USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 63
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
H' ENRY M. CRAWFORD, M. D., of St. Charles, has rounded the Psalmist's span of three-score years and ten, but is still actively engaged in the practice of his profession, having for forty-nine years de- voted his life and services to the alleviation of human suffering. It is a record probably almost unparalleled in the history of the state. He came to Illinois when the north- ern district was but sparsely settled and rode for miles over the prairies administering to those who needed medical aid, and his kind- ness and generosity, as well as professional skill, endeared him to the hearts of many. His has been a life of peculiar usefulness and its record forms an important chapter in the history of Kane county.
A native of Ireland, Dr. Crawford was born in the city of Belfast in 1820 and is of Scotch, ancestry. He acquired a classical education and then took a course in the
616
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Royal College of Belfast, an affiliated col- lege of the London University. He was also a student in educational institutions of Dublin and Edinburg, and after completing his medical studies began the practice of his profession, which he continued for four years in Europe. He had built up a very extensive business when in 1848, he finally yielded to the importunities of some friends who wished him to accept a position as surgeon on an emigrant ship bound for New York. On arriving at New York he was induced by an eminent physician of that city to remain for a few days, which period was ultimately extended until he had re- mained in the eastern metropolis for nearly a year.
The Doctor then resolved to make a trip through the west to see the country and in the course of his travels arrived at the vil- lage of St. Charles, Illinois, in October, 1848. While here he, with other members of the party, was overtaken by a severe snow storm, which compelled him to remain until the roads could be opened. While here he was repeatedly urged to remain and engage in the practice of his profession, and finally yielding to this persuasion, St. Charles became his home. He soon had a large patronage that came from a territory extend- ing one hundred miles westward from Lake Michigan and up into Wisconsin. Fre- quently on making these long trips he would have relays of horses stationed at various points in order to take him with all possible speed to the beside of a sufferer. He was often called long distances to take part in a consultation and such a practice in those early days involved many hardships, occa- sioned by the long drives through the storms of winter, or over almost impassable roads in the rainy season of spring and fall.
In 1861 Dr. Crawford was induced by Col. William Lynch to accept a surgeon's commission for the Fifty-eighth Illinois In- fantry, and in that capacity served until the close of the war. He was in the active practice of his profession during six pitched battles and a great many lesser engage- ments, serving as regimental and division surgeon of the Sixteenth Army Corps. He was chief of hospitals at LaGrange, and faithfully did his duty toward the sick and wounded until the close of the war and the return of the soldiers to their homes relieved him of all further effort in this direction. On his return he resumed practice in St. Charles, and in a short time opened an of- fice in Chicago, where he remained for about a year, when he was burned out in the great fire which devastated that city in 1871. He lost therein a large and valua- ble library and all his surgical instruments to the value of several thousand dollars. Then again he returned to St. Charles and hàs since actively been engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery. He has been sur- geon for the Great Western or Maple Leaf railroad, and also acted as surgeon for the Northwestern road in years past. He has successfully performed some very difficult surgical operations, and his professional efforts have been attended with a uniform success that is very gratifying and won him an enviable prestige.
Dr. Crawford was married in St. Charles, in 1855, to Miss Margaret P. McWilliams, a native of Ireland, born and reared in Ulster, near Belfast. They have three children: Henry M., a man of good education, most exemplary habits and excellent business ability, who assists his father in managing the business and estate; Minnie E. and Margaret Hypatia at home.
-
617
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
The Doctor is independent in his polit- ical convictions, supporting the men and measures in which he believes, regardless of party affiliations. He is a believer in free trade or a retaliatory tariff, and also advo- cates a gold standard monetary system, and on this issue gave his support to President McKinley in 1896. In his religious views he is also liberal. He does not use the term religion in its common acceptation, and would prefer the use of the term con- scientious obligations, to implying an obed- ience to the sense of right as gained from the best experience and practice of those whose lives are most worthy of emulation. He believes in leaving every individual free to form their own opinions and feels that there is an inner consciousness whose promptings will lead in the path of virtue and duty if only followed out. His own life is an exemplification of this belief, and St. Charles has no more worthy, honorable or respected citizen than Dr. Crawford. He has always been active and liberal in sup- purt of the measures which have contrib- uted to the upbuilding, advancement and improvement of St. Charles, and has left the impress of his individuality indelibly on the best interests of the city and of the coun- ty through half a century.
F W. BLOSS, a leading hardware mer- chant doing business at No. 25 South Broadway, 'is a native of Aurora, born March 20, 1858, and is the son of Daniel and Telina (Davis) Bloss, who at one time owned the property from Spring Lake cemetery clear to Jackson street. He came from New York to Aurora about 1844, and engaged in carpentering and contracting, which occupation he followed for a few
years. In company with Russell C. Mix he worked on the Blackhawk mill, and also on many other buildings. Strange to relate, the two were buried on the same day, Feb- ruary 21, 1871, Mr. Bloss dying on the 18th of February, from congestion of the lungs. His marriage with. Miss Telina Davis oc- curred about 1845. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, but took no especially active part. His wife is still living at the age of seventy-three years, and a resident of Emporia, Kansas, is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Of their family of five children, our subject is the youngest. Of the others, Henry, who was first a farmer and later a teleg- rapher, died at the age of forty years; Mary J. is the wife of L. Titsworth, of Aurora; Bertha is the wife of C. B. Sims, of Em- poria, Kansas.
The subject of this sketch received his education in the schools of Aurora, and spent his boyhood and youth engaged in farm work. In 1878 he became a clerk in a hardware store in Aurora, and with the exception of one year as postal clerk and one year as clerk in the offices of the Chi -. cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Com- pany, he has been in the hardware business, either as clerk or proprietor. In 1889 he purchased the establishment of his em- ployer, and has since conducted a profitable business. His stock of hardware, stoves, ranges and agricultural implements is always full and complete, and he has his full share of trade of both city and country.
Mr. Bloss has been twice married, his first union, in 1884, being with Miss Belle Elliott, daughter of W. F. and Sarah Elli- ott, of Oswego, Illinois. Two children were born of this union as follows: Daniel Elliott and Belle. The mother died June
618
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
22, 1892, at the age of thirty-two years. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, and for some years was a teacher in the schools of Oswego, Illinois, and in other parts of Kendall county. The second marriage of Mr. Bloss was celebrated September 21, 1894, when he was united with Miss Clara Fickensher, a daughter of Henry Ficken- sher, one of the old settlers of Aurora. She is a member of the German Methodist Episcopal church. Politically, Mr. Bloss is a Republican, and although never aspiring to office himself, he has been quite active in the interests of his friends. A lifelong resi- dent of Aurora and a representative of one of its pioneer families, he takes especial in- terest in everything calculated to promote the growth and prosperity of his native city, and is therefore numbered among Aurora's most enterprising citizens.
A SAHEL T. JUDD is engaged in farm- ing on section 10, Sugar Grove town- ship, and is well known as one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers of the township. He is a native of New York, born in Warren county, on the banks of Lake George, March 21, 1844, and is the son of Dexter C. and Eliza (Brown) Judd, the former a native of Massachusetts, born March 11, 1822, and the latter a native of New York. Sarson L. Judd, the grand- father of our subject, was also born in Massachusetts, from which state he moved to New York about 1830, locating in War- ren county on the banks of Lake George, where he reared his family and spent the remainder of his life.
In 1850, Dexter C. Judd came to Kane county, Illinois, and joined his uncle, Thomas Judd, who settled here about 1836.
On coming to Kane county, Dexter C. Judd purchased about twenty acres in Sugar Grove township, on which he built a dwell- ing and also a blacksmith shop, and there resided a few years, engaged in working at his trade of blacksmith, and also in farming. Selling his original purchase, he bought a farm of two hundred and seventy-five acres, on which were some improvements. Re- pairing the house and building a shop, he began work and in due time became a suc- cessful and prosperous farmer. He later sold the farm to his son, Sarson L., and re- moved to Aurora, where he lived retired and where his death occurred in 1893. His wife passed away one year previous.
The subject of this sketch was but six years old when he came with his parents to Kane county. He received his education in the common schools of Sugar Grove town- ship, and remained at home assisting his father until eighteen years of age. In the fall of 1862, he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and joined Grant's command at Jackson, Tennessee. He participated in the battle of Champion Hills and in the siege and surrender of Vicksburg. Later he did provost duty there for several months, and while there was commissioned second lieutenant, and assigned to the Third United States Heavy Artillery, which was retained on garrison duty at Vicksburg, until the close of the War. He was discharged in August, 1865, although at home on a sick furlough. For nearly two years he was an invalid, due from exposure while in service.
On the 12th of November, 1868, Mr. Judd was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Reynolds, daughter of Silas Rey- nolds, whose sketch appears in this work.
ASAHEL T. JUDD.
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
62 1
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
She was reared on the farm where she now resides. By this union there is one son, Ira R., who is married and resides in the village of Sugar Grove, where he is asso- ciated with S. L. Judd in the agricultural implement business. He is a young man of good business ability and is quite popular in the community where he resides. Soon after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Judd located on a farm in Sugar Grove township, of one hundred and eighty acres, which he pur- chased and improved. They there resided two years, and then came to their present farm, which comprises a part of the old Reynolds homestead. Here they remained for six years and then moved to Aurora, where Mr. Judd engaged in the lumber busi- ness, in which he continued five years. In 1883 they returned to the farm, Mrs. Judd having inherited a part of the estate. In addition to that inherited by Mrs. Judd, he purchased two hundred and twenty acres of other heirs, and now has five hundred and thirty-six acres of well improved and val- uable land. He has remodeled the house and built a good barn, and made other val- uable improvements to the place. In the winter of 1897-8 he fed some fourteen hundred head of. sheep, which he prepared for the market.
Politically, Mr. Judd is a Republican, and has voted for every presidential nominee of the party since 1868, when he cast his ballot for Gen: U. S. Grant. By his fellow citizens he has been honored with a number of local offices, including township collector, which he held two or three terms, commis- sioner of highways, township trustee, and has served as a delegate to various conven- tions of his party. In 1865 he became a Master Mason, and is now a member of both the blue lodge and chapter of Aurora. He
is a well known man in Kane county, hav- ing been identified with its interests almost half a century.
A UGUSTINE H. HUBBARD, EsQ., who is now serving as justice of the peace, with office at No. 19 Chicago street, Elgin, was born on the 17th of March, 1850, in Salem, Michigan, a son of Harvey and Emily (Hamilton) Hubbard, natives of New York state. Four children were born to them: Mary, wife of J. H. Cooley, of Trinidad, Colorado; Martha and Eva, who are also residents of that city; and August- ine H. Throughout the greater part of his active business life the father engaged in the real estate business and,, in farming. For many years he made his home in Minnesota, locating in Winona, that state, at an early day, later lived some time in Elgin, Illinois, and then with his family removed to Trini- dad, Colorado, where he died in 1885, at the age of seventy-two years. His esti- mable wife still makes her home in that city, and is a consistent member of the Congregational church. He belonged to the same church, and served as deacon for many years. While living in Winona, he · filled the office of supervisor for one term, and was also school trustee for many years.
The grandfathers of our subject, Mr. Hubbard and Isaac Hamilton, were born in New York, of English ancestry, and reared large families. The former died in Salem, Michigan, when well advanced in years, and the latter, who was a farmer by occupation, passed away, when living in the same state, at the age of seventy.
Mr. Hubbard, whose name introduces this sketch, was ten years old when his par- ents left their old home in Michigan and
30
622
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
removed to Minnesota, where he spent the following quarter of a century in Winona, St. Paul and Lake City. He attended the Normal School in Winona, and at the age of seventeen began clerking in Lake City, where he remained for several years. Dur- ing the Indian wars, he served as special messenger for General Sibley for two years, after which he attended a commercial col- lege in Chicago. After about three years spent in dairy farming in McHenry county, Illinois, Mr. Hubbard came to Elgin in 1871, and for some time was employed in the city clerk's office. For twenty years he has now acceptably served as justice of the peace, and has also successfully engaged in the life and fire insurance business.
On the 25th of October, 1870, Mr. Hubbard led to the marriage altar Miss Martha L. Hatch, a daughter of Lewis and Mandana (Cole) Hatch, and to them have been born two sons-Frederick, who mar- ried Beyrl Burns, and is now a special agent for the Hanover Fire Insurance Company for Illinois and Michigan; and Roy, who is clerking in Elgin. The wife and mother, who was an active worker and faithful mem- ber of the Baptist church, was called to her final rest in February, 1897. Mr. Hubbard is also a prominent member of the same church, and is now serving as trustee. His political support is always given the men and measures of the Republican party, and he is thoroughly interested in whatever tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the community. His home is at No. 145 Hill street.
RURIC A. FRENCH, an energetic farmer and stock trader, residing on section 32,. Hampshire township, was born in East
Java, Wyoming county, New York, January 13, 1862. His father, Martin French, was born in Pennsylvania, and is a successful mechanic, now living in Wyoming coun- ty, New York. He is the son of Nathaniel French, also a native of Pennsylvania. Martin French married Diana Thornton, a native of East Java, New York, and a daughter of Oben Thornton, who is still living at the age of one hundred and four years, making his home with his daughter, Mrs. French. He married Clarissa Lord, long since deceased. To Martin and Diana French the following named children were born: Jay, a physician of Chautauqua coun- ty, New York; Ruric A., our subject; Myron, who lives on the old farm in Wyoming county ; and Fred, deceased.
The subject of this sketch attended the district school until the age of eighteen, but remained with his father until twenty-two years old. For one year he worked for a stock trader in Wyoming county, and then began business for himself, renting a farm for two years and engaging in agricultural pursuits. He was then in the produce busi- ness for one year, buying through the coun- try and shipping to New York and Phila- delphia. In 1885 he came west on a visit, and September 3, of that year, he married Miss.Anna Gage, born on the farm where they now reside, and a daughter of John and Evaline (Rich) Gage. Her father was born in East Java, New York, and was reared on a farm. In 1846 he came west with his parents, driving from Wyoming county to Buffalo, New York, and from thence comning west by lake to Chicago and by teams to Kane county. The family first settled on section 29, with the Guernseys. John Gage later purchased the farm on sec- tion 32, where he resided until his death,
623
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
which occurred August 20, 1897. During the excitement with reference to gold in California he went to that New Eldorado, and spent the years 1853 and 1854.
John Gage was the son of Solomon and Mary (Guernsey) Gage, the former a native of New Hampshire, born in 1788, and dying in Hampshire, October 21, 1851. The lat- ter was a daughter of Cyril Guernsey, born in New Hampshire in 1786, and dying in Hampshire township, December 17, 1866. Eveline Rich, wife of John Gage, twin sis- ter of Evelyn E. Rich, was born on the old homestead, in Rutland township, Kane coun- ty, April 26, 1839, and is the daughter of Elijah Rich, who was born in Massachu- setts, June 10, 1795, and who moved to the town of Benson, Rutland county, Vermont, about 1810, and who came to Illinois in the spring of 1836, and settled on sections 30 and 31, Rutland township, shortly after his nephew, E. R. Starks, made the first per- manent settlement. He took up a claim south of Starks', and the two kept " bach " one year. The following year he brought out his family, and here resided until his death, November 10, 1871. The first time he came to the country, he drove through from his eastern home with a horse and buggy. Illustrative of the lack of con- venience in those days, it is said that Mr. Rich on one occasion walked to the resi- dence of Mr. Stone, hear Elgin, to grind his axe, no grindstone being near. Their mail was received at Chicago. Elijah Rich was the son of Elijah Rich, Sr., who died in Vermont in 1835, before his son came west. The Rich family in America descended from four brothers, who emigrated from Wales. Elijah Rich first married Triphosa Fowler, by whom he had four children. His sec- ond marriage was with Anise Meacham, by
whom five children were born, of whom Eveline was one. To John and Eveline Gage six children were born, as follows: Frank E., who died in infancy; Frank E., the second, residing at Starks Station; Anna, wife of our subject; John S. living at Starks Station; Perry Hart is an employee of the Chicago & Alton railroad, at Chicago; Clara V., wife of Perry Hart, of Chicago; and Pearl, residing on the old homestead with her sister.
After marriage, Mr. and Mrs. French went east to the old home of Mr. French, where he engaged in the produce business, but the climate not agreeing with his wife, they returned to Kane county in 1886. From 1886 to 1888 Mr. French was in the stock business in Elgin, and then com- menced farming on two hundred acres of the estate of the father of Mrs. French, in which he has continued to the present time, while also engaging quite extensively as a dealer in stock. Like many other farmers in this region, he is engaged principally in dairy farming, milking from fifty to seventy- five cows, and shipping the product to Chi- · cago. Mrs. French received her education in the schools of Burlington and Hampshire townships, and has spent her entire life on the homestead where she now resides, with the exception of the years spent in Wyom- ing county, New York, immediately after her marriage. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Hampshire, and is a woman who delights in doing good. Mr. and Mrs. French have one child, Earle, born December 11, 1887, at 444 South street, Elgin, Illinois, who is attending the Hampshire schools. Politically Mr. French is a Republican, and is an energetic, hustling farmer and stock trader, a good neighbor and excellent citizen.
.
624
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
G EORGE FITCH RUGGLES, deceased, was of English descent, whose lineage can be traced back to William the Con- queror, of England, while his more imme- diate ancestors for several generations were natives of Rutland, Vermont. He was born December 12, 1818, at Rutland, Vermont, and is the son of Major John and Pollie (Gould) Ruggles. His early education was obtained at Castleton Seminary, Vermont, supplemented by a course at Middlebury College, Vermont, where he graduated in 1848. On account of his health being deli- cate, he went to Virginia after leaving col- lege, and gave instruction to pupils in a private family, after which he clerked in a furniture store at Boston, Massachusetts, where his brother had an interest in the business. But before proceeding further with the personal history our subject, we give briefly a record of his illustrious pro- genitors:
(1) William the Conqueror, king of Eng- land, 1066, married Lady Matilda, daugh- ter of Baldwin V., count of Flanders, and great-granddaughter of Hugh Capet, king of France. (2) Princess Gundred, died 1085, married William Warren, earl of Surrey. (3) Lady Editha de Warren married Gerard de Gournay. (4) Hugh de Gournay, died 1180. . (5) Hugh de Gournay, lord of Bev- erstan, Gloucestershire. (6) Anselme, Bar- on de Gournay, died 1240. (7) Robert de Gournay, died 1268. (8) Anselme de Gour- nay, died 1285. (9) John de Gournay, lord of Beverstan. (10) Lady Elizabeth de Gournay, married Sir John ap Adam, 1291. (II) Sir John ap Adam. (12) William ap Adam. (13) Sir John ap Adam, knight. (14) Thomas ap Adam, married Lady Jane, daughter of Sir John Ing, knight. (15) Sir John ap Adam, married Lady Millicent,
daughter of Sir Matthew Besylls. (16) Sir John Adam, married Clara, daughter of Roger Powell. (17) Roger Adams, married Jane Eliot. (18) Thomas Adams, married Marie Upton. (19) John Adams, married Cáthering Stebbing. (20) John Adams, married Margary Squier. (21) Richard Adams, married Margaret Armager. (22) William Adams, married Miss Borington. (23) Henry Adams, of Braintree, Massachu- setts, died in 1646. He was also ancestor of Presidents John and John Quincy Adams, and the Revolutionary patriot, Samuel Ad- ams. (24) Edward Adams, of Medfield, Massachusetts, died 1716. (25) Henry Adams, of Medford, Massachusetts, and Plainfield (now Canterbury), Connecticut, born October 29, 1663. (26) Ruth Adams, married Amos Kingsley. (27) Isaiah Kings- ley. (28) Phineas Kingsley. (29) Eunice Kingsley. married Major John Ruggles, who fought in the war of 1812. (30) George Fitch Ruggles, the subject of this sketch.
George Fitch Ruggles, our subject, was married April 25, 1856, to Louise Gould, whose parents, John and Theodosia (Nich- ols) Gould, was one of the old and honored families of Essex county, New York. She was the youngest of a family of seven, and was educated at the Miss Lees Seminary, Burlington, Vermont. Major John Ruggles was an extensive land owner and was twice married, the first time in 1800. His second wife, Eunice Kingsley, he married in 1807. This lady was a descendant of John Alden, who came over in the Mayflower. George F. Ruggles is the eighth in direct descent from John Alden.
In 1860, our subject and wife and his daughter, Theodosia, now Mrs. W. T. Reeves, came to Galesburg, Illinois, by way of Chicago, but soon afterwards went to
625
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Milwaukee, where Mr. Ruggles started a linseed oil factory, which soon afterwards was destroyed by fire. The family then moved to Chicago, where Mrs. Ruggles' mother and three brothers were living, her father having died in the east. Mr. Rug- gles then became engaged in the life insur- ance business, at which he continued until 1868, when he came to Aurora to act as superintendent of the foundry work of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad shops. The company doing the work for the railroad at that time was N. S. Bouston & Co., Chicago. A severe attack of the grip caused retirement from the shops in 1791, and he was an invalid for two and a half years, dying December 4, 1893. His only child, Theodosia, is the wife of Dr. W. T. Reeves, D. D. S., doing business in Chicago. They have four children-Helen, Allen, Marjorie and Louise. During his life Mr. Ruggles was a member of the Congre- gational church, and for many years a dea- con in the same.
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.