Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 75

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

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In 1882, was celebrated the marriage of the subject of this sketch and Miss Winnie Wendt, daughter of Frederick Wendt, of Homewood. She was born in Germany, and came with her par- ents to Cook County when four years of age. Two children were born of their union, but the

566

HERMAN RUGEN, JR.

son, George, died at the age of ten years. The daughter, Amy, is still with her parents.

Mr. Webb is a member of the Masonic frater- nity and of the Independent Order of Foresters. In politics, he has been a life-long Republican, and is a warm advocate of the principles of his party. He served for two terms as School Direc-

tor of Thornton. His position as Superintendent of the Stinson Stock Farm he has filled for four years, and in its management has given entire satisfaction. He is a systematic farmer and busi- ness man, a practical and enthusiastic stockman, and a public-spirited citizen.

HERMAN RUGEN, JR.

ERMAN RUGEN, JR., who is successfully carrying on agricultural pursuits on section 27, Northfield Township, is a native of Hanover, Germany, born in 1849, and the eldest child of Herman Rugen, Sr., who was also a farmer. His mother bore the maiden name of Katrina Schwinge. They were likewise natives of Hanover. The father was a well-educated man, and held the office of Burgomaster in Ger- many. His wife was educated in English in her na- tive land and could speak the language fluently when she came to America. Accompanied by their two sons, Herman and John, the latter now deceased, they bade adieu to home and friends and sailed for America, landing in New York in 1853. No time was lost in the East. They came at once to Cook County, and Mr. Rugen purchased of Thomas Moody one hundred and sixty acres of land in Northfield Township. Upon the farm crops had been planted and the place was well stocked. On purchasing his farnı, Mr. Rugen at once began its development, and as the result of his industry and enterprise his finan- cial resources were increased and he was enabled to buy other property, at length becoming the owner of a valuable tract of five hundred acres, which he placed under a high state of cultivation, improving it with all the necessary buildings and other accessories of a model farm. G

Herman Rugen, Sr., has been twice married. By the first union were born the following children: Herman of this sketch; Louis, a carpenter and contractor; and Henry and George, who follow farming in Northfield Township. After the death of his first wife he wedded Miss Anna Schwinge, and their children are: Charles, who is engaged in the grocery business in Oak Lawn; Katie, wife of Henry Myer, an agriculturist of North- field Township; Ferdinand, a farmer of North- field Township, who was married in 1890 to Miss Louisa Werhane, daughter of William Werhane; Fred, a dealer in groceries, flour and feed in Chi- cago; Anna, wife of Louis Clavey, a farmer of Northfield Township; Louisa, at home; and Au- gust and William, who are engaged in clerking in Chicago. The business career of Mr. Rugen, Sr., has been one of success, and by his well-directed efforts, his industry and perseverance he has ac- quired a competence. He lias now reached the age of seventy-eight and is remarkably well pre- served for one of his years. He is quietly spend- ing his declining days in Northfield Township, where he is surrounded by a host of old and tried friends.

Mr. Rugen, whose name heads this record, accompanied his parents to America during his boyhood days, and was reared on the old home- stead farm. On the 15th of April, 1873, he wed-

BENJAMIN F. ADAMS

567

B. F. ADAMS.

ded Miss Christine Schoenick, a native of Cook County, and a daughter of Philip Schoenick, a farmer, who was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many. Eight children graced this union, five sons and three daughters, but John and Louis are now deceased. Those still living are: Lulu, who was born December 31, 1875, and in June, 1894, was graduated from the Jefferson High School; Herman Philip, born February 25, 1878; George, July 3, 1883; Annie, March 27, 1886; Robert, September 18, 1888; and Elsie, July 9, 1891. Throughout his life Mr. Rugen has carried on agricultural pursuits, and prosperity has attended him in his energetic and persevering efforts, so that he is now numbered among the substantial farmers of the community. He ran one of the

first steam-threshers between Chicago and Wau- kegan. His farm comprises sixty acres of valua- ble land, on which stands one of the finest resi- dences in the community, a place noted for its hospitality.

In his political views, Mr Rugen is a Republi- can, unswerving in his allegiance to the party and its principles. For two terms of three years each he has held the office of Road Commissioner, which position he held with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and in. his social relations he is connected with Court Center No. 160, I. O. F. His long residence in Cook County makes him well worthy of representation in this volume.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ADAMS.

B ENJAMIN FRANKLIN ADAMS was born March 1, 1800, in New Ipswich, N. H. His ancestors were among the first settlers of the town, having removed thither from Ipswich, Mass., early in the last century. They were de- scended from William Adams, who came to America in 1635, and settled in what is now Cam- bridge, Mass.

At the age of ten years Benjamin Adams went to live with his uncle, Aaron Appleton, in Keene, N. H. Before he had attained his majority he had, with his uncle's help, become established as a merchant. He engaged also in the manufac- ture of glass and woolens in the neighborhood of Keene. In 1835, he came to Chicago to attend the land sale of that year. He bought acre property south of Chicago, and lots and blocks in what is now the center of the city. On one of the lots purchased in that year he afterward erected his residence, and here he died in 1886, having held the property over fifty years, and oc- cupied it as a home for thirty-three years.

Soon after making this investment in western

lands, Mr. Adams became interested in railway building in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In 1853, he removed to Chicago with his family, and built his residence on Ontario Street, at the corner of Pine Street. From this time forward he had no business occupation except the care of his property. In his younger days he had been a member of the Legislature of New Hampshire, but in Chicago he held no public office, except as a member of the Board of Education. From his early manhood he had been a member of the Unitarian denomination, and he was among the charter members of Unity Church of Chicago. He died at his residence on Ontario Street, July 28, 1886, being then in his eighty-seventh year.

In 1828, Mr. Adams married Miss Louisa Red- ington, of Walpole, N. H., who died in Chicago, March 12, 1883. He left surviving him five chil- dren: Helen L., Caroline D., George E. and Ab- bott L., of Chicago; and Isabel F., wife of Dr. William Pierson, of Orange, N. J.

568

W. N. BRAINARD.

CAPT. WILLIAM NEWELL BRAINARD.

D APT. WILLIAM NEWELL BRAINARD, a well-known resident of Evanston, has been prominent in public affairs in Chicago, and is numbered among the leading men of that enterprising city. He was born in De Ruyter, Madison County, N. Y., January 7, 1823, and comes of an old New England family. His grandfather, Nathan Brainard, was a native of Connecticut, and operated a stone quarry near Hartford. He reared a large family, and lived to an advanced age. His son, Jonathan Brain- ard, the father of our subject, was also a native of the Nutmeg State, and in early life he became a hat manufacturer. He married Sallie Gage, who was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., and was a daughter of Justus Gage, also a native of the same county. By occupation Mr. Gage was a farmer. His wife was a maiden of twelve sum- mers when, in 1777, she witnessed the Wyoming Massacre. She had two brothers killed in that massacre, and one brother, who also aided the Colonies in their struggle for independence, reach- ed the advanced age of one hundred years.

In 1831 Jonathan Brainard removed with his family to Painesville, Ohio, where he engaged in the manufacture of hats for one year. He then returned to De Ruyter, N. Y., where he car- ried on sheep-raising until 1849. His death oc- curred in the Empire State in 1856, at the age of sixty-one years. His wife survived him some years, and passed away in Chicago, at the age of sixty-eight years. They were members of the Universalist Church. Their family numbered seven children, two sons and five daughters, of whom three are yet living: William N., of this sketch; Lydia J., now the wife of L. W. Walker, of Petaluma, Cal .; and Harry G., of Engle- wood.

Our subject spent his boyhood days with his parents upon the old home farm of his grand-

father Gage. His education was acquired in the common schools and in the De Ruyter In- stitute of New York, and at the age of eigh- teen years he began teaching school, which pro- fession he followed for several years. When his time was not occupied with his school du- ties, he studied law, and afterward engaged to some extent in legal practice, but on account of throat difficulty he was forced to abandon that work. He then went to Rome, N. Y., where he engaged in a forwarding and shipping house for five seasons. When the Mexican War broke out, he tried to enlist, but the ranks were over- crowded, and his services were not accepted. When he saw the soldiers returning minus legs and arms, and physical wrecks in general, he was glad he was not among their number.

In October, 1850, he left Rome, N. Y., for California, and sailed from New York on the Pacific mail steamship "Georgia" to Chagres, at the mouth of the Chagres River, in the Isth- mus of Panama. There were some four hundred passengers on board. On landing at Chagres, ten of the number, including Mr. Brainard, hired a canoe with five men to take them and their baggage to Gorgona. The canoe, drawing eigh- teen inches of water, was hollowed out of a solid mahogany tree, and carried ten men and two thousand pounds of baggage, besides the five natives. Before starting on the trip, the latter removed their clothing, and, dressed only in na- ture's garb and a Panama hat, proceeded on their way. They rowed eighteen miles to Gatun, where they camped for the night, and then with poles propelled the boat to its destination. The weather was most delightful. There was gor- geous tropical scenery on every hand; monkeys scampered among the trees; and that trip up the river is remembered by Mr. Brainard as one of the most pleasant incidents of his California jour-

569

W. N. BRAINARD.

ney. When they reached the place of landing, the baggage was packed on mules, and the pas- sengers walked twenty-five miles to Panama, but this arduous task made some of them ill, Mr. Brainard among the number. They waited ten days in Panama for a steamer which came around Cape Horn, and by boats they were taken to the vessel, which anchored about a mile from shore. They carried the United States mail and landed at San Blas, Acapulco and Mazatlan, Mexico; and at San Diego, Cal., reaching San Francisco in December, 1850.

On arriving, Mr. Brainard and three compan- ions obtained some mining and cooking utensils, a tent, etc., and then went to Sacramento on the old steamboat "Senator." There they hired a two-horse team and wagon to take them to the mines. They went to Condemned Bar, on the North Fork of the American River, thirty-five miles from Sacramento. They paid their team- ster five cents per pound for hauling their bag- gage and supplies, while they walked. The weather during the winter of 1850 was dry and delightful for winter mining, there being no rain for four months. They made from $10 to $15 per day, washing the surface dirt from the banks of the river where it was deposited among the rocks. Mr. Brainard's Panama fever compelled him to leave the diggings, and he went to Sacramento about March 1, 1851. After recovering from his illness, he bought a mule and express wagon and went into the produce business, furnishing hotels, steamboats and boarding houses with vegetables, which were a very great luxury at that time. The wholesale price ranged from ten to twelve cents per pound, except for onions, which brought about $1 per pound. The first onion Mr. Brain- ard ever bought weighed a half pound, and he paid seventy-five cents for it. He ate it sliced in vinegar, when recovering from the Panama fever, and says that it was the finest relish that he ever had. He continued in the produce business until May, 1857. In April, 1856, he was elected Treasurer of Sacramento and served one year.

During the winter of 1853 Mr. Brainard re- turned to the States by way of the Nicaragua route, where the canal is now being dug, and

with some others went to Peoria, Ill. They pur- chased a drove of cattle, and fitted out a train to cross the plains to California. They started the last of April, 1853, and crossed the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa. Mr. Brainard there left the party and returned to Syracuse, N. Y., where he married Melinda B. Coley, May 4, 1853. With his bride lie went by steamer from New York to California, by way of the Istlimus of Panama, and resided in Sacramento until May, 1857. While in the West, Mr. Brainard be- longed to a military company, and did some fighting in California. He was made Captain of a company of the Committee of Vigilance, com- posed of seven thousand prominent citizens, mostly of San Francisco.

Mrs. Brainard is a daughter of Col. George and Hulda (Norton) Coley, of Chenango County, N. Y. Her grandfather served as Quartermaster under Gen. Washington in the Revolution. Three children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Brainard: Hattie Belle, who died in infancy, in Sacramento; William Vallejo, who died in 1887; and Frances Marion, wife of Edwin C. Belknap, a hardware merchant of Chicago. They have a daughter, Charlotte. Mrs. Brainard is a member of the Methodist Church. The Captain is an Odd Fellow, and is a member of the Western As- sociation of California Pioneers. He also be- longs to the Union Veteran League.

In May, 1857, Mr. Brainard started for Syra- cuse, N. Y., and in June, 1858, removed to Chi- cago. He joined the Board of Trade, and during the greater part of the time since has been en- gaged in the grain and produce business. In the summer of 1860 he went to the gold mines of Colorado, but the trip proved an unprofitable one. On his return he again joined the Board of Trade. He has filled many of its subordinate offices, was Vice-President for three years, and during the greater part of 1872 acted as Presi- dent, when the building was being rebuilt after the great Chicago fire. In 1866 he removed to Evanston, but continued business in the city. In May, 1873, he was appointed Illinois Canal Commissioner by Gov. Jolın L. Beveridge, and served two terms, or until the spring of 1877.

570

GEORGE SIMPSON.

The Copperas Creek lock and dam were built during that time. In March, 1883, he was ap- pointed Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner by Gov. Jolın M. Hamilton, and served until March, 1885. For the past eight years he has been on the Committee of Appeals for the inspec- tion of grain, which position he held until Au- gust, 1893. He is now living retired. In poli- tics, he is a Republican, and was Trustee of the Village Board of Evanston for three terms, and for three years he has been Town Collector.

The life of Capt. Brainard has been a busy and useful one, and has also been an eventful one. He is one of a very few now living who person- ally knew many of the pioneers of California, among whom were many noted characters, includ- ing Gen. W. T. Sherman, H. W. Hallock, John C. Fremont, John A. Sutter, Col. John D. Steven- son and Lieut. Derby. The path-finders and

guides of the plains were Kit Carson, Bob Car s011, James P. Beckworth, "Peg-leg" Smith, James Bridger and James W. Marshall, who dis- covered gold in California. Mr. Brainard also knew men who became prominent in affairs later on, including Gov. John Bigler, Edward Gilbert, Gen. John D. Lippincott, Gov. J. Neeley John- son, Leland Stanford, Calhoun Benham, William Penn Johnson, Judge David S. Terry and Da- vid C. Broderick. He also knew many of the pron- inent Mormons. Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, the Mormon prophets, each bought a hat of his father, in 1831, at his store in Painesville, Ohio. Of all these men of prominence mentioned, probably not six are yet living. Many interest- ing incidents have made up the life of Capt. Brainard, and his memory is replete with expe- riences of those early days.

GEORGE SIMPSON.

EORGE SIMPSON, who is engaged in deal- ing in coal and wood, and also in general teaming in Evanston, was born in Banffshire, Scotland, February 15, 1833. His grandfather, Robert Simpson, spent his entire life in that could- try, and died at an advanced age. His father, Robert Simpson, Jr., was born in the same coun- try, November 20, 1802, and in early life learned the stone inason's trade, which he followed for some time, but his later years were spent as a farmer. He married Miss Rosann Lawson, who was born August 3, 1806, and whose father was a farmer of Scotland, and there died at an advanced age. Eight children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Simpson, four sons and four daughters, of whom seven are yet living, namely: Ellen, the wife of James Steel; Barbara, the widow of Joseph Davis, of Chicago; James, who is living in Portland, Ore .; George, who makes his home in Evanston; Robert, Jennie and Andrew, all of whom make their home

in Evanston. Rosann is deceased. In 1841, the family crossed the Atlantic to America, locating in Libertyville, Lake County, where the father had located in 1837. He died on the 25th of November, 1852, at the age of fifty years. His wife is still living, at the age of eighty- eight years, and now makes her home in Evanston with her daughter Jennie. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church, to which her husband also belonged.

During his infancy, our subject was brought to this country, and upon a farm in the town of Lib- ertyville he was reared to manhood. His educa- tional privileges were those afforded by the com- mon schools. In 1852, at the age of sixteen years, he started for California, and, journeying by land and water, at length reached his destina- tion. He spent about ten years in that State, engaged in mining, freighting and farming, and in the spring of 1862 went to British Columbia,

571

A. STEINER.

where the succeeding three years of liis life were passed. He afterwards spent some time in Wash- ington Territory and Montana. In 1877, he re- turned to Illinois, locating in Evanston, where he has made his home continuously since. He followed various pursuits until 1886, when he bought the coal business of D. Rutter, and since that time has engaged as a dealer in coal and wood. He also does general teaming.

On the 14th of August, 1857, in California, Mr. Simpson married Miss Elizabeth Quick, daughter of John and Martha Quick. He was

again married, in April, 1885, to Mrs. Louisa Bowers, a daughter of Hugh Mcclellan. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson have a pleasant home in Evans- ton, and he also owns other city property. In politics, he is a supporter of the Republican party. Socially, he is a member of Evanston Lodge No. 673, I. O. O. F; and the Ft. Dearborn En- campment, of Chicago. His wife belongs to the Baptist Church. They are both highly respected people, and have a wide circle of friends in this community.

A. STEINER.

A STEINER is a farmer and miller residing on section 34, Maine Township. He was born in Strausburg, Germany, November 20, 1838, and when quite young was brought to this country by his parents, who were also na- tives of Germany. The father, George Steiner, continued to reside in the land of his birth until 1844, when, with his wife and children, he bade adieu to home and friends, and on a sailing-ves- sel crossed the ocean to the New World. He is now living in Des Plaines, in his ninety-third year, and is the oldest man in the township. His wife died inany years ago. They were the parents of only two children, both sons, our subject and Gustave, who also resides in Maine Township, Cook County.

The gentleman whose name heads this record was in his sixth year at the time of the emigra- tion of the family to America. When he first saw Chicago it contained only about seven thou- sand population. The first school which he at- tended was situated on the south branch of the river, about two miles from the court house. He completed his education in Maine Township, but his privileges in that direction were quite meagre. From the age of eight years he was reared upon the old homestead farm in that

township, and his training in farm work was not so limited. As soon as he was old enough to handle the plow he began work in the fields, and until twenty-three years of age he gave his father the benefit of his labor.

Mr. Steiner then left home to enter the service of his adopted country, enlisting in Company D, Fifty-eighth Illinois Infantry, as a private. He wore the blue for three years and two months and participated in a number of important en- gagements, including the battles of Shiloh, Cor- inth, Ft. Derusha, Pleasant Hill, Tupelo, Nash- ville and others. He was never wounded, al- though his clothes were several times pierced by the rebel lead, and on one occasion his gun was knocked out of his hand by a bullet. When the war was over and the dissolution of the Union no longer threatened, he received an honorable dis- charge in Chicago in 1865. He then returned to the old home farm, and continued working with his father for some time longer.

It was in 1867 that Mr. Steiner left home and was united in marriage with Miss Bertha Miller, daughter of Melchior Miller, a native of Germany, who came to America with her parents when a maiden of six summers. They have one son, Louie. They began their domestic life upon the

572

A. M. FARNSWORTH.

old homestead where they now reside, and where Mr. Steiner carries on general farming and mill- ing. His life has not been marked by any start- ling events, but has been a busy and useful one, well spent in an honorable business career. In

politics, he is a Republican, and socially is a mem- ber of Winfield Scott Post No. 445, G. A. R., and Vitruvious Lodge No. 81, A. F. & A. M., of Wheeling, Il1.

AARON M. FARNSWORTH.

ARON MASON FARNSWORTH, dealer in lumber, is one of the prosperous and sub- stantial citizens of Lemont, who has trav- eled over the Union considerably, and yet by in- dustry and frugality has prospered financially. He was born in Beekmantown, Clinton County, New York on the 20th of April, 1862, and is de- scended on his father's side from early New England settlers. His grandfather, James Farns- worth, was a native of Vermont, and removed to Clinton County in 1805, taking up wild land, of which he cleared more than a thousand acres. It was covered with a heavy growth of pine, which he cut for lumber, spars and ship timber, and shipped to England, by way of the St. Law- rence River.

James Farnsworth had six brothers, all of whom came to New York, where two of them remained, the others settling in the States farther west. Among these was William, who established a trad- ing-post at what is now Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1822, long before permanent settlement was made in that part of the Northwest Territory. Another brother, Daniel, settled in Ottawa, Illinois; and Noah and Samuel became residents of Minnesota. James Farnsworth died at the age of sixty-five, leaving two sons: George W., who settled near Channahon, Will County, Illinois; and Benjamin F., the father of our subject. The latter was born in New York in 1823, and resided in the Empire State until 1879, when he removed to Russell County, Kansas, with his family. He later settled at Joliet, Illinois, where he now resides. In 1846, hie wedded Mary Mason, a native of Clinton County, New York, who on the

paternal side is descended from pioneer settlers of New Hampshire, and on the maternal side from Hollanders who early located in New York, about 1745. In their family were eight children, of whom six are still living. The eldest son, Will- iam H., was a lawyer, and died at Hastings, Minnesota, at the age of twenty-seven.

Aaron M. Farnsworth, the fifth in order of birth, received the rudiments of an English edu- cation in the common schools, and spent two years in a grammar school, and an equal length of time in the high school of Plattsburg, New York. After spending two years in Russell Coun- ty, Kansas, with his father's family, he visited Lemont, Illinois, and soon, on account of his health, visited Colorado, where he spent a year in the mountains, prospecting and recuperating his physical energies.

On the 22d of August, 1882, Mr. Farnsworth married Miss Ella L. Lacey, daughter of Miles C. and Mary (Peet) Lacey; of Russell, Kansas, natives of Pennsylvania. To them have been born four children, as follows: Marian R., Will- iam L., Bessie A. and Watson L.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 75

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