Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 47

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 47

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Mr. Smith has always taken an active interest

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T. M. TURNER.

in public affairs, and keeps himself well informed on the great questions of the day. He was a Whig until the establishment of the Republican party, since which time he has been one of its most ardent supporters. At the first election held in Jefferson Township he was elected Justice of the Peace, and held the office several years. He was never an office-seeker, but he has filled several local offices.

April 13, 1843, Mr. Smith was united in mar- riage with Miss Susannah Pennoyer, who was born June 17, 1814, in Connecticut. Her father, John Pennoyer, was born June 16, 1780, in Connecticut. March 4, 1807, he married Sallie Fox, who was born September 17, 1780. They came to Cook County in 1837. Mrs. Pen- noyer died May 15, 1843, and Mr. Pennoyer passed away August 28, 1856.

Mrs. Smith was well educated for her time, and was of a studious nature. She was a suc- cessful teacher in the Empire State, and taught the first school in Leyden Township, this county. She was very highly respected for her many excellencies of head and heart.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith had seven children, as follows: Frederick A., an attorney of Chicago;

Frank G., deceased; Milton Henry, who died of cholera; Emily, wife of H. R. Clissold, who resides in Morgan Park; Edwin D., a farmer; Sarah M., now the wife of George W. Wilcox, a resident of Minneapolis; and Stella, Mrs. D. C. Dunlap, who resides in Chicago. Mrs. Smith died March 28, 1893, in her seventy-ninth year, after nearly fifty years of happy married life. When the family first came to their present home the nearest neighbors were Christian Ebinger on the north, and Elijah Wentworth on the east. Mr. Smith has witnessed almost the entire growth of the great metropolis, its population being about four thousand when he came to Cook County, and he is well known by the oldest set- tlers of this part of the county.

Mr. Smith's life has been one of activity and usefulness, and, although, by reason of a good constitution and temperate habits, he has exceeded by a decade the psalmist's limit of "three-score years and ten," the cares of life have rested lightly upon him. He is still in good health, vigorons intellectually, cheerful in disposition, of a pleas- ing personality, and, from his sprightly step, might easily be taken for a much younger man than he is.

THOMAS M. TURNER.

HOMAS MCCLELLAN TURNER was born July 1, 1829, in Bellefonte, Center County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of James B. and Mary A. (McClellan) Turner, both of whom were natives of that county, where their parents were early settlers. James B. Turner was a contractor and builder, and especially success- ful in the erection of forges, furnaces and rolling mills. During his business career he was widely known, and one of the important pieces of work done by him was the construction of forges for

Mr. Curtin, father of the well-known Governor, A. G. Curtin. James B. Turner died in his native place, February 17, 1870, at the age of seventy- two years, and his wife survived him until An- gust 22, 1890, when she passed away, at the ven- erable age of eighty-nine years and four months.

The Turners are descended from an old English family, and the Mcclellan family is of Scotch descent. The father of James B. Turner was born in New York City, and emigrated to Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and later removed to Center Coun-

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T. M. TURNER.

ty. Thomas Mcclellan, the maternal grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Scotland and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylva- nia. He was a noted marble-cutter when that city had only about four thousand inhabitants. About the time the British bombarded Philadel- phia, he fell in love with a beautiful young girl, fifteen years of age, named Ann Kinnier, and they were married. As it was not safe for them to remain in the city, they journeyed westward 011 horseback and soon reached Bellefonte, by fol- lowing an Indian path. In this town he erected the seventli house. Bellefonte afterward became the county seat, and of this town Mr. Mcclellan was a useful and honored citizen. His descend- ants have been pioneers in many districts, and his family is represented in all parts of the United States. Mrs. McClellan's father, James Kinnier, was a merchant of Philadelphia.

Thomas Mcclellan Turner is the eldest of a family of six children. The others were: Matilda; William K .; James, who was killed by guerrillas near Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the beginning of the Civil War; Deborah A., now Mrs. Thomp- so11; and Mary J. He received his education in his native State, and when he was sixteen years of age he assisted his father in the erection of buildings and similar labors.

In 1854 he came to Chicago, and soon after engaged in building the Chicago & Alton Rail- road, with headquarters at Joliet. The iron rails reached their place from England by way of the ocean and the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. In 1855 Mr. Turner removed to Bloomington and built the Chicago & Alton Railroad shops, when that town had only two thousand five hundred inhabitants. Later, he acted as road master, superintending the division between Bloomington and Joliet.

At the opening of the Civil War the spirit of patriotism, so frequently found in natives of his State, induced him to return to Bellefonte and enlist in Company C, of the Twenty-second Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, as a private soldier. When the regiment was disbanded at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, his company gave him a vote of thanks for coming so far to join it. His conduct

was most praiseworthy, when we remember that he was an expert engineer and capable of hold- ing a position of comparative ease and safety. Such men are the safeguards of our Nation, and they deserve to be remembered by posterity.

Returning to Chicago, Mr. Turner became interested in mining and prospecting for coal. While hunting ducks near Wilmington, Illinois, he found traces of coal in a creek, and after searching, he was rewarded by finding a three- foot vein of coal, sixty-three feet from the sur- face. He carried the sample to Chicago for analysis and subsequently developed the coal lands and made a producing mine.

Seeing the necessity of the use of larger capital, he induced Mr. James Robbins, of Boston, Massa- chusetts, to become his silent partner. The latter never took an active interest in the management of the business, which rapidly assumed large pro- portions. A few years later he sold his interest to the Chicago & Wilmington Coal Association, with the exception of one hundred sixty acres, which he still owns, at the center of the field. He next developed the Bloomington field, and man- aged it three years.

Dr. Streator (for whom the city of Streator, Illinois, was named) induced him to sell out at Bloomington, and invest his money in the Streator mine, where there had been much trouble with quicksand. Where others failed in overcoming this difficulty, Mr. Turner was successful, and, after two years, Dr. Streator having sold his interest, he did the same, and returned to Chi- cago, where he has since resided. Later he bought land east of the Calumet River, where he still owns property. He has sold two subdi- visions, on which eighty houses have been built. He was a liberal contributor to the fund which secured the James Brown Iron Mill, whose plant is situated on the Calumet River.

Mr. Turner was married in Chicago May 30, 1865, to Miss Carrie K. Ferguson, daugliter of Stauts M. Ferguson, one of Chicago's honored pioneers. They are the parents of three children, namely: James Lyle, Helen N. and Thomas M. The sons fill offices of trust and responsibility in the offices of the Chicago City Railway Company.

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C. O. WESTERGREN.

Stauts Morrison Ferguson, an old settler of Chicago, was born December 10, 1799, in the State of New York. He was of Scotch descent, but his ancestors for many generations were Americans. He was reared in New York, where he was a manufacturer of woolen goods, and in 1840 sold his mills in Orange County, New York, and, with his family, came to Chicago, settling ten miles northwest of the city, at Union Ridge, now called Norwood Park. His farm comprised three hundred acres of choice agricultural land, which he cultivated. He sold out a part of this in 1858, and removed to Chicago, where he resided on West Adams Street. He died while on a

return journey from Galt, California, where he had visited at the homes of his children. He was well known to the West Side residents of Chicago. He took quite an interest in religious matters, and was a high-minded man, much esteemed and respected. He was a Presbyterian, and a stanch Republican in politics, and exerted a wide influence. He was an active Abolitionist, and always showed his friendship for the colored man.

Mr. Ferguson was married in Orange County, New York, to Miss Naomi A. Rice, who died January 21, 1866. She was the mother of nine children.

CHARLES O. WESTERGREN.

HARLES OSCAR WESTERGREN, a reli- able citizen of South Chicago, was born March 8, 1853, on a farm situated near the town of Westervik, in the congregation of Tor- nesfalla, Sweden, and is a son of John and Jose- phine Ulrica (Johnson) Westergren. His sister Matilda was the first one of the family to emigrate to the United States. ' She came in 1869, and in 1872 married Mr. John Smith, and they at present reside on North Clark Street, in this city.

Charles O. Westergren received his education in the schools of his native country, and at an early age became possessed of a desire to try his fortunes in the new world. In 1872 he sailed for America, and reached Chicago June 5th of that year. He was first employed at general labor, and after spending six months in the city he found employment at farm labor, which he continued eight months, and then returned to the city. On his return he became engaged in the service of Marshall Field & Company as a box nailer. By

his faithfulness and ability he has gradually risen in position, and is at present engaged by that firin as a packer. He has been in its service for many years, and has the respect and esteem of his employers.

June 14, 1881, Mr. Westergren took up his res- idence in South Chicago, and for ten years con- ducted a large boarding-house, having sometimes as many as forty guests. He has owned several houses, the first one being built by him in 1882 at No. 9038 Superior Avenue. In 1887 he sold it and bought two lots at the northeast corner of Su- perior Avenue and Ninety-first Street, where he built two houses. He sold this property in 1890 and bought a lot at No. 74 Ninety-first Street, where he built a house, and occupied it until it was destroyed with others in the fire of 1893. The loss sustained by him was about fifteen hundred dollars. Herebuilt on this land, and still owns the property. June 18, 1894, Mr. Westergren bought the lot he now occupies, at No. 9033 Superior

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R. H. SAGĘ.

Avenue, and the same year he built a comfortable residence, consisting of a four-story, modern flat building.

July 31, 1875, he was united in marriage with Ellen Margaret Frankenburg, daughter of Olof Frankenburg. She was born April 4, 1845, in the town of Lusdahl, Sweden, and came to Chi- cago before the Great Fire of 1871. Their union has been blessed by the following children: John Olof Evan, who was born October 6, 1876, and died August 20, 1896; Hilda Josephine Margaret,

born August 9, 1878, died in July, 1880; and Charles Algert David, born June 11, 1882, now residing with his parents. Mr. Westergren and his family are connected with the Swedish Luth- eran Church. He is a thoughtful and conscien- tious man, and in all his dealings with his fellow- men is thoroughly just and honorable. He takes an active interest in the affairs of his adopted country, and is a friend to progress and improve- ment. In politics he is a supporter of the Re- publican party.

RUFUS H. SAGE.

R UFUS HENRY SAGE was born November 22, 1837, in Troy, New York, and was a son of Henry Rufus Sage, who was a brother of the world-famed Russell Sage, of New York City. The family is of Welsh descent, and the first American progenitor settled in Connecticut. The ancestry is traced back to the time of William the Conqueror, who, in 1066, gave a coat-of-arms and a grant of land to this family. They were tillers of the soil, and led upright and honorable lives. On the coat-of-arms is this motto, "Non Sibi," meaning "Not for ourselves."

Rufus Henry Sage received an academic edu- cation in his native State, and was subsequently appointed to a cadetship in the United States Mil- itary School at West Point. He received this ap- pointment through his uncle, Russell Sage, but after two years of hard study he was compelled to abandon his military life, and engage in some other occupation. Soon after leaving West Point he removed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he remained only a short time, and came to Chicago in the spring of 1858, and became an agent for one of the oldest and most reliable commission firms of the city. After becoming acquainted with the details of the business, he embarked in

it on his own responsibility, and from the begin- ning then made was successful, and the name of Rufus H. Sage became a familiar one among the commission men of the Northwest.

Mr. Sage had always the happy faculty of mak- ing and keeping friends, and he often loaned the better class of his customers money for conduct- ing their business, and was thus of assistance in preventing the failure of many men who after- wards became prominent in the financial world. He was seldom the loser in these transactions, as his heart and his head were in perfect har- mony with each other. He was one of the largest flour merchants of Chicago, and shipped this product in great quantities to the Eastern cities. Prior to the Great Fire of 1871, Mr. Sage was one of the best known commission mer- chants in Chicago, but by this disaster he was left a comparatively poor man. However, he retrieved his fallen fortunes to the best of his ability, and eventually became eminently successful, mostly through a brokerage business on the Board of Trade.

Mr. Sage was known as one of the quiet, hon- orable and industrious citizens of this great me- tropolis, and his word was as good as his bond.

324

LEIGHTON TURNER.

He was surrounded by a host of friends, and ap- parently had no enemies. He was a man who possessed strong likes and dislikes, so that it was an honor to be counted among his friends, and although he was a man of few words, he always drew friends to him. Mr. Sage passed away May 7. 1897, in his sixtieth year. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

He was married March 6, 1857, while in Wis- consin, to Miss Ellen Wicker. Mr. Sage was a stranger at the prominent clubs and societies of

Chicago, though at one time he was often to be found in Masonic circles. He loved the compan- ionship of his wife, and highly valued his home, where the atmosphere of tender sympathy per- vaded all, and where he ever found a haven of rest and comfort after the fatigues of business hours. His death, though not unexpected, left his friends deeply grieved at the thought of miss- ing the quiet man, whose gentle nature had endeared itself to all by the practice of every manly virtue.

LEIGHTON TURNER.

EIGHTON TURNER, who was for many years identified with the business interests of Chicago, was a pioneer of 1836, and was born February 17, 1812, in Gilberdike, York- shire, England. His parents were William and Mary Turner, both of whom grew to maturity and married in Yorkshire, where all of their nine children were born. In the early part of the thirties all the family except the eldest emigrated to the United States, locating at Detroit, Mich- igan, where the parents lived the remainder of their lives, and where they died several years ago.

Leighton Turner received only a limited educa- tion, in the schools of his native land, and was reared to farm pursuits. He was about twenty years of age when he came to America. In 1836 he came to Chicago, in company with his brother John, and two years later they engaged in the livery business in a small way, on Wolcott Street (now State Street) between Kinzie and North Water Streets. This enterprise prospered and gradually increased in importance until it became one of the most Incrative of its kind in the city. They continued the partnership about fifteen years, during which time they had made a

financial success of the business. By investing their money judiciously in land they soon had large interests in real estate, owning several hun- dred acres of land in Lake View, Jefferson and Niles Townships.

The brothers dissolved the partnership by mutual consent, and made an equitable division of their property. Leighton Turner then re- moved to Jefferson Township, in Cook County, where he engaged in farming, and carried on this business successfully until 1867. He then lo- cated in Evanston, in order that his growing chil- dren might enjoy the educational advantages of- fered by that place. For some years he lived in comparative retirement, giving attention only to his landed interests. In 1872 he took a trip to Europe, and remained there a few months. He engaged in the livery business in Evanston in 1882, in connection with his sons, and they con- tinued until the building was destroyed by fire about 1890.

When Mr. Turner came to Chicago he was a poor man, who had enjoyed few advantages for education and improvement in his early life. He had, however, learned the valuable lessons of self- help and self-reliance, and he became, in the

325

J. T. MCCULLOUGH.

truest sense, a self-made man. His success in life was owing to his industry, his integrity and his keen business foresight. His career was al- ways characterized by honesty in his dealings with his fellow-inen. He achieved his ample fortune through the legitimate channels of busi- ness, and not by taking advantage of the neces- sities of others. In politics he was a Republican, but he never sought any office, being content to leave the management of public affairs to others. He was not lacking in enterprise, as all measures for public good found in him a liberal supporter. In religious faitlı he was a Methodist, as is also his wife, and both took an active interest in church work.

December 17, 1844, Mr. Turner married Miss Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Jane (Osmond) Bridet. She was born December 26, 1824, in Yorkshire, England, the native place of her parents. When she was ten years old, her mother died, and in 1842 the family came to the United States and settled in Cook County. Of the twelve children born to Thomas and Jane Briden, only two are now living. The father died in Iowa about 1866.

Mr. and Mrs. Turner had eight children, all of whom grew to maturity, and are now living, namely: Jane (now Mrs. J. F. Lang, of La Crosse, Wisconsin), Mary E., Sarah C., Miles L., Charles W., Julia P., Leighton I. and Walter I.

Soon after Mr. and Mrs. Turner settled on the farm in Jefferson Township, they were instru- mental in organizing the first Methodist congre- gation in that community, and the students who went out from school to conduct religious services among the pioneers always found a hearty wel- come in their hospitable home, and were the recipients of many kindnesses at the hands of Mrs. Turner.

In December, 1894, Mr. and Mrs. Turner quietly celebrated their golden wedding in their pleasant home, with all the members of the fam- ily present. After a long, useful and successful life, Mr. Turner was called to his reward, Feb- ruary 11, 1895, and in his detnise the community lost a valuable citizen. In his home, where his happiest hours had been passed, his death caused an irreparable loss, and left a sadness and gloom which will never be overcome.

JOHN T. MCCULLOUGH.

OHN THOMAS MCCULLOUGH, a skilled mechanic of South Chicago, was born June 19, 1854, in Troy, New York, and is a son of Edward and Susan (Lynch) Mccullough. Edward Mccullough was born in Belfast, Ireland, and became a member of the Queen's Guards. He followed the occupation of his great-grand- father, Andrew Mccullough, and of his grand- father, who were musicians in the Six-foot Regi- ment Queen's Guards. Edward Mccullough was especially noted as a performer on the flute, · of which instrument he was a good master. He

came to America about 1830, and lived in the State of New York. He became a foreman in cotton mills in Troy, and married Susan Lynch of New York. He and his wife were the parents of four children, as follows: John, William, Ed- ward and Lucretia. Mrs. McCullough married for her second husband Daniel Reardon, with whom she resides in Chicago. They have two children, August and Mary Reardon.

Jolını T. Mccullough received his early educa- tion in his native State, and at a very early age began the serious business of life for himself. He

326

C. A. WENZLAFF.

came to Chicago when thirteen years old, and began to learn the machinist's trade. For twenty- six years he was employed by Robert Owens, and for sixteen years was his foreman, which speaks well for his faithfulness, industry and careful at- tention to his work. He was then employed by Sherman & Flavin as foreman in 1895, and is still engaged in their services.

July 25, 1878, Mr. Mccullough married Miss Annie Esther Garrity, daughter of Thomas Gar- rity, whose biography appears on another page

of this volume. She was born September 8, 1855, on Stony Island Avenue. Their children pre: Helen Gertrude, born May 14,, 1879, and died January 20, 1881; Lilian Marie, Helen Marcia and Edward Michael. Mr. McCullongh and his family are communicants of the Roman Catholic Church. He is an intelligent and law- abiding citizen, and has the interest of his country at heart. In his political views he favors the principles of the Republican party, of which he is a firin supporter.

CHARLES A. WENZLAFF.

HARLES AUGUST WENZLAFF, a good citizen of South Chicago, was born Novem- ber 8, 1862, in Pommern, Germany, and is a son of Carl and Henrietta (Behnke) Wenzlaff. Carl Wenzlaff emigrated to America when the subject of this sketch was a small boy, locating in Blue Island. Charles A. Wenzlaff had limited educational advantages, attending school only un- til he was thirteen years of age. He received part of his training in a school connected with the German Lutheran Church, and later studied in the public schools of Blue Island.

When he left school, he began work in the planing mill of Riggs & Goodwill, as a helper at a machine, and he followed this branch of employment for a number of years. He next found a place in the mill of Mr. Russell, on Har- bor and Green Bay Avenues, where he remained until he found employment with the North Chi- cago Rolling Mill Company, now the Illinois Steel Company. When he began working for the above company, he helped the brick ma- sons, then was assistant to the straighteners, working on the hot bed two and one-half years,

and for the past seven years he has been a rail straightener. He is careful, thoughtful and faith- ful in his work, and has thus been able to ad- vance in position by degrees.

When Mr. Wenzlaff bought a lot in September, 1896, at No. 9018 Green Bay Avenue, he was able to build a comfortable home, which he has occupied ever since. April 29, 1889, lie married Miss Louise Augusta Stark, daugliter of Fred- erick and Mary (Boger) Stark. Her parents are among the oldest families in Blue Island, where they are universally respected. Mr. and Mrs. Wenzlaff had four children, namely: an infant so11, deceased; Charles Elmer, Edward William and Herbert John. The last-named also died when an infant.

Mrs. Wenzlaff was reared in the Methodist faith, and the family is. now connected with the Emanuel Evangelical German Lutheran Church. Mr. Wenzlaff sympathizes largely with the Re- publican party, but he is independent in politics. He is thrifty in business, and has always been so careful in his expenditures that he upholds the reputation of German1-Americans for frugality.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

CHARLES E. BOLLES.

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C. E. BOLLES.

CHARLES E. BOLLES.

D HARLES EDWIN BOLLES, a leading citizen of Oak Park, has long been identified with large enterprises in Cook and Du Page Counties. He was born at Cambridgeport, Wind- sor County, Vermont, October 14, 1844. His parents were Lemuel Bolles and Mary Ann Wea- ver. The former carried on a general store at Cambridgeport, and also employed a number of wagons and carts in distributing his goods through the country. He died there in May, 1848, at the age of thirty-six years. He was a son of Lemuel Bolles, a native of Richmond, New Hampshire. The first ancestor of this family of whom a record has been preserved was Joseph Bolles, born 1608 and died 1678. He was of Scotch and English lineage, and came to Am- erica early in the colonial period. His descend- ants in direct line to Lemuel Bolles, senior, were Samuel, Jonathan, and Jonathan, junior. The last-named, who was born in 1732 and died in 1824, removed to Richmond, New Hampshire, and later to Rockingham, Vermont. The mem- bers of this family have always been conspicuous for longevity 'and physical vigor, a number of them having lived past the great age of ninety years.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 47

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