Album of genealogy and biograghy, Cook County, Illinois, 10th ed., Part 104

Author: Calumet Book & Engraving Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago, Calumet book & engraving co
Number of Pages: 916

USA > Illinois > Cook County > Album of genealogy and biograghy, Cook County, Illinois, 10th ed. > Part 104

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718

FREDERICK STELTER.

mian for Perkins Brothers, at the corner of Cot- tage Grove Avenue and Twenty-sixth Street, six years.

Charles Soderberg was married February 19, 1887, to Emma Tranberg, daughter of John and Christine (Boline) Trauberg. Mrs. Soderberg was born June 14, 1865, in Sweden, and came to America in 1882. Their seven children are as fol- lows: Emma Alvina, Jennie Hildegarde, Esther Olivia, Bertha Christina (deceased), Charles Os- car and Bertha Christina.

Mr. Soderberg is a member of the North Star Order, and was a charter member of the Iduna,

Lodge No. 4. He is a member of the Brother- hood of Painters, Union No. 191, which is made up of painters and paper-hangers. Though never seeking 'public office or prominence in political matters, Mr. Soderberg is a strong upholder of the principles of the Republican party, and at all opportunities supports the candidates of that party by his vote and voice. He is one of the most ambitious men of his class who reside in the city of Chicago at the present time, and though he has not gained an immense fortune, he has managed liis financial affairs well and his efforts are worthy of emulation.

FREDERICK STELTER.

REDERICK STELTER, who has for many years been a quiet, law-abiding citizen of the city of Chicago, was born November II, 1832, in the village of Detmold, Westphalia, Prussia. His parents were Frederick and Minnie (Brandt) Stelter, and he is the only one of his father's family who emigrated from their native land.

Frederick Stelter, senior, was one of five chil- dren: Conrad, Henry, Amalie and Florentina being the other four. He was born in 1802, and died in the year 1875. He was a land-owner and farmed his own property. His wife was born in 1798,and died in 1860. Her children were Au- gusta and Frederick. The former never left her native land and married Frederick Niebur. One of her children, Louis Niebur, came to America and now resides near Seward, Nebraska. He has a brother, Gustav, who is a priest in the German Lutheran Church and resides in Colo- rado.

Frederick Stelter, whose name heads this biography, reached Chicago in December, 1867. His first work in this section was on a farm, and

he was later employed in a sawmill in Michigan. He subsequently located a catering establishment at No. 265 West Kinzie Street, with Ferdinand Sander as partner. The concern continued five years under the name of Stelter & Sander. For four years Mr. Stelter conducted a like establish- mient at the corner of Curtis Street and Austin Avenue, and then removed to No. 6064 State Street, where he continued in the same capacity until 1886, when he started a boarding house, which he kept until 1890. He has since been located at No. 6560 Michigan Avenue.

Mr. Stelter was married April 7, 1870, to Miss Minnie, daughter of Simon and Henriette (Brock- mann) Meyer. Mrs. Stelter was born in the same neighborhood as her husband, in Germany, No- vember 25, 1844, and emigrated from her native land in 1868. Her children were named as follows: Annie Minnie Laura, born February 10, 1871, died August 3, 1887; Emma, born February 5, 1873, and Frederick, January 15, 1875.

Mr. Stelter and family are connected with the Christian Church, and he is independent in pol- itics, voting for the man, instead of for the party.

ABRAHAM P. KLINE.

719

A. B. KLINE.

ABRAHAM P. KLINE.

BRAHAM PULLING KLINE was born September 10, 1825, at Tribes Hill, near Amsterdam, New York, and died in Chi- cago on March 8, 1898, at the home of his son- in-law, Congressman George E. White, No. 381 Washington Boulevard. He was the son of James Kline and Jane Quillhot, both of Fulton County, New York, who settled there in colonial days, and whose descendants are still prominent in the life of that community. Mr. Kline was a citizen of Chicago for a half century, having come here in 1849.

When a young man he learned the trade of wheelwright, and followed the wagon-making business until he came to Chicago, where he became a pioneer in the manufacture of thresh- ing machines, and was long prominently identified with the business and railroad interests of this city. Endowed with good intellect and energetic temperament, he kept pace with the rapid devel- opment of machinery during that period of the century, and was one of the first to substitute machinery for laborious work of the hand in the making of vehicles. The inventing of the thresh- ing machine to supersede the primeval flail opened a new and profitable field of industry, whose opportunities he was quick to grasp.

Upon coming to Chicago, in 1849, he engaged in the manufacture of a new and then wonderful machine for the separation of grain, as a member of the firm of Wampole, Kline & Company. Later he was associated with the firm of H. A. Pitts & Company, manufacturers of the old

"Buffalo" thresher, familiar to everybody who lived in an agricultural community in those days, and which was hardly as great an improvement on the flail as the modern traction machine is on the first thresher.

After some years Mr. Kline quit the manu- facturing business to engage in railroad work, assuming the position of superintendent of car- building and repairs for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, subsequently occupying the same position on the old Great Eastern Railroad, now part of the Fort Wayne system. He next took supervision of the woodwork department of Furst & Bradley, founders of the present David Bradley firm, and remained in that position fifteen years. This was his last active work, and his closing years were passed in enjoyment of the quieter walks of life.

In the business community Mr. Kline was extensively known, and in the West Side neigh- borhood where he lived many years he was held in peculiar esteem by old and young, whose at- tachment he won by his kindly nature and the simplicity of his life. He was an attendant of the Ada Street Methodist Church, and was an ardent Republican, though never taking an active part in politics.

Mr. Kline married Phebe Catherine Peckham, December 23, 1848, at Fultonville, New York, a few months before they came to Chicago to live. Her parents were Benjamin Peckham and Magdalena Moore, of Little Compton, Rhode Island, and Troy, New York, respectively. Ben-

720

CHARLES ARENDS.

jamin Peckham was a lineal descendant of John Peckham, senior, an original settler of Rhode Island prior to May 20, 1638, and a disciple of Roger Williams, who resided in that part of Newport which afterwards became Middletown. The Peckham family took a very prominent part in the early colonial history of Rhode Island.

Mr. and Mrs. Kline had three daughters (Mrs. George E. White, wife of Congressman George E. White; Mrs. D. L. Obordorf; and Mrs. William J. Moore, whose husband is a partner of S. E. Gross in the real-estate business) and one son, James D. Kline, of the firm of George E. White & Company.

CHARLES ARENDS.

e HARLES ARENDS, who occupies a re- sponsible position with one of the first wholesale grocery firms in Chicago, was born January 10, 1867, at the northwest corner of Polk and Clark Streets. His parents were Henry and Lena (Gelder) Arends.

He was educated in the schools of the city, at- tending the old Third Avenue School, the Jones and later the Haven School. He did not go to school after he reached the age of sixteen years, but subsequently spent three years in his father's store. Later he began contracting for himself at the paper-hanging business, following this occu- pation three years. He then spent one year at office work with the wholesale grocery house of Q. W. Lovering. Since 1894 he has held the position of receiving clerk for W. M. Hoyt Com- pany, also wholesale grocers, having been in their employ since 1891.

Mr. Arends was married March 24, 1888, to Miss Mary Louisa Bingham, daughter of Thomas Lathrop and Sarah Marie (Morse) Bingham. Thomas L. Bingham died March 23, 1870, and his remains were interred in the state of New York. He was born in Palmyra, New York, began life on the water at the age of seventeen years, and followed this on the Great Lakes un- til the time of his death. He was for many years a captain, and the "George B. McClellan" was built for him. He was a Free Mason, con-

nected with Lincoln Park Lodge, and was a Democrat in politics. Thomas L. Bingham was the only child of Jeremiah Bingham, who married Sarah Maria Morse, March 11, 1850. The latter was born September 10, 1834, in Rochester, New York, and was a daughter of Albert and Marie (Hulbert) Morse. Albert Morse was born in 1802 in Litchfield, Connecticut, and died at the age of seventy-two years. His children were: Sarah, Albert, Merritt and Mary. Mrs. Bingham's mother died January 23, 1872, at the age of sixty- nine years. She was born in Quebec, Canada. The family of Bingham is a very old and time- honored one, being descended from English an- cestors. The children of Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Bing- ham are accounted for as follows: Albert Jeremiah, born July 31, 1852, in Rochester, New York, now resides at Brighton Park; Thomas Lathrop, born June 18, 1858, resides in Chicago; Emma Jeanette, born November 30, 1862, died December 24, 1884; Sarah Marie, born August 7, 1865, died December 22, 1872; Mary Louise, born January 31, 1868, is now Mrs. Arends; Edwin Van Buren, born October 25, 1871, resides at No. 4936 Princeton Avenue.

The following tribute to Captain Bingham is taken from the Chicago Tribune of March 24, 1870: "Captain Bingham, who in his early life followed the sea, was one of the oldest river men in Chicago, having been employed in some

721

HENRY PACKEBUSCH.

capacity upon its turbid waters for fourteen years. For the last seven years he has been in the em- ploy of Fox & Howard, as captain of the steam tug "Geo. B. McClellan." In this position his face was familiar to a large number of our citizens, who will remember him as the courteous and genial captain upon numerous excursions on the lake and canal. He may be said to have died a martyr in the service of the city, and his death deserves more than passing mention. During one of the coldest nights in January, 1869, the rapidly forming ice was clogging the gates at the mouth of the tunnel, and threatened to cut off the entire water supply from the city. To prevent this it became necessary to have the ice removed, and for this responsible and then thoroughly dangerous work, no man was found so competent as Captain Bingham, who was a man of great ability and energy, and equal to any emergency requiring judgment, tact and resolute action. With characteristic generosity he proceeded to the crib, and being unable otherwise to dislodge the ice, plunged into the water and removed it

with his own hands. From the chill and terrible shock incident to this noble act, he never recov- ered, and has from that date been an invalid. Hoping to improve his health, he recently made a trip to the south, but finding that he was rapid- ly growing worse, he hurridly returned home a few days ago, in time to die. His remains will be conveyed to Rochester, N. Y., where they will be interred with Masonic honors."

Mr. and Mrs. Arends are the parents of three children: Stella May, the eldest, died at the age of six months; Sadie Charlotte lived fifteen months and Harry Edwin was born June 6, 1893. Mr. Arends is prominent in Fort Dearborn Lodge No. 278, Royal Arcanum, and is also connected and in good standing in South Park Council of the Columbian Knights. He has never been very well known in politics, but uses his influence and arguments in favor of the Republican party. Mr. Arends is a very pleasant and hospitable gentleman and is honored and respected by all with whom he has any dealings, whether in a business or social manner.

HENRY PACKEBUSCH.

ENRY PACKEBUSCH, principal of Epi- phinia Evangelical Church parochial school, has been identified with the educational in- terests of Chicago since 1863. He was born in the Province of Saxony, Prussia, November 28, 1831. His parents were William and Elizabeth (Lenz) Packebusch.

Henry Packebusch was reared on a farm and educated in public and normal schools of Garde- legen, Prussia, graduating at the age of twenty years. He immediately engaged in the profes- sion of teaching, which he has followed since. In 1857 he was married to Wilhelmina Steck- ham, who is a native of Hanover. In 1863 Mr.

Packebusch sailed from Hamburg in the steamer "City of New York," bound for America, arrived in New York eleven days later and came direct to Chicago. His worthy helpmate arrived one year subsequently. He soon established a pri- vate school on the present location of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway depot. After two years he removed to Blue Island, where he was engaged in the same capacity for a period of four years, and was two years in a public school in that town.

He returned to Chicago and became instructor of the St. Peter's Church parochial school, which charge he retained twenty-four years. He had

722

C. H. SPOERER.

at first had two teachers under his supervision but on the growth in number of pupils more assistance was required, and four or five were em- ployed. At the end of twenty-four years he re- tired, not intending to teach any more, but on the organization of Epiphinia Church, was pre- vailed upon to conduct the school. He has seventy-five pupils at the present writing, with a probability that the number will increase as the congregation becomes more extensive.

Mr. Packebusch has always been a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He is inde-

pendent in politics, supporting the man who is most likely to faithfully fulfill the duties of office, and takes an interest in all things tending to pro- mote the good of mankind in general.

Mr. and Mrs. Packebusch became the parents of five children-Wilhelmina, Herman, Louise, Amanda and Arthur. He is found to be a faith- ful friend, and a kind and loving father. Just in all enterprises, he is dealt with justly by all men with whom he has dealing, and is willing at all times to listen to the cry of the needy and dis- tressed.

CHARLES H. SPOERER.

HARLES HENRY SPOERER, a faithful and efficient employe of the United States Government, is a native of Cook County, born November 26, 1859, at Homewood.

His father, Charles Johan Spoerer, was born December 24, 1810, in the town of Minca, near the River Rhine, in Germany, and died in Chi- cago June 21, 1873. On reaching his majority he came to America and located in Ulster County, New York, where he found employment at his trade in the famous tanneries of that region.

Fifteen years later, in 1856, he came to Chi- cago and remained three years in this city, re- moving thence to Blue Island, where he was em- ployed in the brewery of his brother-in-law, George Metz. He subsequently conducted a hotel six years, at Homewood, was located for short periods at Dyer, Indiana, and Blue Island, Illinois, after which he was in business four years at Finley Park, near Blue Island. After this he continued in the service of the Metz brewery in Chicago until his death. The great fire of 1871 swept away all his possessions.

He was married September 8, 1847, to Miss

Laura Cordelia, daughter of Henry and Alma (Brown) Shufeldt. Mrs. Spoerer was born July 25, 1829, in Greene County, New York. Her maternal grandfather was Samuel Brown. Henry Shufeldt was born in Philadelphia, and died in 1857, at the age of sixty-three years. His children were named as follows: Mary Ann, Wilson, Julia (deceased), Harriett, Laura, Sey- mour (deceased), Alanson and Adeline.

Mr. and Mrs. Carl J. Spoerer were the parents of twelve children: Mary Barbara, the oldest, was born December 1, 1848; she was married December 3, 1866, to Henry Hacker, who was born May 14, 1838. Mr. Hacker is a machinist and is employed at the planing mill of Berg Bro- thers. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hacker are: Mary Estella, born February 7, 1868, married Victor Broad, April 24, 1892, and their children are: Victor, Philip and Lillian; the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Hacker is Laura Cordelia, born October 22, 1870, married Joseph Walter, May 14, 1895, and is the mother of one child, Flor- ence; the third is Henry Christian Hacker, born June 10, 1871; the fourth is Alfred John, No-

723

SPENCER TURNER.

vember 22, 1873; the fifth is Walter George, April 22, 1874; the sixth is Lillian Etta, June 10, 1879; Oliver Dowd Byron, the seventh, February II, 1883; and the last and youngest first saw light December 22, 1886, and was christened George Edgar.

Henry, the second of the children of Carl J. Spoerer, was born in 1850 and died at the age of three years; Ruhannah, born in 1852, died when in her second year; Cordelia died when six weeks old; one son died in infancy; Henrietta Eliza- beth, born January 30, 1854, married William Koch, and resides at No. 3226 Parnell Avenue. Mr. Koch is a cigarmaker, and his children were named: Frederick, Etta and Laura.

Wilhelmina, another of the family of Mr. Spoerer, was born in 1856, and died when eight years old. Charles Henry, named for his father, is the subject of this article; Christian Frederick, born January 12, 1863, lives in Chicago; Wilson Theodore was born April 13, 1865; George Ed- ward, born November 10, 1866; and Barbara, born in 1868, died at the age of three years; Otto, born in 1870, died when thirteen weeks of age.

Charles Henry Spoerer, whose name heads this article, attended school in the town of Bremen two years, and in 1868 removed to Chicago. He was placed in the Elm street school subsequently, and left at the age of eleven years. He was an attendant of a German school until he reached

the age of fourteen years. When twelve years old he went to live with his uncle, George H. Mueller, remaining until fourteen, when he re- moved to Decatur, Illinois. He learned somie- thing of gasfitting, spending two years at this occupation, was for the same length of time on a farm near Blue Island and was then employed in a planing mill one year. He was with David Dice in the latter's grocery store, at the corner of Twenty-first Street and Wentworth Avenue, six years, and was for some time with Marshall Field & Company, in the carpet department.

In 1889 Mr. Spoerer entered the postoffice as clerk and after eight years was transferred to the mailing division, where he is still employed. He was married January 9, 1886, to Miss Angeline Kerwin, daughter of Patrick John Kerwin, of Chicago. Their children are as follows: Charles Egbert, aged eleven years; Matthew Dudley, ten years; Raymond Theodore, seven years; and Edgar John, two years old.

Mr. Spoerer is a member of the Masonic order, having entered Covenant Lodge No. 526 in 1897. He is also connected with the Royal Arcanum, being a member of Ben Hur Court No. 1540. Though never a seeker after political honors, he has been a consistent supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and enjoys the esteem of his associates and neighbors, on account of his quiet, good humor and sterling character.

SPENCER TURNER.

PENCER TURNER. Many of the most prominent and successful business men of the city of Chicago are of foreign birth and learned the principles and practical part of their education in the land of their nativity. Among these is Spencer Turner, who was born June 22, 1853, in Hastings, England. His parents were

John and Mary (Martin) Turner. For further mention of his ancestry see biography of Mark Turner, on another page of this work.

At the age of eighteen years Spencer Turner entered upon his business career, and learned the plasterer's trade. In England he took contracts and received much valuable experience. He

724

ADELBERT MATTESON.

sailed from Liverpool May 12, 1881, and came directly to Chicago, and located at Grand Cross- ing, where he resided until 1898, when he moved to Parkside. He at once began contracting for work in the vicinity, and has been occupied thus since that time. He is employed in all parts of the city and his customers express satisfac- tion with his work in all cases.

November 12, 1872, Mr. Turner was married to Miss Matilda, daughter of Joseph and Dinah (Lipper) Brown. Mrs. Turner was born August 7, 1849, in Southampton, England. The chil-

dren of Mr. and Mrs. Turner are accounted for as follows: Spencer, a bricklayer, resides with his parents; John, a lather, married Ida Davis, and resides in Harlem; Charles is employed at a boathouse on Calumet Lake; Matilda married Richard Bullock and resides at South Park Ave- nue; Mark, Caleb, Walter, Alexander and Lily reside with their parents. Mr. Turner is not a political agitator, but sympathizes in the success of the Republican party. He is an honorable man in business, and is respected by all with whom he comes in contact.

ADELBERT MATTESON.

A DELBERT MATTESON. Among the prominent citizens of the city of Chica- go and the skilled mechanics of the day is Adelbert Matteson. He has done something for the world and deserves a creditable position among men, and enjoys a well-earned respect, which is to be envied. His efforts are ever to- ward the uplifting of mankind and his influence is used for the benefit of the right in all cases. Adelbert Matteson was born August 22, 1852, at Bennington, New York, and is a son of Thomas and Lovantia Keziah (Coates) Matteson.

The father of Thomas Matteson was Alfred Matteson, who had three sons, Alfred, Joseph and Thomas, as well as other children whose names cannot now be learned. Abel Coates, the maternal grandfather, was born in Stonington, Connecticut. He was a cooper by occupation and for some time was a whaler also. He trav- eled with Captain Brewster on many of his expe- ditions, and also served in the War of 1812. He married Betsey Starkweather, and their children were: Ralph, Alanson, Lovantia, Betsey, Rufus, Henry and some others whose names have not been recorded.

Thomas Matteson was born in Bennington, Vermont, and died in 1878 at Bennington, New York, where his remains were interred. He lived to the age of sixty-two years, following the occupation of farmer during his entire life. He was a Democrat and did much for the party in his time. His wife was born in Stonington, Con- necticut, and died in Bennington, New York, in 1869, at the age of fifty-four years. Her parents settled in New York when she was three years old. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Matteson were: Priscilla, Betsey, Abel (now deceased), Adelbert, Florence, Edwin, Ella and Nellie, the last two being twins. Two others, Susan and Adelina, died when very young.

Adelbert Matteson attended school until he reached the age of fourteen years. In the year 1867 he started life for himself, leaving home in April, and making his way to Lockport, New York. He became one of the employes of the Hawley Manufacturing Company, and was taken in as blacksmith, but was later placed in the machine shop. He left that place and spent two weeks in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, after which he went to Cleveland, Ohio. He entered the employ

725

OSCAR NELSON.

of the Home Sewing Machine Company, remain- ing thus occupied two years. He then spent five years in Warsaw, New York, with a wagon manu- facturing company.

In 1872 he removed to Chicago and was em- ployed for a time at carriage building. He was three years with George M. Scott, and seven years with Chauncey Spearin. He had become a skilled mechanic by this time, and was occu- pied in the making of barbed wire machinery. He invented such a machine, and went to St. Louis to arrange for its utilization. He built a factory at Houston, Texas, but gave it up after one year. He returned to Chicago and spent his time until 1888 in pushing his invention. At this time he engaged as foreman with a firm on Third Avenue, occupying the position one year. Since leaving this concern he has been with E. B. Rich & Son at No. 43 South Clinton Street, in the capacity of foreman. He is a valued employe and his services are rewarded in a finan- cial as well as otherwise encouraging manner.

Mr. Matteson was married January 8, 1882, to Miss Maggie, daughter of John and Abbie (Pil- lion ) Harney. Mrs. Matteson was born October 22, 1855, in St. Charles, Illinois. Her father died October 11, 1894, having reached the venerable

age of ninety-one years and six months. He was born in Rosscommon, Ireland, and on immigrat- ing to America settled in Boston, Massachusetts, later removing to Illinois in 1853. He was mar- ried in 1854, and locating in Wisconsin, followed the occupation of farmer. His wife was born May 1, 1866, in County Rosscommon, Ireland, and came to America before her husband. Her chil- dren were named: Maggie, John, Johanna, Abi- gail and Mary. Mrs. Matteson's grandfather was Thomas Harney.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Matteson were as follows: John Edwin, born October 7, 1882; Adelbert, born June 12, 1885, died at the age of four years; Frank Raymond, born June 11, 1891. Mr. Matteson is a Free Mason, being connected with Covenant Lodge No. 35, and Corinthian Chapter. He was made a Knight Templar in 1880, and is connected with St. Bernard Com- mandery. Mr. Matteson's father was a follower of the Unitarian belief and his mother was a Universalist. Though never active in politics beyond using his influence and arguments for his party, he votes in favor of the Democratic party at all opportunities. He is a pleasant, genial gentleman, and is beloved by family and friends.

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Album of genealogy and biograghy, Cook County, Illinois, 10th ed., Part 104

Author: Calumet Book & Engraving Company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Chicago, Calumet book & engraving co Number of Pages: 916

Author: Calumet Book & Engraving Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Chicago, Calumet book & engraving co
Number of Pages: 916