HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
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is now the Treasurer of the State Training School for Girls, a well-known state institution. He was married in 1879 to Miss Sarah E. White, of Elburn, Ill., born in Jefferson County, N. Y. Mr. Field is a public-spirited citizen, and has served three years as a member of the Geneva Board of Education.
DEAN PERSON (deceased), pioneer farmer, St. Charles, Ill., born at Bradford, N. H., April 25, 1810; came to Chicago in 1833 and located on a claim near St. Charles, Kane County, in May, 1834, where he resided until his death, and his estate is still in the possession of his family. In political sentiment he was a vigilant Abolitionist during the ante-bellum period, and later a stanch Republican. Mr. Person was married in September, 1836, to Prudence E. Ward, theirs being one of the first marriage ceremonies performed in Kane County. They were the parents of eight children, five of whom are living-Abbie Person, Mrs. Maria Wheeler, Kirk, Sampson V. and Frank. Mr. Ferson died May 31, 1892, his wife surviving him until Nov. 28, 1902.
JOHN F. FIERKE, manufacturer, Dundee, Ill., was born in Oelsdorf, Pomerania, Germany, Jan. 25, 1860, and was brought to this country by his parents when about one year old. They settled in Dundee, Ill., where young John F. was reared to manhood, and educated in the German Lutheran parochial school. He left school to enter the employ of the Illinois Iron and Bolt Company as assistant shipping clerk, six weeks later becoming shipping clerk. In January, 1883, he was transferred to the general offices of the company, where he was employed in various capacities until 1898, when he was made General Superintendent. Two years later he was promoted to the office of General Manager of the business, which position he is still filling. For many years he has been a director of the corporation, and his connection with the company covers a period of twenty-six years, during which he has done much to promote its welfare. He began his business life earning seventy-five cents a day, and is now at the head of a great corporation with a large plant, of which he is one of the principal owners. In October, 1883, Mr. Fierke was married to Miss Augusta Sternberg, daughter of Carl Sternberg, of Dundee.
J. MOULTON FISH (retired), Aurora, Ill., born in Danby, Vt., May 27, 1816, son of John and Abigail (Moulton) Fish, was reared in his native State, where he received a common-school education. Being a member of a large family he was thrown upon his own resources at an early age, and from that time was variously employed, at times working on a farm or holding a clerkship in a store, as opportunity offered. For nine years he was connected with a general store in Danby, and while thus employed had a wide range of experience in the work of buying, selling, manufacturing, etc. When twenty-four years of age he received from the Vermont Legislature an appointment as a Justice of the Peace, filling the position acceptably for several terms. During his residence in Danby he also served for a time as Deputy Sheriff. In 1842 he engaged in the marble business in that place, which he conducted successfully for a number of years. About the same time he became interested in the Western Vermont Railroad, the charter for which he had been instrumental in securing from the1 Vermont Legislature after a spirited contest extending over two years. While thus employed he also succeeded in obtaining a charter for a bank at Danby. The railroad was built in due time, but, being insufficiently financed, Mr. Fish suffered a heavy loss in consequence of the failure of the company. Having removed to Buffalo, N. Y., about 1853, he there engaged in the lumber business as a member of the firm of Mann, Vail & Co., in which he continued some six years. In the meantime, having made a trip to Illinois, he purchased a farm near Lockport, in Will County, and in 1859 removed to that place, where he remained about seven years. While there, in addition to looking after a couple of farms, he was also engaged in the livery business and, for a time, in settling up the affairs of John Arnold, who had been a well-known dealer in Yankee notions throughout the West. He also served for some time as Deputy Sheriff of Will County and as Marshal of the town of Lockport. In 1865 Mr. Fish removed to Aurora, and for several years gave his attention to farming and the buying and selling of real estate, especially farm lands, still later locating on a fine farm in Kaneville Township, where he continued to reside eleven years. For a part of this time he was quite successfully engaged in the business of dairy
Dundee Area History
