Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 1

Author: Calumet Book & Engraving Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : Calumet Book and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 930

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حيوية

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

920.0773 All 1897

Return this book on or before the Latest Date stamped below.

University of Illinois Library

JUL 30 1957

.0: 4 1 2000

OCT -9 196

AUG 1 4 1972

JUL 0 8 1981

SEP 2 9 1901

DEC 1 4 1981

FEB 1 5 1982

AUG 2 1983

41% APR 1 6 1992 JUN 1 2 2000 JULY 21-200

L161-H41

ALBUM OF GENEALOGY

AND

BIOGRAPHY

COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS

WITH PORTRAITS

EIGHTH EDITION, REVISED AND EXTENDED

CHICAGO CALUMET BOOK & ENGRAVING CO. 1897

THE CALUMET PRESS

PRINTED BY CALUMET BOOK & ENGRAVING COMPANY 170-174 SOUTH CLINTON STREET CHICAGO

120.0773 All 1897

PREFACE

E BELIEVE the time has arrived when it becomes the duty of the people of this county to perpetuate the names of their pioneers, to fur- nish a record of their early settle- ment, and relate the story of their progress. The civilization of our day, the enlightenment of the age, and the duty that men of the present time owe to their ancestors, to themselves and to their posterity, demand that a record of their lives and deeds should be made. In biographical history is found a power to instruct man by precedent, to enliven the mental faculties, and to waft down the river of time a safe vessel, in which the names and actions of the people who contributed to raise this country from its primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly the great and aged inen, who in their prime entered the wilder- ness and claimed the virgin soil as their lieritage, are passing to their graves. The number remain- ing who can relate the incidents of the first days of settlement is becoming small indeed, so that actual necessity exists for the collection and pres- ervation of events without delay, before all the early settlers are cut down by the scythe of Time.

To be forgotten has been the great dread of mankind from remotest ages. All will be forgot- ten soon enough, in spite of their best works and the most earnest efforts of their friends to preserve the memory of their lives. The means employed to prevent oblivion and to perpetuate their mem- 'ory have been in proportion to the amount of intel- ligence they possessed. The pyramids of Egypt were built to perpetuate the names and deeds of

Sata 27 Nov 39 atteins = 1897ed

its great rulers. The exhumations made by the archæologists of Egypt from buried Memphis indicate a desire of those people to perpetuate the memory of their achievements. The erection of the great obelisks was for the same purpose. Coming down to a later period, we find the Greeks and Romans erecting mausoleums and inonu-

ments, and carving out statues to clironicle their great achievements and carry them down the ages. It is also evident that the Mound-builders, in piling up their great mounds of earth, had but this idea-to leave something to show that they had lived. All these works, though many of them costly in the extreme, give but a faint idea of the lives and characters of those whose memory they were intended to perpetuate, and scarcely anything of the masses of the people that then lived. The great pyramids and some of the obelisks remain objects only of curiosity; the mausoleums, monuments and statues are crumb- ling into dust.

It was left to modern ages to establish an intel- ligent, undecaying, immutable method of perpet- tating a full history-immutable, in that it is al- most unlimited in extent and perpetual in its ac- tion; and this is through the art of printing.

To the present generation, however, we are in- debted for the introduction of the admirable sys- tem of local biography. By this system every man, though he has not achieved what the world calls greatness, has the means to perpetuate his life, his history, through the coming ages, for the benefit of his posterity.

The scythe of Time cuts down all; nothing of the physical man is left. The monument which his children or friends may erect to liis memory in the cemetery will crumble into dust and pass away; but his life, his achievements, the work he has accomplished, which otherwise would be for- gotten, is perpetuated by a record of this kind.

To preserve the lineaments of our companions we engrave their portraits; for the same reason we collect the attainable facts of their history. Nor do we think it necessary, as we speak only truth of them, to wait until they are dead, or un- til those who knew them are gone; and we need be ashamed only of publishing the history of those whose lives are unworthy of public record.

1075231

PREFACE.

The greatest of Englislı historians, MACAU- LAY, and one of the most brilliant writers of the present century, has said: "The history of a country is best told in a record of the lives of its people." In conformity witli this idea, the GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM of this county has been prepared. Instead of going to musty records, and taking therefrom dry sta- tistical matter that can be appreciated by but few, our corps of writers have gone to the people, the men and women who have, by their enterprise and industry, brought the county to a rank sec- ond to none among those comprising this great and noble State, and from their lips have ob- tained the story of their life struggles. No more interesting or instructive matter could be pre- sented to an intelligent public. In this volume will be found a record of many whose lives are worthy the imitation of coming generations. It tells how some, commencing life in poverty, by industry and economy have accumulated wealth. It tells how others, with limited advantages for securing an education, have become learned men and women, with an influence extending throughout the length and breadth of the land. It tells of men who have risen from the lower walks of life to eminence as statesmen, and whose names have become famous. It tells of those in every walk in life who have striven to sitc- ceed, and records how success has usually crowned their efforts. It tells also of many, very many, who, not seeking the applanse of the world, have pursued "the even tenor of their way," content to have it said of them, as Christ said of the woman performing a deed of mercy-"They have done what they could." It tells how that many

in the pride and strength of young manhood left the plow and the anvil, the lawyer's office and the counting-room, left every trade and pro- fession, and at their country's call went fortlı valiantly "to do or die," and how through their efforts the Union was restored and peace once more reigned in the land. In the life of every man and of every woman is a lesson that should not be lost to those who follow after.

Coming generations will appreciate this vol- ume and preserve it as a sacred treasure, from the fact that it contains so much that would never find its way into public records, and which would otherwise be inaccessible. Great care has been taken in the compilation of the work, and every opportunity possible given to those represented to insure correctness in what has been written; and the publishers flatter themselves that they give to their readers a work with few errors of conse- quence. In addition to the biographical sketches, portraits of a number of representative citizens are given.

The faces of some, and biographical sketches of many, will be missed in this volume. For this the publishers are not to blame. Not having a proper conception of the work, some refused to give the information necessary to compile a sketch, while others were indifferent. Occasionally some member of the family would oppose the enter- prise, and on account of such opposition the support of the interested one would be withheld. In a few instances men could never be found, though repeated calls were made at their resi- dences or places of business.

CALUMET BOOK & ENGRAVING CO.

ADDENDA.

The preparation of this volume has involved the labor of several years. Since the pages were stereotyped, several of the subjects of biographies have passed away.

Among these are :

A. G. BURLEY page 227

I. N. CAMP, 546

E. H. CASTLE, 544

J. D. CATON, 115

REV. OTTO GROENEBAUM, 622

C. M. HENDERSON, 391

EDSON KEITH, 53

M. N. KIMBELL, 528

T. E. LEWIS, 297

ORRINGTON LUNT,

503

JAMES MCMAHON,

181

GEORGE M. PULLMAN,

231

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

一

The Century Publishing & En. Co hage

16 /2 Movie

J. R. HOXIE.

JOHN R. HOXIE.

OHN RANDOLPH HOXIE. Chicago, the Queen of our Great West, is indebted for its marvelous growth and rapid development, which have caused the whole world to acknowl- edge its commercial greatness, to a few men, who, to lay the foundations of metropolitan su- premacy, gave the best of their heart's blood, their brain power, and nerve forces. The ma- jority have as their reward wealth or honor, but few have both. Among the active business inen who have acquired bothi was the subject of this sketch, who obtained it through close attention to business, and unswerving integrity and up- rightness of character.

John R. Hoxie was born December 13, 1831, in Macedon, near Rochester, New York, and his parents were Cornelius and Anna (Brawnell) Hoxie. He received a partial education in the Macedon Academy, but as his tastes impelled him to use every opportunity for learning busi- ness ways, his schooldays were thus cut short. Many stories of his youthful trading propensities illustrate his ability in doing well for himself, and in him could plainly be seen the future financier and business man. On one occasion he wished to buy a fish-hook, but as his finances were low, he applied to the banker of the town, who lent him three cents. After catching and disposing of the fish he very promptly paid his debt, thus winning the esteem of his creditor. At the age of fourteen years he bought all the turkeys in the neighborhood and realized a handsome profit on them. At seventeen years of age he was able to buy his "time" or independence from his father, for one thousand dollars. He was always pru-

dent with his earnings, and many times walked from Albany to Rochester to save the fare by stage.

Mr. Hoxie became a sub-contractor on the Niagara Falls Railroad at an early age, and later was in the same position on the Staten Island Railroad. While in the latter position the yellow fever began raging and he was quarantined, but finally escaped to the mainland. After spending nearly two years in Virginia he returned to Rochester, New York, where he became a dealer in live stock, which he shipped over the Michigan Southern and other Railroads. His fame as a man of great business tact and ability spread over many States, and in 1857 he received an offer to assist in the management of the shipping business of the Michigan Southern Railroad, with headquarters in Chicago. This offer was re- ceived by telegram, and hastily packing his satchel, he told his mother he would return in a few days; but the days lengthened into weeks, months, and years, and he did not return home until 1862. The officers of the company recog- nized his ability, and the position of stock agent was offered him, which he accepted and retained during his connection with the road.

At this time the company was almost bankrupt, but Mr. Hoxie infused new life into the business by building up the freight traffic, thus saving it from financial ruin. For this service the com- pany was ever truly grateful, and he was retained in office long after his active interest ceased. Largely through his influence the Railroad was able to retain its controlling interest in the Union Stock Yards, and the profits from the tremendous

J. R. HOXIE.

traffic in live stock thus brought to it. When a combined effort was made by the other roads to induce Mr. Hoxie to retire from the service of the Michigan Southern, he declined every consider- ation offered him, and remained faithful through all temptation.

From early morning until late eve did he labor in the interest of this road, and this was practi- cally his life work. He foresaw great possibilities in its future, and steadily strove to carry it for- ward to its destiny. His nature rejoiced in victory over opposition, and the sharp competition he often met was refreshing to his restless spirit, and a stimulus to greater exertions. He loved work for its own sake, not for praise and reward. In the end, however, he paid the usual penalty for living under such high pressure, by the in- vasion of sickness and premature death. His nature could not rest, and though his life was shorter, he accomplished much more than the majority of business men.

Though an extremely busy man, he was al- ways cheerful, and liked the society of his fel- lows. He was, however, a stranger to the fashionable clubs, and made his home the scene of his rest and recreation. His wife was a worthy life companion, and her delight was to make the home pleasant, having a serene manner, a contented disposition, and being a great help to her husband in curbing his great ambition and teaching him the lessons of patience.

As soon as he was able Mr. Hoxie began to invest money in securities, and so good was his foresight that he became wealthy. In 1878 he bought a large grant of land from the heirs of Dr. Hoxie, a veteran of the Texan and the Mexi- can Wars, and an army surgeon under General Houston. This grant embraced ten thousand acres of land in Williamson County, Texas, to which he added another purchase of seven thou- sand acres. It is situated thirty-five miles front Austin, and six thousand acres of it have been cultivated, and fifty families reside on it.

Mr. Hoxie also bought fifty-two thousand acres of land at Midland, Texas, in the Counties of Martin and Andrews, this land being used for grazing. Beside his mansion on Michigan Ave-

nne, he had a country home twenty-one miles south of Chicago, which included seven hundred fifty-seven acres of land. Here he spent many hours away from the cares of business life, and lived close to the heart of Nature. On all his farms he has kept the buildings in excellent repair, having built many new ones. Unlike most business men, he early instructed his wife in the details of his affairs, being animated by the principle that what was his also belonged to her. To this wise precaution his widow now largely owes her ability to manage the property with such success.

Mr. Hoxie made annual trips to his possessions in the South, and to every one of these Texas owed some improvement, and he many times used his influence in opening sonie avenue of commerce. In1 1887 he decided to retire from business, but never fully carried out his intention. When he was in Texas he made his headquarters at Fort Worth and there he was held in high es- teem by all the inhabitants, and especially the . business men. Prior to his coming to this town the business was very dull, but he inspired confi- dence by organizing the Farmers and Mechanics' National Bank, with a capital of one million dollars. He was the president of this bank and also of the First National Bank at Taylor, Texas. He was connected with twenty other banks in this State, his influence and standing giving them power to exist.

In 1891, at the urgent request of the citizens of Fort Worth, he organized Stock Yards and Packing Houses, and the next year passed through a strike which made his presence at the yards necessary. This was such a severe strain on his finely organized nervous constitution that he never recovered his former health. A small bene- fit was gained at Carlsbad Springs, Germany,but nothing could entirely stay the ravages of the disease, diabetes, from which his death resulted. He passed away November 21, 1896.

Mr. Hoxie was a talented man, and had many charming traits of character. His influence was ever for good and his advice in municipal affairs was often sought and freely given. He was presi- dent of the Board of Trustees of Hyde Park and a

LEONARD SWETT.

school trustee in the town of Lake. During the centennial year he was a candidate for Congress on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated. Though he never afterward held any office his in- fluence was such that he controlled many positions of trust and responsibility. His rare wit and skillful repartee may be said to be gifts inherited from his mother, well-known for her good sense and quick perception.

Mr. Hoxie became interested in the Chicago City Railway Company and was instrumental in extending the cable lines, being for many years one of the largest individual stockholders. He was many times the youngest member of various boards of management, where he was neverthe- less recognized as a born leader. His associates often called him "Boy", among these being such men as Silas B. Cobb, Daniel Jones, Solomon Sturges, Lyman Blair, John De Koven, Samuel Nickerson, Lyman J. Gage, John B. Sherman, P. D. Armour, Samuel Allerton, and others equally well-known. He was called the "Mogul" of the Stock Yards Railroad along Fortieth street, which was secured by his indefatigable energy.

In his business methods Mr. Hoxie was unlike the average man. Though possessed of sufficient ability to carry on numerous vast business enter- prises at the same time, he never used books to record his transactions, but so carefully was everything systematized that he suffered no loss from this fact. His was an eccentric character, but he was no recluse, and enjoyed rare friend- ships. He was well-known in Masonic circles, having attained the thirty-second degree. His wealth was accumulated in a legitimate way, and his only extravagance was indulged in providing for the comfort of his family. In religious belief he was a Quaker, and helped build and maintain the church at Twenty-sixth Street and Indiana Avenue. The principles of his forefathers seemed to be the guide and rule of his life.

Mr. Hoxie was married October 22, 1872, to Mary J., daughter of P. D. Hamilton. Among the Quakers she was known as "John's wife, "but her husband always spoke of her with deference as Mrs. Mary J. Hoxie. Their union was blessed by three children, namely: John R., Junior, Gilbert H. and Anna C.

LEONARD SWETT.

EONARD SWETT was born August 11, 1825, near the village of Turner, Oxford County, Maine, on what was known as Swett's Hill. This hill slopes in all directions, and constitutes one of the most beautiful spots in New England, and has ever since been owned by the family. His father, John Swett, was born in Gorham, Maine, February 4, 1789, and mar- ried Remember Berry, on August 29, 1816. The latter was born at Buckfield, Maine, December 22, 1794. They settled after their marriage on the above-named hill, and lived and died there. The father was seventy years old, and the mother in her eighty-ninth year at the date of their respective deaths.

Leonard Swett's grandfather was John Adams Swett, named for his mother, who was Sarah Adams, a descendant of John Quincy Adams, President. John Adams Swett was born June 23, 1763, and died July 14, 1844. He married Betsey Warren, who was born June 28, 1763, and died June 3, 1846.

Leonard Swett's great-grandfather was Dr. Stephen Swett, born at Durham, New Hampshire, and died in Otisfield, in 1808. He married Sarah Adams, who was born in Durham, New Hamp- shire, and died in 1807. They were married at Durham in 1757.

Mr. Swett, the subject of this sketch, died June 8, 1889. He married Laura R. Quigg, of

LEONARD SWETT.

Bradford, Massachusetts, July 20, 1854, and they had one son, Leonard H. Swett. March 5, 1886, his wife died, and July 14, 1887, he married Marie A. H. Decker, who survives him.

Leonard Swett was the second son and fourth child of his parents, and they conceived the idea, at an early date, of giving him a better education than the town afforded, consequently he was sent to select schools in the vicinity, and completed his education at North Yarmouth Academy and Waterville College, now Colby University. He then read law for two years with Messrs. How- ard & Shepley, at Portland, Maine, and started in the world to seek his fortune. At first he traveled in the South for nearly a year, then, with the spirit of adventure, he volunteered as a sol- dier in the Mexican War, and was under General Scott from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico. The war closed in May, 1848, when Mr. Swett returned and settled at Bloomington, Illinois. He commenced the practice of his profession in the fall of 1849, and gave to that profession the labor of a life. He was in indifferent health, on ac- count of a disease contracted in Mexico, which rendered it impracticable for him to sit in an office and do office work, and, therefore, at first he commenced to travel the circuit. The bar of that circuit, the eighth at that time, embraced many men of marked ability, some of whom have since acquired a national reputation. David Davis, since distinguished as a judge of the supreme court and a senator of the United States, was the judge from 1849 to 1862. Abraham Lincoln, for two years a member of congress, and afterwards known to the world as the martyred President and the emancipator of a race, was one of its lawyers. Edward D. Baker, a member of con- gress from the Sangamon District, also afterward from the Galena District, later a distinguished citizen of California, and a senator of the United States from Oregon, who died leading his men at the battle of Ball's Bluff, in the Civil War, was also one of its lawyers. There were also Edward Hannagan and Daniel W. Voorhees, since sena- tors from Indiana, who attended the eastern part of the circuit, and Stephen T. Logan, John T. Stuart, U. F. Linder and Oliver I. Davis. The

sessions commenced the Ist of September, and ended about the Ist of January. The spring circuit commenced about February and ended in June. In a life with these men and upon this circuit, Mr. Swett spent his time from 1849 to 1862. The lawyers would arrive at a county seat of from five hundred to two thousand inhabitants, and the clients and public came in from the coun- try adjoining at about the same time. The law- yers were employed in such suits as were then pending in court, and the trials were immediately begun. After from three days to a week spent in this manner, the court would adjourn and the cavalcade start for the adjoining county seat, when the same processes would be repeated. Twice a year fourteen counties were traversed in this way, and in this manner Mr. Swett received his earlier legal education. David Davis, in a speech at Springfield, said in substance that this time constituted the bright spot of his life. In this expression he would doubtless be joined by every man named, most of whom now live beyond the river.

In 1865 Mr. Swett moved to Chicago, where he soon acquired a prominent and leading position as a lawyer. During his life in the country, in Illinois, he took an active part in politics, taking part in the agitation of the slavery question, and canvassed nearly the whole state in the years 1852, 1854, 1856, 1858 and 1860. He, however, held but one office, which was that of member of the legislature, in 1858 and 1859, and this was at the special request of Lincoln himself, to save to the latter the vote of McLean County. That county at the previous election had been carried by four votes. Lincoln thought Swett could be elected, and asked him to run. He did so, car- rying the county by nearly five hundred majority. He then engaged earnestly in the work of secur- ing the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for Pres- ident, writing to public men and organizing other workers. The three men who did more than all others to make Mr. Lincoln the nominee in 1860 were Leonard Swett, David Davis and Norman B. Judd; and the two men who were closest of all to Mr. Lincoln until his death were Swett and Davis. Norman B. Judd was given a foreign

LEONARD SWETT.

mission, David Davis was made supreme judge, but Leonard Swett declined to take office under the administration. He was closer to Lincoln's innermost thoughts and sympathies than any man in the world. He was much like Lincoln in per- son, complexion and manner, so much so that he was often mistaken for the President in Washing- ton, and he was much of the Lincoln mould, in- tellectnally.

It has often been remarked that intimate as . the surface, and a surface title. One man might Lincoln was with Leonard Swett, he never gave him any office, and Swett was often asked the reason why. He always evaded the question, but, in a letter to W. H. Herndon, the author of the " Life of Lincoln," written a short time before Mr. Swett died, the latter explained this fact: When David Davis was a candidate for the su- preme bench, soon after Lincoln's election to the presidency, he was opposed by a senator of great influence, named Browning, whom Lincoln was almost ready to appoint. Leonard Swett was a warm friend of David Davis, and, going to the president, he said: "If you will give that place to Davis I will take it as one-half for him and one-half for myself, and never again will ask you for anything." David Davis got the appoint- ment, and Leonard Swett was true to his word. He said, not long before his death, that he was always glad he kept out of office.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 1

Author: Calumet Book & Engraving Company, Chicago Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Chicago : Calumet Book and Engraving Co. Number of Pages: 930

Author: Calumet Book & Engraving Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : Calumet Book and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 930