"ANSON W. ROOT, who is now practically living retired from business cares at his pleasant home, No. 277 Chicago street, Elgin, was born December 20, 1823, in Genesee county, New York, a son of Dr. Anson and Lucinda (Wilson) Root. The paternal grandfather, Ephraim Root, served in the Colonial army during the Revolutionary war, as a recruit from near Haverhill, New Hampshire, and as he carried a sword it is believed he was an officer. He spent his entire life in the east, dying in Genesee county, New York, when past the age of eighty years. By occupation he was a farmer. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sally Skinner, died at the age of eighty-five years. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Amos Wilson, departed this life at the advanced age of ninety-six years. One of his sons was Judge Isaac Wilson, of Batavia, Illinois.
Dr. Anson Root, our subject's father, was also a native of Genesee county, New York, and was surgeon of a regiment in the war of 1812, receiving for his services his regular pay as a surgeon and later a land warrant, which he located near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. He also served as a surgeon in the Canadian rebellion. In 1838 he came west, and after spending a year on the Fox river he took up his residence in Elgin, where he made his home until called to his final rest in 1866, at the age of eighty years. For fifty years he successfully engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, was one of the leading pioneer physicians of this section of the state, but spent his last years in retirement, enjoying a well earned rest. He served as alderman of Elgin for a time and held other public positions of honor and trust. His wife, who was for many years a consistent member of the Baptist church, died in 1847, at the age of fifty-four years. In their family were eight children, two sons and six daughters, but only three are now living: Orpha, widow of Samuel Burdick, and a resident of Elgin; Martha, wife of C. H. Loomis, of Los Angeles, California; and Anson W., of this sketch.
On leaving the home farm at an early age, Mr. Root, of this review, learned the trade of a clothier, and for about ten years engaged in the manufacture of cloth, after which he learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, following it some years. For twenty years he was also interested in the milling business, and still owns a good mill property in Elgin, which he rents, besides a number of houses there and a good farm near Beloit, Wisconsin, deriving from these a good income. He also has money securities.
In 1846 Mr. Root led to the marriage altar Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William Himes, of Michigan, and to them was born a son-William A., a resident of Elgin, who married Alda Gray, and has one child, Kate. The wife of our subject, who was a consistent member of the Baptist church, died in 1856, aged thirty-two years, and the same year Mr. Root married Miss Harriet B. Parmelee, a native of Waterloo, Canada, and a daughter of Rufus Parmelee. Two daughters blessed this union: Ida R., wife of R. E. Linkfield, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, by whom she has two children, Alice and Edith; and Alice M., wife of F. E. Wolcott, of Chicago, by whom she has one child, Maud.
In 1853 Mr. Root was initiated into the mysteries of the Odd Fellows' society, and with one exception is now the oldest member of Kane lodge, of Elgin, in which he has filled all the chairs, and also been representative to the grand lodge. He was for about ten years a member of the Masonic order. His political support has always been given the Republican party, but at present he is what is termed a silver Republican, advocating the free coinage of silver. From 1847 until 1867 he made his home in Beloit, Wisconsin, and while there served as assessor eight years, alderman nine years, and was undersheriff and acting as deputy provost marshal during the Civil war, aiding in the capture of deserters, etc. For five years he also served as county superintendent of the poor, for the same length of time was county supervisor and in Elgin also served as county supervisor five years and assessor three years. He is one of the reliable, enterprising men of the city, is deservedly popular with all classes of citizens, and his many estimable traits of character have won him a host of friends. His wife is a consistent and active member of the Baptist church. "
