McHenry County IL

Biography of Hon. John B. Simmons

Hon. John B. Simmons, whose writings were valuable contributions to legal literature and whose career as a member of the bar has reflected credit and honor upon the profession, has engaged in practice in Racine since 1898, being now senior partner in the firm of Simmons & Walker. He was born in McHenry County, Illinois, October 26, 1S51, a son of James and Catherine (McCotter) Simmons, both of whom were natives of Vermont. Upon removing to the middle west in 1842 James Simmons resided for a time at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, but afterward took up his abode in McHenry County. … Read more

Biography of Colonel Charles L. Walker

Col. Charles Leander Walker, a member of one of the leading law firms of Rock Island County for more than a quarter of a century, is a native son of Illinois. He was born at Queen Ann, McHenry County, Illinois, December 27, 1851. He is a son of Reverend Leander Smith Walker and Miriam Lavilla Walker. His father was a Methodist minister and a leader in the Rock River conference. He was for a period of years stationed at Rockford, Winnebago County. From 1865 to 1870 he was financial agent for the Rock River Seminary and Collegiate Institute, located at … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Moses, W. H.

Moses, W. H. of the firm Lawson & Moses, dealers in a general line of dry goods, gents’ furnishing goods, clothing, boots and shoes, hats and caps, groceries, queensware and crockery. They opened business October 28, 1877. They occupy rooms 26×100 feet and 16×26 feet, and carry an average stock of $15,000. They first opened with a stock of $4,000. Mr. Moses was born in McHenry County, Ill., in 1852. He went to Republican City, Neb., in 1870, and embarked in merchandising, following it three years; he then went into the stock business a few months; he then returned to … Read more

Biography of Hosmer L. Buell

HOSMER L. BUELL.-The subject of this sketch deserves to be placed in the history of Union county for various reasons. He is a man of ability, which is amply demonstrated in the fine drug business that he manipulates in the city of Elgin, where he does a thriving business. He has passed a life of great activity in various leading industries, being ever at the ehad both because of his energy and because of his fitness for that purpose. When the call came for men, brave and true, to face the cannon of the hosts of rebellion, our subject never … Read more

Biography of Arthur H. Bennett

Arthur H. Bennett. Few men have contributed more practical encouragement to grain and stock raisers in Kansas than has Arthur H. Bennett, of Topeka, president of the Bennett Commission Company, whose business has been one of the chief commercial factors in its line in the city during the past decade. He was born May 9, 1869, on what was known as the “Old Thompson Farm,” located near Marengo, McHenry County, Illinois, the only son of Fayette Henry and Mary Eliza (Merriman) Bennett. The Bennett family is of Puritan stock, the progenitors of the family having come to America on the … Read more

Winnebago and Boone Counties Genealogy Society

1875 winnebago and boone

The Winnebago and Boone Counties Genealogical Society has placed online at the Cherry Valley Public Library District website, numerous genealogical indices which cover the counties of Boone, Cook, McHenry, and Winnebago. These free genealogy records are PDF’s downloadable to your computer.

Biography of Thomas Blakeslee, M. D.

Thomas Blakeslee, M. D. Perhaps no present resident of the thriving little City of Neodesha, Kansas, could better describe its early days than Dr. Thomas Blakeslee, its pioneer physician, now retired from professional life. Just graduated from one of the country’s greatest medical schools, Doctor Blakeslee came to this growing village forty-six years ago, facing hardships, as all pioneers must, but enthusiastic in his love of his beneficent profession, and hopeful as to the scope and success of his conscientious service. For over a quarter of a century he ministered to the sick with the medical skill that knowledge gave … Read more

Biographical Sketch of L. M. Butts

L. M. Butts was born in Delaware County, N. Y., February 21, 1843; removed to McHenry County, Ill., in 1852, where he lived until the beginning of the war, when he enlisted September, 1861, in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, taking an active part in nearly every battle in the Army of the Potomac, and was honorably discharged in October, 1864. In the spring of 1871 he located in Jewell County, Kan., taking a quarter-section of land under the homestead act, and at the general election that fall was elected to the office County Treasurer, which office he held two years … Read more