The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 73

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

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daughter of Isaac and - Susan (Butolph) Gardener. James Dickson was the son of Benjamin Dickson, a native of New York, who lived in Canada during the war of 1812, and who married Sarah Parsons. Of the ten children born to James and Lusetta S. Dickson, seven lived to maturity and five still survive. Lovisa E. married Addison Gleason, who is now deceased. She is now living in Hampshire. Lafayette lives in Idaho, Sheridan P. resides in Elgin. Cory- don L. is the subject of this sketch. Edgar W. resides in the village of Hampshire.

The subject of this sketch came west. with his parents in 1850, they locating in. Hampshire township, May 9, of that year. His education was begun in the district schools of New York, and after his removal here he attended the district schools of Plato township, and completed his education at Beloit College, which he attended three or four terms after his return from the army. On the first call of President Lincoln he en- listed in Company A, Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Joslin, who was later commissioned colonel. This regiment was the first to enter the service from Illinois during the war of the Rebellion.

On the completion of his term of service Mr. Dickson returned home and remained with his father until he was twenty-four years of age. His father having purchased the body of land that the west half of the village of Hampshire is now built on, and having it to pay for, our subject, like a dutiful son, remained with him until he had paid for the land and secured a title. His father was also in debt, somewhat, for the farm on which our subject now resides, which, when paid for, was deeded to him for his faith-

C ORYDON L. DICKSON is a farmer residing on sections 5 and 6, Plato town- ship. He was born in Union township, Broome, county, New York, August 5, 1843, and is the son of James and Lusetta S. (Gardener) Dickson, the former born in Cobleskill, Schoharie county, New York, and the latter in Canada. She was the fulness. The farm consisted of one hundred

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and forty-two acres, but, from subsequent purchases, it now consists of two hundred and sixty acres of fine rolling land, having a beautiful view to the eastward from his residence, and which is very fertile and is kept under a high state of cultivation. He also owns a fine village residence and five acres, in the village of Hampshire.

Mr. Dickson was married in Udina, Illi- nois, April 12, 1868, to Mary Rowell, daugh- ter of Samuel C. and Elizabeth (Ball) Row- ell, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. By this union are two chil- dren, Luella Maude and Ethel May. The former married Edwin Walgren, the junior member of the firm of I. B. Counrtyman & Co., general merchants of Dixon, Illinois, where they reside. She took five terms in Dixon College, and was a successful teacher before her marriage. They have one son, Eugene Dickson. Ethel May attended Dixon College and also spent one year at Normal, Illinois, then taught school one year in Elgin and one in Franklin Grove. She is now employed in the . office of the Union Wire Fence Company, of De Kalb, Illinois. Fraternally Mr. Dickson is a member of the G. A. R. post at Hamp- shire, and also of the Knights of the Macca- bees of the same place. In politics he is a Republican.

ROBERT T. JAMES, who is the owner of a well-improved farm on section 28, Big Rock township, is a native of Wales, born at Flintshire, December 2, 1851, and in his native country lived until the age of eighteen years and there received a fair common-school education. With a laud- able desire to better his condition in life, he determined to emigrate to the United

States, where he learned the opportunities were much greater for the aspiring youth than in his native land. Accordingly, in 1869, he crossed the ocean, and went directly to Waukesha county, Wisconsin, and there engaged in farm work at seven- teen dollars per month. During his first winter in this country, however, he worked for his board and attended the public schools that he might acquire a better knowledge of the English language. For ten years he continued to work by the month at farm work; but, in the meantime, in Waukesha county, July 8, 1871, he was united in marriage with Miss Ann Goodwin, also a native of Wales, who came to this country with her parents when but five years of age. Her father and mother, Da- vid and Jane Goodwin, were among the earliest Welsh settlers in Waukesha coun- ty. To Mr. and Mrs. James seven children have been born: Robert T., Jr., Lizzie Jane, John, William D., Maggie, Phebe (deceased) and Mamie.

In 1880, Mr. James rented a farm in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, on which he remained five years, and then came to Big Rock township, Kane county, Illinois, and . rented a farm on which he remained five years, and then rented the Ben Davis farm for eight years, during which time he was quite successful and accumulated consider- able property. In the spring of 1898 he purchased his present farm of- three hun- dred and five acres, of which two hundred and thirty acres are under the plow, the re- mainder being meadow and pasture land. Commencing life in the New World a pen- niless youth, he has, by industry and econ- omy, acquired a valuable property, and is now regarded as one of the successful and prosperous farmers of Kane county, hon-

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ored for his manly worth and strict in- tegrity.

Politically, Mr. James is a Republican, and has voted the ticket and advocated the principles of the party since acquiring his naturalization papers. He is the present commissioner of highways of Big Rock township. With his wife and two children, he holds membership in the Welsh Congre- gational church of Big Rock, in which he takes an active interest. One daughter, Lizzie Jane Wagner, belongs to the Eng- lish Congregational church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of the Macca- bees. While only residing in Kane county a comparatively short time, he has made many friends by his upright character and sterling worth.

G EORGE VAN VOLKENBURG, an active and enterprising farmer residing on section 30, Kaneville township, where he owns and operates a farm of one hundred and thirty acres, has been a resident of Kane county since 1865. He was born in Yates county, New York, February 20, 1836. His father, Captain Andrew Van Volken- burg, was also a native of New York, born August 11, 1810. He there grew to man- hood, and married Polly Freer, a native of New York, born September 27, 1797. By occupation Andrew Van Volkenburg was a farmer in Yates county, where he occupied a very prominent position, for some years being captain of the militia. He reared his family in that county, where his death oc- curred March 25, 1865. His wife survived him a few years, dying when about seventy years old, at the residence of her son, in Kane county, Illinois.

In his native county George Van Volk- enburg grew to manhood, and received a fair education in the common schools. He remained on his father's farm, and assisted in its cultivation, until the latter's death. In January, 1854, he was married in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, to Marilla Hammond, a native of that county, where she was reared and educated. After their marriage he engaged in farming for eleven years in Yates county, New York, and then, in the spring of 1865, came to Kane county, Illi- nois, where he rented a farm for one year, and in 1866 purchased the place, where he now resides. The farm was an improved one, but to its further development he gave his time and attention for many years. In 1892 his barn was destroyed by a tornado, and his house badly damaged, while the windmill was torn down and the orchard nearly ruined. He has since repaired the house, rebuilt the barn, and set out more trees in his orchard. The place is now one of the most valuable in the section where located. Mr. Van Volkenburg lost his wife May 19, 1872. She was the mother of three children. Andrew died in childhood. Charles is married, and is helping to carry on the home farm. Herbert is also mar- ried, and has two children. He is also en- gaged in farming, in De Kalb county, Illinois.

Mr. Van Volkenburg was again married in Kaneville, Illinois, March 22, 1874, to Ma- rietta Hazen, a native of New London coun- ty, Connecticut, a daughter of William and Laura (Ladd) Hazen, also natives of the same state. Her father there died when she was a child, and her mother removed with the family to Oneida county, New York, where she resided some twenty-six years. Mrs. Van Volkenburg was educated

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in Oneida county, New York, and there engaged in teaching for some years. She continued in that profession after her re- moval to Illinois, and for two years was en- gaged in teaching in the public schools of Galesburg, Illinois, until her marriage. In 1872, she came to Kane county. Since 1886, her mother has made her home with Mrs. Van Volkenburg.

Politically Mr. Van Volkenburg is a stanch Republican, with which party he has continued to act since attaining his ma- jority. While never desiring office, he served some three years as constable of his township, and was also a member of the school board for some years. Both he and his wife are members of the Kaneville Meth- odist Episcopal church, and for many years, until having a severe illness in November, 1894, he was one of its most active workers. For twelve years she taught a class of young ladies in the Sunday-school. Both were members of the choir for some twenty years. For a full third of a century, Mr. Van Volkenburg has been a resident of Kane- ville township, and is well known especially in the northwestern part of the county. He is a man that stands high in the estima- tion of his fellow men, and he has ever been ready to assist in the material and moral welfare of his adopted county and state.

LION. ARWIN E. PRICE, who is now at the head of the city government of Elgin, and is one of the most prominent factors in her business circles, is a man whose worth and ability have gained him success, honor and public confidence. He enjoys the well-earned distinction of being what the public calls' a "self-made man,"

and an analyzation of his character reveals the fact that enterprise, well-directed effort and honorable dealing have been the essen- tial features in his prosperity.

Mr. Price possesses the true western spirit of progress, and is a western man by birth, training and preference. He was born in Waukesha, Wisconsin, August 29, 1850, and is a son of Humphrey and Eliza- beth (Evans) Price, natives of Wales. His paternal grandfather, Jonathan Price, spent his entire life in that county, reared a fam- ily of seven children, and died there at an advanced age. The maternal grandfather, John Evans, also a native of Wales, died in middle life. The father of our subject, hav- ing determined to try his fortune in America, crossed the briny deep and took up his resi- dence in Rochester, New York, whence he removed to Waukesha, Wisconsin, about 1844. He there followed the pattern-mak- er's trade, and also engaged in the manu- facture of threshing machines. His death occurred in 1878, when he had reached the age of fifty-nine years, and his wife passed away in 1862. Both were members of the Presbyterian church. Their family num- bered twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, six of whom are now living: Lydia; Jennie, wife of Rev. Mr. Wilson, of Barton, New Jersey; David, who is living near St. Paul, Minnesota; Lucy, widow of Walter Ormsby, of Oakland, California; Arwin E .; and Carrie, wife of Harry Dailey, of Richland Center, Wisconsin.

Arwin E. Price in his early youth at- tended the public schools of his native town, and when twelve years of age began learn- ing the marble-cutter's trade, completing his apprenticeship the day before President Lincoln was assassinated. He remained in Waukesha until about fifteen years of age,

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and then went to Madison, Wisconsin, whence he removed to Elgin in 1869. Here he worked for George P. Harvey for about two years, and then entered into partner- ship with his employer, they remaining to- gether in the marble business for two years. On the expiration of that period Mr. Price bought out his partner and continued ope- rations alone until 1889, when he removed to Chicago, where for three years he en- gaged in the real-estate business. In 1893 he returned to Elgin, and in 1896 purchased the marble and granite works of A. N. Soper & Company, still continuing the business under the name of the Elgin Marble and Granite Works, the plant being opposite the Bluff City cemetery. He turns out work which is both artistic and finely executed, and his honorable dealings have secured to him a liberal patronage, making his enter- prise a profitable one.

On the 4th of September, 1869, Mr. Price was united in marriage to Miss Mar- tha A. Lewis, daughter of Francis and Clar- issa (Soper) Lewis. Mrs. Price's great-uncle was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. They have one daughter, Edith. Theirs is a hospitable home, always open to their many friends, and no one leaves it without feeling glad that he had the priv- ilege of being there.

Socially Mr. Price is a Master Mason, and in his political predilections he is a Re- publican. In 1885 he was a third time elected alderman from the Third ward, and in 1888 was elected acting mayor. The following year he was elected for a full term, thus serving in that position for three con- secutive years, and in 1897 he was again re- elected, defeating William Grote, who had formerly defeated him. His administration is a progressive one, marked by improve-

ment and reform, for he has the best inter- ests of the city at heart. For a quarter of a century he has been a resident of Elgin, and no one is more devoted to its welfare than he.

C YRUS CALKINS, who resides on sec- tion 32, Sugar Grove township, is one of the successful farmers of Kane county. He is a native of New York, born in the town of Corning, Steuben county, January 14, 1815, and is the son of Enos Calkins, a native of New Hampshire, who came to New York from Vermont when a young man. In Steuben county he married Par- thena Perkins, a native of that county, and a daughter of Squire Perkins, also a native of Steuben county. By occupation Enos Calkins was a farmer and engaged in that calling during his entire life.

Cyrus Calkins is one of three sons and six daughters born to Enos and Parthena Calkins, and in his native county grew to manhood and received a good common- school education. In 1853 he came to Kane county, Illinois, and purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty-eight acres in Sugar Grove township, on which fair im- provements had been made. He at once began its farther improvement and in due time had erected a good, substantial dwell- ing house, barns and other outbuildings and placed the land under a high state of culti- vation.

Mr. Calkins was originally an old-line Whig, and in 1836 cast his first presiden- tial vote for William H. Harrison. He again voted for Harrison in 1840, and was well pleased at his election. He has a vivid recollection of that exciting campaign. After coming to Kane county he received

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the appointment as postmaster of Jericho, and served twelve years. On the organiza- tion of the Republican party Mr. Calkins gave adherence to its principles, and has voted for every presidential nominee from John C. Fremont to William Mckinley. For forty-five years he has been a resident of Kane county and has been identified with its agricultural interests. Coming here a comparatively poor man, he has by his in- dustry and the practice of economy become one of the substantial men of the county, of exemplary habits, upright character and worth.

G EORGE E. DAUM is a representative of the younger generation of farmers of Kane county, Illinois He resides on section 30, Rutland township, on the farm where he was born, January 25, 1868. His father, George J. Daum, was born in 1831, in Asbach, Darmstadt, Germany, of which country Martin Daum, the grandfather of our subject, was also a native. The latter emigrated to America and spent the last years of his life in New York. In 1847 George A. Daum, the father, came to Illi- nois and located on section 30, Rutland township, on the farm where our subject now resides. He married Mary Hauslein, a native of Bavaria, and a daughter of Mich- ael Hauslein, also a native of that country. By their union were eight children: Martin, Mary and Emma, all of whom died about the same time from diphtheria; . William, who married Jennie Reams, resides in Hampshire township; George E., our sub- ject; Lyda, living with her parents; Luella and John, who died of diphtheria.

George E. Daum attended the dis- trict schools until the age of fourteen

years, then gave his whole time to farm work until the age of seventeen years. Going to Elgin, he worked for Mr. Bell, and later for Mr. Gary, at making concrete sidewalks. With the exception of nine months spent in Montana he was engaged in that business until twenty-one years of. age. He then returned home and took charge of the home farm, which consists of one hundred and fifteen acres of well- improved land, with good house and barns. The farm is now devoted to dairy purposes, Mr. Daum usually keeping from twenty-five to thirty head of milch cows, the product of which he ships from Starks Station to Chicago.

Mr. Daum has been twice married, his first marriage, which was solemnized May 5, 1891, being with Miss Emma Matthews, born in Milwaukee, and a daughter of Mar- tin Matthews, who served as a spy for the Union forces during the Civil war. She died June 21, 1897, leaving six children- George, Oscar, Frederick, Clara, Matilda and Marie.

Mr. Daum was again married December 2, 1897, with Miss Edith Turner, who was born in Galena, Illinois, and a daughter of William and Kate (Blaze) Turner, the former a native of Ontarioville, Illinois, and the latter of Alsace, Germany. Mrs. Daum was second in a family of eight children born to her parents. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Daum are members of the United Evangelical church. In politics, he is a Republican.

JACOB SALFISBERG, who resides at J 140 Lincoln avenue, Aurora, Illinois, is a native of Canton Berne, Switzerland, was born March 25, 1834, a son of Johann and

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Mary Ann (Salfisberg) Salfisberg. There supply and demand continued for many was no previous relationship existing be- years. For a time he hauled the stone tween the two, although of the same name. from his quarries by teams, using five of his own for that purpose and engaged others, and had the services of fifty-five men em- ployed in operating the quarry. He eventu- ally ran a line of railroad to the work, which greatly facilitated matters. The father and mother of our subject were both natives of Switzerland, and emigrated to the United States with their family in 1854. Sailing from Havre, France, in the month of October, on the ship Confederacy, they reached New York the following month, being thirty-eight days on the ocean. Their destination was Oswego, Illi- nois, at which place they arrived November 28, 1854. Christian Salfisberg, the eldest son, had come to America two years before and had already settled on the rich prairie lands of Illinois. The children of Johann and Mary Ann Salfisberg were as follows: Christian, Madeline, Jacob, Fred, Anna, Samuel, Rudolph, Adam and Mary Ann. · The husband and father was in poor health, and he failed to find relief, as he had hoped, in the sea voyage, and survived the journey but one year, dying at Oswego in 1855, His wife survived him twenty-five years.

Jacob Salfisberg was educated in the public schools of his native land and there also learned the trade of a miller. He soon found employment in the mills at Oswego, and worked in the capacity of a miller for six years after his arrival. In 1860 he came to Aurora, and became engaged in the burn- ing and selling of lime in the vicinity of Oak Park, continuing this business eight years. In November, 1868, he removed to Naper- ville, Du Page county, Illinois, where he purchased a quarry of very fine building stone, of the most durable quality and con- sidered the best in the state. He furnished large quantities of the products of his quarry to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road Company to be used in the construc- tion of bridges for their various lines. The

In 1889 Mr. Salfisberg disposed of the quarry and its surroundings, and a company was organized to carry on the business un- der the title of the Chicago & Naperville Stone Company. On selling the plant, Mr. Salfisberg retired from active business life and once more came to reside in Aurora. Business, the prevailing passion of his life, induced him, however, to purchase a half interest with J. Marshall Spiker in the busi- ness of artificial stone, cement and con- crete, and many of the superb sidewalks of Aurora and other cities in this and adjoin- ing counties have been constructed by this company. In 1895 Mr. Salfisberg pur- chased a farm in Kendall county, consisting of one hundred and seventy-two and a half acres, which is now rented by his son, Charles. Since purchasing he has made great improvements, erecting a fine dwell- ing house, barns and other outbuildings to the extent of six thousand dollars.

On the 4th of January, 1859, Mr. Salfis- berg was married to Anna Salfisberg, a dis- tant relative, and daughter of Jacob and Anna Salfisberg, and who came to this county with her parents. She was one of fourteen children, ten of whom are living at the present time. The children of our sub- ject and wife are ten in number, of whom eight are living-Amanda, Charles A., Ida E., Jacob E., Anna, Edwin A., Frank O., and Maud May. . Those deceased are Freddie and Emma. The last named was

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the wife of John Nicholas, and died leaving two children, John and Fred.

Mr. Salfisberg's interests in the artificial stone business is now looked after by his son, Jacob E , who is a man of good busi- ness ability. Fraternally Mr. Salfisberg is a member of the Masonic order, of the blue lodge, chapter, council and Knight Templar. A thorough-going business man, he keeps abreast with the times and has contributed his share in the unbuilding of Du Page and Kane counties. As a citizen he is greatly esteemed.

C OIT SPALDING, the present efficient supervisor of Blackberry township, and the junior member of the firm of Cline & Spalding, general merchants, Elburn, Illi- nois, was born in Washtenaw county, Mich- igan, November 12, 1836, and is the son of Colwell and Beulah (Lyon) Spalding, na- tives of New York. In his native state, Colwell Spalding was by occupation a farmer, and followed that vocation after his removal to Kane county, Illinois, in 1844. He located in Blackberry township, where he purchased government land, which is still in possession of the family. A pioneer of the county, he was widely and favorably known for his many excellent traits of char- acter-a man often referred to in settling troubles, such as arise between neighbors, and a man universally respected for his many sterling qualities. He died in this county at the age of eighty-seven years. He was a pioneer of Michigan before his re- moval to Illinois. Originally a Democrat, he voted for James K. Polk, but on the or- ganization of the Republican party, gave adherence to it, and voted that ticket during the remainder of his life. He took great

interest in political affairs, and was a great reader of periodicals and current literature. For many years he was a justice of the peace, and held other minor official posi- · tions. His wife was born in 18Q4, died in 1891 .. She was for many years a member of the Baptist church, and was very regular in attendance. Her parents were Mathias and Rhoda Lyon. Of their three living children, Gilbert resides in Greenwood county, Kansas, where he is engaged in farm- ing; Coit is the subject of this sketch; and Louisa J. is the wife of Charles Eckley, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Coit Spalding was reared on the home farm in Blackberry township, and his edu- cation, began in the district school, was completed in an academy, which he at- tended one year. After leaving school, he remained for a time on the farm, then tried railway work one year, then clerked in a store, but mostly engaged in farming, until he cominenced business for himself in El- burn, in August, 1891, where he formed a partnership with M. S. Cline, in the general mercantile trade. They now carry a fine stock and have their share of the business of the place.

Mr. Spalding was married January I, 1863, to Miss Helen M. Barker, daughter of Jabez Barker, a native of Massachusetts, and who was a pioneer of Kane county. Three children were born of this union, James J., who married Miss Nettie Reeves, by whom he has one child, Fenner, is en- gaged in the lumber business in Elburn; Lester, who is in the livery business at Elburn; and Warren, a pupil of the public schools.

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The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 73

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