Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 79

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

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594

F. W. PORTER.

Mr. Porter died very suddenly at the Grand Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio, of heart disease, over- come by the joyous excitement of a Masonic function which he had gone there to attend, Sep- tember 27, 1894. His funeral was held at his residence, No. 7117 Wentworth Avenue, Engle- wood, under Masonic auspices, honored by a most magnificent casket at their hands, and with a profusion of beautiful flowers it is rarely one's lot to look upon, even in this age of grand flor- al display. He was a member of Prof. W. F. Black's Central Church of Christ, near the cor- ner of Indiana and Thirty-seventh Streets, whose pastor officiated very feelingly at the funeral; and then they bore the noble man's remains to Oak- wood Cemetery.

A fine specimen of physical manhood, his men- tal gifts were in all ways worthy of emulation. His chief virtue was his quiet giving-"The greatest of these is charity." He gave to every body who asked and needed his aid. Since his death numberless instances of such kind have arsen to notice, but he always did it in a quiet manner. Indeed, it was this admirable trait of common brotherhood (more laudable if lived up to by all) which operated to prevent his leav- ing as good provision as would otherwise have been the case for his family, which he loved with a devotion not easy to make known in words.

Mr. Porter was a Republican, very ardent, but not a politician. He was also a member of the Hamilton Club at one time. He had a penchant for collecting rare coins, and is reputed to have possessed one of the finest private numismatic collections in the city.

As a penman it would be hard to excell him, either in plain or fancy work. His “ Annual Auditor's Report," gotten out for the railway, was each time really a utilitarian piece of art.

Mr. Porter married, June 20, 1872, Miss Susie E. Ryall, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, but early came to the United States and obtained her education at Oberlin College, Ohio, where Mr. Porter first became acquainted with her. He left one child, a daughter, Kathleen Eggleston Port- er, who has the singular honor of being the first child born in Eggleston, which event happened

upon the twenty-fourth day of January, 1887. Mrs. Porter comes of a very distinguished Irish family, her father being George Ryall, a gradu- ate of Trinity College, Dublin. He was the eldest son of John Ryall. The family seat was in the neighborhood of the Irish Capital.

The Porter family is of very ancient and cer- tain origin. William the Conqueror had in his train a certain William de la Grande, whose son Ralph was Grande Porteur (gate-keeper) to his Majesty King Henry I. from A. D. 1120 to 1140. From this fact originated the succeeding patronymic of "Porter," for at this early date there were no surnames among the people of the north of Europe. The early Normans derived theirs from occupations, personal peculiarities or other individual distinctions.

The family coat-of-arnis, which was very taste- fully expressed on a stained-glass window of his Englewood home, is as follows: Sable, three church bells argent, on a fess azure, charged with a fleur de lis; crest, a portcullis azure, chains or; motto, Vigilentia et Virtute.

The remarkably preserved line of descent of the family is as follows: Ralph Porter, Robert, Hugh, Hugh (of Markham, Nottinghamshire, England), Robert (of North Ellington, England), Stephen (of Ravensby-Hoo, Westmoreland, Eng- land), Richard (of Baynham Abbey, Sussex), Thomas (of Lyndhurst, Kent), Richard (of Mick- leton, Gloucestershire), John (Sergeant-at-Arms to King Henry VIII.), Edward (of Aston, Eng- land; married Angelina Porter, of Spain, daughter of Giles), Endymion (of the Manor House of As- ton Sub-Edge; a Gentleman of the Royal Bed Chamber; had a patent connected with the Cus- toms of the port of London), Edmond, George, and John, all of the preceding fifteen generations being of English stock, concerning some members of whom there is preserved valuable data in the standard biographical and genealogical English work, "Lives of the Lords Strangeford."

John Porter, son of the last aforesaid, was born in Dorset, England, probably in 1596, and was a tanner by trade. He came to Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1635, whence he removed to Salem (now Danvers) in 1644. For valuable

595

BENJAMIN CARPENTER.

American data of this family, vide the "Porter Genealogy," by Hon. J. W. Porter, of Burlington, Maine, published in 1878.

Samuel, of Wenham, Massachusetts, a mariner, married Hannah Dodge, of Beverly, Massachu- setts, and died in 1660.

John, born in Wenham in 1658, married Lydia Herrick, of Beverly, was a representative to the General Court, Town Moderator, etc .; a maltster and farmer.

Samuel, born in Wenliam, February 17, 1681, married (1) Sarah Bradstreet, of Topsfield, a granddaughter of Governor Bradstreet; (2) Ex- perience Batchelder, of Wenhanı.

Samuel, born in Wenham November 14, 1711, a housewright.

Samuel, born in Wenham (now Hamilton), Massachusetts, January 15, 1739, married Anna Patch, of Ipswich, Massachusetts.

Joshua, 1782, of Wenliam, Massachusetts.

Joshua, Jr., born in Wenham January 4, 1809, worked through Amherst College, and subse- quently graduated from Bowdoin Medical Col- lege of Brunswick, Maine. Married Martha Lee Smith, a daughter of Stephen and Abigail ( Hoop- er, widow of James Hooper, Crafts) Smith, from whom sprung the Frederick W. Porter, subject of this sketch.

These twenty-four consecutive generations of male descendants is certainly a very unusual fact to find in our democratic country.

BENJAMIN CARPENTER.

ENJAMIN CARPENTER was a pioneer Chicago business man, and came of a long line of New England ancestry. He fully exemplified the hardy, enterprising character for which the people of that region have always been famous.

His family in this country began with William Carpenter, who was born in Whirwell, England, in 1605, and came in 1638, with his wife, Abigail, and four children, to Weymouth, Massachusetts, his father, William, born in 1576, coming with him. In 1645 they removed to Rehoboth, Massa- chusetts. Four more children were born to them. The second son, John, went to Jamaica, Long Island, and had a son and grandson who received the same baptismal name. The last of these in the line herein traced was born and lived most of his life at Goshen, New York, where he car- ried on an extensive mercantile business. He had four stores, located at Goshen, Troy and Sa- lina, New York, and Detroit, Michigan, and served as a member of the State Legislature of

New York. In 1779 he married Abigail Moore, cousin of Benjamin Moore, Bishop of the Protest- ant Episcopal Church. John Carpenter died at West Troy, New York, in February, 1800, at the age of fifty-six years.

Benjamin, son of John Carpenter, inherited his father's business capacity, and had charge of the Detroit store when but seventeen years of age. He became interested in the development of the salt works at Salina, New York (now a part of the city of Syracuse), and was prominent in busi- ness circles of central New York, where most of his life was passed. He was married at Aurora, Cayuga County, New York, July 23, 1807, to Charlotte Bartlett Alden, daughter of Jonathan Alden, a lineal descendant of John Alden, of Plymouth Colony.

Benjamin Carpenter, the distinguished Chi- cagoan, was born in Manlius, Onondaga Coun- ty, New York, December 4, 1809, and died at his liome in Chicago April 9, 1881, having com- pleted more than one-fourth of his seventy-second

596

BENJAMIN CARPENTER.

year. His early boyhood days were passed in his native county, and when fourteen years old he went to Hartford, Trumbull County, Ohio, where he enjoyed the benefit of an academic education. He later entered the store of Col. Richard Hayes, and for several years followed mercantile busi- ness. From an early age he had cherished an ambition to become a lawyer, and diligently pur- sued the study of the law in every leisure hour. In 1837 he removed to Conneaut, Aslıtabula County, Ohio, and entered the law office of Judge S. F. Taylor, being shortly thereafter admitted to the Bar. When Judge Taylor moved away, a year later, Mr. Carpenter succeeded to his busi- ness, and continued successfully for nine years in the active practice of the profession. He formed a partnership with Zaphna Lake, under the style of Lake & Carpenter, which proved a strong and successful combination. They operated a general store at Conneaut, and carried on a large trade with owners and captains of lake craft. They also built several large vessels, and in 1847 launched what was then the largest craft on the Great Lakes-the brig "Banner,"-and were ridiculed by their neighbors for what was con- sidered a venturesome enterprise.

In 1850 Mr. Carpenter became a resident of the thriving young city of Chicago, which was thence- forth his home, and which was in no small de- gree benefited by his resolute and fearless action in the management of its municipal affairs. Syl- vester Marsh, a pioneer in the packing industry of Chicago, induced Mr. Carpenter to join him in business. The packing house of Marsh & Car- penter was located at the foot of North State Street, and was the scene of an active and profit- able industry. At the end of two years Mr. Car- penter purchased the interest of his partner, and continued to operate it alone for five years, his plant being located on the site now occupied by James S. Kirk & Sons' factory on Northı Water Street. Ill 1857 he was elected member of the City Council from the then Ninth Ward, and from that date devoted most of his attention to public interests. He was the first President of the Board of Public Works. He was an upright man, and did not hesitate to express himself clearly and

forcibly, and to act upon his convictions in bothı private and public life.

There was probably not a schoolhouse in Ash- tabula County, Ohio, in which his voice was not heard in denunciation of slavery during the excit- ing times of his early manhood, and he was equally active in sustaining the cause of temper- ance. He was one of the founders of Plymouth Congregational Church, and also of the New Eng- land Congregational Church of Chicago.

Being a man of most vigorous physique, lie en- joyed continuous good health until 1870, when he suffered a shock of paralysis, which eventually ended his life.

He was married, September 20, 1832, to Abi- gail, daughter of Col. Richard Hayes, who earned his title in the War of 1812, in which he took a conspicuous part. Colonel Hayes' father, Sergeant · Titus Hayes, was a soldier in the Connecticut line, and was with Washington at Valley Forge.

Two sons and four daughters blessed the home of Benjamin Carpenter, two of the latter dying unmarried. His eldest son, George Benjamin Carpenter, is a prominent business man, being the senior partner in the firm of George B. Carpen- ter & Company, one of the oldest houses in Chicago. His second son, Clinton Bartlett Car- penter, is associated with his brother in business. The daughters are Mary Ellen, wife of Richard I. Field; and Cornelia, wife of Philip B. Bradley, botlı residing in Chicago.

The grandchildren of Benjamin Carpenter, are Benjamin, George Albert, Hubbard Foster and John Alden, sons of George B. Carpenter and Elizabeth Curtis Greene, his wife; Clinton Arthur, son of Clinton B. Carpenter; George Walter and Arthur Carpenter, sons of Richard I. Field; and Philip H., son of Philip B. Bradley.

The character of Mr. Carpenter was most faith- fully and touchingly described by lis pastor, Rev. Arthur Little, a portion of whose memorial remarks is here given:

"We are here to pay the last well-deserved honors to a veteran whose life has been parallel with the most thrilling years of the most thrilling century of the world. When he was born, this nation was young, just contending for a recogni-

597

E. G. KEITH.

tion of its rights upon the high seas and in other lands. When he reached the age of twenty-one years, great moral and political issues were just coming into the horizon. There were before him and other young men thirty terrific, memorable years in the history of our Republic-years which should determine its life or its untimely death. He had the insight and courage to put himself on the right side of the great question then in debate. He became an advocate and defender of the teni- perance cause, when drinking habits were uni- versal among the better classes, and when it cost something to make a stand in that behalf. But he was born for leadership, for a place in the fore- front of the battle. Living, as he had from his youth, on the border line between freedom and slavery, his young blood was stirred in behalf of the enslaved, and he threw himself with all his youthful enthusiasm into the anti-slavery move- ment-then feeble and hopeless, excepting to men of faith and courage. He became a prominent Abolitionist from principle, in a day when it was unpopular and almost odious to take such a stand. With Giddings and Wade and Chase (who were his personal friends), and others of like spirit, he threw himself into the thickest of the fight-cast in his lot with the despised minority. *

We can imagine the delight and satisfaction with which such a .man would aid the poor fugitive who had the courage to escape from bondage across the line into the land of freedom. It is one of the many compensations of such a service, that he who performed it should live to see all his fondest dreams and hopes realized in an enfran- chised country, North and South, white and black. * * * If we inquire for the cause of this long, honored and faithful life, for the forces that made him so serviceable in his day and generation, we shall readily perceive that- first, he possessed strong native endowments. He was a man of great physical vigor, active tem- perament, good judgment and sense. He was a man of affairs, such as others would look to for help, counsel, guidance, leadership. Second- the potential force was his religious character. This came as the result of Christian parentage and early Christian teaching. The good counsel and benedictions bestowed upon him by a loving mother when he left the old home, while yet a boy, were remembered and heeded to his dying day. * * * He leaves, as the best legacy to his children, a good name, precious memories, a helpful example."

ELBRIDGE G. KEITH.

2 LBRIDGE GERRY KEITH is not only conspicuous as a financier, but he has come to be one of the best known among Chicago's many prominent reformers and philanthropists. While displaying the sagacity and tenacity of purpose so essential to a successful business ca- reer, he has simultaneously been identified with so many movements of a public nature, that the modern history of Chicago would be but incom- pletely told without some allusion to his charac- ter and deeds. Though lie has exerted no small influence in shaping measures of public policy,

and in placing capable and trustworthy men in positions of profit and honor, he has scrupulously avoided any personal connection with places of political preferment, and has given no one an op- portunity to traduce his motives or question the sincerity of his purposes.

Mr. Keith is the youngest son of Martin Keith and Betsey French, extended mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. He was born at Barre, Washington County, Vermont, July 16, 1840, and enjoyed excellent educational advan- tages. After a course at Newbury Seminary he

598

E. G. KEITH.

attended Barre Academy, which was then under the charge of Dr. J. S. Spaulding, one of the leading educators of his day. At an early age he began to display a marked tendency for literary and political pursuits, but these proclivities were somewhat obscured by the commercial surround- ings in which he was placed. Upon leaving school, at the age of sixteen years, he began his business career in the capacity of clerk in a count- try store, and later, in 1857, he came to Chicago, whither his brothers, Edson and O. R. Keith, had preceded him. He at once became connected with the house of Keith Brothers & Faxon, and upon the retirement of Mr. Faxon in 1865, he be- came a partner in the firm of Keith Brothers, wholesale dealers and jobbers in hats, caps, furs and millinery. This firm is still known as one of the foremost in its line.

In 1884. Mr. Keith helped to organize the Met- ropolitan National Bank, and was immediately elected its President, a position which he has con- tinuously filled to the present time. Under his thorough and capable management this corpora- tion has come to be recognized as one of the most substantial banking institutions in the West. It now occupies the magnificent banking floor of the Temple, at La Salle and Monroe Streets, and em- ploys about fifty people in the regular transaction of its immense business.

Mr. Keith has ever been an earnest advocate of the cause of education, and served seven years as a member of the Board of Education of Chicago. The Keith School, at the corner of Thirty-fourth and Dearborn Streets, was so named in recogni- tion of his able and disinterested services in be- half of the youth of the city. He is also a Trus- tee of Beloit College, one of the foremost institu- tions of higher education in the West.

At an early date Mr. Keith began to ally him- self with social, benevolent, literary and con- mercial organizations, for the number and char- acter of which Chicago is famous. Among those in whose work he has been most conspicuous may be mentioned the Union League, Commercial and Bankers' Clubs, each of which has honored him with the position of President. He is also iden- tified with the Chicago, Literary and Twentieth

Century Clubs. He has served as presiding offi- cer of the Young Men's Christian Association and the Chicago Orphan Asylum.

When the Civic Federation was formed for the purpose of introducing much-needed reforms into the social and municipal conduct of the city, lie became one of its inost earnest and influential members, and as one of its Directors is doing much to forward the good work inaugurated by this beneficent organization. As a Director of the World's Columbian Exposition, he was active and potent in securing its location in Chicago and its unprecedented success.

In December, 1860, Mr. Keith was married to Miss Harriet S. Hall, of Dayton, La Salle Coun- ty, Illinois, and a daughter of Joseph Hall, one of the pioneers of this state. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Keith comprised four sons and two daughters until the twenty-eiglith day of Novem- ber, 1891, when they were called upon to mourn the death of the first-born daughter, Susie, an ac- complished young woman. The names of the others are: Elbridge B., Carl, Stanley, Harold H. and Bessie.

For over twenty years Mr. Keith has been identified with Christ Reformed Episcopal Church, of which Bishop Cheney is pastor. At the age of fourteen years lie walked twelve miles in order to attend the first Republican State Convention in Vermont, and has ever since been an interested participant in the councils of that party. He has seen and been a factor in its accomplishment of the emancipation of the slave, the establishment of a sound financial system, and the promotion and development of the arts of peace. He has frequently served as a delegate in state conven- tions, and was a member of the National Conven- tion which nominated James A. Garfield for the presidency. Throughout all these years, how- ever, he has consistently refused to allow the use of his name as a candidate for any political office. By this steadfast course, he is pointing out to his fellow-citizens the way to true civil-service reform, which can never be fully accomplished without the active participation in political affairs of those who are not themselves office-seekers.

Jours Fraternaly .

J. N. Jabor

599

T. H. TABOR.

REV. TIMOTHY H. TABOR.

EV. TIMOTHY HANNIBAL TABOR was consin, but in the following year he accepted a born in Rutland County, Vermont, August call to the society in Markesan, Wisconsin, where a church was nearly completed, and where he re- mained for six years. 21, 1824. When he was quite young, his parents moved into the western part of the State of New York, then in the "Far West," where he obtained what education limited circumstances permitted. In early life his mind seems to have turned persistently to religious subjects. His parents were substantial and consistent members of the old-school Presbyterian Church, but he was never satisfied with the doctrine inculcated, and read and thought for himself, until, to their great regret and grief, he embraced the principles of Universalism.

In those early days the preachers of Universal- ism were few in number and were seldom or never heard in the region where he lived. The first Universalist sermon that Mr. Tabor ever heard was delivered by Rev. W. E. Manley, D. D., and he walked eight miles one Sunday morning in or- der to hear it. After that time he seems to have attended all such services that he could; became acquainted with several ministers, and finally de- termined to preach the faith himself. Some of his ministerial acquaintances were of material as- sistance to him in preparing himself for his work, notably Rev. J. S. Brown, a very intimate friend, long since passed away.

Mr. Tabor's first settlement was in South Dans- ville, New York. With such preparation as he possessed he went to work with a will, contend- ing against strong adverse influences, and before he left the society he built a church. In 1854 he joined the throng moving westward, and settled in Earlville, Illinois. Two years later he took charge of the societies in McHenry and Wood- stock, and in 1857 he moved to Briggsville, Wis-

In 1864 Mr. Tabor returned again to Illinois and settled in Blue Island, where he built a church. In 1867 he moved to Macomb, Illinois, and continued his pastorate of the church for five years. In 1872 he commenced a pastorate in Kirkwood, which continued for two years. From Kirkwood he moved to Yates City, and passed four years with that society, and the societies in Bradford and La Fayette. Accepting a call from Bloomfield, Iowa, he remained with the society only one year, when he returned to Illi- nois and located in Monmouth. In 1879 he took pastoral charge of the society in New Salem, and remained until 1886, when he became editor and publisher of Manford's Magazine, and removed to Chicago.

It was while living in New Salem that the first indications of paralysis, the disease which finally proved fatal, made their appearance. While the effects of the first attack were apparently soon re- moved, the disease seems never to have loosened its hold, but followed him persistently and, re- appearing from time to time, had a much greater influence over him than was acknowledged or un- derstood. His work on the magazine was very hard for him, especially the necessity of traveling over the country, and doubtless the mental and physical conditions attendant therewith gave the disease a greater opportunity or incentive to do its work, and in February, 1894, he had a severe attack, from which he never recovered. For a time he seemed in a fair way to regain his health and mental vigor, but as the weeks passed and he

600

T. H. TABOR.

found himself slowly running down, he gave up all hope of continuing his work, and in October disposed of his magazine.

The disease soon attacked his nervous system, and gradually tightened its hold upon all of his faculties. He said but little and suffered no pain. Having had many ill turns, the recurrence of a similar one on Friday evening, April 5, caused no particular aların, but when on Saturday morn- ing he refused to be dressed, and a physician was called, it became very apparent that the end was near. For the next few days he rested peaceful- ly, declaring only that he was "so tired," and, gradually becoming unconscious, he passed away on the morning of April 11, 1895.

Funeral services were held at his home, No. 774 West Van Buren Street on Friday, April 12, and were conducted by Rev. Dr. Cantwell, assist- ed by Rev. H. D. L. Webster. He was interred in Rose Hill Cemetery, and the commital services were performed by Rev. Mr. Dessault, of Malden, Mass. His mortal remains rest very near to tliose of his long-time friend, Rev. Erasmus Manford.

Mr. Tabor was twice married, and a widow and two sons survive him. The elder son, James B. Tabor, is the present editor and publisher of Manford's Magazine; and the younger, Rev. M. Williams Tabor, is located in Minden, New York.

For many years he was an extensive contributor to Western publications, and the initials "T. H. T." were very familiar to all readers of the de- nominational literature.

His religious opinions were in harmony with those entertained by the majority of the denomin- ation to which he belonged. The Scriptures were the foundation of his faith. He was a thorough believer in church organization. He possessed great decision of character, and to be convinced of a truth, or the necessity of uttering a truth, was all that was necessary. He possessed the courage of his convictions in a marked degree, and the question of policy from any point of view seems never to have been considered. His idea was to be on the side of truth, as he understood the truth, with little regard to consequences to himself. He was always and everywhere a temperance man, always and everywhere a Universalist, and he

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 2nd ed., Part 79

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