Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 65

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 65

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of his hearers. As he continues to add proposi- tion to proposition, and argument to argument, and to interweave these, his voice gradually rises, becoming clear, strong and emphatic; the interest intensifies, and a pleasing spell steals over his attdience, which holds them with greater or less tension until the last word has been spoken.

Every sentence now comes weighted down with meaning, and the central idea and unity of his discourse soon become more and more apparent. Each statement makes clearer and stronger his points. Reflection on what he has said adds force to what he is now saying, and brings out in fuller form and grandeur the high ideals of his lofty and inspiring conceptions. And he always has au ideal, a lofty ideal, that lifts his hearers above the cruder every-day thoughts and scenes of exist- ence. He invites them to quit the valleys of de- spair and tread with him the highlands of a nobler life.

As he passes along, he attacks every evil and exalts every virtue. The long face of the phari- see is no protection to hin. Self-righteousness, oppression, the dead formalities of the old churches, and unreasonable and obsolete church creeds, are each in their turn pierced by the keen blade of his logic, and in this his wonderful memory serves him well and brings all needed facts for his use; while poetry, rhetoric, apothegin, wit, wisdom and ridicule each comes at the proper timne un- bidden to his aid.

While intensely devotional and reverential in his ministrations, he yet occasionally hurls the lance of ridicule at some dominant or excused so- cial sin with such force and in such a way that his audience breaks into applause.

He seldom hesitates for words or uses a re- dundancy of speech. Every word comes forth as though it gushed from a great suppressed foun- tain of thought and emotion. And every sermon is a complete philosophy in itself. It is the result of a study of all the things bearing on that sub- ject. And he has a wonderful way of grouping facts, history, experiences and philosophies to make clear and impressive a point. He is a man great even beyond the appreciation of the multi- tude who flock to hear him gladly.

LIBRARY OF THE HNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Johns, Shortall

J. G. SHORTALL.

447

JOHN G. SHORTALL.

OHN G. SHORTALL has been prominently connected with the history of Chicago for almost forty years. Especially has he been a leader in benevolent work and an influential patron of those arts which tend to elevate man- kind. Literature has found in him a friend, and along these various lines the efforts of Mr. Short- all have greatly promoted the best interests of this western metropolis.

Mr. Shortall was born in Dublin, Ireland, Sep. tember 20, 1838, and is a son of John and Char- lotte (Towson) Shortall. When the son was be- tween two and three years old, his parents emi- grated with their family to America, joining an elder branch long settled in New York. The only brother of our subject, Pierce S. Shortall, served continuously throughout the entire War of the Rebellion, as a member of a regiment of New York volunteers, until killed at the battle of Averasboro, North Carolina, in April, 1865.

After the death of his parents the subject of this sketch was employed by the late Horace Greeley, and the two or three years, 1852, 1853 and 1854, passed in the editorial rooms of the New York Tribune proved to be a period of ed- ucation that he feels he could in 110 way have dispensed with, for he was there brought in con- tact with the men who molded public opinion in those days, and the master minds of the age were often there present. In the summer of 1854, following the advice of Mr. Greeley, he came to the West, locating first in Galena, where he was engaged for a short time with the Illinois Central Railroad Company in the completion of the construction and survey work between Scales Mound and Galena. Going thence to Chicago,

in the late autumn of 1854, he was engaged for a few months upon the Chicago Tribune, and then withdrew to enter the office of J. Mason Parker, and incidentally the study of real-estate law and titles, which profession he has followed to the present time. At the time Mr. Shortall entered the office, Mr. Parker was engaged in the work of preparing the real-estate abstract books afterwards known as the Shortall & Hoard Abstracts, and which are now the prop- erty of the Title Guarantee and Trust Company, of which Mr. Shortall is a Director. Upon the completion of the books in 1856, lie leased them and began the business of making abstracts and examining titles of real estate, which was then assuming great importance. He was among the first to reduce the details of that business down to the perfect and simple system of to-day, so that security in transferring real estate could be guaranteed. In October, 1871, the Great Fire swept over the city, and the county records were entirely destroyed. The volume of the abstract business had largely increased. At that time there were three abstract firms in Chicago, each of which saved a large part of its valuable records. It was soon found that while the most valuable portion of the abstract records were saved, not one set was entirely complete; and as it seemed very probable that difficulties and involvements would in consequence arise, the three firms decided that the public interests would be best served by a consolidation of all the evidences of title extant. This was done. Moneyed men relied upon the accuracy of the books and the skill and integrity of the owners, and, thus confident, loaned the hundreds of millions of dollars necessary to the

448

J. G. SHORTALL.

rebuilding of the city. Mr. Shortall continued with his associates in the conduct of the business until 1873, when the property was leased to Messrs. Handy & Company, and Mr. Shortall retired from active participation in it, though still retaining lis holdings and interest.

On the 5th of September, 1861, Mr. Shortall married Miss Mary Dunham Staples. They be- came the parents of one son, John L. Mrs. Shortall died in August, 1880. There are two grandchildren, Katherine and Helen.

Although he retired from private business, Mr. Shortall has been none the less active, for he has devoted his time and energies untiringly to matters pertaining to the welfare of the city, be- lieving a man's duty to his fellow-citizens to be continuous. For twenty-five years lie has been devoted to the welfare of his townsmen, doing all in his power to aid in the promotion of the city's welfare, and imbued with an exalted pride in its progress. He is a constant patron of the fine arts, and was one of the Directors of the old Philhar- monic Society, and afterwards was President of the Beethoven Society, during almost its entire existence. He is also one of the honorary mem- bers of the Amateur Musical Club of this city. A writer of intelligence and force, he has made valuable contributions to papers and periodicals. His keen appreciation of the thoughts of master minds through all ages has led him to do much for literature. As a member of many organiza- tions, he has sought through them to influence public opinion in high and honorable channels. In 1880 he was appointed by the School Board one of the appraisers of the school property, and in 1886 was appointed Appraiser of School Lands by Mayor Harrison. In the appraisement of 1880, the application of the rental value to ina- terially aid in determining the value of realty was, it is believed, first introduced and applied as a system. It has since become almost universal. In 1883 Mr. Shortall was appointed a Director of the Chicago Public Library, served three terms as President, and conducted negotiations on be- half of the board which resulted in securing Dearborn Park as the site of the public library building and in the successful adjustment of all

opposing claims. Under his administration the plans of the superb new library building were se- lected under large competition, and the necessary appropriation of moneys made by the city. He was originally made a Director by Mayor Harrison and re-appointed by Mayors Harrison, Cregier and Washburn, successively, and still serves in that position. In politics he is independent. He lias been connected with various reform movements in the city government, and the Municipal Re- form Club, which did such valuable service, and the Citizens' Association attest in their records his service and labors.

Of the Masonic fraternity, Mr. Shortall is an old, thoughi no longer an active, member. In re- ligious belief he is an Episcopalian and formerly was a member of Trinity and Grace Episcopal Churches; but since the withdrawal of Professor Swing from the Presbyterian Church, and his organization of the "Central Church," he has been a regular attendant on its services.

Along few lines of work, however, has the name of Mr. Shortall become so widely known as through his connection with the Illinois Hu- mane Society. In 1869, one of its original or- ganizers, he became one of its Directors, and in May, 1877, was chosen President of that most commendable organization, to which position he has ever since been annually elected. He has earned the recognition and gratitude of the benevolent people of the city and State, for it is largely through his instrumentality, his business ability and legal acumen, as well as his industry and devotion, that the success of what is now one of the strongest forces of our social system was assured. Its beneficial results cannot be over- estimated. It was through his efforts that the society joined the protection of children to its work. Mr. Shortall called the American and Canadian societies for the prevention of cruelty together in 1877, and the American Humane As- sociation was thereupon organized in Cleveland, Ohio, in that year. In 1884 Mr. Shortall was elected its President, and again in 1892 and 1893. He is also an honorary member of the Pennsyl- vania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. During the World's Columbian Ex-

449

J. A. MALTBY.

position, Mr. Shortall, as the Chairman of the Men's Committee on Moral and Social Reform of the Auxiliary Congresses, assisted in the noted work of that committee, and organized and con- ducted the Humane Congress in October, 1893, which was so successful. He also arranged the Humane exhibit of the American Humane As- sociation in the Liberal Arts Building, for which it obtained a reward, medal and diploma. Of social organizations not above mentioned, Mr. Shortall is a member of the Chicago Club, the Chicago Literary Club and the Algonquin Club

of Boston. If asked what is the controlling ele- ment in the life of Mr. Shortall, his many friends would undoubtedly respond,“ A sense of justice and kindness." A warm and sympathetic heart, which reaches out in charity and love to the worthy helpless, the suffering and the needy, has made his name synonymous with good works, yet it is but just to him to say that he does not seek the admiration of the public, and, were it pos- sible to do so, his works would be concealed from all save himself.

JASPER A. MALTBY.

G EN. JASPER ADALMORN MALTBY, one of the distinguished officers of the great Civil War, was born November 4, 1832, in Ashtabula, Ohio, and died December 12, 1867, in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Maltby family comes from England. The great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch settled in Ohio, being one of three brothers who came from England, the others settling, respectively, in New York and Baltimore. The Ohio and New York brothers left many descendants. David Maltby, a grand- son of one of these, was the father of Gen. Jasper A. Maltby.

David Maltby was an able attorney, and also a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church and an ardent churchman. He was a man of considerable local prominence in Ohio. He finally removed with a younger son to Texas, and died in Corpus Christi, in that State, at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife, Lucy Marsh, was a daughter of Dr. Marsh, a prominent physician of Ohio. She died at Plymouth, in that State, and left three sons and two daughters, namely:

Jasper A., Elizabeth, Henry A., Matilda and William. The last-named died in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he had been a noted editor, and was at one time publisher for the Emperor Maxi- milian. He was the author of a sketch entitled "Poor Carlotta," which was published immedi- ately after the death of the unfortunate Maxi- milian, and was received with much favor and widely copied. He was a Captain of Confederate artillery in the Civil War, and was captured dur- ing General Banks' expedition up the Red River. He was paroled, and a year later returned to Texas. His brother, Henry A., also a prominent newspaper man, now resides in Brownsville, that State. Elizabeth Maltby married Albert Barber, and is the mother of two sons, one of whom is a teacher in a college at Oberlin, Ohio. Matilda Maltby married Allen Barber, a brother of her sister's husband, and is now deceased, having left five children.

David Maltby and Sarepta Marsh, a sister of the wife of the former, were among the founders of Oberlin College, in which the latter taught many

450

J. A. MALTBY.

years. Mrs. Lucy (Marsh) Maltby was also a teacher, as was her husband. She was a woman of rare character, and was highly reverenced by all who knew her, especially by her husband's family.

Jasper A. Maltby enlisted in the Mexican War at the age of sixteen years, and served gallantly, receiving a wound at the battle of Chapultepec. He came to Chicago in 1850, and a year later went to Galena, where he at once assumed promi- nence through his energy, ability and sterling character. Soon after taking up his residence there, he perfected the telescope sight for the rifle, which made his name famous. He was an ex- tensive dealer there in sporting goods.

He was associated with Gen. John E. Smith, now a resident of Chicago, in raising the famous "Washburne Lead Mine Regiment" for the Union army, which became the Forty-fifth Illi- nois, and within a short time after the fall of Fort Sumter it was in the field. Mr. Smith was elected Colonel of the regiment; and Mr. Maltby Lieutenant-Colonel, on the organization at Camp Douglas, in Chicago. The first action was at Fort Henry. At Fort Donelson, Colonel Maltby received a bad wound, and was carried to the hospital in the same ambulance with General Logan, who was struck about the same time. Immediately after the battle of Pittsburg Land- ing, Colonel Maltby was able to rejoin his regi- ment, which, as a part of Logan's division, participated in the marches, engagements and siege which led to the fall of Vicksburg.

Col. John E. Smith having been promoted for gallant conduct in battle, he was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Maltby, who led the charge at Fort Hill on the bloody 25th of June, 1863, receiving three wounds before gaining the coveted position. This was accomplished with great loss, and temporary breastworks were immediately. thrown up to hold the ground. While Colonel Maltby was personally adjusting a heavy piece of timber for the protection of his sharpshooters, it was struck by a cannon ball. The shot passed close to his person, and the timber was shivered, hurling splinters in every direction. Three of these penetrated his body, making six wounds

which he suffered in that costly, but victorious, action. For his fearless and effective bravery, Generals Sherman and Logan sent a recommen- dation from the field that he be made a Brigadier- General, and President Lincoln forwarded his commission as such at once.

When the final entry was made into Vicksburg, the Forty-fifth Illinois led the way, with General Maltby's horse and trappings at its head. The General was also at the head of his regiment, but rode in an ambulance. The fight at Fort Hill was hand-to-hand, and the colors of the Forty-fifth were literally torn to tatters. General Maltby was mustered out January 16, 1866, and was soon thereafter made Military Mayor of Vicks- burg. He never recovered from his wounds, and died from their effects December 12, 1867, while still administering the office of Mayor. He was also operating a plantation, and kept a com- mission store in Vicksburg. He was held in the highest regard by the people of the conquered city, and was the idol of the colored people.

General Maltby was married at Galena, March 25, 1852, to Miss Malvina A. James, who sur- vives him, and now resides in Chicago. Besides his widow, he left a son, Henry Maltby, a journal- ist. Mrs. Maltby is a daughter of David James, a Sergeant under General Scott, who fought at Lundy's Lane in the War of 1812. Her mother, Catherine Jamieson, was the daughter of an Irish- man who was a famous distiller. He owned the ground in Canada where Tecumseh was killed. David James was a native of North Carolina, and his wife of Canada.

Many of the most noted military men of the war testified to General Maltby's great courage and moral worth, and the following extract from the Vicksburg Republican shows the estimation in which he was held by his erstwhile enemies:

"With an unfeigned regret, we announce the death of Gen. J. A. Maltby, the recently ap- pointed Mayor of this city. No northern man who has cast his fortunes with our people has commanded more respect from our citizens than General Maltby. As an officer of the United States army, he was humane to our people; as a citizen of Mississippi, he was kind in his social

451

A. B. CAPRON.

life and impartial in his official action. We sin- cerely sympathize with his bereaved family, and we believe they have the sympathy of the entire community.

"He met us upon the field of battle in aid of a

cause which he felt sacred, but, like a true soldier, he recognized the valor and honor of his enemy, and, when Peace spread her white wings over the land, all animosity was sheathed with his sword. Peace to the gallant soldier."

ALBERT B. CAPRON.

C OL. ALBERT BANFIELD CAPRON, a member of the Chicago Board of Trade and a brave soldier of the Civil War, was born at Laurel, Prince George's County, Maryland, June 12, 1844. His father was Gen. Horace Capron, who went to Maryland when a young man and erected the Laurel Cotton Mills, whose product, the famous Laurel Cotton, was shipped to all parts of the world. His mother was Louise Snowden daughter of General Snowden, whose grandfather received a patent from the king for twenty thousand acres. His estate joined that of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton. Louise Snow- den was born July 3, 1811, and married Horace Capron June 5, 1834. She was a devout church- woman, and built the Episcopal Church of Laurel, which she gave to the people. Her life was full of kind deeds. She died March 27, 1849, mourned by the entire community. She left five children. Ad- aline, Horace, junior, Albert Banfield, Elizabeth Snowden, and Osmond Tiffany (the eldest child, Nicholas Snowden, died in infancy). The planta- tion on which their childhood was passed was known as the "Model Farm of Maryland," it being a pet scheme of General Capron to see to what a state of perfection that soil could be brought.

The genealogy of the family points to Ban- field Capron as the progenitor of those bearing the name in America. He was born in England, but was of French-Huguenot descent, and derived his Christian name from Lord Banfield of Eng- land. He came to America near the close of the seventeenth century and settled in Attleboro, Massachusetts, where he became the possessor of large estates. He was a man of marked ability,

both mental and physical, having great muscular development and wonderful powers of endurance. He lived to the age of ninety-two years, dying in 1752. He was twice married. His first wife was a Miss Callender, of Rehoboth, Massa- chusetts, daughter of a former neighbor in Eng- land. The second wife was Sarah Daggett. He was the father of twelve children. Jonathan, sixth child of Banfield Capron, married Rebecca Morse, and was the ancestor of the subject of this biog- raphy. His son, Jonathan, junior, married Alice Alden, a great-granddaughter of John Alden, of the Plymouth Colony. Elisha, another son of Jonathan Capron, married Abigail Makepeace, and they had nine children. The eldest son, Dr. Seth Capron, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Massachusetts, September 23, 1762, and married Eunice, daughter of Dr. Bezaleel Mann, of Attleboro, Massachusetts, a man of prominence as a physician and educator. Dr. Seth Capron served in the War of the Revolution. He enlisted March 31, 1781, and was first at- tached to General La Fayette's corps of light in- fantry. In 1782 he was transferred, and served until the close of the war as aide-de-camp on Gen- eral Washington's staff. He was a personal friend of General Washington, and commanded the barge which conveyed him to Elizabethtown Point, after he had taken leave of his army at New York at the close of the war. Immediately on returning home Dr. Seth Capron began the study of medicine with Dr. Bezaleel Mann, an eminent physician of that period. In 1806 he settled in Whitesboro, Oneida ' County, New York, where he practiced his profession,

452

A. B. CAPRON.

Doctor Capron was a man of great enterprise and industry, and was possessed of large resources and fertility of commercial ideas. His name is identified with the history of the manufactures of the State of New York. He was the originator of the enterprise which, in 1807, resulted in the establishment of the "Oneida Factory," the first cotton-mill erected in the State of New York, followed shortly by the "Capron Factory," of New Hartford. In 1809 he organized a com11- pany and established the "Oriskany Woolen Factory," the first woolen factory ever erected in the United States. Another enterprise of which he was the originator was the importation from Spain of the first Merino sheep ever introduced into Oneida County.

In 1825 he removed to Orange County, and with his son, Capt. Seth Capron, established the beautiful manufacturing town of Walden, on the Walkill, where he died September 8, 1835. Dr. Seth Capron had six children. Gen. Hor- ace Capron, father of Albert B. Capron, was the fourth son. He was born August 31, 1804, in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and died at the Na- tional Capital on Washington's birthday, 1885. His death was caused by exposure at the dedica- tion of the Washington Monument the day before, on which occasion he and the orator of the day, Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, were among the few survivors of those who officiated at the laying of the corner-stone, forty years before, when he commanded the cavalry which took part in the ceremony.

General Capron was connected with the army many years before the outbreak of the Civil War. For seven years he was stationed in Texas, hav- ing charge of the Indians under the War Depart- ment. After the removal of these Government wards to the Indian Territory he came to his farni in Alden, Mc Henry County, Illinois, to which, a few years previously, he had moved his family and valuable stock from Maryland. He married Miss Margaret Baker, of New York City, and now settled down to the agricultural pursuits of which he was so fond. His beautiful farm of a thousand acres was conducted on principles so superior to anything then dreamed of in this part

of the country, that it soon became famous, and visitors wondered and admired. The latest inven- tions and improvements in machinery and farm implements were always at hand, and his noble herds were his pride. His home was beautiful in all its appointments and pervaded by an atmosphere of culture and refinement. His large library was ever at the disposal of liis neighbors and friends.

General Capron was in every sense a pro- gressive man, and was always foremost in advancing better methods. He was, at this time, much interested in the State Fairs, feeling that they should have the influence of the best agri- culturists of the land. In 1858 he was appointed by the United States Government as General Superintendent of the United States Fair, which was held in Chicago in September of that year. The fair was at that time considered a great event, and to this day is spoken of as a notable success. He had on exhibition his famous herd of forty-two Devons and a large number of his blooded horses, many of which won first premiums. About this time he decided to make a change of home, and moved to another farmi near Peoria, Illinois.

Soon the war broke out, and his two eldest sons quickly enlisted. Governor Yates requested Gen- eral Capron to drill and prepare cavalry troops for the field, as that branch of the service was much needed. He therefore raised and drilled three cavalry regiments, and in 1862 went out him- self in charge of the last one, the Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry. He was soon promoted to the command of a brigade.

After the war General Capron was appointed Commissioner of Agriculture by President Grant. At this time the department was located in dark, dingy quarters in the Interior Department. Gen- eral Capron felt that it was a disgrace to the great interests it represented, and spared no efforts until he had secured appropriations for a building. He was given full charge of plans, and in due time the stately Agricultural Building, with its beautiful grounds, gave to the department a home befitting its dignity. In General Capron's cor- respondence is found a letter from Secretary and

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 65

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