USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 57
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F. L. YOUNG.
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THEINNIS.
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married and is engaged in farming in Kane- one of its directors for some fifteen years. ville township. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Young married her sister, Mrs. Ann Annis, nee Patterson, the widow of Eli Ånnis, by whom she has one daughter, Lou, wife of Charles D. Ames, of Kaneville town- ship.
Politically, Mr. Young was a Whig in early life, casting his first presidential ballot for Zachary Taylor. Being a believer in the freedom of all men, and that no man had a right to hold his fellow men in bond- age, he naturally affiliated with the Repub- lican party on its organization, and has since continued to be an advocate of its principles. He has taken quite an active
Fraternally, he is a Mason, and was for- merly quite active in the lodge at Kaneville, continuing his active membership in it until it ceased to exist, after its lodgeroom was destroyed by fire. For more than half a century his face has been a familiar one to the citizens of Kane county. He is well known throughout its length and breadth, and his friends are many in every part of the county.
S AMUEL H. LEE, one of the leading and substantial citizens of St. Charles, was born February 2, 1843, near Belfast, part in local politics, and has held various , county Tyrone, Ireland, a son of William positions of honor and trust. He was first elected overseer of highways, and, later, township assessor, clerk of the township, and justice of the peace. In 1879 he was elected county treasurer, and was re-elected at the close of his first term, and by change in the constitution he held over, serving seven consecutive years, the longest term of any man in Kane county. On retiring from that office he was again elected town- ship clerk, and has served in that office for twenty-seven years. He also served two years as supervisor of Kaneville township, and was chairman of the county board, of Kane county. and Anna (Moore) Lee, who spent their en- tire lives in that county, where the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits as a life work. He died at about the age of eighty, and the mother, after surviving him three years, also passed away and now sleeps by his side in a cemetery of their native land. Our subject was the young- est of their eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, the others being as follows: William, who came to the new world and died in a hospital during his service in the Mexican war; Maggie, now the widow of John Warford, and a resident of Sycamore, Illinois; Mrs. Nancy Ann Allen, a widow re- siding in St. Charles; Henry, who owns and occupies the old homestead in county Ty- rone, Ireland; Silas A., a retired farmer of Sycamore, Illinois; David and Isaac, both residents of New Zealand; Jennie, who died when a young lady; Vestina, who died at the age of twelve years; and a son, who died in childhood.
Mr. Young has always been interested in all enterprises calculated to subserve the interest of his adopted county and state. He was one of the originators of the County Line Creamery, which operates two cream- eries, and was elected manager of the same, serving as such up to the present time. The creamery was incorporated November, 1890. He is a stockholder in the Old Second Na- tional Bank of Aurora, and has served as 27
During his boyhood Samuel H. Lee at- tended the common schools of his native
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land, but is mostly self-educated. In 1859 he bade adieu to home and friends and sailed for America. On reaching the shores of this country, he came at once to St. Charles, where he had a brother and two sisters living. He began life here as a farm hand, receiving ten dollars per month, and was thus employed for two years, at the end of which time he obtained a position in a paper mill at St. Charles, remaining there for sixteen years, when the plant was de -. stroyed by fire. Going to Chicago, he then learned the blacksmith's trade, and after serving a three-years' apprenticeship, he worked in the shops of the Chicago &. Northwestern
railroad for five years .. On his return to St. Charles he rented a farm which he operated for five years, and then bought eighteen acres near St. Charles, to which he added from time to time as his circumstances would permit until he owned two hundred acres of valuable land. Until he had accumulated the entire amount he. rented his property, while he operated other. land, but in 1880 he removed to his own farm, which adjoins St. Charles on the. efforts and he enjoys a comfortable com- north.
For a few years he. continued to actively engage in farming, while his son carried on, the farm, for six years. It is one of the' best improved places, in Kane county, the land is under a high state of cultivation, and in 1896 he erected thereon a fine residence and excellent barn, both of which cost over two thousand dollars.
On the 25th of July, 1861, in St. Charles, Mr. Lee was united in marriage with Miss. Jane Kirk, who was born in Scotland, and when a young lady came to the United States. They began their domestic life in the house which is now their home. To them were born two children. W. J. is
married and now owns and occupies a large farm in Alabama, where he removed in the spring of 1897. He has two sons, Harris S. and Charles Lee. The only daughter, Annie, is now the wife of C. S. Pollard, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who is an engineer on the Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad .. They have one daughter, Dora Lee.
Mr. Lee cast his first presidental ballot for General U. S, Grant in 1868, and has continued an earnest supporter of the men. and measures of the Republican party up to the present time, casting his last vote for Will- iam McKinley, who was born on the same day and year as our subject. In religious belief Mr. and Mrs. Lee are Congregation- alists, and for several years he has served as trustee of the church. As a lad of six- teen years he came to. America, and with no capital started out in a strange land to. overcome the difficulties and obstacles in the path to prosperity. His youthful dreams of success have been realized, and in their happy fulfillment he sees the fitting reward of his earnest toil. Success has crowned his
petence.
I EWIS B. JUDSON, SR .- Among those who are justly entitled to the name of pioneer is the one whose name heads this sketch, and who was a pioneer in two states, Michigan and Illinois. He was born in Westfield, Hampden county, Massachusetts, November 13, 1806, and is the son of Lu- cius B. and Sallie B. (Loomis) Judson, both of whom are natives of the same state. The Judson family trace their ancestry back to one of four brothers who settled in Con- necticut, long prior to the Revolutionary war. The paternal grandfather of our sub-
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ject, John J. Judson, was born in Hunting- ton, Connecticut, and after serving as a sol- dier in the Revolutionary war, moved to Southwick, Massachusetts, where Lucius B. Judson was born. Like his father before him, he was a patriot and served in the war of 1812. By occupation he was a farmer during his early life, but later was for many years a manufacturer of gunpowder. Pre- vious to the war of 1812 he removed to Stratford, New York, where he was residing at the outbreak of the war, from . which place he enlisted. After the war he re- turned to Massachusetts and died in the town of Westfield about 1827. For his services in that war his widow secured a pension from the general government. She survived her husband many years, dying at the age of eighty-four years. . Of their family of twelve children all grew to mature years, though but three are now living. Those yet living are Lewis B., our subject; De Lafayette, who resides in Dakota, and Dr. Don Carlos, of Omro, Wisconsin. The deceased are: George W., Isaac B., Noah Clark, Lucius C., David Wells, and Sallie S. The latter married, reared a family of four children, moved to. Omro, Wisconsin, and there died.
The subject of this sketch grew to man- hood in his native state, where he received a fair common-school education. When but eleven years of age he hired out to work on a farm, and was employed by dif- ferent farmers until seventeen years of age, in the meantime attending school during the winter months. When seventeen years old he was engaged as a traveling salesman for a manufacturing company, and was on the road for six years. He then came west, locating at White Pigeon Prairie, Michigan, where he took up a tract of three hundred
and twenty acres, which he at once began to improve, building on the place a fair frame house and making other improve- ments.
On the 26th of December, 1830, Mr. Judson was united in marriage with Miss Catherine P. Mudgett, a native of New York, born July 8, 1811. By this union there were six children, three of whom are yet living, as follows: Mary J., now the wife of William H. Hills, residing in Fres- no, California; Albert E., married and re- siding in Wellsford, Kansas, and William H. H., residing in Bessemer, Alabama, where he is engaged in editorial work and in the real-estate business. For some years he was business manager for the "Times Democrat" in New Orleans, and was chief of the printing department during the cot- ton exhibition held in that city.
Mr. Judson was one of the founders of White Pigeon village, Michigan, and was one of the surveyors who made a plat of the town. While residing there the Black- hawk war commenced in Illinois, and Mr. Judson was commissioned paymaster by Governor Cass, of the regiment commanded by Colonel Stewart. They were ordered to the western part of the state, and for about twenty days were stationed in Chicago. While there he was sent out on a scouting expedition in company with some twelve or fourteen others, and came west as far as the present village of Oswego, Kendall county. Mr. Judson was so pleased with the beautiful country that he determined, if possible, to make this his home. On the ar- rival of General Scott at Chicago with the regular troops Colonel Stewart's regiment was disbanded, and Mr. Judson returned to his home at White Pigeon. Two years later he sold out and moved with his family to
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Kendall. county, Illinois, where he made claim to about six hundred acres of land, part of which is included in the present vil- lage of Oswego. He built the first house in the village and laid off a portion of his farm in town lots.
In· 1840 Mrs. Catherine P. Judson de- parted this life, and on the 13th of March, 1843, Mr. Judson married Miss Diana E. Stafford, a native of Willoughby, Ohio, who came to Oswego, Illinois, with her par- ents, James B. and Roxanna (Mentor) Staf- ford, who were also pioneers of Kendall county. Of the eight children born of this union seven yet survive: James A., a sol- dier of the late war, residing in Aurora, Illi- nois; Julia M., wife of M. V. Bennett, a civil engineer; Ella C., wife of Martin L. Ashley, of Norwich, Kansas; Charles L., a farmer of Kane county; Lewis B., a lawyer of Aurora; George F., a commercial trav- eler residing in Aurora; Harry C., who was killed and robbed in Kansas, when but eighteen years of age; and Fred C., a ma- chinist in the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad shops. Mr. Judson has now some twenty-three grandchildren and ten great- grandchildren.
In 1873 Mr. Judson sold his farm and moved to Aurora, where he has since con- tinued to reside. Since coming to the place he has been actively engaged in various en- terprises and has erected some of the finest blocks and residences in the city, among which are the Sinsenbaugh building, the Judson block, his own fine residence on Ga- lena street, one store building on Galena and five residences, the Scott & Pease building, and a large business block on the corner of Downer Place and River streets. It is probable that no man in Aurora has done more towards building up and im-
proving the city than has Mr. Judson. He is a stockholder and assisted in the organi- zation of the Silver Plate Factory, the cot- ton factory and other like institutions in the city. He is also a stockholder in the First National Bank, the Aurora National Bank and the Merchants' National Bonk.
In early life Mr. Judson was an old-line Whig, the principles of which party he strongly advocated, and the leaders of which he greatly honored. On the organization of the Republican party, he became identi- fied with it, and has since been one of its stanchest advocates. While residing in Kendall county he served as coroner, asses- sor, school director, justice of the peace and for some years was chairman of the board of supervisors of the county. Since coming to Aurora he has declined all official honors, giving his time exclusively to his extensive business interests. He was a charter mem- ber of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Oswego, in which he filled all the chairs, including that of noble grand.
For sixty-four long years Mr. Judson has been a resident of Illinois, and is one of the few living pioneers who have witnessed its change from a vast wilderness to the most productive state in the Union, and third in wealth and population. In the great changes that have been made he has taken no in- considerable part, and is justly entitled to all the honors that can be conferred upon one who has endured the trials of pioneer life.
M ICHAEL BURNS, a practical farmer residing on section 26, Hampshire township, is the only son of John and Eliz- abeth (Lawler) Burns, both of whom were natives of Ireland, born in county Carlow. The paternal grandfather, John Burns, Sr.,
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was born in county Wicklow, Ireland, and was a shoemaker by trade. During the Irish rebellion in 1798, he took cold while in the service and contracted rheumatism, from which he never recovered and died at about the age of sixty years. He married Mary Murphy, who was born at Castle Moore, and a daughter of Michael Murphy, all of whom are natives of Ireland.
John C. Burns was born in the village of Tullough, county Carlow, Ireland, in 1813, and there learned the shoemaker's trade with his father. He married Eliza- beth Lawler, and- in 1852 moved to Shef- field, England, where he remained seven years, working at his trade. In 1859 he emigrated to America, sailing from Liver- pool in the ship "Clipper," and landing in Boston. Finding no work in the shoe fac- tories near Boston he came to Kane county, Illinois, and settled on the farm of his brother-in-law, John Lawler, on section 23. He soon bought forty acres back from the highway, and began farming for himself. He built a small house on the tract and later bought the rest of the Lawler farm, consisting of one hundred acres. Subse- quently he bought sixty acres, which gave him an outlet to the road, and to the new purchase he removed with his family. The location of the farm is an attractive one, and on it is a comfortable house, with barns and other outbuildings, together with a good orchard. The farm is now leased by our subject, who is engaged principally in dyiry farming, milking fifty head of cows, the product of which he ships to Chicago.
made his home only on the present farm. He farmed with his father for many years and later took full charge and has now for some years engaged exclusively in its culti- vation. He is an industrious, hardworking man, and he has placed the farm under a high state of cultivation.
Mr. Burns married Miss Ellen Kelly, a native of Kane county, born on her father's homestead on section fifteen, Hampshire township. She is a daughter of Timothy and Mary (Ryan) Kelly, natives of Ireland, and granddaughter of Timothy and Ellen (Eagan) Ryan. Timothy Kelly, the pater- nal grandfather was born in Tipperary, Ire- land, March 25, 1818, and died on the home farm in Hampshire township, June 6, 1889. He came to America in 1840, lived in New York one year and in 1841 came to Hampshire township as blacksmith in the employ of the stage company, running a line of coaches from Chicago to Galena. He was the first blacksmith in the township 'and became a prosperous man, accumulat- ing a fine property. To our subject and wife seven children have been born-John, Mary, Eliza, Thomas, Ellen, Annie and Michael, Jr. In politics Mr. Burns is a Democrat, with which party he has been identified since attaining his majority. Re- ligiously he and his wife are members of the Catholic church.
JAMES SKINNER, who has been a citi- J zen of Aurora, Kane county, Illinois, since the autumn of 1871, and who resides at No. 342 Spring street, comes of an old and honored family, who settled in the
The subject of this sketch began his ed- ucation in the schools of Sheffield, Eng- land, and completed his school life in the . American Colonies in the early part of the public schools of Hampshire township. seventeenth century. He was born in Win- Since coming to the United States he has . chester, New Hampshire, November 19,
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1824, and is a son of Alanson and Mary (Woodward) Skinner, both natives of New Hampshire. His father followed the trade of a blacksınith, and in connection there -. with owned a small foundry, and carried on a remunerative business in Winchester until our subject was five years old. At this time he moved with his family to Brown- ville, New York, and continued in the same line of business."
James Skinner assisted his father during his youth and gained a rudimentary educa- tion in the public schools at Brownville. In his father's shop he learned the trade of a tinner, but at the age of eighteen he was sent to Mount Cæsar Seminary, West More- land county, New Hampshire, where he completed his education. Returning home he resumed work at his trade. The family of Alanson Skinner consisted of four chil- dren-Horace,: Mary, James and William T. In 1861 the father retired from active business life, and the business was carried on by his three sons' in partnership. The partnership was dissolved in 1867, by the retirement of James. December 15, 1853, he was married to Helen Munn, of Cham- pion, New York, and three children were born to them. James, the first born, died in early youth. William F., the second son, married Della Houston, and at the present time is one of Aurora's efficient mail car- riers, and has two children, Hazel Dell and Ruth. Jenny M. married John Hull, is now a widow, and resides with her parents. The children of our subject were all born in New York state. The mother died Decem- ber 26, 1862. January 22, 1870, he was married to Eliza Brown, of Brownville, New York.
The first of the Skinner family to appear in the New World was one who brought his
family from Essex county, England, to the American Colonies, about 1620. Of his seven sons, four settled in the eastern and three in the southern colonies. From this family, it is believed, sprang all or nearly all of that name now inhabiting the United States.
In '" Burk's History of the Commons, " a work still extant in the state library at Al- bany, New York, there is a brief sketch of the Skinner family in England, wherein the ancestry of our subject is traced to Sir Robert Skynner, as the name was originally spelled, a Norman knight who accompanied William, Duke of Normandy, called the Conqueror, and assisted in the conquest of the Saxons at the battle of Hastings, A. D. 1066, and the family of Skinners who first landed in America were undoubtedly de- scendants of Sir Robert. An interesting book in manuscript which bears the coat of arms of the Skinner family, is in possession of our subject, and gives a clear genealogical record of the family for many generations. Alanson Skinner, the father, participated in the war of 1812.
In 1871, James Skinner brought his family from New York state to Illinois, and settled in Aurora, soon afterwards becoming a partner in the city flouring mills, with James Robinson and Ira T. Curtis, under the firm name of Robinson, Curtis & Co. Mr. Skinner eventually bought out his part- ners, then rented the mill, and finally sold it to Jamieson, Sheets & Co., since which time he has lived retired from business cares and enjoys a restful life in his pleasant home at 342 Spring street, but in the heat of sum- mer he and his wife annually seek the woods of Wisconsin, and pass three months on the banks of Kelly's lake, where he owns a cottage and boathouse, and the recreation
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of bathing, shooting and fishing are indulged in to their hearts' content. Mr. Skinner never sought for office, but was prevailed upon to accept the position of alderman for one terin only.
W ILLIAM SCOTT .- The state of Illi- nois owes its high standing among the sovereign commonwealths that make up the United States to the high character and dauntless spirit of the settlers who made their homes within her borders in the early days. To their inspiration and work is due her progress in agriculture, manufacturing and the arts. They transformed the wilder- ness into fertile farms, established churches and schools in the savage wilds, laying the foundation for the grand institutions of philanthropy and learning which are the glory of the state at the present day. Among these brave and far-sighted pioneers, the Scott family, of Kane county, deserves prominent mention.
The subject of this sketch was born Feb- ruary 1, 1844, in Virgil township, Kane county, a son of John Scott, a native of Scotland, who was born in 1809, and, in 1820, came to the new world with his fa- ther, Hugh Scott, settling in Utica, New York, where John grew to manhood. There he wedded Mary Atkinson, June 15, 1828. She was born in England, where her father died during her early childhood, and when only nine years old she came to the United States. John Scott, an active and enter- prising man, was in early life a contractor on the old New York & Erie canal, and later engaged in the hotel business. In 1836 he came to Illinois, and after a few months spent in Chicago, located in St. Charles,
Kane county. Subsequently he bought a claim and opened up a farm of four hun- dred acres in Virgil township, making it one of the most desirable places in the locality, improved with a good residence, substantial barns and outbuildings. In connection with agricultural pursuits, he embarked in mer- chandising at Elburn in 1856, carrying on that business for three years. He still con- tinued to engage in farming for several years and then sold the place to our sub- ject, living with him in St. Charles until called to his final rest October 17, 1877. His wife died September 11, 1882. As one of the leading citizens of his township, he was called upon to serve as justice of the peace for several years, and was at one time a member of the county board. He was also an active and prominent mein- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and . assisted in organizing the church in Camp- ton township.
To John and Mary (Atkinson) Scott were born the following children: Sarah is now the widow of Charles Shirtliff, and is a resident of Neodesha, Kansas; John H., a business man of Kaneville, now resides in Aurora; Alexander died in infancy; Eliza- beth died at the age of sixteen years; Rob- ert was a member of Company I, One Hun- dred and Twenty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and died in 1863, soon after his return from the war; William is the next of the family; Mary E. died at the home of our subject in 1893; A. T. is a business man of Denver, Colorado; and George F. died in infancy.
Upon the home farm William Scott was reared in much the usual manner of farmer boys of that day, acquiring his education in the schools of Elburn and Sycamore. After reaching man's estate he bought the
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old homestead and actively engaged in long made their home their circle of friends farming for some years, making many val- is only limited by their circle of acquaint- ances. uable and useful improvements upon the place. In connection with general farming, he was also engaged in buying, feeding and shipping stock, and even after selling the farm and removing to St. Charles, in 1874. he continued the latter occupation, making a -specialty of the shipping of horses. He was also interested in baling and dealing in hay. In St. Charles he bought property and erected the fine large residence he still occupies. He has also bought, im- proved and sold other city property and stimulated the industries of the place by loaning money.
On the 11th of November, 1874, Mr. Scott was married in St. Charles to Miss Hattie E. Pike, a native of New York, who, . in 1856, during her childhood, was brought to Illinois by her father, Cornelius Pike. He spent his last days in St. Charles, where he was engaged in business for some years. Here Mrs. Scott was reared, and in Whea- ton College she completed her education. For several years prior to her marriage she successfully engaged in teaching. Mr. and Mrs. Scott have one daughter, Jennie Maude, who graduated from the East Side High School of St. Charles, and was also a student for a time in the Elgin High School.
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