The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 78

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

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mainder of their lives. After his father's death he succeeded to the old homestead, on which he has since made some valuable improvements. In addition to general farming, for some years he has been en- gaged in breeding and dealing in pure-blood Jersey cattle, and also in Plymouth Rock poultry, in which he has built up a good business. He has also dealt somewhat ex- tensively in blooded Berkshire hogs. His reputation for the purity of his stock has brought him customers from many of the states of the union. At present he has a herd of twelve pure Jerseys and about twenty-five Berkshires. While he still re- sides upon the old homestead, he sold the farm to James Swan, of Chicago, in 1891. He owns a farm on section 6, Geneva town- ship, a well improved place of eighty-four acres.

Mr. Ellis was married in Chicago, Feb- ruary 14, 1871, to Miss Laura Powers, of St. Charles, Illinois, a native of Canada, but reared and educated in Kane county, and a daughter of James Powers, also a na- tive of Canada, but who emigrated from that country with teams at a very early day. By this union there are two children: Ern- est J., a young man engaged in railroad- ing with the Northwestern railroad; and Charles, a student of the Geneva High Schools.

Politically Mr. Ellis is a lifelong Demo- crat, and in 1860 cast his first presidential ballot for the " little giant", Stephen A. Douglas, since which time he has voted for every presidential nominee of that party. He does not consider himself a politician in the ordinary sense, but believes in every man exercising the rights of franchise. Both he and his wife are members of the Method- ist Episcopal church at Geneva. For forty-

two years he has been a resident of Kane county, and has ever taken an interest in that which would add to its prosperity. He is well known as a man of good business ability and a practical farmer. His friends are many throughout the county.

G EORGE MICHAEL SCHNEIDER, deceased, was born near Prospect Park, Du Page county, Illinois, September 23, 1853. He was reared in DuPage coun- ty, and attended the German school at Naperville, Illinois, and the public schools in the Bonapart district in Du Page county. Our subject was the son of Adam Schneider, a native of Bavaria, and who came to America in 1840. He is yet living on a. farm in Du Page county at the age of seventy years, a fine, hearty, hale old gentleman, who is getting the best out of life. Adam Schneider married Margaret Schulz, daugh- ter of Peter and Mary A. (Eisenhutt) Schulz, both of whom were natives of Baden.

At the age of sixteen years, George M. Schneider became his own master, and was employed on farms till twenty years of age. On reaching his twenty-first birthday he started to learn the blacksmith trade at Prospect Park, Illinois, under William Wag- ner, and worked for him five years and ten months. He came to Burlington township in 1880, and purchased a shop and residence and here continued in business until his death, which occurred October 27, 1893. Mr. Schneider was a devout member of the Catholic church and died in the full assur- ance of faith. In politics he was a Demo- crat, and though not desiring official position served as school director for eight years, and as school trustee for four years. Fraternally he was a member of Kane camp, No. 471,

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M. W. A., of Burlington, Illinois. He was there particular interest attaching to his a man of many lovable traits, genial, whole- career as one of the early settlers of this section, but in reviewing his genealogical record we find his lineage tracing back to the colonial history of the nation, and to that period which marked the inception of the grandest republic the world has ever known. souled and friendly to all whom he knew, and a man much missed by his friends and acquaintances, as well as by his neighbors and family. He was always a kind parent and affectionate husband, and no man has been more sincerely mourned.

The subject of this review was united in marriage with Miss Mary Schlick in Milton township, Du Page county, Illinois. She was born in Prospect Park, and is the daughter of Casper Schlick and Margaret Wiedneder, the latter a daughter of Michael Weidneder, a native of Bavaria and a cooper by trade. Caspar Schlick was for many years employed on the railroad at Prospect Park, and died at the residence of his son, Joseph Schlick, in Burlington township, August 13, 1895, at the age of seventy-six. His wife died some years pre- vious, passing away March 26, 1887, aged sixty-seven.

To Mr. and Mrs. Schneider six children were born as follows: Annie E., Frank J., George P., Margaret K., Laura Mary and Carl Michael. Mrs. Schneider is a member of the Catholic church, and is also an active member of the Ladies of the Maccabees, Burlington Hive. Her father made his home with her during the last eight years of his life, up to a few months of his death, when he went to live with his son, Joseph, as be- fore stated. He was a fine, noble-hearted old gentleman and was most highly respected by all who knew him.

D ENISON R. JENCKS, a well-known and prominent citizen of Elgin, is a representative of one of the honored pio- neer families of Kane county. Not only is

Mr. Jencks was born October 13, 1837, in North Adams, Berkshire county, Massa- chusetts, and is a son of Henry and Amelia B. (Bowles) Jencks. He is a descendant of . Governor Jencks, of Rhode Island, who was of English ancestry. . His grandfather, Thomas Jencks, was a native of that state and a farmer by occupation. A certificate given to him for service in the war of 1812 is now in the possession of our subject, it being for twenty-one dollars and drawing interest at seven per cent. until paid.

Henry Jencks, our subject's father, was born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, and from that state removed to Massachusetts, where at different times he was engaged in busi- ness as a merchant and hotel-keeper. He was also connected for a time with the Fink & Walker stage line. Coming west in April, 1841, he located in Dundee, Kane county, . Illinois, where he took up a claim from the government and engaged in its cultivation for a few years. In 1849 he gave up farm- ing and removed to the town of Dundee. Politically he was first an old-line Whig, and later a Republican, taking quite an active and influential part in local politics. He died in Elgin April 7, 1877, his wife in Dun- dee in October, 1871. Both were charter members of the Baptist church at the latter place, and were earnest, consistent Chris- tian people. She was a native of Utica, New York, and a daughter of Frederick and Amelia Bowles, who were also born in that

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state. Our subject is the younger of two children, the other being Elizabeth, now deceased. By a former marriage the father had seven children, all of whom have de- parted this life.

Amid pioneer scenes Denison R. Jencks was reared, and in the public schools of Dundee acquired his early education, which was supplemented by a three-years' course in Drury Academy, at North Adams, Massa- chusetts. Returning to his home in Dun- dee, he engaged in merchandising, and dur- ing President Lincoln's administration was appointed postmaster at that place, serving as such for six years, when he resigned in favor of a crippled soldier. He also filled the office of township treasurer for three years. In March, 1872, he came to Elgin, where he has since made his home. At first he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, but on account of ill health he gave up that business and accepted the agency of a num- ber of reliable insurance companies. He continued in that business for about twenty years, and then turned it over to his son, while he lives retired.

On the 25th of October, 1859, Mr. Jencks was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth A. Hollister, who was born in Danbury, Connecticut, and was a daughter of A. S. and Elizabeth Hollister, natives of Connecticut. Mrs. Jencks, who was a faith- ful member of the Baptist church, died Jan- uary 18, 1897. The only child born to them died in infancy. Later they adopted Fred W. Jencks, who has succeeded his father in business.

Politically Mr. Jencks is identified with the Republican party. For three consecu- tive years he served as assistant supervisor, and in 1878 was elected alderman, holding that office for thirteen years, and uninter-

ruptedly for eleven years. He was then succeeded by his son. He is a charter member of the Sons of the Revolution. His public and private life are above reproach, for his career has been one characterized by the utmost fidelity to duty. He receives and merits the high regard of the entire community.

M ICHAEL J. GETZELMAN, a retired farmer living in the village of Hamp- shire, comes from the Fatherland, and the strongest and most creditable characteris- tics of the Teutonic race have been marked elements in his life, and have enabled him to win success in the face of opposing cir- cumstances. Possessing the energy and determination which marked the people of Germany, and by the exercise of his powers he has steadily progressed, winning not only a handsome competency but has commanded universal respect by his straight-forward business methods. He was born in Ober- Altenheim, Bavaria, Germany, October 22, 1832, and is the son of Malachi and Mary Getzelman, both of whom were natives of the same country, the former born in 1801, and the son of Andrew Getzelman, a farmer who died in Germany when eighty- two years of age. Malachi Getzelman was a mason by trade, which occupation he fol- lowed in his native land. On coming to America, in 1848, he settled in Hampshire township, Kane county, Illinois, where he first acquired forty acres of land, and began agricultural pursuits. Before his death, in 1862, he had acquired one hundred and seventy acres.

The subject of this sketch attended the public schools of his native land until fourteen years of age, when he was con-

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firmed and taken into the church. Two years later he came to America with his parents, the family sailing from Havre, France, April 29, 1848, and landing in New York after a voyage of twenty-nine days. Our subject came to Hampshire 'township and remained with his parents until after attaining his majority. He began life for himself by renting the farm of S. K. Will- iams for one year, and then the farm of Mrs. Smith for one year, after which he bought from the latter eighty acres, which he proceeded to improve. This was the foun- dation of the fortune that has attended him, and he now owns four hundred and ninety acres, divided into three farms, all of which is under the highest state of culti- vation.

Mr. Getzelman was married in Hamp- shire township to Mary Frederick, a native of Germany and a daughter of Mathias Frederick, who was also a native of the same country, but who emigrated to Amer- ica when his daughter was but two years old. By this union nine children have been born, as follows : William, who married Mary Wreshe and lives in Chicago; Elizabeth, deceased ; Susan, at home; Cyrus, who married Sophia Schrader, and lives in Hamp- shire township; John, who married Emma Brenner, and also lives in Hampshire town- ship; Annie, the wife of Frank Brenner, living in Hampshire township; Julius, who mar- ried Maggie Hass, and also resides in Hamp- shire township; Andrew and Emma, who yet reside with their parents and are stu- dents in the Hampshire schools.

The farms of our subject are cultivated by his sons, who have been reared to agri- cultural pursuits and are thorough practical farmers. The entire family are members of the Evangelical church, and in politics 37

Mr. Getzelman is a Republican. The only office which he has ever held has been that of school director.

S YLVESTER SHERMAN MANN, de- ceased, was for many years one of the most prominent citizens of Kane county. He was of an old New England family, the meinbers of which were all of strong men- tality, of fine education, and above the aver- age in brain.and influence in the communi- ties where they lived. His father, James Mann, was born in Massachusetts January 1, 1794, and died in Burlington township, Kane county, Illinois, September 22, 1878. He lived in Massachusetts until he attained his majority, when he removed to Wyoming county, New York, where he purchased a farm and erected a hotel at North Java, which he ran for fourteen years. In 1844 he came west, by lake from Buffalo to Chi- cago, and thence to Burlington township, Kane county, where he purchased twelve hundred acres of land, built a large frame house and at once commenced its improve- ment. Some years later, while on a visit to his old home in New York, the house . was burned. On his return he built a larger and more substantial residence of brick, large enough to serve as a hotel, in which he kept a public house for many years. The building was demolished in 1897 by our subject and a fine frame farm house erected in its place.

James Mann was quite prominent in the early history of Burlington township, and was a man of strong personality, politically a Whig in early life, later a Republican, and religiously a Congregationalist. He was the son of William Mann, a native of Massa- chusetts. James Mann maried Lucy Sher-

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man, a native of Java, New York, born March 18, 1798, and who died September 24, 1870. Of their ten children four only survive, as follows: Lucy, wife of Amos Brown, of Lockport, New York; Parmeno, living in Nebraska; Alfred, living in Elgin; and Sherinan D., of Burlington, Illinois.

. Sylvester S. Mann was born May 30, 1827, in North Java, New York. His edu- cation was obtained while yet living in New York, and he came west with his parents in 1844. While yet in his twentieth year he opened a store in the village of Burlington, and under the firm name of Mann & Brown engaged in a general mercantile trade, and also at the same time engaging in farming. Later the firm name was changed to Mann, Hapgood & Co., and the business continued, while he was also interested in a store in Hampshire, run under the name of Hatha- way & Co.

Mr. Mann was married May 18, 1850, in Burlington township, to Caroline Young, born in the town of Plainfield, Monroe county, New York, July 17, 1826, and a daughter of Simon and Betsy (Meyers) Young. Her parents moved froin New York to Ohio in 1833, where they resided some five or six years, and then came to Kane county, Illinois. Simon Young was born in America of English parents, and was second of a family of three sons, the others being Nicholas and Emanuel. The latter was a bachelor and died at a very old age. Betsy Meyers was born in Cayuga county, New York. To Simon and Betsy Young nine children were born, of whom Caroline was seventh in order of birth. Nearly all attained old age. The living are: Daniel, who lives at Elgin, at the age of eighty-six years; Stephen, who also resides in Elgin, at the age of eighty-four years;

John, living in Waukegan, Illinois, at the age of seventy-six years; and Caroline, widow of our subject. To our subject and wife six children were born, the first dying in infancy. The others are: Elvira, who married C. H. Potter, of Elgin; Alice; Irvin, who died at the age of five years; John S., of whom further mention is made in this sketch; and Nellie, wife of Dr. O. A. Chap- pell, of Elgin.

Sylvester. S. Mann, from the time he at- tained his majority, occupied a prominent position in the political affairs of his town- ship and county. He served as supervisor in 1858, and several succeeding years. In 1863, he was elected a member of the legis- lature, and in the session of 1863-4 assisted in bringing about the disagreement between house and senate, which enabled Governor Yates to prorogue the legislature. He was re-elected in 1865, and during this term se- cured the location of the Northern Illinois Hospital for the Insane, at Elgin, and when additions were made necessary, his constit- uents re-elected him in 1872. Others seemed unable to accomplish the results re- quired, but he secured an appropriation sufficient to make the necessary changes. For some years he was an official in the management of the Hospital. In 1866, he was appointed and served as collector of In- ternal Revenue of his district.

Mr. Mann was largely interested in the improvement of cattle, and in 1883 went to Europe, on the steamer City of Chester, which was later sunk in the Golden Gate, San Francisco. While abroad he purchased one hundred and sixty head of Holstein cattle, and one year later, two hundred and ninety-eight head, which he imported in two shipments. He was one of the first import- ers of this valuable breed in Illinois. For

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some years he was a member of the Holstein Breeders' Association, in which he rendered valuable service. Fraternally he was a member of the old Masonic lodge at Bur- lington. In 1866, he moved to the city of Elgin, where his death occurred August 14, 1885.

John S. Mann, son of Sylvester S. Mann, grew to manhood in Kane county, and in Elgin, married Mattie L. B. Arnold, a na- tive of that city, and a daughter of Marshall Newton Arnold, who was born in Wellesley Hill, Massachusetts, and who came west in · 1871, to assume a position as expert watch- maker, in the factory at Elgin. He was the son of Thomas Ambrose Arnold, who died when a young man. His grandfather, Thomas Arnold, was a large property owner in Chicago. The Arnolds are members of an old colonial family, who first settled near Farmington, Maine, and who trace their de- scent from Myir, King of Kent, in the twelfth century. Marshall N. Arnold mar- ried Mary Sharpe, a native of Jackson, Mis- sissippi. His death occurred in 1884. To John S. Mann and wife one child was born, Alice Caroline.

In 1890, five years after the death of our subject, the family moved back to Bur- lington, occupying the old homestead. The farm being managed by John S. Mann, who is a practical farmer, and a member of the Holstein Breeder's Association of America. Fraternally he is a member of Kane camp, No. 471, M. W. A., of Burlington.

C HARLES M. PIERCE, who is en- gaged in farming on section 27, Bur- lington township, was born in Sycamore township, De Kalb county, Illinois, April 30, 1861, and came with his parents in the

fall of that year to the farm which he now occupies. His father, Daniel Wesley Pierce, was second in a family of six chil- dren. He was born in the village of Sha- vertown, Delaware county, New York, on the 20th of September, 1834, and came west by boat from Buffalo to Chicago with his parents when about the age of twelve. His father, Martin Pierce, a native of New York, settled three and a half miles north of Genoa, Illinois, dying in 1890 at the age of ninety-eight years, at the residence of his son William, near Genoa, De Kalb county, Illinois.

Daniel Pierce attended school in his na- tive village until coming west, and for one year in Genoa township. When quite a young man he rented a farm in Sycamore township, De Kalb county, where he resid- ed until his removal, in 1861, to Burlington township. Here he lived until 1885, when he rented his farm to our subject and moved back to the Sycamore township farm, where he lived retired until his death in 1887. He was ·united in marriage to Miss Delia Ann Dayton, October 8, 1857, who was born in De Kalb' county, June 18, 1836, and the daughter of Alvin Dayton, a native of Ver- mont. Her father died on a farm three and a half miles east of Sycamore, Illinois, in August, 1887. He married Abagail Wy- man, who resides on the old home place at the advanced age of eighty-five years. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church, as were their parents.

Charles M .- Pierce is the only son of his parents, and ·was only one year old when he moved with them from De Kalb county. He attended the district schools of his neigh- borhood until eighteen years of age. He then worked for his father until the age of twenty-one, when he rented his father's

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farm for one year. Mr. Pierce married the girl of his choice and removed to Elgin township, where he resided for one year. Returning, he rented his father's farm for the following five years, after which he again moved to Elgin, and for two years was engaged in the hay and grain business, and also in teaming. Having fallen heir to his father's farm in the spring of 1889, he rented it during his residence in Elgin, com- ing back in September, 1892, where he has since resided. The farm consists of one hundred and thirty acres of land, which is used principally as a dairy farm. Mr. Pierce keeps from fifteen to twenty-five head of cows, the product of which he sells to the creamnery. He also raises stock for sale and large quantities of grain. It is a highly improved farm, most of which were ınade by his father in his lifetime. He has a large house and barn and good outbuildings on the place and everything is up to date, and shows the work of a practical farmer.

Our subject was married to Miss Ida Wright, the eldest of four living children born to Solomon and Caroline (Pease), Wright, who are residing in Elgin. The three younger ones are George, Frank and William. They had one other child who died young. Solomon Wright was born in Putnam county, New York, March 10, 1836,

and is the son of Baldwin and Elizabeth (Foster) Wright. Baldwin Wright is the son of Solomon Wright. Caroline Wright, the mother of Mrs. Pierce, was born in the state of New York, in 1848, and is a daugh- ter of James Pease, who married Salome Cottrell.

To Mr. and Mrs. Pierce were born three children, Roy Alvin, Charles Wesley and Fred Solomon. He is a Republican in his political views, and has been a school di-

rector since 1896. Fraternally Mr. Pierce is a member of K. O. T. M., of Burlington, while his wife is an active member of the Ladies of the Maccabees of the same town.

0 RSON L. WEAVER, residing on sec- tion 30, Batavia township, Kane coun- ty, owns and operates a farın of two hun- dred and forty-eight acres. It lies four miles southwest of the city of Batavia, and is a well-improved and valuable farm. He is a native of New York, born in the town of Ellisburg, Jefferson county, September 22, 1836. His father, George Weaver, was a native of the same county and state, born in 1811. He there married Abigail Colvin, also a native of the same county and state. In 1840, with his wife and children, he drove through with teams to Kane county, Illinois, where he arrived in September of that year. First entering a tract of forty acres, in Blackberry township, he later traded that place and located in Batavia township, where he opened up another farm, on which he resided for some years, after which he purchased the farm on which our subject now resides. When he purchased the land it, was entirely uncultivated, but with him it was but a short time before he developed a fine farm, on which he later erected good buildings, and, buying more land, had at the time of his death three hundred and seventy-seven acres. He died there in June, 1891, at the age of eighty years. His first wife died some ten years previously, and he later married again.

George and Abigail Weaver were the par- ents of three sons and four daughters, who grew to mature years. Electa married Ed- ward Brown, and they located in Vermont,

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where he engaged in the hotel business. Later they moved to North Dakota, where they now reside. Adelia Ann married H. P. Brown, of Vermont, a brother of Edward Brown, the husband of her sister. Luella A. is the wife of Charles Knox, and they reside in Kansas. Celesta died at the age of fifteen years. Orson L., our subject, and D. R. are both substantial farmers re- siding in Batavia township, the latter being now retired. Alvaro died at the age of nineteen years. George grew to manhood, married and died when only twenty-two years old.

Orson L. Weaver grew to manhood on his father's farm, and attended the public schools during the winter months, and as- sisted in the cultivation of the farm the re- mainder of the year. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age. In 1860 he married Augusta Bodine, a native of Seneca county, New York, where her parents lived and died. She was a lady of good education, and was a teacher, both in New York, and after her removal to Kane county. By this union there were four chil- dren: Hattie grew to womanhood, married and resides in Iowa. Charles died at the age of six years. Celesta married and re- sides in Sac county, Iowa. William H. en- gaged in farming in Iowa.

After marriage, Mr. Weaver located on the home farm, and after raising one crop, on the Ist of August, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty- fourth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infan- try, and at Springfield, Illinois, was mus- tered into the United States service. He participated in the battles of Raymond, Mississippi, Jackson, Mississippi, Champion Hill, and Vicksburg. For some time he was on provost duty in the latter place, after

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The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 78

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