Album of genealogy and biograghy, Cook County, Illinois, 10th ed., Part 93

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 93

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635

WILLIAM METZGER.

Swanson. He was born September 28, 1856, in Sweden, and came to America in 1881, arriving in Chicago May 12 of that year.

He was immediately employed by the Knicker- bocker Ice Company, one of the largest ice con- cerns in the city. After one month thus occupied he was with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company four months, and was subse- quently employed at the Bridgeport Rolling Mills until they were closed. He worked for Ander- son A. Freeman one year and was later for a short time with Shipman's White Lead Com- pany. He had not yet found his proper bent in life, but after six weeks in Brown's Mill at Iron- dale, he spent four and one-half years in Pull- man making brick, and became an expert at the trade. He was employed six successive sum- mers by J. S. Saxon, working at the ice business in winter. A year and one-half subsequently he was fireman at the Bridgeport Rolling Mill and after two months more spent with P. G. Saxon, he became fireman for Swift & Company, at the

Stock Yards. He still holds this position and is honored and respected by his employers and his services are valued as is due his efforts.

Mr. Swanson was married December 15, 1885, to Miss Christina, daughter of Nels and Mary (Nelson) Nelson. Mrs. Swanson was born Aug- ust 14, 1862. She arrived in Chicago April 9, 1882, and this city has since been her home. Their children are as follows: Nels Harry Will- iam, born November 20, 1887; George Hildur Edvin, January 24, 1891, and Swan Herbert Louis, January 17, 1895.

Mr. Swanson sympathizes with the Republican party and at all opportunities expresses his views on the subject, voting at all times in favor of the candidates of the party. He erected a residence in August, 1896, at No. 3646 Seeley Avenue. He has since resided at this location and pos- sesses a pleasant home, wherein dwell peace and harmony at all times. He and his family are genial and hospitable and are considerate and kind to the stranger who is within their gates.

WILLIAM METZGER.

ILLIAM METZGER, who is one of tlie most energetic and prosperous citizens of the city of Chicago, was born September 2, 1846, in New York City. His parents were John Peter and Dorothea Margaret (Sieger) Metzger and his maternal grandfather was Wil- helm Sieger, who was a tiller of the soil and wine grower. John P. Metzger was born in a house that is about two hundred years old, having been resided in by members of the family of Metzger since it was built. They are a long-lived family, all of the members reaching a very old age.

J. P. Metzger died February 21, 1890, aged eighty-four years, six months and twenty-eight days, and was buried in Graceland Cemetery.

He was born in the town of Elms-Hansen, Hessen-Darmsdat, Germany. He was a land- owner and tiller of the soil in his native land, and had an extensive vineyard. He served as burgomaster in the town of Zell, for a number of years. He was a member of the German- Lutheran Church. In the year 1846 the family, consisting of parents and children-Peter, Dora, Susan, Ludwig, Philip, Margaret and Frederick- emigrated from their native land and located in America. There were fourteen children born to Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Metzer, but those not herein mentioned are deceased.

Mr. Metzger reached New York City and was employed as a laborer for a short time, later

636

WILLIAM METZGER.

starting in the milk business on Forty-second Street, near Second Avenue, in that city. In the spring of the year 1856 he preceded his family to Chicago and entered the service of Rickert & Bierline, lumber merchants, located at the corner of Sixteenth Street and Wentwortlı. Avenue. Later he was with the Illinois Central Railroad Company, in its repair shops until 1869. He sold his property to the Lake Shore & Michi- gan Southern Railroad Company and purchased a cottage at the corner of Twenty-fourth Street and Wentworth Avenue. He again traded this for a farm at Pevely, Missouri, gaining in the deal, as he obtained eighty acres of valuable land. He later added eighty acres more to his posses- sions. The farm was bought in partnership with his sons, Philip and William, and daughter, Susan. They lived on the farm about two years and later removed to Booneville, where Mr. Metzger re- mained one year before returning to Chicago. He retired not long after, and lived thus until his deatlı.

Mrs. J. P. Metzger, mother of the man whose name heads this article, was fifty-nine years of age when she was taken with smallpox and died in March, 1865. She was married to Mr. Metzger about 1832. Her father was Wilhelmn Sieger.

William Metzger was an attendant of the Mosely School until 1860, when he secured a situation as office boy with G. L. Dickinson, re- maining in his employ, at a location on South Water Street, from August, 1861, to 1862. Prior to this time he had been with his father in a flour mill six months. In August, 1862, Mr. Metzger enlisted as a drummer in Company E, Seventy- second Illinois, known as the First Board of Trade Regiment. He remained with this regi- mient until March 18, 1864. At Vicksburg, in December, 1862, he was wounded and confined in a hospital six weeks. In1 1863 he was attacked with measles, which he did not recover from for four weeks.

In March, 1864, he was made principal musi- cian in the Fifty-first United States colored troops. In this regiment lie was made second lieutenant shortly before lie was mustered out of

service. At Fort Blakely he was severely wounded in the right shoulder, losing four months. He was discharged June 16, 1866, at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and returned to Chi- cago. He was engaged in carpenter work for a short time, and in February, 1868, began to work for the Illinois Soapstone Company, remaining in that service until the fire of 1871. The shop was then destroyed and the business discontinued.

Mr. Metzger found his trade very handy, and he helped in the reconstruction of the city. He was employed by the Freer Stone Manufacturing Company as stone cutter, later becoming a sales- man for Chapin Brothers. He sold four hun- dred copies of the History of the Fire, and was with the last-named concern until June, 1873. He then entered the service of the Home Sewing Machine Company as packer, remaining at this occupation until 1878. Subsequently, until Au- gust, 1880, he was with Potter Palmer as me- chanic, and later with Warner & Kimball, at No. 47 Jackson Street, wholesale dealers in glass, being the first man this firm employed in Chicago. He was with it until 1883.

In the latter part of the year 1883, he opened a store at No. 2504 Wentworth Avenue, and continued it eighteen months. He then entered the employ of Heroy & Marrenner as shipping clerk, which position he held until February, 1896. In September of that year lie was em- ployed in the interest of Tyler & Hippach, wholesale dealers in glass, remaining until De- cember, 1897. Since that time he has been with the Metropolitan Plate Glass Company.

November 1, 1869, Mr. Metzger was married to Miss Marion, daughter of Andreas Gabrielson, and their children were four in number: Hattie Louise, born July 18, 1870, married Herman Diebling, and resides on Seventiethi Street, between Prairie and Indiana Avenues; Andrew Custer, born October, 18, 1873, is superintendent of the Chicago Gas Regulating Company, at the corner of Dearborn and Van Buren Streets; Maud and Alice were born February 10, 1876, being twins. Alice married Joseph Binney and resides at No. 6625 Hartwell Avenue.

Mr. Metzger married for liis second wife

637

JAMES STORMS.

Christine Augustine, who was born in Norway. Her children are as follows: William Walter, born June 15, 1879; Philip Charles, April 22, 1883; May Olive, March 8, 1885; Susan May, March 7, 1888; William Grafton, September 21, 1892; and Anna Marrenner, September 5, 1895.

Mr. Metzger is connected with Gen. Louis

Blenker Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He is a consistent member of Emanuel Baptist Church. He has never been interested in poli- tics, further than to cast his vote at the opportu- nity in favor of the Republican party. The members of the family are all highly respected, wherever they are known and the name is hon- ored by all.

JAMES STORMS.

AMES STORMS. Among the industrious and well-known citizens of Chicago who were born in foreign parts, but who have not been reluctant in adopting America as a country worthy of their allegiance, is the man whose name heads this article. He was born May 14, 1806, in Murrayshire, town of Kintissic, and par- ish of Dyke, Scotland.

His paternal grandfather married Mary (sur- name unknown) and became the father of John Storms, who was the father of James Storms. The maternal grandfather, Alexander McGory, married Jane McLain, and lived to a very old age. His children were: Alexander, James, Mary, Jane, Maria and Christina. John Storms was a shoemaker by trade, and lived in Scot- land all his life. His wife died at the age of seventy-two years. Their children were named as follows: Alexander, John, William, Belle, James, Robert, David and Jane. All of this family of children grew to maturity, but none of then excepting James emigrated from their na- tive land.

James Storms followed the trade chosen by liis father, after passing the school age, and immi- grated to America when fifty-one years old, in the year 1857. With him came six of his family of eiglit children. John L., the oldest of these,

came over to America three years before his father, and Peter came over two years later than John L. Storms. Both reside in Chicago at the present writing. The six who came with the father are: Margaret, Jane, Isabella, Annie, Robena and Alexander. The last-named died when still an infant.

Mr. Storms located in Lockport, Illinois, and immediately entered into the sale of shoes. He remained in this locality seven years, being very successful. He then removed his family to Chicago and erected a residence at No. 7327 Cot- tage Grove Avenue. This house still stands, and Mr. Storms has since this time resided in the same vicinity. He purchased ten acres of land in the locality and in association with his sons, John L. and Peter Storms, and son-in-law, Edwin Johnson, platted and sold lots as property be- came more valuable with the growth of the city in population. Mr. Storms was married in early life to Miss Margaret Brown, a native of the same section as himself, and was one year his senior. She died June 22 of the year 1882. Of the chil- dren of this couple, Margaret married A. E. Johnson and survives her husband, residing in Grand Crossing. Jane married Alexander Sy- mons and lives at No. 7410 Langley Avenue. Isa- bella is now Mrs. A. E. Field; and Annie married

638

J. H. RIPLEY.

John Russell and lives in South Bend, Washing- ton. Robena married M. F. Mogg and resides at No. 4358 Berkley Avenue, Chicago.

Mr. Storms is not a political agitator nor a seeker after public office, but gives his political allegiance to the Republican party. He is a valu- able and influential member of the Presbyterian Church, with which he has been affiliated since childhood. He is a man of high principle, ready

judgment, and his influence is always exerted in the cause of right. Of him the worthy poor never seek aid in vain and his advice is given cheerfully to those who ask. He comes of a sturdy nation and the long lives of his ancestors and direct relatives testify to the value of the temperate habits boasted of for him by his many friends. He is a pleasant, genial gentleman, with whom it is a privilege to converse.

JOHN H. RIPLEY.

OHN HENRY RIPLEY. Of the people of to-day who are unsuccessful in their life work, how many are there that owe their fail- ure to the fact that they did not understand what their true vocation should have been. Many more follow the proper occupation suited to their abilities but do not strive enough to perfect themselves in this particular line and form another class of failures, which is the mnost to be despised of either. But among those who are wise enough to become proficient in his calling after choosing the proper occupation, is John Henry Ripley. He is to-day one of the most prominent and suc- cessful of builders and contractors in the south- ern portion of the city of Chicago.

He was born May 3, 1857, in Bradford, York- shire, England. His parents were James and Louise (Wilkeson) Ripley, and they located in Chicago thirty years ago, in 1868. Their chil- dren were named as follows: Margaret, Thomas (now deceased), John Henry and Herbert, who is a contractor and resides at No. 3746 Caluniet Avenue.

At the age of twenty-five years J. H. Rip- ley began contracting for himself and located at No. 3160 Prairie Avenue. He has continued contracting since that time and has been in the same section fifteen years. He is located with

his work in Brookline and Park Manor. Of ill1- portant contracts he has made sub-divisions, among which is that of Walter S. Dray. He has had all the work of Park Manor, and did the excavating on the Pullman Building. He has also contracted for much other important work and has made a decided success in this portion of the city.

Mr. Ripley was married September 27, 1880, to Miss Abbie Adelia, daughter of John Michael and Ann Eliza (King) Beutelle. Mrs. Ripley was born October 16, 1859, near Long Branch, New Jersey. She came to Chicago October 23, 1871. Her father resides in Winchester, Vir- ginia, and is eighty years of age. He conducts a vinegar factory. His wife is seventy years old and their children were named: Martin Luther, Hoss Melancthon, Merebith Christina, Emelius Marks, Abigail Adelia and Margaret Matilda.

Mr. and Mrs. Ripley are the parents of one child, Thomas Joseph Newton, born May 27, 1882. Mr. Ripley is not a seeker after public favor in the form of office, but upholds the prin- ciples of the Republican party. He is connected with Aldine Lodge, No. 119, Knights of Pythias. The Beutelle branch of Mrs. Ripley's ancestors are of French extraction, and the King family is English-American.

PHILIPP STEINMUELLER

(From Photo by W. J. ROOT).

639

PHILIPP STEINMUELLER.

HILIPP STEINMUELLER, who is deputy factory inspector for the state of Illinois, is a pioneer of 1852, and a man of prominence. He was born September 10, 1832, in the village of Heuchelheim, near Giessen, Hessen-Darmsdat, Germany, and is a son of Philipp and Katharine Steinmueller, natives of the same locality.

Philipp Steinmueller, senior, was the father of five daughters and three sons, namely: Jacob, of No. 225 Dayton Street; Philipp; Katharine, wife of Jacob Kroeck, of No. 223 Dayton Street; Mary, who returned to Germany and died there; Elizabeth, deceased, widow of Louis Rinn; Anna Margarita, widow of Louis Kroeck and lives in Chicago; Louis, of No. 343 Hudson Avenue; and Anna, now Mrs. Bauman, of Decatur, Illinois. The father died in 1887, at the age of eighty-six years and six months and the mother in 1883, at the age of seventy-seven years and six months.

Philipp Steinmueller, junior, of this notice after being educated in the public schools of liis native village, worked with his father at the mason's trade until he emigrated. On April 27, 1852, he left his home and went to Meinz, on the Rhine, from there to Rotterdam, from which place he traveled to Hull and on to Liverpool, England. There he took passage for America, on the sailing ship "Argo," May 6, landing in New York June 17. Two days later he pur- chased tickets to Chicago. On reaching Buffalo lie was refused passage further and he was forced to pay for his transportation the second time. He reached Chicago June 30. He had a relation living in Evanston and lie walked to liis liome.

He found employment with Michael Weber, near Rose Hill. When he arrived in Chicago he had three cents in his possession and was four dollars in debt. He at first worked for six dollars per month, later being allowed nine dollars per month. In the fall of the year that he came to Chicago he worked for Page & Warner and carried mortar to build the first court house. Having a knowledge of plastering he was soon promoted to a better position and his wages in- creased. After working for wages a few years he began, in 1857, to conduct a business on his own account. He continued in this capacity until 1860. In 1862 he was employed in the postoffice until 1867. He resigned in 1868 and accepted a position on the Board of Public Works, which he occupied two years. In 1869 lie re- turned to the postoffice and remained one year. He subsequently purchased a business on the South Side and was burned out in 1871, when he lost his residence on Goethe Street. He erected a building on Lincoln Street, which he later sold, and started a catering establishment and grocery store on Sedgwick Street. In 1873 he sold this and entered the Recorder's office and was employed there during 1875 and 1876.

Mr. Steinmueller then purchased a grocery store and after six months again sold out. He spent two years in Texas, returning in 1878. He established a restaurant and catering establislı- ment at No. 8 South Clark Street and six months later sold out and removed to No. 45 North Clark Street. He remained at this location until 1885. He retired for one year, when he resumed his former business at the corner of Wells Street

640

T. A. NOBLE, M. D.

and Chicago Avenue. He continued there until Lodge No. 557, Ancient Free and Accepted May 1, 1891. The summer of this year he visited Europe with his wife, returning for a short time to his native place and thoroughly enjoying the trip. On the election of Governor Tanner he was appointed to his present position, receiving his commission May 10, 1897. He has taken a lively interest in the affairs of the Re- publican party and at one time was supervisor of the North Town. He has also attended many state conventions.

Mr. Steinmueller is a member of Lessing

Masons. He is also connected with Corinthian Chapter No. 69, Royal Arch Masons. He was married September 13, 1875, to Miss Erstina Bernhart. They have no children. Mrs. Stein- mueller's niece, Miss Martha Grebe, has been a member of the household since she was seven years of age and receives the same kindly treat- ment that she would if their own daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Steinmueller are members of the con- gregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, located near their home.

THOMAS A. NOBLE, M. D.

HOMAS A. NOBLE, M. D., was born near Toronto, Canada, and reared in the village of Maple, Ontario. He received the common and high school education of his home. His father was a merchant, but the son early de- cided to enter upon the medical profession, and graduated from the Toronto University of Medi- cine with the class of 1888, receiving the medi- cal degree. Not satisfied, he determined to sup- plement this course with further studies in that celebrated institution, the medical department of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, where he completed the post-graduate course.

His first field of practice was as assistant to a physician at New Cumnock, Ayrshire, Scotland. The practice here was that in and about a large coal mining community, and cases in the mines afforded him an extensive surgical practice, in addition to his general practice. January 1, 1892, lie located at Harvey, thinking only that he would remain during the World's Fair. A handsome practice at once came to him and by the close of the Fair his business had assumed such proportions that he felt the sacrifice would be too great if he removed to other regions. In

every respect his relations to the people of Harvey have been so pleasant and so many warm friends have been made that the ties of both busi- ness and friendship are constantly growing stronger.

Dr. Noble stands high in the esteem of those of the medical profession and is a member of the Association of Railway Surgeons. He is the local surgeon of both the Grand Trunk and the Illi- nois Central Railroads. While enjoying a wide and lucrative practice, the doctor is closely identi- fied with the people in many social and public respects, being interested in every move that tends to the advancement of the community. He is a Republican, though not identified with official position, preferring to refrain from acquir- ing a reputation as a politician.

He is a Free Mason, a Knight of Pythias, a member of the Royal Arcanum, Royal League, Home Forum Benefit Order and Fraternal Tri- bunes. No man stands higher in the estimation of the citizens, every one according him the palm of being a royal good fellow. A close student of his profession, he keeps abreast of modern investigation and medical thought, and while he

641

AUGUST STEINER.

is not given to display of knowledge, his diag- nosis of cases is generally accepted by his medi- cal brethren, with all of whom he is courteous and for whom he has but words of commenda-

tion. Dr. Noble has not as yet taken to him- self a permanent companion, but it is not for lack of mutual admiration between himself and the opposite sex.

AUGUST STEINER.

A UGUST STEINER. The world owes a great debt of gratitude to its few men whose application to the development of an idea, under the most adverse circumstances, has finally contributed to the material progress, thus adding to the sum of human happiness and enlarging the wealth of the world. Such a man is he whose life we are attempting to review. Naturally of a mechanical turn of mind, at an early age he be- gan to develop that faculty and served a regular training in the shops of his native country Wurtemberg, Germany, where he was born April 15, 1832.

I11 1854 he came to America, settling in Thornton Station, now Homewood. He found employment in Scovell's Locomotive Works at Chicago, and for some years worked in similar shops through various western states and territo- ries. In 1859 he started at Homewood, a black- smith, wagon, and plow shop, and soon built up a large and lucrative business. His plows proved so satisfactory to the farmers that their manufact- ure grew to be an important industry, and they were widely and favorably known.

In 1880 he purchased the flouring mill at Homewood, which he overhauled, converting it into a modern roller-process mill, of seventy five barrel capacity. He continues to operate this property, but at the same time his inventive brain has been busy along other lines. A prac- tical farmer, he well knew the labor involved in the harvesting of the immense corn crop of this country and knew that no one machine would

contribute so much to the saving of labor as one that would harvest the crop, dispensing with the slow and laborious process of hand husking. Accordingly, after repeated attempts and failures, he produced a small hand husking machine, which he had patented and which, intended to fasten to the side of a wagon, proved a success, but it went only part way. He was constantly experimenting, making, however, but slow prog- ress, to produce a horse-power machine. Finally, after years of trial and experiment, in- volving great expense and disappointment, in 1891 he succeeded in more nearly realizing his ambition, and knew that final success was in his grasp. The invention, however, demanded many changes and further improvement, and it was five years before he produced the machine that he knew would do the intended work.

In 1897 he placed several machines on the market and these were eagerly bought by large farmers, who had looked and hoped for years for a machine that would perform this tedious and laborious farm work. Credentials from these en- thusiastic farmers speak in no uncertain terms of the success achieved and testify to the value of the machine and the great boon that has been1 conferred upon the agriculturist. The machine takes up a row of corn, strips off the ear, which is then denuded of the husk and elevated to a wagon which is alongside. The stalks are left in the field and in much better condition for food for the stock than when the corn is husked by hand. The machine has a capacity of twelve acres

642

C. M. BOBERG.

per day, and facilities for its manufacture on a large scale are completed and it will come into extensive use on the large corn growing farms of the West. Mr. Steiner has not been alone in ex- perimenting along this line. Many inventors have turned their genius in this direction and several large manufacturers of harvesting machin- ery have used sometimes questionable efforts to secure the principle used by Mr. Steiner, and have even infringed upon his patents in their anxiety to place a machine on the market. While the above mechanism is the crowning piece of Mr. Steiner's inventive faculties, he has pro- duced other valuable patents, one being the machine for tying wire used in bailing, boxing and so forth. This he sold to his profit, to the Washburn-Moen Company, who have put it into extensive use.

A careful investor and manager of business in-

terest, Mr. Steiner has accumulated a handsonie property and owns valuable farm lands, some of which he operates. In many respects he stands as one of the influential and progressive citizens of Homewood. He is not an aspirant for public honor, though his friends have often sought his services in connection with direction of the schools, trustee of the township or highway commissioner.

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Album of genealogy and biograghy, Cook County, Illinois, 10th ed., Part 93

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