Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 37

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

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He was ever keenly alive to the great questions which affected the public welfare. For years identified with the progress of the city, he de- veloped a personality that attracted public atten-

tion and, in April, 1889, President Harrison, in recognition of his patriotism and devotion to his country, appointed him postmaster of Chicago. He was retained by President Cleveland until January 1, 1895, when Colonel Sexton resigned. He was postmaster of Chicago at a time when ability of the highest order was essential, for dur- ing no time in the history of thecity was so much mail matter handled as during the year of the World's Fair, 1893. He evinced remarkable executive ability in his management, and so ably and satisfactorily performed the duties of his of- fice that he received merited recognition from the department at Washington and the grateful thanks of the public at large.

During his short life he filled many positions of public trust. He was a presidential elector in 1884, Lincoln Park commissioner, a colonel in the Illinois National Guard and, at the time of his death, was president of the Board of Trustees of the Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Quincy. He was a member of the military order of the Loyal Legion, the society of the Army of the Tennessee, Columbia Post No. 706, G. A. R., and a Royal Arch Mason. His greatest pleasure in life was to mingle with his comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic and "to tell again the thrilling stories of the war." He was always an earnest worker in the cause of the old soldiers and considered no sacrifice too great for their wel- fare. That he was loved by them in return and that his efforts in their behalf were appreciated was manifested by his election as post commander and department commander of the state of Illi- nois, and as a crowning glory he received the great honor of having been almost unanimously elected commander in chief at the National En- campment held at Cincinnati in the fall of 1898. That his life was not spared to complete the year so auspiciously begun, that he did not live to enjoy the companionship of the men lie loved so well until the next encampment, is regretted by thousands of his comrades throughout the nation.

On the 8th of September, 1898, Colonel Sex- ton was appointed by President Mckinley a mem- ber of the War Investigation Commission to ex- amine the conduct of the war department in the

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CHRISTIAN NIELSEN.

contest with Spain. He entered upon the dis- charge of his duties and labored conscientiously and earnestly with the commission and endeared himself to all his associates by his splendid per- sonal qualities and his genial, kindly disposition, proving himself a valuable member of the com- mission. While engaged upon this work he was taken sick, January 10, 1899,at Washington, with la grippe, which developed such serious com- plications that he was removed to the Garfield Memorial Hospital, where, after three weeks of intense suffering, he quietly passed away on Sun- day morning, February 5, 1899, just one month after celebrating his fifty-fifth birthday.

When it became known that he was dead, messages of sympathy and condolence were re- ceived from the President and members of the cabinet, from senators and members of congress and from comrades and officials of the Grand Army of the Republic. On the morning of his death the President, Secretary of War Alger and representatives of the Grand Army and the War Commission sent beautiful floral offerings. A military escort was tendered by the Government, the War Commission and by the Department of the Potomac and District of Columbia, also a

special car to convey the remains to Chicago. Everything that could possibly be done as a last mark of respect and honor, was done by the kind hearted people of Washington. Upon the arrival at Chicago they were met at the depot by the members of the late commander's staff, a delega- tion from the Chicago postoffice, clerks and letter carriers, and from the various organizations of which Colonel Sexton was a member. The fu- neral arrangements were conducted by the Grand Army of the Republic, with most impressive ceremonies, under the auspices of Columbia Post No. 706. Beneath the dome of Memorial Hall in the public library building, the body lay in state for four hours, while thousands of friends and comrades passed in line by the bier and gazed for the last time on the features of their loved commander and friend. At the grave a firing squad from Company E, Seventh Regiment Illi- nois National Guard, fired a volley over the open grave. Beautiful floral tributes were received from representative men and women and from the numerous societies of which he was a mem- ber.

Colonel Sexton was twice happily married and leaves a widow and nine children surviving him.

CHRISTIAN NIELSEN.

HRISTIAN NIELSEN first saw the light of day August 20, 1864, in Jutland, Den- mark, his father, Niels Nielsen, having been boru in the same place, as well as his mother.

He attended the schools of his native place until he reached the age of sixteen years, when, in1 1880, he emigrated to America. His first lo- cation was in northern Michigan, where he found employment at driving a team. In 1886 he came to Chicago. Here he found work by the day, and learned the trade of an iron moulder. This

calling he followed five years, when, with the money which he had earned and saved, he em- barked in the sale of hay and grain on his own account, establishing himself in a small way at the same location which he now occupies. To feed he soon added coal, and since his small be- ginning business has wonderfully prospered.

Gradually, but surely, he has enlarged his un- dertakings, until at present he conducts a flourish- ing livery and undertaking business, as well as his original venture (materially enlarged). His

254

STEPHEN SEXTON.

place of business extends from No. 387 to No. 391 Noble Street, and when he looks back upon the struggles of his youth and early manhood he may well be pardoned a glow of gratification as he reflects that his success has been due to his own enterprise, industry, economy and probity.

In 1893 Mr. Nielsen married Miss Marie Bradolph, a native of Norway. Their union has

been blessed with three children, Christine, Eric and Christian.

Mr. Nielsen is a member of various societies and clubs, as follows: Society Dania, the Danish Brotherhood No. 18; Court Republic No. 1043, Independent Order of Foresters; and the Flour and Feed Association. He is affiliated with the Republican party.

STEPHEN SEXTON.

TEPHEN SEXTON, among the pioneer residents of Chicago, is deserving of especial mention in this volume. His father, Syl- vester Sexton, in whose veins the Scottish blood flowed, was born in County Clare, Ireland, and came to the United States in 1808. He settled at Rochester, New York, where he died in 1810, shortly before the birth of liis son Stephen. The latter was the youngest of eight children. He grew up in Rochester, where he married Ann Gaughan, who was born in County Mayo, Ireland, as were her parents, Thomas and Margaret (Jack- son) Gaughan. The last-named was a relative of President Andrew Jackson, for whom her grandson (see sketch on another page) received his second Christian name. Thomas Gaughan was numbered among the van of Chicago settlers, having located on the site of what is now South Chicago in 1819. He died there in 1827, and his widow survived until 1864, reaching the age of ninety-three years.

Stephen Sexton was a pioneer settler in Cli- cago, coming here early in the year 1834, and locating on the North Side. He was a carpenter by occupation, and became very well known as an expert draughtsman, builder and contractor. One of the first public schoolhouses in Chicago was erected by him. He was an ardent Demo- crat, and took an active part in political move-

ments during the early days. He died April 7, 1861, having been preceded to the other shore eleven days by his wife, who died on the 27th. of March, that year. They had eight sons and four danghters who grew to maturity. Margaret Elizabeth married James E. Cassidy, and also reared twelve children; Thomas S., for many years an employe of the Chicago postoffice, died in December, 1889; Mary Ann married James E. Ennis, and reared nine children, all of whom graduated at the Chicago High School; three died in early childhood, and James A. is the seventh; William H. is a citizen of New Orleans, Louisi- ana; Sarah E. married John Highland, of Chica- go, who was a Sergeant in Colonel Sexton's com- pany of the Seventy-second Illinois Infantry; Henry M. is superintendent of the refrigerator- car service of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway, being the inventor of the cars used; George M. is a resident of Chicago; Eliza married George B. Hopkins, who is superintendent of a western division of the Wells-Fargo Express; Austin O. and Joseph W. are residents of Clica- go, the former being a prominent Democratic pol- itician, who served several years in the City Coun- cil and eight years as a Member of the Illinois Legislature; and Louis N. resides in Liverpool, England. All the daughters are deceased, and seven of the sons are still living.

255

A. B. MCLEAN.

ARCHIBALD B. McLEAN.

A RCHIBALD BRUCE McLEAN. It is a re- markable circumstance that this gentleman, although he has attained the age of over seventy-five years and has spent the greater part of this time either in active business or military service, has never been a witness of an accident. He was born at Stirling, Scotland, a locality teem- ing with romantic interest and historic reminiscen- ces, on the 7th of April, 1820. Both his parents were worthy representatives of the Scotch nation.

His father, Alexander McLean, who was born at Callendar, became a cabinet-maker at Stirling, where his death occurred when Archibald was but three years old. The mother, Elizabeth (Robinson) McLean, was a native of Bannock- burn. After reaching the age of eighty years she came to America, and died at Brooklyn, New York, in 1871, at the venerable age of one hun- dred and one years and two months. She was the youngest of a family of ten children which was conspicuous for the longevity of its members. Her eldest brother, James Robinson, reached the age of one hundred and fifteen years, dying at Glengary, Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander McLean were the parents of seven sons, four of whom still survive. James is a business man of Glasgow, Scotland. Alexander and George are citizens, respectively, of Brooklyn and Albany, New York. John died in Cork, Ireland, after serving fifteen years in the British army. Neal died in a hospital from the effects of wounds re- ceived during the great American Civil War; and Archibald B. is the next in order of birth. Don- ald, the eldest of the family, died in boyhood.

Archibald B. McLean grew to manhood in his native town, and at the age of ten years began to

learn the tailor's trade, an occupation which he has continued ever since, with the exception of the time spent in military service. At the age of seventeen years he entered the British army as a member of the Seventy-first Highland Light In- fantry, which was soon afterward ordered to Can- ada to assist in quelling the rebellion then in progress in that colony. He saw considerable skirmish duty during this expedition, and was stationed most of the time at Montreal or St. John's, Canada.

In 1843 he was discharged from the service of the Crown, and, coming to the United States, lo- cated at Albany, New York, where he worked at his trade for the next two years. At the end of that time he enlisted in the United States navy and embarked on the seventy-four-gun ship "Col- umbus," which sailed from Brooklyn, New York, upon a voyage around the world. While at a Chinese port the crew first heard of the war be- tween the United States and Mexico and received orders to sail for the coast of California. Upon their arrival they patroled that coast until the close of hostilities, when they returned to the Atlantic Coast by way of Cape Horn. The voy- age, which terminated at Norfolk, Virginia, had lasted for thirty-five months, during which time they had sailed sixty-eight thousand miles.

Mr. McLean again went to Albany and opened a tailoring establishment, carrying on business at that place until 1854, when he came to Chicago and engaged in business on Randolph Street. Three years later he removed to Janesville, Wis- consin. Here he carried on a merchant-tailoring establishment until the outbreak of the rebellion, when he was again seized with the spirit of mil-

256

R. N. TRIMINGHAM.

itary enthusiasm. Soon after the fall of Fort Sumter he recruited Company D of the Second Wisconsin Infantry, and, declining a Captain's commission, became the First Lieutenant thereof. He reached the field with his regiment in time to take part in the disastrous battle of Bull Run, and after serving six months resigned his commission and applied for a position in the Ma- rine Corps. Having passed the prescribed age, and the officers not being aware of his past naval experience, his services were declined, and he re- enlisted in Company C, of the Twenty-seventh Wisconsin. He chose the position of color-bearer, and served in that capacity until the close of hos- tilities. Though he was constantly exposed to the fire of the enemy, taking part in many of the bloodiest engagements of the war, Mr. McLean received no wounds and was never in a hospital. After participating in the battles of Fort Donel- son, Pittsburg Landing and Corinth, he took part in General Shield's expedition in Arkansas. This campaign encountered fourteen general en- gagements in twenty-one days, besides meeting a great deal of guerrilla warfare. After the close of the campaign he was sent to Mobile and took part in the siege of that place, which terminated the war.

After peace came he remained one year in Janesville, but in 1866 again located in Chicago,

where he was continuously engaged in merchant tailoring until June, 1894, when he resigned the business to his son, W. S. McLean, who had previously been for some years a partner in the business. During the twenty-nine years' exist- ence of this establishment it has won and retained a valuable patronage and is still in a flourishing condition.

On the 11th of April, 1849, Mr. McLean was married to Margaret Shields, a native of Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland. Four children have been born to them, all of whom are residents of this city. They are: William S., the present successor of his father in business; Archibald, who is also connected with the establishment; George, who has charge of a department in the great wholesale establishment of Marshall Field & Co .; and Isa- bella, now the wife of William L. Melville. Mr. and Mrs. McLean are the proud grandparents of eight children.

For over forty years Mr. McLean has been con- nected with the Masonic order, and although he has been at times a member of other societies, is not identified with any other organization at the present time. He has been a steadfast Repub- lican from the organization of that party, and has ever been a patriotic and public-spirited citizen of the land of his adoption.

RALPH N. TRIMINGHAM.

ALPH N. TRIMINGHAM, Secretary of the Chicago Underwriters' Association, is one of the best known insurance men in the city. He was born in St. John's, Newfoundland, Sep- tember 2, 1838, and is the eldest son of Ralph and Ann (Brine) Trimingham, and a member of one of the oldest Colonial families.

The Trimingham family was founded in Ber- muda by James Trimingham, who emigrated

thither from England during the reign of Charles II. and died there April 1, 1735, The mercan- tile house which he established and conducted there during his lifetime was inherited and en- larged by successive generations of his descen- dants. He was the father of four sons and two daughters. Of these, John, the third son, mar- ried Elizabeth Jones. Francis, the third son of this couple, died in 1813. He inherited the rare

257

R. N. TRIMINGHAM.

commercial instincts of his ancestors, and under his able guidance the business assumed extensive proportions, and branch houses were established in the Barbadoes, St. Vincent, and St. John's, Newfoundland. Several of his sons became partners in the concern, and continued the bnsi- ness for some time after his death. The firm owned a number of vessels and maintained exten- sive trade between the places above mentioned and various ports in Great Britain and South America.

Francis Trimingham married Frances Light- bourn, and they were the parents of eight chil- dren, the youngest of whom was Ralph, father of the subject of this notice. The last-named gen- tleman, who was born at Bermuda in 1801, re- moved while a young man to St. John's, taking charge of the company's interests at that place. He was married there, and abont 1847 removed to Baltimore, Maryland, where the firm of which he was a member also established a mercantile house. Four years later he disposed of his inter- est in the business, and in 1851 removed to St. Vincent, where he turned liis attention to agri- culture and operated a large sugar plantation for the next four years. He then came to Chi- cago, and for a brief period re-engaged in mer- chandising, but soon retired from active business. His death occurred in 1869, at the age of sixty- eight years. His wife survived until Angnst, 1874, departing this life at the age of sixty-three years. She was born in Newfoundland and was a daughter of Robert and Ann Brine. They came from the South of England and settled at St. John's, where Mr. Brine was for many years a prosperous merchant.

Ralph N. Trimingham was educated at private schools, it being the intention of his parents to give him a college education and fit him for the Episcopal ministry. This purpose had to be abandoned, however, and at the age of sixteen years he entered upon liis business career as clerk in a lawyer's office at St. Vincent. His subse- quent occupations have usually been of a clerical order, and he seems to be peculiarly adapted for the accurate, methodical labors which are so es- sential to success in such avocations. For some

time previous to the departure of the family from St. Vincent he was employed as cashier in a dry- goods store, and liis first occupation in Chicago was of a similar nature. A few years after locat- ing here he entered the office of Magill & La- thain, vessel-owners and commission merchants, with whom he remained for some time. He sub- sequently became a bookkeeper for his uncle, William Brine, who was a commission merchant operating upon the Board of Trade.

Since 1866 he has been identified with the fire- underwriting interests of the city. His first con- nection in that line was with the Home Insurance Company of New York, under the management of Gen. A. C. Dncat, with whom he remained for a little over ten years. After leaving the em- ploy of the Home he for a short time became en- gaged in mercantile pursuits, but soon re-entered the business of fire insurance. In 1882 he was elected Secretary of the Underwriters' Exchange, a combination of insurance companies, and when the members of that organization united with those of the Chicago Board of Underwriters in forming the Chicago Fire Underwriters' Associa- tion, an institution organized for a similar pur- pose, lie continned to serve the new concern in the same capacity. In 1894 the last-named cor- poration was succeeded by the Chicago Under- writers' Association. In recognition of his expe- rience and previous services, Mr. Trimingham was elected Secretary of the new association, and the performance of his duties to these successive organizations has absorbed his time and attention since 1885.

On the 16th of April, 1885, he was married to Miss Carrie J., dangliter of Robert G. Goodwillie, an early resident of Chicago. They are the par- ents of two danghters, named, respectively, Eliz- abeth and Anna. For thirty-eight years Mr. Trimingham held membership with the Third Presbyterian Church of Chicago, in which, for seventeen years, he was Elder and Clerk of the

Session. He is now Elder of the First Presby- terian Church at Oak Park, where he lives. He has been identified with the Masonic order for the last twenty years, being a member of Cleve- land Lodge, Washington Chapter and Siloam

258

G. W. BARNARD.

Commandery, Knights Templar, of which he is Past Eminent Commander. His life has been marked by diligent, punctual habits and the con- scientious observance of upright principles. He has witnessed the growth and development of

Chicago for nearly forty years, and during all that time he has spent but little time out of the city, his chief recreation being found in his domestic and social relations.

GILBERT W. BARNARD.

G ILBERT WORDSWORTH BARNARD is well known amid Masonic circles through- out America and Europe, and has a world- wide reputation for sterling character, accommo- dating manners, and devotion to the interests of the order. He was born at Palmyra, Wayne County, New York, June 1, 1834, and is the son of George Washington Barnard, whose death oc- curred previous to the birth of this son. The father of George W. Barnard, whose name was spelled Bernarde, was a Frenchman. Following the noble example of the immortal La Fayette, he came to America to enlist in the cause of free- dom, and upon the termination of the conflict settled in western New York, where he married and became the father of two sons. The elder of these died without issue, and the second lived and died in Wayne County, that state. The lat- ter became the captain of a passenger packet on the Erie Canal, a position of considerable import- ance in his time. His wife, Sabrina Deming, was a native of New York, and now resides in Howard City, Michigan, at the extreme old age of eighty years, her present name being Preston.

Gilbert W. Barnard was reared in the family of his maternal grandfather, David Demming, a na- tive of Connecticut, who removed to Jackson County, Michigan, soon after his grandson be- came a member of his family. The Demming family was founded in America by four brothers, who settled in Connecticut early in the seven- teenth century. The name was originally spelled

Dummund, but by a process of evolution peculiar to foreign names in America, it became Demming, and was contracted by the present generation by the omission of one "m."

The subject of this biography spent the first fifteen years of his life in Jackson County, Mich- igan, whence he came to Chicago and began his business career as clerk in a general store. He afterward engaged in the book and stationery business, which line of trade he carried on for several years, achieving a reputation for upright and honorable dealing, and winning the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens. During the first year of his residence in Chicago he joined the volunteer fire department, and during the next nine or ten years rendered much valuable service to the city.

In October, 1864, he joined the Masonic order and has ever since been actively identified with its interests. He has taken over three hundred degrees known to Masonry, and has filled most of the principal offices in the subordinate and grand lodges. He is at present Past Master of Garden City Lodge; Past High Priest of Cor- rinthian Chapter No. 69, R. A. M .; Past Emi- nent Commander of St. Bernard Commandery No. 35, Knights Templar; Past Commander-in- Chief of Oriental Consistory; Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter; Grand Recorder of the Grand Council and of the Grand Commandery; and Grand Secretary of the Council of Deliberation, S. P. R. S., and other bodies.

1 4RY THE UNIVERSI. . ' OF ILLT Y+C

MANZ

JACOB MANZ

259

JACOB MANZ.

In 1877 he was elected Secretary of the Capit- ular, Cryptic and Chivalric Grand Bodies of the State of Illinois, a position he has ever since filled, and has devoted the best years of his life to the interests of the fraternity, administering to the wants of his brethren, and relieving the needs of their widows and orphans in distress. His sig- nal ability and unrelenting efforts in the perform- ance of his duties have won for him a host of friends and admirers. He has labored untiringly in behalf of the Illinois Masonic Orphans' Home, of which he was the first Secretary, and through his active efforts has contributed much to the up- building of that worthy institution.

His long connection with the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite has placed him in correspondence with all branches of the order in all parts of the world. His commodious quarters in the Masonic Temple are general headquarters for Masonic affairs, and the resort of brethren from every civ- ilized country on the globe. They contain an ample library, and are filled with numerous other articles of use or interest to members of the fra- ternity.

Mr. Barnard was married in 1863, and one child, a daughter, is still living, he having lost three children.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 37

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