HISTORY OF KAXE COUNTY.
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Fahnstock Company, of Pittsburg, Pa., with which he later began the manufacture of white lead. About 1874 he became associated with Pittsburg parties in the organization of the third establishment of the kind in the United States. A few years later Mr. Arnold, in company with others, organized the Aurora Smelting and Refining Company, their large plant going into operation at Aurora, Jan. 1, 1883; later they bought and combined with their original plant those of the Chicago Refining and Smelting Company, located at Chicago and Leadville, Colo. The Aurora plant was operated eighteen years without the loss of a day, until it was finally disposed of to the American Refining and Smelting Company. Mr. Arnold was President from its organization until its sale, and he has also been interested in kindred enterprises in Colorado and Utah. His home has been in Aurora since his removal from Pittsburg in 1882.
GEORGE F. ARVEDSON, merchant, Carpentersville, Kane County, was born in Algonquin, Ill., April 26, 1855, son of the Rev. Peter Ravedson, and at fourteen years of age was employed as clerk by H. E. Hunt, a merchant at Dundee. In 1875 he became a partner in a store in Carpentersville, but sold out his interest two years later to take a position in the Illinois Iron and Bolt Company as shipping clerk. After the death of his wife's uncle, Julius A. Carpenter, in 1880, he assumed the management of the flouring mill, and two years later he began shipping mo'ding sand from the C. V. Carpenter farm, which had come into his wife's possession. This business he still (1904) continues, though the milling business was given up in 1885 as no longer profitable. In 1893 a co-partnership was entered into with Ora H. Smith in the sand and gravel business, and three years later in the lumber, coal and feed business. Mr. Arvedson is now serving his fourth term on the Board of Education, and for many years has been a Vestryman and Warden of St. James parish, Dundee. He is also a member of the Board of Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Chicago.
REV. PETER ARVEDSON (deceased). Algonquin, born in Norkoping, Sweden, Aug. 24, 1822, and educated in the public schools of his native land, came to the United States in 1840, in company with William Estergren, who is still (1904) living in Algonquin. After spending some two years in Cincinnati and Chicago, Mr. Arvedson came to Algonquin to work on the farm of Dr. Andrew Cornish. Here it was that, coming under the influence of Mrs. Cornish whose granddaughter he afterward married, his religious life was quickened, and he was ordained a minister of the Episcopal Church, after several years' active work as lay-reader and member of St. John's Episcopal Church, Algonquin, of which he became deacon-in-charge. Upon his advancement to the priesthood in 1869, he became rector, this relation continuing until his death, Nov. 22, 1880. For one summer only (that of 1868), was he a resident of Kane County; but, as being the prime mover in the organization of St. James parish, Dundee, in 1864, he was from that time actively interested in the affairs of the county. From Algonquin as a center, where a church building was completed in 1865, his missionary labors extended to many points in Northern Illinois, and at one place across the border into Wisconsin. As the fruits of his missionary work, beside the church in Algonquin, an old building was bought of the Baptists in Dundee, and new churches erected at Wilmot, Wis., and Spring Grove, Ill.
GUSTAVUS AUCUTT, farmer and merchant, Aurora, Ill., was born in Oneida County, N. Y., July 20, 1839, and spent the early years of his life in his native State, attending the public schools when a boy; came to Illinois when fifteen years of age, and has since lived in Kane County. In 1869 he bought a farm in Sugar Grove Township, and was engaged in farming and stock-raising there until 1883, when he sold out and purchased another farm in Aurora Township which he still owns, but in 1893 retired from active farming operations and has since resided in Aurora. In 1896 he embarked in the coal business in Aurora, and has since been head of the firm of Aucutt & Son. In 1862 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry for service in the war of the rebellion, and was mustered out in 1865 after three years of active service. Mr. Aucutt was married in 1865 to Miss Josephine Dennison. daughter of Gilbert P. Dennison, of Aurora.
CHARLES H. BACKUS, banker, Hampshire, Ill.; born at Chaplin, Conn., June 9, 1856; came
