922
HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.
had been abandoned when the new school building was erected. This building was occupied until 1897. In that year the library was moved into a fine new building, erected for its special use by Mrs. Mary Carpenter. It is maintained by contributions from the people of Carpentersville, and from its benefactress, Mrs. Carpenter.
THE ELGIN SILVER PLATE COMPANY, Elgin, Ill., capital stock, $100,000, was incorporated in 1890 as the Griffin Silver Plate Company, of Chicago, with John T. Richards, of Chicago, as President; Louis G. Koegal, of St. Louis, as Vice-President, and John M. Blackburn, of Chicago, as Secretary and Treasurer. In 1892 the present factory was completed at a cost of $25,000, and the business removed to Elgin, the corporate name being changed to Elgin Silver Plate Company. They are manufacturers of coffin and casket hardware, and are the largest producers of this class of material in the world. From one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and fifty hands are employed with an annual output of about a quarter of a million dollars. From 1892 the business shows an increase of sixty hands and $75,000 in volume of business. The officers (1892) are: President, Joseph Shaw, of Zanesville, Ohio; Vice-President, T. J. Pringle, of Milwaukee; Secretary and Treasurer, John M. Blackburn, who as resident official has charge of the entire business.
THE HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC CHURCH, of Batavia, had its origin in a mission established there in 1852. For several years thereafter the mission was attended alternately by priests from St. Charles and Aurora. The mission was established in April, 1870, as a parish by Rev. Michael Prendergast, who was transferred from St. Charles and became the first resident pastor of the Batavia church, where he died March 3, 1875, his remains being interred in Calvary Cemetery in Chicago. He was instrumental in securing the property on which the church and parish house now stand, and shortly before his death began making preparations for the building of a new church. He is remembered as one of the most devout rectors of the parish, and also as most active and energetic in advancing its interests. He was succeeded by Rev. James O'Connor, who remained in charge but a few months. His successor, Rev. Dominick Spellman, was pastor of the Batavia church for seventeen years, and proved himself in every way an exemplary man and pastor. His popularity was unbounded with all the city, and it was a matter of general regret when he was transferred to Braidwood in 1893. He is still at work in that important Catholic post. Rev. George Rathz was next assigned to the Batavia church, and, beginning his work Nov. 12, 1893, is still in charge (1903). Within that time the parish has erected one of the finest church buildings in Kane County, the cornerstone of which was laid Aug. 2, 1896. Its dedication occurred June 1, 1897. It is a Gothic structure, built of native stone, at a cost of $15,000. One hundred families make up the membership of the parish at the present time.
THE WEST AURORA FARMERS' CLUB, an association of farmers and their families, formed in 1892, in the town of Aurora, Kane County, its object being to bring together the farmers of that vicinity for social intercourse and mutual improvement, is one of the noted organizations of Kane County. Its founders were Miss Eva Marlett, the Hardy and Angell families and the Misses Clark. Monthly meetings are held throughout the year, except in July and August, and at these meetings regular programs, combining instruction, discussion and entertainments, are presented. In 1903 the Club numbered thirty members.
THE YEOMEN OF AMERICA, a mutual benefit fraternal association, organized at Aurora, Ill., by William A. Colledge, Isaac W. Prichard, Charles E. Corlett, Charles D. Judd, Charles M. Coats, William H. Griswold, J. M. Kennedy, Roy S. Kennedy, W. F. Shambo and Earnest S. Judd, under an act of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois entitled: "An act to provide for the organization and management of fraternal beneficiary societies, for the purpose of furnishing life indemnity or pecuniary benefits to beneficiaries of deceased members, of accident or permanent indemnity disability to members thereof, and to control such societies of this State and of other States doing business in this State and providing and fixing the punishment of violation of the provisions thereof." The object of the association was to create a corporation empowered to issue mutual benefit life insurance policies to its
