USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 61
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To our subject and wife one child has been born, Charles Frederick, born De- cember 19, 1897. While engaged in rail- roading, Mr. Watson was a member of the Fireman's Brotherhood, and also of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. In politics he is a Republican, and fraternally is a member of the Knights of Pythias.
A LFONSO A. SMITH, who resides at 119 North Root street, Aurora, Illi- nois, has held a responsible position in the shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company for more than twenty- five years. He was born in Burlington, Illinois, March 31, 1852. He is an adopted son of U. M. Smith, who was born on Cald- well's Manor, Canada, November 23, 1818,
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and who died in March, 1897, but who was an early settler of Kane county, emigrating from Pennsylvania. His own father, James Shanks, was of Scotch parentage, and was also an early settler of Illinois. Shortly after the discovery of gold in California he made a trip to that new Eldorado, and died on the homeward voyage.
Our subject grew to manhood in Kane county, and received his education in the public schools of Aurora. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade and for ten years was a journeyman in the carpenter shops of the Burlington road, and since 1881 has been foreman of a gang of work- men, and is now one of the oldest employes here of that road.
Mr. Smith was married May 17, 1874, in Aurora, to Miss Laura Bradshaw, a na- tive of Canada, born and reared in Prince Edwards county, and a daughter of Janies Bradshaw, who located in Aurora in 1885, where his death occurred in 1897. His wife survived him, dying March 2, 1898. By this union are four children-Pearl, Pansy, Adra and Gladys. The first named is an artist in water colors and oils, and has developed a decided talent for painting and drawing.
Politically, Mr. Smith is a Republican, and has advocated the principles of that party since attaining his majority, and has at all times voted his party's ticket. Fra- ternally he is an Odd Fellow, and has served in nearly every official capacity in his lodge. He is also a member of the Home Forum. While not members, Mr. and Mrs. Smith are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church. They reside in a neat and com- fortable home on Root street, which is ever open for the reception of their many friends. A lifelong resident of Kane county, Mr.
Smith has gone in and out among the peo- ple, doing the work at hand cheerfully and well, and not only enjoys the respect and confidence of the community in which he lives, but the great company in whose em- ployment he has so long been, which is at- tested by his years of faithful service.
G EORGE BYRON REED, engaged in farming on section 32, Plato township, was born near Wayne, Du Page county, Illinois, January 22, 1838. He grew to manhood on his father's farm and attended district schools during the winter terms un- til twenty-one years of age. He remained at home until August, 1862, when he en- listed in Company F, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infan- try, enlisting at Wheaton, from which place he was sent to Dixon, Illinois, thence. to Chicago, where the regiment remained one week. From there it was sent to Louis- ville, Kentucky, from which place it marched to Tunnel Hill, near Nashville. With the regiment he participated in the battle of Resaca, in the Atlantic campaign, and with Sherman on his march to the sea. While on the way north, at Milledge, North Carolina, he first heard of the surrender of Lee. He was present at the surrender of Johnston, and was in a grand review at Washington. With his regiment he was mustered out at Washington, and was dis- charged at Chicago, June 15, 1865. Re- turning home he rented a farm some eight or ten years, and then purchased some two hundred and fifteen acres, lying in Camp- ton township, which four years later he sold, and then purchased his present farm of two hundred and forty-two acres, which lies partly in Plato and Campton townships.
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George W. Reed, the father of our sub- house is a substantial structure, and there ject, was born in Franklin county, Ver- is a beautiful grove of evergreens about the place. Mr. Reed is regarded as one of the most enterprising business men in Plato township, and his fine property has been accumulated by his own exertions. mont, February 22, 1806, and died in Du Page county, Illinois, February 22, 1888. He lived in Vermont until he was twenty- five or thirty years old, and after marriage emigrated to Ohio, where he lived two years. He then came west to Chicago, and from there to Du Page county, settling H TIRAM LASHER, a retired farmer, liv- ing on section 5, Big Rock township, has been a resident of Kane county since 1855. He was born in Columbia county, New York, November 8, 1815. His father, George G. Lasher, was also a native of that county. The family are of German ances- try, and were among the pioneers of Co- lumbia county. In that county George G. Lasher grew to manhood and married Eliza- beth Kiselbergh, also a native of Columbia county. After their marriage he engaged near Wayne, where he took up one hun- dred and sixty acres. His father, Nathan -- iel Reed, was born in Massachusetts, and was the son of Horace Reed, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. . George W. Reed married Miss Julia Ellenwood, a native of Vermont, born in 1816, by whom he had eight children, as follows: Rodney H., de- ceased; George Byron, our subject; William Thomas, who lives in West Chicago; Emily A., wife of Robert Benjamin, residing near West Chicago; Eldon, deceased; Julia, wife in farming in Columbia county for some of James Campbell, a hardware merchant; years, and later removed to Rensselaer Charles, living on the old homestead; and. county, New York, and there spent the re- Ida May, who married Weldford Wagner, of West Chicago.
On the 19th of February, 1873, our sub- ject was united in marriage with Miss Eliza A. Kline, born in the township of Wayne, Du Page county, and daughter of John and Clarrissa (Champion) Kline, natives of New York state. By this union three children have been born: Frank W., in charge of the store owned by his father at Lily Lake, Kane county; Mertie M. and Ray Harrison.
Mr. Reed was for some years a member of the South Chicago post, G. A. R. In politics he is a Republican, and for fifteen years served as school director, always tak- ing a commendable interest in educational matters. His fine farm, which is under a high state of cultivation, is devoted chiefly to grain and dairy purposes. The dwelling
mainder of his life, dying in 1872, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife preceded him many years, dying in 1848.
Hiram Lasher grew to manhood in Co- lumbia county, and during his boyhood and youth had the opportunity each winter of attending the public schools. During the remainder of the year he assisted his father in farm work. When a young man he ac- companied his parents to Rensselaer county, and remained with them until thirty years old. He was married in Rensselaer county, July 4, 1846, to Miss Fannie Maria Williams, born in Warren county, New York, and a daughter of W. W. Williams, also a native of New York, but whose parents were from Connecticut.
After his marriage Mr. Lasher worked his father's farm on shares for two years,
LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
HIRAM LASHER.
MRS. HIRAM LASHER.
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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and after the death of the mother rented exist. A residence of forty-three years in the farm for six years. In 1855 he came Kaneville and Big Rock townships has made to Kane county, Illinois, and located in for Mr. Lasher many warm friends, by whom he is held in the highest esteem. He is a man of upright character and exemplary habits, and this sketch of him will be read by many friends. Kaneville township, where he purchased a farm of ninety acres, eighty acres of which had been broken and some improvements made on the place. He there resided for eighteen years, during which time he made many valuable improvements, including the building of a barn and other outbuildings. Selling that farm at an advance over the original purchase price, he bought the farm where he now resides, on section 5, Big Rock township, consisting of one hundred and forty-eight acres, and which lies partly in Kaneville township. The farm was an improved one at the time of his purchase, but he has since made other improvements, tiling the place, erecting a good barn, and building cribs and sheds for the storing of grain and the shelter of stock.
Mr. and Mrs. Lasher became the par- ents of two children. Sarah Olivia is now the wife of J. H. Meade, a farmer of Kane- ville township. Melvin grew to manhood, was educated in the common schools of Kaneville and Big Rock townships, and later married Harriet Bailey, a native of Peoria county, Illinois, but who grew to womanhood in Kane county. They have three children: Fannie, Alice and Ida, who are students of the home schools.
After a happy married life of fifty-two years, Mrs. Lasher died May 2, 1898, and was laid to rest in the Kaneville cemetery. Her death was mourned by a large circle of friends in Big Rock and Kaneville town- ships. Politically Mr. Lasher has been a Republican since the organization of the party, but cast his first presidential ballot for Martin Van Buren, after which he sup- ported the Whig party until it ceased to
W. ILLIAM W. EVANS, a well-known publisher of maps and directories living at No. 260 Villa street, Elgin, was born in Quebec, Canada, February 13, 1839, a son of James and Mary (Carpenter) Evans. The father, a native of county Galway, Ireland, served for some time as lieutenant in the British army, and as a re- tired officer he received half pay for forty years, from the time Napoleon was sent to St. Helena. After his emigration to Can- ada he married Mary Carpenter, who was born in Pennsylvania, of English and Ger- man descent, but was reared in Canada. There the father died in 1859, when in his sixty-fifth year, and the mother passed away April 8, 1888, aged eighty-seven years. Both were earnest, consistent Christians, members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and Mr. Evans was a local preacher for that denomination, in which capacity he was known throughout the greater part of the province of Ontario.
Of the twelve children born to this worthy couple, seven are still living, name- ly: Frances, wife of Richard Wood, of Toronto, Canada; Louisa, widow of Will- iam G. Stephens, and also a resident of Toronto; Elizabeth, wife of Henry L. Boss, of Caro, Michigan; James C., a resident of East Saginaw, Michigan; Henry T., an ed- itor living in Texas; William W., of this sketch; and Robert F., who is a clerk in
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the auditor's office of the Michigan Cen- country. Three children bless this union, tral railroad at Detroit, Michigan.
William W. Evans commenced his edu- cation under the able direction of his father, who was a classical scholar and a teacher for many years. Subsequently he attended the high school at Simcoe, Canada, where he studied the languages and higher math- ematics. During early life he learned the printer's trade, at which he worked in many places until finally locating in the Canadian oil regions, where oil was first discovered during our Civil war. Here he was em- ployed on "The Oil Springs Chronicle, " the first paper of the kind published in Canada, and subsequently he purchased the paper, remaining there two years. On selling out he removed to Watertown, New York, in 1865, where he worked on a daily paper for a year and a half, and then entered the service of Hamilton Child, a directory pub- lisher at Syracuse, acting as compiler and superintendent for ten years, during which time he assisted in the publication of direct- ories of forty-two counties in New York and three in Pennsylvania. On leaving that firm he returned to the province of Ontario, Canada, where, on his own account, he published directories of many counties and some cities, remaining there for ten years and meeting with good success in the under- taking. In 1888 he came to Elgin and got out the first gazetteer and directory of Kane county, and since then has compiled a sec- ond edition and also two editions of the city directory for the publishers, Lowrie & Black. Our subject has also published a map of Kane county.
In Watertown, New York, Mr. Evans was married to Miss Nellie Waters, of Loughborough, Canada, a daughter of Bulk- ley Waters, a farmer and tanner of that
namely: Hamilton, a machinist, of Elgin; and Eva and Dora, who are both employed in the watch factory at this place. The parents and children are all members of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Elgin, and are the center of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Politically Mr. Evans is in sympatny with the Republican party.
D ANIEL B. MOORE. - This age is not wholly utilitarian. On all sides we see some earnest souls laboring devotedly to bring about a recognition of some higher principle in life than selfish greed, and stim- ulating in the hearts of others a desire for spiritual progress. The friends of Mr. Moore will see in his years of faithful work in all forms of religious endeavor a source of present good to the community, and long . after he has entered into his final rest his influence will continue in everlasting circles.
Mr. Moore, who is now a highly respect- ed citizen of St. Charles, Illinois, was born January 7, 1829, in the town of Leroy, Genesee county, New York, and belongs to a family that was established in New Jersey at a very early day in the history of this country. His grandfather, John Moore, was a native of that state, and successfully engaged in the occupation of weaving throughout his active business life. He was a well-educated man, and held numer- ous public positions of honor and trust.
John C. Moore, our subject's father, was born in New Jersey, in 1796, and about 1804 removed with his father to Seneca county, New York, becoming a pioneer of that region, where, in the midst of the wil- derness, he grew to manhood. There he was married to Elizabeth Bovee, who was
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born on the Mohawk river, in Schoharie county, New York. He was also a weaver by trade, and after following that occupa- tion in Seneca county for some years, he removed to Genesee county, locating on a farm. Subsequently he lived for a time in Monroe, Niagara and Livingston counties, but returned to Genesee county, where he died in January, 1877. His wife, who sur- vived him for some time, passed away at the age of seventy-eight years, and her re- mains were interred by his side.
All of the children born to this worthy couple reached man and womanhood. Maria is the wife of Edwin Ward, of Bata- via, New York. Rachel Ann married Will- iam Adkins, and died in Michigan. Cath- erine is the widow of Abram Bovee, and re- sides in Monroe county, New York. Daniel B. is next in order of birth. Jane first mar- ried Matthew Spitzer, and after his death wedded Horace Freer, and died in Portage, New York. Sarah married Alexander Cul- verson, and some years later came to St. Charles, Illinois, where her death occurred. Jacob enlisted in the Ninth New York Ar- tillery during the Civil war, but was after- ward transferred to the infantry, and was killed at the battle of Winchester, giving his life in defense of the Union. Matthew, who was also one of the boys in blue during the Rebellion, now resides on the old home farm in Genesee county, New York. Mary E. is the widow of James Cooper, who was killed in a railroad accident at Batavia, New York, in August, 1897.
On the old homestead in Genesee coun- ty, New York, Daniel B. Moore passed his boyhood and youth, acquiring his elementary education in the common and union schools of that section. In early life he learned the blacksmith's trade, serving four and a half
years' apprenticeship, and then worked at the trade for a time, saving his wages to pay his expenses while attending Oberlin College of Ohio, where he completed his literary training.
In 1853 Mr. Moore went to Delavan, Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he taught school, and also worked at his trade for a short time. In Elkhorn, that state, he was married November 29, 1853, to Miss Harriet Jane Culverson, who was born in Vermont, but was principally reared and educated in Delavan, Wisconsin. Her fa- ther, James Culverson, was one of the pio- neers of that state. In 1854 Mr. Moore located on a farm, and though he engaged in agricultural pursuits through the summer season, he taught school during the winter months. Removing to Iowa, in 1855, he bought a farm in Fayette county, but at the end of a year sold his place and returned to . Wisconsin, living in Walworth county until coming to St. Charles, Illinois, in Novem- ber, 1862. Here he conducted a black- smith shop from 1863 until 1886. His first wife died in .St. Charles in 1872, and of the six children born to them, two died in child- hood. In order of birth they are as follows: Alice passed away at the age of eight years; James is a business man of Elgin; Charles is engaged in business in Aurora; Edwin died in childhood; Carrie J. is engaged in the millinery business in Chicago; and Mary E. is the wife of James H. Furman, who holds a responsible business position in Chicago.
Mr. Moore was again married in St. Charles, April 4, 1889, his second union be- ing with Mrs. Kate A. Chapman, a native of New York City, and a daughter of James P. Furnald, an honored pioneer of St. Charles, who removed here from Genesee
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county, New York. By occupation he was a merchant tailor. From St. Charles he removed to Chillicothe, Missouri, where he lived some years, after which he returned to St. Charles, and here died at the age of sixty-eight years. He was a stanch Re- publican in politics and was a faithful mem- ber of the Congregational church.
. In 1887 Mr. Moore removed to Chicago, but after a residence there of one year, he returned to St. Charles, buying back his old business. A year later, however, he again sold, and was engaged in business for some time in Chicago, though he continued to reside in St. Charles. He subsequently conducted a grocery store for two or three years in the former city, and on disposing. of that he embarked in the tea and coffee business, during all this time continuing to reside in St. Charles. When he sold the latter store he again engaged in black- smithing for two or three years in Chicago, and made his home in that city, but in April, 1896, he returned to St. Charles, where he has since lived. After disposing of his blacksmith shop in Chicago, he en- gaged in the tea and coffee business, in which business he is still engaged. Upright and reliable in all things, he has gained the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact either in business or social life, and through his own industry, enterprise and good management has ac- cumulated a comfortable competence.
Mr. Moore's father was first an old-line Whig in politics, later was a stanch Aboli- tionist and afterward a Republican. Our subject also supported the Abolition party on attaining his majority, voting for John P. Hale, and in 1856 he cast his ballot for John C. Fremont, since which time he has been a pronounced Republican. Being a
warm friend of our public school system, he most efficiently served as a member of the school board for a number of years, and for four years he also served as trustee of St. Charles before the incorporation of the city and assisted in changing it from a village, laying out the wards as they stand to-day. He was a candidate on the temperance ticket, and although he never solicited a vote, he received a large majority at each election.
During his youth Mr. Moore joined the Congregational church in New York, was a member of the old Plymouth church at Oberlin, Ohio, while attending college, and afterward belonged to the church in De- lavan, Wisconsin. In 1863 he became identified with the church in St. Charles, and four years later was chosen deacon, which office he filled continuously until 1887. On his removal to Chicago he united with the Union Park church, and for some time was a teacher in that Sunday-school and in the Oakley Avenue mission. On his return to . St. Charles he was again elected deacon of the congregation there, and when he again removed to Chicago he was chosen deacon of the Warren Avenue Congregational church, of which he became a member. He was also a teacher in the Sunday-school and chairman of the relief committee. Since his return to St. Charles in 1896 he has been re-elected deacon, and is still serving in that capacity, being one of the most faith- ful and untiring workers in the church there. Since a child he has taken great interest in the Sabbath-school, was a teacher in Ober- lin, superintendent of surrounding schools, and also superintendent of a Sabbath-school in Iowa while living there. For nineteen years, at different times, he has filled the same office in St. Charles. An earnest,
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conscientious Christian gentleman, char- dairy farm, but has now a stock farm, rais- itable and benevolent, the world is cer- ing principally Holstein cattle. For many tainly better for his having lived. years he was engaged in raising horses, con- tinuing in that business until prices got too J low to raise at a profit. During a part of the years 1897-8 he lived in Elgin, that his - children might have the benefits of its pub- lic schools, but in the spring of 1898 he re- turned to the farm.
AMES D. McDONALD is one of the best farmers of Plato township, and re- sides upon section 36, on the farm known as the Otter Creek farm. He was born on a farm in Elgin township February 26, 1851, and is the son of John and Rebecca (Den- mark) McDonald, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of England, of whom further mention is made in the sketch of William Wallace McDonald. Until he was sixteen years of age he attended the district schools a portion of each year, but con- fesses at that time he had no love for the school room, and frequently played truant, much to his present sorrow. At the age of nineteen he began working in the creamery at East Plato, but after the death of his fa- ther he took charge of the home farm for his mother until he attained his majority. She then gave him a team of horses and a wagon. He then worked one year for his mother, for which he received three hundred dollars in money, with which to commence life for himself.
For several years after leaving the pa- rental roof Mr. McDonald rented land, which he cultivated with some success, but in 1879, in partnership with his brother, William Wallace, he bought fifty acres of land, which was part of his father's first purchase in Kane county, and built a cream- ery. This they operated until 1885, when they sold out. Four years previously, how- ever, our subject purchased his present farm of four hundred and ten acres; lying in sec- tion 36, Plato township, and section I, Campton township. Until 1890 he ran a
Mr. McDonald was married in Geneva, Kane county, to Miss Frances Sovereign, a daughter of George P. and Agnes (Windsor) Sovereign, the former a native of Canada and the latter of England. The latter, who was born May 27, 1820, was a daughter of George Windsor, who came to America in 1834. George P. Sovereign, who was a natural general mechanic, and had at vari- ous times followed the occupations of a car- penter, painter and wagon-maker, was a son of Richard and Betsy (Plumber) Sover- eign. His father served in the war of 1812. They were the parents of eight children- Mary A., Harriet E., Frances, Ella E., George, Harriet, Myra and Daniel. Of this number, Harriet E. died in early child- hood, and there was one who died in in- fancy. To our subject and wife four chil- dren have been born-Walter Alton, who married Mina Grady, by whom he has one child, Ralph W., is now living on a farm in Plato township; Lily Luella, deceased; James Elmer, who is assisting his father in the cultivation of the home farm; and John P., a student in the schools of Elgin.
Politically Mr. McDonald is a Repub- lican, and has served in various offices, in- cluding those of road overseer, school di- rector and trustee. His farm is one of the finest in the county, well drained and wa- tered, good dwelling, and good barns and other outbuildings. In the yard are many
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fine old trees, which also line the roadside in front of his residence. He is a genial, whole-souled man, and a general favorite throughout the community in which he resides.
H ORACE GILBERT was for many years an honored citizen of Aurora, and one of its most active, enterprising business men. He was born in Otsego county, New York, August 1, 1819. His parents were natives of Connecticut. His father was by occupation a farmer and blacksmith, and for a time conducted a general store, in connection with his other business. Re- ligiously he was a Congregationalist, and for years was a deacon in that church. He was quite influential in the community in which he resided, and was well and favor- ably known throughout the county. His wife, also a member of the Congregational church, was a most worthy woman, and for many years was an invalid. They never came west except on a visit.
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