HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
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and one of the most expert machinists in this section of Illinois.
GEORGE GIDDINGS, retired farmer, 314 Ann Street, Elgin, Ill., was born in Essex, Mass., August 15, 1830, son of John and Abigail (Proctor) Giddings, and when seven years old was brought by his parents to Illinois. They made their home in Barrington, Cook County, where the subject of this sketch was educated in the local schools, also attended a private school, and spent two terms at a Chicago College. He worked on the farm with his father and when the elder Giddings died he took charge of the farm, situated one mile east of Dundee, into which he moved in 1874, buying a home and retiring from active business for seven years. His removal to Elgin came about this time, where he purchased a house and lot on Ann Street. He was married Jan. 1, 1861, to Almena Todd, and to their union were born two children, Lillian, born Dec. 26, 1864, and Mary Esther, born Jan. 14, 1871.
ABEL D. GIFFORD, pioneer farmer, Elgin, Ill., born at Sherburne, N. Y., August 9, 1818; came to Illinois in 1837 and purchased 280 acres of land in Hanover Township, Cook County, where he carried on dairy farming until 1889, when he retired and has since lived in .Elgin. Mr. Gifford has been a director of the Home Savings Bank and Home National Bank of Elgin for nearly thirty years. He was married in 1838 to Miss Harriet M. Root, who died about 1855. His second wife-Julia E. Chappell -died July 10, 1893, and on Dec. 15, 1896, he was married to Mrs. Clara (Flood) Whitten, of Atlanta, Ga.
EDWIN F. GIFFORD, farmer, Elgin, Kane County, born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Aug. 18, 1845, son of Abel D. Gifford, was brought to Illinois in early childhood, reared to manhood in Elgin, educated at Elgin Academy and trained to farming. For several years he lived on what is still known as the old Gifford farm near Elgin, and later was engaged in the hardware trade for a time. Removing to Minnesota, he followed farming for three years, and then returned to Elgin, where he died on the old farm May 26, 1872. During the Civil War he served in the One Hundred Forty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry. In 1866 he married Miss Cora M. Ottaway, daughter of Charles Ottaway, one of the early settlers of Chicago, and owner of a store located near the old Tremont House. To this union were born two children, Ada C., of Elgin, and Fred E., of St. Charles.
F. E. GIFFORD, manufacturer, St. Charles, Kane County, born in Warren, Wis., in April, 1871, son of Edwin F. and Cora M. (Ottaway) Gifford, was taken by his parents to Elgin in 1874, where he passed his childhood and youth, attending the local schools, and graduating from the high school and Drew's Business College. In 1887 he secured a position with the Elgin Condensed Milk Company, where he remained until 1891. That year he removed to St. Charles to enter the employ of the St. Charles Condensing Company, with which his connection has proved so successful that he is now general manager of the establishment. In St. Charles he has taken a prominent part as a public-spirited citizen, and has served the community two terms as Alderman. He belongs to local lodges of the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1892 he married Miss Delia J., daughter of Waldo and Charlotte M. Ward, of St. Charles.
HORACE GILBERT (deceased), pioneer merchant and manufacturer, Aurora, born in Otsego County, N. Y., Aug. 1, 1819, was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools. In 1849 he arrived in Aurora on his way to California, but stopping with friends became interested in this part of the State, when he decided to return east and canvass the situation with friends. Returning to Aurora in 1851, he located there and the same year married Miss Minerva jFitch, daughter of Ira Fitch, a pioneer business man of that city, with whom he shortly formed a partnership in the harness trade, later on carrying on the same business in company with John Kemp in a building on the site of the present Merchants' National Bank of Aurora, conducting an extensive trade reaching nearly every State of the Union. Mr. Gilbert retired in 1890 to devote his attention to the care of his estate. During his life he was interested in the old Second National Bank, the Merchants' National Bank, the Aurora Cotton Mills and the Aurora Silver-Plate Manufacturing Company. The first Mrs. Gilbert died in 1859, leaving no children. In 1871 Mr. Gilbert married Miss Mary, daughter of Joseph A. and Julia (West) Spaulding, who settled on a farm
