Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 3

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 3

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In December, 1863, he joined the One Hundred Fifty-second Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, which was stationed at 'Fortress Monroe. On the Ist of February following, the One Hundred Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry was formed from volunteers from the One Hundred Fifty- second Artillery, and Mr. Kramer was among these, and was assigned to Company G. The regiment became a part of the Eighteenth Corps, under Gen. "Baldy" Smith, in the Army of the James. The Tenth and Eighteenth Corps were subsequently consolidated and made the Twenty-fourth Corps. Mr. Kramer was dis- charged, with his company and regiment, Decenni- ber 14, 1865, at City Point, Virginia.

During his service he participated in the follow-

T. L. KRAMER.

ing battles and skirmishes: Gettysburg, in Penn- sylvania; Swift Creek and Proctor's Creek, Dru- ry's Bluff, Petersburg, Deep Bottom, Cold Har- bor, Assault of Petersburg, June 18, 1864, Mine Explosion, July 30, 1864, Chapin's Farmi and Assault of Fort Harrison, Sailor's Creek and Appomattox Court House, where Lee surren- dered, in Virginia.

In the assault on Fort Harrison at Chapin's Farm, September 28, 1864, Mr. Kramer distin- guished himself in a manner which won the ap- plause of all who witnessed his action, including several field officers, and gained the thanks of Congress, whose approval was made apparent by conferring upon him a beautiful bronze medal. The assaulting colunm, commanded by Gen. E. O. C. Ord, was obliged to march one and one- fourth miles in the face of a heavy artillery fire, and the colors of the One Hundred Eighty-eiglith went down five tinies. On the fifth fall, young Kramer ran forward, seized the flag and carried it to the fort, where he turned it over to one of the regular color guard. When the fort was reached Kramer was the first to mount the wall, and seized the standard of a Texas infantry regiment, which formed a part of the garrison. He was at once made the target of every rifle within the fort which could be brought to bear npon him, and four bullets pierced his blouse. On looking around he discovered that not a single comrade had followed his lead, and he at once threw him- self down and, taking the captured flag along, rolled back into the moat surrounding the fort, which was at the time dry and afforded shelter to the Union troops, as the guns could not be trained low enough to molest them.

In a few moments they made a nuited attack upon the fort, during which Private Kramer cap- tured a lieutenant-colonel. The latter fired one cartridge point blank at his captor, but missed, and before he could again raise the hammer of his pistol Kramer's musket was pressed against his breast and he surrendered. For these brave acts, which were witnessed by General Ord, Kra- mer was recommended for gallantry to the War Department, and received the "Medal of Honor" with a letter of transmittal, as follows ;

WAR DEPARTMENT,

ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, Washington, March 29, 1865.

Sir :-

Herewith I enclose the Medal of Honor, which has been awarded you by the Secretary of War, under the Resolutions of Congress, approved July 12, 1862, "to provide for the presentation of Medals of Honor to the enlisted men of the army and volunteer forces who have distinguished or may distinguish themselves in battle during the present rebellion."

Please acknowledge the receipt of it. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant,

E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant General.

Private Theo. Kramer, Company G, 188th Penna. Vols.

On the reverse of this medal is inscribed:

THE CONGRESS to PRIVATE THEODORE KRAMER, Co. G, 188th PENNA. VOLS.

On the evening of September 28, 1864, follow- ing the capture of Fort Harrison, Kramer was one of the party of one hundred men sent by General Ord to occupy a redoubt on the James River. They were attacked by infantry in front, while the enemy's gunboats kept up a fire in the rear, from the river, and were all captured except Kratuer and one other, who escaped at great risk. Thus was completed a day of most exciting and important events.in the career of Mr. Kramer.

After the close of the war, Mr. Kramer came to Chicago and was employed as an iron moulder until 1880, when he was appointed a letter carrier, through the influence of Gen. John A. Logan, and has continued in that occupation ever since. He is a member of George H. Thomas Post, No. 5, Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics has always been a Republican. In 1875 he was

C. T. WHEELER.

made a Mason in Kilwinnig Lodge, No. 311, of Chicago, and in 1878 was exalted to the supreme degree of Royal Arch Masonry, in Sandwich Chapter, No. 107, of Sandwich, Illinois.

In January, 1875, Mr. Kramer was married to Miss Ida E. Vosburgh, of Chicago, a daughter of Hiram A. Vosburgh, a painter of Janesville, Wis-

consin, where she was born. Her mother was Sabra Doty, a member of a family prominent in that place. Four sons and three daughters have blessed the union, namely: Roy M., Carlisle L., Albert J., Jessie J., Jolın A., Clara V. and Hazel L. Mr. Kramer lives at No. 930 North Hoyne Avenue in a pleasant home of his own.

CALVIN T. WHEELER.

ALVIN THATCHER WHEELER. Among the old-time merchants and bankers of Chi- cago who, by their firmness of character and honesty of purpose, left the impress of integrity in the volumes of unwritten history of our great metropolis and reflected the beacon light of our commercial stability over the whole world, we must count him whose name heads this article.

Mr. Wheeler was born in West Galway, New York, and is a son of Luthier and Mary (Betts) Wheeler. His grandfather, Silas Wheeler, and two brothers went from Massachusetts to Fulton County, New York, and eventually removed to Steuben County, in the same State, where a town was named after them. They were known by the people in the neighboring section for their thrift, honor and fidelity.

Luther Wheeler was by trade a builder. He was a good citizen, who was honored and respect- ed by all classes. In his old age, he and his wife removed to Amsterdam, New York, and here they died nearly at the same time, both at about the age of eighty years. Mrs. Wheeler was a devout Presbyterian, being an active member of the Church, and was the mother of five sons and three daughters. Her father, Isaiah Betts, was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary army.

Calvin T. Wheeler received his primary educa- tion in the common schools of New York and Il-

linois. He left New York at the age of ten years, in the company of his uncle, Dr. J. T. Betts, who practiced his profession in Kaskaskia, Illinois, where he settled in 1818, being one of the pioneer physicians of the State. He hoped to make a physician of Calvin T. Wheeler, but even at that early age his nephew had a taste for active busi- ness life, and refused his uncle's offer to give him a college education. Instead, he entered his un- cle's store as a clerk. While at Kaskaskia he attended school, and profited by the instruction of Professor Loomis, a famous scholar and an honored man. Kaskaskia was at that time the social cen- ter of the State, and many of the most prominent men in Illinois were located there. His associa- tions among the people of this town exerted a life-long influence on the career of Mr. Wheeler, and his memory to-day is replete with pleasant recollections of his early life in the capital of Illinois.

In the flood of 1844 the waters of the Kaskas- kia and Mississippi Rivers rose to such a height that the nuns, teachers and pupils of the Convent of the Sacred Heart, built by Pierre Menard, had to be rescued in boats and removed to Saint Louis, where the convent now flourishes. Six months previous to the flood Mr. Wheeler had removed to Pekin, below Peoria, Illinois, where he was engaged in business. From there he removed to

J. A. ERICKSON.

Saint Louis, where he secured a position as clerk in the banking house of Clark & Milton- berger.

In 1850 he took a trip to California, going to New Orleans, and continuing the journey on a large steamboat called the "Georgia," which was, according to custom in those days, commanded by a naval officer, to Chagres, Central America. The passengers were taken up the Chagres River in canoes to the head of navigation. From there they made their way over the mountains to the Pacific coast, where they took a sailing vessel at Panama, bound for San Francisco. The journey lasted sixty days, and when Mr. Wheeler arrived at the Golden Gate he at once set out for the gold mines, by way of Sacramento. He en- gaged in mining, and for a time was successful. Then he sold out his interest and returned to Saint Louis, where T. J. S. Flint made him a proposi- tion to come to Chicago and open a commission office under the name of Flint & Wheeler. He did so, and the office was located near the Wells

Street bridge, their grain elevators being situated on the South Branch of the Chicago River, where the Rock Island elevators now stand.

Mr. Wheeler continued in the commission bus- iness until he engaged in banking, in connection with the firm of Chapin, Wheeler & Company, which was located on the corner of Lake and LaSalle Streets. After two years they transferred their interests to W. F. Coolbaugh & Company. This was just previous to the war, when the so- called stump-tailed money was in circulation.

During the war Mr. Wheeler re-entered the grain commission trade. When the Union Na- tional Bank was organized, he was chosen First Vice-President, and after the death of Mr. Will- aim F. Coolbaugh he was elected president of the bank. He continued in that capacity nearly four years, at the end of which time he resigned. and organized the Continental National Bank. He was president of this five years, and then re- tired from business cares, at the close of a useful and influential career.

JOHN A. ERICKSON.

(

OHN ALFRED ERICKSON, a contractor and builder, who resides in South Chicago, was born December 8, 1844, near Gutten- burg, Sweden, and is a son of Eric Peterson and Ella (Johnson) Peterson. He received liis edu- cation in his native country, and when he was old enough, found employment at farm labor in the region near his home. He was thus engaged until 1870, when he married and settled in Lind- holmen, near Guttenburg, where he became a carpenter in a ship-yard. He remained here from that time until 1881, and learned all the de- tails of ship building, being able to construct an entire vessel. He then emigrated to America and settled in South Chicago.

On his arrival in this city he found employ- ment as a carpenter, and because of his ability and training he has followed this trade most suc- cessfully. He soon engaged in contracting, and has erected many buildings in South Chicago, the first one being a residence for John Danielson, a clothier, at Hoegswis, Illinois.

He was married October 30, 1870, to Miss Louisa Larson, who is now visiting her relatives and friends in Sweden. They have one child, Charles Erickson. While Mr. Erickson has learned to love the country of his adoption, he still remembers the friends and associations of his native country, and in 1894 he visited the scenes of his boyhood, where his father, aged eighty-

THOMAS CARBINE.

five years, yet resides. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran Church.

On coming to South Chicago, Mr. Erickson bought a lot at No. 8944 Houston Avenue, and built a small house, where he resided until 1894, and then erected a three-story brick building, at a cost of seven thousand dollars. He has kept his place in good repair, and has the finest prop- erty in the neighborhood.

Mr. Erickson has reached his present prosper- ity through his tireless energy and careful study of all work going on in his sight. When in the ship-yard at Guttenburg, he formed the habit of learning the details of all that came under his observation, and has always improved his other opportunities in the same way. He has thus won the respect and confidence of his patrons and as- sociates.

THOMAS CARBINE.

HOMAS CARBINE, an inventor, who re- sides in Chicago, was born October 22, 1819, in Manchester, England. The family were well and favorably known in that country for many generations, some being in the army, and some being merchants. The grandfather of Thomas Carbine, James Carbine, was a native of England, and went to Jamaica on commercial business, and there made his home thereafter. He married there, and reared a large family of chil- dren, one son being lost on the "Royal George."

His son James became a soldier, and for forty- one years was an officer in the British Army. He was an aide of the Duke of Wellington at Water- loo and other battles. He was near the Duke when he gave the famous order, "Advance thie guards," in a calm voice, and later when he uttered the world-famed words, "Would to God that night or Bluecher would come," He often told the history of battles in which he had par- ticipated to his children, and Thomas Carbine, whose name heads this article, can relate them in a most interesting manner. Captain Carbine was retired on full pay, whereupon he bought a fine black charger which he rode for twenty-one years, and the noble animal died at the age of thirty years.

Captain Carbine was married in Manchester,

England, where he died at the age of nearly eighty years. His wife had been a teacher in a private seminary. She was the mother of ten sons and died in Manchester, aged seventy- six years. Thomas Carbine was the only one of the children to come to America.

Thomas Carbine was educated in Manchester, and learned the trade of carpenter, and being skillful as a mechanic he became an expert mill- wright in America, where he constructed some im- portant work in this line. He came to the United States in 1840, being six weeks on the journey. He located in Utica, Oneida County, New York, which was then only a country village, and remained there twelve years. He came to Chicago in 1853, and in 1856 sold his home in Utica and removed his family to Chicago. Here he followed the bent of his inventive genius, and took care of his real-estate interests, having interested himself in property in the city.

While in Utica Mr. Carbine was able to render some valuable assistance to the New York Central Railroad Company, which paid him generously, and has since given him free transportation. He used the money received to purchase a lot and build his residence. Mr. Carbine invented a machine for winding balls of yarn without a bobbin, for which he received a royalty of five

A. H. PERKINS.

thousand dollars, which he judiciously invested in real estate in 1855. This formed the nucleus of the prosperity which enabled him to retire from the cares of business life, and spend the latter part of his life in peace and comfort. He also invented a process by which kerosene oil is converted into a gas which may be used for heat- ing purposes. The latter invention he never patented, and humanity will receive the free gift of his labors in this way.

Mr. Carbine was married in Manchester, England, August 5, 1838, to Miss Sarah Brad- bury, daughter of John and Frances Bradbury, natives of England. She was born January 3, 1819, in the city where the marriage took place. The two children now living are: Mary F. C. and Charlotte E. P. Mary is the wife of

Frederich Bluhm, and Charlotte of James New- brun. The latter has three children, namely: Sadie, wife of Edward E. Reading; Arthur C. and James C. Mr. and Mrs. Carbine are meni- bers of the Episcopal Church.

For thirty-six years the former has been a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he is also connected with the Independent Order of Recceabites, an order of total abstinence. In his political views he is independent, and is a good example of Chicago's substantial citizens. In 1888 he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding, and received a gold medal from the German Old Settlers' Society for being the oldest non-German couple on the picnic ground, their combined ages amounting to one hundred fifty- seven years.

AMOS H. PERKINS.

A MOS HENRY PERKINS was born in Nor- wich, Connecticut, July 26, 1836, and was one of five children, three boys and two girls. He was the son of Isaac and Nancy N. (Allen) Perkins, and a direct descendant of Miles Standish on his mother's side. Isaac Perkins was a carpenter and builder, but died when Amos was but ten years old.

The subject of this biography learned his father's trade, but followed it for only a short · time. He was educated in his native place, and at the age of twenty came to Chicago, and soon afterward began taking contracts for paving, lay- ing sidewalks and roofing. Mr. Perkins was a inan of more than average intelligence, and became a shrewd, careful and successful business man. He was one of the contractors who con- structed La Salle Street tunnel. He continued to be a large contractor in cedar blocks, asphalt pavements and Portland cement walks, having

had contracts for this in most of the large cities in the country. During the war he was a heavy dealer in tar, and at one time controlled nearly all of that product manufactured in the United States.

Mr. Perkins was married July 20, 1874, to Miss May, daughter of John and .Mary (De For- est) Tristram, of Norwalk, Connecticut. They had four children, Emery B., Lorenzo B., Mrs. Nellie M. Harris and Mrs. Jennie C. Brown, the latter being deceased.

Mr. Perkins attended Dr. Hillis' church at Central Music Hall, and he was an exemplary citizen and a good man. In his sphere he con- tributed in 10 small degree toward making Chi- cago the western metropolis of the United States. He was widely known in the West, East and South, and was beloved by all who came within reach of liis magnetic and benevolent influence. He was the originator of the Western Paving

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

DR. JOHN O. HUGHES

(From Photo, by W. J. ROOT)

J. O. HUGHES.

Supply Company, and although V. W. Foster was its president, he was its practical head and manager. .

He was a member of Covenant Lodge, No. 526, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and of Corinthian Chapter, No. 69, Royal Arch Masons. In politics he was a Republican. He died sud- denly, of apoplexy, at the age of sixty-one years, and at the time of his death was vice- president of the Western Paving Supply Com- pany. He had the universal respect of all representative elements of the city. Mrs. Perkins is an intellectual and accomplished woman and

inade for her husband the home which he prized so dearly, and which by her management always · remained to him a haven of rest and comfort, where he ever found recreation from the cares of his ever-increasing business, and where he loved to entertain the friends who knew him best and loved him most. His was a miost active and useful life, and although called away seemingly before his time, he accomplished much more than others do in a longer space of time, and, best of all, leaves to his posterity and friends an untar- nished name that will be remembered by future generations.

JOHN O. HUGHES.

3 OHN OWEN HUGHES, M. D., who has an extensive practice in Norwood Park and vicinity, was born November 12, 1838, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and is the second child of Owen and Catherine Hughes. Owen Hughes was for many years superintendent of a coal yard in that place, where he and his wife died. They were the parents of five children, only two of whom, John O. and Catherine, came to the West. . The others are: Kirkpatrick, who died in Elizabeth, New Jersey; Catherine, a resident of Chicago; James, who has charge of the packing room of a rubber factory in New Bruns- wick, New Jersey; and Frank, superintendent of construction of boats in the Government employ.

John Owen Hughes became an orphan at an early age, and in his youth had very little educa- tion, being obliged to begin the battle of life when only a boy. His ambition was not satisfied by the employment he was able to find, and he wished for greater attaininents than his limited opportunities for improvement had given him. He spent his leisure hours in study, and was thus able to obtain a teacher's certificate. He came

to Chicago at the age of twenty, and taught in several parts of Illinois, occupying his spare mo- ments with the study of medicine. Thus his youth was spent in a struggle for advancement, and he formed habits of thought and application that have been retained in his after life.

In 1862 Mr. Hughes enlisted in the One Hun- dred Third Illinois Volunteers, Company D, join- ing the Fifteenth Army Corps. This was the corps commanded by General Sherman, and with him Mr. Hughes continued until the close of the struggle. He was present in many important engagements, among them the Atlanta Campaign and the March to the Sea and through the Caro- linas. After Mr. Hughes had been with the army six months, he was placed in the medical department, where he remained, doing surgical work on the battlefield, such as dressing wounds temporarily, and preparing men for the operating board.

At the close of the war Mr. Hughes entered Rush Medical College, and graduated in 1868, since which time he has practiced his profession. In 1873 he located in Norwood Park, which has

F. W. PARKER.

since been his place of residence. He acquired a large practice there and in neighboring villages, which has been principally attended to at his office for several years, and built a handsome residence in 1882.

May 12, 1868, he married Mary V. Hartough, a native of Fairview, Fulton County, Illinois, and a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Vander- veer) Hartough, both of whom are natives of New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes had four

children, namely: Frank, who was drowned at the age of fifteen years; Kate Hazeltine, who resides with her parents; Martha Lilian, who died when six years old; and Edwin, who lives at home. Mr. Hughes is a man of progressive ideas, of broad intellect, and feels a warm interest in the public welfare. He is a member of the American Reformed Church of Norwood Park, and a valiant supporter of the principles of the Republican party.

FRANCIS W. PARKER.

RANCIS WAYLAND PARKER, who car- ried the Cook County Normal School to a high degree of usefulness and is known among educators all over the United States and in many parts of Europe, is still a student and is active in promoting the cause of primary educa- tion. Colonel Parker disclaims utterly all pre- tensions to having found any new methods or principles of education. His only claim has been and is that he is trying himself to study the great subject of education in its applica- tion in the common schools, and to lead other teachers to study this great subject. He has a firm and unalterable faith in the common school system; he believes that the common schools will be brought to a point of efficiency equal to the demands of this great Republic; that the salva- tion and perpetuity of the Republic depend upon the proper education of the children.

Francis W. Parker was born October 9, 1837, in the village of Piscataquog, Town of Bedford, New Hampshire, which has since been swallowed up in the neighboring city of Manchester. Col. John Goff, one of the ancestors of the subject of this notice, was the first settler on the present site of Manchester, and several local names still preserve his memory. His son,

Maj. John Goff, was an officer of the Revolution- ary army, and was the great-great-grandfather of Colonel Parker. Colonel John Goff was a famous hunter, was an officer at the siege of Louisburg, and active in the French and Indian war. Being too old to participate actively in the Revolution- ary struggle, he yet acted an important part in training Generals Sullivan and John Stark in military tactics and preparing them for the duties which they so well performed. The family of Goff is supposed to be closely allied to that of Goff the regicide, made famous by the pen of Sir Walter Scott.

William Parker, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a drummer under Gen. John Stark at Bunker Hill, and served through the Revolu- tion as a soldier. He was founder of the village at the mouth of the river Piscataquog, called Squog by the people, where excellent rafting and harbor privileges were found for the navigators of the river Merrimac.

Three ancestors of Colonel Parker, a Rand, a Goff and a Parker, were buried on Copp's Hill, the graveyard of the Old North Church in Bos- ton. All were members of Cotton Mather's church. His maternal grandfather, Jonathan Rand, was the first recorded teacher at Old Der-

F. W. PARKER.

ryfield, now known as the city of Manchester. Ministers and teachers were numerous among the ancestors of Colonel Parker. His mother, Milly Rand, was a teacher, said to practice original methods with great success. Her grandfather was a graduate of Harvard College, a classmate of John Hancock, and many years librarian at Harvard. John, brother of Milly Rand, was a famous portrait painter and inventor of the me- tallic tube, now in general use, for holding paints and oils.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 3

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