Album of genealogy and biograghy, Cook County, Illinois, 10th ed., Part 18

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 18

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JAMES M. ADSIT.

AMES M. ADSIT. To have been among the first in Chicago to engage in any honor- able calling is quite sufficient to make such a one a local historical personage for all time to come, and so the career of James M. Adsit is filled with unusual interest, because of the con- spicuous fact that, apart from his being an excep- tional character, he was among the first bankers to enter upon a career of finance within the pres- ent limits of Cook County.

Mr. Adsit was born February 5, 1809, in Spencertown, Columbia County, New York, unto Leonard and Frances Adsit (nee Davenport). His father dying when the son was but six years of age, he went to live and remain with his grandfather Adsit, and after finishing the com-

mon-school education customary for those early days, went for a time into employment in his uncle Ira Davenport's store.

On April 2, 1838, he arrived in Chicago, then a city of but a single year's standing, con- sisting of only a few streets stragglingly built up; and, as one of the earliest pioneers, founded a private bank at Number 37 Clark Street in 1850, having up to that time, from the date of his arri- val, been engaged in loans and investments on Lake Street. In 1856 he removed one door to Number 39 Clark Street, where he remained un- til the "Chicago Fire," at which time he had the great misfortune to lose all of liis personal papers and books connected intimately with much of Chicago's early history, whereby vanished forever

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valuable data covering the development of the city for its first three decades. But fortune was his on that occasion to save the bulk of moneys and securities in the vaults of his office, thereby being able to reassure his depositors, many of whom on days following came with woeful visage, in expectation of news of their hard-earned means having gone up in flames.

Shortly after he had re-opened his banking busi- ness at Number 422 Wabash Avenue for a few months, he removed to a store on Wabash Avenue a few doors from Congress, thence to the Ogden Building, corner Lake and Clark Streets. He then built at Number 41 Clark Street, where he contin- ued in active life until 1881. At that date, owing somewhat to failing health, he decided to merge his corporation into the Chicago National Bank, of which he became the first Vice-President, resign- ing, however, in 1885, at which time he retired from active life.

His shortsightedness, if indeed we are right to so style the matter, was a lack of faith in the future real-estate values of Chicago. Had a bold course been adopted in this direction, it would have resulted in the acquiring of an estate vast indeed: but sufficient honor is his, in that he un- swervingly carried out his financial life in strict integrity.

While ever a stanch Republican in politics, Mr. Adsit was never prominent in public life, fig- uring rather in the background on movements which were to be carried out for the public weal. In that sense he was always a most active and useful member in aid of advances. Among the institutions with which he was conspicuously as- sociated was the Mechanics' Institute, of which he was the first Vice-President. Following the panic of 1857, when threatened by adverse cir- cumstances with destruction, he lent strong finan- cial support, and was for years one of the chief managers, until its future of honor and usefulness was assured. In1 1871 he was Chairman of the Clearing House Association. Among the large estates promoted under his management was that of Allen C. Lewis, which was enhanced greatly in value through his shrewd handling.

He was a member of the North Side Union

Club, but growing infirmity of health and life-long devotion to home influences prevented much so- cial dissipation. On Dearborn Avenue, at the corner of Elm Street, in a luxurious mansion- house, to which he removed in 1884, he spent happy days following a most usefully busy career.

Up to the time of the great fire, he had at- tended at the Wabash Avenue Methodist Church; afterwards for some years at the Plymouth Con- gregational Church, but finally became an habit- ual attendant at David Swing's church, on the North Side, following him to the Music Hall or- ganization across the river, being thus long in intimate relations with him who so feelingly offi- ciated at the final obsequies, preceding interment at Graceland. The time of going to the other shore was September 4, 1894, subsequent to a stroke of paralysis and some years of indisposi- tion; and when his venerable form, which had borne the trials of upwards of eighty-five years, was laid to rest, there was not a dry eye over the melancholy thought that the worthiest of the rem- nant of the early pioneers had gone to his well- merited reward. And thus the first generation passed into that history which it is the province of this publication to rescue from oblivion for the cdification and teaching of future times.

Said the well-known philanthropist, Dr. Pear- son, in speaking of Mr. Adsit: "He was a thor- oughly upright man, whom I never knew to fail in any undertaking. He passed through the pan- ics of 1857, 1866 and 1873, and the great fire, not without financial loss, but without a blemish upon his reputation, meeting every obligation faithfully." Mr. John J. Mitchell, President of the Illinois Trust and Savings Bank, remarked shortly after his demise: "Mr. Adsit was a man of the very highest integrity, and none stood higher than he among the business men and bank- ers of Chicago. In his death Chicago loses not only one of her foremost citizens, but one who helped to make the city's history, and the success she now enjoys."

Mr. Adsit married, January 21, 1840, Miss Ar- ville Chapin, of Chicago, who, herself in ad- vanced age, survives him, waiting her message to join on the other side him she so long, so deep-

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ly loved. Seven children blessed their union, namely:

Leonard D. Adsit, who was born January 29, 1841, and who died in Chicago in 1879, having been a banker, associated with his father;

Isabella F., who married Ezra I. Wheeler, of Chicago, a commission merchant, now deceased, leaving her without children;

James M. Adsit, Jr., born April 7, 1847, un- married; a former banker with his father; now a stock broker with office in the Stock Exchange;

Charles Chapin, who is associated with his brother as a stock broker; born July 14, 1853; married in October, 1890, to Mary Bowman Ash- by, of Louisville, Kentucky, by whom one child, Charles Chapin, Jr., was born July 3, 1892;

Caroline Jane, educated at Dearborn Seminary, then at Miss Ogden Hoffman's private school in New York City; unmarried;

Frank S., born September 7, 1855; died in childhood;

Jeanie M., educated at Dearborn Seminary ; unmarried.

Mrs. Adsit comes of an old and distinguished New England family, of which she is a repre- sentative of the seventh American generation. Springfield, Massachusetts, is their leading home- stead, where members have erected a magnificent statue of their "Puritan divine" ancestor.

Deacon Samuel Chapin, who married a Miss

Cisily, was the progenitor from whom are de- scended all in the United States. He came from abroad to Dorchester, Massachusetts, in 1641, at which time he took the "freeman's oath" in Bos- ton. The following year he went to Springfield, then one of the frontier towns, where he was for a long time a local magistrate and one of its first deacons.

His son Henry married Bethia Cooley, and re- sided in Springfield. Was a Representative in the General Court, a merchant sea-captain be- tween London and Boston; afterwards retired to live in Boston; then to Springfield. He had a son,

Deacon Benjamin, who married Hannah Col- ton, and lived in Chicopee, a set-off portion of northern Springfield, Massachusetts, where he was one of its first deacons. He had a son

Captain Ephraim, who married Jemima Chapin, his own cousin; lived in Chicopee, where he was an old-time inn-keeper. He also served in the French and Indian Wars. He had a son

Bezaleel, who also married his own cousin, Thankful Chapin; living at Ludlow Massachu- setts. He had a son

Oramel, who married Suzan Rood; living in Ludlow, Massachusetts, thence removing to Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, later to Chicago, where he died.

Their daughter Arville married the subject of this sketch.

HAMILTON M. ROBINSON.

AMILTON MOFFAT ROBINSON was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, Eng- land, February 12, 1862, and is the eldest son of James Hamilton Robinson and Frances Jane Moffat. Botlı the parents represent ancient Scottish families.

James H. Robinson, who was born in London

and educated at the Edinburgh High School, engaged in business in Manchester, England, soon after completing his education, and later in London, in the East India trade. He continued in business about thirty years, dealing in jute and export merchandise. During a portion of this time he resided at Calcutta, in order to give

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H. M. ROBINSON.

personal supervision to his export trade. In 1885 he retired from business and came to America, locating at Winnipeg, Manitoba, where his chil- dren had preceded him and where he still resides. His father, George Brown Robinson, had suc- ceeded his (George's) father in the East India trade, and also resided for some years in Calcutta. He married Jane Campbell Hamilton, like him- self a native of Scotland. She is still living in London, at the age of seventy-five years.

Mrs. Frances J. Robinson was a daughter of Col. Bowland Moffat, who commanded the Fifty-fourth Regiment of the British army, was a veteran of the Crimean War, and was stationed for some years at Calcutta, at which place Mr. and Mrs. James H. Robinson were married. A num- ber of the ancestors of Colonel Moffat were well- to-do merchants in the West India trade, and sev- eral members of the family served in the British army.

Hamilton M. Robinson was but six months old when the family moved from London and again took up its residence in Calcutta. Seven years subsequently he returned to Europe, and at- tended boarding-schools at various points in the South of England. At the age of sixteen years he finished the course at Chatham House College, Ramsgate, Kent. It had been his in- tention to enter the East Indian civil service, but owing to his father's financial embarrassments at that time, he abandoned this purpose and en- tered the London office of Kelly & Company, East India merchants. He began in the capacity of office boy, but with such vigor and intelligence did he apply himself to business, that in the brief space of four years he became the office manager of the firm. He continued in that connection un- til September, 1883, when he determined to seek a wider field for the development of his talents and ability, and came to America, joining his brother in the Northwest Territory of Canada. He homesteaded a farm in Manitoba, but a short time sufficed to convince him that the pursuit of agriculture was neither as profitable nor congenial as he had anticipated. In the following May he joined a friend who was coming to Chicage, and has ever since made this city his home and place

of business. In the spring of 1885 he again visited the Northwest Territory, and as a mem- ber of Colonel Boulton's scouts, assisted in sup- pressing the Riel rebellion.

He arrived here with neither money, friends nor influence, and wasted no time in seeking or waiting for a genteel position, but immediately began work at the first employment which he could obtain. In the mean time he was constantly on the alert for a more lucrative occupation, and in a few weeks secured a position as bookkeeper with the Anglo-American Packing and Provision Company, with which he remained for about three years. In May, 1887, he resigned this em- ployment and obtained a position with the firm of Crosby & Macdonald, marine underwriters. He continued in this connection about five years, winning the confidence and esteem of his em- ployers, and demonstrating his integrity and ability for the transaction of business. In what- ever position he has been placed he has ever been an indefatigable worker, striving to promote the interests of those whom he served, even at the expense of his own health and personal comfort. On the first of June, 1892, Mr. Robinson formed a partnership with James B. Kellogg, under the firm name of Kellogg & Robinson, marine average adjusters. This is one of the leading firms of marine adjusters upon the shores of Lake Michi- gan, and their success has been gratifying from the start.

Mr. Robinson is a member of the Lake Board of Average Adjusters, and of the Association of Average Adjusters of the United States. He has never identified himself with any political party, but takes an intelligent interest in questions of public policy, and has been an American citizen since 1891. He is heartily in sympathy with the spirit of American institutions, and may be classed as one of the most desirable and useful among the foreign-born citizens of Chicago.

He was married, in 1887, to Ida T. Cleverdon, of Toronto, province of Ontario, Canada, daugh- ter of William Thompson Cleverdon and Nanie Geech, both formerly residents of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

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M. W. FULLER

MELVILLE W. FULLER.

M ELVILLE WESTON FULLER. The fol- lowing sketch of Chief Justice Fuller was written by the late Major Joseph Kirkland for the "History of Chicago," published by Mun- sell & Company, by whose permission it is here reprinted:

Chief Justice Fuller traces his descent direct to the "Mayflower." His father was Frederick A. Fuller, and his mother Catherine Martin Weston. His grandfather on the mother's side was Nathan Weston, Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Court; and his uncle, George Melville Weston, was a prominent lawyer of Augusta. Melville Weston Fuller was born February 1I, 1833, at Augusta, Maine, and grew up with good educa- tional advantages. He was prepared for college at Augusta, and entered Bowdoin College in 1849, where he was graduated in 1853. Thence he went to Dane Law School (Harvard), where so many of our western jurists have earned their diplomas. He is described as having been a rather aimless youth, but in college a model student, with a special gift for public speaking. He began his law practice in Augusta, but find- ing business lacking, he employed his time and eked out his income by newspaper work; a cir- cumstance to which is doubtless due something of the literary facility which has always formed a strong feature in his career.

An interesting fact connected with this journal- istic experience is this: At a certain session of the Legislature which Melville W. Fuller reported for the Augusta Age (which he and his uncle, B. A. G. Fuller, published together ), James G. Blaine was engaged as correspondent of the Kennebec

Journal. Though opposed in politics, the two men were always personal friends, and at last, by a curious coincidence, found themselves in Wash- ington together; the one Chief Justice of the Su- preme Court, and the other Secretary of State.

Mr. Fuller's success in Augusta as a lawyer was in proportion to the law business of the place, and so not large or satisfying. His success in politics was in proportion to his ability, and there- fore excellent. At twenty-three he was City At- torney and President of the Common Council of Augusta.

Still, it must have been unconsciously borne in upon him that Augusta and Maine, always loved and honored by him, were, after all, a "pent-up Utica" to such a soul as his. He must, at least, see the great West. In 1856 he came to Chicago, meeting here his friend and fellow-townsman, Mr. S. K. Dow, a practicing lawyer, who urged him to emigrate, offering him a place in his office and, at his choice, either a partnership in the business or a salary of $50 per month. He chose the latter, and worked on those terins five months, living within his income. But scarcely a year had passed before he began to do a fine and prof- itable business, which went on increasing with remarkable speed and steadiness up to the time of his leaving the Bar for the Supreme Bench.

In politics he was a stanch Democrat, and by friendship and sympathy a warm adherent of Stephen A. Douglas. At Mr. Douglas's death in 1861, he delivered the funeral oration, his speech being a masterly production. In the same year he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, and two years later we find him in

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the Illinois Legislature. Here he gave the same strenuous support to the war which was offered by other Douglas inen; he was a Unionist, but not an anti-slavery man or Republican. The war Democrats were in favor of the war as they thought it should be conducted, giving their ad- herence to the McClellan plan as being the most certain to triumph and restore the integrity of the country.

Here it seems well to quote from some fine verses written by Mr. Fuller long afterward. They are on the death of General Grant, and show at once a loyal feeling for tlie great soldier's services and a true poetic thought and diction; a power of composition rare in the learned, prac- ticed and successful lawyer:

Let drum to trumpet speak- The trumpet to the cannoneer witliout- The cannon to the heavens from each redoubt, Each lowly valley and each lofty peak, As to liis rest the great comnander goes Into the pleasant land of earned repose. *

* * *

Not in his battles won, Though long the well-fought fields may keep their name, But in the wide world's sense of duty done,

The gallant soldier finds the meed of fame; IFis life no struggle for ambition's prize, Simply the duty done that next lim lies. * *

* *

Earth to its kindred earth:

The spirit to the fellowship of souls! As, slowly, Time the mighty scroll unrolls Of waiting ages yet to have their birth, Fame, faithful to the faithful, writes on high His name as one that was not born to die.

Mr.Fuller was a hard worker in his profession; , and it is said of him that in any case his stoutest fighting is done when the day seems lost, when he is very apt to turn defeat into victory. He is reported to have had, during his thirty years' practice, as many as twenty-five hundred cases at the Chicago Bar; whichi, deducting his absence at the Legislature, etc., would give him at least one hundred cases a year; fewer, necessarily, in the earlier part of his practice, and more afterward. This shows a remarkable degree of activity and grasp of business. He has never made a specialty of any kind of law, though there are some where- in his name scarcely appears; for instance, di- vorce law and criminal law. Among his many cases are Field against Leiter; the Lake Front

case; Storey against Storey's estate; Hyde Park against Chicago; Carter against Carter, etc., and the long ecclesiastical trial of Bishop Cheney on the charge of heresy.

His partnership with Mr. Dow lasted until 1860. From 1862 to 1864 his firm was Fuller & Ham, then for two years Fuller, Ham & Shep- ard, and for two years more Fuller & Shepard. From 1869 to 1877 he had as partner his cousin, Joseph E. Smith, son of Governor Smith, of Maine. Since that time he lias had no partner. His business was only such as he chose to ac- cept; and his professional income has been esti- mated at from $20,000 to $30,000 a year. His property includes the Fuller Block on Dearborn Street, and is popularly valued at $300,000.

He was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1864, 1872, 1876 and 1880, always taking a prominent place. Just after Mr. Cleve- land's first election to the Presidency, Mr. Fuller called on him in Albany, and Mr. Cleveland at once conceived for liim a very high appreciation. On the death of Chief Justice Waite it seemed de- sirable that the new Justice should be taken from the West; and Mr. Fuller's liberal education, the catholicity of his law practice, his marked indus- try, ability and command of language-all these, joined with his devotion to the principles of his party, made him a natural choice for nomination to the position. High and unexpected as was the honor, Mr. Fuller hesitated before accepting it. If it satisfies his ambition in one direction, it checks it in another.

The salary of the Chief Justice of the United States is $10,500 a year; very far less than the gains arising from general practice in the front rank of lawyers, or from service as counsel of any one of hundreds of great corporations. So there comes a kind of dead-lock; if a man happens to be born to riches, he is pretty sure never to go through the hard work which alone gives leader- ship in the law. If he starts poor, then, having his fortune to make, he cannot take Federal judi- cial office, that being a life-long position. The only way in which the Federal Bench can be ap- propriately filled, under the circumstances, is when by chance a man prefers power and dignity

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to mere riches; or where his success has been so sudden that lie is able (and willing) to accept a judgeship as a kind of honorable retirement from the struggle and competition of practice.

Aside from these considerations, Mr. Fuller felt a natural hesitancy in undertaking a responsibil- ity so trying and hazardous.

As to the money obstacle, Mr. Fuller probably felt himself, through liis great and rapid success, able to afford to accept the appointment. He ac- cepted it, was hailed in his new dignity with genial cordiality, and has filled the office with un- impeachable credit and honor.

Mr. Fuller's first wife was Miss Calista O. Reynolds. She died young, after bearing him two children. He married a second time, taking

to wife Mary Ellen, daughter of the distinguished banker, William F. Coolbaugh. His family 110W consists of eight daughters and one son; and his domestic and social relations are as happy as it is possible to imagine, the young ladies being full of gaiety and loveliness in all its styles and types. He himself is never so well content as in his own household, making merry with all. It is even whispered that should his resignation not throw his own party out of the tenancy of the office to which it chose him, he might give up the irksome and confining dignity and the forced residence in a strange city, and return to the West, to the city of his choice, to the home of his heart.

CAPT. JOHN PRINDIVILLE.

C APT. JOHN PRINDIVILLE, whose name is a synonym for honesty, courage and gener- osity among the early residents of Chicago, was born in Ireland, September 7, 1826. The names of his parents were Maurice Prindiville and Catharine Morris. While a boy at school Maur- ice Prindiville ran away from home and went to sea, making a voyage to India, thereby gratifying his thirst for adventure and forfeiting the oppor- tunity to enter Trinity College at Dublin. Re- turning to his native land, he there married Miss Morris, and in 1835 came with his family to Amer- ica. After spending a year at Detroit, he came to Chicago, where he was for several years in charge of Newbury & Dole's grain warehouse. With his family, he took up his residence in a log house on Chicago Avenue, at the northern terminus of Wol- cott (now North State) Street, which was subse- quently extended. The locality was long known as "the Prindiville Patch." The nearest house was Judge Brown's residence, on the west side of Wolcott Street, between Ontario and Ohio Streets,

the only one between Prindiville's and River Street, the intervening territory being covered with thick woods. Indians and wild beasts were numerous in the vicinity at that time, and John Prindiville became quite familiar with the Indians and learned to speak several of their dialects. His father and he were firm friends of Chief Wau- bansee and others, and always espoused their cause in resisting the encroachiments of the whites upon their rights and domains.

As a boy John was noted for his dare-devil pranks, though always popular with his comrades, whom he often led into difficulties, out of which he usually succeeded in bringing them without seri- ous results. He was one of the first students at St. Mary's College, which was located at the cor- ner of Wabash Avenue and Madison Street. Upon one occasion, he led a number of students upon a floating cake of ice near the shore of the lake. The wind suddenly changed, and, before they were aware of their condition, floated their preca- rious barge out into the lake. Upon discovering

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JOHN PRINDIVILLE.

the danger, John promptly led the way back to shore by wading through water breast deep. This prompt action, aided by his reputation for honesty and truthfulness, saved him from punishment at the hands of the college authorities. He always had a great desire to live upon the water, and at the age of eleven years he gratified this tendency by shipping as a cook on a lake schooner. Two of the first vessels upon which he sailed were the

"Hiram Pearson" and "Constitution." His menial position made him the butt of the sailors, but he took so readily to the life of a mariner and performed his duties so thoroughly and capably, that he rapidly won promotion to more respon- sible posts, and when but nineteen years of age became the master of the schooner "Liberty," engaged in the lumber trade between Chicago and other Lake Michigan ports. For about ten years he was the skipper of sailing-vessels, abandoning the last of these in 1855, after which he com- manded several steamers, although that was never so much to his taste as sailing. In 1860 he for- sook marine life, though he has been ever since interested in the operation of lake craft. From 1855 to 1865 he and his brother, Redmond Prin- diville, operated a line of tugs upon the Chicago. River. During this time, in August, 1862, he had a narrow escape from instant death by the explosion of the boiler of the tug "Union." Though not regularly in command of the vessel, he chanced to be on board at that time, and had just left the wheel, going aft to hail another tug, when the accident occurred. Captain Daly, who took his place at the wheel, and several others were instantly killed.

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Album of genealogy and biograghy, Cook County, Illinois, 10th ed., Part 18

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