740
HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
French descent and came to Illinois from Canada in 1838, locating first in Joliet and later in Kendall County, where he served as Sheriff two terms. William S. Beaupre was reared in La Salle and Kendall Counties, obtained his education in the public schools, and began his business career as clerk in a dry-goods store at Aurora. In 1869 he was appointed Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue in the Second District of Illinois, holding that position until 1883, when he resigned to become Cashier of the Aurora National Bank, organized in the year last named, and since 1895 has been Vice-President and Manager of that institution. Mr. Beaupre is also President of the Kane County Title & Trust Company, which he organized in 1902 by consolidating the Kane County Abstract and the People's Abstract offices; is a Director of the Fox River Light, Heat & Power Company, a pioneer enterprise in the distribution of gas from a central plant to surrounding towns in the Fox River Valley; is Director and Treasurer of the Home Building & Loan Association of Aurora; has been a member of the Aurora Board of Education (East Side) for twenty-two years, and a Director of the Aurora Free Library since its organization. He is a Knight Templar in Masonry, and a member of other fraternal organizations. He married Miss Julia Brady, daughter of Lorenzo D. Brady, a pioneer merchant and banker of Aurora, a sketch of whom may be found elsewhere in this volume.
FRED. W. BELDEN (deceased), farmer, born at Batavia, N. Y., May 8, 1841, and died at, his home near Kaneville, Ill., Sept. 3, 1903, lived in Rochester, N. Y., until 1858, when he came with his parents to Illinois and settled on a farm near Batavia, Kane County; married in 1863 Sarah Annis. Mr. Belden was one of the most widely known farmers in Illinois, and was noted at all county fairs and agricultural exhibitions held in Illinois for the fine cattle he raised on his farm.
GEORGE C. BELL, cement contractor, Elgin, Ill., was born in Battle Creek, Mich., June 3, 1881, son of Edward and Mary C. (Mitchell) Bell. When an infant he was brought by his parents to Elgin, where he received his education in the Elgin Academy and the Ballon Business College. He spent his summers working with his father, and learning all kinds of the cement and concrete trade, including paving. He worked six winters learning the photograph business. August 10, 1901, he was taken into partnership with his father, who is a pioneer in Elgin in this line of business. In the summer season they employ from fifteen to eighteen men, and at the present time have orders enough on hand to keep the full force of men at work until snow flies. Their office is Room 5, Hubbard Block, Elgin. Mr. Bell was married Sept. 25, 1901, to Miss Ethel Anderson, a native of Illinois.
GEORGE A. BEITH, retired farmer, Campton Township. Kane County, born Jan. 7, 1848, in St. Charles, Ill., son of William and Mary (Allen) Beith, was educated in the -public schools, the private school of Mr. McClellan, and the Bryant & Stratton's Business College of Chicago, where he took a course. In 1892 he bought the old homestead farm of his father, having already bought the Kenier place adjoining. For three years he was Assessor, and has been School Director since he was twenty-one years old. He is a deacon and trustee of the Congregational Church, of which he has been treasurer since its organization. He was married Sept. 21, 1871, to Miss Lucinda, daughter of Almon and Hannah (Smith) Richmond
