The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 80

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

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home until 1896. To his original tract he added one hundred and thirteen acres ad- joining. The improvements on his place were all of a most substantial character, and in all his undertakings he met with a fair degree of success. In addition to his other landed interests, he purchased two farms in Sugar Grove township, both of which are well improved, and on which his sons reside.

Mr. Myers was united in marriage in Kane county, November 16, 1846, with Miss Sarah M. West, a native of Chenango county, New York, and a daughter of David West, also a native of the same county, and who was one of the early settlers in Kane county. By this union there are three sons. The oldest, William West, now owns and operates a valuable farm in Sugar Grove township. Lucien P., married, owns and operates a well improved place in Sugar Grove township. The third son, Charles D., is also married, and owns a valuable farm in Sugar Grove township. The moth- er of these children died December 11, 1884. On the 29th of September, 1896, Mr. Myers was again married, in Big Rock township, his second union being with Mrs. Ellen Crouse, who was born in Big Rock town- ship, Kane county, Illinois, and who is the daughter of Mark Seavey, one of the hon- ored early settlers, who located in Big Rock township, in 1843, coming from Wyoming county, New York, where he grew to man- hood, and married Lucy Ann Campbell, a native of Wyoming county, New York, and a daughter of Roger Campbell, of that coun- ty. Mr. Seavey was one of the prosperous farmers of Kane county, and here spent his last days, dying about 1852. His widow is yet living, at the age of seventy-six years, and makes her home with Mr. Myers. Of

the two sons and four daughters of Mary and Lucy Ann Seavey, all are yet living and are married. Mrs. Myers grew to woman- hood, and September 16, 1865, married Eg- bert Crouse, a native of Duchess county, New York, who came to Kane county with his parents, and here made his home until his death, October 4, 1881. His widow lived on the farm for a number of years after his death, and then purchased a lot in the village of Big Rock, on which she built a residence, and where she has since con- tinued to reside.

Politically Mr. Myers is a Republican, and cast his first presidential ballot for John C. Fremont, in 1856. He has never wa- vered in his support of Republican principles from that time to the present. He has held various positions of honor and trust, the du- ties of which he has fulfilled in a satisfac- tory manner to all concerned. A firm be- liever in the public school system, he has for years cheerfully served as a member of the school board. For fifty-three long years he has been a resident of Kane coun- ty, and has contributed his full share to- wards its development. He is honored, trusted and respected by all who know him.

W ILLIAM J. GILBERT, who resides in a beautiful home at No. 330 Divis- ion street, Elgin, Illinois, was born at Brim- field,' Illinois, January 9, 1847, and is the son of James and Lucy (Jaqueth) Gilbert, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter of Indiana. They were the parents of twelve children, nine of whom are liv- ing, as follows: Arnold, of El Paso, Illi- nois; Christopher, of Peoria, Illinois; Charles, of Verona, Mississippi; Frank, of

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Indiana; William J .; Emma; Mrs. Alice is now engaged in the real-estate and rent- Campbell, of Champaign, Illinois; Eliza- ing business. beth, wife of Thomas Radbone, of Elm- wood, Illinois; and Erastus, of Elgin, Illi- nois. .

James Gilbert was by trade a carpenter and came to Illinois at an early day, locat- ing in Peoria. He now resides in Brim- field, Peoria county. For some years he worked at his trade, then became a farmer, and for the past few years has been living a retired life. In his business operations he has been quite successful, and is now the owner of several farms. His wife, who was a member of the Free Will Baptist church, passed to her reward many years ago.

The paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of England, who came to America with three other brothers and they separated in New York. On coming west, while on the Mississippi river with his wife, they took the yellow fever and died. He owned land in the south, which he traded for land warrants in the west, but all knowl- edge of this has been lost. They had sev- eral children, but only one son. The ma- ternal grandfather was a native of one of the eastern states.

William J. Gilbert, our subject, was reared in Peoria county, on his father's farm. In the district schools of that coun- ty he began his education, and later at- tended the public schools of Elgin, to which place he came in the fall of 1866. After leaving school he clerked for Bartlett & Waldron, in a book and stationery store, and remained in that store until Mr. Bart- lett sold out, and then went with him into a grocery store, where he remained until 1872. He then started in the book and stationery business for himself, in which he remained until 1893, when he sold out and

In January, 1894, Mr. Gilbert was uni- ted in marriage with Mrs. Rebecca Burritt, widow of Peter Burritt, and daughter of Thomas and Rebecca McBride. In 1896, they erected one of the handsomest resi- dences in Elgin. Fraternally, he is a Ma- son and a member of Bethel commandery, K. T., and also of the Knights of Pythias. Politically, he is a Republican. At present he is secretary of the Elgin Packing Com- pany, which is one of the most valuable in- dustries of Elgin. A lifelong resident of Illinois, and a resident of Elgin since 1866, he is well and favorably known.

P HILIP RAMER, a veteran of the war for the Union, and an enterprising farmer of Virgil township, has been a resi- dent of this state since 1846, and of Kane county since 1866. He is a native of Ohio, born March 13, 1840, and is the son of Henry and Susan (Troupe) Ramer, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, and who located in Ohio at an early day. They were the parents of ten children -- Peter, Levi, John, deceased, Henry, Phillip, Anthony, George, Maria, Catherine, and Lovina, the latter being deceased. From Ohio, Henry Ramer moved with his family to Illinois in 1846, and purchased five hundred and sixty acres of Government land, eighty acres for each of his seven sons. He located in De Kalb county, just across the line from Kane county, and there engaged in farming ex- tensively, becoming quite prosperous, and adding materially to his stock of this world's goods. He gave special attention to stock- raising in connection with general farming. His death occurred on the old homestead

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when he was eighty-six years old. Well known throughout Kane and De Kalb coun- ties, he was a man universally respected, and enjoyed the reputation of being an hon- est man.

Phillip Ramer, our subject, was reared on the farm, and received his education in the old log school house in De Kalb county, Illinois. While his school life was limited and the education received therein not of the best, he has yet become a well informed man, gaining knowledge by reading. and observation. He has always followed the vocation of a farnier, having a taste for it, and having no desire to change.

The war for the union being in progress, Mr. Ramer enlisted November 9, 1861, as N JATHAN PERRY COLLINS, M. D., a member of Company G, Fifty-eighth Regi- ment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at Aurora, and with his regiment went to the front. He participated in the battles of Fort Don- elson and Shiloh, and after the latter en- gagement was taken sick and for three months was in the hospital. He was then discharged from the service and returned home. After spending some time in re- gaining his health, he again engaged in farm work. In consequence of ill health, caused by disease contracted while in the . ture and household goods by lake. They army, he now draws a pension from the general government.

. After his return from the front, Mr. Ra- . mer located in De Kalb county, where he remained until 1866, when he purchased eighty acres of land in Virgil township, near Maple Park, and at once began its improve- ment, and has there remained until the present time. He also owns three hundred and twenty acres in Ottawa county, Kan- sas.

On the Ist of January, 1866, Mr. Ra- mer was united in marriage with Miss Olivia

Watson, of Kaneville, Illinois, but a native of New Jersey. By this union were six children, two of whom are deceased. The living are Alvin, Harley, Charlie and Lloyd. Those deceased were Fielding A. and Ger- trude. Fraternally Mr. Ramer is a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic, and religiously he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican and a firm be- liever in the principles of the party. As a citizen he is enterprising, and as a farmer his ability is recognized by all. Socially he is greatly esteemed.

was for years one of the best known physicians in Kane county. He was the grandson of Solomon Collins, and the son of Dr. Nathan Collins, probably a native of New Hampshire, who came to Kane county in November, 1835, locating at Clintonville, now South Elgin. In company with Dr. Joseph Tefft and P. C. Gilbert, he drove through by wagon from Madison county, New York, the two Doctors bringing with them their families, but sending their furni- did not find them in Chicago until June, 1836, although they made frequent trips of inquiry. On their arrival they left their families at "Yankee settlement," on the Des Plaines river, in Cook county, and on horseback rode over the prairies searching a place of settlement. They visited settle- ments at Aurora, Blackberry, Geneva, and that of Ira Minard, where the insane asy- lum now stands. Descending the river a few miles to the present site of South Elgin, Dr. Collins took up a claim on the west side, and Dr. Tefft on the east side. of the

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river. The next spring, however, Dr. Col- lins removed to St. Charles, and the first brick building erected in that place was for his use as an office. It was erected in 1837, and is still standing, but now used as a sta- ble. The Doctor died in 1841, a few months prior to the birth of our subject. He was one of the most prominent of the early settlers, very influential, and of a genial disposition.

Dr. Nathan Collins married Miss Fannie Gilbert, whose birth occurred in De Ruyter, New York. She was a member of one of the three families so intimately connected in the early settlement of Kane county --- the Teffts, the Gilberts and the Collinses. Of their family of five children, four reached years of maturity, as follows: Adeline, who married Thomas Orcutt; Marian, who mar- ried Manley Morgan; Lydia, who married Adolphus Brown, and Nathan Perry. Dr. Nathan Collins was a cousin of Commodore Perry, from whom our subject received his middle name.

Nathan Perry Collins was born in St. Charles, Illinois, July 9, 1841. After the death of his father, his mother resided for a time at Elgin, at Clintonville and St. Charles, where our subject attended school, as well as at Aurora. The mother died when he was about twelve years old, and he then lived in the family of P. C. Gilbert, a relative for whom he worked for his board. He early evinced the desire to make the medical profession his life work, and to that end read medicine with Dr. Whitford, in El- gin, some two or three years, after which he began practice in a small town in Illi- nois. Later he took a course in the Cincin- nati Eclectic Medical College, from which he was graduated February 11, 1868. He then began practice in Earlville, Illinois,

and in a short time secured a patronage that kept him so constantly employed that his health broke down. For rest and recrea- tion he took a trip to Minnesota, and there met the woman who was later to become his wife.

Dr. Collins was married near Lyle, Mower county, Minnesota, May 5, 1870, to Miss Mary A. Whitford, a native of Erie county, Pennsylvania. Her father, Asahel Whitford, was born in Otsego county, New York, and was by occupation a farmer. From Otsego county he moved to Erie coun- ty, Pennsylvania, and later returned to New York, locating in Madison county, where he married Eliza Mitchell, born in De Ruyter, Madison county, and a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Mosher) Mitchell, both of whom were natives of New York. Joseph Mitch- ell followed the occupation of a farmer dur- ing his entire life. When a boy he lived on Nantucket Island, and many were the stories told around the fireside of his early life among the fisher folks and seafaring men. His father was a native of the Isle of Wight. After the death of Joseph Mitchell, his widow made her home with Mrs. Collins, passing to her rest November 30, 1896. .She was the mother of five children, Mrs. Collins being the only survivor. Religiously she was a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. In the spring of 1866 Asahel Whitford, who was the son of Ezekiel and Aurilla (Ruggles) Whitford, removed from Madison county and settled near Lyle, Mower county, Minnesota, where he lived until a short time before his death, when, believing a change of climate would be beneficial, he came to South Elgin, and made his home with our subject until his death, May 9, 1887, at the age of sixty- nine years.

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Returning to Earlville, our subject re- tions and management of a case. He was sumed practice, but again broke down, a man whose place in the community can when he closed his office and left with his scarcely be filled. While not a church mem- ber, he was a religious man. In politics he was a Republican, but his professional duties kept him from accepting an official position but that of school director, which was forced upon him for many years. Fraternally, he was a member of the old Clintonville lodge, A. F. & A. M., which was afterwards merged into one of the Elgin lodges. He was also a member of the Modern Wood- men of America, of South Elgin, for which he was medical examiner. wife for Minnesota. Joining a surveying corps, he remained with the party during the summer and fall, but spent the winter with his wite at the home of her parents. In the spring following he came to Clintonville, now South Elgin, and built a house on part of his father's old claim, with the intention of locating here but temporarily. His prac- tice grew so rapidly that he decided to re- main and so rebuilt the house, which is now the home of the family. It is a large, com- modious dwelling on Main street.

To Dr. Collins and wife three children were born. Fannie died in infancy. Cor- nelia W. married Rev. Thomas Ream, the present pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Barrington, Illinois, and they have two children, Dorothy H. and Mary A. William P. is a student in a Chicago medical college, but makes his home with his mother. During his vacations he finds employment in the Malleable Iron Works in St. Charles. In politics he is a Republican.

Dr. Collins was a martyr to his profes- sion. His practice was very large in the country, and calls came to him day and night. On the 22nd of December, 1895, he had a hard drive all day, during which time he was suffering great pain in his heart, but made no complaint at home, not even mentioning it. That night, however, the pain grew so severe a physician had to be called. He grew rapidly worse and expired during the early hours of the morning of De- cember 24. Dr. Collins was a man of de- cisive character-facts were quickly consid- ered and decision quickly rendered. He was unerring in his judgment of cases coming under his care; kind, but firm in his direc- 38

D J. HOGAN, member of the Demo- cratic state central committee, now residing in the beautiful city of Geneva, is a native of the Prairie state, born in Chicago, December 7, 1856. He is a son of John Hogan and wife, both of whom were natives of Ireland, but who emigrated to this coun- try at an early date, locating in Chicago about 1837, where he successfully engaged in mercantile pursuits until the great fire in in October, 1871. His death occurred in that city in 1873, while his wife survived him some ten years, dying in 1883. They were the parents of two sons, our subject and his brother, Dr. Hogan, who for seven years was engaged in the practice of his profession in Paris, France. He is now deceased. Both parents were earnest and devout members of the Roman Catholic church and died in that faith.

Our subject grew to manhood in his na- tive city, and after receiving his education in the primary and parochial schools, en- tered the University of Notre Dame, near South Bend, Indiana, from which institution he graduated. Later he entered the Union

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College of Law, at Chicago, and after pur- suing the prescribed course received his degree and wasadmitted to the bar in 1875. For some seven years he engaged in active practice, securing a good and valuable cli- entage, but other interests demanded his attention and he. therefore abandoned the law.

While on a visit to Ireland, Mr. Hogan was united in marriage May 20, 1879, with Mary Agnes Duhig, who was born, reared and educated in that country. Returning home he brought with him his bride and they began their domestic life .in Chicago, which was their home until 1887, when they removed to the more quiet city of Geneva, where they have since continued to reside. Two children have come to bless their union-Mary E., a young lady now at- tending Mrs. Rice's Girl's Collegiate School of Chicago, in the class of 1899, and John P., a student in the University of Chicago,

Mr. Hogan is very fond of travel and has visited the various, European countries eleven times, taking in most every place of interest in England, Ireland, Wales, Scot- land, France, Spain, Italy and Germany. While visiting the old world so many times, he has not. neglected his own country, but has been in almost every state and territory of the union. , As might be expected, his knowledge of various countries is extensive, and it is a rare treat to listen to his descrip- tion of places and men that he has seen.

. A life-long Democrat, Mr. Hogan has taken a lively. interest in political affairs and has.given much of his time and means in advocacy. of the principles of his party. His reputation as a party worker, thorough and systematic organizer, is well known throughout the length and breadth of the land and has brought him into prominence

and deserved recognition. Few men are better posted in regard to the relative strength and weak and strong points of the various parties. That knowledge he util- izes in strengthening his own party and weakening the opposing one. . While work- ing for his party, giving to it his best efforts, he has never himself sought or cared for official position. He has served as alder- man and mayor of his adopted city, and for some years has been a member of the board of trustees of the Northern Illinois Hospital for the Insane at Elgin. He is one of the oldest members of the Democratic state central committee, and the services of no man are more highly appreciated.

Fraternally Mr. Hogan is a member of the Elks, and religiously he and his wife are members of the Catholic church. ,

R OBERT GEDDES EARLEY, junior member of the firm of Lovell & Earl- ey, with offices in the Spurling block, El- gin, is a young man whose record appears to be creditable. He is one of Illinois' na- tive sons, having been born in Rock Island, August 26, 1866, his parents being John Hertmann and Laura (Grover) Earley. His father was also a native of Illinois, and the grandfather, Robert Early, was a native of Virginia, whence he came to this state at an early day; he was a " Henry Clay Whig" in politics, and his memory is revered by all who live to remember him at that time. John H. Earley, father of our subject, was the only son of. Robert Earley, and now lives in Woodstock, Illinois, where he is en- gaged in the hardware business. He mar- ried Laura Grover, daughter of G. L. Grover, who comes from Pennsylvania and

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is now living with his daughter, Mrs. John H. Earley, in Woodstock, Illinois, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. Mrs. John H. Earley was a native of Pennsyl- vania, where her parents resided for many years and thence removed to Rock Island, Illinois, where her father was elected to and filled the office of sheriff for a number of terms. Both the Earleys and Grovers are of Revolutionary stock, the great-grandfa- ther, Joseph Grover, having come from England in colonial days, and joined the American army when the colonists renounced any and all allegiance to the British crown, and served with credit to himself during nearly two years of that terrible campaign and fight for liberty of the American peo -- ple. Mr. and Mrs. John H. Earley are the parents of two children, Hattie, who died in infancy, and Robert G., the subject of this sketch.

It was in the common schools of Wood- stock, Illinois, that Robert G. Earley ac- quired his primary education, supplemented by a course in the Woodstock High School, from which he graduated at the age of six- teen years, being one of the youngest students who at that time had completed the course.

A short time after laying aside his text- books he obtained a position in the abstract office of Richards & Arnold, at Woodstock, Illinois, where he remained for upwards of three years, acquiring a splendid post-grad- uate course under the able tutorship of one of the best, if not the best, abstracter in the state of Illinois, Hon. Emery E. Rich- ards. From Woodstock Mr. Earley was called to Geneva, Kane county, Illinois, and there took a position in the office of the county and probate clerk; in these positions he gained considerable knowledge of law

and acquired an ambition and desire to en- ter the legal profession.

In 1891 Mr. Earley came to Elgin and entered the office of Judge Edward C. Lov- ell, who directed his law studies until his admission to the bar, in May, 1896, and thus well equipped, began his chosen work,

Mr. Earley was married July 9, 1892, to Miss Elsie A. Forrest, a daughter of James E. and Adelaide (Morse) Forrest, early res- idents of Kane county, Illinois, in the vicin- ity of LaFox. Mr. and Mrs. Earley have only one surviving child, Caroline, an inter- esting little sunbeam of twenty-one months. Mrs. Earley is a memberof the First Church of Christ, Scientist; is an officer of the Key Note Club, a musical society of Elgin, and shares with her husband in the warm regard of many friends.

In politics Mr. Robert G. Earley is a stal- wart Republican, and is, and has been since its organization, chairman of the executive committee of the Lincoln Republican Club, an organization which now numbers over eight hundred members, and has also been an executive committeeman for his county for several years in the National League of Republican clubs, and to the national con- ventions, of which he has been three times elected a delegate.

Mr. Early also belongs to, and is a com- mitteeman, in the Society of the Sons of the Revolution, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is also a member of the Hamilton Club, of Chicago.

EVELYN E. RICH, Hampshire, Illinois. One of the oldest, as well as most hon- orable, families in Kane county, is that from which the subject of this sketch has

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sprung. The family in America is descended from four brothers who came together from Wales in early colonial days, the ancestor of this branch of the family settling in one of the New England states. The grand- father of our subject, Elijah Rich, Sr., was born in Wiliamstown, Massachusetts, and after serving through the Revolutionary war settled in Vermont, where he died at the age of seventy-seven years.

Elijah Rich, Jr., an only son, was born in Massachusetts, June 10, 1795, and when a child removed with his parents to Ver- mont, where he was reared. Here he mar- ried and some of his children were born. Early in 1834 he started west on horseback, and after traversing four or five states ar- rived in Naperville, Illinois, at the house of his friend, Hiram Goodrich, whom he had known in his native state. From here he rode over much of the northern part of Illi- nois, through several counties, finally · selecting a tract on section 31, Deerfield precinct, now Rutland township, and re- turned to Naperville. Leaving his horse here, he returned to Vermont by way of the lakes in the summer, and sent his nephew, E. R. Starks, who was living with him, to come west to hold the claims he had made for them, which Mr. Starks did that fall.

In the spring of 1836, Mr. Rich again turned his face westward bringing his family with him, coming as he had returned, by water. From White Hall, New York, they came by the Erie canal to Buffalo, coming thence by lake to Chicago, and by wagon to Naperville, where the family was left while Mr. Rich and his nephew built a house to shelter them. Coming to their claims as early as the season would permit, the two first built a cabin on Mr. Starks'

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The Biographical record of Kane County, Illinois, Part 80

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