McHenry County, Illinois - Biographical sketches (1 of 2 so headed), 1885

Lyman 8. Backus, dairyman and farmer, section 9, Dunham Township, was born in Hebron, Conn., July 1, 1825, a son of Jabez and Asenath (Wilson) Backus. His father died when he was eight years old, and he soon after moved with his mother to Genesee County, N. T. When he was twenty years of age he came alone to McHenry County, and settled in Dunham Township. His mother subsequently followed him and is still living with him, in the eighty-fourth year of her age. The first work he did in the county was for John Diggins, the first settler of Dunham Township. Mr. Backus has afinefarmof 700 acres, but makes a specialty of the dairy business. He has seventy or eighty cows and sells his milk and cream in Harvard. He is one of the oldest farmers and business men of Dunham, having been identified with her interests since 1845. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Harvard Lodge, No. 309, and Harvard Chapter, No. 91. Mr. Backus was married March 18, 1848, to Lorraine Downs, a native of New York, born June 29, 1829, daughter of David and Laura Downs. They have had eight children - Augusta A., born July 23, 1849, wife of Peter Rogers; Alice A., born Dec. 10, 1851, wife of Elisha Alexander; George W., born Dec. 11, 1853, married Jane Collins; Albert L. , born June 29, 1856, married Ella Stevenson; Charles M., born May 25, 1860; Jane A., born July 10, 1863; Edwin E., born March 16, 1S66, and May D., born Oct. 19, 1870. Mrs. Backus is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Dexter Barrows, one of the most prominent and influential pioneers of Dunham Township, was born in Orange Count}', Vt, Nov. 4, 1814, a son of Alfred and Esther (Dexter) Barrows. After reaching manhood he went to Boston and remained four years and then came West, and in September, 1839, located in McHenry County, 111., on the present site of Dunham. He entered 320 acres of land from the Government, built a cabin, broke twelve acres of the land, and bought five cows and a yoke of oxen. In the spring of 1840 he returned East, and the following October was married to Olive E. Simpson, anative of Rockingham County, N. H., a daughter of David Simpson. He then came to his new home where with the assistance of his wife he was successful and accumulated a good property. They experienced all the hardships of pioneer life, but were ambitious and industrious, and were rewarded by good crops and a full store-house. Besides his property in McHenry County, Mr. Barrows owns a quarter-section of land in Nebraska. His farm is well improved and his residence is the finest in the township. His wife died June 29, 1881. Of their eight children seven are living - Elizabeth, wife of A. J. Alden; Darwin A., Dexter S., Alva H. H., Adelbert A., Harvey H. and Lewis E. Their eldest son, George, died while in the service of his country, in the war of the Rebellion. Aug. 15, 1883, Mr. Barrows married Mrs. Catherine (Hill) Kegley. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically he is a Republican. He has served his township in several official capacities. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

Ahram Carmaclc, one of the early pioneers of Dunham Township, was born in Crawford County, Pa., March 3, 1815, a son of William and Mary (Blystcne) Carmack, his father a native of

New Jersey, of Scotch-Irish descent, and his- mother of Pennsylvania, of German descent. In May, 1831, his parents moved to Michigan, and in April, 1833, to La Porte County, Ind. They lived there seven years, and in September, 1840, came to Illinois and settled in McHenry County, where the father died Sept. 28, 1865, aged eighty-four years, and the mother April 15, 1883, aged ninety-five years and one week. Abram Carmack came to McHenry County in July, 1840, and bought a claim of Joseph and Thomas Metcalf, which he afterward entered from the Government. To this original purchase he has added from time to time till he now owns 880 acres of improved land in the township, 700 acres in one tract. He was married in La Porte, Ind., May 19., 1836, to Ruth, daughter of Samuel Massey. To them were born three children - William, Mary and Robert. Mrs. Carmack died Feb. 2, 1860. Sept. 12, 1866, Mr. Carmack married Caroline Newerth, a native of Hanover, Germany. They have three children - Flora, Merrill and Minnie. Politically Mr. Carmack is a Republican. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. To use his own words, "Religiously he is a disbeliever of the creation account, the story of Eve and the snake, vicarious atonement, a personal devil, an endless hell, and an angry God - for we read that God is angry every da}7 with the wicked; he cannot believe the above true, for anger only resteth in the bosom of fools."

M. A. Hubbell is a native of Meigs County, Ohio, born Feb. 4, 1832, a son of Barclay Hubbell. In 1853 he came with his parents to McHenry County, and in 1857 bought 100 acres of land, which he cultivated till after the breaking out of the Rebellion. Aug. 7, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, and participated in all the engagements of the regiment. He served three years and was mustered out Aug. 17, 1865. After his return home he again engaged in farming, and now owns 320 acres of well-improved land. He was married May 5,1869, to Agnes Wllkens, a native of Lapeer County, Mich., daughter of John and Mary "Wilkens. They have six children - Jessie B. , John H., Alice'E., Susan M., Laurence and Frank C. Politically Mr. Hubbell is a Republican.

Jason, N. Jerome, one of the first settlers and most prominent men of Dunham Township, was born in Franklin County, Vt., Jan. 7, 1807, the second of seven children of Erie and Polly (Ford) Jerome. He remained with his parents till he was nineteen years old. He remained in Vermonttill December, 1883, and then went to Rochester, N. Y.-, where he lived one year and five months. In 1836 he moved to La Porte, Ind., and there organized a company and came to Illinois' on a prospecting tour, leaving his family in Indiana. They followed the Indian trail from Chicago to the present site of Marengo, where they found one log cabin occupied by a squatter named Brown. They remained there over night, and the next day explored the county. Finding no traces of white men July 23, 1836, he laid a claim in Dunham Township and returned to Indiana. The next June he returned to his land and built a cabin, and in September moved his family to it. He has lived to see the county changed from a wilderness, inhabited by Indians, to its present state of advanced civilization, and has been one of the most prominent in assisting to build up the county and make it what it now is, one of the finest in the State. He owns a fine farm of 280 acres, on which he has a pleasant residence and good farm buildings. He was married in December, 1832, to Clarinda Clark, a native of Yertnont. To them were born two children, but one of whom is living - Nelson C. Cornelia died at the age of two years. Mrs. Jerome died Jan. 4, 1878, after a married life of forty-six years. Although Mr. Jerome is nearly seventy-eight years old and has lived an active life he is strong and well and attends to the work of his farm with the vigor of his younger days.

Jonathan F. Moore, retired farmer, is a native of Orange County, Vt., bornJJan. 28, 1808, the only son of James and Elizabeth (Fletcher) Moore, his father a native of New Hampshire and his mother of Massachusetts. He remained in his native county till 1837, when he came to Illinois and located in Kane County. In 1840 he came to McHenry County and entered 400 acres of land in Dunham Township. His means at that time were limited, but he has been a good manager and industrious, and has bought and sold again, from time to time, till he now owns 338 acres of the best land in the township. In 1874 he retired from the active life of the farm and moved to his present home, near the town of Harvard, where in 1880 he erected a handsome residence. He was Married Oct. 28, 1834, to Maria, daughter of Alfred and Esther Barrows. Politically he is a Democrat.

David Sinton, farmer and stook-raiser, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, April 7, 1811. He was married in February, 1840, to Mary Jane McMendra, of County Down, Ireland. The following April they started for America and came directly to

McHenry County, 111., and entered eighty acres in Dunham Township. They were successful, and added to their land from time to time till they owned 200 acres of fine land, all well improved. They have since sold 130 acres, and now have a pleasant home of seventy acres with a good residence and farm buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Sinton have had a family of seven children; but five are living - Allen, Mary J., Margaret, Sarah, Isabella. The deceased are - Margaret and Richard. Politically Mr. Sinton has affiliated with the Republican party since its organization. He and his wife have been members of the Methodist Episcopal church forty years.

Richard Sinton is a native of County Armagh, Ireland, born December, 1805. He was reared and educated in his native country, and there married, May 16, 1837, Eliza McMordic, a native of County Down. In the spring of 1840 they came to America, and settled in McHenry County, 111., on land entered from the Government. He first entered 120 acres, and two years later entered eighty acres more. He built a log cabin, and, with the assistance of his wife, set about making a home. They were industrious and energetic, and, notwithstanding the hardships and privations they were obliged to endure, were successful, and now have a good home as a reward for their many years of toil. Mr. and Mrs. Sinton have had seven children. Mary is the wife of William Andrews, of Boone County ; Jane is the wife of "William Maxon; Isabella, wife of Thomas A. Wood; Matilda is at home ; Robert, David and an infant are deceased. Politically, Mr. Sinton is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

John Snowden, retired farmer, is a native of Ireland, born in County Armagh, Aug. 11, 1817. In 1839 he came to America, and located in McHenry County, 111., on what is known as Wild Horse Prairie, in Dunham Township. He settled on the land in July, and the following September entered it from the Government. He lived on his farm till 1880. and then moved to his present home, just south of Harvard, where he has a fine residence.. He was married April 6, 1845, to Orpha M. Allen, a native of Bradford County, Pa., who came to McHenry County in 1844. They have three children - Clinton A., a journalist, of Washington, D. C. ; Yienna, now Mrs. J. L. Carpenter, of Chicago, and Milo E. , a grocer, of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs . Snowden are members of

James Wallace, deceased, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, May 11, 1828, a son of James and Margaret (Beck) Wallace. He came to America when sixteen years of age, with his uncle, Robert Wallace, and joined his parents in Boone County, 111., but soon after settled in Dunham Township. He wa3 married April 4, 1856, to Ann Sinnainon, a native of County Armagh, Ireland, born Nov. 22 1834, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Rankins) Sinnamon, who came to America in 1838, and settled in Dunham Township, Mc- Henry County, 111. To Mr. and Mrs. Wallace were born five children - James H., born July 12, 1857, died Feb. 2, 1858; Susannah, born April 25, 1859, is the wife of Charles Stevenson; Mary E., wife of Alexander Beck, of Bodie, Cal., was born April 7, 1862; William J., born Oct. 24, 1863, assists his mother on the farm; Margaret J., born Nov. 1, 1872, is also at home. Mr. Wallace died Jan. 29, 1873, aged forty-four years, eight months and eighteen days. He was, as is his wife, a member of the Episcopal church. He was an honorable, upright citizen, and was a valuable member of society, one whose place it was hard to fill.

Jonathan Wells, retired farmer, Dunham Township, was born in Halifax, "Vt, June 20, 1804, a son of Joel and Chloe (Raison) Wells. When he was two years of age his parents moved to New York, and there he was reared and educated. He was married October, 1826, to Catherine DeGroat, a native of Lower Canada, and soon after his marriage bought a farm in Franklin County, N. Y., where he lived until 1843. He then moved to Illinois, and rented a farm in Marengo four years. In 1844 he bought his present farm, and in 1847 moved his family to it. In 1850 he went to California, it taking him four months and eight days to make the journey. He returned to McHenry County in 1852, and has since lived on his farm. He now owns 240 acres of choice land, and although he has given up the hard work of the farm, superintends it, as in spite of his eighty years he retains his youthful vigor to a remarkable degree. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have had five children - Harriet, John (deceased), Philia L., Edward J. and Dollie A. Politically Mr. Wells is a Republican.

Jacob A. Wood, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Kent, Canada West, June 24, 1818, a son of Joseph and Charlotte (Wagoner) Wood, his father a native of New Jersey, and the mother of New York, of English and Welsh descent. His parents moved to Cang" - - -* - 9K-^ ada from New York in 1818. When he was eighteen years of age, in 1836, he left home and came West as far as Porter County, Ind., where he formed a partnership with a blacksmith and learned the trade, remaiuing with him three years. He then returned to Canada and worked at his trade till 1842, when he moved to Boone County, 111. In 1846 he entered eighty acres of land in Boone County, but subsequently sold it and moved to Chemung, where he worked at his trade till 1860. He then bought the farm in Dunham Township, where he has since resided. He owns 200 acres of land, on which is a good residence and farm buildings. Mr. Wood was married in 1840, to Sarah Thompson, a native of Canada, born in 1818. They have five children - Israel, Harriet P., Thomas, Sanford H. and James E. Politically, Mr. Wood is a Republican. He is a demitted member of the Masonic fraternity.