Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 56

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

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LESTER DENNIS KLUMP.

ESTER DENNIS KLUMP is now living at the old homestead which Mr. Squier, his foster father, bought almost half a century ago. He was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, on the

22d of August, 1838, and is a son of John and Ollie (Fox) Klump. His father, who was a native of New York, was probably of German descent, and by trade a blacksmith. In 1864, he went from

436

CHARLES STRICKERT.

his home in Cleveland, Ohio, to Chattanooga, Tenn., where he was employed by the United States Government. A few months later he niet his death by accident. His wife had passed away in 1848, in Cleveland, Ohio, leaving two sons and two daughters: Mrs. Caroline Custard, now of Uniontown, Pa .; Lester D., of this sketch; Mrs. Charity Cook, a resident of Clementine, Mo ; and John, who makes his home in Ashtabula, Ohio. After the mother's death the family became scattered.

The subject of this notice was adopted by his uncle, Hiram Squier, of Blue Island, at which place he has since resided. His education was acquired in the public schools, and he remained at home until the 6th of August, 1862, when, prompted by patriotic impulses, he responded to the country's call for troops. He was assigned to Company G, Eighty-eighth Illinois Infantry, and served under Gens. Buell, Rosecrans and Thomas. He took part in the battles of Perry- ville, Ky., Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and the Atlanta and Nashville campaigns. He was with his regiment during the entire time except for about six months, when, on account of

sickness, he was unfitted for duty. He was neither wounded nor captured, although he participated in many hard-fought engagements. At Stone River he was knocked down by the concussion of an exploding shell, and left for dead, but soon re- covered and picked himself up. When the war was over and the country no longer needed his services, he was honorably discharged, on the 9th of June, 1865, and at once returned to his home.

Mr. Klump then resumed farming, which he successfully followed for a number of years, making the old homestead his home, where he still remains. He spent the season of 1876 in Harrison County, Iowa, and for a number of years past has lived retired. He is a member of the Universalist Church, and also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the Republican party, with which he has affiliated since casting his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He has never been an office-seeker, pre- ferring to give his entire time and attention to his business interests. He is an intelligent and cour- teous gentleman, widely known in this commun- ity, where he has spent the greater part of his life.

CHARLES STRICKERT.

HARLES STRICKERT, one of the honored veterans of the War of the Rebellion, for three years wore the blue and valiantly aided in the defense of the Union. He is not an American by birth, but her native sons showed no more loyalty than was displayed by him who was reared on foreign soil. He was born in Felmel- ten, Courensen, Prussia, on the Ist of March, 1838, and is a son of George W. and Elizabeth (Water- man) Strickert. The father was a farmer and died before the birtli of Charles. The mother af- terwards became the wife of George Mealhousen.

Charles Strickert attended school until fourteen years of age, in accordance with the laws of his native land, and in 1856 he came with the family to America, locating on a farm in Bremen Town- ship, Cook County, where his mother died May 27, 1862. Mr. Mealhousen passed away in 1889. When Charles was twenty-two years of age he began life for himself as a teamster in Blue Island, and for many years was thus employed. On the 12th of August, 1862, he laid aside business cares and joined Company B, Eighty-second Illinois Infantry, in which he served with credit until the

437

WILLIAM HENRY.

close of the war. On the 6th of July, 1865, he was honorably discharged in Chicago. He took part in the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettys- burg, and at the latter was captured and taken to Richmond, Va., where he remained a prisoner un- til paroled and exchanged. He then rejoined liis regiment, which was assigned to Gen. Sherman's command at Chattanooga, Tenn., and took part in the Atlanta campaign and the celebrated march to the sea He was also in the Carolina cam- paig11, and after leaving Goldsboro, N. C., while on a foraging expedition, he was captured, March 25, 1865, and taken to Andersonville. All of his money, his watch and clothing, except his shirt and pantaloons, were taken from him. On the 2d of April the rebels, who were then evacuating Richmond, took him and his comrades up the James River and liberated them. They soon reached the Union lines, where they obtained food and clothing, of which they were much in need. Mr. Strickert served under Gens. Sherman, Sie- gel, Hecker and Hooker, and was in many im- portant battles.

After the war was over, he returned to Blue Island, which has since been his home. For a few years past he has lived retired, enjoying a

well-earned rest. On the 23d of December, 1866, he was united in marriage with Katie Schardt, daughter of Henry and Hermina (Schmidt) Schardt and a native of Brooklyn, N. Y. Her par- ents were natives of Germany, and with them she came to Cook County in 1863. Her father died in Worth Township, February 15, 1864, and her mother, who long survived him, was called to the home beyond in November, 1891. To Mr. and Mrs. Strickert have been born eight children: Charles, Theresa and Clara, all now deceased; Amelia, wife of C. Brummer, of Blue Island; Ka- tie; George William; Lillian and Martha.

Mr. Strickert has filled numerous positions of public trust, and served as Inspector of Pavements, was Brick Inspector, etc., and is now Village Col- lector. He belongs to the Blue Island Volunteer Fire Company No. 2, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. His family attends the Lutheran Church. In politics, he has been a Republican since casting his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. The best interests of the community find in him a friend, and all who know him esteem him highly for his sterling worth.

WILLIAM HENRY.

ILLIAM HENRY, who for many years was prominently connected with the agri- cultural interests of Cook County, is now practically living retired on his fine farm on sec- tions 21 and 28, Worth Township. The record of his life is as follows: He was born in St. Anne de Nois, Lower Canada, on the 11th of July, 1832, and is a son of Robert and Victoria (Brun- el1) Henry. His father was a native of Litchi- field, Mass., and was of English descent. When a young man he removed to Canada, where he

was married. His wife was born in that country and was of French lineage.

When William was a child of nine summers the family removed to Troy, N. Y., and the father entered the employ of the Troy & Schenectady Railroad Company. He continued a resident of the Empire State until 1845, in which year he came with his wife and children to Illinois. For three years he worked on the Illinois & Michigan Canal near Lockport, and on the expiration of that period went to Chicago, where he also re-

438

WILLIAM BLACK.

mained three years. He afterwards became a resident of Auburn Park, and in 1863 he pur- chased a farm in Blue Island, where the remain- der of his days were passed. He was called to the home beyond March 29, 1864, at the age of sixty years, and his wife died in Worth Township two years later.

William Henry of this sketch is an only child. He obtained but a limited education, receiving no special privileges in his youth. He accompanied his parents on their various removals until 1854, when he left home and settled on a farm on section 21, Worth Township. It was a tract of wild prairie land, and after building a house he at once began to develop his farını. He has made there- on most excellent improvements, such as are in keeping with a model farm, and now owns two hundred and thirty-eight acres of valuable land, under a liigh state of cultivation. The chief crops there raised are grain, hay and potatoes. He has also engaged in breeding horses, and in his business has won success and a competence.

On the 1 1th of July, 1854, Mr. Henry was united in marriage with Miss Marcia Delia Lane, a na- tive of New York, and a daughter of De Witt Lane. They have three children, and lost two in infancy. William L., the eldest survivor, married Addie Josephine Smith, and they have one daughter, Jessie Marguerite. He now carries on the old homestead farm. Laura V. is the wife of Isaac Becker, of Danville, Ill .; and Nellie J. is the wife of J. N. Roy, of South Englewood.

Mr. Henry exercises his right of franchise in support of the Republican party, with which he has affiliated since casting his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont. Though his early education was somewhat neglected, he has been an extensive reader, and possessing a retentive memory has become a well-informed and useful citizen. He ranks among the foremost farmers of Worth Township in intelligence, integrity and business ability.

WILLIAM BLACK.

ILLIAM BLACK, deceased, for many years a prominent business man of Blue Island, was born in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, on the 25th of October, 1825, and died in this place, August 19, 1893, respected by all who knew him. His mother died during his early childhood, and his father, John Black, afterwards wedded Miss Mary Moore. About 1854 the lat- ter bade adieu to friends and native land and with his family sailed for America. He settled on a farm near the present town of Harvey, in this county, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1882.

William Black learned the trade of a black- smith in his native town, and in Scotland re-

mained until 1855, when he crossed the Atlantic. He spent one year in Montreal, Canada, and thence came to Illinois, locating first in Kankakee. In 1858, he took up his residence in Blue Island, where he opened a blacksmith and wagon shop, which he carried on until 1890, when he retired from active business and erected a home on Wal- nut Street, where his family still resides. There he spent his remaining days, enjoying the rest which he had truly earned and richly deserved.

On the 2d of August, 1850, Mr. Black was united in marriage with Miss Helen Sharp, daugh- ter of Thomas and Helen Sharp, and a native of Turiff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Their union was blessed with a family of ten children: Mary;

439

JOHN RYAN.

Helen; George; Thomas, who is living in Dow City, Iowa; William, who is principal of one of the schools in Englewood; Anna; Edward; Cath- erine; and Jessie and Grace, twins. The last- named is now the wife of W. Frank, of Farming- ton, Iowa. All received a fair education, and sev- eral are now teachers.

Mr. Black was an attendant upon the services of the Congregational Church. In politics, he was a supporter of the men and measures of the Republican party, and for several years was Vil- lage Trustee. He was a successful business inan, who won a competence, a kind husband and fa- ther, and a much esteemed citizen.

JOHN RYAN.

OHN RYAN, Assistant General Yard Mas- ter of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, with headquarters at Blue Island, has long been connected with that corporation, and is one of its most trusted and faithful em- ployes. A native of the Emerald Isle, he was born in Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland, on the Ist of November, 1843, and is a son of Michael and Mary (Ryan) Ryan. He attended school part of the time until eleven years of age, when, his parents having died, he and his twin brother Michael crossed the broad Atlantic to America. The voyage was made in a sailing-vessel, and was a long and tempestuous one of thirteen weeks, during which their supply of water and provis- ions was nearly exhausted and they were threat- ened with starvation. On the Ist of April, 1854, the brothers reached Kalamazoo, Mich., where Michael is still living. The subject of this biog- raphy there secured work as a brick-mason, be- ing thus employed until 1859, which year wit- 11essed his arrival in Chicago.

On his removal to the city, Mr. Ryan was em- ployed by a physician, with whom he came from Kalamazoo to Chicago. He was afterward em- ployed by James M. Walker, an attorney at law, and in 1862 he entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad, working in the Chicago freight house. Three years later he went to St. Louis, where he worked for the Northern Missouri, now

the Wabash Railroad. In 1872 he returned to Chicago and secured a position with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, with which he has been employed for twelve hours per day reg- ularly since, except for a few weeks when sick- ness detained him at home. During the past three years he has been Assistant General Yard Master, and since January, 1893, he has resided in Blue Island.

Mr. Ryan was married in 1860 to Miss Johanna Cumming, of Chicago, a native of Neneh, County Tipperary, Ireland. Their union has been blessed with four children: John P. and James M., who are now employes of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, and Mary and Ellen, who are still at home. The parents and children are all members of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Ryan belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, and the Yard Masters' Association, which includes all yard masters of the United States and Canada. In his political views, he is a Demo- crat, having supported that party since casting his first Presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas. He has, however, never sought political prefer- ment, giving his entire time and attention to liis business interests.

Soon after liis removal to Chicago, Mr. Ryan made plans to sail for Milwaukee on the ill-fated excursion steamner, "Lady Elgin," but fortunately was detained and failed to embark. That was

440

J. Y. SANGER.

the "Lady Elgin's" last voyage, for during the trip the vessel went down with several hundred passengers on board. Mr. Ryan twice witnessed the breaking down of the Rush Street bridge. During his early residence in Chicago, Ft. Dear- born and the Marine Hospital were still familiar landmarks in that neighborhood, and the princi- pal hotel and business houses were all located on Lake Street. He has witnessed the greater part

of the growth and development of the city, being familiar with its history from early times. Mr. Ryan is an affable, genial gentleman. In busi- ness he is distinguished for punctuality, regular- ity, and his just treatment of those under him. His long service and experience have made him practically indispensable to the corporation with which he is connected, and he is equally popular with employes.

JAMES YOUNG SANGER.

? AMES YOUNG SANGER was conspicuous for many years among the prominent eastern- born citizens of Illinois. His birthplace is in Sutton, Vt., his birth having occurred on the 7th of March, in the year 1814. He received a prac- tical common-school education, and was a pre- cocious youth in business matters. At the age of fourteen, he became head clerk in the store of Isaac Harris, of Pittsburgh, Pa., then the largest mercantile establishment of its kind in the city. He was methodical, devoted to the interests of his employers, remarkable for his readiness and facility in business, and commanded the admiring commendation of his associates.

His father, David Sanger, after removing from Vermont, associated with himself one of his sons, and they became contractors on the Erie Canal and other public works in the State of New York. They built some of the locks at Lockport, N. Y., and had other contracts on the canal, James Y. Sanger being associated with them. The four sons of David Sanger all became contractors and build- ers of public works. After completing their work in New York, they went to Pennsylvania and engaged in the same kind of business. Going from there to Ohio, they assisted in the construc- tion of the Ohio canals; still going westward, they performed similar work on the Wabashı &

Erie Canal. Following the completion of this undertaking, J. Y. Sanger moved to St. Joseph, Mich., where he opened a general store, and was interested in bridge-building and similar enter- prises.

In 1836 James Y. Sanger, his father and Gen. Hart L. Stewart came to Chicago and bid for contract work on the Illinois & Michigan Canal, which was let by the State of Illinois. Several of these contracts were secured by these gentle- men, who had formed a co-partnership for that purpose, and their first work was in the vicinity . of Chicago. As the work progressed southwest- ward, the canal was constructed where now the famous quarries of Lemont and neighboring towns are situated, and a vast amount of rockwork was excavated. They also built the aqueduct and bridge at Ottawa, the locks at Peru, and constructed various other public works. In the spring of 1840 J. Y. Sanger moved to Chicago.

The year 1842 proved disastrous to them. There was due them a large amount of money for work which they had performed at an im- mense outlay. The State defaulted payment, and they were compelled to accept in satisfaction of their claim State script, whose commercial value was twenty-five per cent. of its face repre- sentation. Mrs. Sanger received as a present

441

T. Y. SANGER.

from her husband $2,000 of this script, worth $500, with which she bought a lot, on which the Stewart House now stands. One half of this she afterward sold to her sister, the wife of Gen. Stewart, at cost price; upon the other half, which constituted the corner lot, she erected a two- story frame house, with frontage of twenty-five feet, and planted the remainder, a strip of fifteen feet, with trees and flowers for ornament. This property she sold a few years afterward for $12,000.

In the year 1850, James Y. Sanger, Gen. Stewart, L. P. Sanger and others organized a company to build public works, especially rail- roads, on a more extensive scale than the people of the West had ever seen them carried on be- fore. This organization was known as Sanger, Camp & Co., and its first undertaking was the construction and equipment of the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad, which was projected to run from East St. Louis to Vincennes, Ind. For the completion of one hundred and fifty miles of line the compensation was to be $5,000,000. Shortly afterward, they contracted with the Belleville & Alton Railroad Company to build a line from Belleville, by way of St. Louis, to Alton for $1,000,000. In the winter of 1853-54, the North Missouri Railroad Company contracted with this firm for a railroad from St. Louis to the Iowa State line, northwesterly one hundred and eighty miles. The estimates for this work were about $7,000,000. In 1855 another contract was made by Sanger, Camp & Co. to complete a railroad from St. Louis, by way of Vandalia, to the Wabash River, near Terre Haute, a distance of one hun- dred and sixty miles, and for this they were to receive $8,000,000. The total of the contracts undertaken by this company, within the dates mentioned, amounted to more than $21,000,000. Nothing more clearly illustrates the energy and enterprise of the members of this company than the mention of these figures. Their work was pushed with vigor, and their operations were watched with interest by the people of the entire West.

In addition to the works which the company constructed, and which have been already men-

tioned, a line of railroad fifteen miles in lengtlı was built from St. Louis to Belleville, which be- came one of the most profitable pieces of railroad property in the United States, in proportion to its length. The year 1857 scattered broadcast its calamities with an impartial hand, and financial troubles involved Sanger, Camp & Co., as they did thousands of others. The railroad companies with which their contracts were made were una- ble to meet their financial obligations, and this company was compelled to take $8,000,000 for the work they had performed, which, if completed according to the contract, would have brought them $21,000,000. In 1857 James Y. Sanger, disappointed in his expectations with regard to eastern railroads, turned his attention toward the West, and went to California, where he put in operation a railroad from Sacramento to Marys- ville, the first one ever operated in California. He remained on the Pacific Coast for two years, and then returned to Chicago.

At the outbreak of the Civil War he became a contractor for Government supplies, which con- tinued to be his principal business during the continuance of the war. After the return of peace, he again engaged in railroad work, and associated with Gen. James H. Ledlie in the or- ganization of a syndicate to build the Union Pa- cific Railroad. The syndicate secured several large contracts. Before any considerable amount of work had been done, Mr. Sanger's health failed, and he was disappointed in his expecta- tion of putting his whole time upon this pro- ject. In a short time his condition compelled him to abandon it entirely. His interest in the company was taken by Gen. John M. Corse, who was afterward Postmaster at Boston. Thus it was that Mr. Sanger missed an opportunity of sharing the large profits of this enterprise. He returned to Chicago, where he remained until his death, on July 3, 1867.

It was after his settlement at St. Joseph, Mich., that Mr. Sanger met Miss Mary Catherine Mc- Kibben, daughter of Col. James Mckibben, whose family had moved from Pennsylvania to Michigan after his death. Col. Mckibben's wife was the daughter of William Nelson, an Irish

442

H. W. THOMAS.

gentleman, who emigrated to America after the Revolutionary War and settled in Bedford, Pa., where his family grew up and his only daughter married Col. Mckibben. The acquaintance of Mr. Sanger and Miss Mckibben resulted in mutual affection and led to their marriage, which occurred at Lockport, Ill., April 5, 1841. Miss Mckibben was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., and was one of four children born to Col. and Mrs. McKibben. She was the true help- mate and companion of the noble husband whom she survives, and for the honor of whose memory she has performed many good works. She is familiar with the history of Chicago from the period of its early growth, and is still a resident of this city. She has been the mother of two sons and one daughter, all of whom were born in Chicago. One son, James McKibben Sanger, died Septem- ber 19, 1877, leaving two sons, James P. and John Foster Sanger. The other son, Fred W.

Sanger, resides in his native city. The daugh- ter is the wife of George M. Pullman, of Chicago.

For more than thirty years Mr. Sanger was one of the most prominent citizens of Illinois, and one whose efforts contributed as much as those of any other toward the growth and development of the State. The influence of the enterprises with which he was identified upon the commerce of the West is incalculable. The four hundred and fifty miles of railroad in the construction of which he was largely instrumental, were built at an out- lay of $12,000,000. It is not necessary to speak of the many lesser enterprises with which he was identified. He was widely known, not only in commercial, but also in social circles, and was a prominent member of the Masonic order. His success in life was due to his fertility of resource, his wonderful ability to recover from pecuniary embarrassments, and his indomitable energy.

REV. HIRAM WASHINGTON THOMAS.

EV. HIRAM WASHINGTON THOMAS, D. D., the subject of this sketch, is the son of Joseph and Margaret (McDonald) Thomas, who were well-to-do farmers in Hampshire Coun- ty, W. Va. On his father's side he is of Ger- man and Welsh, and on his mother's Scotch and English, extraction. Hiram is the fourth in a family of six children, having three brothers older and two sisters younger than himself, and was born in Hampshire County, among the moun- tains of West Virginia, April 29, 1832. When but a year old the family removed to Preston County, near the Maryland line, where he grew to manhood. He was naturally of a slender con- stitution, with a massive brain overtopping his body, and it was fortunate that his childhood and early manliood were spent on a farın among the

rugged mountains. The outdoor active life of a farmer toned up his physical constitution to a reasonable equality with his mental capacity, so that he has been able to bear an amount of in- tellectual work surpassed by few, and at the age of sixty years his vigor is unimpaired and his personal appearance still youthful. The educa- tional facilities of his native place were, fortn- nately perhaps for him, meagre and primitive, and he was left to the very necessary work of preparing a constitution for future use. The thirst for knowledge was, however, so great in him, that at the age of sixteen he went one hun- dred miles on foot to Hardy County, Va., and worked nights and mornings for a winter's school- ing at a little village academy. Two years after, one Doctor Mckesson, of his neighborhood, took

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 56

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