Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 40

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 40

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his contemporaries to say that the final success of the scheme was in a large measure due to the influence and efforts of Mr. Gage. When the hostility of New York seemed likely to take the location away from Chicago, Mr. Gage was one of four local capitalists to guarantee the comple- tion of the ten-million-dollar guaranty fund re- quired by Congress from Chicago. It was while on his way to attend a banquet in New York in honor of this event, that Mr. Gage was stricken with a serious illness, which it required a dan- gerous operation to overcome, and the whole na- tion rejoiced when it was announced that he would recover.

Mr. Gage is a student of rare discrimination, and his public speeches show a cultivated taste in literature, as well as a mind well stored witli use- ful knowledge. He has a happy faculty of im- parting information to others, and his occasional addresses on financial, political and other topics are greeted with wide and careful attention. In private life, he is a most companionable gentle- man, and gives ear as readily to the request of the humble individual as the large investor. He has been twice married. In 1864 he espoused Miss Sarah Etheridge, daughter of Dr. Francis Etheridge, of Little Falls, N. Y. She died in 1874, and he was married to his present wife, Mrs. Cornelia Gage, of Denver, Colo., in 1887. Their home is on North State Street, near beautiful Lin- coln Park, and here Mr. Gage spends most of his evenings, ever gathering something from his well- selected library.

ORLAND P. BASSETT.

RLAND P. BASSETT, of the Pictorial Print- ing House, of Chicago, and the owner of large greenhouses in Hinsdale, where he makes his home, was born March 31, 1835, in Towanda, Pa. His father, John W. Bassett, was a wheel-

wright of the Keystone State, and in 1872 he came to Illinois, spending his last days in Chicago at the home.of his son, where he died at the age of eiglity-four years. He was a member of the Pres- byterian Church. His wife bore the maiden name

273

J. O. CLIFFORD.

of Angeline Crooker, and passed away several years previous to the death of her husband. Their family numbered nine children, of whom four are yet living: Henry, John, Orland and Chauncy.

Mr. Bassett whose name heads this record was reared in his native State, and remained with his parents until he had attained his majority. The greater part of liis education was acquired in a printing-office. In 1854 he began the printing business, which he has followed up to the present time, and step by step he has worked his way up- ward until now he is President of the Pictorial Printing Company, of Chicago. He owned the entire business until about four years ago, when he sold the controlling interest. It was in March, 1857, that he came to the West and located in Sycamore, Ill., where he published a paper, the Sycamore True Republican, for nine years. He then sold out and removed to Chicago, where he carried on a job printing-office until 1874, when he bought out the establishment of the Pictorial Printing Company, as before stated.

On the 5th of April, 1858, Mr. Bassett was united in marriage with Miss Betsey M. Shelton.

'One child has been born to them, Kate B., wife of Charles L. Washburn, of Hinsdale. They have one son, Edgar B.

For many years Mr. Bassett was a supporter of the Republican party, but is now independent in his political views. In 1887 he removed to Hins- dale, where he makes his home, but still does business in Chicago. He also has in Hinsdale the largest greenhouses to be found in the West, does an extensive business in this line, and em- ploys a large number of men. When he began business in Sycamore he had no capital and bought his outfit on credit, but he has steadily worked his way upward, and the business of the Chicago Pictorial Printing Company has at times amounted to $1,000 per day. The company is well known throughout the United States and Canada, and . also in parts of Australia and South America, and its success is due in a large measure to the untir- ing efforts and good management of Mr. Bassett. He is a genial and pleasant gentleman, is very popular, makes friends wherever he goes, and is justly deserving of the high regard in which he is held.

JAMES ORRA CLIFFORD.

AMES ORRA CLIFFORD was born Decem- ber 8, 1856, at Salem, Kenosha County, Wis., being the son of Emery and Mary Jane (Osgood) Clifford. He comes of English ances- try, and his forefathers were among the early set- tlers of the New England States. His paternal grandparents, John and Nancy (Ray) Clifford, were born in New Hampshire. They afterward settled at Collins, Erie County, N. Y. They were the parents of eleven children. Emery, the sev- enth of these, was born at Collins, Erie County, N. Y., October 21, 1832. In the year 1846 his parents removed from New York and settled near

Salem, Kenosha County, Wis. His maternal grandparents, John Sherman and Jane (Orvis) Osgood, were natives of Brookline, Windham County, Vt. They were the parents of five chil- dren. Mary Jane, the eldest, was born at Brook- line, Windham County, Vt., November 30, 1838. In the fall of 1851 they removed from Vermont, settling on a farm near Salem, Kenosha County, Wis.

Emery Clifford and Mary Jane Osgood were married at Salem, Kenosha County, Wis., on February 8, 1856. They settled on a farm near Salem, Wis., where their four children were born.

274

J. O. CLIFFORD.

Emery Clifford enlisted in the First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, Company L, and was stationed at Arlington Heights, near Washington, D. C., guarding the United States capital until the close of the civil war, after which he returned and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until the autumn of 1874, when he sold his farm and removed to Delmar, Clinton County, Iowa, where he still re- sides. Of his four children, James O. is the eld- est. Jennie O. resides with her parents. Lurie E. died unmarried in 1882; and Gay Emery, the youngest, is married and resides at Arthur, Ida County, Iowa, where he is the manager of a lum- ber-yard.

The subject of this sketch entered the public (country) schools at the age of eight years. From . the age of eleven he was employed in assisting his father with the farm work during the summer, and attending school in the winter, until the summer of 1873, at which time he left home, going to Delmar, Clinton County, Iowa, where he entered the railway service as a messenger boy and ap- prentice under his uncle by marriage, William E. Roberts, who was agent for the Chicago & Nortli- western Railway Company at that station. Here, during the following year until October, he learned telegraphy and the duties of a station agent generally, and has since been in the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company consecutively, as follows: October, 1874, to Au gust, 1880, at various stations on the Iowa Divis- ion as telegraph operator and agent. In August, 1880, while he was stationed at Montour, Iowa, he was appointed to the position of Traveling Auditor. In this capacity he traveled over the entire Northwestern System. On November 7, . 1887, he was appointed Freight Auditor of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway; Fremont, Elk- horn & Missouri Valley, and Sioux & Pacific Railroads, with office at Chicago, which position he holds at the present time. His long continu- ance in this position, where a thorough knowl- edge of the intricacies of railway accounting, sys- tematic supervision, and accuracy in every detail, are essential, attests his executive ability and faithfulness. His management in business affairs is characterized by a progressive spirit, seeking

improved methods and higher efficiency in m11at. ters pertaining to his cliosen profession. In har- mony with this idea he has been a member of the Association of American Railway Accounting Of- ficers since its organization, having always taken an active and influential part in its deliberations, and having been honored by his fellow-members with the office of Vice-President of the Associa- tion.

On November 7, 1883, Mr. Clifford married Miss May Elizabeth Dannatt, who was born at Low Moor, Iowa, June 25, 1859, and who is a daughter of Benjamin and Jane (Cortis) Dannatt, natives of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire, England, respectively. In 1851 her grandfather, Samuel Dannatt, came from England and purchased five thousand acres of land in Clinton County, Iowa, giving to the location the name of his old home in England, and to his residence the name of Kill- inghome Hall, after his English estate. They resided at Clinton, Iowa, until October, 1885, at which time they removed to Wheaton, Ill., where they now occupy a pleasant home on Main Street, corner of Franklin. To them have been given five children. Grace Edith was born at Clinton, Iowa, February 1, 1885. The other four were born at Wheaton, DuPage County, Il1 .- Lewis Dannatt on April 17, 1886; Olive on June 8, 1887; Marshall Emery on February 26, 1892; and Alice on April 8, 1893. Mr. Clifford has served two terms in the City Council of Wheaton as represen- tative of the ward in which he lives, having de- clined further honors in that direction.

Mr. Clifford possesses a fine physique, and has the easy, cordial bearing which makes and retains friendships. He is of a social disposition and is prominently identified with numerous fraternal orders, among which may be named the Masonic, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica and National Union. He attends the Epis- copal Church, in which Mrs. Clifford is a com- municant, and gives his political fealty to the Republican party. Mrs. Clifford is a refined and amiable lady, who presides over their pleasant home with easy grace, and aids her husband in making it a hospitable and attractive abode.

275

THEODORE HUBBARD.

DR. THEODORE HUBBARD.

R. THEODORE HUBBARD, the first Postmaster of Babcock's Grove, and a prom- 6 inent citizen of Cook County, was born in Putney, Vt., October 19, 1803, and died in Chicago, February 1, 1873. His parents were Theodore and Dorothy (Wilson) Hubbard. The family is descended from Edmund Hubbard, who was born in Hingham, England, about 1570, and crossed the Atlantic to Charlestown, Mass., in 1633. He died in Hingham, Mass., March 8, 1646. One of his sons, Rev. Peter Hubbard, a dissenting clergyman, founded the oldest church 110w in existence in the United States, located at Hingham. He died there January 20, 1679, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, and the fifty- second year of his ministry. He was a graduate of Magdalen College, of Cambridge, England. Among Edmund Hubbard's descendants are num- bered many eminent judges, ministers and educa- tors, and the present Earl of Buckinghamshire, England, is a descendant of the same family. The Hobarts, or Huberts, of England came from Nor- mandy during the reign of William the Conqueror. The earliest known record of the family locates them near Dieppe, Normandy, in 1198. They were a baronial family in Norfolk, England, where John Hobart resided in 1260. One of his de- scendants, James Hobart, was made a Knight of the Sword by Henry VII. in 1504. They were created baronets in 1611. Our subject repre- sented the eighth generation in America. The names of his progenitors in direct line were Ed- mund, Thomas, Caleb, Benjamin, Peter, Sr., Peter, Jr., and Theodore.

Peter Hubbard, Sr., died near Ft. William Hen- ry during the French and Indian War, of wounds received in that service. His son was an Ensign in a New Hampshire company during the Revo- lutionary War. The father of our subject was born in Keene, N. H., October 25, 1774, and

died in Hartford, Vt., February 15, 1814. His wife died at Babcock's Grove, July 16, 1840, at the age of sixty-seven years.

Doctor Hubbard was the fourth in their family of seven children. He was married November 25, 1828, to Anne Ward Ballou, who was born December 29, 1809, in Deerfield, near Utica, N. Y., and was a daughter of Ebenezer and Marana (Ward) Ballou. The Ward fainily has an ex- tensive genealogical history, which can be traced back to 1130. The name is derived from "Gar" or "Garde." Ralph de Gar, or de la Warde, flour- ished in Norfolk, England, at the time of Henry II.

Returning to the personal history of Dr. Hub- bard, we note that he settled in Chicago May 21, 1836, and about a year later went to DuPage County, pre-empting a farm near the present vil- lage of Glen Ellyn. A few years later he was made the first Postmaster of Babcock's Grove, keeping the office in his house and bringing the mail from Bloomingdale on horseback. In 1851, he returned to Chicago, where he engaged in the practice of medicine until his death. He had pre- viously studied for the ministry, but later entered the medical profession, and as a physician se- cured a liberal patronage. He also had an ex- tensive knowledge of law, and was a inan of more than ordinary intellectual ability, although he had little opportunity for education while a boy. For several years he served as County Commis- sioner of DuPage County.

Of the children of Doctor and Mrs. Hubbard, Augustus, a civil engineer, died in Amboy, Ill., in April, 1865. Carlos, manager of a wagon factory, died in Chicago at the age of forty years. Oscar died in Groesbeck, Tex., in April, 1877; Adolphus, who was the founder of the Sons of the American Revolution in 1879, is now connected with the California University of San Francisco,

276

NATHAN DYE.

and is a member of many historical societies. Ed- ward Clarence, who was a prominent attorney of Hartford, Ky., died in Chicago, June 27, 1887, at the age of forty-four years. He was a mem- ber of the Thirteenth Illinois Infantry during the late war. Enlisting April 21, 1861, he was dis- charged June 18, ¿864, after having participated in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, siege of Vicksburg, and other engagements. Ellen, who died soon after her graduation from the Chicago High School, and Laura complete the family.

Mr. Hubbard was a life-long Democrat, but all of his sons suf port the Republican party. In his re- ligious views he was a Universalist. Of the first Masonic lodge of Chicago he was a charter mem- ber and was made an honorary member previous

to his death. Prominent in public and business af- fairs, he was an honored and highly respected citizen, who for many years was connected with the leading interests of Chicago. His skill and ability as a physician won him an enviable repu- tation, and he was widely known as a man of ster- ling worth. Mrs. Hubbard is an honorary mem- ber of Chicago Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and is honorary Vice-Pres- ident of the Daughters of 1812. She is also a member of the Historic Council, which was estab- lished to keep alive the memories of the men who gave liberty and fraternity to the western world. She now resides in Glen Ellyn with her daughter Laura, who is a lady of intelligence and refine- ment, and a corresponding member of the Chi- cago Historical Society.

PROF. NATHAN DYE.

B ROF. NATHAN DYE. No mention of the musical fabric of Chicago and the West can be considered complete without a notice of Professor Dye, who was endeared to many of the early families of Chicago. A man who attained the ripe old age of eighty-three years, he was beloved by all with whom he came in contact. He was a pioneer in his chosen profession, and taught both vocal and instrumental music in three generations of some families. One of the secrets of his great success lay in his love of the divine art, and his ability to so simplify his meth- " ods as to bring them within the grasp of almost infantile minds.

Nathan Dye was born in the town of De Ruy- ter, Madison County, New York, June 30, 1808, and lived on the homestead farin until he was sixteen years of age. The country schoolhouse was a mile and a-half away, and the boy attend- ed school half of each year from the age of seven to ten years, helping on the farm during the in- tervals, as was customary with lads of his time.

After this, he had but three months' schooling, although always a student. When he was twelve years of age, he met with an accident which caused a lameness from which he never entirely recovered. He was married, in 1833, to Miss Lucy Maria Kinyon, of Milan, New York, and four years later they removed to Kenosha, Wis- consin, then called Pike Creek, aud later South- port.

A few years after coming West, Mr. Dye deter- mined to devote his life wholly to music, which had hitherto employed but a portion of his time and energy. In 1844 he introduced his induct- ive method of teaching in Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin, by giving a series of concerts there with a class of his Kenosha pupils. He continued to teach in Milwaukee, with pronounced success, un- til 1848, when he settled permanently in Chicago. His phenomenal power of teaching children to read music at sight attracted wide attention. For years his classes, both adult and juvenile, were a prominent feature of the musical world of Chi-

277

NATHAN DYE.

cago and adjacent cities. A part of his life work which is full of beautiful memories was that con- nected with those of his pupils whom he assisted in the development of musical powers that must have remained dormant but for this generous and kindly teacher. How many were placed in con- dition of self-support along the line indicated by nature's gift, only their helper knew. Several of Professor Dye's pupils inade brilliant reputa- tions on the lyric stage and in great oratorios. He numbered in his early classes some of Chica- go's most prominent citizens. The well-known comic opera singer, Lillian Russell, first started on lier musical career under his tutelage. In the spring of 1880 the Professor was tendered a tes- timonial and complimentary benefit concert at Central Music Hall, which his old friends and pupils made a great success.

In November, 1843, he was bereaved by the death of his wife, which occurred in Kenosha, and a year's illness followed this sad blow. The loss was somewhat compensated by the survival of his three children for many years thereafter.

His only son, Byron E. Dye, died at Paola, Kansas in September, 1883, and his remains were taken to Kansas City for burial. His daughters are Harriet A. and Frances E., of Chicago, the former being the wife of N. Buschwah, and the latter the wife of Gen. C. T. Hotchkiss, who won his title in the Civil War. This sketch is penned in loving memory of Professor Dye by Mrs. Hotch- kiss. In 1855 Professor Dye married Miss Cor- delia A. Hamlin, daughter of the late Rev. E. H. Hamlin, once pastor of the First Baptist Church of Chicago. Twin sons were born of this union.

After thirty-five years of happy wedded life, they were separated by death only two months, her demise occurring first. He passed away July 30, 1891, at his home, 383 Park Avenue. He had been an invalid about seventeen months, thoughi his final illness was a severe attack of pneumonia, which his great age made resistless. His funeral took place Sunday, August 2, at Cen- tral Music Hall, and his remains were interred in the family lot at Kenosha, beside those of his first wife. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Thomas G. Milsted, of the First Unita-

rian Church of Chicago, assisted by Mrs. Emma J. Bullene, a trance speaker and an old pupil of Professor Dye.

Professor Dye was an advanced thinker in the line of religious conviction, investigating fear- lessly and impartially new theories, and listening gladly to the presentation of truth, as seen by Christian or unbeliever. He accepted tlie tenets of spiritualism, after the most careful and can- did research, finding satisfaction in its teachings as given by the scientific writers in that line of thought. He was a great admirer of Rev. Dr. Thomas, in whose discourses he found much food for reflection.

Professor Dye was a descendant of old Revolu- tionary stock, and imbibed the love of liberty with his earliest breath. It is not strange, tliere- fore, that he was identified with the earliest Aboli- tion movement, and labored unflinchingly for the emancipation of the colored inan. Fifteen men- bers of the Dye family served in the Continental army, several of them being officers. Among the number was Gen. Thomas Dye, a personal friend of Washington and La Fayette, who were often entertained at his house in Bergen, New Jersey, during the memorable winter of 1777-78. Daniel Dye, grandfather of the subject of this biography, endured the horrors of that winter at the Valley Forge encampment, his feet being swathed in rags for protection. He often related reminiscences of the privations endured by him- self and comrades at that time. At one time a number of British officers visited General Wash- ington under a flag of truce, and such was the destitution prevailing in the camp that the only refreshment he was able to offer them consisted of baked potatoes and salt, which were served on pieces of bark, in lieu of plates. Daniel Dyė was born in Kent County, Connecticut, February 10, 1744. He enlisted in Captain Beardsley's company, Seventh Regiment of the Connecticut Line, May 28, 1777, and was under command of Col. Heman Sift. He was discharged from that company February 17, 1778. Prior to entering the regular service, he was a member of Captain Fuller's company of militia, and did duty in the New York campaign of 1776. He was the father

278

THOMAS TAGNEY.

of eight children, the eldest of whom was John P. Dye, born May 9, 1768. About 1791 he moved from Connecticut to western New York. His wife's name was Sally Rhodes, and Nathan was the tenth of their eleven children.

Professor Dye was a member of the old Tippe- canoe Club, and ever maintained the principles

upon which that organization was founded. He was always thoroughly posted on current political events and matters of historical interest. Every movement looking toward the moral and physical uplifting of humanity in general received his cordial support and commendation.

THOMAS TAGNEY.

HOMAS TAGNEY, whose death occurred on the seventh day of September, 1894, at 897 Seminary Avenue, was one of the early settlers of Chicago, having first .visited this city in 1836, nearly sixty years ago. He was a native of Sheffield, England, born May 15, 1818. His father, Thomas Tagney, was a musician in the British army, as was also one of his brothers. In 1833 the elder Tagney migrated with his family to Canada, where he taught music, in which he was very proficient, for several years. The family afterward returned to England, but the subject of this sketch preferred to remain in this country, and continued for a short time with his uncle in Canada. Young Tagney was of a restless and roaming disposition, and desired to see other parts of the world. He accordingly went into the Southern States, and was engaged on different plantations in Alabama and Louisiana, in the vi- cinity of New Orleans, for several years. Al- though only a boy in his teens at the time he went there, he rapidly acquired knowledge that enabled him to direct plantation work, and he be- came an overseer. In this employment he earned good wages, a large portion of which he managed to save.

Abandoning that life in 1836, he came direct to Chicago, with a small fortune, which he invested in North Side property. Two lots, 143 and 145 Illinois Street, for which he paid $600, he still

had in his possession at the time of his death, and their value had increased to twenty-five thou- sand. For several years Mr. Tagney was a steam- boat engineer, and sailed all over the Lakes, from Buffalo to Duluth On retiring from the lake service he settled at Muskegon, Michigan, where he resided five years, and was engaged as engi- neer in the sawmill there. Returning again to Chicago, he engaged as mechanical engineer in the employ of the Fulton & St. Paul Grain Ele- vators. He superintended the construction of the former (first known as Munn & Gill's Elevator), both in its original construction and when rebuilt in 1873. He was continuously in the employ of this elevator company for thirty-three years, a testimony to his regular habits, ability and devo- tion to the interests of his employers.

At the time of the great fire in Chicago, in 1871, Mr. Tagney owned houses and lots on Illinois, Indiana and Wells Streets, which, of course, were consumed by the element which devastated the entire North Side. But he had great confidence in Chicago, and within three months rebuilt the Illinois Street property, selling the other; this property being the first house rebuilt. In the year 1885, having spent the greater part of a long life in active, arduous and useful labors, Mr. Tag- ney retired from business and moved to Lake View, where he remained until his death. In his later years he bought residence property on

LIBRARY OF THE MNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

ALONZO J. CUTLER

(From Photo, by W. J. ROOT)

279

A. J. CUTLER.

Fletcher, Baxter, North Halsted Streets and Lin- coln Avenue. I11 1847 he was married to Miss Alice Steele, daughter of Hugh and Mary Steele. She was born in May, 1828, in Canada, to which country her parents had immigrated from the North of Ireland, and died in Chicago on the 7th of August, 1892, aged sixty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Tagney were the parents of seven children, of whom five grew to maturity. Henry Thomas, the eldest, was an engineer by profession, and succeeded to the place made vacant by his father in the Fulton Elevator. He married Miss Ella Moore, and died in 1893, leaving a widow and three children, Henry T., George and Effie.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 40

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