The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 49

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

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Mrs. Pearce is a member of the Episco- pal.church, and, fraternally, Mr. Pearce is a member of Oswego lodge, No. 303, A. F. & A. M., of Oswego, Illinois. Politically, he is a Democrat. While not in the service him- self, his two brothers, Isaac and Calvin, took part in the late war, each serving three years. The latter went with Sherman to the sea. Isaac was a member of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, and was taken prisoner, and spent a short time in Andersonville. Both returned and are yet living.

PETER VAN DEUSEN, of Aurora, Illi- nois, though not numbered among the pioneers of Kane county, has been a resi- dent of Aurora for about a quarter of a cen- tury. He is a native of New York, born in the town of Livingston, Columbia county, July 8, 1812. His father, Robert Van Deusen, was a native of the same county and state, as was his grandfather, James Van Deusen. The family was among the pioneers of Columbia county and was origi- nally from Holland. Robert Van Deusen

grew to manhood in his native county, and married Barbara Sharp, born at Greenbush, near Albany, New York, of which place her father was an early settler. Robert Van Deusen was by occupation a farmer, and after remaining in New York for a few months after marriage, he moved to the town of Sheffield, Berkshire county, Massa- chusetts, where his death occurred some years later, and where his wife also died. Of their five sons and four daughters, all grew to mature years, married and became heads of families. Of this number our sub- ject and one sister are the only survivors. The sister, Sally, is now the wife of John Hillier, and resides in Sheffield, Berkshire county, Massachusetts.

Peter Van Deusen spent his boyhood and youth on the farm in Columbia county, and had but very limited educational ad- vantages, attending school during a few weeks only of the winter months. . In other seasons of the year, he had to work on the farm. After leaving the parental roof, he worked out as a farm hand for sev- eral years. He first married in Litchfield county, Connecticut, in 1840, Miss Har- riet Foster, a native of Connecticut. By this union were two sons: Ward, married and residing in Cherokee county, Iowa; and Frank, inarried and residing in Litchfield county, Connecticut.

After his marriage Mr. Van Deusen rented a farm in Litchfield county, Connect- icut, which he operated a few years, and then purchased the place on which he re- sided for several years. Selling that farm, he purchased the old homestead in Berk- shire county, Massachusetts, which was only two miles from his Connecticut farm. After operating that farm for a number of years, he sold out and came west. While residing

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in Massachusetts he lost his wife in 1862. Some six years later, in 1868, he married Miss Fannie Cleveland, a native of Massa- chusetts. The following year he located in Will county, Illinois, where he rented a farm some four or five years. He then moved to Aurora and was employed in va- rious enterprises for some years. Purchas- ing a lot soon after his arrival here, he built a neat and substantial residence at 224 Claim street, which is yet his home. '

In early life Mr. Van Deusen was a Whig, but since the organization of the Republican party he has been identified with it, and has been an earnest advocate of its princi- ples. While not a member of any church, Mr. and Mrs. Van Deusen attend the Con- gregational church. In the many years that have passed since coming to Kane county, they have made many warm friends, who esteem them for their worth as citizens, and who honor them for their upright character.

JAMES WRIGHT, a progressive fariner residing on section 35, Plato township, was born on the farm on which he now re- sides, March 5, 1859. He received limited schooling in the district school until his fourteenth year, attending three months each winter. His father died at that time, making it necessary for him to shift for him- self. He worked for a farmer during his fourteenth year, and attended the winter term of school. Until his eighteenth year he worked by the month for various farmers and then leased eighty acres from his moth- er, for a period of ten years. The first year his mother kept house for him, after which he kept " bach " for five years, ther. sold his four-years' leasehold to a brother.

The next six years he worked on farms again, saving his money, and one by one bought up the shares of his brothers and sisters in the farm, until he now owns the entire tract, consisting of one hundred and eighty acres of as fine farming land as lies in the Fox River valley. He bought the final share in 1884.

The house first built by his father on his first purchase, in the '30s, was burned some years ago, and our subject now resides in the old house that stood on the hundred- acre-tract, purchased by his father many years after his settlement in Plato township. In the spring of 1898 he built a fine large barn, thirty-eighty by eighty feet, with a high basement stable for the sheltering of his herd of half a hundred milch cattle, and his teams of fine horses. A breeder of fine, horses, Mr. Wright owns " Ben," a beauti- ful white horse, whose grandsire was the famous Percheron "Success," the first of his race to be brought to America. His dam was of Arabian blood, and "Ben" shows the finer qualities of each, and is so gentle a child can drive him. He has the beautiful outlines and finely arched neck of his Arabian sires. In 1899, Mr. Wright de- signs building a commodious residence to take the place of the one he now occupies, which, though old, is made comfortable and cosy on the inside by the hard of Mrs. Wright.

Like all thrifty farmers, Mr. Wright be- lieves in building first the barn to shelter the stock and store the grain, which will build the house later. His farm is well cultivated and is used for dairy purposes; all the products of the fields are fed upon the place, making it annually more fertile than . the previous year. When a youth of seven- teen, Mr. Wright worked with a threshing

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machine, and when eighteen purchased a half interest in a machine, and since that time has been engaged each summer and fall more or less in the threshing business. He early began those habits of thrift which have made him independent in middle life, not owing a dollar and able to pay cash for all he buys. When he first began life for himself he had occasionally to contract debts, but which spurred him on until paid. Independence is the fruit of his labor.

William Wright, the father of our sub- ject, was born in London, England, in 1813, and was the son of a small farmer who was not able to give his son an education. He had early to earn his own living, and when a mere child was employed at a few shillings per month, with board, to drive crows from the fields for the large farmers. While thus employed he was not given enough to eat; but he managed to earn enough to bring him to America, although his earnings were small, and it took a long time to secure the required amount. He reached New York in 1836, with only a shilling in his pocket. As soon as he could earn a small sum he came on to Kane county, and for three years worked at anything that came to his hands. He entered eighty acres on section 36, Plato township, later adding adjoining one hundred acres in section 35. At first he raised grain exclusively, but drifted into dairy farming and that became more profitable. He died in 1872, in his fifty-ninth year. In politics he was a Re- publican.

daughter of Levi and Harriet (Spencer) Seward. By this union ten children were born, eight of whom are now living: John, living near Plato Centre; William, living in Kansas; Mark, who resides in Nebraska; Sarah, wife of Harry Elmore, of Rockford, Ill- nois; James, our subject; Huldah, who makes her home with our subject; Jesse; Levi, liv- ing at Bafford, Kansas; Katherine, who died at the age of twenty-two, and Frank who died in infancy. The mother of these chil- dren died at the age of sixty-seven years.

James Wright, our subject, married, in Geneva, Illinois, December 8, 1885, Miss Har- riet Tucker, born in Campton township, Kane county, and a daughter of Charles and Clara (Andrew) Tucker, now residents of Plato township. By this union five children have been born, four of whom are now living: Meerll Elmer, born October 14, 1886; Ida May, born May 8, 1887 ; Lester Leroy, born April 8, 1894; and Orris L., born July 4, 1897. One child died in infancy.

Fraternally; Mr. Wright is a member of Wasco camp, No. 1701, M. W. A. In politics he is a thorough Republican.

JOHN KELLY is a prominent farmer residing on section 15, Hampshire township, where he is engaged with his brother, Timothy Kelly, Jr., in general and dairy farming. He was born on the farm where he now resides, October 14, 1865, and is the son of Timothy and Mary (Ryan) Kelly, both of whom were natives of Ireland.

After living a bachelor's life for five or Timothy Kelly, the father of our sub- ject, was born in County Tipperary, Ire- land, March 25, 1818, and came to America in 1840, taking passage on an old sailing vessel, and being shipwrecked. The voy- six years after coming to Kane county, Mr. Wright married Miss Sylvia Seward, a native of Binghamton, New York, who came to Kane county with her parents when a miss of twelve or thirteen years. She was the age lasted sixteen weeks, when he landed

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at New York, where he lived one year, working at his trade of blacksmith. On coming to Illinois, he secured a position of blacksmith for the stage line running be- tween Chicago and Galena, and was placed in charge of the shop at the stage station one mile west of the old village of Hamp- shire. He was the first blacksmith in the township. Besides the company's shoeing and repairing, he was allowed to do such other work as came to the shop. Having the only smithy in the neighborhood, he was seldom idle, and, by his thrifty habits, prospered. Soon he began buying land, his first purchase being about 1845, when he secured a portion of the tract which now comprises the homestead, to which he added until it now comprises two hundred and forty acres of as fine land as is to be found

John Kelly, our subject, was reared on the farm, and received his education in the schools of Hampshire village, which he at- tended until the age of sixteen years. He remained on the farm with his father until his death, since which time, in partnership with his brother Timothy, he has been en- gaged in its cultivation. They keep it un- der a high state of cultivation, and have upon the place about fifty head of cows, the product of which they ship to Chicago. in the Prairie state. He built the house and . In politics he is a Democrat, and, religiously, barns, and began the tiling of the land, to .- a member of the Catholic church at Hamp- which his sons have added until they have shire. He married Maggie Manning, born more than one thousand rods of tiling. In addition to his farm, Mr. Kelly purchased one of one hundred and forty-five acres, which he gave to his son James, who occu- pies the same.

In 1848, in Du Page county, Illinois, Timothy Kelly married Mary Ryan, a daugh- ter of Timothy and Ellen (Eagan) Ryan, who emigrated to the states in the early '40s. By this union ten children were born, as follows: Michael, a blacksmith residing in Hampshire; Ellen, wife of Michael Burns, an account of whom appears elsewhere in this work; James, living in the village of Hampshire; Julia, wife of Lawrence Somers, of Hampshire; Maggie, Mary and Bridget, who died quite young; John, our subject; Timothy, Jr., in partnership with our sub- ject on the farm; and one who died in infancy.

After the building of the railroad and the discontinuing of the stage line, Mr. Kelly erected a forge on the farm, and con- tinued his trade, until his farming interests were such as to demand his whole attention. After a long and useful life, Mr. Kelly died June 23, 1889. Religiously he was a Cath- olic, and in politics a Democrat.

in Boston, and a daughter of. Phillip and Ellen (Hawes) Manning, both of whom were born in County Tipperary, Ireland, and both living in Rutland township, Kane county, in good health.

H TIRAM T. HARDY, M. D., has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession at Kaneville, Illinois, for a quar- ter of a century. He is a native of New Hampshire, born at North Groton, Grafton county, March 12, 1838. The family are of English descent, and early settlers of New England. David Hardy, the grand- father, was a native of New Hampshire, as was also his son, Luther Hardy, the father of our subject. The latter grew to man- hood in Grafton county, and there married Lucy Tenney, also a native of the Granite

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

H. T. HARDY, M. D.

MRS. H. T. HARDY.

LIBRARY

Of THE

. TY OF ILLINOIS.

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state, and a daughter of Benjamin and remained until his discharge, June 15, Betsy (Taylor) Tenney, the latter being a 1865. daughter of Jacob Taylor, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Luther Hardy was a substantial farmer of Grafton county, where he reared his family, and there spent his entire life, dying, however, while on a visit to Boston, Masachussetts, March 27, 1872. His wife passed away August 20, 1871.

The subject of this sketch spent his boy- hood and youth upon the home farm, and in the common schools received his primary education, completing his literary course at the Thetford, Vermont, Academy. After leaving school, he was engaged in teaching for about two years, during which time he began the study of medicine, under the instruction of Dr. E. C. Worcester, and took his first course of lectures at Dartmouth College. In the spring of 1862, he enlisted in the Seventh Squadron, Rhode Island Cavalry, for three-months' service. They were sent to the front, and did duty in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, principally in scouting and picket duty. He was dis- charged at the expiration of his term of enlistment, returned home, and resumed the study of medicine. His services, however, were needed in the field, and, in the fall of 1863, he again enlisted, this time joining the Third Vermont Battery, and with this bat- tery he was assigned to the Army of the Potomac, participating with it in many engagements, among which was the battle of the Wilderness, numerous engagements around Petersburg and Richmond, and in fact all along the line. Early in 1865 they broke camp, and started after Lee, and our subject was present at Appomattox Courthouse, when General Lee surrendered. After the surrender he was detailed to hos- pital duty, at Farmville, Virginia, and there

After receiving his discharge, Mr. Hardy returned home, and again took up the study of medicine. In the fall of 1865 he re- turned to Dartmouth College, and grad- uated from that noted institution of learning in the class of 1866, receiving his degree of M. D. Soon after graduating, he located at Strafford, Vermont, and began the prac- tice of his profession, remaining there about five years, and building up a good practice.

While residing at Strafford, Dr. Hardy was united in marriage, March 12, 1868, with Miss Sophia E. Buzzell, a native of Vermont, born and reared at Strafford, and in its' 'schools, and at Flushing, Long Island, receiving her education. She is the daughter of John D. and Wealthy A. (Smith) Buzzell, both natives of Vermont. Dr. and Mrs. Hardy have two children living, Ralph H. and Adra Genevieve. The for- mer is inarried, and is engaged in business in Kaneville. The latter is a student of the Kaneville school, and has developed fine musical talent. One daughter, Mabel Le Rue, died in 1877, at the age of four and a half years.

In the spring of 1871, Dr. Hardy came to Illinois and located at Elgin, where the parents of Mrs. Hardy had previously set- tled. During the summer following, Dr. Hardy engaged in the practice of his pro- fession at Elgin, but in the fall of that year moved to Dorchester, Saline county, Ne- braska, but only remained there during the winter, returning to Elgin in the spring of 1872, and there engaging in practice about . eighteen months, and, in the fall of 1873, removing to and making a permanent lo- cation at Kaneville. Here he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his

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profession, a period of twenty-five years. His practice is a large one, extending for many miles around. His success as a physi- cian has been such as to commend him to the entire community. He is a member of the Fox River Valley Medical Association, the Chicago Medical Association, the Illinois State Medical Association and the American Medical Association, in each of which he has been soinewhat active, preparing various papers, and taking part in the discussions. He keeps fully abreast of the times and well posted in all the medical discoveries, and while, naturally conservative, does not hesitate to adopt that which accords with his judgment.

The father of Mrs. Hardy, John D. Buz- zell, came west with his family in 1870, lo- cating in Elgin, Illinois, where he lived a retired life, and there spent his last years, dying in 1874. After his death, Mrs. Buz- zell moved to Kaneville, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Hardy, where her death occurred in 1881. They were both highly honored and respected people.

Politically Dr. Hardy is a stanch Re- publican, and in 1860, cast his first presi- dential ballot for Abraham Lincoln. From that time to the present, he has advocated the men and measures of that party, and has cast his vote for each of its presidential candidates. A friend of education and the "public schools, he has served several years as a member of the school board of Kane- ville, and is at present one of the board. Religiously the Doctor and wife are mem- bers of the Congregational church at Elgin, and attend the Methodist Episcopal church at Kaneville, and for eleven years the Doctor served as superintendent of its Sun- day-school, and was also leader of the choir, while Mrs. Hardy was organist for bers of the Baptist church of St. Charles,

some years. Their son, Ralph H., is now leader of the choir of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Fraternally the Doctor is a Master Mason, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the exam- ining physician for the camp at Kaneville. He is also a member of the Aurora post, Grand Army of the Republic. Few men are better known in Kane county, and none more highly honored than the subject of this sketch.

D ANIEL J. FELLOWS, one of the en- terprising and progressive business men of St. Charles, dates his residence in Kane county from November, 1839, and is there justly numbered among its pioneers as well as its representative · and prominent citizens. The Fellows family is of English origin and was founded in the United States at a very early day, its representatives lo- cating in New York, of which state our sub- ject's grandfather was a native.

His father, Stephen Fellows, was also born in New York, and when a child of five years lost his father. In Genesee county, that state, he grew to manhood and mar- ried Sabra Stephens, who was born in New York, of German lineage. In 1835 they removed to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, where our subject was born March 16, 1836, but after a residence there of one year they re- turned to New York. In November, 1839, however, they came to Kane county, Illi- nois, where the father purchased a claim of three hundred acres. He later entered the land and converted it into a fine farm, con- tinuing to make it his home until called to his final rest in 1875, at the age of eighty- one years. He was one of the charter mem-

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which he helped to organize, and always took an active and prominent part in all church work. His wife survived him for five years, and they now lie side by side in the Garfield cemetery near the old home- stead.

To this worthy couple were born five sons and seven daughters, of whom three years. On the 3d of June, 1874, he started sons and six daughters are still living. Lu- cinda was the wife of Joseph Allard, a resi- dent of Iowa. Hiram has been a resident of Oregon since 1847, having driven across the plains with two yoke of oxen and being six months en route. Darius died in Utah. Mary, deceased, was the wife of Martin Johnson, of Janesville, Wisconsin. Laura is the widow of A. L. Wheeler and is a res- ident of St. Charles. Alexander is de- ceased. Daniel J. is next in order of birth. Stephen A. lives in Ogle county; Illinois. Caroline is the wife of John M. Kendall, of Vandalia, Illinois. Lydia is the wife of James Earnshaw, of Olwein, Iowa. Sarah is the wife of H. M. Wing, of Olwein, Iowa. Jerome Lawrence also makes his home in the same town in Iowa.

Daniel J. Fellows was only a child of three years when brought by his parents to this state, and upon the old homestead in Kane county he grew to manhood, attend- ing the local schools and aiding in the work of clearing and developing the home farm).

After reaching man's estate he rented a farın and began life for himself. In this county he was married in March, 1858, to Miss Serepta Madison, a native of New York State, and a daughter of Dyer Madi- son, another pioneer of Kane county, who brought his family here when Mrs. Fellows was a child of twelve years. .

After his marriage, Mr. Fellows contin- ued to engage in agricultural pursuits until

1865. when he rented his farm, and since November of that year has lived at his pres- ent home in St. Charles. For about five years he engaged in pressing hay and hand- ling stock and grain, and, later, in connection with the stock business, he was interested in general merchandising for about three

for California with three car loads of sheep, which he disposed of in San Francisco, the venture proving quite profitable, and the money derived therefrom he invested in half a block on Forty-eighth street, Chicago. After four months spent upon the Pacific slope he returned to St. Charles, and again engaged in the stock and grain business un- til 1887. That year he and his family went to California by way of the Southern Pacific railroad, and from the southern part of that state proceeded to San Francisco, and, later, to Oregon, visiting his brother, who had left his old home in Kane county just forty years before. This pleasant trip occupied five months. Since his return, Mr. Fellows has given his attention principally to the real-estate business, handling Chicago and farm property.

Our subject's first wife died November 11, 1870, leaving three children. Sabra Ellen married Fred Moore and removed to .Kansas, where she died, leaving three chil- dren. Elmer, who is now interested in the stock and grain business in St. Charles, is married and has six children. Harry, also of St. Charles, is married and has three children. In Marengo, Illinois, December 25, 1872, Mr. Fellows married Helen M. Beam, a native of Kane county, and a daughter of James Beam, an early settler and pioneer teacher of this region. This wife died March 5, 1889. Two children blessed this union: Willis Daniel, a resi-

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dent of St. Charles; and Bessie L., a graduate of the East Side High School, now living at hoine. On the 25th of September, 1889, in St. Charles, Mr. Fellows was united in marriage with Eliza H. Dailey, who was born, reared and educated in Nova Scotia, and is a daughter of James S. Dailey, also a native of Nova Scotia. By the last mar- riage there are three children, namely: Howard M., Stephen L. and Laura Elva.

Mr. Fellows cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and was an ardent supporter of the Republican party for many years, but for the past eight years he has been identified with the Pro- hibition party. He has never cared for political honors, preferring to give his entire time and attention to his business interests. Earnest and consistent Christian people, he ana his wife are faithful members of the Baptist church, with which he has long been officially connected, and is now serv- ing as deacon. Almost his entire life has been passed in Kane county, and that those who know him best are numbered among his warmest friends testifies to a well-spent life and honorable career.

JACOB D. RICKERT, the well-known engineer at the Elgin Watch Factory, of 'Elgin, Illinois, and one of the honored early settlers of that place, is a native of Pennsylvania, born May 25, 1838, in Schuyl- kill county, of which his parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Diebert) Rickert, were also natives. Both were of German descent and were representatives of old Pennsylvania families. Joseph Rickert, who was a farm- er by occupation, brought his family to Illi- nois about 1848, and first located in Gene- va, Kane county, where he worked at his

chosen calling for about six years. He then removed to Elmhurst, Du Page county, twelve years later went to Bloomingdale, Illinois, and, after fifteen years spent at that place, removed to Wheaton, where he lived for three years, at the end of which time he located in Naperville, all in Du Page county. At the last nained place he died in 1878, and his wife passed away at the home of her son, Daniel, in Aurora, in 1889. They were earnest members of the German Evan- gelical church, and in politics the father was first a Whig and later a Republican. In the family of this worthy couple were seven children, four of whom are still liv- ing, namely: Esther, the wife of Samuel Kline; Sarah, wife of Walter L. Good; Dan- iel, a resident of Aurora; and Jacob D., of this sketch.

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The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 49

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