Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 46

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

USA > Illinois > Cook County > Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed. > Part 46

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

His progenitors for more than a century past had been conspicuous for their patriotism and disinterested public, spirit. The Darrow family is of English origin, and was one of the earliest to locate in Rochester, New York. John Dar- row, grandfather of Alexander, who was a black- smith by trade, while a young man helped to forge an immense chain which was stretched across the Hudson River to impede the passage up that stream of British war vessels. James, the son of John Darrow, settled on a farm in Orleans Coun- ty, New York, which he cleared of the primitive forest. About 1856 hie removed thence to Clar- endon, Calhoun County, Michigan, where his death occurred in 1884, when nearly eighty-four years of age. His wife, Mary Milliken, died there in 1880, at the age of seventy-five years. She was born in Peterborough, New Hampshire, and represented one of the earliest families of that commonwealth. Her grandfather participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, and his wife, Mrs. Mary Milliken, who is well remembered by the subject of this sketch, lived to the age of ninety- seven years, her death occurring in Clarendon, New York. Alexander Milliken, a son of this couple and the father of Mrs. Darrow, became an

influential farmer in western New York. His wife, Sally Nay, was a daughter of a Continental soldier who also fought at Bunker Hill. Mr. and Mrs. James Darrow were devout Presbyterians, and were distinguished for their devotion to prin- ciple. Their children were: Elizabeth, Mrs. A. C. Hopkins, of Homer, Michigan; Charles E., now a business man of Chicago; Russell; Alvira, Mrs. I. L. Winn, also of Chicago; Alexander H .; Sally Ann, Mrs. L. A. Harris, of Marshall, Michigan; James Henry; and John H. The last two are engaged in mercantile business at Homer, Michigan. All the members of this fam- ily are still living except Russell T., who enlisted in 1861 in Company M, Second Michigan Caval- ry, and for his gallantry was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant. The three years' term for which he enlisted had expired, and he was offered a Major's commission as an inducement to re-enlist. This he declined, but volunteered to remain with his company for a few days, and dur- ing this time he was killed at the battle of Frank- lin, Tennessee. James Darrow had been a con- servative Whig, as opposed to the Abolition wing of his party, but upon the outbreak of hostilities between the South and the North became a stanch supporter of the Government, and three of his sons, Russell T., Alexander H. and James H., became soldiers in its defense.

Alexander H. Darrow was born at Clarendon, Orlearns County, New York, November 20, 1841, and was educated at an academy at Holley, New York, and another at Homer, Michigan. In August, 1862, lie enlisted and was assigned to Company M, of General Sheridan's old regiment,

368

A. H. DARROW.

the Second Michigan cavalry. This regiment was employed on the skirmish line at Rienzi, Mississippi, when he joined it as a recruit, and for the next year and a-half he was almost con- stantly engaged in that line of duty. At the end of that period he was detailed as military book- keeper under Gen. Sooy Smith, Chief of Cavalry on General Grant's staff, with headquarters at Naslıville, Tennessee. When General Sherman succeeded to the command of this army, he con- tinued in the same capacity, but, having been granted a furlough at the time of the mnemorable march to the sea, he did not accompany that ex- pedition. Upon his return from furlough he was stationed at Louisville until the close of the war.

During the first part of his service, Mr. Darrow helped to form a detail of two hundred and fifty cavalrymen which escorted a wagon train loaded with supplies for the army from Gallatin, Ten- nessee, to Cave City, Kentucky. Upon arriving at Glasgow, toward evening, he and his comrades who composed the advance guard were surprised to find the town occupied by General Morgan with about six thousand Confederate cavalry. After a hurried consultation, the little band of Federals determined to charge the enemy, and attempt to run their wagons through the town, a design which was quickly and successfully car- ried out. They had no more than passed the out- skirts of the city, however, before the enemy recovered from their surprise and confusion, and, discovering the weakness of the wagon escort, fiercely pursued the train along the road to Cave City, to which point it escaped under cover of a re- lief party sent to its rescue, though about fifty Federals were captured. Mr. Darrow had his clothes riddled with bullets during the first charge, but escaped without wounds. He became sepa- rated from his command, and his horse, which was lame, stumbled and fell, throwing him heav- ily to the ground. This accident caused a tem- porary lameness, which prevented his escaping on foot, and he was captured and marched back to Glasgow. During the excitement and confusion of the evening, he managed to elude his guards and, under cover of the darkness, he made his way out of town and reached a farmhouse, where

he was kindly sheltered for a few days until he was able to travel. His host had a brother-in- law who was a Captain in Morgan's force. Mr. Darrow finally reached the Union lines at Mum- fordville, where he was warmly welcomed by his brother and other comrades, who had given him up for dead, as the other prisoners had been pa- roled and returned to camp several days pre- viously.

In 1868 he came to Chicago, and soon after en- tered the employ of the Republic Insurance Com- pany. Beginning as a clerk, he was promoted to the position of cashier of the company, which was the only Chicago insurance company which paid in full the losses sustained by the great fire. Its policy-holders received three and a-half mill- ions of dollars. In 1872 he became the state agent of the Agricultural Insurance Company of Watertown, New York, with which corporation he has ever since been identified. Since that time the premiums received in this state have nearly doubled, and for twenty-two years past he has been the General Agent for the Western De- partment, which now includes ten states. The offices of this branch have been for two years past in the Security Building, and under his able management the business has always been pro- gressive, profitable and satisfactory.

In November, 1867, Mr. Darrow was married to Miss Susan C. Johnston, daughter of William Johnston, of Marshall, Michigan, an early settler of that place. Mrs. Darrow is also a sister of Col. Thomas W. Johnston, of the Second Mich- igan Cavalry, who was for some years subsequent to the war a resident of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Darrow are the parents of five children, the two eldest sons being employed in connection with their father's business. Their names are: Will- iam H., Robert Lee, Zoe, Chrystal and Alexan- der H., junior.

Mr. Darrow is a member of the Illinois Club, the Masonic fraternity and Columbia Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He supports the Repub- lican party, though never an active politician. His life has been one of quiet, unostentatious industry and sobriety, and all who enjoy his ac- quantance accord him the highest respect.

369

F. M. BUCK.

FRANCIS M. BUCK.

FRANCIS MARION BUCK. Among the self-made inen of Chicago-that city em- bodying the most wondrous aggregation of human energy, perseverance and enterprise and their results-is found the subject of this notice. He was born on the 30th of July, 1855, in Ger- mantown, Tennessee, and is the second child of Edwin Gorum and Sophronia Melvina (Harrall) Buck. The family is an old one in America, of undoubted English origin, but little is now posi- tively known of the time of its planting here. Frederick Buck, father of Edwin G., was born in Pitt County, North Carolina, in 1793, and died in Henderson County, Illinois, in 1871. Edwin G. Buck was born January 31, 1823, in North Carolina, and his wife, October 12, 1830, in Ten- nessee. They were married in the latter State November 7, 1850. Only two of their nine chil- dren are now living, most of them having died from the effects of la grippe, and all having passed away within recent years. Following is the record of their birth: Cornelius, October 12, 1851, and Mary Ellen (now living, married), May 12, 1858, in Tennessee; Sarah M., Septem- ber 21, 1860, in Southern Illinois; Louisa D., May 15, 1864, and Etta S., October 18, 1866, in Henderson County, Illinois; Eddie, March II, 1869, in Tecumseh, Kansas; Irvin, January 23, 1872, and Alice, March 25, 1874, 11ear Topeka, Kansas. From Tennessee the father of this fam- ily removed to Illinois, living for a short time near Golconda, whence he removed to Henderson County, in the same State. In October, 1868, he moved to Kansas by team, and after living a short time in Tecumseh he took a homestead in Dover, near Topeka, where he now resides, at

the age of seventy-two years. His faithful help- meet and companion passed away in June, 1894, in her sixty-fourth year.

Francis M. Buck was in his ninth year when his parents came to reside near Oquawka, Illinois, and his education, as far as school attendance goes, was completed in the grammar school of that place before the removal of the family to Kansas. When he was about fourteen years old he left home and has since maintained himself. From a humble sphere of life he has risen to a position of great responsibility in the management of one of Chicago's largest enterprises. His father prophesied, on his leaving home, that, on account of his positive and determined character, he would either make a great success or a com- plete failure. His first employment was in a liv- ery stable in Topeka, where he was engaged by Silas Rain. His first care was to make himself useful, and with such energy and tact did he pro- ceed that he was placed in charge of the barn at the end of two months, and remained in that po- sition over two years. Returning then to Hen- derson County he was employed by the month as a farm hand by Lewis Duke, of Rozetta, with whom he remained during the summer miost of the time, until his removal to Chicago in Janu- ary, 1879. In the mean time he found employ- ment in winter in the village of Oquawka.

On his arrival in Chicago Mr. Buck began to look for employment, with varying success. In March, 1880, he engaged in the manufacturing department of the Western Toy Company, at $4.50 per week. Within three months his salary was raised to $7, and later to $10. In the mean time he purchased a membership in the night

370

F. M. BUCK.

school of the Bryant & Stratton Business College, and on resigning his position with the Toy Com- pany at the end of a year, he attended the day sessions of the business college for several months. His next engagement was with Sprague, Warner & Co., wholesale grocers, being placed in charge of their branch warehouse at 39 River Street, where he continued nearly a year. He now re- signed to engage in business on his own account. In partnership with H. Jaeschke, a practical butcher, he purchased a meat market at Division and Moore Streets, and immediately took charge of the business management, and in a short time built up from a small patronage a flourishing trade among the best people of the North Sidc. When his partner undertook to supply their cus- tomers with inferior meats, a dispute arose, and Mr. Buck withdrew from the firm, disposing of his interest at a handsome profit on his original investment.

When he took employment with the Chicago Telephone Company, Mr. Buck became associated with employers who soon recognized his ability and appreciated his conscientious efforts to suc- ceed. He was first placed in charge of its Amer- ican District Telegraph office at 515 Wabaslı Avenue, with four messengers, In nine months he had so extended the business that it required eleven messengers, and he was then transferred to the main office of the district business, at 118 La Salle Street, with the position of assistant manager. His effort to improve the service here resulted in a strike of the messengers. This he speedily overcame, with the restit that the serv- ice was improved and the business became at once more profitable to his employers. Soon after this he was appointed assistant superintendent of the American District Telegraph in Chicago, and after a few months general agent, in charge of all its contract work in the messenger, burglar- aların and watch service. After discharging the duties of this position for a year, he was made contract agent of the Chicago Telephone Com- pany for the city of Chicago, and six months afterward his territory was extended to include its entire field of operations, reaching out about seventy-five miles in every direction from the city.

His responsibility was again extended, at the end of one and one-half years, when lie was given en- tire charge of rates as well as contracts. Some idea of the growth of the business of this concern may be gained from the statement that when Mr. Buck became contract agent there were twenty- five hundred subscribers, while there are 110W more than ten thousand in the city alone. His practical experience in various subordinate posi- tions made him familiar with the remotest detail of the business, and he is 110w able to perform more work, and in a much more satisfactory nian- ner at the same time, than one not having had the benefit of a similar training. In this connec- tion it may be mentioned that he was never dis- charged from any position which he undertook to fill, but has always made himself a useful and profitable assistant to his employers. He is an affable, genial gentleman, and always finds time to be courteous in the midst of a busy and re- sponsible life. He is a member of the Union League Club and the Art Institute, and a Deacon of the Englewood Baptist Church-one of the largest congregations in the city. In political strife he has usually acted with the Democratic party.

In August, 1880, Mr. Buck married Miss Nettie A. Russell, who was born in Dundee, Illi- nois, January 5, 1862. One child is the result of this union, born in April, 1881, and named Bessie Rue Rose Buck. Mrs. Buck's parents, Ruell D. Russell and Sarah A. Wilbur, were born, respect- ively, January 22, 1821, and May II, 1837, and were married November 1, 1855. Mrs. Nettie A. Buck died April 15, 1886.

Mr. Buck was again married, this time, June 30, 1887, to Miss Mollie K. Duke, who was born at Rozetta, Henderson County, Illinois, June 4, 1864. Mrs. Buck's father, Lewis Duke, was born in England on the 30th of December, 1832, and her mother, Fannie King (Coghill) Duke, in Henderson County, Illinois, December 23, 1842.

The history of the Coghill family in England and America is an interesting and well-authen- ticated one. The founder, so far as the records show, was John Cockhill, who lived in the castle

JOHN NAPER

371

JOHN NAPER.

of Knaresborough, in the County of York, during the reigns of Richard III. and Henry IV., between 1377 and 1413. Either he or his only heir changed the name to its present form, and it thus appears in all the records of marriages, baptisms and burials in Knaresborough Church. The records show a will, dated October 9, 1585, made by Thomas Coghill, of Tentergate, in the town- ship of Scriven, and parish of Knaresborough, who was the eldest son of Marmaduke Coghill. The family was prominent in military and naval affairs. Three fell in battle-one in Africa, one in Europe, and the third in America. One served with distinction in Asia, and another was vice- admiral on the high seas.

Benjamin C. Coghill, grandfather of Mrs. Buck, was born in Carolina County, Virginia, in 1826, and died in 1880. The records of the family, in his handwriting, show that a son of Thomas Cog- hill, Sr., left England in 1664 and settled in Essex County, Virginia, where he died in 1685. In 1764 a portion of Essex County became merged in Carolina County, Virginia, in which precinct the father and grandfather of Benjamin C. Cog- hill, William and Thomas Coghill, Sr., respect- ively, were prominent citizens. The children of Benjamin C. Coghill were Benjamin C., Millicent E., Fannie K. and J. W. Coghill. Mrs. Buck is a worthy descendant of her noble ancestors, and the congenial wife of a worthy husband.

JOHN NAPER.

] OHN NAPER. If New Germany, like New England, is a part of America, surely its capital is not far from our chief metropolis, Chicago, in the fair state of Illinois. Like the early settlers Down East, most of our Teutonic citizens first come among us with limited means, but with a determined will to do and become something respectable, and often honorable. As a race very industrious, sober, healthy and in- telligent, they soon prove their right to enjoy in the highest sense the full responsibilities of Amer- ican freemen; we therefore frequently find those of the second and third generations have become some of our best educated, richest and most influ- tial leaders in both private and public life.

One of these early Germans was born at Han- over in the year 1814, his name being John Na- per, the subject of this sketch, who, as one of Chicago's early settlers, and the father of children who already have proven their abilities as repre- sentative citizens of the United States, is entitled

to have the worthiest facts of his useful life pre- served herein for the benefit of future genera- tions.

Mr. Naper's father was a Catholic, while his mother was a Lutheran. He himself. as often happens, finding his chief strength in the faith of his maternal ancestor, became a conscientious Lutheran, and was for long years preceding his death a member of St. Paul's Church of that denomination in this city.

Coming to America in 1842, he directly made his way to Chicago, and the following year con- summated a real-estate transaction which will suffice to keep his offspring in comfortable cir- cumstances for many years to come. It is hard for one, looking at Chicago as it is to-day, to fully realize the village (nothing more) which greeted the eyes of those earlier comers; and thereby hangs the circumstance which enabled those of foresight, within the span of a single lifetime, to become wealthy, by the simple method of holding

372

JOHN NAPER.

to a moderate piece of land. In the spring of 1843 Mr. Naper bought, for the very small price of $200, two-thirds of the block of real estate now in the center of activity upon the North Side, and within three squares of the great New- berry Library. It is situated between Rush and State Streets, and Walton and Delaware Places, but at that time was withont highways, even without survey, being a portion of the old Canal Lands. This right he acquired from a Norwegian named Johnson, who had it direct from the Gov- ernment. Mr. Naper held it to the time of his death, when it was peaceably subdivided among his large family. A small part of it, at the south- west corner of Rush Street and Walton Place, is now occupied by that magnificent family hotel, The Majestic.

On this block, on the Rush Street side, in the '40s there was a district school, which at the end of that decade was done away with, and aside from a few still remaining building sites of choice property, the ground is now entirely built over with substantial residences.

Here Mr. Naper set up his humble home soon after his arrival in America, and he clung to it with all the tenacity of those home-loving people. His first home was on Rush Street; thence lie re- moved to the Walton Place side, where he was burnt out by the big fire of 1871, after which he constructed at what is now No. 43 Delaware Place a neat frame residence, where his widow and some of his younger children at present reside.

In the earlier days there was less of class dis- tinction, more of common-sense, in men's rela- tions one with another; and so, although but a market-gardener, being an honest man, he was greeted with respect by many of our most famous men, such as Judge Skinner, Cyrus H. McCor- mick, J. Y. Scammon, John Kinzie, and others, who have, like Mr. Naper, now passed to their long home. Upon this block, Mr. Naper main- tained a well-regulated, valuable market-garden, and those whose tables were supplied from the produce of his lands knew they were getting the best and purest that careful husbandry could raise. He was a quiet, peaceable, honest, indus- trious citizen, of the sort of stuff that best befits

men who start in to build up a new country. A stanch Republican in politics, he never sought public life, though he left a son whose services have been conspicuous in the city's annals.

For about two years prior to his death, he was a quiet but excessive sufferer from that bodily scourge, gastritis. Resigned to the will of his Maker, he passed away on the 15tli of October, 1882, and was interred in the family lot at Grace- land, overlooking the lake whose sounds were such music to him in life's struggles.

Mr. Naper was twice married; first, in 1843. to Anna Stuven, who came from Schauley, Ger- many (near the boundary of Holland) in that year, with her parents. They had three children, two of whom died in infancy, but Henry G. Na- per, born September 30, 1848, lived to grow to an honorable manhood, connected in various ca- pacities with the city government since he became seventeen years of age, having been Chief Permit Clerk in the Water Department at the time he was retired by Mayor Hopkins in 1894, after which he took a trip to California. He married, in 1876, Louise Deverman, of this city, by whom he has four children: Herbert J. (now in the senior class of the Chicago Manual Training School), George H., May A. A. and Erwin G.

Mr. Naper, Sr., married for his second wife Miss Augusta Catherine Dorothea Hufmeyer, a daughter of John Adam and Gertrude (Gang) Hufmeyer. She was born near Osnabruck, Han- over, and came to America with her parents when a little girl of only three years of age, first to Syr- acuse, but shortly to their future liome, Chicago, where she was educated, and married to the sub- ject of this sketch on the 6th of March, 1850. Nine children blessed their happy wedded life, all but one of whom lived to be a comfort to their parents. John Adam was born June 7, 1851, became a bookbinder by trade, and has consider- able real-estate interests; he married Frederica Abel, July 4, 1889, by whom he has a pretty daughter, Mabel. Herman, born October 1, 1853, is yet a single man, and for long years has worked for "Uncle Sam" as letter carrier. Helen M., born April 1, 1856, married, October 19, 1886, Frank L. Smith, of this city, where he is employed as a

373

G. W. SPOFFORD.

soliciting agent, having been for a time Govern- inent Storekeeper in early days. Mary L. was the next: Lizzie J., born July 17, 1861, married, March 29, 1887, Charles E. Barmm, Ph. D., M. D., Professor of Chemistry, Toxicology and Urinalysis of the American Medical College, of In- dinapolis, Indiana. Louise W. died single, after she had grown to the flower of womanhood. Ed- ward J., born June 17, 1867, married, April 14, 1892, Anna M. Horn, of this city; he is a book-

keeper by occupation. Amelia B. is the youngest child.

On an opposite page will be seen the honest, kindly face of Mr. Naper, which will be viewed with a proud satisfaction by his descendants for inany generations to come, as they turn to this dignified source of information to learn how their first parents in America made the beginning of future prosperity to unborn hundreds.

GEORGE W. SPOFFORD.

EORGE WASHINGTON SPOFFORD, a well-known citizen of Chicago, was born in Peterborough, New Hampshire, August 9, 1831. He is a son of Ira and Miriam (Atwood) Spofford. The first authentic record of the Spof- ford family is found in the "Domesday Book," showing the allotment of lands in England to the followers of William the Conqueror in 1066. By that division this family was dispossessed of its lands, which were given to the Earl of Percy. Eleven generations of the family are traced in England, and among its members were very many prominent ecclesiastics, one of whom was Thomas Spofford, Lord Archbishop of York. The family coat-of-arms is still preserved, bearing the motto, "Rather deathe than false of faythe." Spofford Castle, in Yorkshire, is said to be the best pre- served ruin in England. The earlier generations were devout Catholics, but in 1554 Rev. Bryan Spofford, a contemporary of the Earl of Canter- bury, having married, refused to put away his wife and children in accordance with the edict of the church, and became a Protestant.

The first American ancestor was Rev. John Spofford, son of an Episcopalian minister, who came from Spofford, Yorkshire, and settled at Georgetown, Massachusetts, in 1634. The subject of this notice represents the eighth generation in America. His grandfather, Amos Spofford, served three years in the Continental army, entering the service at the age of fourteen years as a sub-

stitute for his father, who was drafted. When the family received notice of this conscription, a sheep was hastily shorn, and front the fleece his mother spun and wove cloth to equip him for this duty.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 46

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