HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
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old homestead about one mile west of Batavia, where she still resides. She has been a continuous resident of Kane County for nearly sixty years, and is one of the most widely known of the pioneer women now living.
JOSEPH INGHAM, farmer, stock-raiser and ex-Recorder of Kane County, born Oct. 18, 1839, son of Col. Samuel S. Ingham, above mentioned, was educated in the public schools and at Lombard University, Galesburg. He was a farmer until 1861, when he enlisted in the Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry for service in the Civil War, was mustered in Sept. 21st, participated in the battle of Pea Ridge and in all the campaigns of the Army of the Cumberland, and was mustered out in October, 1864. After his return home he resumed farming and also helped to organize the Kane County Farmers' Institute. In 3892 he was elected Recorder of Kane County, serving four years. He had previously been Assessor of Sugar Grove Township for twelve years, and has long been a recognized leader of the Republican party in Kane County, frequently serving as delegate in political conventions. In 18G9 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Strickland, daughter of George Strickland, an Aurora pioneer, and they have had three children: Samuel S., now of Clay County, Ill.; Mrs. Sarah Ingham Tarble, of Aurora, and Mildred, of Chicago. John Ingham, another son of Col. Samuel S., was born in Sugar Grove Township, Kane County, Oct. 19, 1857, educated in the public schools, and in the Sugar Grove Academy, became a farmer and stock-raiser. In 1880 he associated himself with his brother in farming and stock-raising, and they have since carried on business together. In 1885 he married Miss Catherine Cook, daughter of Peter Cook, of Aurora.
COL. SAMUEL S. INGHAM (deceased), was born in New York City, May 24, 1801, son of Joseph and Sally (Starr) Ingham. His father was a sailor in early life, but later settled in Steuben, Oneida County, N. Y., on lands belonging to the Baron Steuben Grant, having several retired sea captains near him, and there spent the remainder of his life as a farmer. Here Samuel S. Ingham grew to manhood, following farming until 1839, when he came to Illinois and located on Government land in the Town of Sugar Grove, Kane County. In 1842, when these lands came into market, he bid in the entire township under an arrangement with the "Sugar Grove Claim Association," for the protection of the settlers. From his arrival here until his death, March 17, 1864, he held many positions of trust and responsibility, and was a leader in all movements for the promotion of the welfare of the people of Kane County. In 1838 he married Miss Nancy Owens, of Oneida County, N. Y., and their children who lived to maturity were: Joseph, Squire, John and Adaline (now Mrs. Spencer of Aurora). Joseph, John and Adaline were living in 1903; Squire died in 1895.
E. KINNEY ISBELL, retired railroad man, Aurora, was born at Lenox, Mass., Oct. 17, 1833, educated at Lenox Academy, and trained to a farming life. In 1854 he came west with his father, with whom he engaged in farming until the death of the latter placed upon the son the responsibility of providing for the support of the family. In 1860 Mr. Isbell entered the service of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company as a locomotive fireman, three years later becoming an engineer, and during his twenty-two years of service in this position, had the almost unique record of having never had a passenger killed and but one injured through his own fault. In 1885 he retired from railroading to devote his attention to
