USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 48
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Dr. Joseph Tefft was twice married, his first union being with Miss Emeline Gilbert, by whom he had one child, Julia, now de- ceased. For his second wife he married Mrs. Lavina (Johnson) Ormsby, a native of Putney, Vermont, born August 25, 1815. By this union there was one child, Leslie E. She died in Elgin, January 22, 1897.
Dr. Joseph Tefft was the first mayor of Elgin, and served in all five terms. He was president of the Elgin Academy from its in- ception until his death, which occurred August 26, 1888. He was also president of the Scientific Society, and was a man high- ly honored and respected by all, and his
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death was sincerely felt in the community for which he did so much, and where he so long resided.
J
AMES W. BATTLE, ex-mayor of Au- rora, was born in the town of Gill, Franklin county, Massachusetts, October 5, 1831. His father, Ichabod D. Battle, and his mother, Miranda S. (Moore) Battle, were both natives of Orange, Massachusetts. By trade the father was a wheel-wright and wagonmaker, which occupation he followed during his entire life. His death occurred at the age of eighty-seven years, and he was a remarkably well preserved man until the end, running a sawmill at the age of eighty- three years. His wife died at the age of fifty-seven years. They were the par- ents of eight children, of whom four are still living, as follows: Jane I., widow of Hetsel Purple, resides in Greenfield, Mass- achusetts, but spends most of her time with her children; James W., our subject; Edwin P., formerly an engineer on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, now resides in Chicago; Charles S., living in Aurora.
The subject of this sketch was reared in town and country, and attended school in the country until about sixteen years of age, when he secured employment on a farm, at five dollars per month, during the summer. He then went to work in a pail factory, where he remained a year or two, going from there to Athol, Massachusetts, where he was employed in a hotel. From Athol he went to Phillipston and worked at splitting palm leaf, for making hats. He continued there one season, but there was too much brimstone in the business, and so he secured work in the chair factory. After being employed there a short time, he went
to Cape Cod and drove a peddler's wagon, but soon returned to Winchester, New Hampshire, where he engaged in the same business. From there he went to Cleve- land, Ohio, and later to Norwalk, in the same state, and in 1853, commenced firing on a railway locomotive, remaining there fourteen months. On account of cholera he went east and was married November 4, 1854, to Miss Cordelia Lobdell, a native of Monroeville, Ohio, by whom he had one child, Emma C., wife of Frank Griffith, now residing in Racine, Wisconsin, by whom she has three children, Jamie, Frank and Sadie. In 1856 Mrs. Cordelia Battle was called to her final rest.
The second marriage of Mr. Battle oc- curred September 7, 1859, when he was united with Miss Isabella Gilbert, daughter of Lyman and Emily Gilbert, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. Her father was born in 1796, and died November 4, 1849; her mother died May 7, 1881, at the age of seventy-six years; they were members of the Universalist church. In their family were seven children: George, born in 1824, died June 4, 1863; Foster, born February 19, 1825, died April 5, 1842; Cephas, born October 13, 1827, moved to South Carolina, in early manhood, where his death occurred in June, 1894; Lyman, born August 10, 1829, died May 1, 1856; Isabella, born Oc- tober 25, 1833, is the wife of our subject; Emily, born June 12, 1838, died May 19, 1857; and Foster, the second, born March 18, 1846, died July 27, 1889.
In 1855, our subject came west with his wife, and located in Michigan City, Indiana, and for seven months was with the New Albany & Salem railroad as fireman, and then secured a position as engineer on the Michigan Central railroad. With that road
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he continued until 1859, when he went to the Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad, but did not long remain with it, resigning on account of ill health. He went to Massachusetts to regain his health, and was under the doctor's care for some time, and then engaged in farming. In the spring of 1860, he bought out a store, at Northfield Farms, Massachu- setts, and was in the inercantile business until 1862, when he sold out and returned west to Aurora, taking an engine on the Burlington road. He continued in that serv- ice, until the day Lincoln was assassinated. From Aurora he went to Janesville, Wiscon- sin, and for four years ran an engine on the . Wisconsin division of the Chicago & North- western railroad. He then opened a hotel in Chicago, the Clarenden, on the corner of Clark and Ontario streets, but only remained there six months, when he sold out and re- turned to the Burlington railroad at Aurora, and ran an engine for six years. He next engaged in the grocery business in Aurora, with Robert Pierpont, and was with him six years.
On the introduction of the street rail- way in Aurora, he was made superintend- ent, and continued to be thus employed until his appointment as superintendent of the water work's in 1886. He held that po- sition three years, and then went into the lumber business, as the senior member of the firm of Battle & Glover. After five months they sold the business to the street railway company. In 1878, Mr. Battle was elected alderman, and was re-elected until 1882, when he was nominated and elected mayor of the city, serving one term. In 1892, he was again elected alderman of his ward, and served two years. He was in the council when the city changed its lighting from gas to electric light, being the first city in the
country to establish that system. Repre- sentatives from various cities in almost every state in the union came here to see the plant.
In 1894, Mr. Battle was again elected mayor, but was counted out. He contested the election, and was declared elected by the county court. An appeal was taken to the supreme court, by the other party, and that court confirmed the decision of the county court. He was then given the office, but had only six weeks to serve. Since that time he has been in private life, giving his attention to other interests until in April, 1898, he was elected supervisor of Aurora township without opposition. He is now one of the directors of the Silver Plate Manufacturing Company, a stockholder in the cotton factory of Aurora, and has been connected with various other manufactures of the city, of late years. Mr. Battle was made a Master Mason in Harmony lodge, at Northfield, Massachusetts, in 1863, and is a member of the Jerusalem Temple at Aurora. For many years he was a member of the Railway Locomotive Engineers. In politics he is an ardent Republican. He has never asked for an office for himself, and it has been with him, that the office sought the man, and not the man the office. In all official acts he strives to do his duty, regardless of popular feeling.
JOHN W. LINDEN, who represents the Seventh ward as a member of the board of aldermen in the city of Aurora, was born in the Grand Duchy of Luxemberg, Janu- ary 27, 1859, and is the son of Peter and Mary Ann (Flammang) Linden, both of whom were natives of the same country. In his native land Peter Linden followed
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the trade of wagon maker, but on coming to this country in 1861 engaged in farming, which occupation he followed until his death, January 26, 1883, at the age of sixty-seven years. He was one of the first settlers in what is known as the "big woods." He was a member of the St. Nicholas Roman Catholic church, as was also his wife, who died January 4, 1898, at the age of seventy- four years. Of their family of five chil- dren, John is the city inspector of sewers; Henry engaged in the saloon business in Au- rora; Susan, wife of Nicholas Linster, of Aurora, an employe of the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad Company in the shops at Aurora; Maggie, wife of Peter Wagner, an electric lineman of Aurora, and John W., our subject.
John W. Linden was educated in the country schools and also-in . the parochial schools of Aurora. For fifteen years he · was an employe of the woolen mills at Au- rora, in the carding and spinning depart- .ments. After leaving the mill he engaged in the wholesale and retail liquor business, as agent for the Pabst Company of Mil- waukee.
Mr. Linden was married in October, 1885, to Miss Catherine Winkle, daughter of Jacob Winkle, one of the first German settlers in this section, coming here in the forties. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Linden are members of the Roman Catholic church. He takes great interest in politics, and is an ardent believer in the restoration of silver. He is the present chairman of the Demo- cratic senatorial committee, of Kane and Du Page counties, and has held that posi- tion for the past six years. He has been a delegate to the various state conventions of his party, and was a delegate to the first sil- ver convention held in this state. Few men
are better posted in political issues, espe- cially on living questions. In 1891 he was elected alderman from his ward, and has since held the office by re-election. That he has made a good officer is attested by his continuous service. As a citizen he is alive to all the best interests of Aurora.
REV. JONATHAN C. STOUGHTON, a superannuated minister of the Rock River conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, residing at No. 70 South Lincoln av- enue, Aurora, Illinois, was born in Ashta- bula county, Ohio, November 3, 1820, and is the son of Henry and Almira (Clapp) Stoughton, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. The father moved from Con- necticut to Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1812, when a young man, and was there married. 'His life occupation was that of a farmer, and his death occurred in Windsor town- ship, Ashtabula county, in 1876, when in his eighty-sixth year. He was a member of the Congregational church, while living in Connecticut, but, after coming to Ohio, did not unite with any church, as there were no churches of that denomination there at that time. He was well and favorably known in the county, which was so long his home. His wife, who was a devout mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, died in 1844. Of their seven children, four are still living: Mary, wife of Mr. Gould, re- siding in Ashtabula county, Ohio; Sarah, also a resident of that county; and Henry E., of Cambridge, Illinois, which has been his home for many years.
Jonathan C. Stoughton, who was the eldest of the seven children born to his parents, remained on the home farm until in his eighteenth year, when he came to Illi-
LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
REV. J. C. STOUGHTON.
MRS. J. C. STOUGHTON.
LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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nois, and worked on a farm in Trivola town- ship, Peoria county, for one hundred dol- lars per year, remaining there for three years. He then entered Knox College, at Galesburg, from which he graduated in 1846. During vacations he taught school, and worked in the harvest fields, that he might secure the means to continue his studies.
At an early age he was converted, and united with the Methodist Episcopal church. From the time of his conversion, he felt the desire to enter the ministry. In 1846, he joined the Rock River conference, with which he has since held official connection. In 1854, after having served at various places, he came to Aurora, and took charge of the Methodist Episcopal church at this place. Two years later, by appointment from the conference, he built the Jennings Seminary. In 1858, he went to Freeport, where he continued until 1860. He was elected a delegate from the Rock River conference to the general conference, held at Buffalo, New York, in 1860. He then went to Champaign, Illinois, and there erected a building, and started the Cham- paign and Urbana Seminary. A few years later, when the Illinois legislature had passed an act for the creation of a State University, the building and grounds of the seminary were offered the state, as an in- ducement to locate the university there. Had it not been for this generous offer, it is inore than probable the university would have been established elsewhere.
During the summer of 1861 and that of 1862 he was in the recruiting service, and was instrumental in securing many volun- teers. In the fall of 1862, Mr; Stoughton offered his services as a private, and with the command went to Camp Douglas, where
he was commissioned by Governor Yates as a captain of cavalry, but never served in that capacity. He was later commissioned chaplain of the One Hundred and Twenty- seventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infan- try. He was sent south to Memphis, and was with Sherman when after Price in Ten- nessee, and on the Tallahatchie river. He also took part in the siege of Vicksburg. He stood the service fairly well, but took sick on the Yazoo, in the fall of 1863, and was compelled to leave the service. He personally knew Grant, Sherman, and many of the leading officers of the Western arıny.
Returning home, he shortly after was assigned to . Grace Methodist Episcopal church, Chicago, where he remained one year, returning to Champaign, and com- pleting the institution, which had been abandoned thus far during the war. At this time he was not engaged in pastoral work, but was appointed by the conference as a general agent, and lectured much on tem- perance. In 1864, he started and edited a temperance paper, which was wiped out by the fire in Chicago, in 1871. As a lecturer on temperance, he attained great celebrity, and his services were in great demand. After traveling in Europe for a time, he re- turned and again took up the regular work of the ministery. After serving the Galena street church, Aurora-followed with Rock Falls, Rochelle and Wyanet-he then went to New Mexico, in charge of the English mission, at old Santa Fe. Later he was sent to Chicago as pastor of the Asbury, and later to the Winter street church, the State street church and the Fifty-fourth street church. After leaving Chicago, he served three years at Sugar Grove, Kane county, Illinois, when he came to Aurora, where he has since continued to reside. He
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is now retired, after having served the church fifty years in the active work of the ministry, though not always as a pastor.
Mr. Stoughton has always taken an in- terest in political affairs, believing it to be the duty of a minister, as well as a layman, to exercise all the rights of citizenship. In 1870, he ran as an independent candidate for congress, against General Farnsworth, who two years previously had been elected by fifteen thousand majority. Notwith- standing the large majority to overcome, Mr. Stoughton made a vigorous canvass. For a few days after the election, the Chi- cago papers had reported he was elected, but the back townships counted him out.
On the 9th of January, 1847, Dr. Stoughton was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Cheritre, a native of New York state. By this union there were three children, a son and two daughters. The son, Lorenzo T., was drowned in Fox river, at Montgomery, in 1864. With another boy he was in a skiff, floating down the river, and not observing the dam, was carried over and drowned. Of the daughters, Ethel is now the wife of Rev. W. K. Beans, of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Spokane Falls, by whom she has one son, Lorenzo W., student in the medical department, of the Northwestern University, class of '99. Estella, now the wife of Justice Ament, of Chicago. The wife and mother died, August 24, 1880, at the age of fifty-six years. She was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and a very active worker in the same. September 1, 1881, Dr. Stoughton was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary J. Leet, of Bradford, Illinois, and a daughter of Will- iam and Helen Leet. See sketch elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Stoughton is a woman'
of superior business ability, and is a very successful worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which she has been a member for many years.
Since 1847, Dr. Stoughton has been a member of the Sons of Temperance, and for many years was grand worthy patriarch of the order. Through his instrumentality, many persons have been saved from the curse of drink, and started in the way of righteousness. In 1852, he was made a Royal Arch Mason. While residing in New Mexico, he was a member of the G. A. R., but has not affiliated with the order to any great extent since his return to Illinois. While for many years a strong Republican, in 1872 he supported Horace Greeley for president, making many speeches in his be- half in Indiana and Illinois. For some years he has been an active worker in the Prohibition party.
JOSEPH MOULTON FISH, who is re- siding in the city of Aurora, is a native of the town of Danby, Rutland county, Ver- mont, born May 27, 1816. Hisfather, John Fish, was also a native of that state, while his grandfather, Elisha Fish, was born in Rhode Island, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and also in the war of 1812. He was a pioneer settler of Rutland county, Vermont. The family are of En- glish origin, the great grandfather of our subject, coming from England and locating in Rhode Island. John Fish grew to man- hood in his native state, and there married Abigail Moulton, a daughter of Joseph Moulton, who was a native of Massachu- setts and a 'pioneer of Vermont. By occu- pation John Fish was a farmer, and during the war of 1812 served as a non-commis-
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sioned officer. His wife died in Vermont, and he later moved to Illinois, and resided with his son Joseph, his death occurring at Lockport, Illinois, in April, 1863.
Mr. Fish was married in Rutland county, The subject of this sketch is the oldest son of John and Abigail Fish, and fifth in order of birth of a family of eight sons and four daughters, eight of whom grew to ma- ture years, married, reared families, and Vermont, in 1846, to Miss Martha B. Smith, a native of that county, and a daughter of Asa Smith. After a happy married life of fifty-three years, Mrs. Fish was called to . her final rest, May 7, 1897, and her remains are all, except subject, now deceased. In were interred in Spring Lake cemetery. his native state he grew to manhood, and . Religiously, she was reared in the Quaker faith. Mr. Fish, though not a member, is an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church, but like his wife was reared a Quaker. While not having any children of their own, they reared and educated three children.
there received limited school privileges, but made the best use of every advantage for obtaining an education. His youth was spent in almost every kind of employment, and he received a thorough practical busi- iness training. In addition to mercantile training he was for a time employed in the machine shops at Danby, Rutland county, Vermont. After he had reached his major- · ity he commenced business for himself, starting a blacksmith shop, in which he em- ployed several men. He continued in that business for five years, and was then for seven years engaged in the wholesale mar- ble business, quarrying and manufacturing. Selling out, he removed to Buffalo, New York, and engaged in the manufacture of lumber on Buffalo creek, where he erected a mill, and had charge of a very extensive business, purchasing all the material, selling all the lumber, and employing all the men.
In the spring of 1859, Mr. Fish sold his interest in Buffalo, came to Illinois, and lo- cated at Lockport, Will county, and there engaged in the real estate and livery busi- ness, and for four years served as deputy sheriff of Will county. In 1865, he moved to Aurora, where he engaged in farming and the real estate business, continuing in that line for several years, during which time he was the owner of several improved farms in
Kane county, and also much city property, and now owns considerable improved res- idence property.
Politically, Mr. Fish was an Old-line Whig, but became a Republican on the or- ganization of that party, and has been iden- tified with it to the present time. He was elected and served eight years as a member of the board of aldermen, during which time he served on some important commit- tee, was chairman of the courthouse, public buildings, and public grounds, was also chairman of the judiciary committee for several years, and a member of the finance. For nine consecutive years he served as jus- tice of the peace, when he resigned the office. He served four years as deputy sheriff in Kane county, also served for nine years on board of town auditors. He has served as a delegate to county, congressional and state conventions, where he has exerted considerable influence. In whatever posi- tion called upon to fill he made an efficient officer.
For a third of a century, Mr. Fish has been a resident of Aurora, and in that time has made many warm friends, who esteem him for his worth as a man, and who recog-
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nize his ability in every public or private nois; Rebecca, wife of W. H. Chappell, of capacity. Commencing life in limited cir- cumstances, by his industry, economy, and business ability, he has become one of the prosperous citizens of Kane county, well- known throughout its length and breadth.
EZEKIEL PEARCE, a retired farmer, living at 326 South La Salle street, Aurora, is a pioneer of northern Illinois. He was born in Logan county, Ohio, August 6, 1827, and is the son of Daniel and Sarah (Titsworth) Pearce, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Ohio. The fa- ther was by occupation a farmer, and, in 1832, came to Illinois, and located a claim in Kendall county, to which he removed his family in 1833, at which time they did not know of a white man north of them. They settled near what is now the town of Os- wego, and there was only two families be- tween them and Chicago. The family of a Mr. Walker was the only one residing be- tween Oswego and Joliet.
Daniel Pearce served twelve days in the war of 1812, when he was called back on account of the cessation of hostilities. He was married three times, and was the father of fourteen children, nine of whom were by his last wife, the mother of our subject. : Of these nine, all are living but two. They were Lemuel, who went to California in 1850, in company with our subject, and, after their arrival, left him and went south * mouth county, Iowa.
with a friend, to engage in farming was never afterward heard from; Ezekiel, our subject; Joseph, a farmer residing in Kos- suth county, Iowa; Elizabeth, who married J. B. Stafford, and is now deceased; Daniel, who resides on a cotton plantation, in Mis- sissippi; James, living near Oswego, Illi-
St. Joseph, Missouri; Isaac, who is in the grain business in Dakota; and Calvin, on the homestead, near Oswego. The father died in 1878, when eighty-nine years old, and the mother in 1874, when seventy-five yearsold. They were members of the Meth- odist church at Oswego.
The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm, and agricultural pursuits have . been his life work. At the age of twenty- two years he began life for himself, working a farm on shares. In 1850, he went to California, by the overland route, in con- pany with his brother, Lemuel. They left Oswego, Illinois, March 11, 1850, and reached Placerville, commonly known as Hangtown, on the 14th of July, following. They started in a company of one hundred and fifty persons, but dissensions arose, and there were but few of the number together, on their arrival in California. They passed through Salt Lake City, and there spent eight days, resting and viewing the sights. On account of ill health, he was compelled to return home much before the time ex- pected. On his return he resumed farming, and in 1860, made his first purchase of land in Kendall county, consisting of about thir- ty-five acres. As his means increased, he made additions to his farm, until he had two hundred and seventy-six acres, which is yet in his possession, and which he farmed for many years. He also has land in Ply-
In 1852, Mr. Pearce was united in mar- riage with Miss Sarah A. Brownell, a daugh- ter of David Brownell, of Kendall county. By this union were six children: Sarah E., now the wife of J. S. Hoyt, a farmer of Plymouth county, Iowa, by whom she has one child, Harry; Nora, wife of Thomas
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Goudie, by whom she has three children, Daniel, James and Margaret, also resides in Plymouth county, Iowa; Frank D., who married Miss Loucks, bywhom he has five children, Roy, Nathan, Ezekiel, Lida and Edith, is a farmer residing in Oswego town- ship, Kendall county; Fred K., who mar- ried Miss F. Gibbons, by whom he has two children, Arthur and Georgia, resides on the old homestead in Kendall county. Two others died in early childhood. The mother of these children died in 1883, at the age of fifty-seven years. Mr. Pearce's second marriage was in March, 1888, to to Mrs. Stafford, nee Ferris, and widow of Joseph Stafford.
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