Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 10

Author: Calumet Book & Engraving Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : Calumet Book and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 930

USA > Illinois > Cook County > Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed. > Part 10

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HENRY KARNATZ.

ENRY KARNATZ was born December 13, 1861, in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and is a - son of Joachim and Mary ( Deitlow ) Karnatz, botlı of whom were born in the same locality. His father was a laborer, and in 1867 he moved to America with his family, starting from Ham- burg, and coming to Chicago by way of New

York. In April, 1868, he came to Jefferson and rented forty-one and one-half acres, where he carried on gardening. The land is near what is now Forest Glen, and in 1877 he was able to buy it for six thousand dollars. It then contained but a few buildings, and he subsequently added good ones. Later, lie bought thirteen and three-

E. S. OSGOOD.

fourths acres. He had six children, three of father on the farm, and at present he manages whom died in Germany. The remaining three tlie part of it connected with the old home. He learned the painter's trade, and has a shop, where he does work for his brother, and sometimes for others. are: John, who resides on the home farin and owns a blacksmith shop near Bowmanville; Charles, who resides on a part of his father's farın; and Henry, the subject of this sketch. Joachim Karnatz died June 8, 1897, after an ill- ness of only two days, at the age of seventy-seven years, nine months and thirteen days. His wife survives him, having reached the age of seventy- four years. Both were members of the Evangel- ical Lutheran Church, being connected with Saint John's Church of Mayfair.

Henry Karnatz attended the public school, and also the Lutheran School of Niles, then called Dutchman's Point. He left school at the age of thirteen years. He has since worked with his

March 19, . 1888, Henry Karnatz married Amelia Sell, who was born in Pomerania, and is a daughter of Charles and Minnie (Schroeder) Sell. Charles Sell died in 1897, in Leyden Township, where his widow still lives. Mr. and Mrs. Karnatz have four children, namely: Mill- nie, Henry, John and Annie. Mr. Karnatz is a member of the same church as his parents, name- ly. the Evangelical Lutheran. He is of the same political principle as his father, and supports the Republican party. He is a public-spirited and intelligent citizen, and enjoys the respect of all.

EDWIN S. OSGOOD.

DWIN SEWALL OSGOOD, a well-known citizen of Austin, was born November 21, 1842, in Moulinein, in the British East Indies. He is the son of Rev. Sewall Mason and Sarah Maria (Willsey) Osgood. The Osgoods are an old English family, three of whom came to America in 1635, and settled in Massachusetts. They were William, Christopher and John, and from Christopher is descended the subject of this sketch. Emery Osgood, the father of Rev. Sewall M. Osgood, was a Baptist clergyman, whose field of labor was in western New York. Sewall M. Osgood was born in New York and there learned the printer's trade. He conducted a local news- paper at Jefferson, New York, a number of years. In 1836 he went to the East Indies, in connec- tion with the American Baptist Missionary Union, and he printed the first bible ever printed in the Burmese language. While he was there he was ordained a minister, and he continued in the

missionary work until his death, in Chicago, in 1875, at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, Sarah M. Osgood, was born in Tioga County, New York, and was of Dutch descent. She died ill 1849, at about forty years of age.

Edwin S. Osgood was four years old when his parents returned to the United States from India. He was educated in the common schools and in a high school in Philadelphia. In1 1860 he came to Chicago, and soon after-August 29, 1862 .- he enlisted in the Chicago Mercantile Battery, and served to the close of the war. He took part in the Vicksburg campaign, and was later in Louisiana, Texas, and Mobile, Alabama. He participated in Banks' Red River expedition, after which he was detailed in the paymaster's depart- ment, and he served in that capacity until the close of the war.

After the war he returned to Chicago and en- gaged in business with a building contractor, and

JOHN VAN NATTA.

later he was employed as solicitor and bookkeeper for the Terra Cotta Company. After this he was with H. C. & C. Durand, wholesale grocers. In 1880 he engaged in the manufacturing busi- ness for himself, and since 1893 has been in the business of engraving and electrotyping. He is now a member of the firm of Osgood & Company, engravers, the firm comprising Mr. Osgood and his son, Frederick S. Osgood.

In 1868 Mr. Osgood was united in marriage with Elizabeth A., daughter of. Timothy M. and Elizabeth (Covington) Bryan, of Philadelphia. Timothy Matlack Bryan was a grandson of Timothy Matlack, a soldier Quaker, whose picture hangs in Independence Hall, Philadelphia, in memory of his services to the country during the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Osgood have five children living, namely: Helen, Mrs. Henry Husted, of Austin; William P., a student in the Chicago University; Frederick S., of the firm of

Osgood & Company; Edwin H. and Elizabetlı M. All the members of the family are con- nected with the Baptist Church of Austin, which village has been their home since 1871. The family furnished four of the thirteen constituent members of the First Baptist Society, and Mr. Osgood has since been an officer of the church, being at present superintendent of its Sunday- school.

Mr. Osgood is a member of Kilpatrick Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Austin. He has always been a Republican in his political views. He was two years a member of the Board of Trustees of the town of Cicero, and three years one of the school trustees. He is con- nected with all reforms in Austin, and interested in improvements, and though his business is in the city, his interest is chiefly in his home, and he is a valuable member of society in his com- munity.

JOHN VAN NATTA.

OHN VAN NATTA was one of the worthy pioneers of Cook County, and numbered among his friends most of the early settlers of northeastern Illinois. He was born in Dutch- ess County, New York, February 25, 1796, and was the son of James Van Natta, both of the lat- ter's parents being natives of Holland. John Van Natta lived at several different points in New York, part of the time in Geneseo and Steu- ben Counties, and part of the time in Chautauqua County, where he was married. In 1832 he re- moved to Cass County, Michigan, and settled at Adamsville. As everyone in that region, includ- ing his own family, was suffering from fever and ague, he determined to seek a more salubrious climate, and accordingly, soon after the Black- hawk War, he took a trip to Illinois, and was so

well suited with the country that, in 1834, he re- moved his family to this State, coming with a team and wagon. He landed in Chicago June 15, and stopped a few days at the Sauganash hotel, but decided to make his home on higher ground further west, so he continued his journey to Naperville. He made his home for a few years at Big Woods, in DuPage County. As he pos- sessed one of the few horse teams in the county, he found it profitable to spend considerable of his time in freighting goods from Chicago and De- troit. He was employed by many of the emi- grants who arrived in Chicago during the next few years, to transport their families and effects to points in the interior of the State, and many of the acquaintances formed in this manner were continued through life.

P. J. MAGINNIS.

Later he moved to Kane County, and in 1841 he located on the western bank of the Des Plaines River, where he lived many years, and owned two hundred acres of timber and prairie land, situated on both sides of the river.

His later years were spent in Chicago, where he lived some time in retirement from business cares. He was always distinguished for his gen- erosity to those of his neighbors who might be in want or trouble, and many a settler who arrived upon the prairies of Illinois a few years later than he did was supplied with seed and provisions, free of charge, by Mr. Van Natta.

In 1821 he was married to Miss Polly Farns- worth, in Chautauqua County, New York. She was a native of Vermont, born in 1803. They had six sons and two daughters, namely: Ira, de- ceased; Harvey, of Trenton, Missouri; William, · of McHenry County, Illinois; Mary, now Mrs.

Lovett; Heury, of Littleton, Colorado; Maria L., who married George Hutchings, and died in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Charles, of this city; and James, a resident of Cragini, Cook County. Mrs. Polly Van Natta died in Leyden Township, Cook County, Illinois, September 12, 1851. She wasa devout member of the Baptist Church. Later Mr. Van Natta was married to Mrs. Sarah (Davidson) Fish, whose death occurred in Chicago a few years previous to that of Mr. Van Natta.

In early life the latter was identified with the Baptist Church, but after his second marriage he united with the Methodist Church. He was al- ways distinguished for his uniform uprightness of character and his social, kindly disposition, which will cause him to be long remembered by all who knew him. He died near Berryville, McHenry County, Illinois, in June, 1885, in the ninetieth year of his age.

PATRICK J. MAGINNIS.

C ATRICK JOHN MAGINNIS, a self-made business man of Chicago and a valiant soldier of the Civil War, was a native of Ireland, born March 6, 1842, in the town of Newry. His father, John Maginnis, who was a stone mason, came to America when the son was an infant. He found employment at first on Staten Island, New York, whence he proceeded to Chi- cago and finally engaged in the grocery business here. When Patrick was about eight years old he was brought to Chicago by his mother, who soon after died of cholera.

The subject of this sketch was early left largely to his own resources, and rapidly developed in- dependence of character. He was largely self- educated, and worked his own way to success in life by the exercise of industry, guided by his natural talents and prudence. He acted as clerk

in his father's store until the beginning of the Civil War, when he immediately offered his serv- ices in behalf of his adopted country. He was then only nineteen years old, and was twice re- jected on account of his youth, but was finally accepted, June 15, 1861, as a member of the sub- sequently famed Mulligan Guards. This com- pany was mustered into the service as Company I, Twenty-third. Regiment Illinois Volunteers. It was a fighting company and saw hard service, in which Mr. Maginnis bore his full share. He was discharged because of sickness at Lexington, Missouri, having risen to the rank of sergeant.

After the war he went to Ireland to aid in the Fenian movement in the cause of Irish freedom. He was almost immediately seized by the British authorities, and spent eight months in an Irish jail. He was released near the close of the year

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

DR. A. R. SOMMERVILLE

A. R. SOMMERVILLE, M. D.

1865, and returned to Chicago, bringing with him his only sister, Mary Maginnis, who became the wife of Thomas Boyle, Mr. Maginnis' sub- sequent partner in business. She died in Chi- cago March 17, 1891. . For a time Mr. Maginnis was employed in a cooperage establishment, and then engaged in the grocery business. He met with success, and finally established himself in the ice business after the Great Fire of 1871. At first he was a member of the firm of Maginnis & Boyle; subsequently the enterprise passed into the hands of an incorporated company, known as the Lincoln Ice Company, which still continues, in which Mr. Maginnis held a controlling interest, and of which he was president at the time of his death, September 6, 1893.

October 20, 1874, Mr. Maginnis married Miss

Nellie, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Welsh) Whitty, natives of Ireland. The parents died in that country, and Mrs. Maginnis came to America in 1865. She was thirteen years old when, in company with her brother, Nicholas, aged twenty years, she came to America. Slie is a lady of much business acumen, and has taken her husband's place in the management of af- fairs with great success. The establishment is conducted on a large scale, and now employs eighty teams and nearly two hundred men. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Maginnis, who are re- ceiving the advantages of the best educational and social connections, are named in order of birth: Mary A., John F., Thomas B., Edward A., Charles P., Helen, Robert E. and George Washington.

AGNES R. SOMMERVILLE, M. D.

GNES ROBENA SOMMERVILLE, M. D., a prominent physician of Chicago, was born July 12, 1842, in Troy, New York, and is a daughter of Jolin and Jessie (Armstrong) Som -- merville. Her father died in1 1896, at the age of eiglity-five years, and her mother is also deceased. They were the parents of twelve children, six daughters and the same number of sons.

Agnes R. Sommerville received her early edu- cation in her native town, and graduated from the Willard Seminary, one of the best schools of Eastern New York. In 1869 she was afflicted by a very severe attack of muscular rhenmatism, and after having tried a great variety of medi- cines and treatments, finally decided to try the electrical cure. The science was then in its infancy, but has since advanced to a well-recog- nized place in the healing of diseases. She re-

ceived the electric bath treatment, which con- pletely cured her. She was so grateful to the science for its benefits to her that she began the study of it at once, and has won great success with the "new dry bath" cure. Dr. Sommerville . stands at the head of her profession, and is the only lady in Chicago who is a graduate of elec- tric therapeutics.

In 1859 Miss Sommerville came to the city of Chicago to visit some friends, and while here, she met John Sommerville, whom she married in 1860, and has ever since resided in the great metropolis. She is the mother of two daughters, both of whom are married. They are: Effie, Mrs. John Clark Aubrey, and Jessie, Mrs. Willianı Donely.

Dr. A. R. Sommerville has not only followed the teachings of others, but has also made inde-

T. G. SPRINGER.

pendent research in her profession. She is the patentee of several electrical instruments, which have proved a boon to the students of electricity as applied to the cure of disease. She enjoys a large and lucrative practice, and occupies a suite

of offices located in McVicker's Theater Building, on Madison Street. Combined with her great business ability, and her love for her profession, she has a truly womanly character, and is honored and esteemed by all who know her.

THEODORE G. SPRINGER.

HEODORE GREEN SPRINGER. Among came a thrifty manager of the patrimonial estate. the truly representative men in the great metropolis of the Great West are many whose reputations have passed beyond the con- fines of the American continent, and whose names are also enrolled in the scientific annals of the European continent for giving the world new ideas in science, which have given to humanity greater comfort, thus benefiting the human race at large. Among those names should be men- tioned the subject of this sketch, whose unselfish life and devotion to science entitle him to a place in this volume.

He was born February 1, 1832, in Bellevernon, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and is a de- scendant of a family distinguished in Europe. His great-grandfather, Michael Springer, born in Stockholm, in 1727, when a young man entered the service of King George of England and fought under the banner of his royal master. As a re- ward for services rendered, he received a grant of land in the American colonies, consisting of a tract of land two days' journey north and east of Fort Duquesne, now Pittsburg. The land com- prised five hundred fifty-seven acres, and was situ- ated in what is now Westmoreland County. A part of the original homestead is still in the pos- session of the descendants of the family. Benjamin Franklin's name appears on the parchment which conveyed the land to Michael Springer. He im- proved the land and reared a large family. His son James was born in Westmoreland, and be-

He was a pioneer in developing the coal mines of southwestern Pennsylvania, and shipped its prod- nct by flatboats down the Monongahela River to Pittsburg. He was a sturdy Democrat in political matters and affiliated with the Baptist Church, but later his descendants became members of the Christian Church. He died at the age of seventy- six years. His wife, Sally Smith, was a native of Westmoreland County, and a daughter of Bar- tholomew Smith, a brave soldier of the Revolu- tion, whose death occurred while General La Fayette was making his second visit to America, and the military funeral services at the old Reho- both Cemetery were made more impressive by the General's attendance. Mrs. Sally Springer was fifty-five years old when she died. She was the mother of the following children: Martina, Theo- dore, Sophia, Anselmo, Caroline and Everill.

The subject of this sketch, Theodore G. Springer, received the benefits of the schools of his county, but the ambitious boy was not satis- fied with the meager information they were then able to give. He qualified himself for a collegiate course, and in time entered Hiram College, which at that time was a shining light among educa- tional centers in Ohio. Here he improved his time, and laid the foundations for future years of study and research. . He was a classmate of the lamented president, James A. Garfield, and from their acquaintance here sprang a friendship which lasted through life. After graduating, life on the

S. B. HAGGARD.

old homestead became monotonous to the enter- prising young man and he resolved to go West. He did not come empty-handed, but was able to buy up large tracts of land and land warrants in Boone and Jasper Counties, and managed his es- tate with varying success.

His mind was ever active amid his rural sur- roundings, and he invented several things of great utility to farmers, among them being a wagon brake, which is yet used quite extensively. He also invented a process for distilling water, and at about the same time a process for manufacturing an illuminating gas in hotels and farmhouses, which was the most successful of all his inven- tions, and which subsequently engaged all his attention. He took out forty or more patents, covering many useful inventions. The most noted is his invention of setteline gas. Mr. Pres- ton, the director of the United States mint in Washington, was one of his two partners, and they succeeded in getting out a first-class patent. Later this was sold to the old Setteline Gas Syn- dicate, which made a fortune from the manu- facture.

In the interest of his inventions, and especially gas, Mr. Springer traveled extensively in Europe, where he was treated with great respect by the great scientists of the Old World, who recognized in him a genius. His water-gas invention, and

its introduction, took him to France, Spain, Ger- many, Belgium and England. In the latter country he spent two and one-half years, mostly in London, and was compelled to return to America on account of the state of his health, as he was suffering from Bright's Disease, from which he finally died.

Mr. Springer was a man of great determination and force of character. His perceptive and in- ventive faculties were developed to a remarkable degree, which enabled him to remember the prac- tical part of life while studying his inventions, and he left to his family a competency which will always surround them with the comforts of this world. He was always mindful of the welfare of his loved ones, which he showed in numerous ways.

Mr. Springer was connected with the Masonic order, but was not a club or lodge man, as his home was his place of rest and recreation. His wife was a worthy companion of such a man. His portrait shows all that distinguishes the inventor and builder. Among his companions and fellow-men Mr. Springer stood for all that is rep- resented by honor, true manhood and integrity. His good name and his life-work are a rich legacy to coming generations, who will revere his men- ory. He is survived by his wife and daughter, Mrs. C. W. Doton, both of Chicago.

SAMUEL B. HAGGARD.

AMUEL BALDWIN HAGGARD, one of the surviving pioneers of Cook County, is now living in retirement at Austin, and re- lates many interesting historical reminiscences of Chicago and other places. He was born near Winchester, Kentucky, November 8, 1814, and is a son of Dawson Haggard and Charity Bald- win. The great-grandfather of Dawson Hag-

gard was a Welshman by birth, but came from England to Virginia. His grandson, David, the father of Dawson, was born near Charlottesville, in that State. He was a carpenter by trade and assisted in the construction of Thomas Jefferson's magnificent mansion at Monticello, which was, 110 doubt, the finest residence in America at that time. David Haggard and his twin brother, Bartlett,

S. B. HAGGARD.

who could scarcely be distinguished from each other, served alternately in the Continental army under one enlistment for several years, and the for- mer was present at the surrender of Lord Corn- wallis. David Haggard afterwards removed with his family to Kentucky. They were accompanied by several other Virginia families, including the Breckenridges and Marshalls, and the journey was made by floating down the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers as far as Maysville, Kentucky, whence they went overland to Clark County. Owing to the hostility of the Indians, they were obliged at times to take refuge in a fort at Boones- boro. David Haggard lived in Clark County until 1823, when he removed to Christian County, and in 1836 he located in Bloomington, Illinois, where his death occurred seven years later, at the age of eighty years. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Dawson, survived until ninety years of age, passing away at Cerulean Springs, in Trigg County, Kentucky.

Dawson Haggard became a farmer and also a carpenter. He lived in Clark County until about 1817, when he removed to Christian County, whence a few years later he removed to Trigg County, in the same State. His death occurred there in 1829, at the age of thirty-five years. He was a licensed preacher of the Baptist Church, and occasionally held services. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Charity Haggard removed to Indiana, and from there in 1841 removed to Bloomington, Illinois, where she died about eight years later. Her seven children are all living in Illinois, the youngest nearly seventy years of age. Their names and residences are as follows: Samuel B., Austin; Nancy, widow of Hiram Morris, Bloomington; David Dawson, of the same place; Mary Jane, widow of Jolin Shrock, Chi- cago; Sarah Elizabeth, of the same city; John William, Bloomington; and Julia Ann, widow of John L. Matthews, Chicago. The two last-named are twins.

Samuel .B. Haggard attended the frontier schools of Kentucky, in which State he also learned the trade of carpenter. In 1835 he became a resident of Bloomington, Illinois, where he fol- lowed his trade until the fall of 1843, when he

removed to Chicago. He brought his family with a horse and buggy and paid one dollar per day for a man and team to bring his effects to this city, being several days on the road and camping out one night at Wolf Grove, five miles from the nearest house. He secured employ- ment in the iron foundry of Scoville & Gates, where he had charge of the woodwork for sev- eral years. In the fall of 1847 he entered the employ of McCormick & Gray, who had just completed a factory building on the north side of the Chicago River east of Rush Street bridge. He superintended the erection of the machinery in this establishment and was superintendent of the works until 1850. Five hundred reapers were built the first season, after which Mr. Gray retired and the firm became McCormick, Ogden & Company. Upon severing his connection with this concern, Mr. Haggard began the manufact- ure of chain pumps at No. 224 Randolph Street. He continued in that location until 1866, when he removed to the West Side and added a stock of . hardware. He carried on this enterprise for ten years longer, when he permanently retired from active business. Since 1873 he has made his home in Austin, and is now one of the oldest residents of that suburb. For many years he en- joyed the acquaintance of the leading business men of Chicago, most of whom he has survived.

In May, 1837, Mr. Haggard was married to Miss Mary Mason, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Howser) Mason, of Bloomington, Illinois. Mrs. Haggard was born at Nicholasville, Jessamine County, Kentucky, and was a member of the Baptist Church from childhood. She departed this life in 1889, at the age of seventy-three years. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Haggard was blessed with seven children, of whom the following is the record: Belle, widow of William Rucker, resides at Austin; Winfield Scott is a citizen of Chicago; Martha Jane is the wife of Albert Wicker, of Franklin Grove, Illinois; John David is a well- known citizen of Austin; Mary Frances, Mrs. S. S. Gould, lives in Oak Park, Illinois; Edith is the wife of E. W. Marble, of Austin, at which place Charity Elizabeth died at the age of thirty- four years. In 1887 Mr. and Mrs. Haggard cele-

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 10

Author: Calumet Book & Engraving Company, Chicago Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Chicago : Calumet Book and Engraving Co. Number of Pages: 930

Author: Calumet Book & Engraving Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago : Calumet Book and Engraving Co.
Number of Pages: 930