828
HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
JOHN T. JENCKS, druggist, Elgin, Ill.; born at Harrington, Ill., Feb. 20, 1850; educated in the schools of his native village and Oberlin College (Ohio); employed by the North-Western Railroad Company from 1870 to 1892 as brakeman and conductor. Since 1898 he has conducted a drug store in Elgin, which is known as The Elks Drug Store. Mr. Jencks was married first in 1878 to Miss Hattie Morse, who died in 1896. In 1897 he married his second wife, Miss Cora B. Hammond, of Harvard, Ill.
WILLIAM F. JOBBINS (deceased), manufacturer and inventor, Aurora, Ill., was born in Worcester, Eng., June 29, 1836, where he was reared and given training as an accountant. In his young manhood he engaged in manufacturing in London, where he remained until 1865. He then came to the United States, establishing his home in New York City, where he became a member of the clothing manufacturing firm of Rogers, Feet & Co. While connected with this house he improved and brought into practical use the noted cloth-cutting machine, now so widely used by clothing manufacturers. Becoming half owner of the patents taken out on this device and its improvements, he began the manufacture of the machine in New York. This machine has since been sold not only throughout this country and Canada but in England, and royalties are still paid the originators of the enterprise. About 1888 Mr. Jobbins ceased his connection with the management of the business, and shortly after came west for the purpose of making investments. As a result he purchased a tract of land in Aurora, where he established the Chemical Works, since become widely known, for the manufacture of machinery and chemicals used by all soap-makers in the making of glycerine. Mr. Jobbins continued his residence and general office in New York until 1896, when he removed with his family to Aurora. He built up a large industry here, which is still carried on under the old name, being now under the management of his son, F. Hedley Jobbins. Mr. Jobbins died March 16, 1901, in Greenwich, Conn., to which place he had gone for medical treatment. His widow, born Frances Hobson, a native of Worcester, Eng still resides in Aurora. Mr. Jobbins was long interested in the work of the Y. M. C. A., took an active part in promoting it and was a generous contributor to its tune's. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church for many years while living in the East, but after coming West was one of the chief supporters of the New England Congregational church.
CHARLES B. JOHNSON, M. D., physician, Batavia, Ill.; born in Batavia, Jan. 25, 1867, son of Spencer and Sarah (Chaffee) Johnson-the father being a native of New York, and the mother, of Vermont. Charles B. Johnson was reared and educated in Batavia; read medicine in Chicago, graduated from Rush Medical College in 1892, and practiced medicine in Batavia in 1893 and 1894, and in Chicago from 1894 until 1900. The latter year he returned to Batavia to resume his medical practice there, which he has continued to the present time (1903). He is in general practice, which is growing quite steadily. He belongs to the American Medical Association, and the Fox River Valley Medical Society. In 1895 he married Miss Cora E. Leach, of Chicago.
PETER JOHNSON, farmer, Elburn, Kane County, was born Nov. 10, J850, in Sweden, where he was educated. He came to the United States while still quite a young man, and in 1870 was employed in lumbering in Michigan. In 1877 he came to Kane County, where he has become a very successful farmer, having charge of one thousand acres of lands belonging to John Stewart. For the year 1902 he was Vice-President of the Swedish Republican League of Illinois. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, and was married Sept. 20, 1882, to Johanna Mattison.
PETER H. JOHNSON (deceased), pioneer settler; born on Staten Island, N. Y., April 30, 1798; was one of the founders of Tompkinsville, N. Y., where he engaged in merchandising; came to Kane County, Ill., in 1842, and purchased 525 acres of land in Blackberry Township at what became known as Johnson's Mound. He was twice married, his first wife, whom he married in 1821, was Miss Ann Bogart, who died in 1867. In 1870 he married Mrs. F. B. Morehouse, who was born at Fowlerville, N. Y., in 1827. She survives her husband and now lives in Batavia. Mr. Johnson died in Batavia, March 29, 1892.
WILLIAM S. JOHNSON, physician and surgeon, Aurora, Ill.; born in the city where he
