James Mann

History of James Mann and his Family



Submitted by Mel Sherman

 

As one of the original settlers of Burlington, Kane County, Illinois, James Mann's life was documented in historical books of Kane County.

"Born in Blanford Hampden Co., Jan. 1, 1794; removed to Sheldon, Wyoming Co., N.Y. in 1810, and a few years later to Java, in the same county, where he resided up to the time of his coming West. At Java, he erected a hotel in 1836, which is still used for that purpose (at the time of writing of this history on Burlington, IL). He came West in 1843, and purchased a large tract of land in Burlington and Hampshire Townships, Kane Co., Ill.; in the following spring, he removed with his family to to Burlington, his present home; on Jan. 1, 1815, he was married to Miss Lucy Sherman, who was born in the State of R.I. (She was actually born in MA) ; she died at Burlington, Sept 24, 1870; there were ten children by this union, seven living-- Franklin, Elvira, wife of Merritt B. Lewis; Lucy C., wife of Amos A. Brown (both of whom now reside at Lockport, N.Y.); Sylvester S., Garmenio A., Alfred J., and Sherman D.; the three deceased are Orlon, died Jan. 8, 1824; Julina, died April 26, 1847; Louisa, wife of S. C. Hapgood, died May 18, 1868. Was married to his present wife, Mrs Esther Tabor, July 1871; she was born in Washington Co., N.Y. Was 84 yrs, 8 mos and 20 days old when he died."


 

James Mann burial site, Burlington, IL

 

Lucy Sherman Mann burial site

The Will of Stephen Sherman (Lucy Sherman's Father)

 

Sylvester Mann, Son of James and Lucy

 

 

SYLVESTER SHERMAN MANN, deceased, was for many years one of the most prominent citizens of Kane county. He was of an old New England family, the members of which were all of strong mentality, of fine education, and above the average in brain and influence in the communities where they lived. His father, James Mann, was born in Massachusetts January 1, 1794, and died in Burlington township, Kane county, Illinois, September 22, 1878. He lived in Massachusetts until he attained his majority, when he removed to Wyoming county. New York, where he purchased a farm and erected a hotel at North Java, which he ran for fourteen years. In 1844 he came west, by lake from Buffalo to Chicago, and thence to Burlington township, Kane county, where he purchased twelve hundred acres of land, built a large frame house and at once commenced its improvement. Some years later, while on a visit to his old home in New York, the house was burned. On his return he built a larger and more substantial residence of brick, large enough to serve as a hotel, in which he kept a public house for many years. The building was demolished in 1897 by our subject and a fine frame farm house erected in its place.


James Mann was quite prominent in the early history of Burlington township, and was a man of strong personality, politicaclly a Whig in early life, later a Republican, and religiously a Congregationalist. He was the son of William Mann, a native of Massachasetts. James Mann maried Lucy Sherman man, a native of Java, New York, born March 18, 1798, and who died September 24, 1870. Of their ten children four only survive, as follows: Lucy, wife of Amos Brown, of Lockport, "New York; Parmeno, living in Nebraska; Alfred, living in. Elgin; and Sherman D., of Burlington, Illinois.


Sylvester S. Mann was born May 30, 1827, in North Java, New York. His education was obtained while yet living in New York, and he came west with his parents in 1844. While yet in his twentieth year he opened a store in the village of Burlington, and under the firm name of Mann& Brown engaged in a general mercantile trade, and also at the same time engaging in farming. Later the firm name was changed to Mann,Hapgood & Co., and the business continued, while he was also interested in a store in Hampshire, run under the name of Hathaway & Co.


Mr. Mann was married May 18, 1850, in Burlington township, to Caroline Young, born in the town of Plainfield, Monroe county, New York, July 17, 1826, and a daughter of Simon and Betsy (Meyers) Young. Her parents moved from New York to Ohio in 1833, where they resided some five or six years, and then came to Kane county, Illinois. Simon Young was born in America of English parents, and was second of a family of three sons, the others being Nicholas and Emanuel. The latter was a bachelor and died at a very old age. Betsy Meyers was born in Cayuga county. New York. To Simon and Betsy Young .nine children were born, of/whom. Caroline, was seventh in order of birth. Nearly all attained old age. The living are: Daniel, who lives at Elgin, at the age of eighty-six, years; Stephen, who also resides in Elgin, at the age of eighty-four years; John, living in Waukegan, Illinois, at the age of seventy-six years; and Caroline, widow of our subject.


To our subject and wife six children were born, the. first dying in infancy. The others are: Elvira, who married C. H. Potter, of Elgin; Alice; lrvin, who died at the age of five years; John S., of whom further mention is made in this sketch; and Nellie, wife of Dr. 0. A. Chappell, of Elgin.


Sylvester S. Mann, from the time he attained his majority, occupied a prominent position in the political affairs of his township and county. He served as supervisor in 1858, and several succeeding years. In 1863, he was elected a member of the legislature, and in the session of 1863-4 assisted in bringing about the disagreement between house and senate, which enabled Governor Yates to prorogue the legislature. He was re-elected in 1865, and during this term secured the location of the Northern Illinois Hospital for the Insane, at Elgin, and when additions were made necessary, his constituents re-elected him in 1872. Others seemed unable to accomplish the results required, but be secured an appropriation sufficient to make the necessary changes. For some years he was an official in the management of the Hospital. In 1866, he was appointed and served as collector of Internal Revenue of his district.


Mr. Mann was largely interested in the improvement of cattle, and in 1883 went to Europe, on the steamer City of Chester, which.was later sunk in the GoldenGate, San Francisco. While abroad he purchased one hundred and" sixty head of' Holstein cattle, and one year later, two hundred and ninety-eight head, which he imported in two shipments. He was one of the first importers of this valuable breed in Illinois. For some years he was a member of the Holstein Breeders' Association, in which he rendered valuable service. Fraternally he was a member of the old Masonic lodge at Burlington. In 1866, he moved to.the city of Elgin, where his death occurred August 14, 1885. John S. Mann, son of Sylvester S. Mann, grew to manhood in Kane county, and in Elgin, married Mattie L. B. Arnold, a native of that city, and a daughter of Marshall Newton. Arnold, who was born in Wellesley Hill, Massachusetts, and who came west in 1871, to assume a position as expert watchmaker, in the factory at Elgin. He was the son of Thomas Ambrose Arnold, who died when a young man. His grandfather, Thomas Arnold, was a large property owner in Chicago. The Arnolds are members of an old colonial family, who first settled near Farmington. Maine, and who trace their descent from Myir, King of Kent, in the twelfth century. Marshall N. Arnold married Mary Sharpe, a native of Jackson, Mississippi. His death occurred in 1884. To John S. Mann and wife one child was born, Alice Caroline. In 1890, five years after the death of our subject, the family moved back to Burlington, occupying the old homestead. The farm being managed by John S. Mann, who is a practical farmer, and a member of the Holstein Breeder's Association of America. Fraternally he is a member of Kane camp, No. 471, M. W. A., of Burlington.




Franklin Mann, Son of James and Lucy


Franklin Mann, butter and cheese manufacturer; P.O. Burlington; born in Wyoming co., N.Y., Jan. 13, 1816. Married, June 21, 1838, to Miss Electa Willard, of St. Joseph Co., Mich., who was born in Cattaraugus N.Y., april 1, 1816; came to Kane Co. in 1844, and engaged in farming five years; in 1849, he built a steam saw-mill at Burlington, and followed the trade of a carpenter and wagon maker until 1872, when he engaged in the manufacture of butter and cheese, with his son-in-law, Mr. Roseborough; he has two children living--Delia M. (now Mrs Roseborough) and Celia his son, Thaddeus, was a member of the 8th IL Cavalry; served through the war, and afterwards enlisted in the regular army, serving two years, and died in St. Louis in 1870; Mr. Mann owns a house and lot, at Burlington; a farm of 145 acres, about a mile north of the village, and, with Mr. Roseborough, owns the cheese and butter factory at Burlington; he is a Rep.: has served as School director about ten years, as Town Clerk four years, as Township Trustee of Schools two years and Commissioner of Highways five years; he was elected Justice of the Peace and Notary Public in 1870, and still holds the office; he is also, at present, Township School Treasurer.




Alfred Mann, Son of James and Lucy


Alfred Mann, General Merchant; P. O. Burlington; born in Wyoming Co., N.Y., Nov. 8, 1835; when he was 9 years old he came, with his father's family, to Kane Co., settling at Burlington; the family consisted of five brothers and four sisters, all but one of whom came at the same time; the brothers, of whom A. J. is the fourth are all residents of Kane Co,; at the age of 17 years, Mr. Mann entered the store of his brother, S. S. Mann, remaining there until 1856, when he became a partner in the firm of Mann Bros. ; the partnership continued until 1859, when they disposed of their business to S. C. Hapgood, and retired to their farms, where they resided until 1865; the firm of Mann, Hapfood & Co. was then established, which still continues; they have, also, a store and cheese factory at Hampshire Station conducted under the firm name of Hathaway & Co. He was married Oct., 13, 1858, to Miss Elsie Terwilliger, of Hampshire, who was born in Chenanago Co, N.Y., April 28, 1835; they have two children living--James F. and Effie; he owns 225 acres of land, finely improved, at and near Burlington P.O., valued at $12,000; Mr. Mann was elected Town Clerk in 1867, holding the office three years; in 1870, he was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors, and held the office four years; he is at present Town Clerk and Township Trustee, to which positions he was chosen in April, 1877; Mr. Mann is a Republican.

 

 

 


 

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