Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 78

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

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Mr. Ruth whose name heads this record spent his early boyhood upon the home farm, aiding in the labors of the field through the summer months, while in the winter season he attended the district school and acquired the rudiments of his educa- tion. Later, he was a student in the High School,

and in the Iowa State College, of Ames, Iowa. On the completion of his literary education, he en- tered Bryant & Stratton's Business College of Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1873. His time was then devoted to business interests for several years, after which he determined to enter upon a professional career, and began the study of law in the Union College of Law in Chi- cago. Two years later he was admitted to the Bar. During several succeeding years, he was engaged in delivering lectures on commercial law and the law of real property in Bryant & Strat- ton's College, in which he had formerly been a student.

On the 18th of August, 1880, Mr. Ruth was united in marriage with Miss Ella F. Reardon. Three children have been born of their union: Irwin, Chester and Linus C. The parents are members of the Hinsdale Unity Church, and con- tribute liberally to its support. They occupy an enviable position in social circles, and have won the high regard of all who know them.

In 1881 Mr. Ruth came to Hinsdale, and has since engaged in the practice of his profession with excellent success. He has been honored with a number of official positions, having served as a member of the Board of Trustees and the Board of

587

C. B. SMITH.

Healtlı, and for three years has been Village At- torney. He discharges his duties with a prompt- ness and fidelity that have won him high con- mendation, and his public and private life are alike above reproaclı. In politics, he is a supporter of the Republican party. He owns some good prop- erty in Hinsdale, including his pleasant residence, and was one of the organizers of the Hinsdale

Building and Loan Association, of which he has served as attorney from the start. He is ever found in the front rank of any enterprise calcu- lated to prove of public benefit, and is alive to the best interests of this community and its wel- fare. Public-spirited and progressive, he is a valued citizen and a man of sterling worth.

CHARLES BENNETT SMITH. .

HARLES BENNETT SMITH, only son of William G. Smith, a pioneer of DuPage County, this State, is one of the most suc- cessful business men of Wheaton. He was born in Whitehall, N. Y., April 6, 1853, and was brought to Illinois when an infant. He attended the public schools at Warrenville and Wheaton, and was a student of Wheaton College two years. At the age of seventeen, he began learning the railroad station business at Elmhurst, and soon found employment in the station at Wheaton, be- coming a skillful telegraph operator. In the spring of 1872 he was made agent for the Chicago & Northwestern Railway and the American Ex- press Company at Westside, Crawford County, Iowa, and filled that position eight years. He then took charge of the station at Carroll, an im- portant division point on the Northwestern sys- tem, for three years. At the end of that time, at his request, he was transferred to the charge of Wheaton Station, being at the time the oldest agent in point of service on the Northwestern line west of Boone. Mr. Smith was determined to improve his opportunities, and soon after locat- ing at Wheaton, he opened a real-estate and in- surance office, in which he transacted a large amount of business. He is one of those who are responsible for the incorporation of the city, and

for the modern improvements which make it a desirable place of residence. He served four years as City Clerk, but has never been a seeke: after political preferment. He is keenly alive to business opportunities, and is quite content to let others handle the reins of government. He is a stockholder in the company which supplies the city with electric light, and during the Columbian Exposition was Vice-President of the Epworth Hotel Restaurant Company, an organization which built and operated a successful hotel near the Fair grounds.

In 1890 Mr. Smith was appointed Assistant Claim Agent of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company, a position that he has accept- ably filled since. With no influence to push him, save his own energy and ability, he has attained a responsible position with an extensive corpora- tion at an age when many are still apprentices. Mr. Smith is an active and enthusiastic Republi- can, and carries an influence in local political af- fairs. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and of several fraternal orders.

On the 30th of December, 1875, Mr. Smith was married to his childhood's playmate and schoolmate, Laura Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Jude P. Gary, a pioneer of DuPage County. Mrs. Smith was born in Winfield Township, and

588

J. R. WHEELER.

is a valuable member of Wheaton society. To the aged parents of Mr. Smith she is like one born to them, and in every relation of life is the worthy helpmate of a popular citizen. Mrs. Smith has been throughout her adult life one of the most faithful and efficient members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has been for many years the leading soprano singer in the

choir of the Wheaton Church. Two children have been given to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, namely, Laura Eoleen and Winifred Alice.

In 1892 Mr. Smith built tlie fine residence which he occupies at the southwest corner of West Street and Washington Avenue. It is the seat of quiet elegance and refined hospitality.

JOHN R. WHEELER.

OHN R. WHEELER, for many years promi- nent in the business, social and religious life of Chicago, was born in East Greene, Che- nango County, N. Y., on the 31st of Decem- ber, 1827. His grandfather, Samuel Wheeler, came with his family from England and settled in East Greene in 1792. At that time the town of East Greene had not been created. It was taken from the town of Union, Tioga (now Broome) County, in 1798, and was named for Gen. Na- thaniel Greene, of Revolutionary fame. A set- tlement of French refugees was made on the east side of the river at Greene in 1792, and a few families of these remained to form a part of the permanent settlement, though most of them moved away in a short time. Samuel Wheeler was among the settlers of the northern part of the town, where he engaged iní farming. Both he and his wife died in 1808.

Capt. Samuel Wheeler, son of Samuel, was a soldier in the War of 1812. The subject of this biography was the seventh in a family of nine children born to him and his wife, Tamar Barnes. Their names in order are: William, Melissa, Har- riet, George, Sarah Ann, Charles H., John R., Mary and Margaret.

John R. Wheeler passed his minority upon his

father's farnı, completing his school days at the academy in Greene. In early life he taught school at East Greene and Oxford, and for five years engaged in farming near Oxford, after which he kept a general store twelve years at Oxford, N. Y. He served several terms in Oxford as Town Supervisor and County School Commis- sioner. Having been moderately successful, the result of persistent attention to business, he re- solved to seek a new field of operations in the great West, and removed to Chicago in March, 1869. Here he invested his capital in real estate, and with such good judgment did he handle his holdings that he was made independent. He always took an intelligent interest in questions affecting the general welfare, and was soon called upon to serve his fellows in various official capac- ities. For a time he served as Superintendent of the Western Railway .Weighing Association. Be- lieving in the fundamental principles of the Re- publican party, he gave his earnest support to the cause of that organization. In1 1884 he was a delegate from the Third Illinois District to the National Republican Convention, and was in- tensely devoted to Mr. Blaine. The next year he presided over the Cook County Republican Convention, and the following spring was elected

589

LEONARD PRATT.

Alderman from the then Ninth Ward. He was the Republican Presidential Elector from the Third District in 1888, and was appointed a member of the State Railroad and Warehouse Commission the next year, being made Chairman of the Board. He was re-appointed in 1891, and acted until about a month before his death, which sad event occurred February 19, 1893. His demise, soon after the completion of his sixty-fifth year, was supposed to be the result of a severe attack of la grippe in the spring of 1892.

Mr. Wheeler was for eighteen years a Deacon in the Second Baptist Church of Chicago. In every relation of life, he strove to do his whole duty, and entered into every undertaking with his full strength. During the Civil War he at- tempted to give his services in defense of the Union, but was rejected on account of an injury which he sustained in earlier years. By precept and example, he sought to lead others in the way of duty and right.

In July, 1849, Mr. Wheeler took for a help- mate Miss Eliza Ann Tremaine, who was born in East Greene, and was three months and eleven

days his junior. She is the fifth of the eight chil- dren of Erastus and Lucretia Tremaine, the lat ter's maiden name having been Race. Her grand- father, Daniel Tremaine, was among the pioneers of East Greene, and was a member of the Bap- tist Church organized there in 1795. It is prob able that he was a descendant of a Huguenot refugee in America, as the name is of undoubted French origin. Daniel Tremaine served in the Revolutionary army, and was present at the sur- render of Burgoyne at Saratoga in 1777. He reached the ripe old age of ninety-four years, passing his latter years with his son Erastus, the father of Mrs. Wheeler, near East Greene.

Three children were given to Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler, namely: George A., Luella and Ida, The daughters were married on the same day, in October, 1873, the elder becoming the wife of John W. Midgley, Chairman of the Western Freight Association, and the other wedding En- field D. Moore, Manager of the Chicago Car Service Association. Mrs. Midgley is the mother of four children, Stanley, Arthur, Ethel and Edith.

DR. LEONARD PRATT.

12 R. LEONARD PRATT, for many years a leading physician of Wheaton, and now a resident of San Jose, Cal., is a native of Towanda, Pa. His parents, Russell and Olive (Towner) Pratt, whose names indicate English ancestry, passed their lives in that place, where Russell Pratt carried on a cooperage business. Leonard Pratt was born December 23, 1819, and is therefore now in his seventy-fourth year, but is still vigorous in mind and body and actively en- gaged in the practice of his profession. He re- ceived his primary education in the Pennsylvania common schools, and his medical training at

Jefferson and Hahnemann Medical Colleges in Philadelphia. For more than fifty years his time has been employed in the healing art, the first years of his practice being passed in his native town. I11 1852 he removed to Carroll County, Ill., settling on a farm in Rock Creek Township. one of the finest farms in that county. He re- moved in 1865 to Wheaton, Ill., for the purpose of educating his son, a biography of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume. He built a fine brick mansion on Main Street (now occupied by Dr. E. C. Guild), where his home remained until 1889, when he removed to his present residence.

590

F. D. COSSITT, JR.

Dr. Pratt is a member of the American Insti- tute of Homeopathy and of the Illinois and Cali- fornia State Associations of that school, and is a man of fine attainments and progressive ideas. He has always given his political allegiance to the Republican party since its organization. His religious faith is represented by the New Church, commonly known as the Swedenborgian. His time has been given to tlie demands of a large medical practice, and he has been able to devote but little personal attention to public affairs, although he always took a deep interest in any effort to pro- mote and secure good government. The original charter of the town of Wheaton, which has since become a city, was the work of his mind and pen.

Dr. Pratt was for seven years a member of tlie faculty of Hahnemann Medical College, of Chi- cago, filling the chair of Special Pathology and Diagnosis, and was an extensive contributor to

medical literature, being the first Western physi- cian to call the attention of the profession to the clinical thermometer. At the same time he was constantly employed in attending patients in and about Wheaton and Chicago.

Dr. Pratt's wife, Betsy, is a daughter of Lemuel Belding, of Le Raysville, Bradford County, Pa., a widely known Swedenborgian clergyman and physician, who was eminently successful in both capacities. He was a calm, logical speaker, and achieved considerable reputation as an orator. The Belding family is of English lineage. Two sons and two daughters were born to Dr. and Mrs. Pratt, one son dying in infancy, and a daughter, Hattie, at the age of thirteen years, the latter being carried off by the first case of diphtheria known in Rock Creek, Carroll County, Ill. One daughter, Nettie L., is a successful teacher of inusic at San Jose, Cal.

FRANKLIN DWIGHT COSSITT, JR.

RANKLIN DWIGHT COSSITT, JR., only surviving son of F. D. and Martha L. (Moore) Coisitt, was born in La Grange, Tenn., December 1, 1861, and during his infancy . was taken by his parents to Chicago. About a year later his mother died, and he was taken back by her sister to Tennessee, where he continued to make his liome until 1869. In his eighth year he returned to Chicago, and attended its public schools and pursued a course in one of its busi- ness colleges. At the age of eighteen he opened a general store in La Grange, which he conducted for three years. At the end of this period he sold out, and again took up study at a business college. He next became associated with his fa- ther in the real-estate business, a connection whichi has continued until the present time.

O11 the Ioth of February, 1886, Mr. Cossitt married Miss Margaret A., daughter of Dr. George M. Fox, a prominent citizen of La Grange, whose

biography appears elsewhere in this work. Four children have been born to them, namely: Frank- lin D., named for his paternal grandfather; George M., named for his maternal grandfather; Jean, who bears the name of her maternal grandmother; and Margaret, her mother's namesake.

In1 1889 Mr. Cossitt was elected Trustee of the village of La Grange, and lias twice been re- lected, now serving his third term. In 1892 he was elected Highway Commissioner of Lyons Township, and is now Treasurer of that town- ship. In political sentiment, lie is a Democrat, and is now serving his second term as a member of the County Democratic Central Committee. The prominent part which he has taken in public affairs, and especially in the upbuilding of this community, entitles him to representation among the public-spirited and progressive citizens of Cook County.

MRS. J. H. MUHLKĘ

JOHN H. MUHIKE

591

J. H. MUHLKE.

JOHN H. MUHLKE.

3 OHN HENRY MUHLKE. Few of the biog- raphies heretofore prepared of distinguished citizens of German descent within our me- tropolis indicate thoroughly and honorably the achievement of the first generation of foreign-born men, whose life work has been conspicuous in moulding the development of this, the greatest urban uprising of modern times, the most wonder- ful city in its brief career of all cities of which history has left a record.

John Henry Muhlke was born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, in the year 1826, unto Frederick and Charlotte (Gastfield) Muhlke. That he came of good parentage is trebly vouched for by his appear- ance, his career and the character of his descen- dants. He came to America in 1840, almost di- rectly to his future home, Chicago, where he be- gan an eventful life work in a humble capacity, being employed by Judge Goodrich about his home premises.

Having caught the inspiration of our free in- stitutions, and beginning to appreciate that even the desert might be inade to "blossom like the rose," he started out upon a mercantile career, destined by a happy combination of good fortunes and energetic action to lead him by easy degrees well up the ladder of municipal and state fame, until, in fact, he died with but one real regret, namely, that his imperfect knowledge of the En- glisli language did not permit his assuming the liighest executive responsibilities. He was re- peatedly urged by his friends to become a can- didate for Mayor of Chicago.

His first experience along his real calling of merchant was obtained in a clerical capacity un- der J. B. Strehl, thereafter embarking in the dry- goods business for himself on East Lake Street, wherein he was unusually successful, and with the proceeds of which, about the year 1870, he started a real-estate office in the Uhlich Block (being a portion of his own considerable prop- erty). It is well known that the fair proportioned fortune he left to his family was benefited much by judicious handling in this direction. Anyone who has had means and a faith in the future of Chicago real estate has invariably been among those to receive ample congratulations from the Goddess of Fortune.

The latter years of life were not free from pain, and it was in some sense a relief when his Maker called him to a higher and a better home, August 26, 1879. He passed away with resigned spirit in the German Lutheran faith, of whose St. Paul's Parish he had long been a most valued member. His remains were borne to Graceland, where, be- neath a handsome monument, he sleeps the long rest following a just and useful life, amid the solemn beauties which grace our finest City of the Dead.

A stanch Republican his life long, he never sought the frequent honors whose donors repeat- edly sought his doors, bearing their voluntary gifts, meeting more than once the unwelcome re- ply of non-acceptation from one who never shrank from discharging the simplest duty of citizenship, as he believed it to be. The most pleasant and

592

J. H. MUHLKE.

honorable of these public gifts of trust was his ap- pointment to the Constitutional Convention, along with "Long John" Wentworth and Judge An- thony. This was a mark of esteem and confi- dence in his judgment which could hardly be excelled. It is owing to the worthy work of such men that we owe the bulwarks of safeguard and personal liberty vouchsafed by our State Consti- tution of this day.

Among other valuable holdings, Mr. Mullke secured a fine piece of real estate upon North State Street, which he purchased from his wife's parents, whereon, at what is now Number 307, he built a home, which, however, was destroyed by the fearful holocaust of 1871. It was followed by a very dignified brick mansion, which stands to this day, a most imposing landmark of this part of the city, where he dwelt until his death. What tales could be narrated from the procession of events which throughout all these years have wended by the door in and out of the city! Mrs. Muhlke lived on this site with her parents, who settled there about 1845.

Mr. Mullke married, on the 20th of April, 1848, Miss Catherine Knust, of Chicago, a daugh- ter of John A. and Maria (Kemper) Knust. She emigrated to this country (her parents following) from Quackenbruck, in the province of Hanover, Germany, reaching this place July 4, 1845, the anniversary day of our country's freedom, and which has fitly bestowed upon her descendants the freedom to do and become all that native tal- ents and educated powers enable them to be and accomplish. Mrs. Muhlke passed away Sunday, April 28, 1895, in her sixty-seventh year. She was active in religious and charitable work, ably seconding her husband in benevolent enterprises. Just before her demise, she presented to St. Paul's German Evangelical Lutheran Church a chime of bells, which were rung for the first time at the celebration of the fiftieth-year jubilee of that con- gregation. This was the only time Mrs. Muhlke heard their glad sound. They soon after tolled the knell at her funeral.

The large family of eleven children crowned with tender significance their long domestic hap-

piness. The three whose sad fates were to pass away in infancy we namie not, as being unknown to history. Of the living, Louisa married Jacob H. Tiedeman, of this city, October 29, 1874. He is a successful real-estate dealer of our metropolis, who has twice served in the City Council. They have three children, Adelaide, Louisa and Anita. Anna is the wife of Philip Henrici, of Chicago, a restauranteer, to whom she has borne five chil- dren: Philip, Louise, Anna, Charles and George. Henry C., a salesman at Farwell's, married Belle Fontaine, of Toledo, Ohio; they have as yet no children. George F., who is a cashier, is unmar- ried. Joseph H., a lawyer in good standing, who married Miss Ida Swissler, of this city, has thus far no children. Catharina married Charles J. Harpel, a salesman of this city; they have 10 children. Walter G., a grocer, who married Miss Amelia Stracke, of this city, has a boy, John Henry. Adelaide married Frederick Hammond, a tanner of this city; they have at this writing no children.

It will thus be seen that the family to a person has been true to Chicago, the home of their fa- ther's adoption and their own births, where have risen from decade to decade the growing fortunes and prosperity of the family, which future gener- ations are destined to broaden out into a conspicu- ous family tree, bearing the fruits of many able branches; for with such a progenitor, and the promising prospects of to-day, it would be folly to predict anything but rare good fortune for the col- lective members of the family founded by the sub- ject of this sketch, John Henry Muhlke.

In this record, which aims to set out with am- ple fullness the dignified factors of an honorable career, and wherein appears for the first time the family genealogy in full on this side the Atlantic Ocean, it is evidently highly proper that the line- aments of Mr. Muhlke should be preserved, that not alone the good deeds, but the manly features, of their ancestor may be henceforth safely open for ready reference to the unborn hundreds who are destined in the near future to trace their origin to him of whom we have altogether modestly spoken,

593

F. W. PORTER.

FREDERICK W. PORTER.

REDERICK WILLIAM PORTER. No kindlier citizen ever dwelt in Chicago, no truer Mason ever took his obligation, than the subject of this sketch, Frederick W. Porter. Mr. Porter was born in the town of North Brook- field, Massachusetts, on the 12th day of May, 1836, being a child of Dr. Joshua and Martha Lee (Smith) Porter. His grandfather was a noted practitioner of medicine in that region for close upon half a century.

Mr. Porter's education was obtained in the neighboring Leicester Academy. He then went to Charlestown, Massachusetts, in the employ of F. M. Holmes, to learn the upholstery craft for a period of two years; thence to Boston, Massachiti- setts with Burnham, Scott & Company, manufact- urers of gents' furnishings, as entry clerk for four years. He then changed to the firm of Faxon, Elms & Company, of Boston, as bookkeeper for two years; then, in 1865, in poor health, came West; first to work on a farm in La Salle County, Illinois, for John Aylsworth, teaching school in the winter. In 1866 he went with Franklin Dim- mick, of Utica, Illinois, as a buyer of grain and produce. In April, 1867, he went to Marseilles, Illinois, to work for Rhoderick Clark, an uncle of his present widow.

In August of the year last mentioned, Mr. Port- er came to Chicago, as purchasing agent for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway, in charge of their supply department. In the spring of 1870 he returned to Marseilles to work for Pierce, Clark & Sharp, contractors for the build- ing of the Chicago, Pekin & Southwestern Rail-

way. In 1871 he returned to Chicago, to go with Kirby, Carpenter & Company, and in 1873 went with Palmer, Fuller & Company as bookkeeper.

Upon the death of his father in 1876, he went to the old eastern home to live with his mother as her comforter for a year; then in the spring of 1877 returned to the employ of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway as General Book- keeper, with which he remained up to the time of his untimely death. In 1886, as a reward for faithful and very devoted and able services, he was made General Auditor of the system, in the conspicuous discharge of which duties he contin- ued to the very day of his death.

Mr. Porter was one of the most prominent lo- cal Masons, of which fraternity he was a chief or- nament and delight. He first entered Cement Lodge, No. 304, Utica, Illinois, May 18, 1867; in 1868 hie affiliated with Waubansia Lodge No. 160, of Chicago, in which year lie was exalted in Wiley M. Egan Chapter No. 126, R. A. M., Chicago. I11 1878 he was Royal and Select Mas- ter of Fairview Council No. 161, R. & S. M .; in 1879, W. M. of Waubansia Lodge; and in 1881, Secretary of the same until 1885; in 1888, created a life member of the same; in 1891, an honor- ary member of Normal Park No. 797; in 1892, G. E. P. & S. of Van Rensselaer Lodge of Per- fection; a member of the Chicago Council, P. of J .; Knight of Gourgas Chapter, R. C .; S. P. of the R. S., O. Con. In 1893, K. T. in Engle- wood Commandery No. 59, and W. P. of Nor- mal Park Chapter No. 211, O. E. S. In 1894, N. M. S., Medinah Temple.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 78

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