Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 91

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

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Marcus A. Farwell was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, July 8, 1827. His parents came thither from New Hampshire. The boy Marcus grew up environed by the wholesome, albeit rus- tic, scenes of his nativity. Most of the time he was at work, and he received but the limited schooling customary in those days. The benefits of a Christian home and an educated self-reliance were all his worldly stock in trade when he set sturdy foot abroad to make his fortune.

At nineteen he bade an affectionate and eternal farewell to boyhood haunts, and entered upon a life work destined to be crowned with exceptional success and happiness. For four years he labored faithfully, early and late, in a country store in the then wilds of Eaton Rapids, Michigan. Thereafter, he made the cross-country trip in a "prairie schooner" to try his luck in pioneer Iowa. That state, fifty years ago, was not by any means the Iowa of to-day. He was soon satisfied that for himself there were better oppor- tunities nearer his old home. In 1851 he set out for Chicago, coming in from Elgin on the old, now historic, Galena & Chicago Union Railway.

His first experiences in our midst were such as usually fall to the lot of a clerk in a wholesale grocery store; and such they continued to be for three years, in the employ of M. D. Gilman, located at No. 153 South Water Street. Thrift and industry bring their rewards. At the end of this period he had saved enough out of his earil- ings to buy an interest in the newly forming firm, M. D. Gilman & Company. January I, 1856, along with W. C. D. Grannis, he was ad- mitted into fuller partnership. His fortunes and abilities expanded rapidly with the pace of the business community of which he was now an in- tegral important factor. Successively he became

a member of the firms of Gilman, Grannis & Far- well, Gilman & Farwell, Grannis & Farwell, and when Mr. Gilman retired in 1867, a new or- ganization became Farwell, Miller & Company, which continued in active operation until 1883.

Following upon the heels of the big fire, Mr. Farwell was the very first one of our merchants to telegraph advices East, "I'll pay everyone I owe one hundred cents on the dollar." Taking up temporary quarters at Michigan Avenue and Twenty-first Street, they built their substantial block of 1874 upon Michigan Avenue near Ran- dolph Street. And here was enjoyed an ever in- creasing era of old prosperities, until his volun- tary retirement from mercantile life to take up with fuller amplitude the development of an en- terprise dearest to his heart, tlie Oakwoods Cemetery.

To the easterly of Cottage Grove Avenue and between Sixty-seventh and Seventy-first Streets, was a handsome quarter-section of land, contain- ing the customary one hundred and sixty acres, which Mr. Farwell had the shrewd foresight to purchase. Revolving in his acute mind the uses to which this acquisition might be profitably put, he said to himself one day, " Let us have here a burial place for the dead which shall be worthy of South Chicago." His plans were henceforth rapidly matured, and in the year 1864 was in- corporated the Oakwoods Cemetery Association. The controlling interest therein was reserved for himself, that he might not be hampered in pursu- ing his noble plans. The controlling interest still rests in those dear ones he has left behind. Mr. Farwell was secretary and treasurer until 1879, and was subsequently president.

Mr. Farwell was an enthusiastic Republican and able politician, and might have made a brill- iant record, had his tastes run in such lines; but he was more thau content with local honors, which were ever and anon attempted to be thrust upon him. In 1879 he was city candidate for treasurer; in 1880 and 1881 he acted as collector for the South Town. He was repeatedly tend- ered the aldermanic office, but invariably refused, ou account of the pressure of business cares.

Personally Mr. Farwell was a typical Yankee,

625

M. A. FARWELL.

of a race which he proudly asserted was the smartest in the wide world. Yet there was nothing of the braggart in his make-up. Univer- sally affable, courteous and popular, he found his worldly walks crowded with admiring friends, and made easy by the assurance of duties cour- ageously performed. He was the first president of the Fox Lake Club, for a period of three years; was a time-tried member of the Union League Club, also a member of Oriental Lodge No. 33, An- cient Free and Accepted Masons. Democratic in his sympathies and habits, a man for the public when matters of weight demanded his attention, he was essentially a domestic person, and found in the well-being and development of those ell- trusted to his paternal solicitude his greatest happiness. For twenty years Mr. Farwell had been au uncomplaining sufferer from the lasting effects of an attack of spinal meningitis. In the spring of 1894 he went South, in hopes of attain- ing at least temporary relief, and the following summer changed to Waukesha, Wisconsin. In June of that year he passed away.

Mrs. Marcus A. Farwell, whose maiden name was Miss Lucia Day Cross, has in her veins some of the best Puritan strains of blood, as de- veloped in stanch old New England, whose principles now, as ever, have continued to domi- nate the policy of our entire country. She was born in the picturesque village (now city) of Montpelier, Vermont. Married February 1, 1860, she came directly to her adopted home; since when, her own and hier family's history has been a conspicuous part of Chicago development. Mrs. Farwell's father, Luther Cross, was descended from a noble English family, whose principal seat was in St. John's Wood, London. The American progenitor was Nathan Cross, who came from England and is found at Dunstable, Massachusetts, about the time of " Lovell's War." September 4, 1724, while collecting turpentine near the Nashua River, he was taken prisoner by the Mohawks. A captive for several months in Canada, he escaped and found his way home through the wilderness, in the spring of 1725. Singularly enough, he found his gun in the tree where he had hidden it on the morning of that

eventful day, months gone, and it is now preserved in the museum of the Nashua Historical Society. Thereabouts he had extensive landed possessions, including a farm on the east side of the Merrimack River, as well as two meadows and an island in the mouth of the Nashua River. The old farm homestead, then in the town of Dunstable, has, as the extensive boundaries have been cut down from time to time, been later in the town of Nottingham, afterwards Nottingham West, finally Hudson of to-day. The exact spot is about a- half mile above Taylor's Falls Bridge. It re- mained in the Cross family for over two centuries. Here, after his return from Canada, Nathan built a house, the cellar of which is still to be seen. He died September 8, 1766.

By his first wife he had an eldest son, Capt. Peter Cross, born September 28, 1729. By his wife, Sarah, daughter of Deacon Henry Hale, of Nottingham West, he had an eldest son, Joseph Cross, born February 17, 1759, who served in the Revolutionary War and resided at Swanzey, New Hampshire.

Joseph's eldest son was Luther Cross, the father of Mrs. Farwell. Born at Keene, New Hampshire, in 1802, Luther obtained a good academic education, after which he taught mathematics and surveying. Later he went to Boston to engage with his uncle Stearns, again removed to Woodstock, Vermont, where he met his wife, Miss Polly May Day; removed thence to Barre, Vermont, to go into partnership with his uncle, Ira Day, an extensive merchant of his time, who owned the famous Boston stage line; and finally, still in partnership, removed to his long honored and honoring residence, Mont- pelier, Vermont. Here he built three fine brick residences, known to-day as the "Fifield," "Page" and "Cross" places. A stanch Whig, he was quite a prominent and successful politician. He was Selectman sixteen years, Sergeant-at- Arms for the same length of service, and a Jus- tice of the Peace for a period of greater duration than any predecessor. Of benevolent disposition and sincerely pious, he was universally esteemed and generally beloved. His death, which oc- curred in 1873, was mourned by all his towns-

626

J. T. REA.

men. He was laid to rest in Green Mountain Cemetery, as peacefully beautiful a last resting- place as one could wish to choose.

Mrs. Farwell's mother, Polly May Day, who died at the remarkable age of ninety-five years, also was descended from a very ancient and noble family. William Day, in the twenty-fourth year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, had a family coat-of-arms confirmed to him by Norroy,

King of Arms. This family is widely distributed, Burke recording eleven coats claimed in different parts of the kingdom. William Day was a son of Richard, a son of Nicholas, a son of John Dee (called Daye in England). Traditionally the family is from Wales, where Dee (signifying dark or dingy) is the name of an important Welslı river, from which the family name, probably, at a remote day had its origin.

JOHN T. REA,

OHN THOMAS REA, one of the most suc- cessful and esteemed contractors in his line of business in the city of Chicago, comes of a very old and highly respected Scotch family. His ancestors were men and women of education and refinement, and he does justice to the family name, the teachings which he received and the hereditary honor. Born in Williamsport, Pennsyl- vania, of William Henry and Sarah Brown (Wille- min) Rea, he first opened his eyes to the troubles, trials and joys of this world on the 27th of Au- gust, 1843.

The first immigrant to America of this family of Rea was the great-grandfather of the man whose name heads this article, John Rea, who was captain of a company in the Revolutionary army. His son, John Rea, was a sailor with Captain Bainbridge in the war with Algiers. His children were named: George, Samuel and Will- iam. The maternal grandfather of John Thomas Rea, Thomas Willemin, conducted a distillery in Pennsylvania. He had four children, the names of only three of whom are now known: Thomas, Levi and Sarah. Thomas Willemin married Miss Sleigh, daughter of Francis Sleigh, the only son of Lord Francis Sleigh, whose estate was near Dublin, Ireland.

William Henry Rea, father of John T. Rea, was born in Philadelphia, February 14, 1805. He was a finely educated man and was for many years an instructor in Williamsport. In 1846 he came to Rock Island, Illinois, and taught a country school. He was later occupied in the same manner in Polo, Cedarville, Charleston and Decatur. He then went to Urbana, Illinois, where he died, in July, 1880. While living at Polo he was made agent for the American Bible Society and remained in this capacity until the time of his death. About eight years before his death he lost his sight, while working in the in- terests of the society. He was a follower of the teachings of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he was a Whig, but at the organization of the Republican party, took up interest in this party and upheld it after.

Mrs. W. H. Rea was born in April, 1814, in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Her death occurred in November, 1879, her remains being interred in Urbana. Her children are accounted for as follows: William Henry is a teacher; Robert McCormick, born March 10, 1840, died March 7, 1893; John Thomas is next in order of birth; and Alfred Willemin, born July 15, 1845, died in August, 1861.

627

C. J. L. GEBERT.

In the public schools of Illinois, the subject of this sketch received his education, after which time he began the battle of life. He enlisted in the army June 15, 1861, in Company A, Twenty- first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, General Grant's old regiment. He remained with this body until August 10, 1862, when he was discharged on account of ill health, at Jacinto, Mississippi. January 1, 1864, he re-enlisted and became at- tached to Company I, Seventh Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and he did detached service a part of the time, on the military commission, and was dis" charged November 16, 1865.

After the Civil War was over he returned to Illi- nois, and took up the occupation of house and sign painting and decorating. He was thus occupied five years, until 1870, when he located in Urbana, to remain until 1878. He then removed to Chi- cago and opened a place of business at No. 3532 State Street, being employed for some time by

several firms. He is at the present time engaged in contracting, and makes a specialty of sign painting and decorating.

October 28, 1866, Mr. Rea was married to Miss Sarah Grabill, daughter of Abraham and Eliza- beth Grabill. Mrs. Rea was born July 27, 1845, in Shenandoah County, Virginia, near Mount Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Rea are the parents of seven children. Irene May, the eldest, is the wife of Ritchie De Lan, the mother of two chil- dren and resides in Omaha, Nebraska. The others are as follows: Stella Eugenie; Laura Bertha, wife of Henry Clay Keniston, and a resi- dent of Chicago; Walter Raleigh, Louis Albert, Jesse Thomas and Arthur Alfred.

Mr. Rea is independent in politics, and not a seeker after public office. He is a valued and consistent member of the Advent Christian Church, and is connected with A. E. Burnside Post No. 109, Grand Army of the Republic.

CHARLES J. L. GEBERT.

HARLES JOHN LUDWIG GEBERT was one of Chicago's prominent and wortliy citi- zens. He was born October 1, 1836, and passed beyond the border February 14, 1885, being a son of George and Dorothea (Rohlk) Gebert, proper mention of whom appears else- where in this volume. He came to Chicago in 1856, and was at home until the time of his mar- riage. He was employed by the Illinois Central Railroad Company, in its shops, until 1858. He was in charge of a matching machine, and proved himself one who would do well, whatever he un- dertook to do. He was interested in the service of the same company until the time of his death.

February 25, 1866, Mr. Gebert was married to Miss Augusta Ernestina Charlotta, daughter of Christian and Charlotte (Schade) Frank. Mrs.

Gebert was born December 19, 1844, near the city of Landsberg, Prussia. Her father was born February 2, 1804, in Rehfeld, Prussia. He died October 5, 1865, and his wife, who was born July 5, 1803, survived him until April 15, 1893, pass- ing away at Champaign, Illinois. She, with her daughter, Ottilie, came to Illinois in 1868, and made their home among her children. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Gebert was Chris- tian Frank, and her maternal grandfather was Ludwig Schade.

Mr. and Mrs. C. Frank were the parents of the following children: Franz, who was killed by a railroad train, at Champaign; Ferdinand, now residing in Germany; Julius, deceased, Wilhel- mina, Pauline, deceased, Christian, Fredericka, Augusta and Ottilie. The children of Mr. and

628

O. C. TAFT.

Mrs. Gebert are nine in number. Ottilie Pauline Elizabeth, born March 2, 1867, married Henry Schroeder, September 25, 1890, and resides at No. 617 Fifty-third Street. He is assistant man- ager of the Chicago office of the Warder, Bush- nell & Glessner Company. Mr. and Mrs. Schroe- der are the parents of four children, Frederick Henry, born July 20, 1891; Henry, March 8, 1893; Bertha Augusta, November 18, 1894; and Grace Elizabeth, February 15, 1897.

Carl Frederick Christian, another of the chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Gebert, was born May 9, 1869, and died February 2, 1872. Frederick Carl Ferdinand, born June 14, 1871, died Feb- ruary 2, 1890. Paul Carl Julius, born December 27, 1873, died December 16, 1875. Walter Paul, born April 15, 1876, died April 30, 1877. Att- gusta Bertha Marie, born April 17, 1878, is next in order of birth of her father's family. Arthur Walter Paul was born September 28, 1880, and Julius Albert Frederick, who was born January

9, 1883, died February 13, 1884. Walter Carl, who was born August 17, 1885, was the young- est of this family.

Mr. Gebert was of a nature that is bound to succeed, and having obtained considerable of this world's goods, he purchased lots at Nos. 4731 and 4733 State Street, in 1868, and at No. 2950 South Park Avenue, in 1864. This prop- erty is still in possession of the family. Mr. Gebert built at No. 4733 State Street in 1874, and his widow built the adjoining house in 1887. Mrs. Gebert also built a flat building at No. 4733 State Street in 1893, which contains two stores and six flats, being four stories high. Mrs. Gebert is a true type of the gentlewoman, and was a faithful and loving helpmate to her worthy husband, mourning his loss greatly at the time of his death and ever cherishing tender memories of him. He was a consistent member of the Evangelical German Church, and a stanch Re- publican in political principle.

ORRISON C. TAFT.

RRISON CHARLES TAFT, one of Chi- to Chicago. He arrived in the last-mentioned city February 15, 1873, and located at the corner of Sixtieth and State Streets. After a short time spent in the shoe factory of C. M. Hender- son & Company, he was clerk for Ephling & Barney Brothers three years, and subsequently drove a team for Julius Carr, proprietor of wood and coal yards. He then established a general repair shop at liis present residence on State Street, which has occupied his full attention since that time.

cago's most worthy citizens, was born Sep- tember 7, 1844, at Milford, Massachusetts. His parents were Harvey Flag and Prudence Daniels (Adams) Taft. He began to learn the trade of a shoemaker at the age of eight years and at the age of sixteen years left school. He enlisted in Company B, Twenty-fifth Massachu- setts Volunteer Infantry, September 18, 1861. June 3, 1864, he was wounded at Cold Harbor, Virginia, by a shell, and December 22, 1864, was discharged for inability, having participated in all experiences and engagements that his com- pany had been through.

He returned to Milford and for five years con- ducted a shoe shop at that place, before coming

Mr. Taft was first married December 29, 1863, to Miss Vesta Anın Barton, daughter of John and Vesta Bonnie Barton. Mrs. Taft was born December 15, 1843, in Wrenthon, Massachusetts, and died January 23, 1881. She had four chil-

629

WILLIAM HECKLER.

dren. Frederick Arnold, the oldest, lives in Chi- cago, and is a switchman on the Fort Wayne Railroad. He has never married. May Bell, the next in order of birth, lives in Evanston. Charles Robert lives at the corner of Fifty-fiftli and Wright Streets, and Jennie Mary also resides in Evanston.

For his second wife Mr. Taft married, Novem-

ber 28, 1883, Miss Mary Ellen Ryan, a daughter of William and Margaret (Dougherty) Ryan. Mrs. Taft was born December 25, 1851. Mr. Taft has never sought public office, but is a stanch upholder of the principles of the Repub- lican party. He is a man of strong ideas and characteristics, and his influence is ever for good and for the benefit of his fellow-men.

WILLIAM HECKLER.

ILLIAM HECKLER. Among the most energetic and successful business men of Chicago at the present time many were born of parents from the country of the Rhine. They invariably possess a pertinacity and power that is admirable and hard to imitate. William Heckler was born January 22, 1852, and at the time of his birth his parents, William and Kath- arine (Loyen) Heckler, resided at the corner of State and Fourteenth Streets in Chicago, where the Santa Fe freight depot now stands.

William Heckler, Senior, was the only child of his parents, and was born October 10, 1821, at Wittenburg, Germany. Hedied in March, 1891, and his remains were interred in Mount Olivet Cemetery. He was a contractor in his native land, and reached Chicago in 1847. For a short time he was employed by others, but later began contracting for his own interests, achieving financial success by the change. A large num- ber of the many houses which he held contracts for are located on the South Side. He was a very fine mechanic, and among the buildings he erected was the Brand Brewery.

In 1856 he was induced by the cholera scare to remove to Blue Island, where he afterward re- tained his home, at the corner of York Street and Western Avenue: In 1848 he was married to Miss Loyen, a native of Trier, Germany. Mrs.

Heckler was born August 25, 1824, and died February 23, 1884, her remains being interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery. William is the eld- est of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Heckler. Charles, the next in order of birth, resides on the old homestead in Blue Island. Wilhelmina, Josephine, Herman, Otiplie, who died at the age of twenty-two years; Alfred, who lives at No. 108 Forty-fifth Place, and Frances followed, and next in order were: Wenzel, an engineer in Blue Island; Henry, a cigar manufacturer, at Blue Island; Gregory, a grocer, in Palos Springs, Cook County.

Having spent the first twelve years of his life in seeking a rudimentary education in the schools of the day, William Heckler, the subject of this sketch, was prepared by his father to enter the great and complicated school of business and ex- perience. He learned the trade of a carpenter with his father, and remained under the super- vision of the paternal eye until he reached the age of twenty years. For two years he was em- ployed by a contractor, Mr. Ramsey, subsequent to which period he spent the same length of time at Blue Island, contracting on his own respon- sibility. In Rock Island he became foreman of the employes of E. Ralston, an extensive con- tractor, with whom he remained seventeen years.

This extremely long period spent in furthering

630

ALONZO BRYAN.

the interests of one man, prove the power of en- durance and force of character of Mr. Heckler, also denoting with what respect and confidence he was regarded by his employer. He returned to Blue Island, after this extended time in another locality, and was one of the chief contractors of the town for two years. Susbsequent to that time he located in Chicago and is employed here as a journeyman at the present time.

Mr. Heckler was married April 19, 1881, to Miss Margaret Fickenscher, a daughter of Erhardt and Mary (Swicker) Fickenscher. Mrs. Heckler was born May 28, 1858, at Rock Island.

Their children were as follows: Herman Erhardt, born January 30, 1882; Emil, born February 23, 1884, and died at the age of three weeks; George Washington, born February 22, 1885; Elma, Jan- uary 8, 1889, and Edward William, December 8, 1887.

Mr. Heckler is in favor of silver as a medium of exchange, and his arguments in its favor are very strong. He is descended from a line of Roman Catholics and is not delinquent to the church of his fathers. His name is one respected in all circles, and his influence is used in all cir- cumstances for the right.

ALONZO BRYAN.

LONZO BRYAN, who has passed through a varied career and has finally entered into a profitable business in Chicago, was born T in Washington, Pennsylvania, a son of Benjamin Bryan, who was born in the same state as his son.

Alonzo Bryan lived eighteen years in the city of his birth, and attended school at Pittsburg. He then became employed in a physician's office and was subsequently in the St. Charles Hotel four years. He spent three years in the Mono11- gahela House and reached Chicago August 9, 1868. He went to work at the Sherman House, and was waiter one week at this establishment. After two years in the Richmond House he en- tered the employ of Mr. Green, who has kept a restaurant on Clark Street, opposite the Court House, many years. Mr. Bryan was but six months in this service, and was one year at the old Palmer House, at the corner of Quincy and State Streets.

He was one season at the Cataract House, at Niagara Falls, and returned at the end of the season to the Palmer House, Chicago, which was

in 1871. He was subsequently one year in the old Palmer House and later accepted a position as porter for the Pullman Palace Car Company, which he occupied two years. After a few months at Woodman's bakery, on Washington Street, he was two years in the Brevoort House. He was head waiter two years in the Ocean Oyster House, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and fifteen months porter on a sleeper of the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railroad. He spent four seasons at the summer resort of Waukesha, Wis- consin, and returned to the Palmer House for six months.

Having been economical and prudent at all times he was then able to go into partnership at that time with John B. Johnson and J. Whiting, the firm name being Johnson, Bryan & Whiting, located at No. 311 South Clark Street. This was in 1882, and the business that of saloon and billiard hall. The business thrived and Johnson purchased Whiting's interest and continued with Mr. Bryan until 1892, when the latter purchased his partner's interest and has since continued alone.

631

F. C. GEBERT.

Since the spring of 1890 Mr. Bryan has re- sided at No. 5622 Dearborn Street, which is prop- erty that he owns. He was married in the fall of 1879, to Miss Emma Pash and their children are named: Alonzo, Junior, Anna Elizabeth, Will- iam Henry and Walter James. Mr. Bryan was

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 19th ed., Part 91

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