Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 32

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 32

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217

ASA KNAPP.

that vocation, which has proved very lucrative and successful, he having one of the most finely equipped stands of the kind in Cook County.

July 20, 1876, Mr. Knapp was united in mar- riage to Miss Ellen Sabin, who was born in Schaumburg, Cook County, Illinois. Mrs. Knapp is a daughter of John and Laura (Aldridge) Sabin, who came from Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, to Schaumburg, Illinois, in 1845,

being among the early settlers of that locality. John Sabin was a native of Connecticut. Five children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Knapp, as follows: Asa Lee, Grace, Earl, Hattie and Owen. All are at home, and all except the eldest and the youngest are in school. Fra- ternally, Mr. Knapp is a member of Court Oak Park No. 3119, Independent Order of Foresters. In politics he is an ardent Republican.

ASA KNAPP.

A SA KNAPP, an early pioneer of DuPage County, Illinois, who was for over twenty years a resident of Cook County, was born at Pine Plains, Dutchess County, New York, March 11, 1811, and died at Melrose Park, Illinois, August 23, 1896. The Knapp family is of Ger- man origin, but has been located in America for several generations. The father and grandfather of the subject of this notice, each of whom bore the name of Asa, were natives of Connecticut, and became farmers in Dutchess County, New York.

Asa Knapp, of whom this sketch is written, spent his boyhood on his father's farm and grew to be a fine specimen of physical manhood. He also acquired a practical knowledge of business affairs and was well fitted to lead a pioneer life. Having reached his thirtieth year he resolved to invest his savings in a region where land was cheap, and to aid in the development of the Great West. Accordingly, in 1837 he removed to the prairies of DuPage County, where he purchased a claim to a half-section of land in the town of York, for which he paid five hundred dollars. Two years later, when the survey was made, he was obliged to pay one dollar and a-quarter per acre in addition, to the United States Government. This land was soon brought under cultivation

and he rapidly acquired more. At one time he had one thousand acres and was able to give a finely improved farm to each of his three sons, be- sides retaining the original homestead. He was a persistent, hard-working man, and though a part of lis land was rented he always gave it care- ful supervision. He took an active interest in the affairs of the town and county and held sev- eral offices of trust and honor, being supervisor of the town of York in 1854, and serving as a mem- ber of the DuPage County Board of Commission- ers in 1846-47-48.

Wishing to give his children better educational advantages, Mr. Knapp removed in 1861 to Oak Park, where he resided about two years. He then returned to his old home, but in 1876 retired from active farm life, removing to Melrose Park. There he spent his declining years, still giving personal attention to his business affairs and retaining his health and strength until a short time before his death.

October 10, 1841, Mr. Knapp was married to Philura Pluminer, daughter of Caleb and Polly (Webster) Plummer. Caleb Plummer was born in Vermont, March 31, 1780, and removed to Alden, Erie County, New York, where he mar- ried and where his daughter Philura was born August 6, 1818. He died there November 29,

218

GEORGE NORDENHOLT.

1840. His wife was born March 3, 1783, and died in DuPage County, Illinois, Angust 2, 1853. Eight children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Knapp, one of whom died in childhood. Of the others the following is the record: Phœbe ( Mrs. John J. Dooley) resides in Baker City, Oregon; Emma (widow of Henry Vernon) resides in Wheaton, Illinois; Hattie and Evelyn reside at Melrose Park; Albert A. and William P. are

citizens of Oak Park; and Charles Elmer is secre- tary of Price Brothers Printing Company, of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Knapp celebrated their golden wedding October 10, 1891, surrounded by many friends and relatives. Both were members of the First Congregational Church of Maywood, Mrs. Knapp having united with that denomination while a resident of Oak Park. The latter departed this life March 28, 1895.

GEORGE NORDENHOLT.

EORGE NORDENHOLT, a well-known business man of Oak Park, at present presi- dent of the Cicero and Proviso Ice Company, has been for many years prominently connected with the business and real-estate interests of the suburbs of western Cook County. He was born near the seaport city of Bremen, Germany, No- vember 30, 1855, and is the only son of Frederick. and Margherita (Wragge) Nordenholt. The fa- ther, who was a mason by trade, died when his son was three years old. Besides the son, the family consisted of one daughter, Mary, now Mrs. Louis Stahmer, of River Forest. Mrs. Nordenholt, who afterwards married Diedrich Barkemeyer, died in Germany in 1888, aged sixty-two years. Mr. Barkemeyer is now living in Oak Park, at the age of sixty-five years.

George Nordenholt received the common-school education of his native land, and when about fourteen years of age was apprenticed to learn the baker's trade. This he accomplished in three years, and for about two years traveled in various parts of Germany. He then became baker on one of the vessels of the North German Lloyd line of ocean steamers, and continued in this work, with the exception of one or two short in- tervals, until 1878. His first trip to America was in 1872, when he made a short stop in New

York City. In all he crossed the Atlantic eighty- six times.

In 1878 he removed permanently to the United States, locating in Chicago, where lie worked at his trade nearly two years. At about this time he began to recognize the advantages of Oak Park as a location for a bakery, and wishing to establish himself where he could receive the full benefit of his own efforts and business manage- ment, hie concluded to locate in that suburb. With a small amount of money which he had ac- cumulated, he opened a bakery, and for some time he was able to do all the work with the help of a boy. But as the patronage increased, more help was required, so that when the business passed into other hands it employed eighteen men and three girls. Having acquired a com- petency, and wishing to retire from active labors, Mr. Nordenholt sold the bakery in 1895 to Mr. Albert Burgess, by whom it is still operated. After a few months of leisure, Mr. Nordenholt found that idleness was not in accord with his enterprising nature, and in looking for something to employ his time, hit upon a bankrupt ice com- pany, which he concluded might be put upon a paying basis by judicious management. He there- fore incorporated a new company, under the name of the Cicero and Proviso Ice Company, of which

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

JOHN D. WALLER, M. D.

(From Photo by W. J. ROOT)

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J. D. WALLER.

he became the president. Under his able super- vision the enterprise has been very successful, and its business is still growing. In the season of 1896 four thousand tons of ice were sold. New ice houses and barns have been erected, and new wagons and machinery purchased, all of the best to be obtained. Sixteen horses are used to distribute the ice, and the industry gives employ- ment to about twenty men during the season.

Aside from the pursuit of his regular business, the subject of this notice has been equally suc- cessful in handling and improving real estate. His dealings in that line have covered a wide area, including Melrose Park, Maywood, River Forest, Harlem and Oak Park. It has been his custom to improve his holdings as far as possible, and he has erected many houses and other build- ings. In 1895 he built the elegant modern resi- dence, at the -corner of Chicago Avenue and Marion Street, which is the family home. Be- sides this he still owns a residence in Oak Park, two in River Forest and a fine brick store build- ing in Harlem.

April 28, 1883, Mr. Nordenholt was married to Miss Mary E. Burkhardt, who was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, and is a daughter of August and Elizabeth (Middendorf) Burkhardt. The family emigrated from the Fatherland to England, whence in 1873 they came to Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Burkhardt now reside in Harlem. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nordenholt, named in order of birth, George D., Louis B., Arnold, Bertha B. and Walter Wash- ington. The third died in childhood. The mem- bers of the family are regular attendants of the Presbyterian Church of Oak Park.

- The subject of this sketch is a hearty supporter of the Republican party, but takes active part in public affairs only when his services are necessary to carry some important measure. He is devoted to liis home and family, and allows no outside affairs to crowd out his domestic interests. His chief recreation is a few weeks of hunting and fishing each year. He usually spends his vaca- tion in northern Wisconsin, and in his home are many trophies proving his skill as a sportsman.

JOHN D. WALLER.

OHN DUKE WALLER, M. D., a leading member of the medical profession in Oak Park, was born in Maysville, Kentucky, April 6, 1852. He is the son of Hon. Henry Waller, whose biography is given elsewhere in this work.

John D. Waller attended the public schools of Chicago. His health failing, he engaged in busi- ness and eventually, through his own efforts, prepared himself for the study of medicine and entered Rush Medical College, from which he graduated in 1883. In1 1882 he began to practice, as assistant physician in the insane asylum at Jacksonville, Illinois, where he remained for five and one-half years. While there he was one time

president of the Morgan County Medical Society. In May, 1888, he came to Oak Park, where he has since remained, engaged in the practice of medicine, to which he has given his exclusive at- tention, and in which he has been eminently suc- cessful, having frequent calls to all the neighbor- ing suburbs. Dr. Waller was married in 1888 to Miss Katherine, daughter of Rev. William Short, D. D., a Methodist preacher, who was presi- dent of the Illinois Female College in Jacksonville for a period of eighteen years. Mr. Short is now superintendent of the Illinois Institute for the Education of the Blind, at Jacksonville.

Dr. and Mrs. Waller are the parents of three

220

G. M. DAVIS.

children, namely: Judith Cary, Marie Short, and Katherine. Dr. Waller and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Oak Park. He is a member of Siloam Commandery of Knights Templar, of Oriental Consistory, the National Union, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a charter member of the Oak Park Club, a prominent member of the Masonic order, and

of a number of other orders. Though reared amidst the precepts and traditions of the Demo- cratic party, he began at an early age to have in- dependent and liberal ideas concerning the ques- tions of public policy, and for the past twenty years he has supported the Republican party, though his political activity does not extend be- yond the casting of his own ballot.

GEORGE M. DAVIS.

G EORGE MORTIMER DAVIS, an influen- tial citizen of Austin, and a successful busi- ness man of Chicago, was born at Eaton, Madison County, New York, August 25, 1844. His parents, Richard Mowry Davis and Rowena Wells Davis, both sprang from families which were conspicuous in the early history of the United States. Richard M. Davis was born to Nathaniel and Sophronia (Johnson) Davis, in Erieville, New York, and was a millwright by trade, also working at pattern-making. He died at the age of nearly seventy-seven years, at Ham- ilton, New York, December 31, 1889. In 1858, while working at making patterns, in Utica, New York, Mr. Davis wrote on a slip of paper, which he nailed between two pieces of lumber, "When you find this, I will be in kingdom come." It was found by workmen a few months after his death, but no one in the foundry at that time knew who the writer was. Mrs. R. W. Davis was born in Erieville, New York, and died at Eaton, New York, November 4, 1872, at the age of nearly fifty -eight years. She was a daughter of Barker Wells and Fanny Stillman. The parents of the last-named were John Stillman and Mary Potter, the latter a lineal descendant of Ichabod Potter, who was born in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, in 1637. His descendants in direct line to Mrs. Stillman were named respectively,

Thomas, Thomas and George. Mr. and Mrs. Davis' children were: Frances C. (Mrs. James P. Marsh, of Chicago), Helen Celeste (Mrs. Walter Morse, of Eaton, New York) and George M.

George M. Davis lived at Eaton, New York, until nearly grown to manhood. At fifteen years of age, he began to learn the machinist's trade. After two years he went to Binghamton, New York, where he worked in a gun factory which was engaged in filling contracts for the United States Government. Later he worked in a gun factory in Watertown, and then in Ilion, New York. In 1865 he went to Oil City, Pennsylva- nia, and from there to Cincinnati, Ohio. After spending six months in that city, he came to Chicago, in 1866.

On his arrival he began the business of mak- ing steam gauges, his first location being on Washington Street near Fifth Avenue. He has ever since been engaged in that line of bnsi- ness, with which he now includes different special- ties in steam fittings, many of which are his own invention. He originated the idea of an auto- matic air valve for steam radiators and first intro- duced the use of the same in steam-heated buildings. He afterwards devised an automatic steam regulator for reducing the pressure of steam used for heating purposes; also a patent steam trap, and many other appliances now in general

221

H. H. HUNT.

use; while in some cases he has anticipated a de- miand for articles sure to be appreciated at some future time.

This enterprise has always prospered, as have others in which he is interested. Since 1870 lie has been located at Austin, and since 1894 he has owned the electric light plant in that place. He is a director of the Prairie State National Bank of Chicago, is extensively interested in silver mines in Mexico, and is a member of the March-Davis Bicycle Company, Chicago.

December 31, 1867, he married Miss Henrietta, daugliter of Dr. Ira and Frances Dales, of Chica- go. Dr. Ira Dales was born at Courtright, Dela- ware County, New York. His parents were John and Sarah (Cavin) Dales, the latter a cousin of Alexander Hamilton, the eminent statesman and financier. Three of the nine sons of Mr. and Mrs. Dales became physicians. Dr. Ira Dales was married at Monticello, New York, to Frances Coit. He practiced a number of years at Port Jervis, New York, and in 1854 came to Illinois, locating at Aurora, where his death occurred two years later. Mrs. Frances Dales, who is now over eighty years of age, has lived at Austin since 1871. She is a daughter of Dr. Joseph Coit and Mary Voris. Dr. Coit, whose family was of English lineage, served as a surgeon in the Texan army during the war between that State

and Mexico, and died in that service. Mary Voris was born on Long Island. Her ancestors were among the old Knickerbocker families which came from Holland.

Mrs. Davis was born in Monticello, New York. She is the mother of two sons, Walter Edgar, manager of the March-Davis Bicycle Company, Chicago; and George Coit, a student of mechan- ical engineering at Michigan State University, Ann Arbor, Michigan. The family is identified with the Presbyterian Church of Austin, and its members are recognized at leaders in the most progressive public movements of that suburb. Mr. Davis is an ex-president of "The Oaks," the principal social club of that village, in which he has taken a lively interest. He was a charter member of the Park Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has passed through all the chairs therein. Always a Republican, his only official service has been in the capacity of a mem- ber of the Board of Education at Austin, of which he is now the oldest member. During his connec- tion with that body the number of teachers em- ployed has increased from four to more than fifty, and it is largely due to the wise and far-seeing policy adopted by himself and his colleagues that the schools of that place are acknowledged to be among the most efficient and progressive in the State.

HARRISON H. HUNT.

ARRISON HOBART HUNT, a veteran of the great Civil War, was identified with im- portant business interests in Chicago for nearly a score of years, and led an exemplary and useful life in both civil and military affairs, which amply entitles him to commemoration in this rec- ord. He was born at Orange, Franklin County, Massachusetts, July 8, 1845, and died at Oak Park, Illinois, June 15, 1893. The names of his

parents were Rodney Hunt and Margaret Parker. Rodney Hunt, who was a scion of an old New England family, was born at Ashburnham, Mas- sachusetts. For over thirty years he was engaged in the manufacture of woolen mill machinery at Orange, and both he and his wife passed away at that place.

After leaving the public schools, Harrison H. Hunt pursued a course at a business college at

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H. H. HUNT.

Poughkeepsie, New York. When only seventeen years of age he enlisted in the Fifty-second Regi- ment, Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and served one year as an orderly under General Grover, in the Department of the Gulf. He took part in General Butler's expedition against Fort Gibson, and in the subsequent Vicksburg cam- paign.

After liis term of enlistment expired he went to Boston and became a bookkeeper in a whole- sale paper house. In 1867 he went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was employed for a time by Josiah A. Noonan & Company, wholesale paper dealers. He afterwards did a commission busi- ness in hides and wool in that city, and from there removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, whence he traveled through Ohio, Illinois and other West- ern States, in the interests of the wholesale paper firm of Moore, Wilstach & Moore. Still later he became a traveling representative of a firm of safe manufacturers in that city. Returning to Milwaukee in 1871, he spent the next year in the United States Internal Revenue service. He then returned to Orange, Massachusetts, where for three following years he was connected in business with his father.

In 1875 Mr. Hunt located in Chicago, believ- ing that this rapidly growing city presented the best field for putting to practical use the knowl- edge gained by his previous varied experience. Here he first became a salesman for F. P. Elliott & Company, wholesale paper dealers. From the time of his arrival in this city he gave his exclu- sive attention to this branch of business and upon severing his connection with the above-named firm entered into an engagement with McCann, Fitch & Converse, which lasted about three years. Upon the death of Mr. McCann he purchased the interest formerly held by that gentleman and the firm became Fitch, Hunt & Company, under which name the enterprise continued five or six years. In 1887 Mr. Hunt sold his interest in this concern, after which he became the head of the house of H. H. Hunt & Company, which continued to do a prosperous wholesale paper business during the balance of his life. His com- mercial transactions were always conducted with

the utmost integrity, and his relations with pat- rons and contemporaries were such as reflected great credit upon his character.

On the 30th of August, 1870, at Milwau- kee, Wisconsin, occurred the wedding of Mr. Hunt and Miss Annie E. Mower, daughter of Samuel F. and Anna C. (Litch) Mower. Samuel F. Mower, who was a dealer in butter, eggs and cheese in Boston, Massachusetts, was born at Worcester, and died at Newton, in the same State, January 16, 1856, having reached the age of fifty-three years. His father, Ebenezer Mower, who was a farmer at Worcester, reached the great age of one hundred years. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Anna C. Mower married Gen. Harrison C. Hobart, and they removed to Wisconsin, living for a number of years at Chilton, and later at Milwaukee, in that State. General Hobart, who still resides in the last- named city, has long been distinguished in the military and political affairs of the State of Wis- consin. Mrs. Hobart died at Milwaukee August 11, 1896, at the age of seventy-nine years. She was born at Bradford, Vermont. Her maternal grandfather, John House, was one of the original proprietors of the town of Hanover, New Hamp- shire, and built the first two-story house in that place. During the Revolutionary War he was very active in the cause of American Independ- ence and in the course of the conflict served as captain of three different companies of New Hampshire troops. He participated in engage- ments at Saratoga, White Plains and Ticonderoga, and shared the horrors and privations of the ter- rible winter at Valley Forge.

Since 1876 Mr. Hunt had been a resident of Oak Park, and that attractive suburb is still the home of his family, which includes, besides his widow, a son, Rodney, who is a student at Rush Medical College, Chicago, and a daughter named Helen A. The family has long been identified with Grace Church (Episcopal), of Oak Park, and Mr. Hunt was a member of Phil Sheridan Post No. 615, Grand Army of the Republic. He was a charter member of Garden City Council, Royal Arcanum, but afterwards united with General Grant Council at Oak Park.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

223

J. N. GAGE.

JOHN N. GAGE.

OHN NEWTON GAGE. The subject of this sketch was born in Pelham, New Hamp- shire, May 30, 1825, unto Nathan and Me- - out in 1857, they re-opened at No. 78 Lake Street, hitable (Woodbury) Gage. Being brought up on a farm, a fact which holds true of most of our leading pioneer citizens, his early educational ad- vantages were limited to such common schools as the ubiquitous energy so characteristic of New England Puritans and their descendants had at that early date made possible at the scene of his nativity. At about twenty years of age, he put forth his "best foot" in taking the first step upon his patlıway through life, and though he often · found the way beset with difficulties, yet he was always found bravely and tirelessly at work, per- forming his tasks as a man and Christian in the best of the light given unto him.

His first independent work was in the Waltham (Massachusetts) Cotton Company's Mills, where, in he later became overseer in its weaving-room. After a period of eight years of such service, mak- ing it his determination to come West, he took private evening lessons in bookkeeping, so as not to interfere with the discharge of his paid duties, which he finally resigned to others (and, we fail believe, less competent) hands. He set out for Chicago, the distant but much-sought El Dorado of our country at that time, which he first saw, spread out in a panorama almost as Nature's God had made it, in the spring of 1857.

He soon inet with co-operative energies in the persons of Christopher C. and Daniel Webster, with whom he directly entered into articles of partnership, establishing one of the earliest wholesale and retail millinery houses of our city, known then by the firm style of Webster & Gage,

their first place of business being located on Lake Street. Having the misfortune of being burned where they continued until the withdrawal of the Websters, about 1868. Mr. Gage took into a new partnership formed at that time a brother, Seth Gage, and a nephew, Albert S. Gage, under the new name of Gage Brothers & Company, a name retained to this day (after a brief interval of change to A. S. Gage & Company), by which the house has continued to grow and remain known throughout the entire West and Northwest.

Being burned out by the Great Fire, they set up temporarily in A. S. Gage's private house, until they were enabled to re-open for a period of two months in a temporary structure upon the Lake Front. From this location they removed to Wa- bash Avenue, near Jackson, thence to the corner of Madison Street and Wabash Avenue, where the trade still finds them profitably busy, one of the noted houses of the city.

The subject of this sketch sold out to his part- ner, A. S. Gage, about 1878. Thereafter, though in excellent health, he lived a life of respected re- tirement until the sad event of his demise from blood poisoning, following upon what seemed to be a trivial complaint, June 11, 1887, at his man- sion house, No. 1308 Michigan Avenue, whence his remains were borne to the family lot in Oak- wood Cemetery.

The following is a copy of the resolutions adopted by the Directors of the Wright & Law- ther Oil and Lead Manufacturing Company on this sad occasion:

"WHEREAS, Death having taken from us our esteemed fellow-inember and Vice-President, Mr.

224

J. N. GAGE.

Jolın N. Gage, one of the founders of this com- pany, who died June 11, 1887, it is hereby

"Resolved: That in the death of Mr. John N. Gage the company has suffered an irreparable loss. Appreciating, as we do, his worth as a man, his careful, just and conservative business methods, we can never fully fill his place in the Company's affairs;

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 32

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