Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 30

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : La Salle Book Co.
Number of Pages: 908

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for two years. During his term of service the Franco-Prussian War occurred, and he saw some of the most arduous service in that hard-fought and terrible struggle. He was present at the victories of Sedan, Orleans and Paris. In follow- ing the army of McMahon with "Unser Fritz" into Sedan, he spent twenty-one hours in the sad- dle each day for three days, and he and many other soldiers were so blistered by hard riding that the blood from their mutilated limbs ran into their boots, and the scars of their wounds yet remain.

In March, 1871, at the close of the war, his military service being ended, Mr. Sixt came to the United States, landing at New York on the 2Ist of April. He then proceeded to Milwaukee, where he entered St. Francis' College. Among his instructors were Rev. Mr. Salzmann, D. D., Rector; Archbishop Katzer, Professor of Dogmas and Philosophy; Reverend (now Monseignor) Zeininger, teacher of Philosophy and Chemistry; Rev. Joseph Reiner, now rector of St. Francis and Professor of Modern Languages; and Rev. Mr. Moppethorst, rector and Professor of Moral The- ology and Common Law. Our subject was gradu- ated in 1876, and on the 10th of June of that year was ordained by Rt .- Rev. Bishop Folly, D. D., Bishop of Chicago. Soon after he became assistant to the Rev. Patrick Riordan, rector of St. James' Church, of Chicago, now Archbishop of San Fran- cisco, remaining six months, and then taking a

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similar place with Rev. Ferdinand Kalvelage, of St. Francis' Church, where lie remained two years longer. He was then transferred to Lockport, Illi- nois, where he took charge of St. Joseph's Church, with two missions, Gooding's Grove and Mokena, attached. This work occupied his time and at- tention for the next six years.

On the Ist of April, 1884, Father Sixt was transferred to Lemont, since which time he has been rector in charge of St. Alphonsus' Church. At his coming, he found the financial affairs of the parish in a very bad condition, two-thirds of the church property sold for taxes, and the parish about to dissolve. Father Sixt is a positive man,

and he took hold of the spiritual and temporal affairs with a firm hand and brought together the members of the church, collected money, paid off the indebtedness, redeemed the property, and re- paired the buildings, spending upwards of $10,000 in that way. He put everything in a prosperous condition, and the people of his parish are now among the most happy and contented. He was the man for the place, and by precept and exam- ple has shown his people how to succeed, and they follow his teachings to a very great de- gree, for his influence has been and still is great among his parishioners, many of whom he has helped to buy homes.

AARON W. BURNSIDE, M. D.

A 8

ARON WALLACE BURNSIDE, M. D. The retrospect of a well-spent life, wliose chief element has been one of usefulness to diseased and suffering humanity, is a thing that any man would contemplate with satisfaction. The man who has lived such a life, coupled with the elements of honesty, uprightness and kind- ness of heart, is loved and honored by his fellow- men. Such a man is Dr Burnside, the subject of this sketch.

The Empire State, which has contributed so many valuable citizens to the West, is the place of his nativity. He was born March 21, 1829, at Wheeler, Steuben County. His ancestors were of the famous Wallace family, and were known as the Wallaces of the Burnside (i. e., Brookside) from the place of their residence in Scotland, and

in later years adopted Burnside as a surname, but retained Wallace as a Christian name in most cases. Three brothers of this family came to America in an early day and settled in New York and New Jersey, and from them sprung a nu- merous progeny, numbers of whom have located in many States of the Union, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The grandfather of Dr. Burnside married at an early age, and with his brave young wife inade his way from Albany to Otsego County, New York, part of the way following a bridle-path through the wilderness, and settled in the forest, where he had purchased land. He erected a sawmill, later built others, and being a man of great energy and endurance, by hard work and economy succeeded far beyond his ex- pectations. He died when fifty-six years of age,

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A. W. BURNSIDE.

having been one of the wealthiest men in that section of the State.

His son John, the father of Dr. Burnside, was a resident of Steuben County, and was exten- sively engaged in the manufacture of stage coaches, which were widely known for their ex- cellence, and were used over a large territory. He married Ann Eliza Teller, daughter of James and Lucretia (Brown) Teller, who was descended on the maternal side from Anneke Jans, the granddaughter of William IV. of Holland, who has become celebrated in and out of the courts of law as the owner of the immensely valuable Trinity Church property of New York, over which almost endless litigation has arisen.

Aaron W. Burnside is one of a family of seven children, and accompanied his parents to near Bucyrus, Ohio, where they settled in 1842. His home was on a farm until he attained his ma- jority, and in the work he performed he found health and strength, and his surroundings were such that he grew to manhood in the community where manliness and morality were valued, and his training in those matters was what it should have been, as his after life has shown. The common schools gave him his education in the fundamental branches. At the age of twenty-one he entered the Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, where he spent two profitable years, and then, having decided to adopt the practice of medicine for his life work, he matriculated at the Eclectic Medical College, of Cincinnati, from which he was graduated in 1854. He at once engaged in practice in that city, and enjoyed three years of success. He then inigrated west- ward and settled at Belvidere, Boone County, Illinois, where for many years he was a leading physician and did a large practice.

In 1881, on account of ill health, caused by overwork and the great amount of driving inci- dent to a large country practice, he removed to Chicago. Here his ability as a physician was speedily recognized, and he was soon possessed of a large practice. In the year 1882, Dr. Burn- sìde was appointed on the medical staff of the homeopathic department of the Cook County

Hospital, and later becoming President of this body served in that capacity for several years, and then terminated his relation therewith by resignation. The only other public position the Doctor has filled is that of Examining Surgeon of Pensions, which he held for fourteen years, while residing in Boone County. During his in- cumbency of that position he examined many hundreds of applicants for pensions and never had one returned for re-examination.

Dr. Burnside married Mary Ann Leslie, daughter of John Leslie, of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1854. One son was born to them in 1857, John L. Burnside, for many years connected with the firm of King Bros., furnishing goods.

Dr. Burnside was again married, October 30, 1864, this time to Margaret E. Fuller, daughter of Judge Lucius and Candice (Newell) Fuller, of Belvidere, Ill., and sister of Allen C. Fuller, Ad- jutant-General of the State of Illinois during the War of the Rebellion. By this marriage one child was born, Vincent Wallace, who is connect- ed in business with the National Printing and Engraving Company.

Dr. Burnside became a member of the Masonic Order in 1856, and has repeatedly held the posi- tions of Master of the Blue Lodge, and High Priest of the Chapter, having been a Thirty- second Degree Mason since April 29, 1869. He has been a life-long Republican, but has never been active in politics, nor held a political office. In 1857 he became a member of the Illinois Homeo- pathic Medical Association, and twenty-five years ago of the American Institute of Homeopathy. As has been said above, Dr. Burnside has never sought office or political preferment. His life has been devoted to the discharge of his duties as a physician to his fellowmen, and in this he has been successful, and in his success he has been charitable, as is attested by thousands of uncol- lected bills for inedical attendance upon the poor and distressed. His life shows him to be a credit to the illustrious family from which he springs, and to his kinsman, the late Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside.

1 ARY THE UNIVERSI. 'OF ILL! OK

JOHN A. HUTCHINGS.

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J. A. HUTCHINGS.

JOHN A. HUTCHINGS.

OHN ALEXANDER HUTCHINGS, of Oak Glen, is numbered among the boys in blue who during the late war valiantly aided in the defense of the Union. He is recognized as one of the inost loyal and patriotic citizens of this community, as well as one of the leading business men. For more than a quarter of a century he has been prominently connected with the com- mercial interests of this place and is now success- fully engaged in the manufacture of tile.

Mr. Hutchings is a native of Somerset, Eng- land, born March 14, 1838, and is a son of James Young and Sarah Jane (Linden) Hutchings. His father was born in Somerset, in the year 1809, and was a wheelwright by trade. His moth- er was born January 18, 1801, at Bridgewater, London, and was a daughter of Joseph Linden, a sea-captain. In 1838 James Y. Hutchings, leav- ing his family behind him, sailed from the land of his birth to the New World, and after a voyage of one month found himself on American soil. He landed at New York, and after looking about him for a time was so well pleased with the country that he sent for his family, who joined him the following year. I11 1843, he followed the " Star of Empire" westward and took up his residence in Northfield Township, Cook County, Illinois. The journey was made by canal to Buffalo and thence to Chicago by way of the Lakes. Shortly before reaching their destination they encountered a heavy gale, which drove them back to Mackinaw and made the time of their trip one month. In 1847 Mr. Hutchings purchased one hundred and twen- ty acres of land, for which he paid $7.50 per acre. A few years afterwards the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company was induced to build its depot at Oak Glen on the Hutchings

farm, and this land was subdivided and a part of the village has been built thereon.

Our subject is the fourth in the family of six children. The eldest daughter died in infancy. Henry Joseph is a miller living in Oak Glen. Frederick James is now deceased. John A. is the next younger. William L. is a farmer of Oak Glen. Sarah Jane is the wife of E. F. Conner, of Albert Lea, Minnesota.

It was during the infancy of John A. Hutch- ings that he was brought by his mother to Amer- ica, and upon the old home farm in Northfield Township the days of his boyhood and youth were passed. On the 3d of August, 1861, when rebellion threatened the destruction of the Union, he volunteered his services in defense of his coun- try, and was assigned to Company F, Thirty- ninth Illinois Infantry-the celebrated "Yates Phalanx." His captain was Amasa Kennicott, and he was under Cols. O. L. Light, Thomas O. Osborn and O. L. Mann. He faithfully and valiantly served until November 28, 1865, when, the war having ended, he was honorably dis- charged. At Weir Bottom Church, Virginia, lie was twice wounded in one minute. On all nation- al holidays he demonstrates his love for "Old Glory " and the nation he defended by unfurling to the breezes the largest flag in Northfield Town- ship.

On the 9th of December, 1869, Mr. Hutchings was married to Miss Amelia J. Whitney, who was born at Diamond Lake, Lake County, Illi- nois, March 17, 1852. Mrs. Hutchings is a dangh- ter of David Bagley and Elizabeth (Hicks) Whit- ney. Mr. Whitney was born in Topsham, Orange County, Vermont, October 1, 1810, but most of his boyhood was spent in Dalton, Coos County,

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JOHN JENKINS.

New Hampshire, where his ancestors had lived for several generations and where some of their descendants still reside. His mother's maiden name was Andrews. Her family were early set- tlers of Orange County, Vermont.

In 1835, Mr. Whitney came to Illinois, first lo- cating at Joliet. A few years later he removed to Lake County, Illinois, becoming one of the first settlers of that county, where he owned a valuable farm. His death occurred March 26, 1886.

Mrs. Elizabeth Whitney was born in England, and came to America with her parents when sev- enteen years of age. Her father, John Hicks, was an early settler at Joliet, but afterwards re- moved to Lake County, Illinois, where the bal- ance of his days were spent. Mrs. Elizabeth Whitney died at Diamond Lake, Illinois, Janu- ary 31, 1856.

Mr. and Mrs. Hutchings have three children: Oliver A., who was born September 29, 1870, and is a live-stock dealer of Kansas; Elsie Ada, who was born May 8, 1875, and is the wife of Philip A. Kennicott, a promising young phy-

sician, who is practicing his chosen profession in Oak Glen; and Lillian Minerva, who was born November 14, 1884, and is yet with her parents. Mr. Hutchings and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Oak Glen. In politics he was a Republican until the organization of the Prohibition party, when he joined its ranks. Socially he is a member of Vesuvius Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Wheeling.

In his business dealings Mr. Hutchings has met with success. For ten years he was an engineer, and in 1866 he and his brothers put into a grist and saw mill the first steam power in Northfield Township. For eleven years he was a success- ful grocer, and is now engaged in the manufacture of tile. This is one of the leading industries of the town, and his constantly increasing business yields to him a good income. Mr. Hutchings is a gentleman of more than ordinary intelligence, and his friendly and courteous manner makes him at home in all society and wins him the esteem and confidence of those with whom he has been brought in contact.

JOHN JENKINS.

OHN JENKINS, "who owns and operates forty acres of rich and valuable land on sec- tion 5, Jefferson Township, but now resides in Forest Glen, where he has recently erected a beau- tiful home, claims Wales as the land of his birth, which occurred in Carmarthen County, on the 8th of February, 1818. His father, Thomas Jen- kins, was a native of the same locality, and was a farmer by occupation. In 1834 he crossed the briny deep to Canada, taking up his residence in Huron County. Six years later he was drowned in the Maitland River.

John Jenkins is the only surviving member in

a family of five children. He came from Canada to Chicago in the summer of 1843, and worked in the city until the following winter, when he went to the town of Jefferson, and was engaged in tak- ing out ship timber, being employed by George Allen. When that work was completed lie bought of B. W. Ogden the timber on a five-acre tract of land, and began chopping cordwood and making staves. Thus he made his start in life. Saving his money, he at length was enabled to enter eighty acres of Government land on section 8, Jefferson Township, where Gladstone Park now stands. At that time many would claim land to

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which they had no title, and when Mr. Jenkins secured his farm he was warned not to do so, be- ing told that he would never live to enjoy it; but the threat did not terrify hin, and he replied that he expected to improve his land, and that he was able to take care of himself. On one oc- casion he was attacked, and had quite a scuffle with one of the settlers, during which his team got away from him; but he came off victorious in the end, and his property was not wrested from him. He can relate many incidents of pioneer life, and was prominently identified with the de- velopment of the community. He and Mr. Bar- num, of Chicago, did the first grading on Mil- waukee Avenue. While he was working in the timber, a young man by the name of William West approached him, and proposed that they together keep bachelors' hall. This they agreed to do. Early next day Mr. West started for Chicago with a load of wood, and Mr. Jenkins concluded in his absence to clean the house. While doing this he found a barrel of cabbage which he thought had spoiled, and threw it into

a hole and covered it over, "so as not to smell the rotten stuff." When Mr. West returned he found that his barrel of sauerkraut had been thrown away, and was anything but pleased with Mr. Jenkins as a housekeeper.

In 1883 Mr. Jenkins was united in marriage with Elizabeth Ann Curgenven, daughter of John Curgenven, a farmer of Cornwall, England. They are both members of the Congregational Church. By a former marriage Mr. Jenkins had two children: Elizabeth, wife of William Irwin, a real-estate and insurance agent of Chicago; and Thomas W., who died, leaving a son, John J., who is now attending a business college in Chicago. Mr. Jenkins resided upon his farm un- til 1894, when he removed to his beautiful home in Forest Glen. By his well-directed efforts in former years, he acquired a handsome compe- tency, which supplies him with all the comforts of life, and enables him to lay aside business cares, resting in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.

JUDGE GEORGE DRIGGS.

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UDGE GEORGE DRIGGS was born at Mount Morris, New York, May 18, 1846, and was a son of Elias and Sarah (Rowell) Driggs. His father was a tinner and a man of moderate means. When he had reached the age of seven, both his parents died, leaving him in charge of his brother, Benjamin P. Driggs, who sent him to Fairlee, Vermont, where he began work on a farm. There he remained until lie was thirteen years old, performing the heavy, weari- some labor incident to New England farming, working early and late during the greater part of the year, and attending school in the winter. But he was a hardy boy and ambitious, and did not

allow himself to be discouraged by his condition or environment, but struggled manfully to better his circumstances and get an education-and succeeded.

Mr. Driggs attended Oxford Academy, in New Hampshire, for some time, and finally decided to give up farming. With this end in view, he went to Boston, expecting easily to obtain a position in a store, but he found it a seeming impossibility, and became a newsboy. He had determined to be in- dependent, and it was his ambition to be a law- yer. To that end he sought any honorable em- ployment that seemed to promise an opportunity for study or to provide the means for carrying out

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GEORGE DRIGGS.

his plans. It was not an easy thing for this coun- try boy, unused to city ways, to maintain him- self in such surroundings; but, with the energy that permeated his whole career, he did it, and did it well. In after years, speaking of that time in his life, he said: "I did not make much money, but I had my eyes opened to the intensity of busi- ness competition, and I think I learned most of the tricks of the newsboy's trade." His experi- ence in this line was brief, however, lasting only four or five months, after which the future jurist returned to his home.

Shortly after this he enlisted for service in the War of the Rebellion, but his brother objected to this on account of his youth, and secured his re- lease. The young man was, however, determined to do what seemed to him to be his duty to his country, and it was with a great deal of difficulty that the brother got him away from the United States authorities after a second enlistment. In after life Judge Driggs manifested in many ways the same spirit of patriotism, and was the warm friend of the veteran soldier and advocate of his claims to recognition on the part of the country. In consideration of these facts he was made an honorary member of the Union Veterans' League of Chicago. For a while he acted as clerk in a village store, but in 1865 he met the present Sen- ator from Vermont, Justin S. Morrill, and through him secured a position in the treasury at Wash- ington, with a view to the opportunity for study which that connection offered, and entered the Columbia University Law School.

In 1867 Mr. Driggs was graduated, and then endeavored to find a location in which to settle down to his legal work; but neither New York nor Washington suited him, and he started west. Columbus, Ohio, proved attractive to him, and in 1871 he made that place his home. Judge J. R. Swan, a distinguished jurist, took the young law- yer into his office, and all went favorably from that time forward. A short time later he entered the office of Hugh J. Jewett, President of the "Panhandle" Railroad, and later President of the "Erie," and here gained a practical knowledge and experience in railroad law. In 1876 he went to Pittsburgh, as assistant counsel of the Penn-

sylvania Railroad Company, and remained there in that capacity until 1881, when he moved to Chicago. Here lie entered into a law partnership with George Willard, also of the Pennsylvania Railroad staff, and continued to act as solicitor for that line until a short time before his eleva- tion to the Bench.

This connection was dissolved in 1887, when Mr. Driggs became a member of the firm of Tenney, Driggs & Coffeen. This association was of necessity of short duration, for with Judge Williamson's death, in 1888, came the almost unanimous demand that Mr. Driggs succeed him on the Circuit Bench. His election was not op- posed. He went upon the Bench immediately on his election, and in June, 1890, was re-elected without opposition for a term of six years, but in the midst of his bright career of usefulness he was removed by death, suddenly and unexpect- edly. He died of quinsy, after an illness of only five days, March 19, 1892. His funeral services were held at the First Presbyterian Church of Hyde Park, where fifteen hundred persons at- tended, among them three hundred and fifty members of the Bar and every Judge of the Cir- cuit and Superior Courts and the jurists upon the Probate and County Benches.

On the 22d of February, 1872, George Driggs and Miss Helen Griffing, of Washington, D. C., were married. The lady was born in Litchfield, Ohio, and is a talented member of an old colonial family of prominence in Connecticut. Her father, Charles Griffing, was born in New London. Her mother, Josephine Sophia (White) Griffing, was a direct descendant of Peregrine White, the first child born in Plymouth Colony. Both her parents were ardent Abolitionists, and severed their rela- tions with the Methodist Church on account of their radical views on the slavery question. They were persons of much more than ordinary ability, and rendered all possible aid to the Underground Railroad, so well known before the war. Among their friends and associates were William Lloyd Garrison, Wendell Phillips and Mrs. Lucy Stone Blackwell. Mrs. Griffing originated the idea of the Freedman's Bureau, and, as a Government official, directed the work of caring for the desti-

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tute negroes who thronged Washington after the war, having her residence there, and holding that position from 1865 until 1872. Judge Driggs left two children, a son and daughter, Herbert and Josephine.

What Judge Driggs was, and the esteem in which he was held by his fellow-citizens, is best told in the words of those who knew him best. Judge Oliver H. Horton said of his late associate: "He was my warm personal friend before he went on the Bench. He was a man who drew others to him. He had a genial manner and it was from the heart; he was a remarkably kind-hearted man. He was a gentleman. His was a well- rounded character. He was an able public speaker. His presence was pleasing. His eye spoke before he had opened his mouth-there are some men who have the gift of conveying an idea . to an audience without speaking. He had a most pleasing voice and the faculty of expressing him- self in full, round, felicitous phrases. His deatlı was a terrible shock to all his associates, and it was so unexpected by his wife that it would hardly have been a greater shock if he had died from a pistol shot."

M. L. Coffeen, once his law partner, said: "He was a thorough trial lawyer, a magnificent pleader, and a man who, in the trial of a jury case, exer- cised a magnetic influence. His instincts were based upon microscopical integrity in every in- stance. He loved the right, the true and the good with ardor. He was by all means the most popular man we ever had on the Bench. In social life he was equally loved and admired. He was constantly sought for to attend dinners and ban- quets. He was a true admirer of music and art, and a man of the finest esthetic sensibility. His affection for his family was tender and charming. His geniality was unvarying. Never was there a more approachable man; never was there a kindlier spirit. There was never a breath of suspicion blown upon his character, for his face was a living refutation of calumny, of aspersion, of suspicion. Too often it is a fact that the beauty of a man's character becomes apparent only when he lies cold in death; but his character was known and loved all his life."

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 30

Author: Publication date: 1900 Publisher: Chicago : La Salle Book Co. Number of Pages: 908

Author:
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago : La Salle Book Co.
Number of Pages: 908