Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 54

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 54

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the age of eighty-nine years, and his wife passed away several years before his death.

John Huntington was reared on his father's farm, and obtained a limited education in the subscription schools, which has been largely sup- plemented by private reading and in the practical business affairs of life. He remained at home until of age, when he began life for himself. He carried on farming and teaming until he came West.

In December, 1845, he married Miss Sarah Ann Finch, a native of the same county as him- self. In 1855, accompanied by his wife and three children, he came to Cook County, locating in Niles Township on the Ist of April. The town- ship was then but sparsely settled. He was for some time sawyer in the mill of Robert Heartt and John Gray. About a year and a-half after his arrival, he bought four acres of land.

In 1857 he bought the stage line running be-

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JOHN PROESEL.

tween "Dutchman's Point" (Niles) and Chicago, and ran the mail route for a period of about fifteen years. Since that time he has been engaged in various occupations, farming, teaming and similar employments. Mr. Huntington was a Whig in early life, and has been a Republican since the organization of that party. He has always taken a lively interest in public affairs, and especially in educational matters, having served a number of years on the school board. In 1872 he was elected supervisor of Niles Township, and served two years.

By his first marriage he had five children, namely: Julia, the wife of David Evans, of Chi- cago; Phœbe, wife of John W. Hamilton, of Chi- cago (a flour dealer); Fidelia, now Mrs. Alex. ander Robinson, of Chicago; John, who died at the age of three months; and Marvin, who died at the age of three and one-half years. They adopted a boy who bore the name of Edward

John, who is now living in Maine Township. Mrs. Huntington died in 1880, aged fifty years.

August 18, 1881, Mr. Huntington married Mrs. Christena Mckay, widow of John McKay. She had been previously married to Mr. John Tarplit, by whom she had two children, James Tarplit, of San Francisco; and Margaret, wife of James Sharp, of Washington, District of Columbia. After his death she married Mr. Mc- Kay, but they had no children. Mrs. Hunting- ton is a Canadian by birth, and of Scotch origin. She is the daughter of Hugh Mckay, of Simcoe County, Ontario, and came to Chicago in the year 1865.

Mr. Huntington is not a member of any church, but Mrs. Huntington is a Methodist. Mr. Hunt- ington has always been an industrious and en- terprising citizen, ever ready to espouse the cause of the public welfare, and winning the respect and admiration of the community.

JOHN PROESEL.

OHN PROESEL, a prominent German farm- er of Cook County, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in October, 1835. He was the son of George and Magdaline Proesel, both na- tives of Bavaria. They came, with their family of six children, to the United States in 1845. They embarked on a sailing-ship from Bremen, Ger- many, their sea voyage taking several weeks. From New York they went by way of Albany to Buffalo, and by the Great Lakes to Chicago, at which place they arrived on November Ist. Mr. Proesel had two thousand dollars, and, coming direct to Niles Township, bought a farm of one hundred sixty acres, in section 35. At that time there were but a few settlers between him and

Gross Point. He set about clearing and improv- ing the land, and followed farming until his death, in 1884, aged eighty-two years. His wife died in 1890, aged eighty-nine years and nine months. Their children were: Joseph, now of Livingston County, Illinois; Katharine, wife of Frank Alles, living on Division Street, near Clark Street, Chicago; George, deceased; John, of this article; John Baptiste, of Lawrence Avenue, Chi- cago; and Anna, wife of Henry Brandt, of Rog- ers Park.

As John Proesel was but ten years of age when he came from Germany, and the country being new where he settled, he enjoyed but meagre advantages for education. He was reared to

371

P. N. KIRSCHT.

farm life, and at nineteen years of age began learning the trade of brick-layer, which he fol- lowed sixteen years in the city. In 1873 he went to the country and became engaged in farming, at which occupation he has since continued.

In 1861 he married Miss Magdalene Lochner, and they had two children, Michael and William. Mrs. Proesel died in 1867, and in 1869 Mr. Proe- sel married Miss Katharine Becker, daughter of Henry and Mary (Green) Becker. Mrs. Proesel was born in Prussia, and came to the United States in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Proesel became the parents of ten children, namely: John, of

Larrabee Street, Chicago; Robert, Louisa, Joseph, Oscar, Franklin, Nicholas, Clara, Ella and Henry. All are identified with Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church, of Niles Center. Mrs. Proesel's parents are deceased, the mother dying in Chicago in 1872, and the father at West Bend, Wisconsin, in 1888.

Mr. Proesel is not a politician, and is not bound by party lines in supporting candidates for office, but gives his vote to those he deeins best qualified and most worthy. He is a very domestic inan, honest and industrious, and a very successful farmer.

PETER N. KIRSCHT.

ETER N. KIRSCHT, a florist of Niles Town- ship, residing on section 16, is a member of an old pioneer German family. He was born in Niles Township, October 20, 1861, being the eldest living son of John H. and Clara (Hauer) Kirscht, of Trier, Germany. Both of the parents came to the United States in 1854, the former stopping a few months in New York before com- ing to Cook County, and the latter coming direct. In1 1857 they were married. Mr. Kirscht was a poor man, and began life in the New World by working at his trade of carpenter, which he learned and followed in his native land. Soon after their marriage he bought land in Niles Township, and in 1866 engaged in farming, but continued at his trade some of the time.

For the past two years he has lived in com- parative retirement. He is now sixty-seven, and his wife sixty-two years of age. Mr. Kirscht has always been interested in the affairs of his adopted country, and, as a Democrat, in the success of his

party. For five years he has held the office of school trustee, of which office he is the present incumbent.

Mr. and Mrs. Kirscht had a family of thirteen children, only nine of whom grew to maturity. These are still living (in the spring of 1897), namely: Elizabeth, wife of. Adam Dotzaner, of Niles Center; Apolonia, wife of Joseph Dittrich, of Glencoe; Peter N .; Barbara, now Mrs. Joseph Schinler, of Glencoe; Mary, Mrs. J. J. Durruebeck, of Kenosha, Wisconsin; Theodore M., of Niles; Nicholas H., with Peter in the florist business; Katherine and Anna, who live with their parents.

Peter N. Kirscht was educated in a public and parochial schools, and he spent four winters at a night school. He grew to manhood on his father's farın and assisted in its cultivation until twenty-two years of age. He then spent three years as a clerk in a general store at Niles Center. In 1887 he built greenhouses and established hini- self in business as a florist, in connection with a

372

HON. G. C. KLEHM.

partner, with whom he continued only one year. He was then associated with his father in the business four years, since which time his brother, Nicholas Kirscht, has been in partnership with him. They grow roses, carnations and violets for the city market, which they sell through com- mission houses.

Mr. Kirscht is public spirited and progressive, and keeps himself informed on the public ques- tions of the day. In politics he was formerly a Democrat in national affairs, but for two years

has favored the Republican party. He was school director of his district six years. In 1888 he was elected town assessor, and served two years, but declined a re-election. In 1895 he was again elected, and has served continuously ever since. Mr. Kirscht is a member of the Cath- olic Order of Foresters, the Saint Joseph Reading Society and the Niles Center Volunteer Fire Com- pany. The members of the family residing here are connected with Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church.

HON. GEORGE C. KLEHM.

ON. GEORGE CONRAD KLEHM, one of the most prominent and public-spirited citi- zens of Niles Township, is numbered among the pioneer citizens of that community, having been a resident since 1856. He was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, on the 29tli of July, 1839, and is a son of Paul and Katharine Klehm. The father died when George was a child less than one year old, and the mother set out with her two sons, in 1851, to find a home for them in the free land beyond the Atlantic. These sons were John Klehm, now a resident of Arlington Heights, Illinois, and the subject of this sketch. They remained in Buffalo, New York, until 1856, and then removed to Cook County. At the time of their arrival here they were poor in purse, though rich in health and ambition, the family purse containing at that time but seventeen dol- lars. The mother continued to reside here until her death, at the age of nearly ninety years, in the spring of 1886.

George C. Klehm received an elementary edu- cation in his native land, which was supplemented by a brief attendance at the public schools of Jefferson Township. In Buffalo he was appren-

ticed to the trade of brick-laying and plastering, and completed his knowledge of these arts after the removal of the family to Cook County, in the then town of Jefferson, now a part of the city of Chicago.

Mr. Klehm has been self-supporting since early boyhood. While living in the town of Jefferson he attended the public schools in winter and was a diligent student. Being possessed of much natural ability, his studious habits soon fitted him to be an educator of others, and for several years he busied himself during the winter in teaching school, and in building operations through the summer.

In 1865 he engaged in the mercantile business in what is now Niles Center, a forest region then known as the "Big Woods." This was the sec- ond store established at that point, the previous one having been opened a few years before by Mr. A. J. Snell. With the exception of eight years, Mr. Klehm has been continuously engaged in mercantile business since that time, and has been in many ways conspicuously identified with the growth and development of the best interests of the place. He has borne no inconsiderable

373

MICHAEL SCHREIBER.

part in the conduct of local affairs, and has been influential in political matters since 1860, in which year he cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is in no sense an office- seeker, but his fellow-citizens have insisted on his taking positions of responsibility, because of his well-known capability and enterprise. He has filled nearly all of the township offices, and served as treasurer for a period of twenty years. He has been treasurer of the village of Niles Center since its incorporation, and has served twelve years as Justice of the Peace. But the field of his usefulness could not be confined with- in the limits of a township, and his ability and public spirit soon made him known throughout the county. In 1877 he was elected as a Repre- sentative of his district to the General Assembly.

But Mr. Klehm was not ambitious for public honors, preferring to give his time and talents to the conduct of his owu affairs, and leave political emoluments to those whose desires ran in that direction. He is fond of his home and family, and is the center of a large group of admiring and appreciative friends. He is a progressive and intelligent .citizen, and is distinctly a self-

made man. He owes his prosperity to his own unaided efforts, and his popularity to his genial and upright character. He is an active and val- ued member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Mr. Klehin has been twice married-first, in 1864, to Miss Eliza Harms, a native of Germany. who died in 1878, leaving six children-Emma, Edwin, Lydia, Amelia, George and Alma. In 1881 he married Miss Eliza Ruesch, a native of Niles Township, and a member of one of its old families. She is the mother of five children, namely: Florence, Hubert, Harold, Grace and Raymond.

Mr. Klehm has fitted up at Morton Grove station, on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, near Niles Center, a spacious and handsome picnic ground, known as St. Paul Park. This is covered with natural trees, and is traversed by a stream of water, which has been dammed, thus creating pleasant boating privi- leges, and is a very popular resort. It is kept in excellent condition by its obliging and enterpris- ing proprietor, and on account of this and its proximity to the city of Chicago, is much fre- quented by societies and pleasure parties.

MICHAEL SCHREIBER.

ICHAEL SCHREIBER, a representative of one of the old German families of Cook County, residing at No. 3393 Ridge Ave- nue, Chicago, was born June 18, 1853, on the spot where he now lives. His parents, Nicholas and Katharine (Metzler) Schreiber, were born near the city of Mainz, Germany, and came to the United States in 1848. They located in Evanstou Township, Cook County, where, soon after their arrival, Mr. Schreiber bought forty acres of land and engaged in farming and garden- ing. This he continued until his death, which

occurred November 25, 1852. Mrs. Schreiber is still living, at the age of eighty-five years, and her declining years are made happy by the loving care of four of her seven children, who are com- fortably settled near her. Two died in the old country, and John, the fourth, died in Chicago, at the age of thirty-six years. The others are: Frederick, a gardener of Niles Center; Anna Mary, wife of John Letto, residing at No. 243 Townsend Street, Chicago; and Dominick and Michael, twins.

Michael Schreiber was educated chiefly in Saint

374

FREDERICK MIGELY.

Henry's parish school, and filled the intervals of study by assisting his father on the farm. He is now engaged largely in market-gardening, and is reckoned among the successful and leading citi- zens of the community in which he resides. He has never sought to manage any but his own af- fairs, and has never had a desire to occupy official positions, but is a steadfast supporter of Demo- cratic policies and candidates. He is a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters, and, with his family, affiliates with Saint Henry's Roman Catholic Church.

May 17, 1881, he was married to Miss Kathar- ine, daughter of John and Mary Alles, both of whom were born in Germany. Mrs. Schreiber is, like her husband, a native of Cook County, born November 14, 1859. Of the seven children born to Michael and Katharine Schreiber, five are now living, namely: John, Eva, Mary, Amelia and Aluyse. Mr. Schreiber is an industrious, enterprising and public-spirited man, who gives his hearty support to all movements which he considers valuable to the community or the world at large.

FREDERICK MIGELY.

- REDERICK MIGELY was born in Chicago, August 26, 1845, at Nos. 180-182 Ran- dolph Street, where the Hotel Bismarck now stands. This property was then owned by his father, Rudolph Migely, and is now owned by the subject of this sketch.

The family is of Swiss descent. The grand- father, Emanuel Migely, was a native of Bern, Switzerland, where the family held positions of trust and responsibility. The old way of spelling the name was Muegely.

Rudolph Migely was educated in the schools of Bern, and at the age of eighteen years came to the United States, and located at Buffalo, New York. In 1835, at the age of twenty-four, he came to Chicago, and found employment as a wagonmaker for Briggs & Humphrey. (Briggs later built the hotel which bears his name.) This firm manufactured the heavy, strong wagons used at that time. Finally Mr. Migely started a general store and hotel at Nos. 180-182 Ran- dolph Street, where lie conducted a successful business fifteen years, and then, having bought

considerable property and improved it, he retired from active business. He was well and favorably known by all of the old settlers of Chicago, who honor his memory. His death occurred in Chi- cago, September 5, 1885, at the age of seventy- five years.

Mr. Migely married Katharine Goodman, daughter of Frederick and Mary Goodman, na- tives of Bavaria. Frederick Goodman was a merchant tailor, and died at the age of ninety- seven years. He was a very well-preserved inan, and at the age of eighty-eight, could walk to the city and back. Katharine (Goodman) Migely died in Chicago, August 26, 1883, at the age of sixty- six years.

The subject of this sketch is the only child of his parents who reached maturity. He was edu- cated here, and engaged in the dry-goods business for many years, and was for a short time in the grocery trade. After the death of his father he retired from business, and now looks after his real-estate interests in Chicago and elsewhere.

He was married in Chicago, May 4, 1869, to

375

I. G. SMITH.

Miss Mary Schall, a daughter of Andrew Schall, a former hotel-keeper and ex-alderman of Chicago. To this union were born seven children, as fol- lows: Rudolph E., William J., Jeanette B., Frederick, Andrew P., Katharine and Walter Louis.

In political matters Mr. Migely has always favored the Republican party. He is a good citi- zen, and belongs to the class of well-to-do de- scendants of Chicago pioneers, who, by their honorable and conservative lives, give tone and security to our great commonwealth.

ISRAEL G. SMITH.

I SRAEL GROVER SMITH, one of the oldest settlers of Cook County, was born September 7, 1816, at White Creek, Washington Coun- ty, New York, and is a son of Henry and Ann (Waite) Smith, natives of that county. The family is an old one in this country, having re- sided here since the Revolutionary War.

Henry Smith and his wife had ten children, as follows: Gustavus, who came to Cook County in 1835, and died here in January, 1855: Marcellus B .; Israel Grover, the subject of this sketch; Waldo W., Harlon H., Edwin D., Lafayette W., Sarah A., Adoniram J. and Emily M. Of this number only two are still living-Israel G. and Saralı A. Henry Smith died in Cook County, in March, 1841, and his wife survived him until 1872, and died in Chicago. The first of the fam- ily to come to the West was Gustavus, in 1835, and the remainder of the family followed in 1836. Israel and his brother Marcellus came through with a horse and jumper, starting March 16 and coming through Ontario to the place where the home of the former is still located, which they reached April 10. They settled on this land, then in what was called Monroe Precinct, afterward Jefferson Township, and when it was surveyed and put upon the market, they bought a large tract on a beautiful ridge, which for many years was called Smith's Ridge, and mnuch of this

land is still in the possession of the family.

Israel G. Smith was educated in the subscrip- tion schools of his neighborhood, and was reared on a farm, where he learned the usual farmer's work. At the age of nineteen he began learning the trade of blacksmith, but six months later he came to the West. Since coming here he has been engaged in agriculture. He owns one hundred fifty-three acres of fertile land in section 18, in the town of Norwood Park.

Mr. Smith was a successful farmer, and in a comparatively few years became wealthy. In 1853 he built a house on what is now Jackson Boulevard, between Desplaines and Halsted Streets, where he lived a few years and then re- turned to his farm. Later he bought a stock of groceries on State Street and conducted the busi- ness about a year, when he sold out and returned to his farm. He had built a couple of stores on Lake Street, one of which he rented. Failing to find a tenant for the other, he opened a boot and shoe store in it, in company with a Mr. Barney, under the firm name of Smith & Barney. This business venture again necessitated his becoming a resident of the city, to enable him to give the business his personal supervision. This connec- tion continued about a year, at the end of which time Mr. Smith abandoned mercantile pursuits. In 1869 he bought the Judge Bradwell liome-

376

M. L. ECKERT.

stead on Washington Street, intending to improve it and remain permanently in the city. Having always been accustomed to an active life, idleness soon became irksome to him, and after the fire of 1871 he returned to his farm, and a few years later built the beautiful farin residence which lias been his home ever since.

Mr. Smith has always taken an active interest 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 bor1 June 17, 1814, in the Empire State. 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. Smithi was well educated for her time, and was of a studious nature. She was a suc- cessful teacher in her native 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. Smithi died March 28, 1893, in her seventy-eighth 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, vigorous 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.

MICHAEL L. ECKERT.

M ICHAEL L. ECKERT, wholesale and re- tail dealer in cigars, at No. 1632 Nortlı Clark Street, is an enterprising young business man. He was born in Lake View Town- ship, near Rosehill, July 9, 1860, and is the son of John Eckert, whose biography appears 011

another page of this work. He received a good, common-school education in the public school, which has been largely supplemented by his reading, observation and practical experience. His boyhood was passed upon his father's farm, which he helped to cultivate until he attained his

377

HENRY RUMSTICK.

majority, after which he was engaged for nearly four years in the wholesale crockery house of Burley & Tyrrel. His next occupation was that of traveling salesman for the firm of O. Schroeder & Company.

In 1891 he established himself in business near his present location, and has built up a good trade. In public affairs he has always taken a deep interest and he keeps himself informed 011 the issues of the times. In 1881 he acceptably filled the office of assistant assessor of Lake View Township.

To the men and measures of the Republican party he formerly gave his support, but for some years past, he has not been bound by party ties, preferring to support the man who seems to him to be best qualified, and who will most faithfully

discharge the duties of office, regardless of his political opinions.

On the 15th of October, 1886, Mr. Eckert was married to Miss Mary Spelz, who was born in Chicago, and is a daughter of John and Mary Spelz, both natives of Germany, who came to Chicago some years ago. To them were born three sons, namely: John, Fred and Harold.

Mr. Eckert is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Royal League, National Union, Lincoln Turner Society, and the Harmonia Singing Society. He is progressive in his ideas, courteous to his patrons and all others, and very public- spirited. He gives encouragement and support to every deserving public enterprise, and is de- servedly popular throughout a wide acquaintance, having a large number of true friends.

HENRY RUMSTICK.

ENRY RUMSTICK, a member of one of years; Minnie, wife of Henry Rosch, of Indiana. the early North Side German families of The father is still living at the age of eighty Chicago, is engaged in gardening in that years, residing with his son Henry, and is active and industrious. His wife died in 1883. They were members of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, with which the former is still identified. He has served several years as school trustee of Rogers Park. , Since becoming a citizen of the United States he has given his support uniformly to the Republican party. section of the city. He was born on the 3d of May, 1850, in North Berlin, Prussia. Both his parents, Christian and Doris (Arndt) Rum- stick, were natives of Prussia, and came in 1851 to Chicago, with their son Henry, the eldest of the family, whose life has been mostly passed here. On reaching Chicago they proceeded di- rectly to Lake View, where the father purchased five acres of land, and at once engaged in garden1- ing for the city markets, and also worked as laborer for his neighbors. G

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 54

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