Album of genealogy and biograghy, Cook County, Illinois, 10th ed., Part 86

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 86

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Joseph F. Henrotin pursued his elementary studies in his native town, and entered the Uni- versity of Liege, Belgium, from which he gradu- ated at the age of twenty-two. He then spent three years in further study in the Belgian hos- pitals, being a pupil and friend of Dr. Seutin, the inventor of the starch bandage, who secured his appointment, at the age of twenty-five, as sur- geon in the national army, with the privilege of further pursuing his investigations and studies in the hospitals. He continued to hold this position for nearly twelve years, at the end of which time he resolved to come to America.

He arrived in Chicago in the autumn of 1848, and, as above related, soon acquired a large and remunerative practice. This was general through- out the city, but most of his work was done on the North and Northwest Sides. Having placed himself in independent circumstances by eight years of arduous and incessant labor, hie returned to his native land, in 1856. A year later he was appointed by the Belgian Government to

be Consul to the Northwestern States of this country, and returned to Chicago, leaving several of his children abroad to be educated. In 1858 he was commissioned by Belgium to make a spe- cial inspection of the states of Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota and report on their adaptability as homes for Belgian emigrants. In the fulfillment of this charge he traveled throughout the states named, rendering a prompt and exhaustive re- port to his Government. For this service he re- ceived the thanks of the Belgian Parliament, on account of its practical value and literary merit, and copies of the report were widely distributed over Germany and other neighboring countries, as well as throughout Belgium. He continued to serve as Consul until his death, which occurred March 17, 1876, on the sixty-fifth anniversary of his birth. He was succeeded in office by his eldest living son, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. Dr. Henrotin was a heavy sufferer by the great fire of 1871, but par- tially recovered from his loss before his death.

In the fall of 1840, Dr. Henrotin married Adele Kinsoen, a native of Tournai, Flanders, born in 1821, and daughter of Henri Kinsoen, who had a contract to furnish the Dutch army with sup- plies. A brother of Henri Kinsoen was a noted portrait painter, who numbered the members of the French Court among his patrons. Both were natives of Bruges, Belgium, as was Mrs. Henro- tin's mother, Josephine Brice.

Besides his widow, Dr. Henrotin left eight children. The eldest son, Henry, was killed at the siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi, during the Civil War, while serving in Taylor's Battery. All the living, save the sixth, who is engaged in business in Havre, France, are residents of Chi- cago. Following are their names: Charles; Mar- garet, Mrs. James H. B. Daly; Dr. Fernand; Adolph; Mary; Victor; Fortuni, wife of George Le Jeune; and Louise, now Mrs. Maurice Pin- coffs. Mrs. Henrotin survived her husband many years, dying, widely mourned, November 29, 1893. She was an able helpmate to her husband, whom she nobly aided in his labors among the cholera sufferers, and was held in high regard by all who enjoyed her acquaintance.

W. M. COULTER.

583

WILLIAM M. COULTER.

ILLIAM MITCHELL COULTER, one of the survivors of the war with Mexico, re- siding in Chicago, is a native of the Key- stone State. His birth occurred in Oliver Town- ship, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, November 17, 1823. He is a son of Irwin Coulter and Mary C. Mitchell. The latter was the daughter of all Irish gentleman named George Mitchell, who was born near Belfast, Ireland. He married a Scotch lady named Elizabeth Thompson, and they emi- grated to America previous to the Revolutionary War. Mr. Mitchell became one of the first set- tlers in Mifflin County, on the banks of the Juniata river. He cleared and improved a large farm, and became one of the most prominent citi- zens of that county.

Irwin Coulter, whose Christian name was given him to perpetuate the family name of his mother, was a native of Mifflin County. His father, David Coulter was born in the North of England, but became a loyal citizen of Pennsylvania dur- ing the colonial days. Soon after the beginning of the Revolutionary conflict, he enlisted under General Washington, and afterwards became the captain of his company. He was wounded while doing gallant service at the battle of the Brandy- wine. The rifle which he carried into that war and the sword which he wore in his official capac- ity are still preserved in the family. Irwin Coul- ter succeeded to the ownership of the Mitchell homestead, where his death occurred about 1830, at the age of forty-nine years. Both the Coulter and Mitchell families were ardent adherents of the Presbyterian Church, and exhibited many ad- mirable characteristics, being firm in the support of principle and fearless in defense of their con- victions.

William M. Coulter passed his boyliood in his

native county and, at an early age began to take an active part in local political affairs. He was frequently chosen as a delegate to local and State conventions of the Democratic party, and helped to nominate several Governors of the common- wealth. When the United States Government called for volunteers to help prosecute the war with Mexico, he enlisted as a member of Company D, of the Eleventh United States Infantry. After being drilled for a time, with other recruits, near Corpus Christie on the coast of Texas, they were sent forward to join General Scott's army at Puebla, Mexico. As Scott's limited force did not permit him to leave any garrisons at places he had vanquished, the recruits were forced to fight their way over the route previously pursued by the main army. One of their duties was to escort a pay train, loaded with many thousands of dollars in gold sent to pay Scott's army. The Mexicans having knowledge of this fact, made desperate efforts to capture the train, and the whole course of the journey was almost a con- tinuous battlefield. At the National Bridge, the enemy lay in ambush, and made extraordinary ef- forts to destroy the little band of devoted Ameri- can troops. Several wagons, containing accoutre- ments and supplies of the soldiers, were thrown over a high precipice in the struggle and des- troyed, and Mr. Coulter narrowly missed accom- panying one of these wagons in its fall. The at- tack was repulsed, and a portion of the knapsacks and other paraphernalia was recovered next day. The train was turned over to General Scott at Puebla in June, 1847, without the loss of a dollar. after many days of struggle in its defense.

After joining the main army, Mr. Coulter par- ticipated in the battles of Contreras Mountain, Cherubusco, Chapultepec and the numerous fights

58.1

T. E. HILL.

about the gates of Mexico. It is a matter of his- tory that the American troops, in a strange land, far from their base of supplies, conquered im- mensely superior numbers throughout their march and triumphantly entered the city of Mexico on the 13th of September, 1847, having traversed more than a thousand miles of distance, over mountain ranges and across lava beds and other regions supposed by the Mexicans to be impass- able. At the capture of Molino del Rey, where the Mexicans were engaged in casting cannon, most of his superior officers having been killed or disabled, Corporal Coulter took command of a company, and held possession of the foundry un- til Lieutenant U. S. Grant came up and received the swords of the captured Mexican officers, who refused to deliver them to a non-commissioned officer. For his gallantry on this and other oc- casions, he was made Second Sergeant and re- ceived honorable mention by Maj. John F. Hun- ter, commanding the Eleventh regiment. Mr. Coulter gives a very graphic description of a brief engagement on the 19th of August, where eight thousand mounted Mexican lancers rode down upon three brigades of American infantry, with the evident intention of overwhelming them. The lancers were quickly repulsed by the infan- try, formed in a hollow square, with fixed bayo- nets, who reserved their fire until the enemy came within close range. So deadly were the volleys

that met the onslaught that the lancers were thrown into confusion, and the survivors turned and fled. The Americans suffered but slight loss, and this incident illustrates the superiority of courage and discipline over mere strength of num- bers, even when accompanied by the advantage of position. The impression which this brief en- counter made upon the mind of Mr. Coulter is one never to be effaced.

In 1858, Mr. Coulter moved from Pennsylvania to Monroe County, Missouri, where he was en- gaged in agriculture for some years, and during his residence there served two terms in the Missouri Legislature. His business career reflects equal credit with his military record upon the character of Mr. Coulter. In 1876 he became a resident of Chicago, where he has since been dealing in real estate.

He was married in 1856, to Miss Lydia F. Cox, of McVeytown, Pennsylvania, and four of their five children still survive. Mr. Coulter is still iden- tified with the Presbyterian Church, in the faith of which he was reared. In early life, he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Having inherited a powerful frame and iron con- stitution from his ancestors, Mr. Coulter is still the picture of robust manhood and strength, and is evidently prepared to continue his honorable busi- ness career and socially-useful life for many years to come.

THOMAS EDIE HILL.

HOMAS EDIE HILL was born in Sand- gate, Bennington County, Vt., February 29, 1832. He was reared on his father's farm, attending in the winter the district schools of that vicinity, and finishing liis school instruction at the Cambridge Academy, at Cambridge, N. Y. Possessing natural aptitude for teaching, Mr.

Hill entered upon that work, and taught his first school at Eagleville, East Salem, N. Y., receiv- ing therefor $10 per month; following which, at the age of nineteen, he taught the winter school in Londonderry, Vt., receiving $14 per month and "boarding 'round." Fitting himself in Bos- ton for teaching penmanship, he entered upon the

585

T. E. HILL.

work of conducting evening schools, teaching penmanship and forms, and followed that profes- sion during the fifteen succeeding years, the field of his teaching being in Vermont, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin and Illinois. He left this work in 1866, and has taught none since, except a school in parliamentary practice, which (being deeply impressed with the importance of such a school) he opened at the Chicago Athenaeum in 1891, conducting the same for several months and closing with a public exhibition. This class was the first of its kind, up to the time when it was established.

Settling at Waukegan, Ill., in 1854 with his wife, formerly Miss Rebekah J. Pierce, of Lon- donderry, Vt., by whom he had one child, Flor- ence G., at present Mrs. George M. Porteous, he remained there until 1866, when he located at Aurora, Ill., and began the publication of the Aurora Herald, from which he severed his con- nection a few years afterward. He continued his residence in that city for twelve years, during which time he founded and obtained a large cir- culation for the Herald. He also established the Suburban Chicago Purchasing Agency business, and as manager for a time of the Aurora Silver Plate factory, placed that institution upon a suc- cessful basis. While Mayor of Aurora, in 1876 and 1877, he introduced various improvements into the city, among them being the suppression of cows from running at large, the setting out of thousands of shade trees, the taking down of fences around dwellings, and the organizing of an ini- provement society, which since that time has been largely instrumental in making that city the metropolis of the Fox River Valley.

Giving a liberal portion of the property which he had accumulated up to that time (1878) to his wife, she secured a separation from him by mutual consent, he taking up his residence in Chicago to give personal supervision to the management of "Hill's Manual of Social and Business Forms," which had been brought out by Moses Warren, a publisher of Chicago, in 1873, Mr. Hill assuming the publishing of it in 1879. Subsequently mar- rying Mrs. Ellen M. Whitcomb, at Shushan, N. Y .. he continued his residence in Chicago un-

til 1885, at which time he purchased a farin ad- joining the village of Prospect Park, DuPage County, Il1. In the succeeding year he settled thereon, returning thus to the employment with which he had been familiar in his boyhood. His return to farming was voluntary and not of neces- sity, a phrenologist on one occasion, when exam- ining his head, having told him when he began his teaching that he would succeed in anything that he undertook.

With large natural love of the ornamental in landscape and building, he became the publisher and editor, in 1884, of the Chicago National Builder, in which he gave to the world many beautiful designs of buildings and ornamental grounds. Retiring from this publication after making it the best magazine of its class, he or- ganized a land syndicate at Prospect Park, en- abled several of the old farmers of that vicinity to sell their farms so well as to retire on a competency, changed the name of the village to Glen Ellyn, and secured the making of the charin- ing little Lake Glen Ellyn, the construction of an elegant hotel upon its borders, and the develop- ment of several springs near the lake, among them being the famous Glen Ellyn Apollo, the waters of which have large sale in Chicago.

Among Mr. Hill's literary works have been several books of large circulation, of which "Hill's Manual" has had a sale of about four hundred thousand copies at this writing, at an average price of $6 per copy; "Hill's Album of Biogra- phy," having a circulation of eighty thousand copies; "Hill's Guide to Chicago;" "Ways of Cruelty," an illustrated pamphlet used in great numbers by humane societies; "Right and Wrong Contrasted;" and "Money Found," the latter a popular book on the subject of finance.

This latest work is an original publication, which fully outlines the plan by which the Gov- ernment may assume the ownership of banks, and may operate them at all central points, guaran- teeing depositors against loss, preventing finan- cial panics, and the consequent depressions in busi- ness. Mr. Hill is the first person to put forth to the world a practical method by which Govern- mental banking may be established. At this

586

L. C. RUTH.

writing, the book, "Money Found," is having an immensely large sale, with a fair probability of so educating the people as to cause them to de- mand Government ownership of banks in thie very near future, thus revolutionizing the present in- secure system of banking, giving the profits per- taining to the handling of the people's money to the people; and at the same time securing relief from bank failures, and permanent financial pros- perity for all.

While Mr. Hill's efforts have been crowned with success for himself, his labors have been largely of a public character, and have resulted in great educational benefit to the people in all parts of the country. Though a quiet resident of Glen Ellyn, his works have had such large circu- lation as to make his name much more familiar to the inhabitants of New England, the Middle States and the Pacific Coast than it is to the peo- ple of DuPage County.

LINUS C. RUTH.

INUS C. RUTH, of Hinsdale, is a prominent member of the DuPage County Bar, and well deserves representation in this volume. He has the honor of being a native of Illinois, for he was born at Long Grove, Lake County, on the 18th of December, 1854. His parents were Irwin and Leah (Brown) Ruth, natives of Penn- sylvania. The family is of English origin, and was founded in America by George E. Ruth, the grandfather of our subject, who left England, his native land, and emigrated to America, locating in Northumberland County, Pa. The year 1836 witnessed his arrival in Illinois. He settled near Waukegan, then called Little Fort, where he died when past the age of sixty years. He reared a family of eight children. The maternal grand- father, John Brown, was born in the Keystone State, and was for some years engaged in mer- chandising in Philadelphia. He came to the West in 1838, settling in Cedarville, Ill., where he died at the age of eighty-one years.

Mr. Ruthı whose name heads this record spent his early boyhood upon the home farm, aiding in the labors of the field through the summer months, while in the winter season he attended the district school and acquired tlie rudiments of his educa- tion. Later, he was a student in the High School,

and in the Iowa State College, of Ames, Iowa. On the completion of his literary education, he en- tered Bryant & Stratton's Business College of Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1873. His time was then devoted to business interests for several years, after which he determined to enter upon a professional career, and began the study of law in the Union College of Law in Chi- cago. Two years later he was admitted to the Bar. During several succeeding years, he was engaged in delivering lectures on commercial law and the law of real property in Bryant & Strat- ton's College, in which he had formerly been a student.

On the 18th of August, 1880, Mr. Ruth was united in marriage with Miss Ella F. Reardon. Three children have been born of their union: Irwin, Chester and Linus C. The parents are members of the Hinsdale Unity Church, and con- tribute liberally to its support. They occupy an enviable position in social circles, and have won the high regard of all who know them.

In 1881 Mr. Ruth came to Hinsdale, and has since engaged in the practice of his profession with excellent success. He has been honored with a number of official positions, having served as a member of the Board of Trustees and the Board of

587

C. B. SMITH.

Health, and for three years has been Village At- torney. He discharges his duties with a prompt- ness and fidelity that have won him high com- mendation, and his public and private life are alike above reproach. In politics, he is a supporter of the Republican party. He owns some good prop- erty in Hinsdale, including his pleasant residence, and was one of the organizers of the Hinsdale

Building and Loan Association, of which he has served as attorney from the start. He is ever found in the front rank of any enterprise calcu- lated to prove of public benefit, and is alive to the best interests of this community and its wel- fare. Public-spirited and progressive, he is a valued citizen and a man of sterling worth.

CHARLES BENNETT SMITH.

HARLES BENNETT SMITH, only son of William G. Smith, a pioneer of DuPage County, this State, is one of the most suc- cessful business men of Wheaton. He was born in Whitehall, N. Y., April 6, 1853, and was brought to Illinois when an infant. He attended the public schools at Warrenville and Wheaton, and was a student of Wheaton College two years. At the age of seventeen, he began learning the railroad station business at Elmhurst, and soon found employment in the station at Wheaton, be- coming a skillful telegraph operator. In the spring of 1872 he was made agent for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway and the American Ex- press Company at Westside, Crawford County, Iowa, and filled that position eight years. He then took charge of the station at Carroll, an im- portant division point on the Northwestern sys- tem, for three years. At the end of that time, at his request, he was transferred to the charge of Wheaton Station, being at the time the oldest agent in point of service on the Northwestern line west of Boone. Mr. Smith was determined to improve his opportunities, and soon after locat- ing at Wheaton, he opened a real-estate and in- surance office, in which he transacted a large amount of business. He is one of those who are responsible for the incorporation of the city, and

for the modern improvements which make it a desirable place of residence. He served four years as City Clerk, but has never been a seeker after political preferment. He is keenly alive to business opportunities, and is quite content to let others handle the reins of government. He is a stockholder in the company which supplies the city with electric light, and during the Columbian Exposition was Vice-President of the Epworth Hotel Restaurant Company, an organization which built and operated a successful hotel near the Fair grounds.

In 1890 Mr. Smith was appointed Assistant Claim Agent of the Chicago & Nortliwestern Railway Company, a position that he has accept- ably filled since. With no influence to push hin, save his own energy and ability, he has attained a responsible position with an extensive corpora- tion at an age wlien many are still apprentices. Mr. Smith is an active and enthusiastic Republi- can, and carries an influence in local political af- fairs. He is a member of the Metliodist Church, and of several fraternal orders.

On tlie 30th of December, 1875, Mr. Smith was married to his childhood's playmate and schoolmate, Laura Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Jude P. Gary, a pioneer of DuPage County. Mrs. Smith was born in Winfield Township, and

588

J. R. WHEELER.

is a valuable member of Wheaton society. To the aged parents of Mr. Smith she is like one born to them, and in every relation of life is the worthy helpmate of a popular citizen. Mrs. Smith has been throughiout her adult life one of the most faithful and efficient members of the Methodist. Episcopal Church, and has been for many years the leading soprano singer in the

choir of the Wheaton Church. Two children have been given to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, namely, Laura Eoleen and Winifred Alice.

In 1892 Mr. Smith built the fine residence which he occupies at the southwest corner of West Street and Washington Avenue. It is tlie seat of quiet elegance and refined hospitality.

JOHN R. WHEELER.

] OHN R. WHEELER, for many years promi- nent in the business, social and religious life of Chicago, was born in East Greene, Che- nango County, N. Y., on the 31st of Decem- ber, 1827. His grandfather, Samuel Wheeler, came with his family from England and settled in East Greene in 1792. At that time the town of East Greene had not been created. It was taken from the town of Union, Tioga (now Broome) County, in 1798, and was named for Gen. Na- thaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame. A set- tlement of French refugees was made on the east side of the river at Greene in 1792, and a few families of these remained to form a part of the permanent settlement, though most of them moved away in a short time. Samuel Wheeler was among thie settlers of the northern part of the town, where he engaged in farming. Both he and his wife died in 1808.

Capt. Samuel Wheeler, son of Samuel, was a soldier in the War of 1812. The subject of this biography was the seventh in a family of nine children born to him and his wife, Tamar Barnes. Their names in order are: William, Melissa, Har- riet, George, Sarah Ann, Charles H., John R., Mary and Margaret.

John R. Wheeler passed his minority upon his

father's farm, completing liis school days at the academy in Greene. In early life he taught school at East Greene and Oxford, and for five years engaged in farming near Oxford, after which he kept a general store twelve years at Oxford, N. Y. He served several terms in Oxford as Town Supervisor and County School Commis- sioner. Having been moderately successful, the result of persistent attention to business, he re- solved to seek a new field of operations in the great West, and removed to Chicago in Marclı, 1869. Here he invested his capital in real estate, and with such good judgment did lie handle his holdings that he was made independent. He always took an intelligent interest in questions affecting the general welfare, and was soon called upon to serve his fellows in various official capac- ities. For a time he served as Superintendent of the Western Railway Weighing Association. Be- lieving in the fundamental principles of the Re- publican party, he gave his earnest support to the cause of that organization. In 1884 he was a delegate from the Third Illinois District to the National Republican Convention, and was in- tensely devoted to Mr. Blaine. The next year he presided over the Cook County Republican Convention, and the following spring was elected

DR. LEONARD PRATT.

589

LEONARD PRATT

Alderman from the then Ninth Ward. He was the Republican Presidential Elector from the Third District in 1888, and was appointed a member of the State Railroad and Warehouse Commission the next year, being made Chairman of the Board. He was re-appointed in 1891, and acted until about a month before his death, which sad event occurred February 19, 1893. His demise, soon after the completion of his sixty-fifth year, was supposed to be the result of a severe attack of la grippe in the spring of 1892.

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Album of genealogy and biograghy, Cook County, Illinois, 10th ed., Part 86

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