USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 43
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Mr. Lilibridge was united in marriage in St. Charles, Illinois, December 6, 1894, with Miss Lottie Marsden, a daughter of Thomas Marsden, a prominent manufact- urer of Kane county. She was born in St. Charles, reared and educated in its public schools, being a graduate of the West Side High School, and for four years held a po- sition in the office of the circuit clerk of Kane county. By this union are two chil- dren-M. Duane and Gladys V.
The St. Charles Lumber Company car- ries a very complete stock of building ma- terial, including sash, doors and blinds, and in connection have established a coal yard, all of which is under the management of Mr. Lilibridge, who is regarded as one of the best business men of the city. Frater- nally he is a member of the Masonic lodge of St. Charles, of which he is the present wor- shipful master. He has represented his lodge in the grand lodge of the state. He is also a member of the Fox River chapter at Geneva; the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, at St. Charles, of which he is venerable consul, and also the Knights of Pythias.
N ATHAN J. ALDRICH, senior member of the well-known law firm of Aldrich, Winslow & Worcester, with office on River street, over the Second National Bank, Au- rora, was born in Kendall county, Illinois, December 3, 1851, and is the son of L. T. and Delia 'A. (Southworth) Aldrich, both of whom are natives of New York. The father, who is a retired farmer, residing at Milling- ton, Kendall county, Illinois, came to the state in 1838 from New York, and is one of the pioneers of Kendall county. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order. Few men are better known throughout Kendall and adjoining counties. His wife is a mem- ber of the Congregational church. Of their three children, Nathan J. is the eldest; Eliza- beth is now the wife of George J. Marvin, a farmer of Livingston county, New York, and Edward P., who resides in Millington, Illinois.
Our subject was reared on the home farm in Kendall county, and his primary education received in its public schools. He later attended the Fowler Institute at New-
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NATHAN J. ALDRICH.
LIBRARY OF THE "MINEWCITY OF ILLINOIS.
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ark, Illinois, and the State Normal School, at Normal, Illinois. On leaving the latter institution he began reading law in the office of Judge M. O. Southworth, of Aurora, and then attended law school in the Michi- gan University at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated in 1876. One year later he came to Aurora and commenced the practice of his profession. He later formed a partnership with Albert J. Hopkins, and under the firm name of Hopkins & Aldrich, they continued in practice from 1879 to 1895, when the co-partnership was dissolved and the present firm of Aldrich, Winslow & Worcester was formed.
On the 28th of August, 1879, Mr. Al- drich was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Winchell, a native of Kendall county, Illinois, and daughter of George W. Win- chell. `By this union one child has been born: Louisa A., who yet resides at home. Mrs. Aldrich is a member of the Baptist church of Aurora, and is quite active in all church and benevolent work. Fraternally Mr. Aldrich is a member of the Masonic order.
In politics Mr. Aldrich is an ardent Re- publican, and in every general and local campaign takes an active part for his party. But it is as an attorney that he is best known. His practice, which is a general one, is extensive, and few cases of note in Kane county in which he is not employed on one side or the other. He practices in all the courts of the state and the United States courts.
J JOSEPH NEWMAN has for over a quar- ter of a century been prominently iden- tified with the business interests of Elgin, and has taken an active part in promoting
the substantial improvement and material development of the city, his labors in its interests being most effective and beneficial. Like many of its leading and influential citi- zens he was born on the other side of the Atlantic, his birth occurring May 10, 1854, in Herefordshire, England, and in that coun- try his parents, William and Emma (Thur- good) Newman, spent their entire lives. Oftheir twelve children, only four sons came to America, the others being, John of Elgin, and Henry, who resides in Chicago and is with the firm of Sprague, Warner & Com- pany; and. Walter, who lives in Rogers Park, Chicago; where he is engaged in busi- ness.
Joseph Newman attended the common schools of his native land, but as his par- ents died when he was quite young, he started out to make his own way in the world at the age of twelve years, being first employed as errand boy in a printing office. He continued with the same company until he came to America in 1869, crossing the Atlantic in a London steamer, which was twenty-one days in making the voyage. He made his home in Chicago with a ma- ternal aunt, Mrs. Sarah Pinkerton, who had brought his brother John to the United States in 1859. Our subject remained in Chicago, working for Norton & Company úntil the great fire of 1871, which destroyed most of the city and reduced his aunt's home to ashes.
Coming to Elgin in 1872, Mr. Newman secured the position of bookkeeper in the First National Bank, and was thus employed until 1880, since which time he has been in- terested in the creamery business, at first as a member of the firm of Newman & Haw- kins, later Nolting & Newman, with A. Nolt- ing as a partner, and now with his brother
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John in the John Newman Company. In 1893 he purchased an interest in the Spring Brook Creameries, forty in number, which are scattered throughout several different states. The firm does an extensive and profitable business, and is one of the lead- ing concerns of the kind in this section of the country. On leaving the banking busi- ness in 1877, Mr. Newman went into the Fountain Creamery, east of Elgin, and worked under the tutelage of L. H. Wanzer for one year, thus becoming thoroughly familiar with every department of the business. He afterward, however, returned to the bank for a time. He is now vice-president and treasurer of the Illinois Dairymen's Associa- tion, and is also trustee of the Universalist church, to which he belongs. In business circles he stands high, his upright, honora- ble course winning him the confidence of all with whom he comes in contact. In politics he is a Republican.
On the 23d of May, 1879, Mr. Newman was united in marriage to Miss Winna S. Balch, a most estimable lady, who is also a member of the same church. They have four children, namely: Balch William, Mary Emma, Lonise and Margaret.
Rev. William Stevens Balch, Mrs. New- man's father, was for many years one of the most prominent ministers of the Uni- versalist church in this country. He wa's born in Andover, Vermont, April 13, 1806, a son of Joel Balch, who was the oldest son of Hart Balch. Joel Balch was not a great man as the world counts greatness, but was one of the representative citizens of Vermont, being a man of simple ways, strong common sense and rugged, sterling character. Rev. W. S. Balch inherited the rare intellectual and moral gifts which so distinguished his ancestry; he was an ardent and practical
lover of all that was noble and good in man; was a hater of selfishness, greed, hypocrisy and pretence; and his influence was great and always on the side of right. He led a consistent, noble Christian life. At an early age he entered the ministry of the Universalist church, preaching in Vermont and New Hampshire in 1827 and 1829. The following year he married Adeline Gail Capron, and removed to Albany, New York. In 1830 became pastor of the church at Watertown, Massachusetts; in 1832, at Claremont, New Hampshire; and in 1836 at Providence, Rhode Island. In 1841 he took charge of the Bleeker Street church in New York City, preaching for the same congregation there for seventeen years, during which pastorate his wife died, and a few years later he married Mary Ann Waterhouse. On leaving that city it was his intention to retire altogether from the ministry and spend his remaining years at his rural home in Ludlow, Vermont, but in 1865 he came west, and was subsequently pastor of Universalist churches at Gales- burg, Illinois, Hinsdale, Elgin and Dubuque, Iowa, his pastorate at the last named ex- tending from 1877 until 1880. The last six years of his life were passed mostly at Elgin, where he died December 26, 1887, after sixty years of faithful work in the min- istry. In his death the Universalist church lost one of its oldest ministers, as well as one of its most devout and saintly charac- ters, and wherever known he was held in high regard, having the respect not only of his own congregation, but also the esteem of the entire community.
The children of Rev. W. S. Balch were as follows: Addie, wife of Sydney A. Miller, of Omaha, Nebraska; W. D., who was vice- president of a bank at Mason City, Iowa,
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'and died in 1897; Emma, widow of Linus Dickinson; Edward E., cashier of the Omaha National Bank at Omaha; Estelle, of New York; Elena, who died unmarried; John J., agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad at Mount Clair, Illinois, children of his first wife, and Winna S., wife of Joseph Newman, of this review; and George W., a civil engineer of Elgin, now at Moorhead, Mississippi, constructing a branch for the Illinois Central railroad; and Clarence, who died at New York, chil- dren by the second union.
A RTHUR L. GILLETT, who is engaged in the livery business on River street, Aurora, is a native of Kane county, born in Sugar Grove township September 27, 1857, and is the son of Lewis and Rachel (Harmes) Gillett, both of whom are natives of New York, the former born in Sullivan county, in 1821. By occupation he was a farmer and was engaged in agricultural pur- suits before moving west. About 1850 he came to Kane county, Illinois, and located. in Sugar Grove township, where he pur- chased a farm of two hundred acres, to which he added from time to time until he owned about one thousand acres in Kane and De Kalb counties, all of which was under cultivation. He was a very enter- prising and substantial farmer, and resided upon his original tract until his death, in 1888. · His wife survives him and resides in the village of Sugar Grove. Arthur L. Gil- lett was second in order of birth in a fam- ily of four children, of whom two are de- ceased. His sister, Rachel May, is now the wife of M. O. Shoop, of Kaneville, Illinois. In his native township he grew to manhood and in its common schools received his pri-
mary education, which was supplemented by a course in Jennings Seminary. He re- mained with his father on the farm until after attaining his majority, and in Kane county married Helen E. Ravlin in Novem- ber, 1878. After their marriage they re- sided on a farm in De Kalb county for five years, and then moved to Sugar Grove township. where he also engaged in farming for five years. Leaving the farm he re- moved to the village of Sugar Grove and engaged in the lumber and coal business, buying out a firm that had been some time established. After remaining there for five years he sold out and moved to Aurora, where he purchased a livery business, and has since been engaged in that line. Mr. Gillett lost his first wife, who died in Sugar Grove in 1890, leaving two daughters, Grace E. and Edith M., both students of the West Aurora High School. Mr. Gillett was again married in October, 1892, his second union being with Miss Della M. Todd, a native of Kane county, and a daughter of Eleazer and Emma Todd, her father being a business man of Aurora.
Politically Mr. Gillett is a Republican, the principles of which party were instilled in him in his youth. He was made an Odd Fellow in Sycamore, but is now a member of Wabansia lodge, No. 45, of Aurora. He is also a member of the Knights of the Globe and the Royal League 'of Aurora. Socially he is a member of the Aurora City Club. A lifelong resident of Kane county, save for the period of five years, which he spent on the farm in De Kalb county, he has been identified with its institutions and has witnessed its growth and prosperity until it is to-day one of the best counties in the great state of Illinois. A man of ex- emplary habits and upright character, he is
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held in the highest esteem, and with his wife holds a high social position in the city of Aurora.
A LFRED W. KELLY .- Among the pio- neer settlers of Kane county this gen- tleman is worthy of notice in a work of this kind. For fifty-three years he has been identified with its interests, having located here in the spring of 1845, and has con- tributed his share to its material progress and prosperity. He was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years, but is now practically living retired in St. Charles.
Like many of the best citizens of the county, Mr. Kelly is a native of the Em- pire state, born in Schenectady, March 17, 1828. His grandfather, William Kelly, was a native of Scotland, and at an early day came to the new world with his father, Robert Kelly, a pioneer settler of Albany, New York. John S. Kelly, our subject's father, was born in the city of Schenectady, in 1805, and was there married to Eliza Mansfield, who was born in New York, May 20, 1808. In his native city he engaged in the lumber business and also carried on operations as a contractor and builder. He took quite a prominent and active part in political affairs, and served for several terms asalderman of the city. Emigrating to Illi- nois in 1845, he purchased a tract of seven hundred acres of land in Rutland and Plato townships, Kane county, and to its improve- ment and cultivation devoted his energies with good results. Here he also became one of the leading and influential men of the county, served as justice of the peace for several years, and held other positions of honor and trust. In connection with his farming operations, he engaged in contract-
ing and building in Elgin, and built the old Baptist church at that place. He died in Rutland township, in 1892; his wife passed away in 1884, and both were laid to rest in Udina cemetery, where a substantial monu- ment marks their last resting place.
The subject of this sketch is the oldest of the children of this worthy couple, the others being as follows: Sarah is the wife of Stiles Mansfield, of New Haven, Con- necticut; Elizabeth is the wife of Owen Weld, of Elgin; Captain Leveret is married and resides in Washington, District of Co- lumbia, where he is serving as deputy com- missionerof pensions. He served through the Civil war as a member of Company A, Thir- ty-sixth Illinois Infantry, and from private rose to the rank of captain. After his mar- riage he first located in Rutland township, Kane county, and was afterward elected sheriff of the county, serving in that ca- pacity for two terms. He was one of the leading and popular men of his community. Dr. Lin A. Kelly is a prominent physician of Winona, Minnesota. The foregoing were all born in Schenectady, New York. John H., born in Rutland, Illinois, is a substan- tial farmer now living in Elgin. John and Marietta both died in infancy. Mary died after reaching womanhood and was buried in Elgin. Charles died at the age of twelve years.
While living in New York Alfred W. Kelly was provided with good educational privileges, having attended the Lyceum at Schenectady, and after coming to Illinois attended school to some extent. He was thus well fitted to engage in teaching. He assisted his father in opening up and devel- oping the home farm, and remained under the parental roof until he had attained man's estate.
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At Udina, Kane county, Mr. Kelly was married, April 2, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Pruden, Rev. C. R. French officiating. She was born in Romulus, Seneca county, New York, October 7, 1828, a daughter of John and Sarah (Ransom) Pruden, the former a native of Pennsylvania, but reared in New York, the latter a native of Rome, Oneida county, New York. In 1843 her parents came west and settled near the present city of Elgin, Mr. Pruden purchasing a tract of about six hundred acres four miles west of that place. He was a prominent and suc- cessful farmer and highly respected citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly have three childen : Sarah Eliza, wife of Frank W. Alexander, of St. Charles ; Emma Isabel, deceased wife of A. H. Perkins, of Genoa, Illinois, and Walter Scott, who married Nellie Gup- til, of Chicago, and located on a farm in Kane county, where he lived for three years, removing at the end of that time to Elgin, where he died, leaving a widow and four sons.
After his marriage Mr. Kelly located upon a partially improved farm in Plato township, Kane county, his residence being a log house, and for four years he made that place his home. He then removed to a place in Rutland township, compris- ing one hundred sixty-five acres, a small por- tion of which was under cultivation and a little frame house erected thereon. To its further improvement and cultivation he de- voted his energies until he had one of the best farms in the locality. His first home was replaced by a substantial and commo- dious residence, a good orchard was set out, and in fact, the place had all the conven- iences and accessories of a. model farm of the nineteenth century. On leaving the farm he came to St. Charles, where he
was employed in a store for eight years, and he subsequently had charge of a store at Pingree Grove, where he served as post- master for two years and a half. The fol- lowing five years were spent upon his farm, but since February, 1888, he has lived retired in St. Charles, enjoying a well-earned rest, free from the cares and responsibilities of business life.
The Republican party finds in Mr. Kelly a stanch supporter, and he has voted for all its presidential candidates since John C. Fremont with the exception of the year he supported Horace Greeley. Twice he was elected alderman of St. Charles, but after serving for three years he resigned. He also filled the offices of school director in Plato township and trustee in St. Charles and his work along this line has been very effective in securing better schools. As a public-spirited and progressive citizen, he has given his support to all measures for the public good, and his life has been such as to command the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact, either in public or private life.
S IDNEY B. HAWLEY, M. D., deceased, was born in Fairfax, Vermont, March 29, 1831; he was the son of Lyman and Melina (Wells) Hawley, both natives of the Green Mountain state. Lyman Hawley, the father, followed the occupation of a farmer and on the home farm our subject worked in his early youth and attended the district schools of the neighborhood. He was afterwards placed in the seminary at Brattleboro, where he completed his literary education. He later attended the medical college at Castleton, Vermont, graduating with honors in 1851, and receiving his de-
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gree of M. D. On the 8th of November, 1853, he married Mary A. Webster, a daughter of Alanson and Lucy (Reed) Web- ster, all residents of Fairfax, Franklin county, Vermont, and there the marriage ceremony took place. After his marriage he removed to the town of Jefferson, Ash- tabula county, Ohio, and commenced prac- ticing as physician and surgeon. Her father was of Welch descent, while her mother came of good New England stock. Alanson Webster was a second cousin to Noah Webster, the renowned lexicographer, and moved from Connecticut to Vermont at an early day. In his family were seven children-Alonzo, Jane, Buell, Ami, Fidelia, Clark and Mary A.
Dr. Hawley continued the practice of his profession very successfully in Ashtabula county, Ohio, for five years, when on the advice of friends he removed to Chicago, but remained there only two years. In the meantime he visited Aurora, and was favor- ably impressed with the beauties of the place, and seeing it to be much preferred to Chicago for rearing his young family, he de- cided to remove here, which he did, bring- ing with him his wife and three children as follows: Clark, born November 15, 1854, at Jefferson, Ohio; Idelia M., born March 9, 1856, also at Jefferson, Ohio; Burritt, born October 9, 1860, in Chicago. The lat- ter died in Aurora, November 26, 1883. After the removal of the family to Aurora two more were added, Alanson W., born December 14, 1865, and Arthur Lyman, born May 31, 1868.
On coming to Aurora Dr. Hawley opened an office at No. 45 River street, in 1860, where he practiced his profession until the war commenced. He then joined the army as assistant surgeon of the Thirty-sixth
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was com- missioned surgeon of the Thirty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and chief operator of the Third Division, Fourth Corps, of the Army of the Cumberland. He was present at the battles of Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Chickamauga, and during the latter engagement was taken prisoner and spent six weeks in Libby prison, where everything he possessed was confiscated. Being exchanged, he returned to his regi- ment and continued in the service three years, ministering to sick and wounded. While in the service he narrowly escaped injury, but was never wounded.
In 1864 Dr. Hawley returned to Aurora and resumed his practice in the same office he had formerly occupied, and carried on a very successful practice until his death, which occurred November 26, 1877, and his remains were interred at Rose Hill cem- etery. While caring nothing for office, he was prevailed upon to serve as alderman of the First ward for one term, and discharged the duties of the office in a conscientious manner. Fraternally, he was a member of the Aurora post, No. 20, G. A. R. . He was also a member of Trinity Episcopal church, in which he was vestryman for thir- teen years. Mrs. Hawley is also a member of the same church. During his life he built an elegant home at 227 Walnut street, where his widow still resides.
The father of Mrs. Hawley was for many years a prominent citizen of Lowell, Massachusetts, where he filled the office of justice of the peace and represented his town in the legislature. He and his wife lived together nearly sixty-five years, he dying in his ninety-fourth year and she when eighty-five years old.
The children of Mrs. Hawley now living
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are Clark, who is practicing his profession of oculist and optician at 70 State street, Chicago, and who married Edna Chitten- den, by whom he has two boys, Ralph and Webster. Idelia L. married James Hanna, by whom she has three children, Ruth, Phillip and Paul; they reside in Aurora. Alanson is unmarried and is a practicing physician at the state asylum at Kankakee, Illinois. Arthur, the youngest son, mar- ried Miss Olive McGrath, of Rochester, New York, and they now reside at Seattle, Washington.
M RS. CLARK WILDER, who resides at No. 463 North Lake street, has been a resident of Kane county since Octo- ber 20, 1837. She was born in New Lon- don county, Connecticut, at Old Lyme, October 17, 1810. Her father, Timothy Lord, who was a native of the same county and state, there married May Munsel. By trade he was a wheelwright, and followed that occupation until his death in 1812. Mrs. Lord later married William H. Harri- son, said to be a relative of President Har- rison. She died in February, 1826. Mrs. Wilder was the youngest and the only sur- vivor of three daughters by the first mar- riage. She grew to womanhood at Lyme, and then moved to New York, with a sister, and there gave her hand in marriage to Clark Wilder, the marriage ceremony tak- ing place February 17, 1833.
Clark Wilder was a native of New Hampshire, and when a lad of fourteen years, moved with his parents, Joel and Lydia (Newton) Wilder, to New York. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wilder began their domestic life on a farm in St. Lawrence county, New York, where they
remained about four years. They then came to Kane county, Illinois, by team and the lakes, coming through Canada into Michigan and after visiting a brother of Mr. Wilder at St. Joseph, Michigan, they came to Aurora, which then had but three frame houses and one log house on the west side. Mr. Wilder had visited this section in 1836, and purchased a claim of one hundred and sixty acres on the west side of the river, and forty acres of timber on the east side. There was a log house on the claim in which he moved with his family, and there they lived for eleven years. It was a very rudely constructed house and until repaired by Mr. Wilder, snakes would stick their heads through the open floor, and the roof was so that one could see the stars through the cracks. After residing there the time men- tioned, in 1848 Mr. Wilder built a large, substantial stone residence, where his widow and daughter now reside. He at once commenced the improvement of his place, and there resided until his death, August 5, 1870, at the age of sixty-nine years. Clark Wilder was a man of good education, was interested in the public schools and served as school commissioner for a time. He was a very active business man, progressive in his views, and on the organization of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, invested in its stock. In early life he was a Whig, and later a Re- publican.
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