USA > Illinois > Cook County > Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed. > Part 67
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512
G. W. SHERWOOD.
self-appointed labors, of useful upbuildings from nothing to what has now become one of Chicago's most solid suburbs-within-limits.
Nor must we neglect to note that he was chiefly instrumental in first bringing the post office to his town, where he saw it located in one of his build- ings, and in juxtaposition to which he put in a first news line. When the beautiful South Park was being laid out, he aided mnuch in teaming toward shaping that urban paradise. We thus for the first time begin to realize what a inan he was for the auspicious openings of a new place of metropolitan residence; he did more than any other in making business commencements, and was a source of cheer and encouragement to those who sought their fortunes in that environment up to the very day of his death.
In 1883 came the severest visit of fire expe- rienced by the new town, Mr. Sherwood's loss including every building he owned, save his pri- vate residence at No. 6317 Wentworth Avenue (still standing and occupied by his widow). Fortunately, being well insured, and having more good fortune than some in obtaining favorable settlements with the underwriters, he was soon enabled to reconstruct his visible signs of pros- perity.
Then, in December, 1886, came the beginning of the end, in that "unwelcome visitor and grim," heart disease. His life had been altogether too active; at the expense of reserve vital energy, he had been slowly selling his existence to railways for ordinary wages, giving up, to enhance their fortunes, hours required by nature for sleep or rest, until imprudence became a habit. Finally came a day of reckoning, to whose demands all of us in turn must yield ourselves. In October, 1890, he had a heavy stroke of paralysis, followed by another, and yet a third at the time of his death, September 4, 1894. His remains were borne by hosts of loving friends to Oakwoods Cemetery, where they wait the final call to judg- ment.
He was a very liberal man in his religious views, not regularly attending any place of public worship, but a quiet, worthy citizen, respected by all, and exceedingly liberal at all times with
his purse in helping charities and struggling churches. The poor did not seek him in vain. Politically he was a "dyed-in-the-wool" Demo- crat, faithful to firm convictions; fraternally, a Blue Lodge Mason. A bright, shining light went out when our old friend was no more on this earth. The first generation of Englewood had no more truly historical personage; for when the final audit of its commercial prosperity and be- ginnings is heard, George Wesley Sherwood will be found in the front rank, if not, indeed, the very leader.
He was married November 19, 1853, by An- derson H. Sargeant, his uncle, a Justice of the Peace (with whom in boyhood he made his home for several years), at Adrian, Michigan, to Miss Abigail Matilda Osborn, who survives him, and promises, like her ancestry, to live to a good old age. They had eleven children, three of whom dying without issue, we do not enumerate by name; the eight living are as follows: Edward Wesley, in the employ of the Pittsburgh & Fort Wayne Railway; George Porter, foreman on the Chicago end of the Pullman and Hastings Ex- press; Alice May, who married Wilson K. Hoyt, of Mishawaka, Indiana; Mary Adelia, who mar- eied William J. Black, Superintendent of street sprinkling in Englewood; Lucia Dewey, who married John S. Blaksley; Carrie Matilda, Charles King, Albert Rollins. The last three being young and unmarried.
It is matter for deep regret that no more has been ascertained by research of the immediate relatives about the Sherwood antecedents, which are undoubtedly of very respectable origin.
Of Mrs. Sherwood's line, however, it is possible to give a very correct and extended, as well as highly honorable, pedigree. Her parents came to Michigan in 1840, from Abingdon, Massachu- setts, their names being John William and Mary Whiting Osborn (nee Wheeler). The said John W. Osborn was a son of John Osborn, who served in the Revolutionary War upon the famous war vessel "Alliance," Capt. Luther Litts, of Marslı- field, Massachusetts, and was engaged in the bloody battle of Halifax Harbor, Nova Scotia, at which time Capt. Litt's men boarded and cap-
MRS. DELIA SHERWOOD
513
G. A. EMERY.
tured an English man-of-war, (his brother Thomas was with Washington's army at Roxbury, while he was besieging Boston; also at Yorktown, at the time of surrender of Lord Cornwallis,) he married Miss Abigail McFarlane.
'The last said Jolin Osborn was a son of George Osborn, who came to America in boyhood, first settling in Boston, and following the sea for some years; afterwards, in 1753, at the age of twenty, settling at Pembroke, Massachusetts, building a home nearly opposite the "Old Osborn House." He was one of a company of minute men on the memorable day of the Battle of Lexington, to march from Pembroke to Marshfield, and, accor-
ding to the Muster Roll in the State Archives, at Boston, he "served 2 days; wages per month, {2; due, 2 s .; miles traveled, 40." He married (1), Sarah Wade, of East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, by whom he had twelve children, eight being males; (2), Deborah Atwood, by whom he had three children.
The above Mary Whiting Wheeler (Osborn) was a daughter of Willianı Wheeler, of Vermont, (a son of William Wheeler, who married Sarah Parkhurst, ) who married Miss Jerushr Whiting, a daughter of Jotham and Susannah Whiting (nee Wilder, descended from a branch of the early Hingham, Massachusetts, Wilders).
GEORGE A. EMERY.
F EORGE AUGUSTUS EMERY, one of the most prominent real-estate dealers of Chi- cago, was born in Hampden, Me., November 2, 1831. The genealogy of the Emery family can be traced back to John and Agnes Emery, of Romsey, Hampshire, England. They occupied high stations in life, belonging to the titled classes of England. Their sons, John and N. Anthony E., sailed from Southampton in 1635, in the ship "James" of London, William Cooper master, with their wives and one or two children, landing in Boston on the 3d of June. They went soon after to Newbury, Mass. The subject of this sketch is a direct descendant of Anthony Emery, who resided in Newbury until 1640. He then removed to Dover, N. H., and in October of that year lie signed the Dover Combination. In 1649, he re- moved to Kittery, Me., and was prominently identified with the interests of that town, holding several important offices. He was a capable bus- iness man, energetic, independent, resolute in purpose, bold in action and severe in speech, and did not hesitate to express his opinions. He died
about 1680. The following are the names of the heads of the families of this branch in regular or- der: Anthony, James, Joseph, John, John, Dan- iel and George A.
The records show that the Emery family has always been prominently represented in all the walks of American life, the learned professions and in military circles, bearing its part in the various wars in which this country has engaged. They have ever been regarded as honored and re- spected citizens.
Daniel Emery, father of our subject, was a son of John and Abigail (Wasgatt) Emery. He was born in Hampden, Me., and there resided until his death in August, 1864. He was married first in 1820 to Hannah Sabine, who died February 27, 1825. In 1827, he married Lydia McDonald, whose deatlı occurred in 1828. The children born of these marriages were Hannalı Clark, Daniel Clark and Louisa Maria. The third wife, to whom he was married July 1, 1829, was Elmira Crosby. Her death occurred December 18, 1883. She was a daughter of Gen. John Crosby, an influential
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G. A. EMERY.
citizen, wealthy man and brave officer. The chil- dren of the third marriage are John Crosby, George Augustus, Franklin, Charles, Sarah Crosby, Elmira C., Edwin E., Ann Eliza and Lucius. Daniel Emery was a successful farmer and merchant. He owned ships and carried on an extensive business with the West Indies, ex- changing lumber for sugar and molasses. He was one of the valiant soldiers of the War of 1812, and served his country in the capacity of Colonel with Hon. Hannibal Hamlin as aide-de-camp. Mr. Em- ery distinguished himself as a brave and fearless officer. He was always a leader in public affairs and was considered a very influential man. He held several important offices, and was for twenty- eight years Representative and Senator in the Maine Legislature, and was United States Collector of Customs in Bangor, Me., for eight years, being the first Collector ever appointed for that port.
George Augustus Emery received his school education at Hampden Academy, the oldest institution of learning in the State, having been established more than a century ago. He left school at fifteen, and remained at home until sev- cnteen years of age, when he resolved to seek his fortune in California; so in the spring of 1850 he took passage in the barque, "J. W. Paige," for a trip around Cape Horn. There were one hundred and twenty-five passengers, and the tick- ets sold for $250 cach. One hundred and sixty-nine days were occupied in making the trip, which was very pleasant on the whole, although rough weather was experienced off Cape Horn. Brief stops were made at Rio Janeiro, Brazil and Tal- cuanho, Chili. After making necessary prepar- ations for mining, Mr. Emery left San Francisco with his partner, Horace Atwood, former mate of the ship. The mines first visited were on the north branch of the Yuba River. Here they were quite successful, digging gold to the value of from $30 to $40 per day. Mr. Emery was thus engaged for three months, when, finding that he was unfit- ted for this hard life and exposure, he being small of stature and weighing only ninety pounds, he determined to seek other employment. F. F. Low, an old schoolmate, since Governor of California, Member of Congress and Minister to China, and
now a prominent banker of San Francisco, was then in the grocery business at Marysville, Cal. He offered Mr. Emery a position, and our subject remained in his employ for five years. Mr. Low then closed out his business and opened a bank in Marysville under the name of Low Bros. & Co. In this business, Mr. Emery became interested as partner. In 1855, he returned home on a short visit by way of Nicaragua. It was at this period that he first visited Chicago, with a view of locat- ing here, should he find a good opening for busi- ness, but the Golden State held out stronger in- ducements, and he soon returned to California, crossing the Isthmus by way of Panama. Soon after his return, gold was discovered in large quantities in Oroville, and his firm established a branch bank at that place, under the name of George A. Emery & Co., in which they did a large and successful business. Mr. Emery at this time was Treasurer of twenty-two institutions, the largest being the Union Cape Mining Co., which carried on the largest mining operations ever undertaken in California. He bought large quantities of gold dust, which was shipped to the United States Mint in San Francisco, and for some time kept a constant stream of gold dust going to the mint and a stream of gold coin returning. Altogether he shipped to the mint three hundred thousand ounces, or five tons, of gold dust. His credit at the United States Mint was unlimited, and he continued in this business until May, 1860, at which time he had accumulated what was con- sidered a fair fortune. His father and friends at home feared that in some way he might lose it if he remained in California, so, finally yielding to their solicitude, he sold out his business an. returned to Hampden, Me., by the Isthmus route. While in California, Mr. Emery was a member of the Vigilant Committee and took an active part in keeping law and order among the criminal classes and desperadoes.
Soon after arriving home, Mr. Emery was mar- ried to Miss Frances Snow, of Troy, N. Y. He took great pride in the old homestead, and spent several thousand dollars in beautifying it, to the delight and satisfaction of his parents. In 1867, he paid a second visit to Chicago, and was so well
515
C. W. EARLE.
pleased with the city, which seemed in those days very much like California, that he immediately returned to Maine for his family. He first went to reside in Evanston, where he spent one year, but realizing, even at that early day, that Chicago was going to be the great city it has proved to be, he removed to the South Side and there invested his money in real-estate on the prominent avenues on the South Side. Mr. Emery has always been a firm believer in the future of Chicago and the South Side. He has been engaged in real-estate business ever since his arrival here, and through his long experience is probably better informed on land values than the majority of men. He was one of the few who went through the panic of 1873 unscathed. He has never been sued or had a judgment entered against him, is honor- able and just in his dealings, and now is in the front rank of men remarkable for their energy.
Mr. Emery is domestic in his tastes, being very fond of home and family. The only society with which he is now connected is that of the Califor- nia Pioneers, whose monthly meetings he attends regularly. While in Maine, he joined the Mystic Lodge of Masonry. He was brought up in the Orthodox Church, but his family are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics, he is a Democrat and takes an active interest in the lead- ing questions of the day. On the Ist of January, 1862, in Hampden, Me., Mr. Emery married Miss Frances, daughter of Col. Thomas Snow. Her
mother's maiden name was Permelia Hopkins. Her father, who had served in the War of 1812, was a liglily respected and gallant officer. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Emery, four yet living. Minnie is the wife of Charles Pickett, attorney for the First National Bank. They have one child, Frances. Fred A. married Millie Byers. George Francis married Olive Simpson. Louise resides with her parents.
Mr. Emery has a very interesting collection of old papers, among which is his father's colli- mission as Colonel in the War of 1812, his ap- pointment as Collector of Customs of Bangor, and the reports and correspondence pertain- ing to the same from the United States Gov- ernment, all of which show that his duties were performed in an efficient and satisfactory man- ner. He also has books and papers relating to his career in California, which attest the mag- nitude of his business transactions while there; and he has a large collection of letters which he wrote to his parents, descriptive of life in the Golden State, forming altogether a very interest- ing as well as valuable memento. Mr. Emery is a very energetic man, even at this date, at the age of sixty-three years, but he is modest, unassum- ing and rather reluctant to be interviewed. We prophesy for him the same success in life in the future that he has attained in the past-if not a greater.
CHARLES W. EARLE, A. M., M. D.
D HARLES WARRINGTON EARLE, A. M., M. D., the subject of this sketch, was born in the State of Vermont, and was a descendant of Ralph Earle and his wife Joan, who came from Exeter, England, and settled at Portsmouth, Rhode Island, probably in 1634, and became the
progenitors of the numerous Earle family of Amer- ica, which is now represented in every State and Territory in the Union. The genealogy of the family shows that many descendants of Ralph Earle have been especially prominent in the dif- ferent professions and occupations.
516
C. W. EARLE.
Moses L. Earle, the father of Charles W., re- sided at Westford, Vermont, where the son was born on the 2d of April, 1845. Nine years later, the family, consisting of the parents and a son and daughter, removed to Lake County, Illinois, where they settled on a farm. There they experienced the usual hardships of farmers in this portion of the West at that time. In the warm season the labor of carrying on the farm was attended to, and in the colder portion of the year the children at- tended school.
Charles Earle's life did not vary from that of the others until he was sixteen years of age, when the War of the Rebellion began, and he, a strong, robust boy, considered that his country demanded his service in her hour of need, and hastened to enlist in the Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, which was mustered into the service of the United States in the summer of 1861. The regiment was enlisted for a period of three months, but on reaching Freeport it was announced that the full quota of three-months men had been recruited. The al- ternative of discharge or of remaining in the three- years service remained. Young Earle and his companions preferred to enlist, and in a short time found themselves at the front, operating with Gen. Fremont in Missouri. In the fall of 1861, young Earle was disabled while assisting to un- load a transport on the Missouri River, and was discharged from the service on account of disa- bility. Returning home, he remained there until his recovery, and then, in deference to his father's wishes, went to Burlington, Wisconsin, and at- tended the academy there until the spring of 1862. He then responded to President Lincoln's call for three hundred thousand volunteers and became a member of the Ninety-sixth Regiment Illinois Infantry. This regiment was camped at Rock- ford, Illinois, until the demonstrations of the Con- federate General, John Morgan, began to threaten the cities on the Ohio River, when it was sent south and joined the command of Gen. Gordon Granger. In the spring of 1863 they first saw active service with Gen. Rosecrans in Tennessee.
Soon after his re-enlistment young Earle was made Orderly-Sergeant, and when the regiment was at Franklin, Tennessee, he was promoted to
the Second Lieutenancy of his company. He commanded his company at Chickamauga and was twice slightly wounded. His conduct on the field of battle received special commendation from his regimental commander. In this battle his com- pany went in forty-five men strong and came out with ten, several of whom, including himself, were slightly wounded.
Several years after the war, Col. George Hicks delivered an address at Kingston, Jamaica, rela- tive to the services of the Ninety-sixth Regiment, in which he said: "I found that I had now only a very few men with ine and I should have thought that I had wholly strayed from my regiment, were it not that I had with me the colors of the regi- ment, together with the commander of the color company - the intrepid boy-Lieutenant, lion- hearted, fearless, unflinching Charlie Earle, whose name must be inscribed high among the highest on the roll of Chickamauga heroes."
On the following day, September 22, Lieut. Earle, with the remnant of his company, was ordered to reinforce the pickets on the summit of Missionary Ridge, and to remain in the position to which they were assigned until relieved by proper authority. Their position was greatly exposed, and through the cowardice of the staff officer, who failed to relieve them at the proper time, they were captured by the enemy.
On the night of October I, they passed inside the gates of Libby Prison, where Lieut. Earle found himself a fellow-prisoner with Gen. Neal Dow, of Maine, Chaplain McCabe, fourteen Col- onels, thirty-five Lieutenant-Colonels, thirty-nine Majors, more than three hundred Captains and about seven hundred and fifty Lieutenants. He remained in Libby till the 9th of February, 1864, when he escaped, at the time of the famous deliv- ery planned by Col. Thomas E. Rose, of the Seventy-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry. Lieut. Earle and his particular friend, Capt. Charles E. Rowan, were informed of the project to escape soon after the tunnel was begun, and assisted in constructing it. The experiences incident to its construction and their subsequent escape from prison were the subject of a pamphlet published by Dr. Earle some years ago, in which he set forth
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C. W. EARLE.
in graphic manner the story of their adventures. After six days and nights of peril, exposed to the greatest hardships, they saw a squad of cavalry a few hundred yards in advance which they recog- nized as Federal soldiers and knew they were safe. What followed is best expressed in the writer's own words. He says:
"It is impossible to express in appropriate words our feelings at that time; indeed, I doubt my ability to do so. No words of mine could form a fitting peroration to that event, commenc- ing at tlie terrible battle of Chickamauga- a bat- tle than which none could be more bravely fought, in which scores of my young friends went down, school-mates and neighbors-and ending with an escape from military prison, the anxiety and solici- tude of that picket duty, the thousand-mile trip to a Confederate prison, the joys and sorrows, the hopes and disappointments, the waitings and watchings while incarcerated, and the days and nights of peril and sufferings and cold and hun- ger, the swamps and briar thickets, the anticipa- tion of success, and the despair at the thought of recapture; all this, and finally freedom and home and friends-what words can express it all ?
"We came into our lines a few miles from Will- iamsburgh. Some of the escaped officers reached our lines the third day out from Richmond, and Gen. Butler, who was at that time commanding Fortress Monroe, sent out, on alternate days, the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry and the First New York Rifles to drive back the enemy, and to patrol the country with tall guidons to attract the notice of the escaping prisoners. The First New York Rifles were our deliverers. No one can de- scribe the kindness shown to us by this body of men. Every attention was showered upon us. We were banqueted at Company A's head-quar- ters, and feted at Company B's, and banqueted again at Company C's, and so on.
"As soon as possible we reported at Washing- ton. Every paper was full of the escape from Libby. Fifty-five of one hundred and nine reached our lines; the others were recaptured. We were ordered to rejoin our respective regiments, per- mission being given to delay reporting for thirty days."
Returning to his regiment, Lieut. Earle was made First Lieutenant, and began the Atlanta campaign with his former companions in arms. He did not remain long with them, however. Im- mediately following the battle of Resaca, he was ordered to take command of a company whose conduct liad never been satisfactory to the Colonel of the regiment. The young Lieutenant was a strict disciplinarian, and with him in command the record of this company at once and continuously improved. In the battles about Atlanta he was assigned to duty as Adjutant of the regiment, and during the last eight months of the war was de- tailed as Aid-de-Camp and Acting Assistant In- spector-General on the staff of Gen. W. C. Whit- taker. At the close of the war he was brevetted Captain of the United States Volunteers for gal- lant and meritorious conduct at the battles of Chickamauga, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Franklin and Nashville, and was mustered out of service.
In the fall of 1865, he entered Beloit College, Wisconsin, where he spent three years. At the end of that period he entered the Chicago Medical College, from which, in 1870, he was graduated with the second honors of his class. Dr. Earle had studied medicine in the office of Prof. William H. Byford, and enjoyed his friendship and profited · by his advice, and he now commenced practice in the office of his preceptor.
In the following year, 1871, Dr. Earle was mar- ried to Miss Fannie L. Bundy, of Beloit, a sister of the late Maj. J. M. Bundy, editor of the New York Mail and Express. Two children were born to them: Carrie and William B. Dr. Earle's fa- ther, Moses L. Earle, resides at Waukegan, Illi- nois, as does his eldest sister, Mrs. C. A. Partridge. Another sister, Mrs. Dr. F. H.Payne, resides at Berkeley, California. One brother, Dr. Frank B. Earle, is a medical practitioner in this city. An- other brother, Fred L., is on the old farm in Fre- mont, Illinois; and still another, William A., is in Texas.
Dr. Earle's practice at an early stage assumed proportions that made his life a busy one. In 1870, at the organization of the Woman's Medical College, he became Professor of Physiology, al-
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C. W. EARLE.
though probably the youngest member, and at the bottom of the list in the faculty. At the end of twenty-one consecutive years of service, on the death of Prof. Byford, he became President of the institution. He was one of the founders of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and Professor of Obstetrics, and after the death of Dr. Jackson was elected to the Presidency of the Board of Di- rectors. At the time of his death he was Dean and Professor of Diseases of Children in the former, and President, Treasurer and Professor of Obstet- rics in the latter.
In 1886, Dr. Earle visited Europe and pursued a course of study in the hospitals of Vienna, Flor- ence and Berlin, after which he wrote a series of essays on obstetrics. At the ontset of his profes- sional life he became a member of, and devoted much of his time to, the local medical societies, in most of which he served as Secretary and later President. For seventeen years he was attending physician at the Washington Home, during which time lie treated more than ten thousand inebriates, and later was attending physician at the Wesley Hospital. He was Professor of Obstetrics in the Post-Graduate Medical School, President of the Chicago Medical Society, and was a charter mem- ber of the American Pediatric Society, and of the Chicago Medico-Legal Society; member of the British Medical Association, Illinois State Medical Society and the Chicago Pathological Society. He was one of the founders and former Presidents of the Chicago Gynæcological Society, and was also a member of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic, of the Loyal Legion, of the Lincoln Polit- ical Club, the Illinois Club, and the Irving, a prominent literary club on the West Side.
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