Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 70

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 70

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. and Mrs. Hahne are members of the Ger- man Lutheran Church, and have educated their children in that faith, and have also given thein a thorough English education. Mr. Hahne has ever been a liberal contributor to the support of the church. His education was acquired in the schools of the Fatherland when quite young, but

although he never attended the public schools after coming to America, by observation and close application, he has acquired a good knowledge of English. He is an ardent supporter of our pub- lic-school system, and his influence has been thrown into every educational movement. To him more than to any other citizen of Mattison is the public indebted for ten months school in each year, not only in the public, but also in the paro- chial schools. As Director or Township Treas- urer, he has served almost continuously since his arrival in Rich Township.

On the 22d of October, 1856, Mr. Hahne re- ceived his naturalization papers, and in the fol- lowing November he cast his first vote. He has always been a stanch Republican, holding firmly to the principles upon which the organization of this party was based. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for the long period of twenty- five years, that of Notary Public for twelve years, and President of the Village Board of Trustees for four years. To the performance of his duties he has brought an intelligent mind and the right idea of the practicability of a movement. He is true to every trust, and his public and private life are alike above reproach. Happy in a promis- ing family, he has become the possessor of a rep- utation for unsullied integrity of character.

NORMAN REXFORD.

ORMAN REXFORD, deceased, the first permanent settler of Blue Island, and for many years one of its most prominent citi- zens, will be long remembered among the pioneers of northern Illinois for his hospitality and kindly manner. Mr. Rexford was born in Charlotte, Vt., June 4, 1802, and died at Blue Island, March 28, 1883. He was a son of Benajah and Zeruia (Squire) Rexford, who had six children: Ste-

phen, Norman, Isabel (Mrs. Fayette Dickson), Heber S., Elsie Aun (Mrs. Cooley) and Ruth, who died in childhood. Benajah Rexford was born in Wallingford, Conn., June 23, 1780, and died at Westfield, N. Y., March 25, 1862. His second wife, Roxana Ayer, of Stanstead, Conn., bore him six children: Wilder A., Betsy L. (Mrs. Daniel Morse), Olive H. (Mrs. Isaac Relf), Louisa A. (Mrs. Thaddeus Ayer), So-

482

NORMAN REXFORD.

phronia H. (Mrs. L. Harmon) and Thomas Ayer.

Benajah Rexford represented the fifth genera- tion of his family in America, being descended from Arthur Rexford, an English ship-master, who was married at New Haven, Conn., Septem- ber 3, 1702, to Elizabeth Stevens. Their eldest son was also named Arthur, and his first wife, Jemima, bore him eight children, one of whoni, named Benjamin, served in the Continental army. He married Esther Hall, and they had eleven children, the eldest, Benjamin, being also a Rev- olutionary soldier. The latter married Catherine Rice, and Benajah was the eldest of their six children.

Norman Rexford removed while a young man to Ripley, Chautauqua County, N. Y., where he was married, January 10, 1828, to Julia Wattles, daughter of Chandler and Diana (Murray) Wat- tles. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Rexford re- moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., and thence, in 1835, he drove by team to Chicago, arriving on the 5th day of June. He first located at Bachelor's Grove, Cook County, where his brother Stephen had preceded him in 1833. A few months later, Norman Rexford located at Long Wood, near the north end of " the island," where he kept tavern in a log cabin of four rooms. In November, 1836, he removed to the present village of Blue Island. A small log cabin had been erected the previous year by a man named Courtney. This was a rude structure, only 12×15 feet, without floor, and was the only building within the present limits of the village. Mr. Rexford proceeded to build a hewed frame building for a hotel. This was sided with boards drawn by team from Pine Creek, Ind., over one hundred miles distant, the lumber cost- ing $40 per thousand. The building stood on the east side of Western Avenue, at the top of the bluff, on or near the site of the present post-office. As the country was rapidly filling up with emigrants, this hotel was well patronized. It was after- wards enlarged, and continued to be a landmark until 1858, when it was destroyed by fire. It was known as the Blue Island House. Many a social gathering was held therein, and many of the pio- neers of Chicago and other points twenty or thirty

miles distant often drove thither to trip "the liglit fantastic" upon its floor. The fun was frequently continued until morning, many of the guests re- maining to breakfast before departing for their homes. In the spring of the year the prairie roads were often almost impassable. It was cus- tomary with Mr. Rexford to hang beacon lights in the upper windows of the house on dark nights, as a guide to all belated travelers who might be struggling through the mire or the severe storms of winter.

In 1838, a postoffice was established at Blue Island, and Mr. Rexford served as Postmaster for a number of years, during which time his son Fayette carried the mail on horseback from Chi- cago to Buncombe, Ill., a distance of ninety miles, making weekly trips. Letter postage was twen- ty-five cents, and nearly every house along the sparsely-settled route was a postoffice. In 1852, Mr. Rexford sold out the hotel and removed to a farın adjoining the village, where the balance of his days were spent. Most of the farni is now in- cluded in the village, and it has appreciated in value to an extent little dreamed of by him at the time of his purchase. Mrs. Julia Rexford still resides at Blue Island, at the venerable age of eighty-four years. The following is a record of their children: Fayette D. is proprietor of the Centralia House at Centralia, Ill .; Laura A., who became the wife of A. B. Kyle, of Englewood, is now deceased; Clarissa C. is now Mrs. H. H. Massey, of Blue Island; Norman B. is a well- known citizen of that place; Mary D. died in childhood; Julia married Jamies B. Massey, and is now deceased; Susan Mary is deceased; Elizabeth P. died in childhood; and Heber Squire became a prominent citizen of Blue Island, where his death occurred in 1882.

Mr. and Mrs. Rexford were active members of the Universalist Church, and were interested in many benevolent and charitable works. Seldom was a man turned away from their door for want of food or money, although their generosity was sometimes imposed upon. Mr. Rexford never engaged in litigation, or wished to see others do so. It is said that at one time, after trying in vain to adjust a quarrel between two of his neigh-

483

WILLIAM HAMILTON.

bors, he paid the amount in dispute out of his own pocket, rather than see them engage in a lawsuit. In early life he was an active Democrat, but af- terwards became a Republican. A stanch adher-

ent of every progressive movement, it may be truly said that Blue Island owes much of its pres- ent prosperity to the example of public spirit, forethought and enterprise set by Mr. Rexford.

WILLIAM HAMILTON.

ILLIAM HAMILTON, who resides in Bre- men Township, where he is living retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves, was born in Ballymolin, County Down, Ireland, in April, 1808, and is a son of John and Mary Ann Hamilton, both of whom spent their entire lives on the Emerald Isle, reaching a very advanced age, the father living to be one hundred and four years old, and his wife to be eighty-six. The year 1822 witnessed the arrival of William Hamilton in this country. He lived for nine years in New York City, where he learned the plasterer's trade, and also engaged in making slate roofs. In 1838 he came West and took up his residence in Bremen Township, Cook County, then an undeveloped and unsettled region. The Indians occupied lands adjoining, and for several years he had only two white neigh- bors for miles around. The family lived in a log cabin, and went through all the experiences of frontier life. In 1850 Mr. Hamilton built the present family homestead, in which he has since lived. He has been a successful farmer and man of business, and increased his landed possessions from eighty to three hundred and twenty acres. As an investment, he early bought city lots in Blue Island, which he subsequently sold at a fine profit, and later made very successful investments in Hyde Park property, which is now owned by his children. In 1879 he retired from active life, and at that time apportioned his property among his children. He is now spending his declining years on the old homestead with his son John, and, al-

though he has reached the advanced age of eigh- ty-six, he still enjoys excellent health. He is one of the honored pioneers of the county, and by all who know him is held in high regard. Since fourteen years of age he has been a member of the Presbyterian Church, and his life has been in harmony with his profession.

In 1837 William Hamilton was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary Ann Kelley, of New York City. Her death occurred in December, 1887, at the age of seventy-five years. They were the parents of five children, four of whom are yet liv- ing: William, a resident of Hyde Park; Mary Jane, wife of W. A. Briggs, of Hyde Park; Margaret, wife of John P. Roberson, of Hyde Park; and Jolin, who owns the old homestead in Bremen Township. The fourth child, James G., lost a limb in front of Richmond, Va., in October, 1864, while serving in Company G, Thirty-ninth Illinois Regiment. He died May 7, 1885, aged forty-one years.

John Hamilton was born on the home farin, July 27, 1842. During his boyhood he attended the public schools and Hillsdale (Miclı.) College. In 1864, having completed his education, he returned home, and since that time has de- voted his energies to his extensive farming inter- ests. Since 1879 he has had charge of two hun- dred and forty acres of good land, comprising one of the most valuable farms in this section of Illi- 11ois, and for the past sixteen year's he has made a specialty of the dairy business. He keeps 011 hand about fifty cows, and has met with excellent

484

JOHN McELDOWNEY.

success in that enterprise. He also raises some fine horses, and is recognized as one of the lead- ing farmers and stock-dealers of this locality.

On the 16th of November, 1882, Mr. Hamilton was united in marriage with Miss Alma G. Lucas, daughter of George and Barbara (Drummond) Lucas, whose family numbers five children, the others being Margaret, wife of W. Hulet, of Bre- men Township; Robert and Arthur, well-known farmers; and Clara L., wife of Dexter Minard, who is represented elsewhere in this work. The father, George Lucas, was a native of the Buck- eye State, but during his boyhood left his Ohio home, and has since resided in Illinois. By oc-

cupation, he is a farmer. His wife is a native of Buffalo, N. Y., and a daughter of James and Margaret (McMartin) Drummond.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton have been born three children, Margaret Florence, Emily Clara and John Emerson, and all are still under the parental roof. In his political views, Mr. Hamilton is a stalwart advocate of Republican principles, and has served as School Trustee of Bremen Town- ship, but has never souglit political preferment, desiring rather to give his entire time and atten- tion to his business interests, in which he has inet with good success.

JOHN McELDOWNEY.

1 OHN McELDOWNEY, one of the honored pioneers of Cook County, has for almost sixty years resided on the site of Chicago Heights, although it was long years after his ar- rival that the town sprang into existence. The history of Cook County as a frontier settlement is well known to him, and the experiences of the pioneer form a part of his record. He was born in Ireland, on the 11th of October, 1811. His father, John McEldowney, and his grandfather, who also bore the name of John, likewise were natives of the Emerald Isle. The mother, who in her maidenhood was Martha Caldwell, was born in Ireland, and was a daughter of James and Jane (Moorhead) Caldwell. Mr. McEldowney, the father, was a farmer, and followed that occupation throughout his entire life. In 1832, he crossed the Atlantic to Canada, and in 1836 came to Cook County, Ill., where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring on the 20th of January, 1875. With the Presbyterian Church he held member- ship. His wife was called to her final rest March 5, 1861. They were married in 1810, and became

the parents of nine children, namely: John of this sketch; Jane, who was born January 21, 1814, became the wife of Robert Wallace, and died in 1874; James, who was born May 4, 1816, has followed farming throughout his life, and now re- sides in Chicago Heights; Anu, who married John Hughes, and died May 4, 1888; Thomas, born De- cember 1, 1821, retired, living in Chicago Heights; Rosana, born May 28, 1822, and who died May 17, 1845, being the first one interred in Bloom Ceme- tery; Catherine J., born June 15, 1824, the wife of Stewart B. Eakem; Martha, who was born Jan- uary 21, 1827, became the wife of John W. Mor- rison, a minister of Bloom for twenty-five years, and died on thre 2d of May, 1894; and Elizabeth, born July 10, 1829, deceased, wife of john Miller.

The eldest member of the family, in whom the readers of this volume are especially interested, well deserves representation in the history of his adopted county. He acquired his education in the public schools, and remained on the Emerald Isle until 1832, when, with his father, he boarded a sailing-vessel and became a resident of Canada.

JOHN MCELDOWNEY.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

485

EVERITTE ST. JOHN.

There he began working on a farmi, receiving $7 per month for his services. He was thus em- ployed until 1835, when he resolved to seek his home in Illinois, and in the spring of that year started for Chicago. He made the first part of the journey on foot as far as Burlington, Vt., and by way of the Canal and Lakes to Detroit, from whence he came on foot to his destination, a dis- tance of three hundred miles.

For two months Mr. McEldowney worked in the New York Hotel stable. He has cut hay where the court house of Chicago now stands, and has witnessed almost the entire growth and devel- opment of Cook County. On the Ist of July, 1835, he took up his residence at Thorn Grove, now Chicago Heights, and made a claim of four hun- dred acres of land 011 sections 28 and 29, Bloom Township, for which he paid the usual Govern- ment price of $1.25 per acre. His first home was a log cabin, built on the site of the present town, and there he lived in true pioneer style. His farming was done with crude machinery, and he worked early and late in order to make a start. His enterprise, perseverance and industry were at length crowned with success, and at one time he was the owner of a very valuable farin of five hundred and twenty acres. He acquired a hand- some competence, which now enables him to rest from business cares.

On the 15th of July, 1836, Mr. EcEldowney

married Miss Ann Wallace, daughter of William and Elizabetlı Wallace, and a native of Ireland, born June 4, 1814. They have eight children. Dorothy, who was born Marchi 28, 1838, became the wife of Jamies Hunter, and died June 28, 1870; Mary A., born May 17, 1840, is the wife of Samuel McDowall, an attorney at law, engaged in practice in Salt Lake City; William J., born June 30, 1843, is President of the Chicago Heights Bank; Martha E., born May 19, 1846, died Feb- ruary 27, 1867; James H. was born May 20, 1848; Margaret J., born May 13, 1850, died on the 6th of July following; Rebecca, born October 8, 1851, is the wife of William J. Campbell, an attorney at law; and Andrew W., born February 6, 1854, completes the family.

Since the organization of the party, Mr. Mc- Eldowney has been a stanch Republican in poli- tics, and has been honored with several local offi- ces. He lias served as Supervisor, and for the long period of twenty years was Justice of the Peace, proving a capable and efficient officer. In 1886, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 7th of September, and was laid to rest in Bloom Cemetery. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church, to which Mr. McEldowney also belongs. His life has been well and worthily passed, and throughout the community in which he has so long made his home he has the high regard of all.

EVERITTE ST. JOHN.

VERITTE ST. JOHN, General Manager of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Rail- road, was born at Sharon, Litchfield County, Conn., February 4, 1844. Bothi parents were natives of that State and of English lineage. When four years old, his father died, and his mother, though left with a large family of chil-

dren, managed to provide for their physical com- fort and gave each a public-school education. Ambitious to begin a career of usefulness, at an early age the subject of this biography began to earn his livelihood by becoming a clerk for his elder brother, who filled the combined offices of Postmaster, station agent, Town Clerk and gen-

486

EVERITTE ST. JOHN.

eral store-keeper of the village. Here, and in liis mother's home, were imbibed in a large degree those principles of industry, economy and perse- verance which have characterized the man, and which are essential to the successful management of an extensive railway system, or other large en- terprises.

Through the medium of the local gossip, which had its natural center at the village postoffice, he heard much of the success of other young men who had left the Nutmeg State to seek their fortunes in the great West, and becoming inocu- lated with the western fever, at the age of seven- teen years he resigned his position as his broth- er's assistant and went to Quincy, Ill. Here he became a clerk in the general ticket office of the Quincy & Toledo Railroad, at a salary of $30 per month. When that road was consolidated with the Great Western Railroad, of Illinois, he was transferred to a similar position at Springfield, with a slight increase of salary. One year later, having received an offer of a better position from the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, he came to Chicago, and on the 4th of July, 1863, began liis career witli that corporation. His steady appli- cation and untiring energy soon attracted the at- tention of his superiors, and secured promotion to a more responsible and lucrative position. Suc- cessively he became Chief Ticket Clerk and Gen- eral Ticket Agent, occupying the latter position for fourteen years. At the expiration of that period, he was appointed General Ticket and Passenger Agent of the road, and six months later became Assistant General Manager, while still holding the former position. In July, 1887, he was made General Manager of the lines east of the Missouri River, and the duties of that office were supple- mented by those of Assistant General Manager of the lines west of the Missouri River. On the Ist of April, 1889, he assumed the position of General Manager of the entire system, bringing to the discharge of his duties the ripened experience of a quarter-century of active railroad labors.

With the growth and development of the. great West, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Rail- road system has grown, and in many localities has preceded the development of its tributary terri-

tory. Mr.St.John has constantly striven to improve and perfect every department, and to that end has devoted much of the time given by others to recreation, having often given, for many years, twelve to fifteen hours per day to his work. His industry has been something phenomenal, and it is a source of wonder to his acquaintances that he has not given way in physical vigor under the assaults made by his own ambition and industry. He is remarkably free from all ostentation and those assumptions of exclusiveness often affected by men in high and responsible positions, and is among the most approachable and genial of men. Having conquered by labor his own elevation, he can sympathize with all who labor, and his latcli- string is always out to the humblest employe who has a grievance, or a request to make.

As Chairman of the General Managers' Asso- ciation, Mr. St. John bore no small part of the re- sponsibility in overcoming the great sympathetic strike of 1894, in which the American Railway Union, composed largely of switchmen, and others identified and unidentified with railroad opera- tions, sought to compel the railroads of the country to abandon the use of Pullman cars, be- cause of an alleged grievance of members of the union against the Pullman Palace Car Company. The principle thus sought to be set up being wholly un-American, and not acknowledged by thinking people, the railroads set about carrying on their own business according to existing con- tracts with the Pullman Palace Car Company, and for the accommodation of the traveling pub- lic. The false principle was set up, and an at- tempt made to force the railroads and the public to accept it, that the strikers had a right to pre- vent, even by force, anyone from operating the. roads by fulfilling the duties and service they had left. The General Managers met every emer- gency, and by co-operation soon secured men to operate trains; and the National Government protecting its mails and inter-state commerce, de- lays were averted, and as speedily as possible the resumption of traffic, both passenger and freight, thereby secured. All this was not accomplished until much valuable property, chiefly the cars of the railroads and their freight, belonging to ship-

487

C. H. McCORMICK, JR.

pers all over the country, had been destroyed by fires set by strikers and their sympathizers. By their firm position and prompt action in securing the most ready and valuable protection, the Gen- eral Managers won, and received the admiration and thanks of law-abiding people everywhere, and also made more certain and intelligible the principle that every American citizen has the right to undertake any honorable employment he wishes, and that no class can rightfully cut off the privileges of the rest of the world to secure its own selfish ends.

As Chairman of the Railway Finance Commit- tee of the World's Columbian Exposition, he en- abled that association to add nearly $1,000,000 to its treasury. He has been for years connected with many important railway associations, as fol-

lows: Chairman of Executive Committee of the Trans-Missouri Freight Association; Chairman of Western Railroad Weighing Association and Inspection Bureau; Chairman of the Chicago Car Service Association, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Western Freight As- sociation.

Mr. St. John was happily married in 1869 to Miss Emilina B. Lamson, of Andover, Mass. They occupy a pleasant home on Rush Street, Chicago, where is stored his library of over one thousand choice volumes. He is a communicant of the Episcopal Church; a member of the Union League Club, and of Waubansee Lodge No. 160, A. F. & A. M .; Past Eminent Commander of Montjoe Commandery, No. 53, K. T., and ex-President of the Sons of Connecticut.

CYRUS HALL McCORMICK, JR.

D YRUS HALL McCORMICK, Jr., is the eldest child of the great inventor of the reaper, Cyrus H. McCormick. His mother is Nettie Fowler McCormick. He was born on the 16th of May, 1859, in Washington, D. C., where his parents lived for several months while his father was securing patents on his reaper. At an early age, young McCormick entered the pub- lic schools of Chicago, and at the age of eighteen was graduated from the High School at the head of liis class. He at once entered Princeton Col- lege and became a member of the Class of '79. In the autumn following, he entered the business of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, and served in several departments in order that he might obtain a knowledge of its various branches. On the death of his father in 1884, he was elected to succeed him as President of the company, and has continued in that position up to the present time.

On the 5th of March, 1889, Mr. McCormick was married at Monterey, Cal., to Miss Harriet Brad- ley Hammond, a niece of Mrs. E. S. Stickney, of - Chicago. They have three children, two sons and a daughter.

For several years Mr. McCormick has been a director of the Merchants' Loan & Trust Company, of Chicago. Since June, 1889, he has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Princeton Uni- versity. He is also Secretary of the Board of Trustees of McCormick Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, and was for several years the first Vice-President of the Young Men's Christian Association of Chicago. In the summer of 1889, he spent some time in Paris in the inter- est of the company's exhibits at the International Exposition, and was soon after decorated by the President of France "Officer of the Merite Agri- cole." In speaking of this honor, the Courier d' Illinois said: "This is one of but a few instances

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 70

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