Algonquin Illinois Biographies

Transcribed by Jeffrey Tooley

Algonquin Illinois Biographies extracted from History of McHenry County, Illinois; Chicago, Inter State Publishing Co., 1885.

A. C. Abbott Biography

A. C. Abbott was born in the State of New York in 1826, a son of Stephen and Lydia (Devereaux) Abbott, natives of Vermont and Massachusetts. In 1844 he was apprenticed to learn the wagon-maker's trade. In 1847 he opened a shop of his own in Warren County, Pa. In 1856 he came to McHenry County and opened a shop at Cary's Station and carried on the blacksmith and wagon- making business four years. He then began working at the carpenter's trade, and has since followed it at intervals, in connection with farming. In 1866 he bought 120 acres of land which he cultivates, aud also runs a dairy of twenty-five cows. He was married in 1847 to Melissa, daughter of Koyes Wheeler. They have had eight children — Frank, Dwight and Minnie are deceased; Spencer married Ellen Fitz and has two children; Fred is a single man and resides at home — is employed on the railroad; Albert married Elizabeth Kelsie and has two children; Clara married Charles McNett and has four children; Capitola married Oscar Bute and has four children. In 1865 Mr. Abbott enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and served till 1866. His father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and received a land grant in Nebraska of 160 acres. Mr. Abbott has been Justice of the Peace nine years. [Source: History of McHenry County, Illinois; Chicago, Inter State Publishing Co., 1885.]

E. H. Benson Biography

E. H. Benson is a native of Massachusetts, born in 1832, a son of Hiram and Rhoba (Davis) Benson. He was reared in his native State and in 1855 came to Illinois. He stopped in Lake County a year and in 1856 came to McHenry and located on a farm in this township. In 1859 he bought his present farm of 312 acres, lying two miles north of the village of Algonquin. He runs a dairy, milking fifty cows, and owns seventeen head of horses, besides sheep and hogs. He has a pleasant residence and good farm build ings. He was married in 1861 to Alvira Miller, daughter of Jesse and Ruth (Klinck) Miller. They have had five children; but four are living — Lewis, Mary, Edwin and Grace. Frank, born in 1865, died in 1871. Mr. Benson has held the office of Super visor two terms and of School Trustee ten years. His parents came to McHenry County in 1856, living here till the father's death in 1871. The mother is living in Maywood, 111. They had a family of six children — Almira, now Mrs. William Miller; Wal lace, married Emma Hill; Orrin, of Maywood, 111; Philetus, mar ried Maggie Shafer and lives in Minnesota; Climena, unmarried, of Maywood, and E. H. Wallace and Orrin enlisted in the late war. Wallace was wounded at Perry ville, and Orrin was taken prisoner at the same battle, and while in Libby Prison had the smallpox. [Source: History of McHenry County, Illinois; Chicago, Inter State Publishing Co., 1885.]