Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 7

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 7

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months. The fire which caused him so much suffering was on Mackinaw Avenue, between Eighty-fifth and Eighty-sixth Streets.

Upon his recovery from injuries received while in the fire department, Mr. Busse resolved to find other employment, and accordingly, on May 23, 1889, he joined the police force as patrolman, and for the past two years has been employed as messenger in the South Chicago Station. In his business life he has attended strictly to the duties of his position, and has always shown a disposi- tion to rise in station. While serving at a large fire May 8, 1897, Mr. Busse took a severe cold, which brought on hemorrhage of the left lung, and incapacitated him from active duty for many months.

Mr. Busse was married April 2, 1890, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Joseph and Catherine Leiendecker. They are the parents of the fol- lowing children: Joseph, Frederick William and George Augustus. Mr. Busse and his family are communicants of the Roman Catholic Church, and he is connected with the Policemen's Be- nevolent Association. He is a man of genial and pleasant manner, and has many firm friends, by whom his merits and character are appreciated.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

Jose Ellio

JOEL ELLIS.

OEL ELLIS, for nearly fifty years an active citizen and useful business man of Chicago, was descended from the old Puritan stock which has done so much in developing the men- tal, moral and material interests of the United States. The energy, fortitude and stern moral character which characterized the founders of the New England colonies is still observed in many of their descendants, and these attributes were possessed by Joel Ellis in a marked degree.

His first ancestor of whom any record is now to be found was Barzillai Ellis, born June 9, 1747, presumably in Massachusetts, and of English blood. March 6, 1773, he married Sarah Tobey, who was born June 5, 1755, no doubt in the same State and of similar ancestry. They resid- ed in Conway, Franklin County, Massachusetts, whence they moved, about the close of the last century, to Chautauqua County, New York. Here Barzillai Ellis died in 1827. His youngest son, Samuel Ellis, died in Chicago in 1856. The other children were Barzillai, Asa, Freeman, Ben- jamin, Joel and Elnathan.

The children of Benjamin Ellis were Parmelia, Eleanor, Jane, Stephen, Mason, Datus, Joel (the subject of this sketch) and Ensign. His wife was Sophia Birch, a native of Connecticut. Ben- jamin Ellis died in Fredonia, New York, in 1855. He was a farmer, and cleared up land in the prim- eval forest, which consumed the best years of his life and required the assistance of his children, who had little opportunity to attend school.

Joel Ellis was born in Fredonia, Chautauqua County, New York, May 25, 1818. As above indicated, his early years were devoted to the toil

which usually befell farmers' sons in those days, and he attended school but very little. Schools were far apart and held sessions of only three months per year, in winter, when attendance on the part of many children was almost impossible. However, Joel Ellis was blessed by nature with a sound mind and body, and his clear judgment and active industry made him a successful busi- ness man and good citizen.

When, in 1838, he set out for the West, whither an uncle(Samuel Ellis, before mentioned) had preceded him, he was an energetic and self- reliant young man of twenty years, full of cour- age and hopefulness and the ardor and ambition of a strong nature. Arriving in the autumn, he found the young city of Chicago suffering from the com- mercial and industrial stagnation which followed the financial panic of 1837, and his search for employment was a vain one. The only offer which he received was from his uncle, who was engaged in farming some miles from the then city, but on ground now built up with thousands of the finest homes in Chicago, along Ellis, Greenwood and other avenues of the South Side. He continued in farm labor with his uncle for two years, much of which time was occupied in chopping wood from the timber which then covered this region, and which must be cleared away to make room for a tillable farm.

From 1840 to 1858 he was associated with Archibald Clybourn, an active business man of Chicago (see biography elsewhere in this work), and became thoroughly conversant with the meat business, which was one of Mr. Clybourn's chief enterprises. It was at the house of Mr. Cly-

JOEL ELLIS.

bourn that he met the lady who became his wife in 1844. This was Miss Susan Galloway, a sis- ter of Mrs. Clybourn and daughter of James and Sally (McClenthan) Galloway, of Pennsyl- vania birth and Scotch ancestry. Her grand- father, Samuel Galloway, was a native of Scot- land, whose wife was of Pennsylvania-German descent. They were among the earliest settlers on the Susquehanna River, and Samuel Galloway was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army. Mrs. Ellis was taken by hier parents, when a small child, to Sandusky, Ohio, and thence the fam- ily came to Chicago, arriving on the 9th of November, 1826. They left Sandusky on the Ist of October, in a sailing-vessel, and were wrecked south of Mackinaw, but were rescued by another vessel, which brought them to Chicago.

James Galloway had visited Illinois in the fall of 1824, and was very much charmed with the country about the Grand Rapids of the Illinois River(now known as Marseilles), where he bought a claim. He spent the winter of 1826-27 in Chicago with his family, and settled on this claim in the following spring, and continued to reside there the balance of his life. His wife died in 1830,and he subsequently married Matilda Stipes, of Virginia. In character Mr. Galloway was a fit representative of his sturdy Scotch ancestry, and was well fitted for pioneering in those early days, when means of travel and communication were difficult, and the dwellers in the wilderness were compelled to forego many comforts and social advantages, besides braving the enmity of their savage neighbors.

Of the five children of James and Sally Gallo- way, Mrs. Clybourn is the eldest. The second, Jane, wife of Washington Holloway, died in 1894. John died in Missouri. Susan is Mrs. Ellis. George, born April 12, 1828, at Marseilles, is now deceased. Of the second marriage, Archibald and Marshall are the only surviving offspring. The foriner now shares a part of the original farm at Marseilles with George's widow. The latter resides in Chicago.

On leaving the employ of Mr. Clybourn, Mr. Ellis engaged in the retail meat business on his own account, and furnished supplies to many of

the leading hotels and to vessels entering Chicago Harbor. In 1865 he formed a partnership with Thomas Armour and began an extensive wliole- sale business in meats and provisions, which grew beyond his fondest dreams of success. In fifteen years he amassed a comfortable fortune, which was largely invested in improved real es- tate in the city. As the care of his property ab- sorbed much of his time, he decided to retire from active business, and, in the spring of 1871, he pur- chased twenty acres in the town of Jefferson (now a part of the city of Chicago), on which he built a handsome suburban home, in which he hoped to pass the balance of his days in well-earned rest from the arduous labors which had occupied his earlier years. Scarcely was he settled in his new home when the great fire of October, 1871, rob- bed him of all his buildings save the home at Jef- ferson, just completed. Without any repining, he set to work at once to repair the losses. It was his custom to rise at two o'clock in the morn- ing and drive into the city to begin business. There were no rapid-transit systems then to move suburban residents quickly from and to their homes, and he took means which would appall any but such stout natures as his to rebuild his fort- unes. In this he was moderately successful, and when a cancer caused his death at his home in Jefferson, October 29, 1886, he left his family comfortably provided for.

A quiet, unassuming man, he gave little atten- tion to public affairs, though he took the interest in local and national progress which every true American must feel, and discharged his duty as it appeared to him by supporting the Republican party after it came into existence, having former- ly affiliated with the Whigs. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was an active sup- porter of the Universalist Church, being among the organizers of St. Paul's congregation, whose pastor, Rev. W. E. Manly, performed the cere- mony which made him the head of a family. Be- sides his widow, he left three children, namely: Lucretia, now the widow of George W. Pinney, residing in Chicago; Winfield, of Highland Park, Illinois; and Mary Josephine, Mrs. Algernon S. Osgood, of Chicago.

WILLIAM LEE.

ILLIAM LEE, a leading citizen of Pull- inan, was born at Rochester, New York, June 14, 1851. He isa son of Rev. Henry Washington Lee and Lydia Mason Morton. Rev. H. W. Lee was a native of Hamden, Con- necticut. He entered the Episcopal ministry at an early age, and filled pastorates of several years each at Springfield, Massachusetts, and Rochester, New York. In 1854 he was made the first regular Bishop of Iowa, and filled that position during the balance of his life, his resi- dence being at Davenport, where his death oc- curred in 1874, at the age of fifty-nine years. He was one of the most active and distinguished men of that faith in the United States during his time, and greatly advanced the prosperity of the Episcopal Church in the West.

The Lee family is of English lineage. Col. Roswell Lee, the father of Rev. H. W. Lee, served in the regular army of the United States for many years. He participated in the War of 1812, and subsequently had charge of the United States Armory at Springfield, Massachusetts, for a considerable period of time. He was very prominent in the Masonic order, and a lodge of that fraternity at Springfield was named in his honor.

Mrs. Lydia M. Lee, who is now living at Salt Lake City, Utah, at the venerable age of eighty- four years, was born at Taunton, Massachusetts. She is a daughter of ex-Governor Marcus Mor- ton, of that State. The latter was of English de- scent, and served for many years as Chief Justice of the State of Massachusetts previous to his election as Governor.

William Lee, whose name heads this article, spent most of his boyhood in Davenport. In

1864 he entered Hamden Military Academy, at Hamden, Connecticut, taking a two-years course at that institution. He subsequently became a student at Racine College, Racine, Wisconsin, but upon completing the junior year, in 1870, he went to Griswold College at Davenport, Iowa, an institution of which his father had been the founder. The following year he graduated, re- ceiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then became connected with the engineer corps of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, and spent about one year about Kearney, Nebraska, where he was engaged in laying off the line of that road, then in course of construction. Being de- termined to perfect himself in this profession, he took a special course in engineering at Lawrence Scientific School, Harvard University.

In 1873 he located at Chicago and engaged in general surveying, but the next year went to Salt Lake City, and occupied the next two sea- sons in surveying and mining. Four years more were spent in general engineering work at San Francisco. Returning to Illinois in 1880, he was employed as assistant engineer in platting the town of Pullman. Three years later he entered the service of the United States Government, on a survey of the Hennepin Canal, and also as- sisted in surveying the Illinois and Calumet Rivers. He was subsequently connected with the Public Works department of the village of Hyde Park, and upon the annexation of that ter- ritory to the city of Chicago, in 1889, he con- tinued for one year in the engineering depart- ment of the city. In the summer of 1890 he took charge of platting the town of Harvey. Two years were occupied in laying off this village, together with its drainage and water-works systems. Since

Z. A. NEFF.

that time he has done most of the surveying and engineering work for the villages of Nortlı Har- vey, Dolton, Riverdale, Homewood, Matteson and other places. During this time he has also done most of the work in this line for the Pull- man Land Association and Pullman's Palace Car Company. His reputation for accurate and reli- able workmanship causes lis services to be re- peatedly sought wherever he is known.

In October, 1873, Mr. Lee was united in matri- mony to Miss Anna Cleo Everett, daughter of William H. Everett, of Davenport, Iowa. Mrs. Lee was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and her death occurred at Chicago June 25, 1884, at

the age of thirty-five years. She left a son and a daughter, named, respectively, Henry W. and Mabel. Mr. Lee was again married, November 15, 1888, to Florence Isabel Ferguson, daughter of William and Anna W. Ferguson, of Cincin- nati. Two children have been born of this union, namely, Alice Ferguson and Lydia Morton. The family moves in the best social circles and enjoys the good-will of all its acquaintances. Mr. Lee is a member of the Western Society of Civil En- gineers. A Republican in political sentiment, he takes a patriotic interest in all important pub- lic affairs, but never seeks the political patronage of his fellow-citizens.

ZACHARIAH A. NEFF.

ACHARIAH ADDISON NEFF, a resident of Cook County for the past thirty years, and a public official during the greater part of that time, is a native of Pennsylvania, born April 21, 1834, at Blairsville, Indiana County, in that State. His father, Amos Neff, was born in Virginia, probably at West Point, and was a son of John Neff. It is supposed that members of the Neff family came to America from Alsace- Lorraine, and settled simultaneously in Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York, in each of which States their posterity have been numerous for many generations. Amos Neff died when the subject of this sketch was about seven years old.

Elizabeth Brewer, who became the wife of Amos Neff and mother of Z. A. Neff, was born in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Her fa- ther, whose Christian name is supposed to have been Andrew or John Andrew, served in the Revolutionary army, and received a grant of six hundred acres of land in Wisconsin from the Gov- ernment in recognition of his services. While a young man he was captured by Indians and held a prisoner seven years. At the time of his death

he lacked less than five months of completing his one-hundredth year. His daughter, Mrs. Neff, was born before the beginning of the present century, and was a strong and industrious wo- man. She died at the early age of fifty-seven, in 1856. Beside the son whose name heads this article, she had a daughter, Martha A., who is now the widow of James Amesbaugh, residing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Z. A. Neff grew to manhood at Blairsville, Pennsylvania, and received the full benefit of the public schools. He learned the tinner's trade, and during the Civil War had charge of the tin, cop- per and sheet-iron department of the Government railroad shops at Alexandria, Virginia, serving in that capacity throughout the war. The mili- tary railroad system was organized by the noted Andrew Carnegie, who brought to the scene of action a number of workmen, including Mr. Neff. These works grew to immense propor- tions before the close of the war.

After peace came, Mr. Neff came to Chicago and opened a tin shop, to which was soon added a stock of general hardware, and he did much

W. J. KEMPER.

jobbing and railroad work. In the spring of 1872 he sold out and removed to Dolton, where he opened a hardware business and continued it about twenty years. He was appointed Post- master at Dolton by President Garfield, and re- appointed by President Harrison, serving in all about ten years. He is at present Clerk of the Village of Dolton, and since 1891 has been a County Constable, the duties of that office oc- cupying most of his time. During the time when not otherwise occupied, he does considerable col- lecting for Chicago houses, and on all occasions has shown himself to be a reliable, industrious and capable business man.

He was married April 11, 1872, to Miss Sarah S. Harter, who was born in Delaware, Ohio, and came to Illinois with her parents in 1843, theirs being the second family to locate on the site of the present village of Dolton. Mrs. Neff is the only child of John Harter and his second wife,

Elizabeth, whose maiden name was Rheem. Her father had six other children, all of whom are or have been well-known citizens of Dolton. Mrs. Elizabeth Harter sprang from a distinguished fam- ily in Pennsylvania. She was a native of Rox- bury, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and died at Dolton in August, 1843. She was first married to William Grearson. The only son of this union, George W. Grearson, was killed by the explosion of a tug in the Chicago harbor in 1863.

Mr. Neff aided in the organization of a lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Dolton, which has since surrendered its charter. He has always been a Republican in his political allegi- ance, and has voted for every presidential candi- date of that party since attaining his majority, including John C. Fremont in 1856. He has always been a public-spirited and useful citizen, and enjoys the respect of all his associates.

WILLIAM J. KEMPER.

ILLIAM JOHN KEMPER, one of the old- est residents of Chicago, who gained a competence here by his characteristic Ger- man industry, frugality and integrity, was born on the 2d of February, 1816, in the Province of Osnabrueck, Hanover, Germany. His parents were Juergen Bernhardt and Katharine (Schuster) Kemper. The latter died at the age of fifty-two years in Germany. The father came to America in 1840, and settled in Chicago, where he died twelve years later.

The subject of this sketch received his primary education in the public schools of Germany. From fourteen to eighteen years of age he worked as a farm laborer for one employer. On reach- ing his majority he put into execution his pre- viously conceived determination to seek his fort-

une in the new and free world beyond the seas. He landed in New York in 1836, and found em- ployment, in company with his brother, John Kemper, in a tannery in Sullivan County, New York.

May 14, 1837, he settled in Chicago. His first employment here was in the capacity of cook, serving the people engaged in developing a Gov- ernment harbor in the Chicago River. For sev- eral years subsequently he was employed by the late John Wentworth and others. His next em- ployment was in the milk business with Lill & Diversey, who were established at the foot of Chicago Avenue. In 1843 he engaged in the milk and vegetable business on his own account, and continued this for twenty-one years, or until he retired in 1864. By his honesty and strict

W. J. McELDOWNEY.

attention to business he gained favor in the eyes of the public, and was known and respected throughout the northern part of the city.

In 1848 Mr. Kemper bought the block of ground bounded by Orchard and Larrabee Streets and Fullerton and Belden Avenues. This ground has appreciated immensely in value since then, and it has been gradually sold off, except a plot at the corner of Orchard Street and Fullerton Avenue, one hundred and thirty by one hundred and seventy-five feet in dimensions, where Mr. Kemper has his home, in the midst of one of the most beautiful residence districts in the city. The great fire of 1871 destroyed two large houses which he owned at the corner of Wells and Hill Streets.

On the 19th of July, 1843, in Chicago, Mr. Kem- per was married to Miss Katharine Toenigen, a native of the Province of Otersberg, Hanover, Germany. She is a daughter of Nicholas and Mary (Gerken) Toenigen. Mrs. Kemper is the second of two daughters born to her parents; she was robbed of her mother by death at the age of eleven years. She came to America with her

sister, Mrs. Henry Knopp, in 1842. Nine cliil- dren have been given to Mr. and Mrs. Kemper, namely: Anna Marie, Katharine, John, Louise, Christina, Margaret, William Henry, Edward Hermann and Richard George. The eldest and second sons are now deceased. The second daughter is the wife of F. Kruse; the next mar- ried Frank Pfunder; the fourth is Mrs. William Ermeling; and the fifth is the wife of Charles Baltz. The surviving sons married respectively Stella and Anna Sourwine. All are happily set- tled in business and social life in Chicago. Anna Marie has devoted her life to her parents, and is the stay and comfort of their old age. One of the most joyful events in the history of the fam- ily was the celebration, in 1893, of the golden wedding anniversary of the parents, who are still in the enjoyment of good health, and have dwelt for forty-five years in the same place. They are associated with the Evangelical Association, be- ing identified with the Wisconsin Street Church. Mr. Kemper voted for the elder Harrison, and has supported the Whig or Republican ticket ever since.

WILLIAM J. McELDOWNEY.

ILLIAM JOHN McELDOWNEY, Pres- ident of the Bank of Chicago Heights, a son of John McEldowney, whose biography appears in these pages, have inherited many of the qualities which made his father a leading and influential citizen. He is honest, straightfor- ward and friendly, and keeps in view the welfare of his fellows and of the community. He was born June 30, 1843, in Bloom, and spent his boy- hood on his father's farm in his native town. In childhood, and in the intervals of farnı labor in

later years, he attended the common school of the neighborhood, and finished his studies at Lake Forest Academy.

Soon after the completion of his nineteenth year, in October, 1862, he enlisted in his country's serv- ice in the suppression of rebellion. He became a member of Company M, Fourteenth Regiment of Illinois Cavalry, under Colonel Capron. He served nine months in Kentucky, and was dis- charged at the end of that time, with the rank of sergeant.

C. D. HEWS, A. M., M. D.

On his return to Bloom in 1863, Mr. McEl- downey entered the store of James Hunter in the village, and continued in his service until the spring of 1868. He then purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which he subsequent- ly increased to two hundred and sixty acres in Bloom Township; this he retained and tilled until 1892, when he sold a quarter-section to the Chi- cago Heights Land Association. The remaining one hundred acres, adjoining the village, he still retains.

Upon the organization of the Bank of Chicago Heights, January 1, 1893, in which he was in- strumental, Mr. McEldowney was elected its pres- ident and has filled that position since. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Chicago Heights, of which he is treasurer and a member of the board of trustees. He has always taken an intelligent interest in the conduct of local

affairs, and has often been selected to act in their administration. He has been Supervisor several years, and has also been Town Treasurer. He is a steadfast Republican in general political prin- ciple.

He was married October 22, 1866, to Miss Mary H. McQueen, a native of Elgin, Illinois, daugh- ter of George and Margaret (McCormick) Mc- Queen, both natives of Scotland. Five children complete the family of Mr. and Mrs. McEldown1- ey, namely: John Howard, commercial editor of the Chicago Tribune; George I., book-keeper of the Chicago Heights Bank; Annie, William Frank and Ralph. As the result of his industry, prudence and sagacity, Mr. McEldowney is 110w at the head of one of the soundest and most suc- cessful business institutions of the community, and enjoys the respect and friendship of his fellow-citizens.

CHARLES D. HEWS, A. M., M. D.

C HARLES DEANE HEWS, A. M., M. D., bly to Towanda) to reach the nearest point at the first medical practitioner at Roseland, which she could enjoy the close communion of that sect. Even in old age she persistently de- clined the services of a carriage in going to church. She died at La Porte, Indiana, at the venerable age of ninety-six years. was born at La Porte, Indiana, April 5, 1846. His parents, Dr. Richard B. Hews and Jane Elizabeth Spaulding, were natives of Pen11- sylvania, and became early settlers in northern Indiana. His paternal grandfather, Bursten Hews, Dr. R. B. Hews studied medicine at Phila- delphia, and became a practitioner of the "Thom- sonian" school. About 1830 he removed to La Porte, making the journey with a horse and sleigh, accompanied by his wife. He practiced there several years and also engaged in mer- cantile business, opening the first store in the place, and bringing his goods from Detroit by team. In addition to these pursuits, he oper- ated extensively in real estate upon the present was an Englishman, who crossed the ocean and located in the Keystone State about the beginning of the present century. He kept an inn at Can- ton Corners, in Bradford County. His wife was an offspring of the famous Clendenning family of Scotland. She was a lady of extraordinary physical vigor, and a devout adherent of the Baptist faith. She was accustomed to walk twen- ty miles and back regularly each Sabbatlı (proba-

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 7

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