880
HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
town taxes, and served one term as Deputy under an early Sheriff of Kane County. In 1835 he married Miss Susan McAllister, who was born in Springfield, Vt, in 1809. She died March 10, 1903. Mrs. Charles J. Metzner and Emerson D. Pinney are the only representatives of this family who are now living in Aurora.
JOHN PLAIN, banker, Aurora, Ill., born in Germany Jan. 17, 1830; educated in his native country and came to America in 1852; located in Aurora in 1853, where he has since resided and has been identified with the banking interests of that city since the early '70s, serving at the present time as President of the German American National Bank of that city. Mr. Plain was married February 12, 1857, to Susanna Leis, of Aurora.
WILLIAM B. PLATO (deceased), lawyer and legislator, was born in Genesee County, N. Y., in 1810, and was trained to a mercantile life in his native State. About 1840 he came west, establishing his home in Aurora where he read law. About 1850, with a knowledge of law largely self-acquired, he removed to Geneva, where he made his home until his death in 1873. As a lawyer Mr. Plato met with marked success. His earliest interest in politics was in the days of the Free-Soil movement, and he was elected to the State Senate on that issue in 1850, and by re-election served in the Senate until 1856- in all six years. In 1857, after the accession of Gov. William H. Bissell, Senator Plato was appointed on the Board of Commissioners to erect the State Penitentiary at Joliet. In the year 1858 he was again elected to the General Assembly as Representative from Kane County, serving one term. In 1860 he was chosen Presidential Elector on the ^Republican ticket, and assisted in casting the vote of Illinois for Abraham Lincoln for President at his first election. While serving in the State Senate during the session of 1853, Mr. Plato was the author of the bill limiting the responsibility of railroads to $5,000 for causing death by wrongful act, neglect or default. He and Hon. Henry W. Blodgett, of Lake Count>, afterwards Judge of the United States District Court, while serving at the same time, alternately the one in the House and the other in the Senate, were conspicuous as the only avowed Free-Soilers in their respective Houses. Judge Plato's notable characteristics as a legislator and politician were an open candor, a sturdy integrity and a lofty patriotism, which, coupled with his well-known ability, commanded the respect of all classes-his opponents and his friends alike. He held no public office during the latter years o£ his life, but was recognized as an able and judicious leader in political matters, and continued practice as an attorney, as his health would permit, until his death in 1873. Plato Township, in Kane County, was named in his honor.
SAMUEL PLATT (deceased), farmer, Blackberry Township, Kane County, born in the State of New York, August 28, 1805; came to Illinois Sept. 30, 1836, locating on a farm in Blackberry Township, Kane County, the original Platt homestead still being in possession of members of the family. On March 24, 1824, he was married to Nancy McNair, and the only surviving members of their family are: Mrs. Mary Outhouse and Mrs. Sophia P. Swaine. Mr. Platt died April 13, 1850; his wife surviving until March 6, 1888.
WILLIAM VAN NEST PLUM (deceased), pioneer merchant, Aurora, Kane County, Ill., was born in New York City, Jan. 18, 1814, and died in Aurora, Ill., June 24, 1890. Mr. Plum came to Aurora about Christmas, 1840, and in 1845 was married to Helen M. Phillips, a school teacher of that city. In 1855 he formed a partnership with a Mr. Mix under the firm name of Mix & Plum, dealers in grain, coal, etc. Mr. Plum served as Mayor of Aurora one term, was a prominent member of the Masonic Order, and had the distinction of having built the first brick building on Fox River. Mr. and Mrs. Plum were the parents of three children: Kate (Mrs. George R. Wilcox), Jenny L. Plum and William V. Plum, Jr., all of whom survive and reside in Aurora.
CHARLES POPE, manufacturer, Geneva, Ill.; born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1840; came with his parents to the United States in 1846, and was reared and educated in Chicago. In 1880 he became interested in the Geneva Grape Sugar Company, which was established in Geneva, Ill., by Mr. John Burton, and developed into an extensive industry, employing approximately 300 persons. In 1887 a much larger plant was established at Venice. Ill., near East St. Louis, Mr. Pope and
