Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 37

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : Calumet Book & Engr. Co.
Number of Pages: 808

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In1 1879, by the vote of the people, Mr. Har- rison was placed in the Mayor's chair, which he filled for eight years, being three times re-elected. During his second term, he was again married, the lady being Miss Margaret Stearns, daughter of Marcus C. Stearns, one of the oldest settlers of Chicago. The ceremony was performed in July, 1882. In 1887, Mr. Harrison was offered a fifthi nomination, but declined. Even after this his name was put before the convention as a dele- gate, and he was nominated by acclamation. Mr. Harrison, who had hitherto been absent, then ap- peared before the convention, and his coming was the signal for an ovation. Cheer after cheer rent the air. When quiet had been restored, he said that he would only accept on one condition, namely, that every man in the convention should by raising his right hand pledge himself to loyally support his candidacy. Every hand went up, and again a mighty cheer shook the building. The local press antagonized his nomination bit- terly, and friends of President Cleveland gave it out that the administration at Washington de-

sired Mr. Harrison's defeat. Worried by this opposition in his party and the illness of his wife, who died a few weeks later, he sent a letter of res- ignation to the Democratic Committee.

Two months after the death of his wife, Mr. Harrison started on his journey around the world, and during his travels the public was made familiar with his wanderings through his letters to the Chicago Mail. On his return he was urged to put these into book form, which he later did, under the liappily selected title, "A Race with the Sun." His was certainly one of the most comprehensive journeys ever made in one circuit of the globe. He visited the north- western part of our own country, the Pacific Coast, and sailed from Vancover to Yokohama. He spent many pleasant hours in Japan; studied the habits and quaint customs of the Chinese; be- came intimate with the King of Siam; visited the various points of interest in India and Ceylon; sailed the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea and the Suez Canal; took a trip up the Nile, and after- wards studied Greece in the light of its past and of its present, and drew liis conclusions as to its future. In conclusion he wrote: "Again I look out of our window; clouds are gathering over the sky; the curtain of the far West is dyed in purple and salmon. Through a cloud-rift the round, low-down sun is bloody red. Nearly five hun- dred times has he run his course since we started in our race with him around the world. He has reached our home and passed it, and we are not yet quite there. He dips his rim and is gone. He has won the race. To him and to you good- bye."

Mr. Harrison reached home on the 8th of No- vember, 1889, and the following year was again urged to become the candidate for Mayor, but he refused the honor, and during the two succeed- ing years lived a quiet, retired life. At the ex- piration of that period, however, he was again a nominee for Mayor on an independent ticket. Nothing else could have so indicated his personal popularity. There were four candidates in the field, and Mr. Harrison polled a very large vote, the three leaders being separated by but three thousand ballots. Members of the Democracy

309

GEORGE FRASER.

greatly opposed his course, but the majority of the party believed in him, and he became their candidate for the campaign of 1893. He was elected by an overwhelming majority to a position all the more important from the fact that his city, where the World's Fair was to be held, would receive distinguished visitors from all lands, and he would virtually be the country's representa- tive in welcoming them to the United States. All summer long as a courteous host he presided, and each day added to the number of his friends. Again and again he had presided on different pub-

lic occasions, and on the 28th of October, two days before the official closing of the Fair, Mayors' Day was celebrated, a day set apart for the Mayors of all the cities of the Union. Mr. Harrison, in his capacity of host, presided, and at the close of the ceremonies returned to his home. A few hours later a shot was fired which terminated his life, and the city, which was making such extensive preparations to close the Fair with brilliant cere- monies, went instead into mourning for its Chief Executive.

GEORGE FRASER.

G EORGE FRASER is an influential Scotch- American citizen, who has made his home in Chicago for nearly thirty years. Allen Grange, near the village of Munlochy, in Ross- shire, Scotland, where he was born, has been the home of his ancestors for more than a century, and three generations of the name are now living there.

His father, Donald Fraser, was a blacksmith by trade, succeeding his father, John Fraser, in that occupation. Donald Fraser died at Allen Grange in 1875, at the age of seventy years. His wife, whose maiden name was Isabella Young, still lives there, having attained the venerable age of more than ninety-one years. She is a na- tive of the same place, her father having been a farmer in that locality.

George Fraser was born on the 2d of June, 1840. He attended the parish school at Mun- lochy, and when he was old enough went to learn the trade of a baker at Dingwall. He served a four-years apprenticeship without wages, and subsequently spent two years in working at his trade in Edinburgh, and one year in London, England. In 1866 he resolved to come to Amer-

ica. Upon reaching Brooklyn, New York, he tarried a few months in that city, but in the fol- lowing spring continued his journey to Chicago. Here he immediately found work at his trade, and in 1868 he opened an establishment of his own on Division Street, near his present location. In common with most of his neighbors in that vicin- ity, three years later he lost everything he pos- sessed by the Great Fire, and for a few months thereafter moved to the West Side. For twenty- three years past he has been in his present loca- tion, and the constant arrival and departure of customers attests the popularity which his busi- ness has attained.

About sixteen years ago Mr. Fraser united with St. Andrew's Society, an organization in which nearly all of the best of his countrymen in Chicago are interested. His active interest in this association has caused him to become one of its most popular members, and for six years past he has officiated as one of its Board of Mana- gers. He has been a member of the Caledonian Club for ten years, and, with few exceptions, has voted the Republican ticket since becoming a cit- izen of the United States.

310

J. J. RUSSELL.

I11 1867 Mr. Fraser was married to Catharine Ross, a native of Invergordon, Ross-shire, Scot- land. She is the daughter of David Ross, a rep- resentative of one of the oldest Scottish families, in honor of which their native shire was named. Mrs. Fraser is a valuable helpmate to and ad- viser of her husband, and the mother of five chil- dren, named, respectively, Anna, Isabel, Donald George, Kate and Margaret.

Born and reared amid the historic and pic- turesque scenes of the Highlands, Mr. Fraser is a typical representative of the Gaelic race, a people noted for their sturdy character and industrious and frugal habits. Their adherence to principle has led them to endure much in past centuries, and they have exerted 110 small influence upon the progress and civilization of America.

JOHN J. RUSSELL.

OHN J. RUSSELL, an esteemed pioneer of Cook County, now deceased, was born in Sharon Springs, New York, on the 14th of August, 1810, and made farming his life work. Emigrating westward, he reached Chicago on the 14th of February, 1836, and purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of timber-land, including the site on which Rush Medical College now stands. About a year and a-half later he sold and removed to Niles Township, where he lived six months. He then became a resident of Northfield Town- ship, purchasing land on section 14, to which he afterwards added until he had on sections 14, 15 and 22 three hundred and forty acres of rich land, all in one body, which yielded to him a good income. Here he devoted the greater part of his time and attention to agricultural pursuits, winning success in his undertakings. He mar- ried Ann Eliza Legg, daughter of Isaac Legg, a native of Tennessee. The lady was born in Ken- tucky on the 9th of October, 1813, and with her parents came to Chicago in 1833. Her death occurred at Wilmette, August 20, 1886. She was a lady of many admirable qualities, and she and her husband had been for many years

identified with the Methodist Church. They con- tributed liberally to its support, and were always considered among the leading members.

To Mr. and Mrs. Russell were born six chil- dren, three sons and three daughters: Isaac H., who is now proprietor of a paper and paint store in Chicago; John J., deceased; Edward, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this work; Lizzie, wife of B. F. Kay, who for twenty- four years has been connected with the postof- fice of Chicago; Ella, wife of Heny McDaniel, a policeman of Wilmette; and Lena, who completes the family. After many years spent in farming, John J. Russell removed to Wilmette, where his death occurred April 30, 1889. He always advo- cated the principles of the Republican party, and kept well informed on the issues of the day. He took quite an interest in military affairs and be- longed to the State militia, in which he held a Lieutenant's commission from Gov. Ford. He was for ten years a member of the Board of Supervisors and for several years County Com- missioner, a faithful officer in both positions. He was ever a public-spirited citizen, and the best in- terests of the community found in him a friend.

JOHN J. RUSSELL (deceased)

311

W. H. JONES.

WILLIAM HUGH JONES.

ILLIAM HUGH JONES, the President of the Plano Manufacturing Company, one of the substantial industries of Chicago, is a na- tive of Wales. He was born in 1845, and is one of eight children whose parents were Hugh and Jennett Jones. The father was a farmer by occu- pation and was comfortably situated. In 1812, when eighteen years of age, he crossed the At- lantic to America, locating near Utica, N. Y., where the death of his first wife occurred. He afterward returned to Wales, where he was again married, the second wife being the mother of our subject. They were both members of the Welsh Calvinistic Church, in which the father served as Deacon. In 1857 he again came with his family to this country, and located in Wiscon- sin, from where he removed to Iowa in 1873. His death occurred in Howard County, Iowa, in 1876, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife survived him for about four years. Her father, Richard Jones, was an extensive farmer in Wales, and reached the advanced age of ninety-two years. The family to which our subject belongs num- bered six sons and two daughters, but only four are now living: William H., Hugh H., John H. and Owen W. The last-named is Secretary of the Plano Manufacturing Company.

which have proven of incalculable benefit to him in his later years. His youth was spent in work upon the home farm, and to his father he gave the benefit of his services until the spring of 1866, when he had attained his majority. He now turned his attention to other pursuits, and became agent for the Dodge Reapers and Champion Mowers in Berlin, Wis., selling those machines until 1868, when he became traveling salesman for the firm of L. J. Bush & Co., of Milwaukee. Two years covered his continuance with that company, and in 1870 he formed a connection with E. H. Gam- mon for the sale of the Marsh Harvester, which at that time was the only machine of the class on the market. Subsequently, the firm became Gam- mon & Deering, and Mr. Jones continued in their employ as general traveling salesman and super- visor of agencies until the partnership was dis- solved in the fall of 1879, on the retirement of Mr. Gammon. Mr. Jones, however, continued to serve in the interests of Mr. Deering until 1881, when he, in connection with Mr. Gammon, Lewis Steward, and others who had been previously in- terested in the Harvester Works in Plano, Ill., organized the Plano Manufacturing Company. He became its President and has since contin- ued at its head, and owing to the good man- agement, keen foresight and excellent business and executive ability of the President, the Pla- no Manufacturing Company now is one of the prominent industries of this city. During his business career, Mr. Jones has kept informed concerning all inventions along this line, and no agricultural implement is put on the market without his knowledge. His early life as a farm- er made known to him what was needed in farın work. His later experience made him familiar with all kinds of farm machinery; hence in plac-

We now take up the personal history of W. H. Jones, who is truly a self-made man, in the best sense of the term, for he started out in life empty- handed and has worked his way upward by un- tiring labor, making the most of his opportuni- ties and overcoming the difficulties and obstacles in his path by a determined effort to succeed. He continued in his native land until twelve years of age, and then accompanied his parents to this country, and with them went to Wisconsin. He was early inured to hard labor, but thereby he developed a self-reliance and force of character ing upon the market such machinery he would

312

SHEPHERD JOHNSTON.

combine in its construction his knowledge of the mechanical necessities with that which was re- quired for the actual work. Many inventors who know nothing about farm work in itself fail to do this. The wisdom of his method is shown in the result, for the Plano machines have met with un- qualified success and fill a long-felt want in farm implements. Through the dark hours of the greatest panic known to commerce (in 1893), the company built and now occupies a new factory, which for completeness and detailed perfection is without an equal, covering twenty-five acres. It is located on 120th Street, West Pullman. In the old factory, although it afforded extensive facilities, it was unable for several years to satisfy the popular demand. With improved machinery and perfect arrangement for manufacturing, it is now prepared to meet the full demand not only of its American but rapidly increasing foreign trade.

In 1867, Mr. Jones was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Owens, and unto them liave been born three sons, Hugh W., William O. and Gar-

field R. The parents are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, contribute liberally to its support, and take an active interest in its work. Mr. Jones is now serving as one of its Trustees. In politics, he advocates Republican principles, but in voting does not feel liimself bound by party ties. He has never sought official honors, desiring rather to give his entire time and attention to his business interests and the enjoy- ment of the home and the companionship of his family. In April, 1872, he came to Evanston, where he has resided almost continuously since, and among the people of this beautiful suburb he is held in the highest regard, for he is a man of upright character and his example is worthy of emulation. In the fall of 1878 he opened a wholesale implement house in Minneapolis, which has since done a large business, and with which he was connected until 1889. The farm has fur- nished to this country many of its most prominent and successful business men, and among these is W. H. Jones.

SHEPHERD JOHNSTON.

HEPHERD JOHNSTON, late Secretary and Clerk of the Board of Education of Chicago, was descended from Scotch ancestry, his pater- nal grandfather, who was a soldier in the War of the American Revolution, being an emigrant from Scotland to New York City some time in the lat- ter part of the eighteenth century. Mary, the wife of this ancestor, was born in 1761, and died June 12, 1838, at the age of seventy-seven. The pa- ternal grandmother was "Knickerbocker" Dutch.

Shepherd Johnston, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in New York City Sep- tember 28, 1797, and was for many years a well- known educator in his native place. His wife was Jane Sherwood, also a native of New York,

born September 28, 1807. Her parents were na- tives of Connecticut, and were the descendants of generations of New England ancestors, one of whom was a minute-man in the Revolution. Her death occurred on the 27th of December, 1846, at Big Rock, Illinois. Shepherd and Jane John- ston had a family of nine children, and eight of these grew to mature age. The subject of this biography, who was born on the 18th of Septem- ber, 1823, laid the foundation of his education in the private school taught by his father. His pre- cocity and the thoroughness of his education are vividly shown by the fact of his entering college at the almost unparalleled age of thirteen years. After spending two years at Columbia College,

313

SHEPHERD JOHNSTON.

New York, circumstances necessitated the aban- donment of the further prosecution of his studies -- except as a private and independent student- but in this latter capacity it can be no more truly said of any other man in the city of Chicago, that he was throughout his life a devoted, ear- nest and successful student, consecrating himself to the acquisition of knowledge for the purpose of making it most useful to those for whose inter- ests he spent a lifetime of toil.

In 1839 the elder Johnston, tiring of the con- straint of New York, came West by way of the Lakes to Detroit, and thence, in company with his eldest son, Shepherd, crossed Michigan on po- nies to Chicago, which they found to be a muddy city of about four thousand inhabitants. Not liking Chicago, they pursued their way westward to Kane County, and there the father bought a thousand or more acres of land near Big Rock, to which he removed his family soon after. There he spent seven years, but, not being adapt- ed either by education or taste to farm lite, at the end of that period he returned to New York, where he died in 1853.

After a residence of five or six years on the farm, young Johnston tired of the monotony of rural life and settled in New York City, when twenty-one years of age, and obtained a position as teacher in the Institute for the Blind. He filled this position with that fidelity and ability which characterized his life work in any capacity in which he was called upon to act. On the 27th of July, 1849, at Whitlockville, Westchester Coun- ty, New York, he married Mary Ann Wild, a native of Sheffield, England, a daughter of James and Mary Ann Outram (Hobson) Wild. Imme- diately after his marriage he came to Illinois, and tried farm life for a few months, but again re- turned to New York City in 1850. There for a year he was employed in the ticket office of the Hudson River Railroad. In 1851 he engaged in the retail grocery business in New York, in which he continued for seven years. In the fall of 1859 he again removed to Illinois, locating at Aurora, and in the following year settled in Chicago, where he resided until the time of his death. In

February of the same year he began work as clerk in the office of the Board of Education, and remained there continuously until his life work was finished. He saw the public-school systen1 grow from comparatively insignificant propor- tions to the wonderful educational power which it is at the present time. When he began work in the office of the Board the population of the city was one hundred and ten thousand, and the number of teachers was one hundred and twenty- three. Now the total enrollment of pupils is one hundred and fifty thousand, and the number of teachers in the public schools is three thousand two hundred and twenty-eight, and the amount required to pay this vast army is two and one- half millions of dollars.

Mr. Johnston died at his home on the 3rd of October, 1894, leaving a widow and one daugh- ter, the latter, Laura Ann, being now the wife of John M. Stanley, of Chicago. His only son, Charles Sherwood Johnston, died in 1889, at the age of thirty-nine.

Not only as a worker in the field of education, but also as a zealous laborer in the cause of relig- ion, was Mr. Johnston known. For nearly a score of years he was a member of the Episcopal Church, in which he held the office of vestryman. He also took a deep interest in the affairs of the Sunday-school, of which he was Superintendent. He was a devoted student of the Bible, to the study of which he gave many hours of his crowd- ed life. As might be expected of a man of his intelligence, taking the interest he did in public affairs, a knowledge of and an interest in politics were not overlooked. He was a member of the Republican party, whose great underlying princi- ples he fully understood, endorsed and supported. But he was far above the petty broils of partisan strife, and contented himself with working for those higher principles and ends which interest the thinker and philosophier.

A fitting summary of the life and works of Mr. Johnston can be no more aptly expressed than is done in the following eloquent tribute paid to his memory by the inembers of the Board of Educa- tion, taken from the records of said body:

314

J. S. RUMSEY.

"At a special meeting of the Board of Educa- tion of Chicago, held October 5, 1894, the follow- ing memorial was unanimously adopted:

" "The Board of Education of the City of Chi- cago learns with the most profound sorrow of the death of their scholarly, faithful and most tireless Secretary, Shepherd Johnston, after a continuous service of thirty-four years of unparalleled devo- tion to the educational interests of this great me- tropolis.

" 'He had reached the limit of years allotted to man. He closed his books at the office, went to his quiet home, retired to sleep, and awoke no more to consciousness here. The book of his life was gently closed, and he was transferred to the unknown realm which is beyond our mortal sight.

"'Mr. Johnston possessed those liabits of inind and character which made him eminently fitted for the responsible duties of the office which he held so long and filled so efficiently. His early training and experience as a teacher inade him . the family.'" acquainted with the details of educational work,

and gave him a familiarity with the school sys- tem of the country, as shown in the financial and statistical reports which were publislied annually. As his labors multiplied, his ability to cope with them multiplied in like ratio. There was no detail of his office with which he was not familiar. He was a well of information, imparting courteously to all who desired to know aught of the historical progress of the city for nearly two score of years. In the varied and perplexing duties of his office, he won the confidence and esteem of the members of the Board of Education, the Superintendents, his associates in the office, the teachers and citizens of Chicago. The members of the Board of Edu- cation take this method of expressing their appre- ciation of his valuable services and their high regard for his life and character.

" 'THEREFORE, Be it resolved, that this niemo- rial be entered upon the records of this Board, and that a copy be suitably engrossed and presented to

JULIAN S. RUMSEY.

ULIAN S. RUMSEY, a very early resident of Chicago and one of the founders of its Board of Trade, was born in Batavia, Gene- see County, New York, on the 3d day of April, 1823. His parents were Levi Rumsey, of Fair- field, Connecticut, and Julia F. Dole, of Troy, New York. The line of descent is traced from Robert Rumsie, who is supposed to have been of Welsh ancestry, and who settled at Fairfield, Connecticut, before 1660. His name appears in the town records under date of January 23, 1664, the earliest entry in said records bearing date of January 12, 1649, which must have been about the time of the first settlement there. The will of Robert Rumsey appears in the same record,

under date of November 28, 1710, in which he bequeaths to his widow and children a large amount of land and personal property, his inter- est in commonage and his negro man, Jack. The early residents of New England had to contend with conditions differing widely from those sur- rounding pioneers of the present day, and few can realize the energy and perseverance required to make a home in the wilderness. Only those of strong body and mind could survive the rigorous climate and overcome the obstacles to liuman progress. Among the present generation, only those who have made a study of the subject can realize, in a faint degree even, what were their surroundings, ideas and character.

315

J. S. RUMSEY.

Levi Rumsey was one of the first graduates of Williams College, at Williamstown, Massachu- setts (in 1800), and settled at Batavia in 1822, becoming one of the foremost attorneys of western New York and serving as District Attorney of Genesee County. He died there in 1834. At the solicitation of her brother, George W. Dole, already a resident of Chicago, the widow decided to move to the new and growing city with her younger son (the subject of this biography) and two daughters, in the spring of 1835, but death interposed and removed the mother before this purpose could be consummated. With an aunt, Mrs. Coffin, and her husband and Miss Townsend (who afterward became Mrs. Dole), Julian Sid- ney Rumsey and his two younger sisters came to Chicago, arriving on the steamer "Michigan" July 28, 1835. This vessel was owned by Mr. Dole's partner, Oliver Newberry, of Detroit, and was by far the finest vessel then on the Lakes. The trip was made from Buffalo to Chicago, with a stop at Green Bay, in a little over eight days. Among the passengers were George Smith, who afterward became a wealthy banker of the city; Mr. and Mrs. John H. Kinzie and a young infant, and Miss Williams, who became the wife of Mark Skinner, one of the judges of Chicago in later life.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 37

Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago : Calumet Book & Engr. Co. Number of Pages: 808

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : Calumet Book & Engr. Co.
Number of Pages: 808