Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 67

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 67

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Judge Farwell was a faithful member of the Congregational Church, in which he appropri- ately and consistently filled the office of Deacon for some time. In every relation of life he was true, and the history of his life stands as an in- spiration and encouragement to young men every- where. Especially are lis upright life and official course commended to the emulation of all who wish to win friends and enjoy the good opinion and blessing of their fellows.

CHARLES G. AYARS.

D r

HARLES GERRY AYARS, a capable busi- ness man of Chicago, and at one time one of the most widely-known public officials of Cook County, was born at Newton, New Jersey, December 28, 1831. His parents were Rev. James Ayars and Harriet Amelia Reed, both na- tives of Bridgeton, New Jersey. The family is of Scotch, Welsh and German ancestry, and fur- nished some of the Colonial emigrants to the present United States. Noalı Ayars, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, attained the age of ninety-three years, dying at Bridgeton, New Jersey, about 1858.

Rev. James Ayars was educated at Bridgeton, and entered the ministry of the Methodist Epis- copal Church in 1827. He continued actively in

the work of that church for fifty years, holding pastorates in the principal towns of New Jersey. In 1856 he became Secretary of the American Sunday-school Union. He lived at Covington, Kentucky, three years, and at Evanston, Illinois, two years. Returning to New Jersey, he re- entered the regular ministry, and died at Summit, New Jersey, in 1880, at the age of seventy-five years. He was a man of great public spirit, and did much work in the temperance cause and in the management of municipal affairs in the towns where he was located.

Mrs. Harriet A. Ayars died at Trenton, New Jersey, in 1870, at the age of sixty-four years. She was a daughter of Dr. John Reed, who was born in New Jersey, where he practiced medi-

460

C. G. AYARS,

cine most of his life. He was also engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods at Deerfield, New Jersey. His father was a native of Ireland.

Rev. and Mrs. James Ayars had five sous. Enoch Reed, the eldest, was a dentist in New Jersey, and went to California in 1849. While there, he joined Walker's expedition to Nica- ragua, was wounded at the battle of Rivos, and died in hospital. Charles G. Ayars is the second. James was for many years a prominent citizen of Cook County, and is now deceased. William Henry Ayars was a student of the North- western University of Evanston when the Civil War began, and enlisted and served eighteen months in the Union army. He became a Lieu- tenant in a colored regiment, and was killed at the battle of Petersburgh, Virginia. Howard B., the youngest, died at the age of five years.

Charles G. Ayars, whose name heads this article, gained liis primary education in the pub- lic schools of various points where his father was stationed in the ministry, and finished at Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey. At the age of seventeen years he entered mercantile life, being employed as a clerk in stores at various places. He spent one year with a wholesale paper house in New York City, and in 1857 went to Covington, Kentucky, where he entered the general western agency of the Plicnix Fire Insurance Company, of Hartford, Connecticut.

In 1859 he became a resident of Cook County, and engaged in farming at Evanston. Two years later he removed to the vicinity of what is now known as Forest Hill, at the crossing of the Wa- bash and Pan Handle Railroads, where he oper- ated a large farm, producing annually large quantities of hay for the Chicago market. While residing here, he served six years as Clerk of Lake Township.

I11 1867 he was appointed a Deputy Sheriff of Cook County, and removed to Chicago, where he filled this position under successive Sheriffs for eight years. His duties brought him in contact with people of all avocations, and he gained an acquaintance exceeded by few men. Probably, not a half-dozen persons know personally more people

in Cook County than were included in his list of friends. About this time there was much litiga- tion over land titles. Many squatters had to be dispossessed, and Mr. Ayars' duties as Deputy Sheriff sometimes brought him exciting experi- ences. His impartiality, coupled with firmness, and his uniform kindness to the unfortunate in- spired the public with confidence in him, and gained for him a host of true friends. In 1874 he was elected County Commissioner for the Evans- ton District, and at the expiration of his term he was re-elected, serving six years continuously, during which period the present court house was built.

In 1883 Mr. Ayars formed a connection with the Phoenix Fire Insurance Company, of Hart- ford, Connecticut, as State Agent for Illinois, having general charge of all its business outside of Chicago, which relation still continues. In this connection he travels all over the State, giv- ing careful and diligent attention to his duties, and, as a result, the volume of business trans- acted by the company in his jurisdiction has very largely increased.

Mr. Ayars was married, April 25, 1859, to Miss Margaret, daughter of William Fredenberg, of New York City, where her Knickerbocker an- cestors located in the early Colonial period. Many of the name now reside there, and Mrs. Ayars is the first who left that city. For twenty-five years Mr. and Mrs. Ayars have been connected with the First Methodist Church of Evanston. The former is a member of Evans Lodge, Evanston Chapter and Commandery of the Masonic order, and of the Evanston Club and Evanston Boat Club, being among the organizers of the last- named organization.

Mr. Ayars was among the supporters of John C. Fremont for the United States Presidency in 1856, and since that time has consistently ad- hered to the Republican party from principle. His varied business experience has given him a wide knowledge of many subjects and made him a capable judge of human nature, enabling him to give to his business and social duties the benefit of a mind ripened by years of practical training.

E. S. LACEY.

461

EDWARD S. LACEY.

DWARD SAMUEL LACEY, President of the Bankers' National Bank of Chicago, enjoys a national reputation as an able financier, and has won his way to his present honored position in the business, social and pol- itical world through his pre-eminent perseverance, foresight and integrity. He was born in the town of Chili, Monroe County, New York, November 26, 1835, and is a son of Edward DeWitt and Martha C. (Pixley) Lacey.

Edward D. Lacey was born at Bennington, Vermont, and died at Charlotte, Michigan, November 6, 1862, aged nearly fifty-three years. He possessed in a notable degree those qualities of integrity, intelligence and tenacity of purpose for which the people of the Green Mountain State are notable. He removed, with his par- ents to Monroe County, New York, when but ten years of age, and was educated at Henrietta, in that State. He engaged in mercantile business at Chili, New York, and in 1842 removed to Michigan, locating the next year at Kalamno, Eaton County, then a comparative wilderness. He was a man of prominence in that locality, filling many positions of public trust and respon- sibility, and was a leading spirit in the develop- ment and improvement of that section of the State.

He was a son of Maj. Samuel Lacey and grandson of Ebenezer Lacey, natives of Wood- bury, Connecticut. The latter served in the Connecticut Line through the Virginia and Pen- sylvania campaigns of the Revolutionary War, under Generals Washington and La Fayette, be- coming an Orderly-Sergeant in the latter's com- mand. He was a son of Thaddeus Lacey, who moved to Connecticut from Boston, Massachu- setts. The first ancestor in America came from

the vicinity of Belfast, Ireland, and located at Boston in 1704.

Samuel Lacey was born at Woodbury, Con- . necticut, and went with his parents-Ebenezer and Mary (Hurd) Lacey-to Vermont in 1784. He established the second cloth-dressing works in the State at Bennington, and in 1818 removed to Monroe County, New York, where he was a prosperous and influential citizen. During the War of 1812 he was Major of the First Regiment of Vermont Militia, which was called into service on the northern frontier. He assisted in the first organization of the Whig party at Syracuse, New York, in 1835, and was for many years one of its ablest supporters. He died at Marshall, Michigan, May 9, 1863, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. He married Ruth, eldest daughter of Anthony Sigourney, of Oxford, Massachusetts, a Revolutionary veteran, who took part in the disastrous campaign of 1776, on Long Island and about New York City, being twice wounded in battle during that service. He was the fourth in line of descent from Andrew Sigourney, a prom- inent Huguenot, who, with his wife, escaped from Rochelle, France, after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, and became one of the founders of Oxford, Massachusetts. Mrs. L. H. Sigourney, the famous writer and poet, married a descendant of the same family.

The subject of this biography was about seven years old when the family settled in Eaton County, Michigan, where he continued to reside until 1889. He was educated at the public schools and Olivet College. At the age of eight- een years he began his business career as clerk in a general store at Kalamazoo, Michigan.

In 1857 he returned to his home at Charlotte,

462

E. S. LACEY.

Michigan, and in 1862, in partnership with Hon. Joseph Musgrave, established a private bank, which became, in 1871, the First National Bank of Charlotte. He was the active manager of this institution from its organization, officiat- ing as Director and Cashier, and upon the death ·of Mr. Musgrave became its President. He was distinguished for ability and thoroughness in his methods, and became identified with many im- portant business interests. He was a Director, and for many years Treasurer, of the Grand River Valley Railroad Company, which he helped to organize.

Early in his career his fellow-citizens began to recognize liis fitness for the discharge of public duties, and his opinion on financial questions has always been accorded great consideration. His first official position was that of Register of Deeds of Eaton County, which he held four years, beginning in 1860. In 1874 the Governor of Michigan appointed him a Trustee of the State Asylum for the Insane, and he continued to fill this position for six years. In 1876 he was a delegate to the National Republican Convention at Cincinnati, and from 1882 to 1884 was Chair- man of the Republican State Central Committee of Michigan. He also served as the first Mayor of the city of Charlotte, and assisted in inaugu- rating its excellent system of public improve- ments. In 1880 he was elected to Congress from the Third Michigan District, and served two terms. He was nominated by acclamation and elected by a vote far ahead of his ticket in each instance. He declined to accept the candidacy for a third term, but in 1886 became a candidate for the United States Senate, in which he was unsuccessful, though he showed great strength and popularity.

In Congress he served on the Committees on Postoffices and Post Roads and Coinage, Weights and Measures. But he was distinguished chiefly through the ability displayed in the consideration of financial questions. In the Forty-eightli Congress he attracted wide attention by a mas- terly speech on the silver question. His address on the use of silver as money, delivered before the American Bankers' Association in Chicago in

1885, was received with marked attention and increased his popularity among financiers. His prominence in monetary circles caused him to be recommended by friends in Michigan, New York, Boston and Chicago for the position of Comptroller of the Currency, to which he was appointed in 1889.

This office, so far as regards national finance, is second only to that of Secretary of the Treasury. His administration, extending from 1889 to 1892, covered one of the most critical periods in the history of the national banking system. He pursued a vigorous and yet conservative policy, keeping in view the protection of depositors and creditors, and his conduct of the office was endorsed by the ablest financiers. His integrity and ability have always been recognized, and his national reputation caused his services to be sought by many of the leading financial institu- tions of the country. Believing in the resources and future of Chicago, he resigned in June, 1892, to accept the presidency of the Bankers' Na- tional Bank of that city.

On New Year's-Day, 1861, Mr. Lacey married Miss Annette C. Musgrave, daughter of his busi- ness partner, Hon. Joseph Musgrave, of Char- lotte, Michigan. Two daughters and a son, named, respectively, Jessie P., Edith M. and Edward Musgrave, complete the family. Since coming to Cook County, the family has resided at Evanston, where it is identified with the First Congregational Church. Mr. Lacey is a mem- ber of the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, the Union League Club, Bankers' Club (of which he has been President), Bankers' Athletic Association, Evanston Club and Evans- ton Country Club. He has always been an enthusiastic Republican, and wields a strong influence in the party councils.

Personally, Mr. Lacey is a man of fine phys- ique, ready discernment, and pleasing manners. All who have occasion to approach him in regard to social or business matters are certain of receiving courteous attention, notwithstanding the attention necessarily bestowed upon the financial and business matters of great magni- tude entrusted to his management.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

JOHN TURNER

MRS. JOHN TURNER

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

JOHN TURNER.

463

JOHN TURNER.

OHN TURNER. While the race is not al- ways to the swift, or the battle to the strong, the invariable law of destiny accords to tire- less energy, industry and ability a successful career. The truth of this assertion was abun- dantly verified in the life of John Turner. Every step in his progress was an honorable tribute to industry, humanity and true manhood. Mr. Turner was born July 10, 1815, in Gilberdike, Yorkshire, England, and was a son of William and Mary Turner, who were natives of that connty. William Turner and his wife had a family of two daughters and seven sons. Their names were: Sarah, Elizabeth, Thomas, William, Robert, Leighton, John, George and Charles. With the exception of the eldest, all became resi- dents of the United States, and all are now de- ceased except Charles, who resides in Detroit, Michigan. William and Robert Turner emi- grated in 1830, and two years later Leighton fol- lowed. In 1834 the parents came, bringing with them one daughter, and the other sons. They settled at Detroit, Michigan, where the parents died several years ago.

In 1836 John Turner came to Chicago, accom- panied by his brother Leighton, arriving October 25, the same day which witnessed the advent of John Wentworth. In early life he enjoyed very few advantages, and received only a limited edu- cation. He had attained his majority when he came to Chicago, and he determined to seek the broad field of western enterprise in beginning life on his own account. Estimated in dollars and cents, his resources at this time were very mea- ger, but in mental endowment, pluck and self-

reliant manhood, he had abundant capital. He soon found employment with the proprietor of the old Lake House, being put in charge of the horses and stables. At the end of a year the proprietor failed and was unable to pay Mr. Tur- ner his salary, so that the only remuneration he received for his first year's services was the gratuitous contributions made by the guests in consideration of the excellent care he liad taken of their horses, the whole of which he carefully saved.

Undaunted by his first year's hard experience, he continued to labor, engaging in any honest work he was able to procure. Mr. W. B. Ogden, recognizing the industry and integrity of the young emigrant, urged him to engage in the livery business on his own responsibility, and offered him the necessary assistance, and Silas B. Cobb insisted upon furnishing him with harness on credit. In 1838 John and Leighton Turner opened a livery stable on Wolcott (now State) Street, between Kinzie and North Water Streets. They began on a small scale, increasing their business to meet the growing demands of their trade. They were very prosperous, and in a few years began to invest their surplus capital in Gov- ernment land in Cook County, and the Turner Brothers soon began to take rank among the sub- stantial and wealthy business men of the city.

After a successful partnership of about fifteen years, the brothers separated, making an equitable division of their realty and personal property, Leighton turning his attention to farming, and John continuing the livery business .. From this time on the career of the latter was a prosperous

464

JAMES SMITH.

one, and he erected a number of valuable build- ings. The fire of 1871 swept away nearly his entire fortune, which he had been over thirty years in accumulating, and which amounted, at least, to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, leaving him comparatively poor. He did not attempt to rebuild and re-commence his business in the city, but moved his family to a farm he owned in Section 19, Lake View Township (now in the city), and with the assistance of his eldest son, set about to retrieve his lost fortune by farm- ing and gardening. By pushing this industry vigorously, he accumulated a handsome compe- tence, and passed the last years of his life in com- parative ease and retirement.

January 18, 1843, Mr. Turner married Miss Sarah Patterson, sister of John G., and daughter of Andrew Patterson, the latter a pioneer of Chicago. She was born March 22, 1825, near Newburg, New York. They had eight children, namely: Mary P .; Sarah Elizabetlı, wife of Carman Moody, who has one son, named Mervin Turner Moody; John W .; Charles Wesley; Ella Bird, now Mrs. John Trelease, who has three children, Justin Patterson, John Dudley and Ella Trelease; Thom- as Andrew, who married Fannie B. Wilkins; Hen- rietta Pamelia, wife of John Arthur Fishleigh,

who has three sons, Walter Turner, John Arthur and Clarence Fishleigh; and William Edward, all of Chicago. The mother of this family died May 14, 1882, and Mr. Turner passed away February 17, 1892, their remains being laid side by side in Rosehill Cemetery.

For over fifty years Mr. Turner was an honored and respected citizen of Chicago and Cook County. When he came to the city it contained a popula- tion of about four thousand, so that he witnessed almost the entire growth of the second city in the Union, and bore no inconsiderable part himself in promoting its best interests.

From boyhood Mr. Turner was a member of the Methodist Church, and his delight was al- ways in doing good, his religion being a part of his daily walk in life. He was one of the found- ers of the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Chicago, a liberal contributor to its building fund, and for many years its treasurer. He was a friend to the poor, and was always ready to ex- tend a helping hand to the needy. He achieved success, not by over-reaching his fellow-men, or by any questionable means, but through honest industry, and he bequeathed to his family not only an abundance of this world's goods, but also the priceless heritage of a good name.

JAMES SMITH.

AMES SMITH, a retired farmer of Mayfair, has been identified with that place thirty- three years. He was born July 29, 1841, in Yorkshire, England, and is a son of Francis and Ann (Robinson) Smith, natives of Yorkshire. In 1845 the family moved to Canada, and settled in Ontario County, Ontario, where Francis Smith bought a productive farm, which he cultivated until his death, in 1876. Mrs. Smithi still lives

there, aged ninety-two years. They had five daughters and one son.

James Smith was educated in the public schools of Ontario County, Ontario, and was reared to the occupation of agriculture, which has been his life work. In 1864 he came to Chicago and lo- cated in Jefferson Township, where he was em- ployed at farnı labor for a short time. In 1869 he bought twelve acres of land in Montrose,

465

R. Y. SPIKINGS.

which he sold four years later, at an advance of twelve thousand dollars on the cost. He after- wards bought twenty acres, on which he made a profit of ten thousand dollars, and during this time he was engaged in cultivating land he had rented. By judicious investment he has become wealthy, all his investments in land proving a success. He is now the owner of two hundred and twelve lots in Mayfair and in Jefferson Town- ship.

In 1873 Mr. Smith began selling milk in a small way, which business has grown to large proportions and is conducted by his sons. Mr. Smith now devotes his time to superintending his private interests, dealing in real estate and loan- ing money. He attributes much of his success in life to the influence of Mr. L. C. P. Freer, who was his friend and adviser in most of his im- portant transactions.

April 3, 1866, Mr. Smith married Miss Sarah Mitchell, who was born in Ontario, and is a daughter of Amos and Sarah (Stuart) Mitchell, who were of Scotch descent. Her parents died when she was an infant, and she was adopted into the family of Chester Dickenson. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four sons and two daughters, namely: Frank Eugene, Archie C., Howard G., Albert J., Florence L. and Nellie G. The family is con- nected with the Baptist Church of Irving Park.

Mr. Smith has always been identified with the Democratic party, but has never sought any of- fice, preferring rather to spend his time in the conduct of his business. He has achieved suc- cess through his careful attention to every detail of his business, and has always been a very busy man. He well deserves his wealth and the respect and admiration given him by the members of the community in which he has his residence.

RICHARD Y. SPIKINGS.

2 ICHARD YOUNG SPIKINGS is one of the oldest living representatives of the pi- oneers of the town of Jefferson, and has been intimately connected with its growth. He was born November 14, 1821, near Wisbech, Cam- bridgeshire, England, where his ancestors had lived for many generations. He is the fifth son of John and Mary (James) Spikings. The for- mer was a farmer and land-owner in Wisbech, where he died in 1847. His wife passed away two years later. They were the parents of four- teen children, eight of whom died in childhood. Six sons grew to manhood, of whom the following is the record: John died in England; Thomas came to the United States, served in the American Army in the Mexican War, and afterward went to South Africa; William came to America, but

returned to England, where he died; James was a farmer in Valparaiso, Indiana, where he died; Richard Y. is the subject of this notice; Henry went to Africa as a veterinary surgeon, and sub- sequently died there.

Richard Young Spikings spent his boyhood on his father's farm. He came to America in 1842, making the voyage in a sailing-vessel, and spending six weeks on the trip from London to New York. He spent one winter in Lyons, Wayne County, New York, and in 1843 came to Chicago. He remained in the city about ten years, working for Archibald Clybourn as a butcher most of the time, and one year keeping the Old Bull's Head Tavern, near the bridge, at Clybourn's Place. During the first few years he made frequent trips to London. In 1852 he

466

J. A. KAY.

bought a farm of sixty acres in Jefferson, where for several years he raised vegetables for the city market, but when railroads began to open greater facilities for transportation, the business became less profitable, and in 1859 was discontinued. In that year he rented his farm and went to Thornton Township, where he managed a large farm for Clarence Dyer. He subsequently be- came a partner in a brewery, for which he acted as salesman. At the beginning of the Civil War he accompanied an old friend, Maj. Lewis Hubbard, during one year of. the campaign in Missouri, having charge of the officers' baggage most of that time. Being called home by sick- ness in his family in March, 1862, he returned to his farin, and carried on general farming for many years. Upon the approach of old age, he divided the land among his children, most of it still being owned by members of the family.

July 2, 1847, he married Cornelia Augusta Harding, who was born in New York City, and is a daughter of Henry W. and Rachel Harding. The ceremony took place in an old log cabin, then the home of Mr. Harding, which was built by the Indians, and had been the home of their chief. Five children have blessed the union of

Mr. and Mrs. Spikings, as follows: William, of whom extended notice is given elsewhere within this volume; Richard, who is deceased; Cornelia, wife of John Hebert; Louis, a contractor at Bowmanville, Illinois; Joseph, a contractor in Jefferson, who died in 1896; Zania, widow of James Ferguson, residing with her parents; and George, also a contractor. All those living, ex- cept Louis, reside upon the home property.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 67

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