BIOGRAPHY - KANE COUNTY, ILLINOIS ISRAEL STRAW PINGREE PINGREE - THURSTON - INMAN - COOMBS - BAGLEY - ARNOLD - WASSON - WEIGHTMAN Among the early settlers of Kane county none stood higher in public esteem than ISRAEL STRAW PINGREE, who was a worthy representative of one of the pioneer families of this region. He was born in New Hampshire on the 12th day of March, 1801, and spent his early life in the East. Deciding to try his fortune on the prairies of Illinois, he came to Kane county in 1837 and took up a tract of government land at what became known as Pingree Grove. Here he and his family experienced many of the hardships and trials of life on the frontier and he bore a prominent part in transforming the wild land into well cultivated fields. Pingree Grove was named for him and his three brothers, all of whom took up government land in that locality. Throughout his active business life he followed farming and met with well deserved success in his labors. In 1844 Mr. PINGREE married Miss HARRIET THURSTON, a daughter of JOHN and PHOEBE (INMAN) THURSTON, who were from Ohio. Eight children blessed this union, of whom five are still living. In order of birth they are as follows: PHOEBE A., who married GEORGE COMBS and resides in Elgin; ANDREW C. and HIRAM T., both deceased; JENNIE L., the wife of GEORGE R. BAGLEY, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume; HANNAH, the wife of C. J. ARNOLD, a resident of Denver, Colorado; DANIEL, deceased; FRANCIS who married FANNIE WASSON and resides in Elgin; LORENA A., the wife of EDWARD WEIGHTMAN. The father of this family continued to make his home at Pingree Grove until his death and passed away in 1870. From: The History of Kane County, Illinois - Volume II by R.Waite Joslyn and Frank W. Joslyn, published by Pioneer Publishing - Chicago 1908. >From Volume I PLATO TOWNSHIP… page 849 Dr. DANIEL PINGREE came from New Hampshire in 1838. He was actively in practice for some years but returned to Plato about 1860 and devoted much of his attention to raising Norman horses. Transcribers note: ANDREW PINGREE was RUTLAND TOWNSHIP supervisor for many years between 1850 through the 1870 era. He was also KANE COUNTY Supervisor for at least one year. Transcribed by June McDowall I have no additional information on this family. Return to Kane County pages using the "BACK" button on your browser.