Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 38

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

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Young Rumsey had attended a private school in Batavia taught by Rev. John F. Earnst, a widely-known educator of that place and Buffalo, and after his arrival here he had the benefit of such schools as the new town afforded for a few months. He soon took employment in the ship- ping house of Newberry & Dole, where his elder brother, George F. Rumsey, was already estab- lished. This association made him acquainted with all the boats coming to Chicago and their officers. These included the bark "Detroit" and brig "Queen Charlotte," former British vessels, which had been sunk in the bay at Erie, Penn- sylvania, by Commodore Perry in 1813, and sub- sequently raised and fitted for commerce.

In September, 1839, the Rumsey brothers, while still in the employ of Newberry & Dole, shipped the first cargo of grain ever sent out of Chicago, consisting of about 2,900 bushels of wheat, put on board the brig "Osceola" for Buffalo. This had

been taken from farmers' wagons and stored, awaiting an eastbound boat. In 1841 Capt. E. B. Ward brought eighty' tons of bituminous coal to Chicago, which was probably the first here, and this was sold out by the Rumsey brothers in two years' time, thus indicating that the consumption was small in those days. The firm of Rumsey, Brother & Company ultimately succeeded New- berry & Dole, and became one of the heaviest grain shippers and dealers in the city.

Mr. Rumsey was one of the organizers of the Board of Trade early in 1848, and continued his membership with his life. During the early years of its existence, it was his custom, with others of the younger members, to visit business men in their offices and urge them to go "on 'Change," in order that it might be truthfully recorded that such a meeting had been held. He was elected President of the Board in 1858 and again in 1859, and in the latter year he drew and secured the passage of its charter and code of rules. He also secured, in the face of much opposition, the pres- ent system of grain inspection-Chicago being the first city to adopt the plan. During his adminis- tration, the current plan of obtaining and publish- ing statistics of trade was inaugurated, and the first annual report of the Board issued, and in the same period the membership doubled and the permanency of its existence was established.

Mr. Rumsey was one of the organizers of the Volunteer Fire Department in 1844, and at one time was Foreman of Engine Company Nuniber Three, and did much to improve the old and or- ganize new companies. In those days, many of what are now the most prominent and wealthy citizens regularly "ran with the boys." The venerable Stephen F. Gale was Chief Engineer and Mr. Rumsey Foreman in 1847, when the pa- rade was made in honor of the famous River and Harbor Congress of that year. In his report to the New York Tribune, Horace Greeley said: "I never witnessed anything so superb as the appear- ance of some of the fire companies, with their en- gines drawn by led-horses, tastefully caparisoned. Our New York firemen must try again. They certainly have been outdone." Thurlow Weed wrote to his paper: "Let me here say that the

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firemen's display in this infant city to-day excited universal admiration. I never saw anything got up in better taste. The companies were in neat uniforms. The machines were very tastefully decorated. There was also a miniature ship, manned and full-rigged, drawn by twelve horses, in the procession. While moving, the crew on board "The Convention' made, shortened and took in sail repeatedly."

In early life Mr. Rumsey associated himself, as a political factor, with the Whig party, and joined its successor-the Republican-at its inception. He was often a delegate in the county and State conventions, and was a member of the State Cen- tral Committee of his party when Abraham Lin- coln was first elected to the Presidency. He had the honor of entertaining Mr. Lincoln at his home in Chicago, was present at his inauguration, and was a member of the committee on which devolved the sad duty of receiving his remains when brought back to Chicago, preparatory to final interment at Springfield. In 1871 Mr. Rumsey was elected County Treasurer and Collector on the "Fire- proof" ticket, the result of a political compromise, and served two years in that responsible capacity.

Before the actual commencement of hostilities, in the War of the Rebellion, early in 1861, a Com- mittee of Safety was organized in Chicago, and Mr. Rumsey was made a member of the sub-com- mittee to carry out its objects. This involved the judicious expenditure of nearly fifty thousand dollars, and required the labor of its members for nearly two years, much of it of a secret character, and all of vast importance to the State and Nation. One of the first undertakings was the fitting out of an expedition to take possession of Cairo, and thus save Illinois to the Union. After four days and nights of arduous effort, a force of five hundred men was dispatched by the Illinois Central Rail- road, and the plan successfully carried out. Mr. Rumsey never asked for office, but was elected Mayor of the city in the troublous days of 1861, and maintained the high financial standing of the municipality. During his term of service, the Government sent twelve thousand rebel prisoners here from Fort Donelson, without any warning or previous provision for their care. They were

quartered in the sheds of an old race track, after- wards known as Camp Douglas, until suitable barracks could be erected for their care and reten- tion. Among them were about two hundred offi- cers, most of whom possessed knives or pistols, and with the small police force and absence of firearms (caused by the drain in supplying Union troops), the city seemed entirely at the mercy of its unwilling guests. Through the vigilance of Mayor Rumsey, and his appeals to the Govern- ment, the danger was averted-the officers being removed elsewhere, and the privates speedily pro- vided with suitable lodgings, and safeguards cre- ated for the city.

July 31, 1848, at Chicago, occurred the wedding of J. S. Rumsey and Miss Martha A. Turner. Mrs. Rumsey, who still survives her husband, is a daughter of Jolın B. Turner, one of the most honored and worthy of Chicago's early citizens, whose biography will be found on another page of this work. This union resulted in eleven chil- dren, eight of whom were daughters. One of the latter died in infancy, and one after a short mar- ried life. Two daughters are married and reside in Massachusetts and New York, respectively, and the eldest son and two daughters, also mar- ried, reside in Chicago.

Mr. Rumsey passed away in Chicago April 20, 1886, aged sixty-three years. He was ever inter- ested in the city and its welfare, and did much to place it in its present proud commercial position. He did not shirk any duty as a citizen, and left to his children an honored name. His recollections of early Chicago are very interesting, and extracts from his pen picture are here given:

"When the 'Michigan' arrived off Chicago in July of 1835, a dense fog covered the surface of the lake, and the town could not be easily located. After reaching the mouth of the Calumet River, the captain was set right by the direction of an Indian, and returned to the city. In the mean time the fog had lifted and when the boat came to anchor the fort and Government pier and light- house seemed the most prominent features. No entrance to the river existed for lake craft, and even the yawlboat which brought the passengers ashore grounded on the bar at the mouth of the

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river, and a passage had to be carefully sounded before it could be brought in. The river was then but little more than half as wide as at present, and portions of its shores were occupied by wild rice, and near the mouth the abode of the musk- rat was prominent. Fish and wild fowl were abundant. There was one 'gallows-frame' hoist bridge at Dearborn Street, crossing the river, one pontoon over the South Branch, between Lake and Randolph Streets, and another across the North Branch, just south of Kinzie Street. The Tremont House was then a yellow wooden build- ing at the southeast corner of Lake and Dearborn Streets, kept by Star Foot.

"The population was about twenty-three hun- dred, divided in something like this proportion: Eight hundred on the North Side, twelve hundred on the South Side, and three hundred on the West Side, The Postoffice was located in the angle at the intersection of Lake and South Water Streets. There were no sidewalks or improved streets, and cattle, pigs and wolfish dogs occupied

the thoroughfares at will, and sometimes at night wolves came into tlie settlement Street lights were unknown, as were sewers, cellars or water service, and there were very few brick buildings. The people came from all parts of the world and included many half-breeds, and all were exceed- ingly democratic in habit. It was no uncommon thing for ladies to employ a dump-cart, uphol- stered with hay or buffalo robes, as a means of transportation when making social excursions. There was still a garrison at the fort, and on two subsequent occasions Indians to the number of thirty-five hundred and five thousand, from the Pottawatamie, Winnebago and Sacs and Foxes tribes came here to receive pay for their lands from the Government. During the summer of 1835, the 'Michigan' made four trips between Chicago and Buffalo, and one or two other vessels visited the port. While anchored in the bay off Milwau- kee, on her first trip, only one house was dis- cerned at that point, though the weather was clear."

ANDREW ORTMAYER.

A NDREW ORTMAYER, who was for nearly half-a century a resident of Chicago, was numbered among the most substantial and well-known citizens of German birth. He was born in Bartenstein, Wurtemberg, Germany, on the first day of May, 1826. His father, Joseph Ortmayer, was a native of Neuoetting, Bavaria, and his mother, Margaret Uhlman, was born in the same village as her son, where her ancestors had for several generations carried on the saddlery business. Joseph Ortmayer was also a saddler, and when the son had completed the prescribed German term of school, ending at the age of fourteen years, he entered the shop and was able -through being the son of a master-to become

a journeyman at the age of sixteen. He first sought employment in his father's native city, where he remained one year, and was afterwards employed in Saalzburg and other Austrian cities.

By the time he had attained his majority, he determined to follow the sun towards that land of promise, the United States, as he saw little op- portunity for a mechanic to better his condition in Europe. His was the same spirit which not only led to the discovery of the Western continent, but to the development of its resources, east and west. Being in London, England, in the spring of 1849, he took passage 111 March of that year on board the sailing-vessel "Apeona" for New York, where he arrived on the fourth day of

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July, the voyage consuming nearly four months. He proceeded directly to Buffalo, New York, where he was able to maintain himself at his trade until the following spring.

Again moved by the spirit of enterprise, he took the first steamer which left the port of Buf- falo for the upper lakes in the spring of 1850, and landed in Detroit on the 30th of Marclı, after a two days' voyage. Thence, he proceeded di- rectly by rail to Chicago, arriving on the last day of the month.

His first employment in this city was with J. O. Humphrey, the first carriage manufacturer in Chicago, by whom he was engaged as a carriage trimmer. This continned until Mr. Humphrey went out of business two and one-half years later, when Mr. Ortmayer rented a room in the now idle factory and engaged in trimming carriages on his own account. He had by this time formed business acquaintances and established a reputa- tion for honest and faithful work, and did a fairly prosperous business. At the end of six months, he established a shop on Franklin Street, and in the fall of 1854 he opened a harness shop on Randolph Street, between Canal and Clinton Streets. Though his work as a carriage trim- mer had proved satisfactory to his patrons, it did not satisfy himself, on account of the unsteadiness of the demand, and he found business much more remunerative in the harness and saddlery line.

In 1863, he began the wholesale trade at No. 42 Lake Street, in partnership with William V. Kay and William H. Turner, under the style of A. Ortmayer & Company. For a quarter of a cen- tury, beginning with 1866, the business was located at Nos. 16 to 22 State Street. Messrs. Turner and Kay successively retired front the firm, and after the great fire of 1871, it was known as Ortmayer, Lewis & Company, until it became A. Otrmayer & Son in 1882. In 1891, the firmi purchased of the Farwell estate the building now occupied, on Illinois Street, be- tween La Salle Avenue and Wells Street, to which two stories were added, and the building was fitted for the extensive manufacture of har- ness and saddlery ware now carried on there.

Mr. Ortmayer was married at Buffalo, New

York, in the spring of 1850, to Miss Marie Cher- bon, who was born in the same place as himself, and is descended from French ancestors, her grandfather having moved from France to Ger- many. In 1876, lie built a pleasant mansion at No. 496 Dearborn Avenue, wliere dwells a united and happy family. Mr. Ortmayer was also pos- sessed of other improved real estate, which was secured through his own industry and prudent inanagement. Having made his way from hum- ble beginnings, he was in sympathy with all hon- est efforts for success, and held out encourage- inent not only by word but by his own example, which any American youth may well emulate. The same steadfast and persistent effort which characterized his career in life is sure to bring prosperity to any one. He never spent time or money in the follies which are all too prevalent among young men of the present day, but re- solved on a course of industry and thrift, and ad- hered to his plans through "good" and "bad times."

Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ortmayer, three died in early childhood. The eldest of the others, Annie, died while the wife of Albert Kuhlmay. Carl G. is manager of the business of A. Ortmayer & Son. Carrie is now the wife of Albert Kuhlmay, and Emma is Mrs. Theophile Pfister, all of Chicago.

Thoughi always a busy man, until failing health compelled him to abandon his activities three years ago, Mr. Ortmayer found time to cul- tivate pleasant social relations, and was always deservedly popular among his fellow-citizens. He was for many years an active member of the Germania Club, and held membership in Accor- dia Lodge, No. 277, of the Masonic order. He cherished liberal religious views, and always ad- hered to Republican principles in politics. He was never ambitious to hold public office, but always strove to fulfill the duties of a good American citizen, and with eminent success. He died on Sunday, February 3, 1895, having succumbed to an acute attack of bronchitis, which, combined with other difficulties, burst the bonds of life.

PHILIP PETRIE

PHILIP PETRIE.

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PHILIP PETRIE.

HILIP PETRIE. One of the most interest- ing German historical mementos now in our city is hanging upon the wall of a modest cot- tage on Northı State Street. It represents, in the oil colors of a foreign artist, a superb specimen of manhood, with gorgeous helmet and breastplate, mounted upon a fiery charger, bedecked with all the brilliant trappings becoming those who were to escort royalty itself, whenever it rode abroad in imperial Berlin. Beneath is the inscription, "Philip Petrie, Garde Cuirassier bei der 2er Es- cadron des Konig's Preusch Regiment."

Philip Petrie, the hero of this sketch, was born on the seventh day of October, 1814, at Neun- kirchen, near Trier, Prussia. His father was Jo- seph, a veterinary surgeon, who was the son of Louis Petrie, a farmer.

Philip was given a fair education, and then set to learn the trade of a blacksmith. At twenty years of age he was called, according to the cus- tom of his native country, to do his turn at mili- tary duty. Being of remarkable physique, stand- ing fully six feet two inches in height, and being well proportioned, he was selected for the Cuiras- sier Guards, the King's favorite regiment, which was a picked body, carefully selected from the niost desirable men in the whole army. And, indeed, strength was necessary for the bearing of their armament, which included a breastplate weighing thirty-four pounds and a helmet of four- teen pounds' weight, enough in itself to unfit an ordinary man for action. After a year and a-half of service, he was made one of the mounted at- tendants of the then crown prince, the lately de- ceased Kaiser Wilhem; and in the years 1834 and 1835 was frequently detailed in charge of a detachment of guards, as an escort to the imperial chariot when it was driven abroad through the

gay capital. It is easy to see in one's mind what a dashing picture he must have made; and, no doubt, many a Gretchen went to her dreams thinking that the cuirassier was her ideal of a husband; and such, indeed, he turned out to be to the fortunate one whom Heaven had decreed should be his life-long devoted companion.

After three years of military life, he returned to his native town to resume his calling of a blacksmith. Soon after he met and won his wife, whom he wedded February 7, 1838. Her maiden name was Katherine Laux, and she was born in Grosslosheim, Germany, November 18, 1818, her father being Peter Laux, a blacksmith, who mar- ried a Miss Barbara Rohrmann. Peter Laux was a son of Peter Laux, Senior, a lumberman. Miss Rohrmann's parents were Matthias and Bretter Rohrmann. Deciding in 1840 to come to America, Mr. Petrie took passage, with his wife and her parents, at Havre, on a sailing-vessel called the "Kontoullanter." After a stormy pas- sage of forty-three days, they arrived at Castle Garden, New York City, whence they proceeded by canal-boat to Buffalo, thence via steamer "Wis- consin" to Chicago, which they reached on the eventful day for the little party and their numer- ous descendants, August 24, 1840.

Mr. Petrie's first work was upon the Gov- ernment Pier, then being built; and afterward he was in the service of the late Ashel Pierce, the first agricultural implement manufacturer in our city. Then he began a long and honorable ca- reer in connection with the municipal govern- ment of the day. A member of the police force under "Long John" Wentworth, he was raised to Sergeant under John C. Haines, and Lieuten- ant under Levi P. Boone and Thomas Dyer. In 1850 he was appointed Jailer in the "Old Log

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Jail," then situated at the corner of La Salle and Randolph Streets, in which he continued for a period of fourteen years, during the administra- tions of Sheriffs William C. Church, C. P. Brad- ley, Charles M. Geary and Tim B. Bradley. For a number of years preceding his death, Mr. Petrie, having become well off, lived a life of quiet retirement, honored and esteemed by an unusu- ally large circle of acquaintances.

His speculative mind naturally turned to real estate. One bargain, which he regretted later that he did not cling to with greater pertinacity, was the purchase for $150 of the entire block bound- ed by the present streets of La Salle, Randolph, Lake and Fifth Avenue, paying $10 to bind the bargain. The land being then only a "swamp hole," his mother miade such an outcry at what she thought would turn out to be a bad invest- ment, that he forfeited his first payment and never went on with the deal. It is historically inter- esting to compare that amount of money with what the present owners of the block (one of the choicest in our city ) would be likely to ask for it, If approached at this date.

He built the first (a log) house on North State (then called North Wolcott) Street, using it for a residence as early as 1842. Soon after coming to Chicago, Mr. Petrie invested in a piece of land 011 Dearborn Street, which resulted in making him quite wealthy, his rent-roll at one time be- ing, for the day, quite considerable. But his property in houses was swept away by the great fire of 1871, leaving but little insurance; and had it been insured in the local companies, it would not have been of much benefit, as most of them were compelled by the wholesale losses to go into bankruptcy. But he set about with such deter- mination that he soon made it all, or more, up again.

Some time after the Big Fire, he acquired a valuable piece of property on North State Street, where, at No. 273, he built a inodest home, which he called his homestead, and where he lived for the last twenty years of his life. Here he cele- brated his golden wedding, February 7, 1888; and here, after a lingering illness, he passed away to his final rest, November 30, 1890, at the

good old age of seventy-seven, fifty-one years of which had been honorably spent in the city of Chicago.

The deceased was one of the founders and stanchest members of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, under whose auspices the obsequies were held, which were attended by a number of the leading members of that sect in the city, and then interment was made in St. Boniface Ceme- tery. He had worked well, he had established a good family to bear on his name in this new coun- try, and the recent death of a dear son had even further resigned him to the mortal passing of the spirit.

For many years he was a prized member of the German Old Settlers' Society, at one of whose annual picnics Mr. Petrie and his wife, as the oldest couple present, in length of life in Amer- ica, were awarded a gold medal. Mrs. Petrie, at the Turngeminde picnic of 1883, was also given a gold medal for being the oldest lady settler present. This is now much treasured by a grand- daughter.

Mrs. Petrie survives her husband, filled with charitable thoughts, whose expressions have been so many and valuable that she is known for them all through the city. Although rather infirm in health, it is hoped by her many friends that she may long be spared for their delight and counsel. Eleven children have blessed their union, of whom three were taken in childhood. The fol- lowing is a brief account of them:

Charles S. was born September 25, 1840, and is Assistant Marshal and Secretary of the Chicago Fire Department, having charge of all machinery, engines and repair shops belonging thereto. He has been with the department ever since 1861, before that time having been employed as an en- gineer upon Mississippi River steamboats. He married Miss Martha Morton, of Nashville, Ten- nessee, by whom he has'nine living children: Philip, Nicholas, James, George, Charles, Jr., Louis, Mary, Mattie, Florence and Rosa.

Matthias P. was born September 15, 1842. His first business experience was with Berger, Ruh- ling & Company, wholesale toys, later traveling for a time for White & Company, wooden and wil-

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low ware. He then started a grocery at the corner of North Clark and Division Streets. After the fire of 1871, he became a member of the Board of Trade, from which he turned his atten- tion to the malting business with great success. He now has a large malt house at Burlington, Racine County, Wisconsin, where he resides. He married, November 15, 1864, Miss Katherine Weidinger, of this city, by whom he is at present the father of three children: Edward, unmarried, and an engineer in the Chicago Fire Department; Otto and Emma. Barbara, the next of the pa- rental family, was born September 18, 1844, and died January 15, 1868.

Nicholas, who was born on the 7th of Novem- ber, 1846, was married, on the 24th of Sep- tember, 1878, Miss Julia Schoen, of Chica- go, by whom he has two promising children, Cora and Katherine. He was with the One Hun- dred and Thirty-second Illinois Regiment in the Army of the Tennessee in 1864 and 1865, and acted some time as Orderly for Generals Paine and Pickett. He was in the Chicago Postoffice for a term of twenty-one years, having been the Super-

intendent of Foreign Mails when he resigned. He is now a wholesale and retail liquor dealer.

Michael, born October 14, 1848. is unmarried, and in the real-estate business, in which calling he is one of the oldest in the city, having formerly been in partnership with Mattocks & Mason. Joseph B., born October 24, 1855, was in the Chicago Postoffice as Superintendent of the North Division Postal Station, but of recent date with Kirk Brothers, as collector. He married Miss Laura Schlegel, of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, by whom he is the father of two children, Walter and Gertrude. Katherine, born February 26, 1857, married George Hack, a large wagon man- ufacturer of Crown Point, Ind .; she died Novem- ber 18, 1890, without issue. George Philip, born November 2, 1859, was a bookkeeper for his broth- er Michael; he died, single, September 17, 1891.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 38

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