872
HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
son of Lemuel and Nancy (Taggart) Newton, and was reared on a farm. He received a common school education and learned the trade of cabinet-maker, first engaging in that business in New York, but later establishing a wagon-factory at Attica, N. Y. In 1854 he came to Batavia and laid the foundation of one of the largest wagon factories in the United States, of which he was the head until his death, June 29, 1879. In 1831 he married Rachel Cooley, daughter of Thomas and Rachel (Hubbard) Cooley, of Attica, N. Y., and a sister of Judge Thomas M. Cooley, of Michigan.
NEWELL F. NICHOLS, lawyer, Aurora, Ill., born at Rome, N. Y., March 5, 1831, educated at Wesleyan College, graduating from that institution in the class of 1857, came west in the latter year and engaged in teaching school, later serving as County Superintendent, read law under the preceptorship of Major Mayborne, of Geneva, and was admitted to the bar in 1865; began practicing at Aurora in the latter year and rapidly gained prominence in his profession. Mr. Nichols was first married in 1861 to Miss Emma L. Jenks, who died in 1865. In 1869 he married Miss Olinda M. Johnson, and the surviving members of the family are: Mrs. Nichols; one son, Allen J., and two daughters, Edith and Helen H.
LEON D. NISH, merchant, Elgin, Ill., born at Gary, McHenry County, Ill., Oct. 11, 1865, son of John and Electa (Weaver) Nish; came to Elgin in early boyhood, where he obtained his education in the public schools; began his business career as a hardware merchant in Elgin, which he has continued to the present time. He was married in 1884 to Miss Mabel L. Barnes of Elgin.
AUGUST NOLTING, manufacturer, Elgin, Ill., born in Germany, Oct. 11, 1834; educated in the public schools of the Fatherland and trained to a mercantile life in the city of Hamburg; came to the United States in 1865, locating first in Chicago; removed to Hanover, Kane County, in 1868, where he was engaged in the manufacture of dairy products until 1884, when he removed to Elgin where he continued in the same line of business. He has become known as one of the leading butter manufacturers of the Elgin District, and his products are shipped to all parts of the United States. He was married in 1870 to Miss Sophia Volberding, of Bensonville, Ill.
GARRETT A. NORTON, physician and surgeon, Aurora, Ill., born in Campion Township, Kane County, Sept. 19, 18o9; reared on his father's farm and graduated from the West St. Charles high school in the class of 1880; attended the University of Michigan (Medical Department) two years, and graduated from the Rush Medical College (Chicago) in the class of '84; practiced medicine first at St. Charles, Ill., but since 1890 has resided in Aurora, where he has occupied a prominent place in the profession. He was married in 1885 to Miss Cora F. Orr, of Junction City, Kansas, and their children are: Edith and Florence Norton.
WILLIAM W. NORTON, machinist and inventor, Dundee, Kane County, Ill., born in Herkimer County, N. Y., Dec. 31, 1826; obtained a common school education in his native State, and removed to Illinois in 1861, establishing his home at Carpentersville, where he took charge of a machine shop which afterwards developed into the Illinois Iron & Bolt Works, remaining with this enterprise as foreman until 1881, when he engaged in farming to which he has since devoted his attention. Mr. Norton was married in 1849, to Miss Catherine Hendricks of Wheeling, W. Va.
GEORGE. OATMAN, merchant and manufacturer, Dundee, Kane County, Ill., born in the township where he now resides, June 15, 1851, son of Jesse and Lucy Curtis (Mowrey) Oatman; educated in the public schools and trained to merchandising. He and his brother established one of the pioneer creameries at Dundee, Ill., and later became the owners and operators of a large number of creameries in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. The partnership between Mr. Oatman and his brother was dissolved in 1903, Mr. Oatman becoming sole owner of the enterprise at that, time. He was married in 1874 to Miss Louisa J. Torrence, and their children are: Erie, William Frank and Mary Belle.
JESSE OATMAN (deceased), pioneer merchant, Dundee, Ill., born at New Albany, Ind., Nov. 24, 1811, and died Oct. 1, 1883; came to Kane County, Ill., in 1836, and in 1838 platted the town of Dundee; served in the Black Hawk
