The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 68

Author: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 798

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1840. His father, James Williams, was a native of Wales, where he grew to manhood, and married Hannah Thomas, also a na- tive of Wales. In 1836 they emigrated to the United States, locating first in Jackson county, Ohio, where they remained four years, and then removed to Iowa county, Wisconsin, where he entered land, and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a prosperous farmer, but was cut off in the prime of life, dying in 1848. His wife survived him but one year, dying in 1849.

The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in Iowa county, Wisconsin, where he had very limited educational advantages. His parents dying when he was a mere lad, he had to make his own way in the world. In 1860 he went to Idaho, and there spent four years in silver mining, with indifferent success. In 1864 he re- turned to Wisconsin, where he remained but a very short time, and then to came Big Rock township, Kane county, where for two years he worked on a farm, by the month. In 1867 he was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Whildin, a daughter of Jere- miah Whildin, now deceased, and a sister of John C. Whildin, whose sketch appears · in this work. She was a native of New York, and came to Kane county, Illinois, with her parents, when a mere child. By this union there were four children, Gertie Ann, a young lady at home; Eveline, now the wife of William Johnson, a farmer of Kaneville township; Leroy and Otis, at home. The wife and mother died in 1882, mourned by family and a large circle of friends.

Immediately after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Williams moved to Champaign coun- ty, Illinois, where he bought a farm in East Bend township, and there resided two

years. He then sold and located in De- Kalb county, about two miles from Hinck- ley, where he engaged in farming for six years, then sold and returned to Kane coun- ty, and purchased the farm where he now resides. Since locating here, Mr. Williams has made some permanent and substantial improvements on the place, tilling it and making it a most valuable farm. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and while tak- ing a commendable interest in political affairs, has never sought nor desired office. Fraternally he is a Master Mason, a mem- ber of the blue lodge at Elburn. For thirty-two years, with the exception of a short time spent in Champaign and DeKalb counties, Mr. Williams has been a resident of Kane county, and by its people is held in the highest respect. Commencing life with but little means, by his labor and en- terprise, he has become the possessor of a large and valuable farm, and a comfort- able home, where he may spend his declin- ing years.

JOSEPH INGHAM, who resides on sec- tion 14, Sugar Grove township, is rec- ognized as one of the leading farmers in the township. He is a native of Kane county, born on the farm where he now re- sides, October 18, 1839. His father, Colo- nel Samuel S. Ingham, was a native of Oneida county, New York, born in 1801, while his grandfather, Joseph Ingham, was born on the West India Islands. The latter was a sailor, and was master of a vessel for twenty-five years. Leaving the sea, he settled in the town of Steuben, Oneida county, New York, where his son Samuel, was born and reared.

Samuel S. Ingham married Nancy

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Owens, also a native of Oneida county, New York, and whose father was a soldier in the Revolutionary army. In 1839, with his family he came to Kane county, Illinois, arriving here on the 17th of June, making the entire trip with a team. On arriving here, he purchased a claim from his brother Joseph, who came to the county in 1835. The claim consisted of about one hundred and thirty acres, on which Joseph had built a small shanty. but had made no other im- provements. Colonel Ingham at once began the development of the farm and about 1858 erected a large and substantial brick residence. His barns and other out- buildings were of the best, and all improve- ments were in keeping with the times. As his means increased he bought more land until his farm consisted of over six hundred acres. In the early day he kept a hotel, which was the stopping place for many prospectors and the traveling public for some years. He was an active, enterprising inan, and was well known throughout Kane and adjoining counties. While residing in New York he served as colonel of militia, and the title continued with him on his removal to this state. His death occurred on the home farm, March 17. 1864; while his wife survived him some fifteen years, dying in 1879, in Aurora, where she was then re- siding.

Joseph Ingham is the oldest of a family of eight children, of whom three are yet living. John, who owns an interest in the homestead, resides on the home farm, while his sister, Mrs. Adeline Spencer, resides in Aurora. Joseph spent his youth on the old farm, and received his primary education in the common schools and for two years was a student in Lombard University, Gales- burg, Illinois. He enlisted September 20,

1861, in Company A, Thirty-sixth Illinois Cavalry, and went to the front, participat- ing in the battles of Pea Ridge, Iuka, Cor- inth, Black River Bridge, the siege of Vicks- burg, and with Banks on the Red River expedition. In February of 1864, he veter- anized, and came home on a furlough, after which he joined his regiment and continued in the service until August of 1864, when he was mustered out and returned home. Enlisting as a private, he was appointed corporal and later quartermaster sergeant. While in the service he lost no time by reason of sickness.

After his discharge Mr. Ingham returned home and took charge of the farm in 1865. In 1869 he married Elizabeth Sticklane, a native of Kane county, born in the town of Aurora, September 28, 1840, and a daugh- ter of Robert Sticklane, a pioneer settler of the county. After his marriage he contin- ued the cultivation of his farm until 1878, when he nioved to Clay county, Illinois, and operated a large farm for two years. He then returned to the old farm, where he has since continued to reside. For about twelve years he engaged in the dairy business in connection with his farming operations and in that line met with success. For about twenty years he and his brother John have been extensively engaged in feeding cattle.

Mr. and Mrs. Ingham have three chil- dren living: the oldest, Samuel S., is a well- educated young man, a graduate of the West Side Aurora High School, and is now en- gaged with his father in the cultivation of the farm. Sarah is a well-educated young lady, and is principal of the Pennsylvania Avenue School, of Aurora. Millie is a grad- uate of. the West Side High School, Aurora, and resides at home. Two of their children died in early childhood.

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Politically Mr. Ingham is a stanch Re- of his brothers was also engaged, and where publican, although his first presidential bal- he was wounded, from the effects of which he later died. '"lot was cast for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860. Since that time, however, he has been an advocate of the principles of the Republican party. For nine years he served as assessor of his township, and has also served as col- lector and in other minor official positions. In the fall of 1892 he was elected county re- corder of Kane county, and filled the office in an acceptable manner, the term of four years. Fraternally he is a Master Mason, a mem- ber of the lodge at Aurora. Religiously Mrs. Ingham is a member of the Baptist church of Aurora. For fifty-nine years, with the exception of a short time spent in Clay county, Mr. Ingham has been a resident of Kane county, and is well known throughout its length and breadth as an enterprising man, one willing to do all in his power to advance its best interests.

JOSIAH A. FINK, who is now living a retired life in the village of Kaneville, but who for many years was engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits, and who is the owner of a well-improved farm of two hundred acres adjoining the village of Kaneville, came to Kane county in 1851. He was born in Madison county, New York, November 16, 1814. His father, John I. Fink, was born in Montgomery county, New York, as was also his grandfather, John Fink, while his great-grandfather, William Fink, was a native of New York, but of German parent- age. The latter was in the French and Indian war of 1755, and for many years there was in the family a sword which was carried by him in those wars. John Fink was a minute man of the Revolution, and was in the battle of Oristany, in which one

John Fink, the grandfather of our sub- ject, moved with his family to Madison county, New York, in 1806, and wa's among the pioneers of that county, where he pur- chased land, which was covered by heavy growth of timber, and which he cleared and opened up a farm. His son, John I. Fink, there married Nancy Anguish, a native of Pennsylvania, who was also a pioneer of Madison county, where she, removed with her parents. They became the parents of four sons and three daughters, of whom our subject and the three daugh- ters alone survive. After engaging in farm- ing for some years in Madison county, John Fink removed with his family to Onondago county, New York, and located on the Sen- eca river, near Baldwinsville, where he spent the last years of his life, engaged in agriculture. His wife survived him a num- ber of years.

Josiah A. Fink grew to manhood in Madison county, New York, where he re- ceived a fair common-school education. He remained at home assisting his father in carrying on the home farm until after at- taining his majority. He has been three times married, his first union being Nancy Norris, who died in Onondago county, New York, leaving two children, Marilda, now the wife of Azel Howard, of De Kalb county, Illinois, and Nancy, wife of Captain Wells, of Sabbona, Illinois. After the death of his first wife Mr. Fink returned to Madi- son county and married Mary Ann Norris, who was his first wife's sister. She came west with her husband and died in Kane county. By that union there were two children, one of whom died in childhood.

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The other, Norris, married, and resides in of the township trustees. He was once Iowa, where he is engaged in farming. In elected justice of the peace, but would not qualify. In the various conventions of his party he has often served as a delegate. For years Mr. Fink has been a member of the Baptist church, while his wife is of the Congregational faith. His residence of for- ty-seven years in Kane county has brought him prominently before the people, and he is well and favorably known throughout the county. 1859 Mr. Fink married Miss Louisa Coy, who was born in Chenango county, New York, where she was reared and educated. She was a successful teacher in New York, and also in Kane county, before her mar- riage. By this union there are two living children-Frankie, now the wife of William Frederick, a farmer of Kaneville township, who operates the old Fink homestead, and Julia M., who was educated at Sugar Grove and the Dixon Normal School, grad- uating from the latter institution. She is JOHN F. JANECKE, JR., dealer in hard- now a successful teacher in the public schools. One daughter died in childhood.

In 1851 Mr. Fink sold his farm in New York and came to Kane county, Illinois, where he joined his wife's father. He here bought a. farm of two hundred acres, the present homestead, of which about one hundred acres was under cultivation, and on which was a small frame house. He at once began the improvement of the place, and has since built a good and substantial residence, good barns and other outbuild- ings. On that farm he continued to reside for thirty-two years, when he rented the place and moved to the village of Kaneville, where he purchased residence property, which he later . repaired and remodeled, making a very comfortable home, and where he has since continued to reside. A life of industry and toil has enabled him to spend his declining days in ease and comfort. .

Politically, Mr. Fink was originally a Democrat, but on account of his liberty-lov- ing views he united with the Republican party on its organization, voting for its first presidential candidate, John C. Fremont. He was elected and served one term as su- pervisor, and also served four years as one

ware and tinware, Hampshire, Illinois, was born in Hanover township, Cook coun- ty, Illinois, near the city of Elgin, Septem- ber 4, 1874, and is the youngest of four chil- dren born to John F. Janecke, who was born in the city of Lenzen, province of West Preugnitz, Prussia, November 4, 1830, and who came to America at the age of thirty- one years. He was the son of John G. and Elizabeth Janecke, both of whom were also natives of the same province.

John F. Janecke, Sr., sailed from Ham- burg, January 1, 1852, on the English sail- ing vessel, Charles Clark, and was eight weeks in making the voyage across the At- lantic. The ship was wrecked on the coast of Newfoundland, and the passengers and crew were three days and nights without food or shelter on a bleak coast. He saw a friend and companion engulfed in the icy waves. The wreck was in daylight or all would have been lost. There was a heavy fog and land was not discovered until the ship was nearly on the rock. Fishermen from St. John came to their rescue, and they were taken to that city where they re- mained three days. From there they were sent to Quebec, and everything having been

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lost, free transportation was provided to in this book. One child, Lavoy, has been Chicago for those desiring it. On his arri- born to them. Fraternally Mr. Janecke is a member of Hampshire lodge, A. F. & A. M., and of Elgin chapter, R. A. M. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Knights of the Maccabees. In politics he is a Republican. As a busi- ness man he is energetic and enterprising, and as a citizen is ever willing to do his part in building up and advancing the interest of his adopted city and county. val Mr. Janecke secured work on the rail- road, at which he was employed for two years. He then engaged with an ice com- pany in Chicago, with whom he reinained ten years. In 1864, he went to Hanover township, Cook county, and purchased sixty acres of land, to which he added from time to time until his farm comprised two hun- dred and sixty acres. Success crowned his efforts and to-day, in addition to his farm property, he owns several business buildings in Elgin and also in the town of Hampshire.

John F. Janecke Jr., was reared on the farm in Hanover township and attended the district school, and also took a short course in Drew's Business College, at Elgin. At the age of seventeen he left home and began life for himself. He first secured a position in the tinshop of W. J. Meachem, in Elgin, where he remained eight months and then went to Hampshire, working for Chapman & Reid eight months. On the 1st of Octo- ber, 1891, he purchased the interest of Mr. Reid and in February, 1896, bought Mr. Chapman's interest and is now sole propri- etor of the store. He keeps a large stock of general shelf and heavy hardware, farm- ing implements and machinery, barbed wire and wire fencing of various kinds, and has a large trade in a special pattern of milk cans, disposing of twelve hundred per year. He keeps two tinners busy the greater part of the year. His rapid increase in business has been such as to require additional room, and he now occupies a store building 28 x 125 feet, two stories in height. The building is owned by his father.

Mr. Janecke married Mary Melms, a daughter of Charles and Christina (Richter) Melms, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere

R ANDALL CASSEM .- It is said that the poet is born, not made; but the successful lawyer has to be both born and made-made by close application, earnest effort, by perseverance and resolute purpose. The abilities with which nature has endowed him must be strengthened and developed by use. Only by merit can the lawyer gain a pre-eminent position. One of the success- ful lawyers of Kane county, whose name heads this sketch, resides at No. 75 South Fourth street, with an office in the Evans building, Aurora. He was born January 2, 1852, on his father's farm, four miles north- west of Newark, in Fox township, Kendall county, Illinois, and is the son of Nels O. and Margaret (Fritz) Cassem, the former a na- tive of Norway, born June 5, 1829, and the latter of Grundy county, Illinois.

When a youth of seventeen, Nels O. Cassem left his native land for America, ac- companied by some friends, and reached the point of his destination, Kendall coun- ty, Illinois, a few weeks later. He soon found employment, and on reaching ma- turity entered into contracts for grading the bed of the Rock Island railroad, then in course of construction from Morris to Sen- eca. He was entirely self educated, never

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having attended school, but was possessed of strong common sense and natural ability. He had a strong body, possessed great power of physicial endurance and knew how to work. He soon made money, and upon the completion of his contracts was enabled to purchase twelve hundred acres of land in Kendall county, for which he paid the government price of one dollar and twenty- five cents per acre. To this he has added from time to time, and is now the possessor of estates in Kendall, Grundy, LaSalle and Livingston counties, aggregating more than four thousand acres. All these farms are well improved and rank among the best in the state. He has given great attention to stock raising for the markets, and is still residing on the old homestead, where he has lived for more than half a century. Pos- sessed of keen business instincts and in- domitable perseverance, he has accumulated great wealth.

The mother of the subject of this sketch died August 28, 1872, aged forty-five years, eight months and five days, when Randall Cassem was twenty years of age. As a slight token of the love and affection which he bore to his dearly beloved mother, and of his reverence for all her virtues as a mother and friend, he directs a special men- tion of her here. In remembrance of all the unbounded kindness to him in his younger days by his mother, he thinks of her and requests that space be given for this to be said in her behalf. Mr. Cassem of his mother said: " She left to me the memory of her love. She is the gentlest memory of our family. The memory of our mother is the strongest, tenderest tie that binds our hearts together."

The family of Nels and Margaret Cassem consists of five children, as follows: Ran-

dall, the subject of this sketch; Olive Jane, born September 10, 1853, the wife of O. E. Osmondsen, a stock-raiser and farmer of Seward township, Kendall county, Illinois, by whom she has two children now living- Emily, born September 27, 1888, and Enor Nesley, born January 11, 1891; Margaret, born March 16, 1859, the wife of O. M. Olson, a capitalist of Aurora, by whom she has two children-Mabel Edith, born October 12, 1887, and Hazel, born February 18, 1891; Margaret was named after her mother, and bears her name in token of her. One of the finest houses in Aurora, Illinois, now in the course of construction at 127 South Lake street, at this date, June 1, 1898, will be the home of Mr. and Mrs. Olson when com- pleted.

Oscar Edwin, another son, was born March 18, 1857. He owns an extensive stock ranch of twelve hundred and thirty- three acres on the James river, three miles northeast of Mitchell, South Dakota. He married Dora Krom, of Ossian, Winne- shiek county, Iowa, who was born October 23, 1867, and they have three children. The oldest, a boy named Randall Nelson, who was named after and in memory of his uncle and grandfather, was born September 3, 1886. The next younger, a boy named Loren Clement, was born July 17, 1891. The youngest, a little girl named Thelma Dorine, was born October 13, 1897. All are living at home with their parents and at- tending the public schools of Mitchell. Anna, another daughter of N. O. Cassem, resides in Chicago, Illinois.

Randall Cassem spent his childhood and early youth working on the farm from the time he was able to handle an axe or hold the plow, and in the winter gathering what instruction the rude district school of the

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period could afford, until he was fifteen: the state-circuit, appellate and supreme- years of age, then attended Fowler's Insti- and during all the years of his practice he has held the governor's commission as a notary public. While a resident of York- ville he was city attorney three years, but apart from this he has neither held nor sought public office, his law and large prop- erty interests, including the legal manage- ment of his father's extensive estates, re- quiring all his attention. tute, an academy at Newark, Illinois, re- maining there two years. Professor A. J. Anderson was principal of the school at first, and later Professor J. R. Burns. He then attended the State Normal School at Nor- mal, Illinois, for one year, to which he was appointed through the influence of W. S. Coy, then county superintendent of schools of Kendall county. He taught school in Mr. Cassem was married April 11, 1882, to Miss Maggie Adelia Casler, daughter of Robert and Jeannette Casler, her father then being an extensive farmer near Plano, Kendall county, Illinois. Both parents are now deceased. Our subject and wife are attendants of the People's church, Aurora. In social circles they occupy a high posi- tion, and both are held in the highest es- teem in the community. In all matters calculated to advance the best interests of his adopted city, Mr. Cassem is always found at the front. Politically, he is like all the members of his family, a stanch Republican, but is an independent thinker on all public questions, forming opinions of his own, which, as a rule, coincide with the party to which he has attached himself. this county for one year, then entered the law department of Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, Michigan, remaining there over two years, graduating March 25, 1874. Subsequently he passed a rigid examination at Detroit, Michigan, was admitted to the bar March 26, 1874, and was licensed to practice law in that state. He afterward read law in the office of John A. Gilliam, at Yorkville, Kendall county, Illinois, where he continued until he secured a license from the supreme court of Illinois to practice law in this state. This he obtained September 10, 1874. September 22, 1874, he settled down to practice his profession at Yorkville, Illinois, and carried on a general law prac- tice there most successfully until April, 1887.

Removing to Aurora the same month, Mr. Cassem purchased his present elegant home, at No. 75 South Fourth street, and established a law office in the Schoeberlein Block. He afterwards removed to the Mercantile Block and became the law part- ner of Senator George E. Bacon, under the firm name of Bacon & Cassem. This part- nership was continued until failing health caused the retirement of Mr. Bacon, who shortly afterwards died. Mr. Cassem then removed his office to the Evans Building, where he has since continued his practice alone. He practices in all the courts of

C HARLES AMES, Kaneville, Illinois, who, after a long and busy life, is now living in retirement, has been a resident of Kane county since 1855. He was born in West Rutland, Vermont, May 11, 1819, and comes of good old Revolutionary stock, his grandfather, Elijah Ames, a native of Connecticut, being a soldier in the war for independence. He removed to Massachu- setts, where Avery Ames, the father of our subject, was born. From Massachusetts the family moved to Vermont when Avery

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Ames was a child of eight years. He there grew to manhood, and succeeded to the old homestead, which comprised over four hun- dred acres of land. In due time he married Annie Ames, a daughter of Elijah Ames, who was also a pioneer of Vermont. Of their family of four sons and two daughters, who grew to mature years, Charles and his brother Avery are the only survivors. On the old farm he reared his family, and there remained until his death, at the age of eighty-eight years. His wife survived him about ten years, and passed away about her ninetieth year.

Charles Ames was fifth in order of birth, and grew to manhood on his father's farm, receiving a good common-school education. He remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, when he began life for himself. He was married in Castle- ton, Rutland county, Vermont, March 8, 1843, to Adelia Ward, a native of Fair- haven, Rutland county, Vermont, and a daughter of Rev. Chauncey Ward, a minis- ter of the Methodist Episcopal church, and also a pioneer of the Green Mountain state. Mrs. Ames was educated at Castleton Sem- inary, and was a teacher before her mar- riage.

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The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 68

Author: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Number of Pages: 798

Author: S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 798