USA > Illinois > Kane County > The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois > Part 79
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which he participated in the battle of Span-' ish Fort. He was then taken sick, and sent to the hospital at Fort Gibson, where he remained about one month. On the 4th of August, 1865, he was discharged at Chicago, and returned to his home. Soon after he went tö Clinton cotinty, Iowa, where he bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, ön which he remained until Novem- ber, 1875. Selling that place he returned to Kane county, to the old home farm, where he remained two years, then went west to Fort Kearney, and there engaged in farming for about two years, when he again returned to Kane county, and resumed his place on the old home farm. After the death of his father, he and his brother bought out the other heirs, and later divided the place, our subject taking one hundred and eighty-seven acres. Here he has since continued to réside, and in addition to dairy farming, has been engaged in breeding and and dealing in full blooded Short-horn cattle, and Poland China hogs. The old house has been remodeled by him and a large barn erected, with a slate roof, being one of the best in the township.
At Fairbury, Nebraska, in December, 1878, Mr. Weaver was united in marriage with Miss Marietta Finch, born in White- side county, Illinois, but reared and educated in. Clinton county, Iowa. Her father, Samuel Finch, was a native of Canada, of English descent. He married Lydia Claw- son, and later moved to Whiteside county, Illinois, from which place he moved to Min- nesota, where his wife died, and he later married again and settled in Clinton county, Iowa. By trade he was a cooper, as was his father and three brothers, all of whom engaged in that business in Whiteside coun- ty, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Weaver,
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three children have been born-Adam L., Edith L. and Brayton L.
Politically Mr. Weaver is a Republican. His first presidential ballot was cast in 1860, for Abraham Lincoln, while his last one, in 1896, was cast for William Mckinley. For several years he served as highway commis- sioner, and has also served for some years on the school board. With the exception of the time spent in Iowa and Nebraska, he has been a resident of Illinois for fifty- eight years, and in his adopted county has done his full share in developing its various interests.
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W TILLIAM H. ELLITHORPE .- Among the representative farmers of Burlington township none are better known or more widely respected than he whose name heads this sketch. The subject of this review was born on the farm where he now lives, and here he has spent his entire life, coming into this world May 31, 1848. He is third in a family of six children born to Stephen R. and Emily (Smith) Elli- thorpe.
Stephen R. Ellithorpe is the son of John Ellithorpe, a native of Springfield, Massa- chusetts, who was a captain in the war of 1812, being in the engagement at Platts- burg and other battles of the war. · He married Eliza Chapman, daughter of a vet- eran captain of the same war. To this union were born six children: John, who settled in Burlington township, dying at about the age of sixty-five years; Oliver died in Elgin, aged seventy years; Timothy died in Burlington, Illinois, at about the same age; Stephen, the father of our subject; Jedde- diah is actively engaged in the mercantile business at Russell, Russell county, Kansas;
Albert C., who is a wagonmaker by trade, resides in Chicago, and is the inventor of the air cushion elevator. He served in the war for the Union with a regiment from Chica, go, and among the various battles was en- gaged in the one at Pea Ridge. He was the chief of the commissary.
Stephen R. Ellithorpe was born in the town of Sheldon, Franklin county, Vermont, April 16, 1819, and in 1841 concluded to come west, driving overland fifteen hundred miles to Illinois. Landing in Chicago, Mr. Ellithorpe found himself with only thirty cents and a strong determination to suc- ceed, in his possession, but with that stead- fast industry which has characterized the " Yankee " ever since the word was known, he set to work at whatever he could find to do. For one year he engaged in cutting and hauling wood to Chicago for market, at that time there being an abundance in the near vicinity. In 1842 he removed to Burlington township and settled on the farm where he now resides with his son, our subject, he being one of the first pioneers in that township.
The father of our subject was married to Miss Emily Smith, born in Colwell's Manor, Canada, April 15, 1821, and the daughter of Nathan Smith, born February 9, 1786, and a soldier in the war of 1812. Nathan Smith was united in marriage with Miss Phœbe Huxley, born August 28, 1795, and to this marriage were born thirteen chil- dren: · Uziel, Emily, William, Mary A., de- ceased, Elizabeth, John G., Malcolm, La- fayette, Henry, Mary, Frank and Lorenzo. The marriage of Stephen R. and Emily (Smith) Ellithorpe was blessed by the birth of six children, as follows: Franklin, who died in 1875; Marion wedded Mary J. Smith and is now residing in Iowa; William H.,
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the subject of this review; Phoebe, wife of J. B. Reser, lives in Algonguin, McHenry county, Illinois; Antoinette married Alva Ashcraft and is now residing in De Kalb, De Kalb county, Illinois; Nathan S. was united in marriage with Miss Lulu Doty and is living in Iowa.
Stephen R. Ellithorpe built the first board shanty in the township and was also the first man to erect a frame house and school house. He at one time paid fifty per cent interest for the use of money needed. He takes the Democratic side of the political question and has served in nu- merous positions of honor and trust, among which, that of assessor and town clerk. He is now living with his son, our subject, on the old homestead, and as he comes of an extremely long-lived race, he bids fair to reach the century mark, having already lived to the age of eighty years, with all his faculties, mental and physical, unimpaired. He still has in his possession deeds from the government for the old homestead. His wife is now in her seventy-eighth year, and will no doubt continue to accompany her husband on life's journey for many more years, as she is enjoying life with good health, and has a zeal that is surprising.
William H. Ellithorpe attended the dis- trict and common schools of his neighbor- hood, where he received his education, and. is a graduate of Bryant & Stratton's Com- mercial College, of Chicago. He, unlike many boys, was content to remain on the farm, and now, as he gets on in years, can realize the wisdom of his course more fully than he could in the past. He has pur- chased eighty acres on section 26, which makes a total of four hundred acres. The latter, however, is leased to tenants. Mr. Ellithorpe operates his farm as a dairy, as
well as a general farm, and milks from eighteen to twenty head of cows. He is also engaged in breeding full-blooded Dur- ham cattle.
On the 20th of October, 1875, our sub- ject was united in marriage with Miss Mar- tha Worden, a native of De Kalb county, Illinois, and a daughter of Benjamin and Martha (Ferguson) Worden, the former a native of Chautauqua county, New York, and the latter of Scotland. To our subject and wife were born two children: Benjamin F., born June 23, 1876, and Stephen R., born August 25, 1879.
In political issues he has been very prominent, especially in local elections. He is a Democrat, the principles of which party being instilled into his mind from boy- hood up. He has served in various posi- tions, being township treasurer for fourteen years, town clerk for the same length of time, notary public for a period of twelve years, town trustee of schools and held other minor official positions. In his po- litical as well as social and business life, Mr. Ellithorpe made many friends, and no one in the township where he has so long resided is held in higher or more sincere respect.
JAMES A. RUTLEDGE, M. D., room 19 Spurling block, Elgin, is a physician and surgeon of acknowledged skill, one standing high in the medical profession. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, August 21, 1861, and is a son of Thomas and Abi- gail J. (Richardson) Rutledge, the former a native of Canada, the latter of Illinois. They were the parents of four children: William, of Kansas City, Missouri; Emma,
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of Rockford, Illinois; James A., of this sketch; and Joseph, of Elwood, Indiana.
Thomas Rutledge, the father, was by trade a carpenter, an occupation chosen be- fore coming to the States, at which he worked for some years in Canada. In 1860 he located in St. Louis, and during the war was foreman of the St. Louis arsenal, during which time he also superintended the con- struction of a number of gunboats at Cairo, Illinois. About the close of the war, being still in the employ of the government, he was ordered west to superintend the build- ing of some forts on the frontier. While engaged in that work his death occurred at Cheyenne, in 1866, while comparatively a young man.
On the death of her husband, Mrs. Rutledge moved with her four fatherless children to the city of DeKalb, DeKalb county, Illinois, and three years later to Rockford, Illinois, where she still lives, and where she reared her family, giving them all the advantages possible in securing an education and becoming honored members of society.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Joseph Rutledge, was a native of Canada, where his entire life was spent. The ma- ternal grandfather, Benjamin Richardson, was a native of New York, a blacksmith and farmer by occupation. He was one of the first settlers of Winnebago county, Ill- inois, and one of his sons was the first white child born in that county. He had a large family and died in old age.
The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent in DeKalb and Rockford, and his literary education was completed in the high school of the latter city, from which he graduated in 1879. He then studied pharmacy, and later entered Rush Medical
College, graduating therefrom in 1886. Soon after graduating he located in Field- ing, Illinois, where he commenced the prac- tice of his profession. His success was gratifying, but wishing a more extended field he came to Elgin in 1895, and here he has since continued in practice. While a general practitioner he has made a spe- cialty of the diseases of women and chil- dren, in which line he is considered author- ity. Since his graduation the Doctor has taken two courses in the Polyclinic in Chi- cago, and in all ways endeavors to keep posted in the improvements being constantly made in medicine and surgery. His prac- tice is constantly growing, and patients coming from various points are being con- stantly treated by him.
In Fairdale, Illinois, April 13, 1887, Dr. Rutledge was united in marriage with Miss Mary H. Crill, an adopted daughter of Isaac Crill, of that place. They now reside at No. 370 Chicago street, Elgin, where their many friends are given a cordial welcome. Mrs. Rutledge is a member of the First Congregational church of Elgin, and does considerable church and Sunday-school work.
The Doctor is a member of the Kish- waukee lodge, No. 402, F. & A. M., of Kingston; Sycamore chapter, No. 49, R. A. M .; and Sycamore commandery, K. T. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen, Court of Honor, and Home Forum, of Elgin, and in the three last named is examining physician. Socially, he is a member of the Century Club, of Elgin. Politically, he is independ- ent in the best sense of the term, voting for such men and measures as at the time he believes will best conserve the interest of the people. Professionally, he is a mem-
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ber of the Fox River Medical Society and of the American Medical Association, in both of which he takes an active interest, taking part in the discussion of subjects brought before the societies and · contributing to them papers on various subjects. As a citi- zen the Doctor is greatly esteemed, and as such he takes a lively interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his adopted city.
CHARLES E. GREGORY, city editor of the "Daily News," of Elgin, was born in that city, in the '50s, a son of Sam- uel E. and Mary Ann (Moffatt) Gregory. The father was born in Orange county, New York, in 1812, in which county his parents spent most of their lives. In their family were ten children, namely: Noah, Hiram, James, John, Sylvester, Benjamin, Samuel, Mrs. Hannah Van Duzer, Mrs. Katy Stevens and George, all of whom are now deceased with the exception of John. . The mother of our subject was also a na- tive of Orange county, New York, born in Blooming Grove, September 27, 1811, and was a daughter of Thomas and Deborah Moffat, of Orange county, New York.
During the '40s Samuel E. Gregory em- igrated westward and located in Elgin, Illi- nois, where he engaged in business as a manufacturer of carriages and wagons, and also as a dealer in agricultural implements. On the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks and became one of its stanch supporters. Both he and his wife were leading members of the early Presby- terian church of Elgin, and took an active and prominent part in its work. He died September 27, 1872, and she passed away October 19, 1896, honored and respected by all who knew them. In their family
were six children: William M., Mary H. and Henry S., all now deceased; Emma L., wife of George E. Hawthorne (see sketch elsewhere in this volume); Kate E., wife of Dr. Daniel H. Whitford; and Charles E., of this review.
The early life of our subject was passed . in Elgin, obtaining his education in the public schools of the city. Throughout his active business life he has been interested in journalistic and newspaper work, and for the past twelve years has been connected with the " Daily News." Prior to this he was for a time associated with the same pa- per. In politics he is a Republican.
On the 20th of July, 1884, Mr. Gregory was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Slade, a native of Polo, Illinois, and a daughter of Stephen M. Slade, who is now living retired in Elgin. Her mother died some years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory have two children: Carl E. and Bessie A.
E RWIN C. CONNER, postmaster and general merchant at Richardson, Kane county, Illinois, although not numbered among the early settlers of Kane county, is a well-known citizen and popular business man. He was born in Holland, New York, June 7, 1848, and is the son of Caleb and Margaret (McCarther) Conner, both of whom were natives of Vermont, and who were the parents of twelve children, of whom our subject is ninth in order of birth. From Vermont, Caleb Conner moved to Holland, New York, in an early day, and there en- gaged in agricultural pursuits.
On the home farm in Holland, New York, the subject of this sketch spent his boyhood and youth, and received a fairly good education in its public schools. In
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1874 he came west to Elgin, Illinois, re- maining there three months and then re- turned to Holland, New York, in order to care for his mother. He continued in that filial duty until her death, July. 16, 1881. In 1883 he returned to Illinois, since which time he has been a resident of Kane county. · On the 3rd of October, 1876, Mr. Con- ner was united in marriage with Miss Fan- nie Crystal, a native of Canada, and they have one child, Harry, born February 22, 1890. Mr. Conner located at Richardson, in 1886; engaging in the mercantile trade. February 15, 1887, hereceived the appoint- ment of postmaster, and served in that position until April 15, 1898. In the years that have passed he has succeeded in build- ing up a good, substantial trade. In politics he is thoroughly independent, voting for men rather than party. In his business relations he has been quite successful, and is numbered among the well-to-do men of Kane county. As a citizen he is greatly esteemed and those who know him best trust him the more implicitly.
nois; Margaret, who married Adam Schnei- der, ; and Philip, our subject.
Philip Schulz came to America with his parents in the fall of 1846. By boat they went from Mannheim, Germany, to Havre; France, from which place they sailed, land- ing at New York city, and coming west by way of the Hudson river, Erie canal and the lakes to Chicago, certainly a long dis- tance by water. The family settled between Wheaton and Lisle, Du Page county, where the father engaged in farming and where our subject grew to manhood, in the mean- time assisting in the cultivation of the home farm and receiving his education in the pub- lic school. He was married in the city of Chicago, September 15, 1861, to Miss Caro- line Delles, who was born in the village of Mensdorf, Luxemburg, Germany, January 18, 1843, and who came to America, with an uncle, in March, 1858, sailing from Havre, France, to New York, being twenty- eight days on the water. From that city she came west to Chicago, where she lived until her marriage. She is the daughter of Phillip and Catherine (Koehler) Delles, both natives of Germany, the former being a son of Jacob Delles, who lived and died in Ger- many. Phillip Delles was an inn-keeper and merchant during early life, and later became an official on a state railroad, from which he retired after twenty-five years service, with a small pension from the gov- ernment. His death occurred in his native land, December 20, 1893, at the age of sev- enty-seven years. His wife is yet living in the old home in Germany, and is now seventy-nine years old. They were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are yet living, as follows: Caroline, widow of our subject; John living in Sycamore,
P HILIP SCHULZ, deceased, was for years one of the leading citizens of Kane county, and a farmer whose ability was un- questioned. He was born in the village of Obergimper, Baden, Germany, May 25, 1838. His father, Peter Schulz, was born in the same place September 21, 1798, and died in Du Page county, Illinois, January I, 1867. He was a farmer all his life. He married Mary Eva Eisenhutt, a native of the same village, born in 1797, and who died in 1867. They were the parents of four chil- dren, as follows: Julia, who married Jacob Miller, but is now deceased; John, who lives near Glen Ellyn, Du Page county, Illi- Illinois; Michael, living in Iowa; James and
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Joseph in Chicago; Pierre, making his home with his mother in the old country; and Margaret, now Mrs. Olivier, living in Paris, France.
To Mr. and Mrs. Schulz ten children were born, all of whom are living save one, Annie, who died at the age of eight years. The others are Mary, Caroline, Philip, Katherine, Rosa, Elizabeth, Odelia, Frank and Emma. Of these, Katherine married Michael Rineck, and lives in Chicago; Rosa is a teacher in the Hampshire schools, while Elizabeth is engaged in teaching at Lily Lake; Frank is attending the Metropolitan Business College, Chicago; and Emma is in school at Hampshire.
After marriage, Mr. Schulz lived for two years on his father's farm, then rented a farm near Naperville for three years, and in December, 1866, came to Burlington township, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, and there for six- teen years was actively engaged in agricult- ural pursuits. From time to time he added to his original tract, until he was the owner of three hundred and thirty acres. In the fall of 1882, he retired from active farming, and in December of that year moved to the village of Hampshire, where he resided until his death, July 1, 1896. His death occurred in San Francisco, California, while on a tour through the west. Religiously he was a Catholic, and in politics was a Democrat. About the only offices that he held was that of school director and that of city alderman. The family still make their home in Hampshire.
Philip Schulz, Jr., son of Phillip and Caroline Schulz, was born near Naperville, July 10, 1865. He was reared on the farm, on section 8, Burlington township, and re- ceived his education in the district schools,
He moved with the family to Hampshire, in 1882, and there resided until 1883. He mar- ried Lena Fidler, October 29, 1894, who was born in Garnet, Kansas, and a daughter of Nicholas and Angelina (Hasterd) Fidler. By this union there is one child, Martha Angeline. For a number of years he has rented two hundred and ten acres, a part of the family estate, and has since been en- gaged in dairy farming with gratifying success.
JOSEPHUS DAVENPORT, who resides on section 19, Batavia township, is a native of Du Page county, born in Downer's Grove, March 3, 1845. His father, Theron Davenport, was born in Seneca county, New York, in 1825. Hethere married Deb- orah Swarthout, who was born in the same year, and in the same county and state, and who was the daughter of James Swarthout. The Swarthouts are of Holland ancestry, and one of that naine was of the first four families to locate in Seneca county, New York. The Davenports are of English ancestry, and were also among the early settlers of that county. Stephen Daven- port, the grandfather of our subject, lived to be over one hundred years old. With his son Theron, he came to Illinois, in 1844, and first located in Du Page county, where they took up a half section of land, and opened a farm. The following year Theron Davenport came to Kane county, Illinois, and located near Aurora, where he engaged in farming, and where he resided some years. He later moved to South Dakota, locating at Washington Springs, where he now resides.
Josephus Davenport grew to manhood in Kane county, near where he now resides,
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and had fair school advantages, attending first the common school, then the Aurora High School and Jennings Seminary. He remained with his father for several years after attaining his majority and assisted him in the farm work. He was first married in Aurora in 1868, to Louise Bodine, of Sen- eca county, New York, and who died on the farm in May, 1875, leaving one daughter, Nina L., now the wife of Elmer Given, a railroad conductor, residing at Huron, South Dakota. They have one son, Harold W.
In Sugar Grove township, June 22, 1876, Mr. Davenport married Helen Niles, a na- tive of Kane county, born in Sugar Grove township, and a daughter of Williams Niles, one of the first settlers of Kane county. She was educated in the common schools and Aurora Seminary, and was a teacher for twelve years previous to her marriage.
In 1876 Mr. Davenport bought the farm where he now resides, which was the old homestead of his father, and has here since been actively engaged in farming and dairy- ing. Since residing here he has built a sub- stantial residence, good barn, and various outbuildings, and has now one of the best improved farms in the township. Polit- ically he is a lifelong Republican, his first presidential ballot being cast for U. S. Grant in 1868. While always taking a commend- able interest in political affairs, office seek- ing has not been to his taste. He is a farm- er pure and simple, and is recognized as one of the best in Kane county. Religiously Mrs. Davenport is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church of Batavia, and fra- ternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of that place. A life-long resident of the county, he is well known, especially in the southern part and wherever and by whoever known he is held
in the highest esteem. He is a man of good business ability, of exemplary habits and upright character.
D ANIEL J. MYERS, of the village of Big Rock, and who is there living a retired life, was for over forty years actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in Kane county. He was born iu Chenango county, New York, April 26, 1823, and is the son of Nathan and Elizabeth (Fowler) Myers, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York. Nathan Myers grew to man- hood in his native state and when a young man moved to New York, where his mar- riage was solemnized. For years he en- gaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, saddles and harness, at Columbus, New York, where his last days were spent.
The subject of this sketch grew to man- hood in Chenango county, and was educated in the schools of Columbus, supplemented by two terms in New Berlin Academy. In 1845, he came to Kane county, Illinois, a young man, and first located in Blackberry township, where he entered one hundred and twenty acres, which he partially im- proved, and there resided for three years, going thence to Sugar Grove, where he re- mained two years, and in 1850 moved to Big Rock township. All his lumber for building purposes he hauled from Chicago, where nearly all his necessary supplies were obtained. All the products of his farm he hauled to Chicago, and there disposed of them, either for cash or trade. In Big Rock township, he bought one hundred and sixty acres of raw land, which he fenced and improved and on which he resided and en- gaged in farming until 1886, when he leased the place to his son, but yet made it his
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