Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 70

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

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While a boy, A. J. Galloway spent his sum- mers in doing such work upon the farm as he was able to perform, getting a little insight into the mysteries of letters during the winter months. At the age of fifteen, he found an opportunity to earn his board by working evenings and Satur- days, while attending a grammar school at Camp Creek, some miles distant from his home. In 1834, he entered the preparatory department of Hanover College, Indiana. He had intended to study the classics, with a view to taking up the science of medicine, but his attention was turned to engineering by the great demand made by canal and railroad construction, and the liberal

532

A. J. GALLOWAY.

compensation offered to competent engineers. Under the instructions of Professors Harney and Thompson, he inade special studies in mathemat- ics and engineering, and received his diploma as civil engineer in April, 1837.

Proceeding to Evansville, he hoped to obtain a position on the Indiana Central canal, but was of- fered the charge of the Mount Carmel Academy at Mount Carmel, Illinois, soon after, and accepted for one year. Among his pupils were many young men who have since become distinguished men of business, law and letters. At the close of his school year, he accepted an appointment as assistant engineer in the service of the State, and was actively employed in the location and con- struction of railways in that section of the State.

In the fall of 1840, he went to Springfield, and was employed during a part of the following win- ter as assistant enrolling clerk of the Senate. In the following July, he received an appointment from the Canal Commissioners as engineer on the Illinois & Michigan Canal, under Chief Engineer William Gooding and his assistant, Edward B. Talcott. He continued in this work until the suspension of operations in the winter of 1843-4, when he retired to the farm which he had pur- chased in 1842, on the Big Vermillion river in La Salle County. In 1845, he resumed his posi- tion and employment on the canal, with head- quarters at Marseilles, and continued until De- cember, 1846, when the work was about com- pleted and he was relieved. Within a few days, he was elected enrolling and engrossing clerk of the lower house of the Legislature, to which posi- tion he was also elected in 1848. At the close of the session in 1849, he was appointed Secretary to the State Trustee of the Canal Board, with of- fice in Chicago. He moved his family to the city, and for over two years filled this position, until he resigned to accept the office of assistant engineer under Col. Roswell B. Mason, on the Illinois Central Railroad.

Mr. Galloway located about one hundred and- fifty miles of the line of this road, and superin- tended the construction of the twelfth division until near completion, when he was transferred to the land department of the same road, with an

increase of $1,000 per annum in salary. Hc superintended the survey of more than a million acres of the company's lands, and made sketches for maps of the same, with descriptions of the character and quality of every tract surveyed.

He retired from the railroad service in July, 1855, and formed a company, with two others, to deal in real estate and lands, under the title of A. J. Galloway & Company. Before the close of that year, they bought sixty thousand acres of Illinois Central lands, all of which eventually passed into the individual possession of Mr. Gal- loway. For some years he was occupied in dis- posing of these holdings, together with sales 011 commission for the company and other owners, and has done his share in securing the location of desirable citizens in the State.

Mr. Galloway cast his first Presidential vote for Martin Van Buren, in 1836, and has voted in every national contest since. He adhered to the Democratic party until the organization of the Republican in 1856, since which he has af- filiated with the latter party. He was a member of the Twenty-seventh General Assembly of Illi- nois, and chairman of the committee on canal and river improvements in the house. This was the first Legislature under the present State Consti- tution, and held four sessions, two of thein being called by the Governor of the State, and one of which was made necessary by the fearful conflagra- tion which destroyed some two hundred million dollars' worth of property in Chicago in the brief space of twenty hours. He was elected to fill a va- cancy in the Cook County Board of Commissioners in November, 1872, by some eight thousand major- ity, but was beaten on the "law and order" ticket in the following year for the same office, by some ten thousand majority given for the candidate on the "people's ticket." In 1882, he was a candi- date on the Republican ticket for County Clerk, and though elected by the legal votes cast, was counted out. While at Springfield, he formed the acquaintance of Abraham Lincoln, and their mutual friendship continued with the life of the latter.

As chairman of the committee on taxation of the Citizens' Association, he has rendered valu-

533

JAMES TOMPKINS.

able aid to that very useful organization, and at various times, through the medium of the press, has given to the public useful hints, facts and statistics which ought not to be forgotten.

In November, 1838, Mr. Galloway was mar- ried to Miss Rebecca Buchanan, youngest daugh- ter of the late Victor Buchanan, senior, of Law- rence County, Illinois, a well-known and highly esteemed farmer, a native of Pennsylvania, who died and was buried on his farm in the year 1843,

having reached the ripe age of eighty-one years. Following are the names of Mr. Galloway's children: Rebecca Elizabeth, wife of George G. Gunther, now residing in California; Robert Wil- son, an amateur artist and member of the Chicago Board of Trade, died at the age of twenty-seven years; Margaret, widow of Samuel L. Fogg, and James Buchanan, a prominent business man, re- side in Chicago. Jessie died in 1870, aged twenty years.

REV. JAMES TOMPKINS, D. D.

EV. JAMES TOMPKINS, D. D., for seven- teen years Superintendent of the Congrega- tional Home Missionary Society of Illinois, is not only an able preacher but a superior busi- ness man as well. His practical ideas and genial, sunny disposition inspire confidence and interest in all with whom he comes in contact, and secure ready co-operation in his work. He was born in Galesburg, Illinois, on the 6th of April, 1840. His father, Deacon Samuel Tompkins, was one of the founders of that city, being a member of the committee that came from New York, in 1835, to select the site of an institution of learning and, incidentally, of a town in the "wild West." The committee entered a township of Govern- ment land and platted a village in its center, in the name of Knox College. Tompkins Street, on which is located Knox Female Seminary, is named in honor of this pioneer. Samuel Tomp- kins was a native of Rhode Island, and his wife, Mary Grinnell, was born at Paris Hill, Oneida County, New York.

James Tompkins spent his early years in his native place, studying in the public schools, until 1854, when he entered the preparatory depart-

ment of Knox College. He graduated from that institution in 1862, taking the degree of Bachelor of Science. In 1865, having pursued special lines of study, he received the degree of Master of Arts. In 1867, he graduated from Chicago Theological Seminary, and in 1888 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Illinois College.

During his preparatory and college course, he maintained himself by teaching school, and the same year of his graduation-at the age of twen- ty-two-he took charge of Elmwood Academy, at Elmwood, Illinois. He continued here two years, at the end of which period a regular system of graded schools was established by the town and the trustees of the academy decided to merge that institution in the public high school. The formation of the grades and establishment of the high school was a task assigned to Mr. Tomp- kins, and faithfully carried out.

While he was in college, the call of President Lincoln was issued for seventy-five thousand men to put down the rebellion, and a company was enlisted at Knox College, Mr. Tompkins being among the first. So many men were enlisting

534

JAMES TOMPKINS.

throughout the State that it was feared thie com- pany of students would not be accepted, and its captain was sent to Springfield to urge the matter upon Governor Yates, but the mission was vain, and thus several good soldiers were spoiled in the making of some good ministers.

After graduating, Mr. Tompkins aided in re- cruiting some companies of volunteers under a later call. These went into the Seventy-seventh and Eighty-fiftlı Regiments of Illinois Volunteers. Through much open air speaking in recruiting, Mr. Tompkins was suffering from a slight inflam- mation on the lungs at this time, and the exanı- ining surgeon refused to pass him for military duty. As he was anxious to go out with the men he liad enlisted, he endeavored to persuade the surgeon that his ailment was temporary, but the official was inexorable and he was compelled to remain behind. After resigning his position at Elmwood, however, in June, 1864, he was en- abled to give his services to the country by joint- ing the United States Christian Commission, which did such valuable work for the "boys in blue" in campand hospital and on the battle- field. In this service, he remained until the close of the war. He was first sent to the Army of the Potomac, in company with Rev. W. G. Peirce, the beloved and heroic chaplain of the Seventy- seventh Illinois. When they reached City Point, Virginia-General Grant's headquarters-they responded to a call for volunteers to go to the front, and were assigned to duty at Point of Rocks, 011 the Appomatox river. Here Mr. Tompkins met with an accident which nearly proved fatal. After hovering between life and death for a week, he rallied sufficiently to be taken in an ambulance to City Point, and was placed on a steamer bound for Baltimore.

On his recovery, lie was engaged for several weeks in lecturing throughout Central Illinois on the work of the Christian Commission, and col- lected several thousand dollars for its use. He then visited the Army of the Cumberland and followed General Thomas as he drove the Con- federate army, commanded by General Hood, out of Tennessee. He cared for the sick and wounded of both armies, took the last message of the dy-

ing for the loved ones at home, and aided in giv- ing a decent burial to the remains of those who had given up their lives for their country.

Mr. Tompkins was ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry April 24, 1867, immediately after graduating from Chicago Theological Seminary, in the Congregational Church at Prospect Park (now called Glen Ellyn), and entered upon the duties of the Congregational pastorate, serving jointly this church and the First Church of Christ in the neighboring village of Lombard, Illinois. On visiting Minnesota for rest and recuperation, lie was engaged as stated supply of the Congre- gational Church at St. Cloud. From there, he was called to the pastorate of the First Congrega- tional Church of Minneapolis. Three years' resi- dence in Minnesota made it apparent that a milder climate was necessary to the liealth of both himself and wife, and he resigned liis charge in Minneapolis. He soon after accepted a call from the Congregational Church at Kewanee, Illinois, which he served as pastor for over six years.

In May, 1878, the General Congregational As- sociation of Illinois voted to appoint a Superin- tendent of its work in the State. A number of prominent clergymen were candidates for the position, and after several ballotings, Mr. Tomp- kins received a majority of all the votes cast and was declared elected. He entered upon his new duties in the succeeding July, with headquarters in Chicago, and is still occupying that position. He has introduced several new methods in the prose- cution of the work, and awakened a deeper inter- est and more hearty co-operation in all the churches. The most important of the new in- strumentalities was the employment of able men as State Evangelists. This gave new impetus, strength and enlargement to the work.

In 1869, on the 8th of September, Mr. Tomp- kins married Miss Ella A. Kelley, a native of Rutland, Vermont, daughter of J. Seeley Kelley and Mary E. Hall. To Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins have been given four children, namely: Roy James, born in Minneapolis, Mabel Ella, William C., born at Kewanee, Illinois, and Seeley Kelley, born at Oak Park, Illinois.

KASPAR G. SCHMIDT

535

K. G. SCHMIDT.

KASPAR G. SCHMIDT.

ASPAR G. SCHMIDT was born in Vocken- hausen, near Wiesbaden, Nassau, Germany, February 20, 1833. His parents' names were Jolın and Elizabeth (Dinges) Schmidt. John Schmidt was a tailor by trade and, in later life, became foreman of a tannery. He served in the German army as a sergeant-major under General Blucher. After participating in the bat- tle of Waterloo, he accompanied the victorious army to Paris. His death occurred in 1854, at the age of sixty-two years. Mrs. Elizabeth Schmidt survived until 1882, attaining the vener- able age of eighty-two years.

Kaspar G. Schmidt is one of a family of nine children, of whom but one beside himself came to America. This was a brother, named Nicholas, who now resides in Chicago. Kaspar received a common-school education and, at the age of four- teen years, began to learn the trade of a machinist. After serving a four years' apprenticeship at Mines, he followed the same occupation for some time at Frankfort-on-the-Main. In April, 1854, he set sail for America. After a tempestuous voyage lasting fifty-six days, he landed in New York. Thence he came direct to Chicago, where he soon obtained employment at his trade. His enterprising spirit was not destined to be confined to mere mechanical labor, however, and he began saving his surplus earnings with a view to mak- ing a permanent investment. He did not have to wait long for an opportunity, and when, in 1857, several large Milwaukee brewers became bankrupt, he purchased a stock of beer at an ad- vantageous figure and began doing a small whole- sale business in that product. This enterprise continued to prosper until 1860, when he was en- abled to start a small brewery, at the corner of Superior and Clark Streets. Two years later, he removed to Grant Place, which has ever since

been the scene of his operations. His extensive buildings were totally destroyed in the great fire of 1871. His loss at that time, including his residence, amounted to one-fourth of a million dollars. He was able to recover but a small per- centage of his insurance, and the entire business had to be built up anew. Rebuilding upon a small scale, he enlarged the establishment at in- tervals until it attained a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels per day and furnished employ- ment to one hundred men. Having more than recovered his loss by the great fire, and being re- solved to retire from active life, he sold out his plant in 1890, and is practically retired from business.

Mr. Schmidt was married in 1856 to Barbara Wagner, who was born in Rhodt, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria. She died on the 21st of September, 1894, at the age of sixty years. Of the eight children born to this union, five reached mature years. Barbara Elizabeth is now the wife of George W. Kellner, of Chicago; Katie Emma is Mrs. Martin Herbert, of Chicago; August died in 1889, at the age of twenty-eight years; George K. and Edna complete the list of the survivors. Ten living grandchildren make glad the heart of Mr. Schmidt.

Mr. Schmidt was a charter member of Mithia Lodge No. 410, F. & A. M., in which body he has filled all the chairs, and served as Master for five years. He helped to organize the Germania Club, with which he has since been identified, and is one of the original members of the Sonne- felter-a German singing society. Ever since he became a citizen, he has given faithful allegiance to the Republican party, because its principles embodied his ideas of progress and good govern- inent. In 1868, he was elected Alderman of the Thirteenth Ward, serving four and one-half years

536

G. M. DEARLOVE.

in that capacity. The time of election was changed during his term from fall to spring, thus prolonging his term six months. From 1874 to 1877, he served as County Commissioner, during which time he was chairman of the Building Committee of that body, and had charge of the construction of the present court house. His ex- perience in the repeated construction of his own ample buildings was especially useful to him in the discharge of this duty, and was of great

benefit to the county, and the city of Chicago. He owns a fine stock farm at Twin Lakes, Wis- consin, where he has spent considerable time in recent years, and where he finds enjoyment and recreation. Though sixty-two years of age at this writing, Mr. Schmidt is still hale and hearty. His interest in the growth and development of Chicago is unabated, and he views with pride and satisfaction the continuous progress in which he was for many years an active participant.

GEORGE M. DEARLOVE.

EORGE M. DEARLOVE, B. L., a young man of pronounced judgment and business ability, who makes his home in Chicago, though spending much of his time in travel, is a native of Cook County. He was born in Northfield Township, in 1873, and is a son of George and Mary A. Dearlove, the his- tory of whose lives may be found elsewhere in this volume. In his early years he attend- ed the public schools of Chicago, and later, as a youth, the Morgan Park Military Academy. After graduating from the last-mentioned institu- tion, he attended the North-Western Military Academy at Highland Park, from which, after passing the Government examination in an able manner, he received his commission of Second Lieutenant in the State Militia, subsequently at- taining to the rank of Senior Captain and Ad- jutant. While attending the academy he was President of the Class of 1891.

Not satisfied with his attainments thus far, Mr. Dearlove then attended Lake Forest University, completing the entire course with the exception of the senior year. Thence he went to Monmouth College at Monmouth, Illinois, where he took a course in Liberal Arts, graduating June 6, 1893, with the degree of B. L. While a student of

Lake Forest University, he was a member of the Zeta Episiton, and of the Eccritian Society while attending the college at Monmouth. In the lat- ter institution, as well as at Lake Forest, he made a special study of Economics and of Finan- ciering.

Possessed of strong human interests and a live- ly intelligence, it is not strange that Mr. Dear- love should find one of his keenest delights in traveling, especially as he is financially able to do so. Since 1887 he has spent most of his vaca- tions in traveling, chiefly through the South and West. In these journeys he has happily com- bined pleasure and business, for, being possessed of considerable foresight and discernment, his travels have given him abundant opportunities for investment in promising enterprises. He was one of the promoters and constructors of the As- toria & Columbia River Railroad, and is still one of the Directors of the company which operates the same-a corporation which pays the largest dividends of any railroad company in the United States. He was also one of the original incor- porators, and is now Vice-President of the Florida, Ocean & Gulf Railroad; Director of the Florida Central & Peninsular Railroad; and Director and Vice-President of the Florida Engineering and

537

E. C. LONG.

Construction Company, which owns about two million acres of land in Florida. In addition to these numerous offices, Mr. Dearlove is a Direc- tor of the Florida Development Company, which has extensive fruit lands in Florida, with offices at Jacksonville, Florida and Chicago; and a Di- rector of the Avon Park National Bank at Avon Park, Florida.

With the foregoing record of his business con- nections before one, it is hardly necessary to re- mark that Mr. Dearlove is a young man of keen perception and ready decision, wlio never loses a business opportunity for lack of promptitude in action. In address he is pleasing and intelligent, showing a great general knowledge of men and affairs, remarkable in one so young.

EUGENE C. LONG.

C UGENE CONANT LONG was born in Bran- don, Vermont, October 31, 1834, and is a son of Jantes and Cerusa (Conant) Long, who were among the early pioneers of Cook County. James Long was born in Washington, District of Columbia, and was a son of Andrew and Alice Long, of Baltimore, Maryland. An- drew Long was killed in the service of the United States during the War of 1812. The family of Long (or Laing, as it was originally spelled) is of Scotch extraction, and was founded in America by four brothers who settled at Baltimore about 1660. Commodore Long, who was in the United States naval service during the Revolution, was descended from one of these.

While a young man, James Long went to New York City, where he became a partner with Sam- uel Hoard, afterwards Postmaster of Chicago, in the publishing business. A few years later, the firm removed to Brandon, Vermont, where they published a newspaper for some years. In 1835 James Long moved, with his family, to Cook County and engaged in farming in Jefferson town- ship, near the present village of that name, now within the limits of the city of Chicago. Not find- ing agriculture very profitable, after three years' experience, he sold out and moved to Chicago and built a steam grist mill on Michigan Avenue, at the corner of Lake Street. This he operated

for several years. The engine in this mill was employed in pumping the water which was first supplied by the city to the people of Chicago. This contract continued some years, the water being forced through hollow logs laid in a few streets near the river. Tliose outside the service were wont to keep barrels for storing a supply, and these barrels were filled by private enterprise, at ten cents per barrel.

After disposing of the mill, Mr. Long was ap- pointed by President Polk as Keeper of the light- house, which stood near the site of the present Rush Street bridge. He subsequently served as County Treasurer, and for a number of years filled the office of Alderman of the First Ward. After re- tiring from business and public life, he spent con- siderable time in travel, and his death occurred in Paris, France, on the 10th of April, 1876, at the age of seventy-four years.

Mrs. Cerusa Long died in Chicago in 1874, at the age of sixty-seven years. She was a daugh- ter of John Conant and Chara Broughton, of Brandon, Vermont. John Conant was descended from one of the earliest American families. His grandfather, Ebenezer Conant, served in the Con- tinental army, as Captain of a Massachusetts cont- pany. Roger Conant, father of the last-named, was among the Colonial Governors of Massachu- setts-preceding Governor Endicott.

538

FRANCIS HUTCHISON.

Eugene C. Long was still in his infancy when the family came to Cook County, Chicago being at that time a village of three or four thousand in- habitants. While a boy, he was accustomed to do the family marketing. The chief produce market was on State Street near Randolph, and its wares were brought by farmers from long dis- tances and displayed in wagons and other vehi- cles, much after the present fashion of the Hay- market of the West Side. The pioneers of that day did not lack for the substantials, though there was little cash in circulation, and they were largely ignorant of the present style of living in the city.

At the age of seventeen years, Eugene C. Long graduated from the Beardsly Seminary, and soon after became a clerk and teller in the Marine Bank. His connection with that institution con- tinued for twenty-two years, during the last twelve of which he served as Cashier. In1 1874 he re- signed this position and engaged in the stock and brokerage business, continuing that occupation

five years. He then entered the office of the late Judge Van H. Higgins. Since 1880 he has been a stockholder and Secretary of the Rose Hill Cem- etery Company, and since 1893 has also been Treasurer of the corporation.

He was married in October, 1858, to Harriet Alexander, step-daughter of Van H. Higgins, and daughter of the first Mrs. Higgins-Elizabeth (Morse) Alexander. Mrs. Long was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, and is the mother of two daughters, Eugenie and Harriet, the first being now the wife of Edward L. Frasher, of Chicago.

Mr. Long and his family are members of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and he has been a life-long Republican in principle and practice. The record of his business career shows him to be capable and upright, for only through these qualities could any one hold the positions he has filled. In manner, he is courteous and easy, show- ing long familiarity with the best men and methods of the day.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 70

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