USA > Illinois > Cook County > Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed. > Part 53
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Just before leaving Germany, in 1857, he mar- ried Louisa Koch, a native of the village in which he was born, and they came to America together. Their children are: William, Jacob and Augusta. In politics Mr. Miller is a supporter of the Demo- cratic party. He is one of the oldest settlers of
South Chicago, and is honored and respected by the early settlers of the city. He is a hard work- ing, honest mechanic, who has prospered only by his own industry, thrift and frugality. He has enough of this world's goods to make himself and his family comfortable, and in his wife he has a good helpmate. Having lived in South Chicago long enough to have the opportunity of seeing its every period of growth, he is especially interested in all that concerns its welfare and that of its in- habitants.
GEORGE W. SHEARBURN.
F EORGE WILSON SHEARBURN, a trusted employe of the Chicago & Northwestern). Railway and a well-known citizen of River Forest, was born in Whitby, Yorkshire, England, March 25, 1848. His father, George Linol Shearburn, was also born in Whitby, where he became a farmer, following the occupation of his father, Thomas Shearburn. George L. Shear- burn married Margaretta Wilson, and in 1851 emigrated to America, locating in Macoupin County, Illinois. There he purchased land and carried on general farming. He subsequently re- moved to Mendota, La Salle County, Illinois, where he bought a farm and made his home until the time of his death, which occurred in July, 1891. Mrs. Margaretta Shearburii passed away at the same place in June, 1886. Ten children were born to this worthy couple, of whom the following is the record: George W. is the subject of this notice; John died in infancy; Thomas is a farmer at Ohio, Bureau County, Illinois; Ben- jamin W. is a farmer at Nodaway, Adams Coun- ty, Iowa; Elizabeth Ann resides at Mendota, Illinois; William Pinder is a fariner at Corning, Adams County, Iowa; Mary Caroline is the wife
of James Armstrong, of Ohio, Bureau County, Illinois; Arthur is a physician at Walunt, in the same county ; Edwin W. resides on the old home- stead at Mendota, Illinois; and Phœbe Emna died in September, 1894.
George W. Shearburn was but three years of · age when he crossed the Atlantic with his parents, to find a home on the prairies of Illinois. He re- ceived such educational advantages as were offered by the country schools of Macoupin County, and alternated farm labor with attendance at school. At the age of eighteen he went to the city of Peo- ria, with the intention of learning the trade of cabinetmaker. Not liking that occupation, lie returned to farm work, which he followed until 1874. In that year lie came to Chicago and en1- tered the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company, and has ever since been con- nected with that corporation. His first position was that of brakeman, which, together with that of train baggage-man, occupied seven years. For two years he was cashier in the baggage depart- ment, and in 1883 he became a clerk in the general baggage department. He has served in this ca- pacity fourteen years, and his long period of serv-
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
JOHN M. RICE
1 From Photo by W. J. ROOT)
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J. M. RICE.
ice is sufficient evidence of his reliability and of the value of his services to the corporation he serves.
May 8, 1878, Mr. Shearburn was united in marriage to Miss Libbie Jennette Gilson. She was born in Syracuse, New York, and is a daugh- ter of Lester J. and Jennette (Carpenter) Gilson. Mr. and Mrs. Gilson lived many years in Men- dota, Illinois, and later removed to Chicago, where they still reside. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Shearburn, of whom two are living, Edna Jennette and Ray- mond L. The family has resided in River Forest
since June, 1884, and is connected with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church of that place. Mr. Shear- burn is a member of General Grant Council No. 916, Royal Arcanum, of Oak Park. His genial disposition and excellent social qualities have made him popular among his associates, and his fine business ability induced his fellow-citizens to elect him clerk of the village of River Forest in 1888. With the exception of the year 1892 he has held the office continuously since, to the emi- nent satisfaction of all concerned. In national affairs he uniformly supports the men and measures of the Democratic party.
JOHN M. RICE.
OHN MILTON RICE, a prominent business man of Austin, was born in Freeport, Illinois, May 26, 1845. He is the son of John and Milvira (Williams) Rice. John Rice was a son of Gershom Rice, and was born in Burlington, Vermont. Gershom Rice was a farmer in Ver- mont and a son of John Rice, a lieutenant in the Revolutionary Army. The latter enlisted from Mansfield, Connecticut. He was of Welsh lin- eage.
John Rice, the father of the subject of this no- tice, was a contractor and builder in western New York. About 1838 he went to Ann Arbor, Mich- igan, and from there to Freeport, Illinois, where he continued the business of contracting with great success. In 1854 he abandoned that busi- ness and spent most of the remainder of his life as a missionary. He went first to Nauvoo, Illinois, and established the first public school ever there, and also the first church, hiring the minister and teacher at his own expense. He spent several years in this place, working to christianize the people. The town had been abandoned by the Mormons a short time before he went there. His
next field of labor was Carlinville, Illinois, where he established a fruit farm, having been attracted thither by the excellent schools of that place, which afforded a good opportunity for the educa- tion of his growing family. Later he lived at Riverside, near Hamilton, Hancock County, Illi- nois, and in the spring of 1865 he came to Chi- cago, living here about three years. In 1868 he went to Quincy, and from there he moved to Hematite, Missouri, where the remainder of his days were spent. From' 1862 he did much mis- sionary work, and built several churches at dif- ferent places, his missionary work at first being in behalf of the Presbyterian Church. He was not educated for the ministry, and the Presbyterian Church refused to ordain him to preach. While living at Riverside he became a member of the Congregational Church, and after that his mis- sionary work was done in the interest of that de- nomination. He died at Hematite, Missouri, No- vember 19, 1880, at the age of sixty-seven years.
Mrs. Milvira Rice, wife of John Rice, was born in Allegany County, New York, and was the daughter of John Williams (a millwright) and
364
N. H. KRANSZ.
Sally (Wright) Williams. Like her husband, she was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church. She died November 30, 1856, at the age of forty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Jolın Rice were the parents of the following children: Julia V., widow of James Molineaux, of Rogers Park, Illinois; John M .; Harvey J., of Huron, South Dakota; Irene R. (Mrs. Cunningham), who died in Chicago; and Ella J., who is a resident of New York.
John M. Rice attended Blackburn Theological Seminary, at Carlinville, Illinois, where he pur- sued a scientific course. Before completing the same, he enlisted, August 24, 1861, in Company C, Thirty-second Illinois Infantry, and was muis- tered out July 19, 1865. He took part at the bat- tle of Shiloh, being in the Western Army. He also participated in the Corinth, the Vicksburg and the Atlanta campaigns.' He was taken pris- oner by Hood's troops soon after the fall of At- lanta, together with part of his own regiment and the veteran portion of the Fourteenth and Fif- teenth Illinois, who were employed on a skirmish line. He was a prisoner from this time to the close of the war, at Milan, Savannah, Blackshear, and Andersonville, at which latter place he spent six months. April 28, 1865, he was turned over to the Union lines at Jacksonville, Florida. He was brought by rail within twenty miles of the
lines, which he reached in a very short time by walking, being more vigorous than many of his comrades. He saw all the principal features of the war.
I11 1865 he came to Chicago, where he engaged in the business of building, and after two years began contracting, which he has followed since. Since 1869 he has lived in Austin, where he has erected many buildings. He has built many pub- lic buildings, such as post-offices and court hous- es, in all the States of the Northwest. He is in- terested in quartz mills in Arizona, and has also been interested in other enterprises.
In 1866 he married Miss Lottie, daughter of Orrin and Myra Rice, of Adrian, Illinois. She was born in Defiance, Ohio. They are the par- ents of four children, namely: Lottie M., Helen A., Myra K. and Irene B. The family is con- nected with the First Presbyterian Church of Austin. Mr. Rice has always favored the princi- ples of the Republican party, and has filled a number of the principal offices of the town of Cicero. He is a member of Columbia Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and of Siloam Command- ery, Knights Templar. He is a prominent Ma- son, having taken the thirty-second degree, and being a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is a valuable citizen of Austin, and is universally ad- mired and respected.
NICHOLAS H. KRANSZ.
ICHOLAS HENRY KRANSZ, tlie eldest son of Nicholas and Margaret (Faber) Krausz, was born October 9, 1851, near where he now lives. He was educated in the public schools and reared to farm life, which pur- suit he followed until 1879, at which time he en- gaged in the insurance business, in which he has
been continuously engaged since. He has been in the employ of the Home Fire Insurauce Com- pany for a period of twelve years, having pre- viously been with the American Insurance Com- pany.
Mr. Kransz is a Republican in politics, and has taken a lively interest in the success of his
365
MICHAEL CARTER.
party. He served about five years on the school board of Lake View. He is a member of the Cath- olic Order of Foresters and the National Union.
October 7, 1880, he married Miss Sophia Dil- ger, who was born in Cook County, and is a daughter of Frank Paul and Charlotte (Wollner) Dilger, natives of Prussia, and early settlers of Cook County, both now deceased. Mr. Dilger was born April 2, 1828, and died in Cook County, December 26, 1872. Mrs. Dilger, born March 7, 1831, died November 24, 1869. They had a
family of nine children, five of whom are now living, namely: Frank Paul, of Milwaukee; Robert F., of Rosehill; Mrs. Kransz is next; Mathias P., of Waukegan; and Anna, wife of William Volk, of No. 1936 South Ashland Ave- nue, Chicago.
Mr. and Mrs. Kransz have had three children, namely: Charles, who died at the age of eight years; Lydia and Margaret. They are all miem- bers of Saint Henry's Church, and most esti- inable people.
MICHAEL CARTER.
M ICHAEL CARTER, who has been for many years a citizen of Oak Park, was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, April 27, 1827. He is a son of Thomas and Bridget (O'Neal) Carter, who emigrated from Limerick, Ireland, to Nova Scotia about 1818. Thomas Carter was a farmer in both countries and be- longed to that sturdy class of Irish emigrants which has given the New World so many noble men and women. He was a friend to education and was instrumental in organizing the first school in his locality in Nova Scotia. He was twice married, his first wife being Margaret Gallagher, who died in Ireland, leaving five children, of whom the following is the record: John died in St. John's, Newfoundland; Mar- garet, Mrs. Ronan, died in Malden, Massachu- setts; Francis and Thomas died in New Bruns- wick; and William, whose home was in Cape Ann, Massachusetts, was drowned at sea. Mrs. Bridget Carter was the mother of nine children, of whom Michael is the only known survivor. The names and residences of the others were as follows: Henry, on the old homestead in Nova
Scotia; Ann, Mrs. Powers, Antigonish, Nova Scotia; James, Dubuque, Iowa; Mary, Mrs. Cluney, Sacramento, California; Bridget, Mrs. Coffin, Lawrence, Massachusetts; Daniel, Boston, Massachusetts; George, Woburn, Massachusetts; and Joseph, Barre, Vermont. George was a member of the Twenty-first Regiment, Massachu- setts Infantry, and was wounded at Newbern, North Carolina. Joseph, who was a stone cut- ter by occupation, possessed considerable literary genius and was the author of a number of poems. Thomas Carter died in Newfoundland in 1863, aged about eighty years. Mrs. Bridget Carter passed away at Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1870, aged about seventy years.
Michael Carter, who is the fifth child in the family of his parents, remained in Nova Scotia until he reached his majority, attending the school which his father had helped to establish. Like most schools of that day its methods were crude and its course of study quite limited. Though of a studious and thoughtful nature he was somewhat repelled by the harsh measures then prevalent, and much preferred to study na-
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MICHAEL CARTER.
ture by himself and to give his attention to such studies as pleased his fancy. Still he acquired considerable general knowledge, and in later years became a careful reader, especially of poetry. In 1858 he removed to Massachusetts, landing at Newburyport, and going thence to Cambridge. There he made his home for nearly ten years, during most of which time he was en- gaged in raising vegetables for the Boston market. Living in the midst of such classical surround- ings, he naturally formed the acquaintance of a number of noted literary men, whose influence helped to develop his taste for choice reading. Upon leaving Cambridge he invested his savings in land at Butler, Jackson County, Iowa, but owing to his inexperience in selecting western lands, this venture was unsuccessful.
In 1865 he removed to Oak Park, Illinois, where he has since carried on market-gardening, renting land first from H. W. Austin and later from J. W. Scoville, His labors in this direction have been blessed with a reasonable degree of success, and though he still operates a small area, he has practically retired from active busi- ness.
August 19, 1852, Mr. Carter was united in marriage with Miss Catharine Mooney, a native of Nova Scotia, and a daughter of John and Mary (Dunfey) Mooney, both of whom were born in County Derry, Ireland. Ten children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Carter, of whom the record is as follows: George died in Austin, Illinois, in 1883; Louis and Harriet died in infancy; Mary, a teacher in the Chicago schools, resides with her parents; Ann is a teacher in Chicago; Joseph is Indian agent for the United States at the Flathead Reservation in Montana; Sarah, Mrs. Ambrose Mullen, resides at Austin, Illinois; James W. is a dealer in coal and ice at Oak Park; Frank is a dealer in bicycles at Butte City, Montana; and Clement died at the Flat- head Agency in Montana in 1892.
In the spring of. 1894 Mr. Carter made a trip to Montana, visiting his son at the Flathead Agency, and spending about four months in the Rocky Mountains. His account of his adventures and experiences is very interesting. He pos-
sesses the true poetic instinct, and his descrip- tions of nature betoken keen observation. Among many excursions which he made were one to Flathead Lake and another to McDonald's Peak. The latter had been scaled but once before by a white man, but Mr. Carter's party went nearly to the summit, and his story of the climb and at- tending circumstances is most realistic. A quota- tion is here given: "As we feasted our eyes on this magnificent array of peaks and domes and minarets, we little dreamed of what the Moun- tain God was preparing for us, till, some one glancing downward, noticed and remarked numer- ous bodies of fleecy clouds collecting below us. They looked like hundreds of millions of tons of cotton batting, and the sun shining upon them made them look a sea of silver. The surround- ing mountains seemed to have been submerged, and none but the highest peaks were to be seen. When, all at once, there was an explosion at our feet, and for a moment we seemed to be petrified and awe-stricken as it dawned upon us that a thunder storm was raging below us, while we stood upon our giddy perch, with the sun shining brightly above our heads and not a cloud in the sky. But all eyes were directed downward, for such a sight we had never witnessed before. The clouds, pierced and lashed by the lightning, seemed to sink and roll and tumble, while the thunder sounded more like explosions than any- thing else I can liken it to. We expected to find the mountain torn to pieces, provided we should be able to make the descent, as silently, with bated breath, we picked our way down the side of the mountain."
Mr. Carter is a member of St. Luke's Catholic Church of River Forest. In political faith he was originally a Democrat, but in the years im- mediately preceding the Civil War his love of liberty and justice caused him to affiliate with the Republican party, and he has since supported its doctrines. He is intensely patriotic and is ever ready to protest against any measure tending to destroy true American sentiments. He keeps fully abreast of the times in current events, and spends considerable time in general reading and reflection.
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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
MRS. M. A. ROBERTS
(From Photo by W. J. ROOT)
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MRS. M. A. ROBERTS.
MRS. MARGARET A. ROBERTS.
M RS. MARGARET AGNES ROBERTS, a well-known member of North Side society in Chicago, and a lady of rare discrimina- tion and business ability, has been long a resident of the city, and is a daughter of one of its pioneers. Her father, Edmond Gleason, was born near Thirles, Ireland, and was educated for the priest- hood. His father was a highly educated man and a landed proprietor, a scion of an old and wealthy family of the West of Ireland. The name is derived from the dwellers in a famous glen of that region, and is very ancient.
Edmond Gleason was not desirous of entering the priesthood, and decided to emigrate to Ameri- ca. Soon after his arrival he was married, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Miss Hannah Gleason, who was no relative, though bearing the same name. They settled on a farm near Burlington, Vermont, and remained there ten years. In 1836 Mr. Gleason paid a visit of exploration to Chi- cago, and concluded to remain, being followed by his family the next year. The father died in St. Louis, Missouri, and the mother expired at the home of her daughter, Margaret A., in Chicago, May 22, 1878, aged eighty-eight years. When the family arrived in Chicago it included two daughters, Mary and Margaret A .; and a son and daughter, John and Ellen, were born in Wau- kegan.
Margaret Agnes (Gleason) Roberts was educa- ted in Chicago. She was married here to Andrew Gilbert Benton, a son of a New York State clergy- man. Mr. Benton was a clothing merchant in Freeport, Illinois, where he died August 22, 1852. He left a son, Charles F. Benton, now a resident of Chicago.
In 1857 Mrs. Benton became the wife of Russell M. Roberts, of Chicago, a native of Binghamton, New York, who died in August, 1871. The children of this union are William Olney and Marie Genevieve Roberts. Mrs. Roberts has been a resident of Chicago nearly all her life. She takes a keen interest in all things pertaining to the history of the city, and is an active mem- ber of the Old Settlers' Society of Cook County, being one of its best-posted sustainers.
Being at one time, by force of circumstances, left to her own resources, Mrs. Roberts made such good use of her quick mind and willing hands as to accumulate a comfortable provision for future years. She has a host of friends who honor her for her independence and strength of character, as well as for her kind deeds, whose number is known only to a few, though generally appre- ciated. She has a strong love for her home and friends, is still in possession of the keenest facul- ties, and is well known among the society people of Chicago.
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PETER REINBERG.
PETER REINBERG.
ETER REINBERG, an extensive florist of Chicago, is not only a representative of an old pioneer family of the city, but is a lead- ing representative of his business in the West. His parents, Henry and Katherine Reinberg, were natives of Germany, and were married in their native land. Soon after their marriage they resolved to try their fortune in the free land across the Atlantic. So, leaving home, friends and familiar scenes, with little hope of ever seeing them again, they set out with brave hearts, in 1847, to begin life where every face was strange, and where business must be conducted in a lan- guage unknown to them, and which must be acquired by slow study and at the cost of many unpleasant experiences. Landing in New York, they were so fortunate as to find employment at once, and with willing hands did they toil to make a beginning in the new world. Upon arrival, Mr. Reinberg was in debt ten dollars, and had only seven cents in his pocket, but his industry and good habits soon made him friends, and with the aid of his good wife he was able at the end of a year to begin business on his own account.
After remaining in New York a year they came to Chicago and soon secured a few acres of land in Lake View Township, Cook County. From this time until his death Mr. Reinberg engaged in gardening for the city market, and was very successful. He did not abandon his early habits
of industry and thrift, and was enabled gradually to extend his holdings until they included eighty acres of land. All this was accomplished, with no aid except the co-operation of his faithful wife, in a strange land, before he reached the age of fifty-nine years, when he died, in 1881. His widow survived him fourteen years, reaching the age of seventy-one years. Mr. Reinberg was a public-spirited citizen, identified in politics with the Democratic party, but was never a seeker for public honors. He passed away at an early age, mourned by a wide circle of acquaintances, and all who knew him honored him for his sterling honesty and sturdy character.
His family included two sons and five daugh- ters, all of whoin are living in Cook County, as follows: Margaret, wife of Mathias Weiland, of Evanston; Mary, widow of Lawrence Zender, Rosehill; Katherine, Mrs. Peter Smith, Rogers Park; Anna, wife of Mr. Hoffman, a confectioner in Chicago; Peter, whose name heads this article; Lena, wife of Adam Zender, Rogers Park; and George, a gardener of Chicago.
Peter Reinberg was born March 5, 1858, in Chicago, and was educated in the public school and Saint Henry's parish school. The intervals of school life were filled by assisting his father in the cultivation of vegetables, and he was early made familiar with the duties and labors of a market- gardener. He began business for himself in this line in1 1883, and won the success due to industry
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JOHN HUNTINGTON.
and prudence. Four years later he commenced the cultivation of flowers, and has gradually ex- tended his operations until he has about seven acres under glass. He gives attention chiefly to the cultivation of roses and carnations, and em- ploys twenty-five men in his greenhouses alone. He maintains a wholesale house at No. 51 Wa- bash Avenue, where five men are constantly engaged in packing and shipping cut flowers. The trade is confined to this branch of the indus- try, and the products are shipped East, South and West, some of them going as far as Denver, Colorado. Mr. Reinberg has built up a steady patronage, and has no seasons, the business being almost uniform throughout the year. He is a
member of the Chicago Horticultural Society, and has won many prizes at the local flower shows.
Following the example of his parents, Mr. Reinberg is a faithful member of Saint Henry's Roman Catholic Church, and adheres to the Democratic party in political contests. He gives his earnest attention to his own concerns and does not seek to manage those of others, either as a meddler or in official positions. His only association with fraternal orders consists in mem- bership in North Shore Commandery, Catholic Order of Foresters. In May, 1883, he was mar- ried to Miss Mary Kronenberger, a native of Cook County, of German parentage.
JOHN HUNTINGTON.
(
OHN HUNTINGTON, of Niles Township, is an honored pioneer of Cook County. He is a native of Stephentown, Rensselaer Coun- ty, New York, born September 9, 1824, and is descended from Revolutionary stock. His par- ents were Ezekiel and Phebe (Berry) Hunting- ton, natives of Connecticut. The grandfather was also named Ezekiel, and is supposed to have descended from the same family as Samuel Hunt- ington, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and of which C. P. Huntington, the great railroad king, is also a scion. C
The father of John Huntington came to New York State when five years of age, and was reared on a farm. He was born in Connecticut, March 30, 1790, and his wife, Mary Berry Hunt- ington, December 25, 1791. He followed farm- ing all his life, and was prominent in public af- fairs. He served several years as justice of the peace and as sheriff of his county. He died at
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