Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 78

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 78

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EUGENE C. LONG.

UGENE CONANT LONG was born in Bran- don, Vermont, October 31, 1834, and is a son of James and Cerusa (Conant) Long, who were among the early pioneers of Cook County. James Long was born in Washington, District of Columbia, and was a son of Andrew and Alice Long, of Baltimore, Maryland. An- drew Long was killed in the service of the United States during the War of 1812. The family of Long (or Laing, as it was originally spelled) is of Scotch extraction, and was founded in America by four brothers who settled at Baltimore about 1660. Commodore Long, who was in the United States naval service during the Revolution, was descended from one of these.

While a young man, James Long went to New York City, where he became a partner with Sam- uel Hoard, afterwards Postmaster of Chicago, in the publishing business. A few years later, the firm removed to Brandon, Vermont, where they published a newspaper for some years. In 1835 James Long moved, with his family, to Cook County and engaged in farming in Jefferson town- ship, near the present village of that name, now within the limits of the city of Chicago. Not find- ing agriculture very profitable, after three years' experience, lie sold out and moved to Chicago and built a steam grist mill on Michigan Avenue, at the corner of Lake Street. This he operated

for several years. The engine in this mill was employed in pumping the water which was first supplied by the city to the people of Chicago. This contract continued some years, the water being forced through hollow logs laid in a few streets near the river. Those outside the service were wont to keep barrels for storing a supply, and these barrels were filled by private enterprise, at ten cents per barrel.

After disposing of the mill, Mr. Long was ap- pointed by President Polk as Keeper of the light- house, which stood near the site of the present Rush Street bridge. He subsequently served as County Treasurer, and for a number of years filled the office of Alderman of the First Ward. After re- tiring from business and public life, he spent con- siderable time in travel, and his death occurred in Paris, France, on the roth of April, 1876, at the age of seventy-four years.

Mrs. Cerusa Long died in Chicago in 1874, at the age of sixty-seven years. She was a daugh- ter of Jolin Conant and Chara Broughton, of Brandon, Vermont. John Conant was descended from one of the earliest American families. His grandfather, Ebenezer Conant, served in the Con- tinental army, as Captain of a Massachusetts com- pany. Roger Conant, father of the last-named, was among the Colonial Governors of Massachu- setts-preceding Governor Endicott.

538

FRANCIS HUTCHISON.

Eugene C. Long was still in his infancy when the family came to Cook County, Chicago being at that time a village of three or four thousand in- habitants. While a boy, he was accustomed to do the family marketing. The chief produce market was on State Street near Randolph, and its wares were brought by farmers from long dis- tances and displayed in wagons and other vehi- cles, much after the present fashion of the Hay- market of the West Side. The pioneers of that day did not lack for the substantials, though there was little cash in circulation, and they were largely ignorant of the present style of living in the city.

At the age of seventeen years, Eugene C. Long graduated from the Beardsly Seminary, and soon after became a clerk and teller in the Marine Bank. His connection with that institution con- tinned for twenty-two years, during the last twelve of which he served as Cashier. I11 1874 he re- signed this position and engaged in the stock and brokerage business, continuing that occupation

five years. He then entered the office of the late Judge Van H. Higgins. Since 1880 he has been a stockholder and Secretary of the Rose Hill Cem- etery Company, and since 1893 has also been Treasurer of the corporation.

He was married in October, 1858, to Harriet Alexander, step-daughter of Van H. Higgins, and daughter of the first Mrs. Higgins-Elizabeth (Morse) Alexander. Mrs. Long was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, and is the mother of two daughters, Eugenie and Harriet, the first being now the wife of Edward L. Frasher, of Chicago.

Mr. Long and his family are members of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and lie has been a life-long Republican in principle and practice. The record of his business career shows him to be capable and upright, for only through these qualities could any one hold the positions he has filled. In manner, he is courteous and easy, show- ing long familiarity with the best men and methods of the day.

FRANCIS HUTCHISON.

RANCIS HUTCHISON, a successful Chi- cagoan now living in practical retirement, is a Scotchman by nativity and spent his youth upon the banks of the river Leven, the outlet of Loch Lomond, a locality which has been rendered famous in song and story, and abounds with liistoric interest and romantic scenery. His birth occurred on the 30th day of April, 1828, in the village of Alexandria, Dumbartonshire. His parents, James and Janet (Weir) Hutchison, were in humble circumstances and, though able to afford their offspring but a rudimentary intel- lectual training, endowed them with habits and

principles which fitted them for filling responsible and useful positions in life.

James Hutchison was born at Abernathy, near Perth, Scotland, but removed during his youth to Dumbartonshire where his later life was spent. Mrs. Janet Hutchison was a daughter of Donald Weir, a well-to-do farmer and herdsman of Argyle- shire. But three of their nine children are now living, and Francis is the only resident of the United States. The other survivors are Rev. John Hutchison, an Independent (Congrega- tional) minister at Ashton-under-line, England, who has filled his present pastorate for upwards

539

FRANCIS HUTCHISON.

of forty years,' and Donald Hutchison, who is the chief engineer of a steamship company, which operates a line of vessels plying between Liver- pool and the La Plata river in South America.

At the age of eight years, Francis Hutchison began to earn his daily bread by laboring in the print and dye works which abound in the vicin- ity of his birthplace. At fourteen he was set to learn the carpenter trade serving five years ap- prenticeship at that industry. He was afterwards employed as a ship-carpenter and acquired a de- gree of skill and proficiency which has since served him in good stead.

Having heard fabulous-sounding stories of the great land beyond the Atlantic ocean, he deter- mined to see and investigate its wonderful re- sources by a personal visit and, not without con- siderable misgivings as to the duration of his sojourn, in 1858 he took passage upon the steamer "Kangaroo" for New York, arriving in that city on the ninth day of June. He went from there to Rochester, New York, and after spending a few months at that place, took passage by way of the lakes for Chicago whither he arrived in due time, landing upon a temporary pier at Clark Street. His destination was the home of his uncle, Donald Weir, who lived on the Des Plaines river near "the Sag," but as the address which had been furnished him was rather vague, he spent several days in unnecessary travel before reach- ing the place, a delay which was amply atoned for by the liearty welcome accorded him upon his arrival. As a number of farm houses were being erected in that neighborhood, he found a ready demand for his services, and his first season's earnings so far exceeded any sum le had ever received for a corresponding period of time that all doubts concerning the superior advantages of this country as a permanent place of residence were dispelled from his mind and he determined to become an American citizen.

In the fall of 1860 he went to Helena, Arkan- sas, where he was employed at his trade until the following spring, when, owing to the outbreak of the rebellion and not wishing to be pressed into the Confederate service, he returned to the North without being able to collect the money he had

earned there. His brief residence at the South had given him a good understanding of tlie con- ditions which prevailed there, however, and en- abled him to take a more conservative view of the questions which divided the union than pre- vailed among the more enthusiastic partisans of the North.

The prevailing wages for house-builders in Chicago at this time ranged from seventy-five cents to one dollar per day, and Mr. Hutchison found it more profitable to engage in ship car- pentry. He was subsequently employed in build- ing gun-boats for the United States Government at St. Louis, and at Cairo, Illinois. In 1863 he purchased an interest in a distillery at Joliet, but as some features of the business became distaste- ful to him, he sold out the following year and in- vested his profits in vessels plying between Chi- cago and the lower lake ports. He continued the carrying trade for the next nine or ten years, and in the meantime purchased several lots and a residence at the corner of Van Buren and Throop Streets. The rapid growth of the city soon created a demand for this location for com- mercial purposes and he replaced his residence with several substantial business blocks. He lias since bought and improved other valuable west- side property, and of recent years the care and renting of these buildings has absorbed most of his time and attention.

Mr. Hutchison was married in 1864 to Miss Elizabeth Jones, daughter of Thomas Jones, who died in Chicago in 1882, at the age of more than eighty years. The lady was born in Denbigh- shire, Wales, and came to America in 1856. She has been an able helpmeet and counsellor of her husband, and their union has been blessed with four children, three of whom are still under the par- ental roof, namely: Elizabeth Agnes, Catherine Jane, wife of S. B. Foster, James Francis and Jean- nette Weir. All the members of this family are identified with the Jefferson Park Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Hutchison is a man of simple tastes, and leads a quiet and unostentatious life, though he does not think it out of place to crack an occa- sional joke among his old-time friends. Since the

540

W. B. SNOW.

war he has been a pronounced Republican, but sometimes ignores party lines concerning ques- tions of local import. When he first arrived in Chicago his total cash assets were comprised in a gold quarter eagle. This he carefully hoarded for some time and when obliged to spend a por-

tion of it for repairing his shoes, he received in change a one-dollar bill of "wild-cat"' currency, which proved to be worthless. His subsequent prosperity, therefore, may be attributed solely to liis frugal, industrious habits, correct judgment and integrity of character.

WILLIAM B. SNOW.

ILLIAM BLAKE SNOW, who put on track the first railway passenger coach built in Chicago, is descended from an old Ameri- can family. The environment of the New Eng- land fathers was calculated to develop all that was sturdy in mind and body, and in many of their descendants are found the qualities which enabled them to survive the hardships they were con- pelled to endure and caused tliemi to prosper in the midst of most forbidding conditions. The spirit of adventure and progress which led to the colonization of New England, still lives in the posterity of the Pilgrims, and has raised up sim- ultaneously throughout the northern half of the United States churches, school houses and fac- tories.

William B. Snow was born in Bellows Falls, Vermont, February 13, 1821, and is a son of Sol- omon and Lucina Snow. His ancestors were, doubtless, English, and early located in America. His paternal grandfather was a chocolate manu- facturer near Boston, and his maternal grand- father, "Bill" Blake, established the Bellows Falls Gazette, one of the first newspapers in Ver- mont. His wife was Polly Wait, of Milbury, Massachusetts.

The subject of this biography passed his boy- hood in his native village, receiving his education in the schools there existing. At the age of four- teen years, he began working in his father's wagon and carriage shop, becoming expert in the

use of woodworking implements. For some years he was employed by his uncles in a paper inill. When twenty-two years of age, lie set out to make his fortune, going to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he took contracts for carpenter work. From there he went to Seymour (then called Hum- phreysville), Connecticut, where he was employed by the American Car Company, and moved with that establishment to Chicago in 1852. At this time he had a contract with the company for building coaches, and set up the first one ever constructed in this city. This was purchased by the Chicago & Galena Union Railroad, then in its infancy. An account of the origin of that en- terprise will be found in this work, in the sketch of John B. Turner, who was its founder. When the American Car Company sold out to the Illi- nois Central Railroad Company, Mr. Snow was employed by the new proprietor, with whom he continued from 1857 to 1872. His integrity and ex- ecutive ability had meantime become known to many Chicago citizens, and he was offered a huicra- tive position by the Pullman Palace Car Company, for which he traveled three years. At the end of this period, he again took employment with the Illinois Central Company, and so continued until he retired from active business in October, 1891.

Mr. Snow has always been a quiet citizen, giv- ing his undivided attention to business, and leav- ing others to manage their concerns in their own way. He has been a faithful attendant of the

541

A. G. LULL.

Reformned Episcopal Church, with which his fam- ily is affiliated, being identified with Bishop Che- ney's congregation. He is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and a demitted Freemason. His early political associations were with the Whig party, and lie has adhered to the Republican organization since it came into exist- ence. He has never sought political preferment,.

but has fulfilled that imperative duty-as well as privilege-of the good American citizen, a vote in every important contest. In 1843 he was mar- ried to Miss Orra L. Dyke, of American parentage, and two children have blessed this union. The eldest, Frank Austin Snow, resides in Chicago, as does also the other, Lottie, wife of A. G. Farr, of the firm of N. W. Harris & Company.

ALBERT G. LULL.

LBERT GALLATIN LULL was born in Windsor, Vermont, February 20, 1827, and died in Chicago, February 13, 1892. His parents, Joel and Celia (Smith) Lull, were na- tives of the Green Mountain State, the Lull fam- ily being one of the oldest in that commonwealth. Mrs. Celia Lull died in Windsor, and her hus- band afterwards came to Chicago, where he served as constable for several years. His deathı occurred in 1880, at North Attleboro, Massachu- setts.

After leaving the public schools, Albert G. Lull became a student for a time at Dartmouth Col- lege. At Springfield, Massachusetts, he took 11p the study of gunsmithing and mechanics. In 1849, he came to Chicago and obtained employ- ment in the machine shop of H. P. Moses. While thus engaged, he assisted in the construction of the first water works in the city. He was subse- quently employed by Foss Brothers, in a large plan- ing mill on Canal Street, near Monroe, the site of which is now occupied by the Union Passenger Station and railroad tracks. When this mill was torn down, preparatory to the construction of the depot, he purchased the machinery, in company with his brother-in-law, Isaac Holmes, and built a new mill on the west side of Canal Street, be- tween Jackson and Van Buren Streets. The firmn dealt in lumber and carried on the manufacture of packing boxes, doing an extensive business until 1871, when the entire plant was consumed

in the fire, which occurred on Saturday night, the 8th of October, preceding by one day the memor- able "great fire." The disaster which destroyed the mills of Lull & Holmes made a gap which saved the West Side from the ravages of the suc- ceeding fire. The firm rescued the safe contain- ing their books from the ruins and placed them in the office of a friend, on the south side of Van Buren Street, only to be lost in the greater conflagration of the following day. This alone inflicted a serious loss on Mr. Lull, who never recovered his fortunes and suffered a permanent loss of health from the shock and exertions in trying to rescue his prop- erty. He retired a few years later from all busi- ness activities.

On the 5th of April, 1855, he was married to Mrs. Mary Sammons, daughter of John and Ellen Holmes, widow of Elijalı H. Sammons. Mrs. Lull was born at Bradford, England, and came to America with her parents in 1835, arriving in Chicago in April of that year. She is still active in mind and body, and relates many incidents of pioneer life in Chicago. She is a member of the Cathedral Church of SS. Peter and Paul, in which Mr. Lull was also a communicant. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lull-Rich- ard H., who is a physician now practicing in Chicago, and Mary C., who is the wife of Mark R. Sherman, an attorney of the same city.

Mr. Lull was a prominent member of the Ma- sonic order, and likewise, of the Independent

542

E. F. DANIELS.

Order of Odd Fellows, in which last fraternity he had taken all the degrees and was a member of the Grand Lodge of the United States. From the first organization of the Republican party, he was

one of its most steadfast and consistent suppor- ters, and as a man and citizen, lie ever sought to promote the material, moral and intellectual growth of the community in which he lived.

EDWIN F. DANIELS.

DWIN F. DANIELS, an enterprising busi- ness man of Chicago, was born at Concord, Jackson County, Michigan, January 23, 1848. He is a son of George and Delzina (John- ston) Daniels, both of whom died before he was five years old. George Daniels was born at Hull, England, and was one of a family of eleven chil- dren who came to America with their parents in 1832. They settled at Dearborn, Michigan, near Detroit. George Daniels afterwards. moved to Jackson County, where his death occurred in 1854, at the age of thirty-two years. His wife was of Irish descent.

Edwin F. Daniels lived with his paternal grandparents and attended school at Hudson, Michigan. Before completing his education, how- ever, he went to Chattanooga, Termessee, to as- sist his uncle, Capt. William H. Johnston, who was a commissary officer in charge of forage for the army. He continued in that employment until Sherman's army started on its famous "march to the sea," when lie became a messenger in charge of forage on the railroad from Chattanoo- ga to Atlanta. At the time when the rebels tore up the track, at Big Shanty, Georgia, the train on which he was serving returned to Al- toona, just in time to escape capture. After the battle between Hood and Corse, in which the for- mer was defeated, Mr. Daniels returned to Chatta- nooga and soon afterwards left the service and returned to his boyhood home in Michigan. He then, for some years, engaged in the manufac-

ture of woodenware and also operated a planing mill.

In February, 1876, he came to Chicago, and was employed for four years as Clerk in the County Treasurer's office. In 1881, he began dealing in coal, an occupation which he has con- tinuously and successfully followed until the present time. The original firm of Weaver, Daniels & Co., was succeeded in turn by Pea- body, Daniels & Co., and Edwin F. Daniels & Co. Since 1890, Mr. Daniels has been sole pro- prietor, and the business, which was inaugurated on a rather limited scale, has grown to immense proportions and is now one of the most extensive in its line in the city.

He was married in 1880, to Miss Kate Elkins, daughter of Henry K. Elkins, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Daniels was born in Chicago, and has presented her hus- band with two sons, Henry Elkins and Raymond Elkins Daniels. Mr. and Mrs. Daniels are mem- bers of the First Unitarian Church of Chicago, and the former is identified with the Union League, Kenwood, Chicago Athletic and Tolles- ton Shooting Clubs, and the Chicago Board of Trade. During the hunting season, he finds recreation by making weekly trips to Tolleston for shooting water fowl. He is an advocate of Republican principles, but ignores party lines in voting upon local issues. His success may be at- tributed to his enterprising business methods, ready decision and integrity of character.

L. C. CLARK.

543

LYMAN C. CLARK.

YMAN C. CLARK is one of the leading and prominent business men of Turner, where he has made his home since 1870. During the years which have since passed, he has con- tinuously engaged in the insurance business. He was born June 10, 1833, in Darien, Genesee County, N. Y., and is a son of Henry S. and Deb- orah R. (Carpenter) Clark. The paternal grand- father, Joshua Clark, was a Revolutionary soldier and served under Gens. Washington and Green. He was a native of Rhode Island, and after his re- moval to New York he took up several hundred acres of land. Throughout his life he followed farming as a livelihood. A prominent and influ- ential citizen, lie was honored with the office of Justice of the Peace for over forty years. His death occurred in the Empire State at the ad- vanced age of eighty-seven. In his family were thirteen children, twelve of whom grew to mature years. The maternal grandfather of our subject, James Carpenter, was a native of Connecticut, and his entire life was spent in that State, where he died at an advanced age.

Henry S. Clark was born in Rhode Island, and became a contractor and builder of New York. He also engaged in painting, and his death was the result of his being poisoned by paint, in 1855, at the age of sixty-two years. His wife, who was born in Connecticut, died in the Empire State in 1881, at the age of eighty-four. Both were members of the Baptist Church, and the father was a local preacher of that denomina- tion. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and his widow received a pension on that account. In their family were four sons and five daughters, of whom the following are now living: Henry H .; Lyman C .; Lorinda E., wife of William Waldron,

of Trenton, Canada; and Susan M., wife of Albert Blackman, of Erie County, N. Y. Two brothers lost their lives during the late war. Jerome was killed at Bentonville, N. C., and Dennis died at home from injuries received in the service.

We now take up the personal history of our subject, who was reared in the State of his nativ- ity, and in the common schools of the neighbor- hood acquired a good English education. When about fourteen years of age, he began learning the trade of carriage-maker, which he followed continuously until 1865. The following year he emigrated westward and took up his residence in Davenport, Iowa, where he embarked in the life- insurance business. In 1870 he came to Turner, where he has since devoted liis time and energies to the same pursuit with good success.

On the 18th of September, 1855, Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Miss Laura E. Babcock, daughter of Rev. R. and Lucinda (Gilbert) Bab- cock, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of New York. Seven children have been born of this union, two sons and five daugh- ters. Altie Florence is the wife of C. E. Norris, of Turner, by whom she has four children: Charles H., Carroll W., Ernest L. and Florence. Clar- ence Henry, deceased, was a twin brother of Altie Florence. Clara Louise, Henrietta and Charles Herbert are all deceased. Ella Laura is the wife of E. B. Holmes, of Turner; and Lulu Pauline completes the family.

The parents are both members of the Method- ist Episcopal Church and take a most active part in church and benevolent work. Mr. Clark has been Steward of the church for thirty-seven con- secutive years, and has also served as Trustee and Class-leader for many years. He is now Su-

544

E. H. CASTLE.

perintendent of the Sunday-school, which is mak- home and other town property in Turner, and is numbered among the valued and representative citizens of this community. He has lived an up- right, honorable life, and his career is one well high regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers this record of his life. ing good progress under his able management. He has also been prominently identified with tem- perance work. In politics, he is a Republican, and socially is connected with Amity Lodge No. . worthy of emulation. He has the confidence and 472, A. F. & A. M .; Doric Chapter No. 166, R. A. M .; and Siloam Commandery No. 54, of Oak Park. He and his wife are both members of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Clark has a good

EDWARD HERRICK CASTLE.

DWARD HERRICK CASTLE. To the student of human progress, or the youth who seeks an example worthy of his emulation, the history of this successful man offers especially interesting features. His career has been full of adventure and excitement, and yet the experi- ences of his life have made his mind philosophical and his heart sympathetic. When he was born, the nation was young and still almost an experi- ment, so that men were not encouraged to ven- ture into strange fields of action. He has lived to see the American nation become one of the great- est of the earth; and now, in his old age, he re- joices that he has been permitted to witness the triumph of the institutions of liberty.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, 8th ed., Part 78

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