USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 58
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
Politically, Mr. Scott has been an ardent Republican since casting his first presiden- tial ballot for Gen. U. S. Grant, in 1868. Although he has never cared for official honors, he most acceptably served as a member of the school board for some years, rendering effective service in its interest. Both he and his wife are consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in the community where they have so
L' EWIS H. GILLETT, who for thirty years was prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Kane county, but is now deceased, was born in Sullivan county, New York, October 23, 1820, and there grew to manhood, receiving a good common-school education, He was mar- ried in Sullivan county January 22, 1850, to Rachel Harmes, a daughter of Charles Harmes, also a native of Sullivan county, New York. By trade Mr. Harmes was a blacksmith, and was three times married. His second wife, Mary Smith, was the mother of Mrs. Gillett, and died when her daughter was but three years old. He later married again, and, after the death of his last wife, he came west, and spent his re- maining years in Illinois, dying at the resi- dence of a daughter in Sycamore, De Kalb county. Mrs. Gillett grew to womanhood in Sullivan county, New York, and there gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Gillett.
Directly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Gillett started for the west, coming by railroad to Buffalo, New York, where they took a boat to Detroit, and thence by rail to Chicago and St. Charles, Kane coun- ty, Illinois. From St. Charles they came · by ox team to Sugar Grove township. Mr. Gillett had secured three land warrants, for which he secured land in that township. He first purchased two hundred and sixty acres, which he improved, and from time to time added to his original possessions until at the time of his death he was the owner of one thousand acres, all of which was under cultivation. He was a very active
L. H. GILLETT.
1 .- OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
569
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and progressive farmer, and prospered in all that he did. On the farm he erected two good substantial residences, one of which was of brick, and also erected good barns and other outbuildings. On one of his farms in De Kalb county he erected a barn at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars.
Mr. Gillett was liberal and public-spirit- ed, and gave to all laudable enterprises which were calculated to build up his town- ship and county. He was one of the pro- moters of the Sugar Grove Normal School, and for the erection of its building donated the sum of five hundred dollars. He was originally a Democrat in politics, but on ac- count of the slavery question and the posi- tion his party took with regard to it, he cast his lot with the Republican party on its or- ganization, with which he continued to be identified until his death. He was elected , and served as commissioner of highways, and some other local positions, although he never asked for official position. It was his aim to be a good farmer, and that he succeeded is attested by all who knew him.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gillett seven children were born, as follows: Mary, who grew to womanhood, married S. L. Judd, of Sugar Grove, died in 1895; Franklin died at the age of six months; Eugene died at the age of four months; Eddie Grant, a very bright and intelligent young man, met his death by accident when twenty years old; Arthur L. is a prominent business man of Aurora; and Rachel May is the wife of M. C. Schoop, of Sugar Grove,
After the death of her husband Mrs .. Gillett took charge of the business, and as- sisted in the settlement of the estate. In 1884 she built a good, neat and substantial residence in the village of Sugar Grove, where she has since resided. Like her
husband, she gives liberally in support of various public enterprises. Toward the erection of the Methodist church she gave two hundred dollars. While not a member of any church organization, she attends the different churches, and endeavors to have her life conform to the golden rule. She is well known as a woman of good business ability, and is esteemed and loved by all who know her.
C' HARLES ALLEN, section 35, Hamp- shire township, is one of a pioneer family, to whom is given the credit of being the first settler of Hampshire township. Zenath Allen, a native of Rutland county, Vermont, took up a claim on section 24, in September, 1836, and built a log house and at once commenced the improvement of the land. He arrived in Chicago, June 5, of that year, when it was a collection of huts in a quagmire. Seeing nothing of promise in those marshes, he came further west and became a permanent resident of Hampshire township, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was a very prominent man in the early day, one of brains and energy, and made his influence felt in the new.set- tlement. A member of the first board of school trustees of the township, he assisted in organizing the school district. His wife was Lucretia Gibbs, a native of Canada. His death occurred February 5, 1848, at the age of sixty-three. He served in the war of 1812.
The Allen family comes of fighting stock, being descended from a common ancestor with Ethan Allen of Revolutionary fame, the famous captor of Ticonderoga. Ethan J. Allen, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in 1812,
570
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and came in the regular army to Chicago in 1835. During the smallpox epidemic there he wrote for his parents to come and secure his discharge. This done, the family moved to Kane county and remained. Ethan J. secured a farm on section 35, and occupied the land until his death in 1887. He was also a prominent figure in public affairs in the early day, and in 1844 served as deputy sheriff of the county. Later he occupied the office of sheriff, and from 1860 was for many years a member of the board of supervisors. He was also a justice of the peace for years, his first commission being signed by Governor Madison. During the early days of the war for the union, he served as adjutant of the Fifty-second Regi- ment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, his com- mission being dated September 14, 1861. He resigned November 12, 1862. For several years he was a mail route agent on the railroad between Chicago and Dubuque. He married Miss Harriet Smith, and to them were born four children-Henry, de- ceased; David A., father of our subject; Marian married George McClelland, de- ceased, and she now lives in Elgin; and Hiram, who died quite young.
David A. Allen was born on the family homestead, section 35, Hampshire town- ship, October 15, 1842, and until the age of sixteen attended the subscription schools of the neighborhood. He remained upon the home farm until the outbreak of the war, when he enlisted in Company A, Seventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, under Captain Joslyn. He enlisted April 22, 1861, his regiment being the first to enter the service from Illinois. From Elgin he went to Springfield, Illinois, where the regiment was mustered into service, and from thence to Alton and Cairo, serving un-
til discharged at Mound City, Illinois, July 25, 1861, at the expiration of their term of service. · Returning home he re-enlisted in Company K, Fifty-second Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, the date of his enlist- ment being September 6, 1861. He served until September, 1862, when he was dis- charged for disability. During this year's service, with his regiment he was stationed at St. Joseph, Missouri; Bird's Point, Ken- tucky; Smithland, Kentucky; and Fort Don- elson. After the battle of Fort Donelson, he was with the force that was sent with prisoners to Chicago. He returned to his regiment by way of St. Louis, and joined it at Pittsburg Landing.
After being at home for about a year and fully recovering his strength, on De- cember 30, 1863, he re-enlisted the second time in Company H, Fifteenth Regiment, Illinois Cavalry, known as the Kane County Cavalry, with which he served until its re- organization, at Little Rock, Arkansas, when the company of our subject was merged into Company L, Tenth Illinois Cavalry. This was done January 26, 1865, and the regiment was engaged in service in the west and south until its discharge, Janu- uary 6, 1866, being one of the last regi- ments of the volunteer army to be mus- tered out of the service.
On receiving his final discharge, David A. Allen returned home and bought the farm on section 35, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres, since which time he has added eighty acres, forty of which lies in section 27, and which makes a tract of two hun- dred acres of the very finest land. At first the farm was used for grain, later, stock- raising, and at present for dairy purposes, there being upon the place about fifty head of milch cows. David A. Allen was mar-
571
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ried in Hampshire township, February 20, ing horses. Returning home, and on his 1867, to Miss Caroline Coon, first in a fam- father's retirement, he took charge of the farm and has since been operating the same. ily of four children born to Hildah and Maria (Parker) Coon, the latter being a Charles Allen was married February 6, 1895, in the village of Hampshire, to Miss Libbie Haines, born in Madison, Nebraska, and a daughter of J. L. Haines, a native of Ashtabula· county, Ohio, born January 29, 1841, and who came west with his parents, David and Emily (Burns) Haines, about 1844. J. L. Haines married Mary Garner, born near Albany, New York, and a daugh- ter of Lorenzo and Ellen (Boyce) Garner, the latter being a daughter of Ethan Boyce. Lorenzo Garner went to California in the early days of the gold fever there, and was shortly afterward drowned. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Haines, Mrs. Allen is fourth in order of birth. To our subject and wife, one daughter has been born, Hazel. daughter of William and Rachel (Retchie) Parker. Hildah Coon was by occupation a farmer, which he followed during his entire life. He was born in the state of New York, and came to Hampshire township in 1839, and died at the age of forty-eight years. Mary Ann Coon, their second child, was the second white child born in Hamp- shire township. She married Henry J. Allen, now deceased, who was a brother of David A. Allen, and she became the mother of one daughter, Martha A. The other two children of Hildah and Maria Coon are Calvin M., living in Joliet, and William S., who resides at New Lebanon, De Kalb county, Illinois. To David A. Allen and wife four children were born, as follows: Chloe, who died at the age of thirteen years; In politics, Mr. Allen is a Republican, having inherited the liberty-loving principles of that party. The only office which he has held is that of school director. Frater- nally he is a member of Hampshire camp, Modern Woodmen of America. He is a prosperous and energetic young fariner, one who has doubtless a bright future before him. Hattie, who married Leonard Ewing, of Burlington township; Charles, our subject; and Elizabeth, who married Frank Ritz, of McHenry county, Illinois. In politics David A. Allen was a Republican, and for four years was deputy sheriff of Kane county, highway commissioner nine years, and a school director for many years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Charles Allen, our subject, was born on the farm where he now resides, February 20, 1872, and his home has always been under the one roof. He attended the district school until the age of thirteen, and then worked for his father on the farm until 1890, when he went west and spent some time at Sioux City, Iowa, in the employ of a land firm, although he did a little farm work a part of the time, and also engaged in trad-
JAMES PEARL PRINDLE, a leading ) and influential citizen of Batavia, is the son of Abijah Legore and Caroline Miriam (Pearl) Prindle, was born March 9, 1841, at the home of his grandparents, James and Lydia (Tobey) Pearl, who settled · not far from 1811, on the Holland Purchase, later called Bennington, in Western New York, where four days chopping was required to clear a space in the heavy timber, large
572
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
enough to build a log house, in which the family lived until 1849, then moved into a frame house on the opposite side of the road where the grandmother died April 18, 1855, and the mother, October 17, of the same year, when nearly forty-two years of age.
The following November, the balance of the family, consisting of James Pearl, grandfather, born May 23, 1786, Abijah L. Prindle, father, born February 25, 1808, and his children, Lucy R. Prindle, born April 11, 1838; Jason Richard Prindle, born December 20, 1843; Legore Prindle, born January 8, 1846; and James P. Prindle, moved to Batavia, Illinois, where Jane C. Colton, nee Prindle, born March 2, 1833, and Mary M. Newton, nee Prindle, born June 3, 1835, were then living, and where the father resumed his position as superin- tendent of the Hoyt Barrel Factory. The three brothers attended the public schools in Batavia until the family was broken up by the marriage of Mrs. Colton to Rev. Elijah H. Gammon, and Lucy R., to Elisha Foote, Jr., May 5, 1856, after which the boys were scattered.
The life of James P. Prindle, until mov- ing west, having been spent on a farm with his invalid grandfather, with but little time in the winter to attend the district school, which was usually open about three months, he felt, when thrown on his own resources, that he must have an education, and with this determination started for Chicago, July 4, 1856, where he found a situation and worked until the opening of school at the Batavia Institute, where the winter and following spring were spent, as were his accumulated earnings. This round was followed until qualified to teach, where, by teaching winters and working vacations, it
was an easy matter to get quite a part of the year in school. With the exception of time enough spent in Nebraska to secure two hundred and forty acres of government land near Nebraska City, the above men- tioned plan was followed until the Civil war broke out, when he, with his father, broth- in-law, D. C. Newton, and two brothers, sought service in the army, and September 10, 1861, enlisted in Company D. Fifty- Second Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infan- try, camped in Geneva, Illinois,
As soon as the regiment was organized orders were received to report at St. Louis, and from there the work of guarding the Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad was taken up, with regimental headquarters at St. Joseph, while Companies B and D were stationed at Stewartville, Missouri. Early in 1862 the regiment moved to Cairo, camping in Feb- ruary at Fort Holt, without tents or cover- ing. Colonel I. S. Wilson having resigned, Colonel Sweeney, of the regular army, after- wards brigadier-general, and later a leader in the Fenian movement, was appointed colonel in this regiment, which moved in a day or two up the river to Smithland, Ken- tucky, and from that point the battle of Fort Donelson was the next work, followed by a trip to Chicago with prisoners, and from there going direct to Pittsburg Land- ing, where a large number of the regiment was either killed or wounded.
Just before the battle of Fort Donelson Mr. Prindle was taken down with measles, followed by mumps and fever, and, going from the hospital in Paducah, joined the regiment Monday, April 7, at Pittsburg Landing, where he took the position of or- derly sergeant of Company D, under Captain Newton, and was sent back sick from the third breastworks, in front of Corinth, reach-
573
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Batavia, July 3, an invalid, unable to walk for months, and for years a victim of chronic diarrhœa.
School work at the Clark Seminary at Aurora was taken up as soon as strength would permit, but poor health prevent earn- ing money to continue, so a position with Easter & Gammon, implement dealers in Chicago, was secured in the summer of 1863, which was followed, in 1866, by a partnership with E. H. Gammon, under the firm name of Gammon & Prindle, 46, 48 and 50 West Lake street. Contracts were made for handling Pitt's thresher, Dodge's self-raking reapers and mowers, with a gen- eral line of implements, and the manufact- uring of Marsh harvesters for part of the western states.
In 1869 a change was made by the dis- continuance of the Gammon & Prindle firm, and an interest taken with A. E. Bishop, making the firm of Bishop & Prindle, man- ufacturers of wagons, which relation was continued until 1874, when an interest was purchased in the Newton Wagon Company, of Batavia, where, as superintendent of the works, twenty years were spent. Health failing, active work was given up, and rela- tions changed to that of vice-president.
In 1891 the position of director in the Plano Manufacturing Company, of Plano, Illinois, later of West Pullman, was accept- ed, and after the death of E. H. Gammon, July 3, 1891, he was elected to fill the posi- tion of vice-president, and still retains that connection with the company, which has for years annually supplied this country with thousands of Plano & Jones' harvesters, headers, mowers, reapers, hay-rakes, etc., and in late years has opened a large foreign trade, covering quite a portion of Europe and South America. On the 24th of Sep-
tember, 1867, Mr. Prindle married Mary A. Cornell, in Evanston. She was born Au- gust 18, 1841, in Spring Creek, Pennsyl- vania. The children born to them are: Albro Bishop, April 22, 1869; Martha Caro- line, July 3, 1872; James Pearl, June 27, 1876; and Carl, October 10, 1882, who died August 10, the following year.
The politics adopted by Mr. Prindle at an early age were that of Abolitionist Whig, probably because of living where runa way slaves were helped toward Canada, but his first vote was Republican; although never an aspirant for office, yet an earnest worker for keeping the best men in office, and in the community in which he lives considered no effort too great when made in the inter- est of temperance, morality and necessary improvements. The public schools have always been a subject of vital interest to him. Born at the stopping place and head- quarters of the Methodist circuit riders, in the old log house, it was not strange that, in early life, he should become interested in religious matters. The early records of the Methodist church of Batavia show him on the active list.' On reaching Chicago, he joined the Jefferson Street Methodist Episcopal church, and became identified with Sabbath-school work, and on the soci- ety moving to their new centenary church, was a steward and class leader in the church, and as time passed, teacher, librarian and assistant superintendent in the Sunday- school of twelve hundred members, where, under the pastorate of such brilliant preach- ers as Drs. C. H. Fowler, R. M. Hatfield and J. O. Peck, active church work became the rule, and on returning to Batavia, in 1874, he fell into line there, and is still an earnest, faithful worker in the beautiful new Methodist Episcopal church.
574
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
W TILLIAM W. MERRILL .- Wherever there is pioneer work to be done, men of energy and ability are required, and success or failure depends upon the degree of those qualities that is possessed. In wresting the land from its native wilderness, in fitting it for the habitation of men; in developing the natural resources of the community in which they live, few if any have contributed more largely than Mr. Merrill, who is now living retired in Elgin, and it is mete and proper that for the ardu- ous and important labor he has performed he should receive due reward.
Born in Oxford county, Maine, March 16, 1815, he is a son of William and Char- ity (Davis) Merrill, who were of English descent. Both grandfathers were soldiers of the Revolutionary war, Mr. Merrill en- tering the service at the age of eighteen, Mr. Davis at the age of seventeen, and both fought under General Warren at the battle of Bunker Hill, as well as in other engagements. The grandfather Davis was aid de camp to that general. He died when our subject was about sixteen years. of age, and the grandfather Merrill when he was fourteen, both passing away upon their farms in Maine. Throughout life they engaged in farming, lumbering and shipping.
William Merrill, Sr., father of our sub- ject, was also a farmer by occupation, and was one of the men who assisted in found- ing the town of Brownfield, Oxford county, Maine. He died on the old homestead there, in 1836. He was one of the leading members of the Congregational church at that place, was a Whig in politics, and for the long period of twenty years served as foreman of the grand jury. His wife, who was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, died in the spring of
1860, at the home of her daughter Harriet in New York City. In their family were nine children, namely: Louisa, who mar- ried John Small, and.both are now deceased; Irene, who married John Campbell, of New Orleans, Louisiana, and both are deceased; Harriet, who married John Kelsey, of New York, and both are deceased; William W., of this sketch; Nicholas, a resident of Maine; Bradbury, deceased; Martha, who married A. S. Carr, and died in Nebraska; Mary, who died when young; and Alvin, who died in New York City.
The early life of our subject was spent- on the home farm at Brownfield, and in private schools he acquired his education. He early became familiar with every de- partment of farming and lumbering, and at the age of seventeen started out in life for himself as his father had lost much of his property. The first season he worked upon a farm, and with the money he earned, he purchased a yoke of oxen. The following winter he was employed at a tavern in Oxford, and the next summer again worked at farming, taking a colt for pay. This he put on the home farm with the oxen and went to Portland, where he was in the em- ploy of a stage company during the winter. For the following two years he was with a lumber company on the Penobscot river, and then, having accumulated some capi- tal, he engaged in lumbering on his own ac- count until the panic of 1835, which was one of the worst ever experienced in this ' country.
Having lost everything, Mr. Merrill- started westward in the spring of 1837, with the hope of retrieving his fortune. On the Ist of June of that year he arrived in Terre Haute, Indiana, and from there proceeded to Paris, Edgar county, Illinois, where he
575
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
stopped with a Mr. Archer for about two weeks. Alone and on foot he followed the army trail to Springfield, the houses along the way being from fifteen to twenty miles apart. There he found employment with a stage company, but owing to ill health, he soon had to abandon his position. On his recovery he went to Tazewell county, and the following spring to Ottawa, where he found employment with the Frink Stage Company, having known John Frink in the east. For several months he was connected with that company, after which he was variously employed for some time. Finally locating in Chicago, he engaged in merchan- dising on the South Side from 1838 until 1840, and from there came to Elgin, where he followed both carpentering and farming for some time. In 1843 he bought a claim of one hundred and thirty-two acres of Mr. Kimball, paying him one dollar and a quar- ter per acre .. This land extended along the south road to the forks, from there to Lar- kin's corner, north to McClain's farm, and from there to the Hamilton farm, now owned by W. H. Wing. Upon that place Mr. Merrill lived until 1850, giving his attention to agricultural pursuits, and then came to Elgin, where he was engaged in the market business until 1864, and subsequently in the grocery business until 1878. Since that time he has lived retired, enjoying a well- earned rest at his comfortable home in .El- gin, surrounded by the care and attention of an affectionate wife and daughter.
Hattie, the wife of William Wood, of Kan- sas City, Missouri. For his second wife Mr. Merrill married, May 16, 1869, Mrs. Jane Earl, a daughter of Andrew and Jane (Hollow) Longstaff, of Ottawa, Canada. She was the widow of Edward Earl, who died at McHenry, Illinois, January 30, 1868. Her father was a native of England, while her mother was born in Scotland.
Politically Mr. Merrill was first a Whig, and later a Democrat. He was a great friend of Lincoln, and corresponded. with him during the exciting campaign of 1860, but told the martyr president that he would not vote for his death warrant, which he believed he would be doing if he assisted in electing him president. In the early de- velopment of Kane county Mr. Merrill bore an important part, and he was especially active in the erection of the first Methodist Episcopal church in Elgin, assisting in get- ting out the timbers for that edifice. His career has ever been such as to warrant the trust and confidence of the entire communi- ty, and his friends are many throughout Kane and surrounding counties.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.