Album of genealogy and biograghy, Cook County, Illinois, 10th ed., Part 79

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 79

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Mr. Tompkins was ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry April 24, 1867, immediately after graduating from Chicago Theological Seminary, in the Congregational Church at Prospect Park (now called Glen Ellyn), and entered upon the duties of the Congregational pastorate, serving jointly this church and the First Church of Christ in the neighboring village of Lombard, Illinois. On visiting Minnesota for rest and recuperation, lie was engaged as stated supply of the Congre- gational Church at St. Cloud. From there, he was called to the pastorate of the First Congrega- tional Church of Minneapolis. Three years' resi- dence in Minnesota made it apparent that a inilder climate was necessary to the health of both himself and wife, and he resigned his charge in Minneapolis. He soon after accepted a call from the Congregational Church at Kewanee, Illinois, which he served as pastor for over six years.

In May, 1878, the General Congregational As- sociation of Illinois voted to appoint a Superin- tendent of its work in the State. A number of prominent clergyinen were candidates for the position, and after several ballotings, Mr. Tomp- kins received a majority of all the votes cast and was declared elected. He entered upon his new duties in the succeeding July, with headquarters in Chicago, and is still occupying that position. He has introduced several new methods in the prose- cution of the work, and awakened a deeper inter- est and more hearty co-operation in all the churches. The most important of the new in- strumentalities was the employment of able men as State Evangelists. This gave new impetus, strength and enlargement to the work.

In 1869, on the 8th of September, Mr. Tomp- kins married Miss Ella A. Kelley, a native of Rutland, Vermont, daughter of J. Seeley Kelley and Mary E. Hall. To Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins have been given four children, namely: Roy James, born in Minneapolis, Mabel Ella, William C., born at Kewanee, Illinois, and Seeley Kelley, born at Oak Park, Illinois.

KASPAR G. SCHMIDT.

535

K. G. SCHMIDT.

KASPAR G. SCHMIDT.

R ASPAR G. SCHMIDT was born in Vocken- liausen, near Wiesbaden, Nassau, Germany, February 20, 1833. His parents' names were John and Elizabeth (Dinges) Schmidt. John Schmidt was a tailor by trade and, in later , life, became foreman of a tannery. He served in the German army as a sergeant-major under General Blucher. After participating in the bat- tle of Waterloo, he accompanied the victorious army to Paris. His death occurred in 1854, at the age of sixty-two years. Mrs. Elizabeth Schmidt survived until 1882, attaining the vener- able age of eighty-two years.

Kaspar G. Schmidt is one of a family of nine children, of whom but one beside himself came to America. This was a brother, named Nicholas, who now resides in Chicago. Kaspar received a common-school education and, at the age of four- teen years, began to learn the trade of a machinist. After serving a four years' apprenticeship at Mines, he followed the same occupation for some time at Frankfort-on-the-Main. In April, 1854, he set sail for America. After a tempestuous voyage lasting fifty-six days, he landed in New York. Thence he came direct to Chicago, where he soon obtained employment at his trade. His enterprising spirit was not destined to be confined to mere mechanical labor, however, and lie began saving his surplus earnings with a view to mak- ing a permanent investment. He did not have to wait long for an opportunity, and when, in 1857, several large Milwaukee brewers became bankrupt, he purchased a stock of beer at an ad- vantageous figure and began doing a small whole- sale business in that product. This enterprise continued to prosper until 1860, when he was en- abled to start a small brewery, at the corner of Superior and Clark Streets. Two years later, lie removed to Grant Place, which has ever since

been the scene of his operations. His extensive buildings were totally destroyed in the great fire of 1871. His loss at that time, including his residence, amounted to one-fourth of a million dollars. He was able to recover but a small per- centage of his insurance, and the entire business had to be built up anew. Rebuilding upon a small scale, he enlarged the establishment at in- tervals until it attained a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels per day and furnished employ- ment to one hundred men. Having more than recovered his loss by the great fire, and being re- solved to retire from active life, he sold out his plant in 1890, and is practically retired from business.

Mr. Schmidt was married in 1856 to Barbara Wagner, who was born in Rhodt, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria. She died on the 21st of September, 1894, at the age of sixty years. Of the eight children born to this union, five reached mature years. Barbara Elizabeth is now the wife of George W. Kellner, of Chicago; Katie Emma is Mrs. Martin Herbert, of Chicago; August died in 1889, at the age of twenty-eight years; George K. and Edna complete the list of the survivors. Ten living grandchildren make glad the heart of Mr. Schmidt.

Mr. Schmidt was a charter member of Mitliia Lodge No. 410, F. & A. M., in which body he has filled all the chairs, and served as Master for five years. He helped to organize the Germania Club, with which he has since been identified, and is one of the original members of the Sonne- felter-a German singing society. Ever since he became a citizen, he has given faithful allegiance to the Republican party, because its principles embodied his ideas of progress and good govern- ment. I11 1868, he was elected Alderman of the Thirteenth Ward, serving four and one-half years

536

G. M. DEARLOVE.

in that capacity. The time of election was changed during his term from fall to spring, thus prolonging his term six months. From 1874 to 1877, he served as County Commissioner, during which time he was chairman of the Building Committee of that body, and had charge of the construction of the present court house. His ex- perience in the repeated construction of his own ample buildings was especially useful to him in the discharge of this duty, and was of great

benefit to the county, and the city of Chicago. He owns a fine stock farm at Twin Lakes, Wis- consin, where he has spent considerable time in recent years, and where he finds enjoyment and recreation. Though sixty-two years of age at this writing, Mr. Schmidt is still hale and hearty. His interest in the growth and development of Chicago is unabated, and he views with pride and satisfaction the continuous progress in which he was for many years an active participant.

GEORGE M. DEARLOVE.

EORGE M. DEARLOVE, B. L., a young man of pronounced judgment and business ability, who makes his home in Chicago, though spending much of his time in travel, is a native of Cook County. He was born in Northfield Township, in 1873, and is a son of George and Mary A. Dearlove, the his- tory of whose lives may be found elsewhere in this volume. In his early years he attend- ed the public schools of Chicago, and later, as a youth, the Morgan Park Military Academy. After graduating from the last-mentioned institu- tion, he attended the North-Western Military Academy at Highland Park, from which, after passing the Government examination in an able manner, he received his commission of Second Lieutenant in the State Militia, subsequently at- taining to the rank of Senior Captain and Ad- jutant. While attending the academy he was President of the Class of 1891.

Not satisfied with his attainments thus far, Mr. Dearlove then attended Lake Forest University, completing the entire course with the exception of the senior year. Thence he went to Monmouth College at Monmouth, Illinois, where he took a course in Liberal Arts, graduating June 6, 1893, with the degree of B. L. While a student of

Lake Forest University, he was a member of the Zeta Episiton, and of the Eccritian Society while attending the college at Monmouth. In the lat- ter institution, as well as at Lake Forest, he made a special study of Economics and of Finan- ciering.

Possessed of strong human interests and a live- ly intelligence, it is not strange that Mr. Dear- love should find one of his keenest delights in traveling, especially as he is financially able to do so. Since 1887 he has spent most of his vaca- tions in traveling, chiefly through the South and West. In these journeys he has happily com- bined pleasure and business, for, being possessed of considerable foresight and discernment, his travels have given him abundant opportunities for investment in promising enterprises. He was one of the promoters and constructors of the As- toria & Columbia River Railroad, and is still one of the Directors of the company which operates the same-a corporation which pays the largest dividends of any railroad company in the United States. He was also one of the original incor- porators, and is now Vice-President of the Florida, Ocean & Gulf Railroad; Director of the Florida Central & Peninsular Railroad; and Director and Vice-President of the Florida Engineering and

537

E. C. LONG.

Construction Company, which owns about two million acres of land in Florida. In addition to these numerous offices, Mr. Dearlove is a Direc- tor of the Florida Development Company, which has extensive fruit lands in Florida, with offices at Jacksonville, Florida and Chicago; and a Di- rector of the Avon Park National Bank at Avon Park, Florida.

With the foregoing record of his business con- nections before one, it is hardly necessary to re- mark that Mr. Dearlove is a young man of keen perception and ready decision, who never loses a business opportunity for lack of promptitude in action. In address he is pleasing and intelligent, showing a great general knowledge of men and affairs, remarkable in one so young.

EUGENE C. LONG.

UGENE CONANT LONG was born in Bran- don, Vermont, October 31, 1834, and is a son of James and Cerusa (Conant) Long, who were among the early pioneers of Cook County. James Long was born in Washington, District of Columbia, and was a son of Andrew and Alice Long, of Baltimore, Maryland. An- drew Long was killed in the service of the United States during the War of 1812. The family of Long (or Laing, as it was originally spelled) is of Scotch extraction, and was founded in America by four brothers who settled at Baltimore about 1660. Commodore Long, who was in the United States naval service during the Revolution, was descended from one of these.

While a young man, James Long went to New York City, where he became a partner with Sam- uel Hoard, afterwards Postmaster of Chicago, in the publishing business. A few years later, the firmi removed to Brandon, Vermont, where they published a newspaper for some years. In 1835 James Long moved, with his family, to Cook County and engaged in farming in Jefferson town- ship, near the present village of that name, now within the limits of the city of Chicago. Not find- ing agriculture very profitable, after three years' experience, he sold out and moved to Chicago and built a steam grist mill on Michigan Avenue, at the corner of Lake Street. This he operated

for several years. The engine in this mill was employed in pumping the water which was first supplied by the city to the people of Chicago. This contract continued some years, the water being forced through hollow logs laid in a few streets near the river. Those outside the service were wont to keep barrels for storing a supply, and these barrels were filled by private enterprise, at ten cents per barrel.

After disposing of the mill, Mr. Long was ap- pointed by President Polk as Keeper of the light- house, which stood near the site of the present Rush Street bridge. He subsequently served as County Treasurer, and for a number of years filled the office of Alderman of the First Ward. After re- tiring from business and public life, he spent con- siderable time in travel, and his death occurred in Paris, France, on the 10th of April, 1876, at the age of seventy-four years.

Mrs. Cerusa Long died in Chicago in 1874, at the age of sixty-seven years. She was a daugh- ter of Jolin Conant and Chara Broughton, of Brandon, Vermont. John Conant was descended from one of the earliest American families. His grandfather, Ebenezer Conant, served in the Con- tinental army, as Captain of a Massachusetts com- pany. Roger Conant, father of the last-named, was among the Colonial Governors of Massachu- setts-preceding Governor Endicott.

538

FRANCIS HUTCHISON.

Eugene C. Long was still in his infancy when the family came to Cook County, Chicago being at that time a village of three or four thousand itt- habitants. While a boy, he was accustomed to do the family marketing. The chief produce market was on State Street near Randolph, and its wares were brought by farmers from long dis- tances and displayed in wagons and other vehi- cles, much after the present fashion of the Hay- market of the West Side. The pioneers of that day did not lack for the substantials, though there was little cash in circulation, and they were largely ignorant of the present style of living in the city.

At the age of seventeen years, Eugene C. Long graduated from the Beardsly Seminary, and soon after became a clerk and teller in tlie Marine Bank. His connection with that institution con- tinued for twenty-two years, during the last twelve of which he served as Cashier. In1 1874 he re- signed this position and engaged in the stock and brokerage business, continuing that occupation

five years. He then entered the office of the late Judge Van H. Higgins. Since 1880 he has been a stockholder and Secretary of the Rose Hill Cem- etery Company, and since 1893 has also been Treasurer of the corporation.

He was married in October, 1858, to Harriet Alexander, step-daughter of Van H. Higgins, and daughter of the first Mrs. Higgins-Elizabeth (Morse) Alexander. Mrs. Long was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, and is the mother of two daughters, Eugenie and Harriet, the first being now the wife of Edward L. Frasher, of Chicago.

Mr. Long and his family are members of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and he has been a life-long Republican in principle and practice. The record of his business career shows him to be capable and upright, for only through these qualities could any one hold the positions he has filled. In manner, he is courteous and easy, show- ing long familiarity with the best men and methods of the day.

FRANCIS HUTCHISON.

RANCIS HUTCHISON, a successful Chi- cagoan now living in practical retirement, is a Scotcliman by nativity and spent his youth upon the banks of the river Leven, the outlet of Loch Lomond, a locality which has been rendered famous in song and story, and abounds with historic interest and romantic scenery. His birth occurred on the 30th day of April, 1828, in the village of Alexandria, Dumbartonshire. His parents, James and Janet (Weir) Hutchison, were in humble circumstances and, though able to afford their offspring but a rudimentary intel- lectual training, endowed them with habits and

principles which fitted them for filling responsible and useful positions in life.

James Hutchison was born at Abernathy, near Perth, Scotland, but removed during his youth to Dumbartonshire where his later life was spent. Mrs. Janet Hutchison was a daughter of Donald Weir, a well-to-do farmer and herdsman of Argyle- shire. But three of their nine children are now living, and Francis is the only resident of the United States. The other survivors are Rev. John Hutchison, an Independent (Congrega- tional) minister at Ashton-under-line, England, who lias filled his present pastorate for upwards

539

FRANCIS HUTCHISON.

of forty years, and Donald Hutchison, who is the chief engineer of a steamship company, which operates a line of vessels plying between Liver- pool and the La Plata river in South America.

At the age of eight years, Francis Hutchison began to earn his daily bread by laboring in the print and dye works which abound in the vicin- ity of his birthplace. At fourteen he was set to learn the carpenter trade serving five years ap- prenticeship at that industry. He was afterwards employed as a ship-carpenter and acquired a de- gree of skill and proficiency which has since served him in good stead.

Having heard fabulous-sounding stories of the great land beyond the Atlantic ocean, he deter- inined to see and investigate its wonderful re- sources by a personal visit and, not without con- siderable misgivings as to the duration of his sojourn, in 1858 he took passage upon the steamer "Kangaroo" for New York, arriving in that city on the ninth day of June. He went from there to Rochester, New York, and after spending a few months at that place, took passage by way of the lakes for Chicago whither he arrived in due time, landing upon a temporary pier at Clark Street. His destination was the home of his uncle, Donald Weir, who lived on the Des Plaines river near "the Sag," but as the address which had been furnished him was rather vague, he spent several days in unnecessary travel before reach- ing the place, a delay which was amply atoned for by the hearty welcome accorded him upon his arrival. As a number of farm houses were being erected in that neighborhood, he found a ready demand for his services, and his first season's earnings so far exceeded any sum he had ever received for a corresponding period of time that all doubts concerning the superior advantages of this country as a permanent place of residence were dispelled from his mind and he determined to become an American citizen.

In the fall of 1860 he went to Helena, Arkan- sas, where he was employed at his trade until the following spring, when, owing to the outbreak of the rebellion and not wishing to be pressed into the Confederate service, he returned to the North without being able to collect the money he had

earned there. His brief residence at the Soutlı had given him a good understanding of the con- ditions which prevailed there, however, and en- abled him to take a more conservative view of the questions which divided the union than pre- vailed among the more enthusiastic partisans of the North.

The prevailing wages for house-builders in Chicago at this time ranged from seventy-five cents to one dollar per day, and Mr. Hutchison found it more profitable to engage in ship car- pentry. He was subsequently employed in build- ing gun-boats for the United States Government at St. Louis, and at Cairo, Illinois. In 1863 he purchased an interest in a distillery at Joliet, but as some features of the business became distaste- ful to him, he sold out the following year and in- vested his profits in vessels plying between Chi- cago and the lower lake ports. He continued the carrying trade for the next nine or ten years, and in the meantime purchased several lots and a residence at the corner of Van Buren and Throop Streets. The rapid growth of the city soon created a demand for this location for com- mercial purposes and he replaced his residence with several substantial business blocks. He lias since bought and improved other valuable west- side property, and of recent years the care and renting of these buildings has absorbed most of his time and attention.

Mr. Hutchison was married in 1864 to Miss Elizabeth Jones, daughter of Thomas Jones, who died in Chicago in 1882, at the age of more than eighty years. The lady was born in Denbigh- shire, Wales, and came to America in 1856. She has been an able helpmeet and counsellor of her husband, and their union has been blessed with four children, tliree of whom are still under the par- ental roof, namely: Elizabeth Agnes, Catherine Jane, wife of S. B. Foster, James Francis and Jean- nette Weir. All the members of this family are identified with the Jefferson Park Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Hutchison is a man of simple tastes, and leads a quiet and unostentatious life, though lie does not think it out of place to crack au occa- sional joke among his old-time friends. Since the

540

W. B. SNOW.

war he has been a pronounced Republican, but sometimes ignores party lines concerning ques- tions of local import. When he first arrived in Chicago his total cash assets were comprised in a gold quarter eagle. This he carefully hoarded for some time and when obliged to spend a por-

tion of it for repairing his shoes, he received in change a one-dollar bill of "wild-cat"' currency, which proved to be worthless. His subsequent prosperity, therefore, may be attributed solely to his frugal, industrious habits, correct judgment and integrity of character.

WILLIAM B. SNOW.

ILLIAM BLAKE SNOW, who put on track the first railway passenger coach built in Chicago, is descended from an old Ameri- can family. The environment of the New Eng- land fathers was calculated to develop all that was sturdy in mind and body, and in many of their descendants are found the qualities which enabled them to survive the hardships they were com- pelled to endure and caused them to prosper in the midst of most forbidding conditions. The spirit of adventure and progress which led to the colonization of New England, still lives in the posterity of the Pilgrims, and has raised up sim- ultaneously throughout the northern half of the United States churches, school houses and fac- tories.

William B. Snow was born in Bellows Falls, Vermont, February 13, 1821, and is a son of Sol- omon and Lucina Snow. His ancestors were, doubtless, English, and early located in America. His paternal grandfather was a chocolate manu- facturer near Boston, and his maternal grand- father, "Bill" Blake, established the Bellows Falls Gazette, one of the first newspapers in Ver- mont. His wife was Polly Wait, of Milbury, Massachusetts.

The subject of this biography passed his boy- hood in his native village, receiving his education in the schools there existing. At the age of four- teen years, he began working in his father's wagon and carriage shop, becoming expert in the

use of woodworking implements. For some years he was employed by his uncles in a paper mill. When twenty-two years of age, he set out to make his fortune, going to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he took contracts for carpenter work. From there he went to Seymour (then called Hum- phreysville), Connecticut, where he was employed by the American Car Company, and moved with that establishment to Chicago in 1852. At this time he had a contract with the company for building coaches, and set up the first one ever constructed in this city. This was purchased by the Chicago & Galena Union Railroad, then in its infancy. An account of the origin of that en- terprise will be found in this work, in the sketch of John B. Turner, who was its founder. When the American Car Company sold out to the Illi- nois Central Railroad Company, Mr. Snow was employed by the new proprietor, with whom he continued from 1857 to 1872. His integrity and ex- ecutive ability had meantime become known to many Chicago citizens, and he was offered a lucra- tive position by the Pullman Palace Car Company, for which he traveled three years. At the end of this period, he again took employment with the Illinois Central Company, and so continued until he retired from active business in October, 1891.

Mr. Snow has always been a quiet citizen, giv- ing his undivided attention to business, and leav- ing others to manage their concerns in their own way. He has been a faithful attendant of the

541

A. G. LULL.

Reformed Episcopal Church, with which his fam- ily is affiliated, being identified with Bishop Che- ney's congregation. He is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and a demitted Freemason. His early political associations were with the Whig party, and he has adhered to the Republican organization since it came into exist- ence. He has never sought political preferment,

but has fulfilled that imperative duty-as well as privilege-of the good American citizen, a vote in every important contest. In 1843 he was mar- ried to Miss Orra L. Dyke, of American parentage, and two children have blessed this union. The eldest, Frank Austin Snow, resides in Chicago, as does also the other, Lottie, wife of A. G. Farr, of the firm of N. W. Harris & Company.

ALBERT G. LULL.

A LBERT GALLATIN LULL was born in Windsor, Vermont, February 20, 1827, and died in Chicago, February 13, 1892. His parents, Joel and Celia (Smith) Lull, were na- tives of the Green Mountain State, the Lull fam- ily being one of the oldest in that commonwealth. Mrs. Celia Lull died in Windsor, and her hus- band afterwards came to Chicago, where he served as constable for several years. His death occurred in 1880, at North Attleboro, Massachu- setts.

After leaving the public schools, Albert G. Lull became a student for a time at Dartmouth Col- lege. At Springfield, Massachusetts, he took up the study of gunsmithing and mechanics. In 1849, lie came to Chicago and obtained employ- ment in the machine shop of H. P. Moses. While thus engaged, he assisted in the construction of the first water works in the city. He was subse- quently employed by Foss Brothers, in a large plan- ing mill on Canal Street, near Monroe, the site of which is now occupied by the Union Passenger Station and railroad tracks. When this mill was torn down, preparatory to the construction of the depot, he purchased the machinery, in company with his brother-in-law, Isaac Holmes, and built a new mill on the west side of Canal Street, be- tween Jackson and Van Buren Streets. The firm dealt in lumber and carried on the manufacture of packing boxes, doing an extensive business until 1871, when the entire plant was consumed

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Album of genealogy and biograghy, Cook County, Illinois, 10th ed., Part 79

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