodist Episco- pal church, and Mrs. Seymour is a teacher in the Sunday-school. She is a graduate of the Aurora high school, and for several years successfully engaged in teaching in that city. Mr. Seymour is a charter mem- ber of and active worker in the Modern Woodmen Society of Elgin, of which he was treasurer for several years after its organi- zation, and is at present a member of the sick committee, which during the past year dispensed about two thousand dollars for the relief of the sick. Politically he is an ardent Republican, and has filled the office of assistant supervisor, but cares nothing for political honors. As a business man and citizen he enjoys the esteem of the entire community.

ESTER M. BURROUGHS, M. D., is one of the oldest and most successful practitioners in Kane county, and has been a resident of Batavia since 1861. He is a native of Ohio, born in Shalersville, Portage county, September 25, 1820. His father, Daniel Burroughs, Jr., was born in New Hampshire, but reared in Williamstown, Vermont, while his grandfather, Daniel Bur- roughs, Sr., was a native of Connecticut, born in May, 1755, and was a faithful soldier in the Revolutionary armny. The family are of English descent.

In 1810 Daniel Burroughs, Sr., accom- panied by his father's family, located in Portage county, Ohio, and were among the earliest settlers of that locality. In that county Daniel Burroughs, Jr., married Miss

398

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Abigail Hine, a native of Connecticut, whose father, Daniel Hine, was also a native of that state. He located in Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1808. By trade Daniel Burroughs, Jr., was a brick and stone mason, but in later life followed farmning. He was a sol- dier in the war of 1812, and at Detroit was among the number surrendered to the en- emy by General Hull, but was soon after paroled. In 1836 he moved to Illinois and located in Kendall county, where he en- gaged in farming. His last years, however, were spent at Batavia, and his death oc- curred at the residence of his son in 1866. His wife passed away in Kendall county in 1863.

The subject of this sketch came to Illi- nois with his parents at the age of sixteen years. His literary education commenced in the common schools of Ohio, and com- pleted in the public schools of Illinois. In early life he conceived the idea that he would make the medical profession his life work. Purchasing some books he com- menced reading, and later entered the office of Dr. Gardiner, of Blackberry, Illinois, and under his instruction continued his studies. He then took a special course of lectures in the medical college at Cleveland, Ohio, and later spent one year in the medical college at Kenosha, Wisconsin. After some three or four years' study he commenced the prac- tice of medicine. Soon after he commenced practice, he was called to attend a small- pox patient, and before his patient recov- ered he was called to treat sixty-nine other cases.

While residing in Blackberry, Dr. Bur- roughs was united in marriage, November 24, 1849, with Miss Almira Wheeler, a na- tive of Troy, New York, who came with her parents to Kane county, Illinois, in 1838.

Her father, David Wheeler, was a promi- nent man in Troy, and there served as post- master eight years under General Jackson. After his removal to Blackberry he served in like capacity for ten years. In the war of 1812 he was taken prisoner by the Brit- ish, and held at Barbados for some time. He married Judith Pearson, of Newberry- port, Massachusetts, in 1815. He reared a family of eight sons and one daughter. In Kane county he was quite a prominent man until his death.

In 1861, Dr. Burroughs located at Bata- via, where he has since continued in active practice, although nearing his four score. In the early days he was an Abolitionist, and was one of the conductors on the under- ground railroad, assisting fugitives who were fleeing to a free land. His first presidential ballot was cast for James G. Birney. Believ- ing that the desires of his heart might the sooner be gained, on the organization of the Republican party, he identified himself with it and has voted for each of its presidential candidates from Fremont to McKinley. While always taking an active interest in political affairs, his professional duties have prevented his holding official position.

To the Doctor and Mrs. Burroughs, two daughters were born. Mary B. is now the wife of William K. Coffin, a banker of Wis- consin, and president of the Bankers' Asso- ciation of that state, and Nellie May, who yet resides at home. Fraternally Dr. Burroughs is a Master Mason and is also a member of the Odd Fellows. In the subordinate lodge of that order he has passed all the chairs, and in the encampment he has likewise filled all the offices. For sixty-two years he has been a resident of the state of Illi- nois, the greater part of which time he has been engaged in his professional duties, and

399

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the good that he has done in the alleviation of human suffering can never be known. Few men have more friends throughout Northern Illinois than has the subject of this sketch.

W ILLIAM KLICK, section 10, Hamp- shire township, is descended from an old German family, whose ancestors came to America prior to the Revolutionary war. His grandfather, Conrad Klick, was prob- ably born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, the family being well known pioneers of that section, the great-great-grandfather there being killed by the Indians. Conrad Klick, who was a farmer by occupation, married Elizabeth Weidmeyer, also of an old colonial family. His death occurred when he was about sixty-five years old.

John Klick, the son of Conrad and Elizabeth Klick, was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, in December, 1806, and was reared in his native county. When a young man he worked in a mill, but fol- lowed the occupation of a farmer the greater part of his life. In 1847, he came west, driving through from Pennsylvania to Kane county, Illinois, with horse teams, and was five weeks on the way. He settled in sec- tion 11, Hampshire township, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of timber land, a very small part of which had been cleared. He went to work and cleared most of the land and there resided until his death. He was a thrifty man and a good farmer and was fairly successful in life. Before leaving his Pennsylvania home he married Katherine Decker, a native of Berks county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Jacob was Elizabeth (Brandt) Decker. Her father was a carpenter by trade, and died when she

was quite young. Her paternal grandfather was in the Revolutionary war, and was markedby a bullet wound on the forehead, the scar of which remained until his death. To John and Katherine Klick ten children were born, of whom nine are living, as fol- lows: William, our subject; Elizabeth, who married Moses Reams, and lives on section II, Hampshire township; Anna, who mar- ried Ephraim Reams and lives in Iowa; Susanna, wife of Rev. Henry Shoemaker, of Elgin; John Henry, a resident of the vil- lage of Hampshire; Jonathan, engaged in farming in Iowa; Mrs. Lucetta Gift, of Hampshire township; Catherine, widow of Christian Schiller; and Henry, residing in Iowa. Amanda died in young woman- hood.

William Klick was born in Bethel town- ship, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, No- vember 17, 1829. He attended the common schools of his native county until thirteen years of age, and worked on a farm until he came west in 1847. Here he remained un- der his father's roof and assisted in the cultivation of the farm until his marriage, when he rented the farm and began life for himself. Some four or five years later he purchased twenty acres, which he worked in connection with his father's farm, and subsequently bought eighty acres of prairie land, lying three miles west. The two places being so far apart made it incon- venient to work them, so he sold both in 1865, and September 13. of that year,. bought his present farm of seventy-five acres, in sections 10 and 15, on which was a log house and barn. He improved the house, covering the outside with siding and lathing and plastering the inside, making it a comfortable house, in which he resided with his family for some years. Later he

400

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

built a neat frame house, good, commodious barns and other outbuildings, and placed the farm under a good state of cultivation. He planted an orchard, which for years · inet maker, very ingenious, manufacturing bore a large amount of fruit. In addition various sweet-toned musical instruments. (4) Samuel, who is employed on neighbor- ing farms, makes his home with his parents. to general farming, he is engaged in dairy- ing in a small way, selling milk to the fac- tory in Hampshire. From his dooryard, a fine view is obtained across the country west, the village of Genoa being distinctly seen.

Mr. Klick was married in Hampshire township, June 1, 1850, to Caroline Reams, born in Union county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Samuel and Salome (Aurand) Reams, the latter being a daughter of John and Catherine (Young) Aurand. The mother of Samuel Reams attained the age of eighty-eight years, and her brothers, Pe- ter and Henry, lived to be eighty-eight and eighty-six years respectively. Both served in the Revolutionary war. Samuel Reams left Union county, Pennsylvania, in 1834, and moving to Ohio, there resided eleven years. In ì845 he came to Kane county, Illinois, coming through with ox teams and bringing also four cows; he was four weeks on the road, camping each night by the wayside. He arrived in Kane county in July, bought a farm in Hampshire township, and there resided until his death at the age of seventy-three years.

To our subject and wife six children were born, of whom Ira and Nathan are de- ceased, the living are: (1) William Frank- lin, who married Lydia Marshall, by whom he has three children, Carrie, Lydia and Daniel. They lived in Elgin a number of years, but in 1894 went to Chicago: (2) Aaron, who married Ellen Williams, by whom he has eight children, Alonzo, Emma, Samuel, Rosa, William, Wilbur, Clarence

and Malinda; of these, Emma is now de- ceased. (3) Elias, who makes his home with his parents, is an expert carpenter and cab-

Politically Mr. Klick is a Republican and has been honored with several town- ship offices including school director, road commissioner and constable. In the first namned office he served for thirteen years. Our subject well remembers pioneer days in Kane county. There were yet wolves and deer here when the family came and he remembers on one occasion that his dog bringing a deer at bay, and endeavoring to shoot it his gun failed to discharge. Some hunters who were chasing it soon came up and pursued it to its death.

N JATHANAEL J. THOMAS, city elec- trician of Aurora, was born in Greene county, Ohio, April 7, 1838, and is the son of Henry and Susannah ( Bayliff) Thomas. The father was a native of Virginia, born March 14, 1803, and was the son of Jacob Thomas. By occupation Henry Thomas was a farmer, and he removed to Ohio with his parents, when a small boy, and where he resided for many years. He came to Ill- inois, locating in Bureau county. In 1862, he removed to Iowa, locating in Pocahontas county, where he purchased a farm, and car- ried on farming until his death, October 25, 1881. In religion he was a Methodist, and politically was originally a Henry Clay Whig, and later a Republican. His wife, Susannah Bayliff, was born February 15, 1808, and died February 20, 1883. She was a con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal

NATHANAEL J. THOMAS.

LIBRARY OF THE

403

THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

church. They were the parents of eleven children, nine of whom grew to mature years. They were Daniel, now living in Washington; Jacob, deceased; Lydia, who married Jeremiah Young, and is living in Washington; Joshua, deceased; Benjamin, who died in infancy; Joel B., of Oklahoma; Nathaniel J., our subject; William A., who died in the army, was a member of Com- pany B, Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer In- fantry; Ellen, who married Barney Hanshire, living in Iowa; Henry- H., who died in infancy, and Sally A., who married George Strong, and after his death, married Mr. Brice and is in living in Washington.

Our subject was in his twelfth year, when his parents left Ohio and came to Ill- inois. He was reared on the home farm, where he assisted his father, and attended the country schools as the opportunity was afforded him .. On the 12th of August, 1 862, at Dover, Illinois, he enlisted in Com- pany B, Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and went into, camp in Chicago, on duty at Camp Douglas, guarding Shiloh prisoners. The regiment remained there until Novemberber 9th, and was then ordered to Memphis, Tennessee, and was with Grant on the Holly Springs expedition. Returning to Memphis they remained until they went out against Vicksburg. The regiment was in the Third Brigade, under command of Gen- eral McPherson, which formed a part of the Seventh Division, of the Seventeenth Army Corps. Mr. Thomas took part in all that siege, until the surrender. He was next on the expedition against Johnston, on the Big Black river, after which he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, February 14, :864. He was then sent to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where they had a recruiting camp, and was there until ordered to Little

York, Pennsylvania, where he remained two months. From Little York they went to Scranton, Pennsylvania, and was there seven months, then to Philadelphia, and Chester, Pennsylvania, where he remained until mus- tered out, July 8, 1865. He came out of the service without a scratch.

After being mustered out, Mr. Thomas returned to Bureau county, and February 1, 1866, went to Mendota, and there en- tered the telegraph service of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad company until December, 1886. Early- in 1887. he re- signed from the service of the company, and entered the service of the city of Aurora, in charge of its electric lights.

Mr. Thomas was married August 12, 1862, to Miss Mary E. Barr, a native of Coshocton, Ohio, and daughter of Hezekiah and Hannah Barr. By this union was one child, which died in infancy. Mrs. Thomas died July 18, 1871, and Mr. Thomas mar- ried his second wife, Adaline Warner, Oc- tober II, 1874. She was a native of Proph- etstown, Illinois, where her parents now live. She died December 23, 1876. The third marriage was to Miss Libbie M. Evans, who was born in Aurora, and was a daugh- ter of Griffith and Elizabeth (Welden) Evans, both of whom are natives of Penn- sylvania. She died February 27, 1897.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 39

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