The History of Will County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory of its real estate owners; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics.history of Illinois history of the Northwest, Part 96

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, jr. & co.
Number of Pages: 980

USA > Illinois > Will County > The History of Will County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory of its real estate owners; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics.history of Illinois history of the Northwest > Part 96

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M. H. EVANS, farmer, See. 17 ; P. O. Plainfield ; the subject of this sketch was born in Clark Co., Ill., Oct. 8, 1831. He married Miss Hannah C. Tenny Nov. 14, 1850; she was born in Grafton Co., N. H., Aug. 29, 1826; they had eight children, six living, viz., Sarah A., Eunice A., Walter A., Milton H., Ira E. and Carrie H. ; Mary E. and William H. died; he lived four years in Clark Co., and then eame to Will Co., with his parents, who settled in this township and engaged in farming; he lived here until 1852, when he moved to Kendall Co., Ill., and en- gaged in farming ; remained until 1865 ; he then came to his present place; he owns 189 aeres in this township, which he has earned by his own labor. He has been connected with the M. E. Church for the past twenty-eight years ; he is now the Steward, and has been Trustee, Class Leader and Sabbath School Superintend- ent.

WILLIAM H. FLAGG, farmer, See. 10; P. O. Plainfield ; the subject of this sketeh is the youngest son of Reuben and Mrs. Betsey (Kendall) Flagg; he was born in this township May 8, 1841, on the old homestead, settled by his father about 1834. He married Miss Margarett Van Horn Dee. 10, 1867 ; she was born in Paterson, N. J., Aug. 1, 1841 ; they had five children-four living, viz., Kate O., Bessie L., Warren Lee and Henry C. He has always lived in this township, and has followed his occupation of farmer ; he started in very limited circumstances, and · now owns eighty-four aeres adjoining the village of Plainfield, which he has earned by his own labor and management.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

H. R. FRASER, hardware and grocer- ies, Plainfield ; the subject of this sketch was born in Sullivan Co., N. Y., Nov. 30, 1834. He married Miss Roxanna Wright Feb. 6, 1866; she was born in Plainfield, Ill., Dec. 19, 1845 ; they have one child, viz., Manford S. He lived in New York twelve years, when he moved to Plain- field ; his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth (Brown) Fraser, died in Chicago while on their way here ; his father and family came to this township and engaged in farming near this village, continuing in same until his death, July, 1857 ; Mr. H. R. moved to a farm about four miles southeast of this village. He remained there until 1861, when he enlisted in the 13th I. V. C., serving three years and two months, tak ing part in the battles of Arkansas Post, capture of Little Rock, Red River expe- dition, etc .. etc. In the spring of 1865, he engaged in his present business, style of firm being Smiley & Fraser, and continued seven years ; the firm then became H. R. Fraser & Co., and has so continued.

LYMAN FOSTER, retired farmer ; P. O. Plainfield. Non-sectarian ; Democratic. Owns house and lot in village ; was born March 30, 1793, in the town of Meriden, New Haven Co., Conn .; at the age of 11, his parents removed to Lewis Co., N. Y .; remained with them until 13 years of age, and was then apprenticed to paper-making; served until he was 21; then went to Chenango Co., N. Y., and took charge of a paper-mill for two and one-half years ; he then went to Cooperstown, and, in company with others, built a paper-mill at that place, which he conducted three years and then sold out ; he then went to Little Falls, N. Y., and for two years took charge of the largest paper-mill in the State, after which he went to Esperance, N. Y. ; stopped one year ; then went to New Ber- lin ; stopped one year ; he then went to Lewis Co., N. Y., and farmed about five years; then to this township in 1844, where he engaged in farming until his retirement, about nine years ago; during the time he engaged in farming, he sold Mr. Norton 30,000 bushels of corn. Mr. F. has been twice married ; his first union was with Esther Blood, when he was 27 years of age ; she was born in Vermont, and died about fifteen years ago; had eight children by that marriage, six of

whom are now living, viz., Giles D., Fayette, Mercy A., Mary A., Helen and Cornelia; the names of those that died are Louisa J. and Isaac J .; Mr. F.'s second marriage was with Mrs. Emily Pearsons, April 18, 1869. Mr. F. remembers when the death of Washington occurred, and a funeral ser- mon that was preached on that occasion, in 1799; he also remembers seeing the British fleet as it passed up New York Harbor, in 1813 or 1814, to attack New York City. At the age of 24, he was appointed Justice of the Peace for Otsego Co., N. Y., by Daniel D. Tompkins, then Governor of that State, which office he held continuously for fourteen years. Mr. F., during two years of his stay in Otsego Co., N. Y , supplied the Albany Argus with paper, that then being the leading , newspaper in the State.

JASON FLANDERS, deceased ; was born in Hebron, Vt., Aug. 18, 1810; re- sided there about twenty years, then re- moved to Boston, Mass., where he re- mained seven years ; from there he went to Lowell, where he remained five years, during which time he was engaged as clerk in a store. He was married to Lucy Ann Clark March 29, 1833; she was born in Amherst, N. H., Nov. 4, 1810 ; she is still living, and resides in Plainfield ; Mr. F. started for this State in company with- his wife May 19, 1833, and arrived in this county June 20, of the same year; he came by canal and lake to Detroit, and from there here with a wagon ; he first bought Government land near Troy, in this county, and farmed eight years ; he then purchased the place (thirty acres in the village of Plainfield) where Mrs. F. now resides, and continued there until his death, which occurred Feb. 26, 1874; Mr. F. was the first Constable elected in Plainfield and held that office a great many years ; at the time of his death, he owned between thrce and four hundred acres of land. Mrs. F. says that during their early life in this county, she has known three months to elapse without seeing any other human being but her husband; Mr. F. was highly respected by all who knew him. Mr. F. had six children, three of whom are now living -James (now Prosecuting Attorney in Joliet), Martha (now Mrs. McElhose), Sarah (deceased), Emma (now Mrs. Bra- gow) and George (deceased), formerly a

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member of the 100th I. V. I .; he died at Bowling Green, Ky., Nov. 25, 1862; his remains were brought home and interred in the Plainfield Cemetery.

N. S. HAMLIN, retired farmer ; P. O. Plainfield; born in Madison Co., N. Y., May 27, 1824; resided with his parents until the age of 27; then emigrated to this town. Married Parnel Keeler April 25, 1849. Engaged in farming soon after his arrival here, which he continued with sueeess until about eight years ago; is at present living a retired life in Plainfield village ; has held the office of Road Com- missioner five years ; also office of School Director five years, which offiee he now holds. The Hamlins of America are all descendants of one David Hamlin, one of the party who came over in the Mayflower in 1620.

J. D. HAHN, farmer, Scc. 1; P. O. Plainfield. The subject of this sketch was born in Columbiana, now Mahoning, Co., Ohio, July 3, 1826. He married Miss Rebecca Shreffler June 7, 1849; she was born in Pennsylvania April 4, 1829 ; they have six children-William T., Helen R., Kate J., Aliee M., John D. S. and Nettie M. He lived in Ohio twenty-one years, when he came to Will Co., Ill., and settled in Plainfield Tp .; he engaged in farming, and, in 1857, he came to his present plaee and has lived here ever since; he is no office-sccker, his only offices being connected with the school and road. He owns 207 acres of land in this county, which has been principally earned by his own labor and management.

ALONZO HEMSTREET, retired butcher, Plainfield. Non-sectarian; Demo- crat. Owns house and twelve acres in the village; was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., Oct. 6, 1815; his parents removed to Lewis Co., N. Y., when he was 2 years of age; he remained there with his parents until he was 22 years of age ; hc then went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he rc- mained nine months, during which time he was employed variously in a lumber yard and grocery; he then came to this place, arriving July 3, 1837; he soon after hired out to Daniel Ashley, and worked nine months on a farm, after which, he worked five months for Daniel W. Lamb; he then went to Fox River, and worked another year on a farm, after

which, in company with Daniel Ashley, he built a shanty, and broke 100 acres of prairie, and sowed it to wheat ; the rust destroyed it, and this enterprise was a failure; this was the first time wheat ever blasted in this county (1840); in 1841, he drove an ox-team to Prairie du Chien for Ralph Smith and Alonzo Waldo, where he remained two years; hc then came to Plainfield and rented a saw-mill of Jonathan Hagar, and run it two years ; in 1846, he commeneed butchering, and fol- lowed it for twenty years. Mr. Hemstreet married Augusta M. Foster, daughter of Lyman Foster, Esq., Oct. 26, 1848; she was born in Esperance, Otsego Co., N. Y., Dee. 20, 1826; have had seven children,' only two of whom are living-Albert E. and Andrew J .; the names of the deecased are Harriet E., Esther A., Charles D., Alonzo Monroe and Frank F. Has held the office of Constable twelve years ; Pres- ident of Village Board of School Directors, which office he holds at present. Mr. H. has always been a strong Democrat.

JONATHAN HAGAR, retired mer- chant, Plainfield. Congregational ; Re- publican. Owns 400 acres in Will Co., valued at $60 per acre ; also 280 acres in Kendall, valued at $60 per acre ; was born in Quebec, Canada, Feb. 19, 1807 ; when 2 years old, his parents removed to Montreal, where they remained cight years; then to Middlebury, Vt., where they remaincd eight years ; then to Way- bridge, Vt., where he remained two years, working on a farm which his mother owned ; his father was a sca-captain, and owner of a vessel; he died of yellow fever, in South America, Jan. 29, 1821, during a voyage to that country ; his mother's family, at that time, consisted of four brothers, besides himself and one sister. In 1830, Mr. Hagar started West ; he stopped in Cleveland two years, during which time he was employed in a crockcry store; he then went to Michigan, re- mained there two years, and taught school; then to this place, in company with Samuch Sargeant, with a stock of goods for a country store; they opened the first store in Plainfield ; it was kept in a wagon-shop, owned by a man named Bill; about a year after their arrival, they built a store of their own and removed their stoek into it; Mr. H. continued to

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do business in this town until the com- mencement of the late war, with the ex- ception of four years that he was engaged in milling, in company with Messrs. Goodhue & Burrell; the storehouse that lie put up still stands, and is now occu- pied as a parsonage for the Congregational Church. Mr. H. was married twice, first to Catherine Goodhuc, Sept. 14, 1843; she was born in New Hampshire, and died March 19, 1858, leaving two children-Edwin C. (now of Joliet), and Ellen E. (now Mrs. Charles E. Fraser). Mr. H. held the office of Justice of the Peace for eighteen years.

WM. M. JOHNSON, farming; P. O. Plainfield ; the subject of this sketch was born in Caselton, Rutland Co., Vt., Aug. 5, 1827. He married Miss Louisa M. Eaton Dec. 6, 1854; she was born in the same place Jan. 13, 1834; they have two children-Hattie C. and Ida F. He lived in Vermont seventeen years, when, with his parents, he came to Will'Co. and set- tled in Wheatland, where he lived ten years ; he then moved to Du Page Tp. and engaged in farming, remaining until 1871, when he came to Plainfield, and has lived here since; his parents, Hiram and Mrs. Sarah Ann Gault Johnson, are natives of Vermont ; his father died April 13, 1875; his mother is living here with her son.

ALLEN JORDAN, retired; P. O. Plainfield ; the above gentleman was born in Columbia Co., N. Y., Feb. 3, 1798. He married Miss Janc P. Cook Dec. 6, 1837 ; she was born in New York March 6, 1813; they had eight children, seven living-William A., Harriet, Richard C., Edward, Allen, Jr., John and Ambrosc L. He remained a resident of New York until 1847, during which time he read law, and practiced as an attorney for twenty-five years in the city of Hudson, N. Y., of which city he was Mayor for the year 1839 ; in 1847, he came to Plainfield, Ill., and remained for two years, when he went to Kendall Co. and engaged in farm- ing, and, in 1866, he again came to this place, and has lived here since.

D. W. JUMP, physician and surgcon, Plainfield ; the subject of this sketch was born in Huron Co., Ohio, Aug. 24, 1847. He married Miss Alice E. Watkins Nov. 13, 1873; she was born in Plainfield, Ill .; they have one child-Clyde W. He lived in

Ohio until September, 1871; his early days were passed on the farm ; at the age of 18, he began reading medicinc during the summers and teaching school winters, continuing until 1869, when he attended the University of Michigan, graduating March 27, 1872; he then came to Plain- field and engaged in his profession. His parents, William H. and Mrs. Margaret Richards Jump, werc natives of Maryland and New York, respectively; his mother- lives in Ohio, where his father died Aug. 31, 1869.

WM. S. KEEN, blacksmith, Plainfield ; owns residence and blacksmith-shop in the village, valued at $3,000; was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Dec. 31, 1821; resided there with his parents until he was 14 years of age; he then went to Ithaca, N. Y., and learned the blacksmith trade,. remaining seven years; he soon after started westward, and arrived in this vil- lage July 8, 1841, an entire stranger ; he very soon set up business where he is now located, and has continued there ever since,. with the exception of three years that he was in California, from 1849 to 1852. Mr. K. was married in the fall of 1846 to Roxana E. Norton ; she was born June 11, 1825, in Ithaca, N. Y., and came here with her parents in 1840; have three. children, all living in this village -- Anson C., Sarah L. and Florence. Anson was a , soldier during the late war; he enlisted in. the winter of 1863 and 1864 in the 8th I. V. C., and served until the end of the war, and took a part in all the engage- ments the regiment was in during his term of service. Mr. K. held the office of Trustee of the village one terni.

S. W. METCALF, farming and stock, Sec. 34 ; P. O. Plainfield ; this gentleman was born in the village of Plainfield Sept .. 16, 1835. He married Miss Sarah Bill- ing July 4, 1869; she was born in England April 1, 1845. He lived but a short time in the village, when, with his parents, he moved out on the farm, and, in 1865, he . came to his present place and has lived here since. His parents, Hardy and Mrs. Judith B. Russell Metcalf, were natives of New Hampshire and New York ; they were married in New York Nov. 24, 1826 ; they came to Will Co. in 1835, and settled in Plainfield, engaging in farming ; he dicd June 29, 1860; Mrs. Metcalf is living

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here on the old homestead with her daughter.

FRANK H. METCALF, farming and teaching; P. O. Plainfield ; the above gentleman is a native of Ohio; he was born in Lake Co. Nov. 23, 1840. He married Miss Augusta Metealf Nov. 20, 1864; she was born in Troy Tp., Will Co., Ill., June 21, 1837 ; they have two adopted children, viz., Frank W. and Flora Nill- son. He lived in Ohio twenty-three years, and then came to his present plaee, engag- ing in farming and teaching; his early days were spent in the distriet school; at 18, he attended the Western Reserve Acad- emy and Willoughby Collegiate Institute, and later he attended the Oberlin College. While at the latter place, he enlisted in the 100-day service, but was not in aetive service. He has eighty aeres here which he has principally earned by his own labor. He has been principal of the Channahon and Oswego schools ; for the past five years he has taught the distriet sehool near by.

L. W. MCCREERY, farming and stock, Sees. 33 and 34; P. O. Plainfield ; the subject of this sketch was born on the present place May 10, 1857. He married Miss Annie Bristol Feb. 18, 1877; she was born in Ohio Nov. 7, 1855 ; they have one child, namely, Lena. He has always lived on the present place. In 1875, he began farming on his own ae- count on the present farm, belonging to his father.

JOSEPH MCCREERY, retired ; P. O. Plainfield ; the subject of this sketeh was born in Benton, Ontario Co., N. Y., July 1, 1810. He married Miss Abigail Ann Van Riper in November, 1830; she was born in New Jersey ; they had twelve chil- dren, eight living, viz., John, Joseph, Charles, Alfred, Lewis, Mary, Lucy and Isabell. He lived in New York until 1833, when he went to Canada and engaged in the lumber business continuing four years ; he then returned to New York and engaged in the lumber business at Rochester, where he remained until 1845 ; he then came to Will Co., and settled in Plainfield, where he engaged in farming ; continued until 1875, when he came to his present place. He is no office-seeker, his only offices being con- neeted with the school and road. He started in very poor circumstances, and now owns 250 aeres in this township. He has been

connected with the Universalist Church for the past twenty-five years.

JOHN MOTTINGER, retired; P. O. Plainfield ; the above gentleman was born in Pennsylvania, May 8, 1799. He married Miss Barbara Long; she was born in Pennsylvania; they have ten children,. viz., Suanna, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Joseph, Leah, Anna C., Sarah, Lena, Rebee :a, Samuel and Daniel. He lived in Penn- sylvania until he was 13, when he went to Ohio with his parents, where his father died ; he then went to Illinois and settled in Will Co., engaging in farming; all his children are married; his parents, George and Mrs. Elizabeth Lashbaugh Mottinger, both died in Ohio; they were natives of Pennsylvania.

H. S. NORTON, farming, See. 3; P. O. Plainfield ; the above gentleman was born on his present place Dec. 1, 1845. He married Miss Matilda F. Bender March 23, 1870; she was born in Lan- caster Co., Penn., Nov. 16, 1852; they had five children, three living, viz., Aliee, Frank and Hattie. He lias always made this his residence ; soon after becoming of age, he began to farm on his own account ; he owns fifty acres, which he has principally earned by his own labor; he is operating a pit of building-sand on his place, which is of very superior quality ; it was first discovered by his father in 1845 ; his par- ents, Benjamin K. and Mrs. Harriett Yaple Norton, were natives of Tomp- kins Co., N. Y. ; Mr. Norton came to this county in 1839, and Mrs. Norton came in 1842; they settled on the present place in 1843; Mr. Norton died Oet. 17, 1874 ; Mrs. Norton lives on an adjoining farm. .

S. S. PRATT, furniture, etc., Plain- field ; is a native of Vermont ; he was born at Bennington, Feb. 28, 1814. He mar- ried Miss Esther A. Beckwith Nov. 27, 1839 ; she was born in Norfolk, N. Y., Aug. 12, 1822 ; they had four children, three living, viz., Laura, Clara and Nor- man. He lived in Vermont about nine- teen years, when he moved to New York ; remaining until spring of 1834, when he came to Chieago and engaged in the furni- ture business, remaining eighteen months ; in the fall of 1835, he came to Plainfield and engaged in same business, and has been identified with the business sinee, except ten years he engaged in farming ;

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:

he was also interested in the furniture business in Joliet during the building of the canal; he has been a member of the Congregational Church for the past thirty years, and has taken an active part in its affairs. All his children are married and living in this village.

A. J. PERKINS, physician and surgeon, Plainfield; is a native of New York; he was born in Mt. Upton March 20, 1834. He married Miss Eliza Bangs May 10, 1860; she was born in Benning- ton, Vt .; they had two children, one liv- ing, viz., Harry A. He resided in New York until 1855; his early days were passed on the farm in summers and in the district schools during winters; he then applied himself regularly to school and later engaged in teaching, also in reading medicine ; in 1864, he graduated in the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio ; he then came to Plainfield and engaged in his profession. Though not a member he has been actively identified with the churches of the village, and is persistent in his labors for the benefit of the schools of the place.

ALEXANDER ROBERTS, farmer, Sec. 2 ; P. O. Plainfield ; was born in Can- ada June 9, 1809. He married Miss Sallie Sawyer Feb. 7, 1831 ; she was born in Canada, and died Aug. 11, 1844; they had six children, three living-James, Alexander and Sarah ; his present wife was Miss Harriet C. Hoag; they were married Feb. 18, 1844; she was born in Wcare, N. H., April 14, 1825; they had four children, three living-Isabell S., Frank G. and Alice E. He lived in Can- ada until he was 24; he then moved to Vermont and engaged in farming; re- mained four years ; then returned to Can- ada and engaged in general merchandise ; remained seven years, when he went to Michigan and engaged in 'a farming and stock-raising four years; he then went to Chicago and engaged in packing pork and becf; he next engaged in the lumber busi- ness at Palos, Cook Co., Ill .; he furnished the first ties on the C. & G. R. R .; he manufactured the first lard-oil in Chicago. He was Supervisor of Palos Tp., and one of the Commissioners that built the first Court House in Chicago. He assisted in furnish- ing material to build the lock at Bridge- port, and then came to Plainfield and set-

tled on his present place. In 1837, he was living in Canada, and took part in the rebellion of that date, he forming a com- pany to fight for the liberty of Canada ; the uprising having been put down, he had to flec for safety, there being £1,000 reward offered for his capture; he took to the woods for one week; then changing his attire, he had to cross a bridge guarded by twelve soldiers ; he boldly walked up and inquired of the guard if they had caught the man Roberts, stating that he must have lately passed there; the guard, un- suspecting, answered in the contrary, and asked if he was looking for him ; he was told "Yes," and that he was prepared to take him dead or alive; after some talk they took a drink of the strong, and Rob- erts went on, escaping to the United Statcs.

MILES ROYCE, farmer ; P. O. Plain- field. Episcopal ; Republican. Owns about ninety acres, valued at $50 per acre; was born in Bristol, Hartford Co., Conn., Aug. 20, 1806 ; his father died when he was 3 years old ; Mr. R. resided with his mother until 15 years of age; then, in company with a brother, he went to Onon- daga Co., N. Y., where he remained until 1834, during which time he was variously engaged in farming and manufacturing fanning-mills ; he then came to this place and engaged in the manufacture of fan- ning-mills, which he continued for ten years ; the first year he made fifty, the second seventy-five, the third one hun- dred and fifty; these were the first manufactured in the northern part of the State; he then engaged in farming, and has continued up to the present timc. He married Sarah G. Gilman Jan. 10, 1837 ; she was born in Salem, Mass., May 12, 1809; have three children living- Philander C., Orland W. and Sarah Eliz- abeth ; lost one son-Stephen (deceased) ; Orland served three months in the late war; was discharged on account of disa- bility.

JOHN SENNITT, Postmaster, Plain- field; born in Stretham, England, Jan. 15, 1830 ; remained with parents on a farm until he was 24 years of age ; in the fall of 1854, he emigrated to this country; he stopped near Cleveland, Ohio; stopping there nearly two years, during which time he worked on a farm; then, in the spring

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of 1857, came to this village ; at the time was an entire stranger; worked on a farm for Mr. J. W. Pennington two years, and S. S. Pratt one year ; in the spring of 1860, he was engaged in the post office by K. J. Hammonds ; in 1861, W. Wright was ap- pointed, and Mr. S. continued ; he was suc- ceeded by W. R. Fraser ; he continued until Grant's first election ; then Mr. S. was appointed ; he still holds the office. Married in April, 1871, to Emma H. Drew ; she was born in the New England States in the year 1839; she came with her parents to this State when she was 5 years old; have two children-L. May and Carrie.

HORACE SPENCER, M. D., physi- eian, Plainfield; was born in Shaftsbury, Vt., Feb. 11, 1846; resided with his par- ents until of age; came to this State in 1858 ; studied medieine with Dr. Perkins three years ; spent eight months in the St. Louis Medical College, after which he at- tended one course of lectures in the Ben- nett Medical College of Chicago ; gradua- ted there in 1871. Married Hattie Cor- bin Sept. 29, 1869 ; she was born May 20, 1848; have two children -- May and Flora. Mrs. S. is a daughter of Dr. O. J. Corbin (deceased) a former resident and practitioner here; he was born in New Hamp- shire May 2, 1807 ; graduated at Dart- mouth College, N. H. ; came to Plainfield in 1836, and commenced the practice of medi- cine until his death, which occurred April 3, 1869 ; his wife was Mary L. Goss ; she was born in Montpelier, Vt .; eame to this town with her parents in 1833; she died in 1864, aged about 48 years. Dr. C. was well known as a good physician and had a very extensive practice.

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The History of Will County, Illinois : containing a history of the county a directory of its real estate owners; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; general and local statistics.history of Illinois history of the Northwest, Part 96

Author: Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, jr. & co. Number of Pages: 980

Author:
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Chicago : Wm. Le Baron, jr. & co.
Number of Pages: 980