USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 67
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To our subject and wife six children
have been born: Ethel Josephine, William James, Florence Luella, Stella May, Lil- lian Mildred, and John Alexander. The first named died at the age of two months. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson are members of the Episcopal church, and fraternally, he is a member of the Dundee tent, No. 17, K. O. T. M. Politically he is a Democrat and has served as highway commissioner and road supervisor. He is an excellent farmer, thrifty and energetic, and keeps his place under a high state of cultivation. Part of his land lies in the river bottoms while the remainder is on high ground, well watered and well drained.
D ORR BROTHERS, who are well- known citizens of Sugar Grove town- ship; reside on a fine farm comprising about three hundred acres on section 8, which has been in the family for nearly sixty years. Marshall Dorr was born June 10, 1839, and his brother, Haskell Dorr, was born March 22, 1844. Sullivan Dorr, the father of Marshall and Haskell Dorr, was a native of West Moreland, New Hampshire, born in 1809. His father, Asel Dorr, was a native. of New England and died when Sullivan was a child. The latter grew to manhood in his native town and state, and there mar- ried Elmira Gurler, who was born in Keene, New Hampshire. . In 1837, with his family he came to Illinois by the way of the Erie canal and the Great Lakes to Chicago, which was then but a small village, giving little idea of the prominence which it has attained in the years that have passed. He located near Ottawa, in La Salle county, where he remained a short time and then came to Kane county, where he purchased the place in Sugar Grove township, on which
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his sons and one daughter yet reside. He first entered a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he subsequently added other land. Building a log house in which the family could live, he then went to work and fenced the claim and commenced the devel- opment of the farm. For many years he hauled all his produce to Chicago, where he obtained the most of supplies for family use and also purchased lumber for building which in due time were erected. The trip, which was with ox teams, required two or three days going and coming. On this farın Sullivan Dorr passed the remainder of his life, dying May 22, 1888, at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife passed away in January, 1887. They were both highly respected people and he was regarded as one of the most progressive farmers in the township, and few men had more friends in Kane county.
Marshall Dorr grew to manhood on the farm and was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood, supplemented by one term in the seminary at Aurora. When the war for the Union commenced he had just attained his majority, and one year later, on August 12, 1862, he enlisted as a member of Company E., One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he went south into Kentucky and Tennessee. During his term of enlistinent he participated in a number of prominent engagements, among which were Raymond, Mississippi, Jackson, Tennessee, Baker's Creek and the siege and surrender of Vicksburg. In the vicinity of the latter city the regiment remained about one year and then went to New Orleans and Mobile . Bay, at which place it participated in the engagement. From Mobile the regiment was sent to Montgomery, Alabama, where
it remained until the close of the war, being mustered out at Vicksburg, August 16, 1865. From Vicksburg he went to Chicago, was there paid off and received his final dis- charge.
After receiving his discharge, Mr. Dorr returned to his home in Sugar Grove town- ship, since which time he and his brother have been engaged in the cultivation of the home farm. They are considered good practical farmers and have been fairly suc- cessful in life. The brothers are stanch Republicans and each have supported the men and measures of that party since attain- ing their majority. They have never sought office of any kind and care nothing for offi- cial honors. Marshall, however, was elected and served one-term as township collector. They are well known in Aurora and other parts of the county, and are men of exem- plary habits and upright character. Their home is presided over by their sister, Filissa. Another sister, Imogine, is now the wife of William Baker, a farmer of Sugar Grove township. One sister, Ellen, grew to ma- ture years, and died November 1, 1877, at the age of twenty-six years.
REV. GEORGE H. WELLS, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Hampshire, Illinois, was born at Fulton, Missouri, May 18, 1839. His father, Aaron Wells, was born in Nicholas county, Ken- tucky, at Lower Blue Licks, in 1805, and died in 1871, at the age of sixty-six years. Like most Kentuckians, he was tall and muscular. The old farm at Lower Blue Licks comprises eight hundred acres, and is now owned by a cousin of our subject who is six feet, six inches in heighth. The family are long lived, the mother of Aaron
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Wells living to be one hundred and four years old. By trade Aaron Wells was a blacksmith in early life and for some years was a commission merchant at Mexico, Missouri, and Sterling, Illinois. He mar- ried Elizabeth Young, a daughter of Jacob Young. She was born in Kentucky in 1799, and died at the age of seventy-one years. They were the parents of six children, three of whom are now living. Three of their sons served in the Civil war; one was killed by Quantrell's men.
The subject of this sketch attended school at Fulton, Missouri, and colleges at Fulton, St. Charles and Fayette, all in Missouri. Later he attended the university J TOEL WAGNER is the owner of two valuable and well-improved farms in Big Rock township, but is now living a re- tired life in the village of Big Rock. He dates his residence in Kane county since 1851. A native of New York, he was born in Fort Plains, Montgomery county, Novem- ber 11, 1834, and is the son of Truman Wagner, also a native of the same county and state. The Wagner family are of Ger- man ancestry, and trace their origin to Jo- seph Wagner, who came with his parents at Evanston, Illinois. He began teaching in Missouri and spent some years in the schoolroom as a teacher. He taught in Missouri country schools during the war. For one year he was principal of the school at Praneville, Illinois, at Augusta, two years, El Paso, one year, and one year at Ply- mouth, and two years at Dixon seminary. He began theological studies when he began teaching, and pursued a four-years' course after he entered Rock River conference. He was licensed as a local preacher in 1861, . to the new world when a lad of four years. and in the fall of 1873 united with the Rock Charles Wagner, the grandfather of our subject, was likewise born in Montgomery county, and served his country in the sec- ond war with Great Britain, in which he held a commission. Some of the members of the family served in the Revolutionary war. River conference. His first charge was at La Salle, followed by Savanna, Council Hill, Dakota, Scales Mound, New Milford, Rich- mond, Nunda, Marengo, Rock Falls, Malta, and Hampshire, being appointed to the latter place in October, 1895.
Mr. Wells was married at Morrison, Illinois, March 30, 1868, to Miss Lou Sea- mon, who was born in River Phillips, Nova Scotia, and was a daughter of James S. and Cynthia O. (Johnson) Seamon, the former a native of Kings county, Nova Scotia, and the latter of Cumberland county, Nova
Scotia. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have two sons -Rev. George A., a Methodist Episcopal minister, at Stewart, Illinois, who married Maude Adell Smith, by whom he has one child, Verna Madge; and Harry S., who is now attending the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois.
In politics Mr. Wells is a Prohibitionist, but was formerly a Republican, but voted for William McKinley and Hopkins. It is as a minister of the Gospel that he takes delight. His heart is in the work and his desire in life is to do good to his fellow men.
Truman Wagner was reared in Mont- gomery county, New York, and there mar- ried Katy Snyder, a native of the same county and a daughter of Lodowic Snyder, of German extraction. In 1837 Captain Charles Wagner came with his family to Kane county, Illinois, and located on a por-
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tion of the present site of Aurora, and took up a claim and later entered the land. He was one of the first settlers of the village, where he died at the age of eighty years. Truman Wagner engaged in farming in St. Lawrence county, New York, and also in the manufacture of lumber. In 1851 he came to Kane county, Illinois, and bought land in Big Rock township, his first pur- chase being two hundred and forty acres, which was fairly well improved with a log house, a log stable and an orchard of bear- ing trees. He at once commenced the fur- ther improvement of the place, erecting a substantial brick house, with good barns and other outbuildings. He was a success- ful farmer, and here spent his last years, dying in 1871. His wife survived him a number of years.
Joel Wagner is the oldest of a family of three sons and three daughters born to Tru- man and Katy Wagner. All grew to ma- ture years. The second in order of birth was Hiram D., who now resides in the vil -. lage of Hinckley, De Kalb county, where he is engaged in banking, and also in the grain and lumber trade, being recognized as one of the most prominent men of the town- ship. Kate M. is now the wife of W. H. Hall, a business man of Springfield, Illinois. Laura is the wife of Archie Miller, now liv- ing a retired life in the village of Hinckley. . Lydia is the wife of J. F. Jackson, a farmer residing near Hinckley. Charles, who was a soldier in the war for the Union, a mem- ber of the Fifty-second Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, was taken sick and re- moved to the St. Louis hospital, and there died.
Joel Wagner came to Kane county, Illi- nois, when sixteen years of age. In his na- tive state he had good educational advan-
tages, and on his arrival in Kane county, he attended school at Aurora, and also at the Batavia Institute. He helped his father open up and develop the farm and remained with him until after he attained his major- ity. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany E, Thirty-sixth Regiment, Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, with which he went to Rollo, Missouri, and was with General Seigel and Curtis through Missouri. The first battle in which he participated was at Pea Ridge; leaving Missouri, the regiment was sent into .Kentucky, and was there in the engagement at Perryville. In the battle of Stony River, he was wounded, being shot through the face. The scar yet remains with him, a reminder of the time in which he went out in defense of the old flag. He was wounded December 31, 1862, and was taken to the hospital at Nashville, and was discharged from the service in March, 1863. Returning home, he suffered from the wound for nearly a year, and after his recov- ery he resumed farming. He was married in April, 1865, to Miss Anna Leyson, a na- tive of Pennsylvania, born in 1841, and a daughter of Reese Leyson, who came to Kane county in 1852. By this union there were two sons, Willard S., married and car- rying on the old farm, and Arthur Herbert, who married and died at the age of twenty- six years, leaving a wife and one son, Ira Glenn. He lost one daughter, Anna, who "died at the age of seven months.
Soon after marriage, Mr. Wagner set- tled on a farm in Big Rock township, where he remained four years, and then removed to Kaneville township, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and seventy acres, on which he resided four years. About two years after the death of his father, he pur- chased the interests of the other heirs to the
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homestead, which comprised three hundred and sixty-two acres, and on that farm he continued for twenty years. While resid- ing there he purchased another farm of two hundred and forty acres, which is one of the finest farms in Kane county.
While residing on the old homestead, Mrs. Anna Wagner departed this life, June 7, 1879, and Mr. Wagner married in De Kalb county, Illinois, November 15, 1880, Miss Elizabeth Diedrich, who was born and reared in De Kalb county, and a daughter of Peter Diedrich, a native of Germany, . and a pioneer of De Kalb county. By this marriage are two sons, Frank Leslie and Clarence F., both students of the home school.
In 1895 Mr. Wagner built a fine resi- dence in the village of Big Rock, which is one of the neatest and best furnished resi- dences in the place. There the family now reside. Mr. Wagner had ever been a pub- lic-spirited man, lending aid to various public enterprises, having a tendency to build up his town and county. He was one of the original stockholders, and assisted in the organization of the Big Rock Creamery, of which he was the first president, and manager for five or six years.
In politics Mr. Wagner is independent, giving his support to the men he considers best qualified for the place. He cast his first presidential ballot for the "little gi- ant," Stephen A. Douglas. He also voted three times for Grover Cleveland. For fif- - teen years he served as road commissioner, and twelve years as justice of the peace, the latter office he declining to longer fill. He has been assessor of the township, trustee, and treasurer of the school funds. In his religious views Mr. Wagner is liberal, be- lieving in the teaching of the Golden Rule.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and for some years was quite active in the lodge at Kaneville. A residence of forty- five years in Kane county has brought him prominently before the people, and he is well and favorably known and universally respected.
C HARLES M. CROUSE, of Big Rock, Kane county, Illinois, is now living a retired life. He was born in Dutchess county, New York, August 26, 1841. His grandfather, George Crouse, was also a na- tive of New York, a well-to-do and respect- ed man, who for many years was engaged in the hotel business in Dutchess county, that state. His son, George Crouse, Jr., was born in Dutchess county, in 1808. He there grew to manhood and married Persis Emeline Amnermon, also a native of Dutchess county, New York. He was by trade a tanner, but for some years was en- gaged in the butcher business prior to his coming west. In 1843 he came to Kane county, Illinois, and, after residing here a few months, returned to his native state, driving back with teams. Three times did. he make the trip back and forth in that way. After coming to Kane county and remaining a while, he would become home- sick, return to New York, and would again come to the Prairie state. He finally made a permanent settlement in Big Rock town- ship, first purchasing eighty acres, which he . improved, and to which he later added sixty-seven acres, which he converted into a fine farm. After the death of his wife in 1857, which was caused by being thrown from a wagon, the team running away, he sold the old place and located in the north- ern part of the township, where he pur-
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chascd one hundred and sixty acres in one would ever accept. While not members of farm and forty acres of timber. On the any church, Mr. and Mrs. Crouse are be- lievers in Christianity and the golden rule. Both are well known and are highly respected in the community in which they reside, and are hospitable, generous people. place was an old log house, which, in due time, he replaced with a better onc, and, improving the farm, he there residcd until 1885. His family consisted of four sons and two daughters, of whom our subject and one sister, Ellen, now the wife of Will- iam Knickerbocker, of Aurora, are the only survivors. One daughter, Julia, married Elias Carpenter, and located in Big Rock, but both are now deceased, leaving nine children and a fine estate. Egbert grew to manhood and married Ellen Seavey, and died in 1887. For some years he lived with our subject, the two being in partner- ship in their farming operations, but finally dividing the estate, each taking one hun- dred and twenty acres.
Charles M. Crouse came to Kane coun- ty when a child, and here grew to mature years, receiving very limited school priv- ileges. From the time he was old enough to hold the handles of a plow, he engaged in farm work, becoming a practical farmer in every respect. In 1868, he married Miss Anna Seavey, a daughter of Mark Sea- vey, and a sister of the wife of his brother Egbert. After living upon the farm until 1892, he rented the place, built a large and substantial residence in the village of Big Rock, to which he removed, and is now liv- ing a retired life. Mr. and Mrs. Crouse have no children, their first born, Freddie, dying in 1884, at the age of seven years. They also lost two in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Crouse is a Democrat, with which party he has been identified since attaining his majority. A believer in free silver, he gave his support to William J. Bryan in 1896. For years he served as school director, the only local office that he
M cCLELLAN DAUBERMAN, deceased, was a well-known citizen of Kaneville. The following sketch was prepared by an intimate friend, Mr. F. L. Young, who knew him well, and is a well-deserved. tribute to one who was cut off in the prime of life:
" McClellan Dauberman was born in Kaneville, March 1, 1862, and died at that place, which had always been his home, October 10, 1896, after an illness of less than five days' duration, of acute appendi- citis. He was not married. He leaves three brothers and one sister as his nearest relatives, who deeply mourn his loss. His parents were George and Matilda (Spangler) Dauberman. [See sketch of J. S. Dauberman on another page of this work. ]
" His early life was spent on his father's farm, which aided to give him what he possessed in a remarkable degree, a splen- did and vigorous physical development, sup- plemented by fine mental and intellectual qualities. Since the age of twenty-one years he has becn engaged in the mercantile business in Kancville, leaving at the time of his death a comfortable fortune, largely the result of his business sagacity.
" He was a man of great business ability, always methodical and accurate, whether doing the same for himself, the public or his neighbors. In his death they all suffer
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MCCLELLAN DAUBERMAN.
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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a personal loss, which is widely felt, and not easily replaced. At the time of his de- cease he was the treasurer of Kaneville township, the duties of which office he al- ways performed with fidelity and accuracy. He was also an honored member of the Waltonian Club, of Elgin, many of whose members attended his funeral at Kaneville.
"In politics he was an ardent Repub- lican, whose influence reached and was felt beyond his own town. He was also one of a trio of natives of Kaneville serving on the Kane County Central Committee in 1896, where his counsels were valued and appre- ciated in an eminent degree. . Beholding him stricken down as he was in the bright glow of his manhood's prime, the great truth is again brought home to our hearts that we, too, are ' Passing Away.'
" It is written on the rose In its glory's bright array; Read what those buds disclose- ' Passing away.'
It is written on the brow, Where the spirit's ardent ray Lives, burns, and triumphs now- ' Passing away.'"
C HAMBERS D. CALHOUN, M. D., of
Elburn, Illinois, is a physician and surgeon of acknowledged ability. He was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1858, and is the son of Samuel S. and Hannah (Sheridan) Calhoun, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. By occupation Samuel S. Calhoun was a farmer. His father, John Calhoun, took up several sections of land in Armstrong county, coming in possession of it at an early day. He lived to be ninety- one years of age. The family descended from one of .two brothers who came from Scotland, but who were really North of Ire- land people. .
Samuel S. Calhoun was a very promi- dent Democrat in his native state and was very active in political affairs, taking the stump during each campaign and delivering many speeches. He occupied many official positions in his town and county, and in his capacities of business man, citizen and pub- lic official, his actions were characterized by uprightness and sincere devotion to the best interests of his community, and he enjoyed the universal esteem of his fellow men.
During the dark days of the Civil war, Samuel S. Calhoun espoused the side of the Union, and organized a company at the be- ginning of the war, but on account of the illness of his wife could not leave home. About the close of the war another company was raised of which he was elected captain, and with which he started for the front, but only got as far as Pittsburg, when he was notified that the services of the company were not needed. The company was fully uniformed and ready for the fray. Later he
" His fine mental qualities shone strongly forth every day of his life. He was. always neat in person and apparel .. With him order was heaven's first law. His large store was always kept in perfect order, and the neatness of his private bachelor apartments were always the subject of ap- proving comment by his many visiting friends. His funeral was one of the largest ever held in Kaneville. Nearly every town in the county was represented, showing the · organized two companies of militia. Few high esteem in which he was held outside men in Armstrong county were better known. his own town." During the Grange movement, he was a 32
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high official in that order. His death oc- curred the day before Christmas, 1896, at the age of seventy-four years. While pre- paring an address for the Christian Endeavor Society, he was called up higher and never spoke again after receiving a stroke of paralysis. For many years he was an elder in the Presbyterian church, of which he and his wife had been lifelong members. She is yet living, an honored resident of Pittsburg, living with her son, Rev. Joseph P. Cal- houn, a noted divine of the Presbyterian church, whose services as a pastor of the church in Pittsburg is appreciated by all his flock. Of their ten children, nine are yet living: Rev. Joseph P., at Pittsburg; Rev. John, a Congregational minister at Mande- ville, Wyoming; Doctor Grier O .; Doctor Chambers D., our subject; Rev. Harry, a Presbyterian minister, residing near Wells- ville, Ohio; Doctor William J., residing in St. Charles, Illinois; Samuel C., an attorney in Pennsylvania; Cyrus Pershing, a farmer of Pennsylvania; and Herbert Bruce, a machinist of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm and was educated in the district schools and finished a course of about three years at the Glade Run Academy at Day- ton, Pennsylvania. He remained at home and assisted in the cultivation of the farm, also taught school for a number of years in Pennsylvania. He read medicine with his cousin, Dr. Franklin Calhoun, of Dayton, Pennsylvania, then attended the Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1884. Coming west, he located at Earlville, Illinois, and com- menced the practice of his profession with Dr. Vosburg, under the firm name of Vos- burg & Calhoun. This partnership contin- tinued two years and was then dissolved,
Dr. Calhoun moving to Troy Grove, Illi- nois, where he remained two years, and then came to Elburn, where he has since continued to reside, and where he has built up a large practice in town and country.
Dr. Calhoun was married June 2, 1887, the same day on which President Cleveland was married. He wedded Miss Sophia Mar- tin, a native of New York. She is a true Christian woman, and is especially inter- ested in the work of the Christian Endeavor, being one of its officers and leaders, in the Congregational church of Elburn, of which she is a member. The Doctor is also a member of that church, and is now serving as deacon and trustee. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order, in which he has filled most of the chairs. In politics he is independent, choosing the man rather than favoring the party.
Dr. Calhoun is a member of the Fox River Valley Medical Association, and for a time was a member of the Central Illinois Medical Association. At present he is health officer of Elburn, and is examining physician for the Ætna Insurance Company, the New York Life, the Union Central, of Cincinnati, Ohio, the Michigan Central, the Western Mutual Life, of Chicago, and sev- eral others. He is a public spirited and pro- gressive citizen, believes in keeping abreast with the times, and takes a deep interest in the welfare of the community in which he resides.
J J. WILLIAMS, an enterprising farmer, residing on section 18, Kaneville town- ship, where he operates a farm of two hun- dred and seventy-three acres, first came to Kane county, in 1866. He is a native of Ohio, born in Jackson county, July 15,
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