Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 10

Author: La Salle Book Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : La Salle Book Co.
Number of Pages: 910

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dent with his earnings, and many times walked from Albany to Rochester to save the fare by stage.

Mr. Hoxie became a sub-contractor on the Niagara Falls Railroad at an early age, and later was in the same position on the Staten Island Railroad. While in the latter position the yellow fever began raging and he was quarantined, but finally escaped to the mainland. After spending nearly two years in Virginia he returned to Rochester, New York, where he became a dealer in live stock, which he shipped over the Michigan Southern and other railroads. His fame as a man of great business tact and ability spread over many States, and in 1857 he received an offer to assist in the management of the shipping business of the Michigan Southern Railroad, with headquarters in Chicago. This offer was re- ceived by telegram, and hastily packing his satchel, he told his mother he would return in a few days; but the days lengthened into weeks, months, and years, and he did not return home until 1862. The officers of the company recog- nized his ability, and the position of stock agent was offered him, which he accepted and retained during his connection with the road.

At this time the company was almost bankrupt, but Mr. Hoxie infused new life into the business by building up the freight traffic, thus saving it from financial ruin. For this service the com- pany was ever truly grateful, and he was retained in office long after his active interest ceased. Largely through his influence the railroad was able to retain its controlling interest in the Union Stock Yards, and the profits from the tremendous

J. R. HOXIE.

traffic in live stock thus brought to it. combined effort was made by the other roads to induce Mr. Hoxie to retire from the service of the Michigan Southern, he declined every consider- ation offered him, and remained faithful through all temptation.

From early morning until late eve did he labor in the interest of this road, and this was practi- cally his life work. He foresaw great possibilities in its future, and steadily strove to carry it for- ward to its destiny. His nature rejoiced in victory over opposition, and the sharp competition he often met was refreshing to his restless spirit, and a stimulus to greater exertions. He loved work for its own sake, not for praise and reward. In the end, however, he paid the usual penalty for living under such high pressure, by the in- vasion of sickness and premature death. His nature could not rest, and though his life was shorter, he accomplished much more than the majority of business men.

Though an extremely busy man, he was al- ways cheerful, and liked the society of his fel- lows. He was, however, a stranger to the fashionable clubs, and made his home the scene of his rest and recreation. His wife was a worthy life companion, and her delight was to make the home pleasant, having a serene manner, a contented disposition, and being a great help to her husband in curbing his great ambition and teaching him the lessons of patience.

As soon as he was able Mr. Hoxie began to invest money in securities, and so good was his foresight that he became wealthy. In 1878 he bought a large grant of land from the heirs of Dr. Hoxie, a veteran of the Texan and the Mexi- can Wars, and an army surgeon under General Houston. This grant embraced ten thousand acres of land in Williamson County, Texas, to which he added another purchase of seven thou- sand acres. It is situated thirty-five miles from Austin, and six thousand acres of it have been cultivated, and fifty families reside on it.

Mr. Hoxie also bought fifty-two thousand acres of land at Midland, Texas, in the Counties of Martin and Andrews, this land being used for grazing. Beside his mansion on Michigan Ave-

When a nue, he had a country home twenty-one miles south of Chicago, which included seven hundred fifty-seven acres of land. Here he spent many hours away from the cares of business life, and lived close to the heart of Nature. On all his farms he has kept the buildings in excellent repair, having built many new ones. Unlike most business men, he early instructed his wife in the details of his affairs, being animated by the principle that what was his also belonged to her. To this wise precaution his widow now largely owes her ability to manage the property with such success.

Mr. Hoxie made annual trips to his possessions in the South, and to every one of these Texas owed some improvement, and he many times used his influence in opening some avenue of commerce. In 1887 he decided to retire from business, but never fully carried out his intention. When he was in Texas he made his headquarters at Fort Worth and there he was held in high es- teem by all the inhabitants, and especially the business men. Prior to his coming to this town the business was very dull, but he inspired confi- dence by organizing the Farmers and Mechanics' National Bank, with a capital of one million dollars. He was the president of this bank and also of the First National Bank at Taylor, Texas. He was connected with twenty other banks in this State, his influence and standing giving them power to exist.

In 1891, at the urgent request of the citizens of Fort Worth, he organized stock yards and packing houses, and the next year passed through a strike which made his presence at the yards necessary. This was such a severe strain on his finely organized nervous constitution that he never recovered his former health. A small bene- fit was gained at Carlsbad Springs, Germany,but nothing could entirely stay the ravages of the disease, diabetes, from which his death resulted. He passed away November 21, 1896.

Mr. Hoxie was a talented man, and had many charming traits of character. His influence was ever for good and his advice in municipal affairs was often sought and freely given. He was presi- dent of the Board of Trustees of Hyde Park and a

LEONARD SWETT.

school trustee in the town of Lake. During the centennial year he was a candidate for Congress on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated. Though he never afterward held any office his in- fluence was such that he controlled many positions of trust and responsibility. His rare wit and skillful repartee may be said to be gifts inherited from his mother, well-known for her good sense and quick perception.

Mr. Hoxie became interested in the Chicago City Railway Company and was instrumental in extending the cable lines, being for many years one of the largest individual stockholders. He was many times the youngest member of various boards of management, where he was neverthe- less recognized as a born leader. His associates often called him "Boy," among these being such men as Silas B. Cobb, Daniel Jones, Solomon Sturges, Lyman Blair, John De Koven, Samuel Nickerson, Lyman J. Gage, John B. Sherman, P. D. Armour, Samuel Allerton, and others equally well-known. He was called the "Mogul" of the Stock Yards Railroad along Fortieth Street, which was secured by his indefatigable energy.

In his business methods Mr. Hoxie was unlike the average man. Though possessed of sufficient ability to carry on numerous vast business enter- prises at the same time, he never used books to record his transactions, but so carefully was everything systematized that he suffered 110 loss from this fact. His was an eccentric character, but he was no recluse, and enjoyed rare friend- ships. He was well-known in Masonic circles, having attained the thirty-second degree. His wealth was accumulated in a legitimate way, and his only extravagance was indulged in providing for the comfort of his family. In religious belief he was a Quaker, and helped build and maintain the church at Twenty-sixth Street and Indiana Avenue. The principles of liis forefathers seemed to be the guide and rule of his life.

Mr. Hoxie was married October 22, 1872, to Mary J., daughter of P. D. Hamilton. Among the Qnakers she was known as "John's wife,"but her husband always spoke of lier with deference as Mrs. Mary J. Hoxie. Their union was blessed by three children, namely: John R., junior, Gilbert H. and Anna C.

LEONARD SWETT.

EONARD SWETT was born August 11, 1825, near the village of Turner, Oxford County, Maine, on what was known as Swett's Hill. This hill slopes in all directions, and constitutes one of the most beautiful spots in New England, and has ever since been owned by the family. His father, John Swett, was born in Buckfield, Maine, February 4, 1789, and mar- ried Remember Berry, on August 29, 1816. The latter was born at Buckfield, Maine, December 22, 1794. They settled after their marriage on the above-named hill, and lived and died there. The father was seventy years old, and the mother in her eighty-ninth year at the date of their . respective deaths-June 25, 1859, and May 19,

1883. They had six children. Mr. Swett fol- lowed the occupation of farming many years, but subsequently traveled, selling patent rights for different men, and for several years before his death was an agent for R. B. Dunn, a scythe manufacturer, at Wayne, Maine. He was a good business man and had the confidence of his em- ployers. He was a strict temperance man, he and his wife being members of the first temper- ance society formed in Turner. Mr. Swett was also a soldier in the War of 1812, being a private of Captain Richmond's company of Massachusetts Militia, his widow receiving a pension in acknowl- edgment of his services.

The story of this home is thus simply told by

LEONARD SWETT.

one of its members: "We each had our daily tasks, which we were always ready and willing to perform; our daily fare was always an abun- dance of plain, well cooked food, eaten with a relish known only to the industrious. The twi- light hour was almost invariably spent in song. How well I remember those concerts, of our eight voices, as we joined in singing our hymns of praise. It was a happy, peaceable, religious, industrious, frugal home. Sickness seldom in- vaded it, and its blessed memory is a source of joy to me yet." Here in the midst of a grandly rolling country Leonard Swett grew to manhood, developing a character sweet and healthful as the balsamic odor of the pines, yet strong and rugged as his native hills.

Leonard Swett's great-grandfather was Dr. Stephen Swett, of Gorham, and surgeon of Col. Edmund Phinney's 31st Regiment of Foot of 1775, in the war of the American Revolution. Pierce, in his history of Gorham, says, "Dr. Stephen Swett came from North Hampton in 1770. He was the tenth physician in the town. He was patriotic and possessed great energy." He died at Otisfield, Maine, January 6, 1807, aged seventy-five years or over. Dr. Swett's wife was Sarah Adams. Tradition says she was a cousin (probably second cousin) of President John Adams.

Dr. Stephen Swett and Sarah Adams Swett, his wife, had fourteen children, the fourth of whom-John Swett, born at Durham, New Hampshire, June 23, 1763, and who was married Warren-was Leonard Swett's grandfather. "He settled in Buckfield, Maine, the year he was married and resided there until his death, July 14, 1844. He was a farmer, and everything about his premises was a pattern of neatness and thrift. He had a good property and enough of everything for the comforts of life. He and his wife were both industrious, prudent, temperate, moral and religious. He brought the first wagon owned in the town from Gorham. It was very much admired and considered quite wonderful in those days. It was used to carry the family to church. Bothı he and his wife died of old age,

respected and beloved, and cared for by their son and sixth child, David Warren Swett." Betsey Warren Swett was born June 28, 1763, and died June 3, 1846.

As to the origin of Mr. Swett's family nothing is known definitely back of Dr. Stephen Swett, but as he came from towns in New Hampshire (Durham and North Hampton), but a few miles from Newbury and Hampton, which was the home in 1642 of John Swett, of England, who, through his son, Benjamin Swett, left a large family, it is thought probable that Dr. Stephen Swett is one of his numerous descendants.

Remember Berry Swett was born December 22, 1794; she was the daughter of William Berry and Joanna Doane; granddaughter of George Berry and Sarah Stickney; great-granddaughter of Maj. George Berry and Elizabeth Frink; great-great-granddaughter of George Berry and Deliverance Haley.

Mr. Swett, the subject of this sketch, died June 8, 1889. He married Laura R. Quigg, of Bradford, Massachusetts, July 20, 1854, and they had one son, Leonard H. Swett. March 5, 1886, his wife died, and July 14, 1887, he married Marie A. H. Decker, who survives him.

Leonard Swett was the second son and fourth child of his parents, and they conceived the idea, at an early date, of giving him a better education than the town afforded, consequently he was sent to select schools in the vicinity, and completed his education at North Yarmouth Academy and Waterville College, now Colby University. He at Gorham, Maine, March 27, 1788, to Betsey ' then read law for two years with Messrs. How-

ard & Shepley, at Portland, Maine, and started in the world to seek his fortune. At first he traveled in the South for nearly a year, then, witlı the spirit of adventure, he volunteered as a sol- dier in the Mexican War, and was under General Scott from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico. The war closed in May, 1848, when Mr. Swett returned and settled at Bloomington, Illinois. He commenced the practice of his profession in the fall of 1849, and gave to that profession the labor of a life. He was in indifferent health, ou ac- count of a disease contracted in Mexico, which rendered it impracticable for liim to sit in an office

LEONARD SWETT.

and do office work, and, therefore, at first he commenced to travel the circuit. The bar of that circuit, the eightli at that time, embraced many men of marked ability, some of whom have since acquired a national reputation. David Davis, since distinguished as a judge of the supreme court and a senator of the United States, was the judge from 1849 to 1862. Abraham Lincoln, for two years a member of congress, and afterwards known to the world as the martyred President and the emancipator of a race, was one of its lawyers. Edward D. Baker, a member of con- gress from the Sangamon District, also afterward from the Galena District, later a distinguished citizen of California, and a senator of the United States from Oregon, who died leading his men at the battle of Ball's Bluff, in the Civil War, was also one of its lawyers. There were also Edward Hannagan and Daniel W. Voorhees, since sena- tors from Indiana, who attended the eastern part of the circuit, and Stephen T. Logan, John T. Stuart, U. F. Linder and Oliver L. Davis. The sessions commenced the Ist of September, and ended about the Ist of January. The spring circuit commenced about February and ended in June. In a life with these men and upon this circuit, Mr. Swett spent his time from 1849 to 1862. The lawyers would arrive at a county seat of from five hundred to two thousand inhabitants, and the clients and public came in from the coun- try adjoining at about the same time. The law- yers were employed in such suits as were then pending in court, and the trials were immediately begun. After from three days to a week spent in this manner, the court would adjourn and the cavalcade start for the adjoining county seat, when the same processes would be repeated. Twice a year fourteen counties were traversed in this way, and in this manner Mr. Swett received his earlier legal education. David Davis, in a speech at Springfield, said in substance that this time constituted the bright spot of his life. In this expression he would doubtless be joined by every man named, most of whom now live beyond the river.

In 1865 Mr. Swett moved to Chicago, wliere he soon acquired a prominent and leading position

as a lawyer. During his life in the country, in Illinois, he took an active part in politics, taking part in the agitation of the slavery question, and canvassed nearly the whole state in the years 1852, 1854, 1856, 1858 and 1860. He, however, held but one office, which was that of member of the legislature, in 1858 and 1859, and this was at the special request of Lincoln himself, to save to the latter the vote of McLean County. That county at the previous election had been carried by four votes. Lincoln thought Swett could be elected, and asked him to run. He did so, car- rying the county by nearly five hundred majority. He then engaged earnestly in the work of secur- ing the nomination of Abraham Lincoln for Pres- ident, writing to public men and organizing other workers. The three men who did more than all others to make Mr. Lincoln the nominee in1 1860 were Leonard Swett, David Davis and Norman B. Judd; and the two men who were closest of all to Mr. Lincoln until his death were Swett and Davis. Norman B. Judd was given a foreign mission, David Davis was made supreme judge, but Leonard Swett declined to take office under the administration. He was closer to Lincoln's innermost thoughts and sympathies than any man in the world. He was much like Lincoln in per- son, complexion and manner, so much so that he was often mistaken for the President in Washing- ton, and he was much of the Lincoln mould, in- tellectually.

It has often been remarked that intimate as Lincoln was with Leonard Swett, he never gave him any office, and Swett was often asked the reason why. He always evaded the question, but, in a letter to W. H. Herndon, the author of the " Life of Lincoln," written a short time before Mr. Swett died, the latter explained this fact: When David Davis was a candidate for the su- preme bench, soon after Lincoln's election to the presidency, he was opposed by a senator of great influence, named Browning, whom Lincoln was almost ready to appoint. Leonard Swett was a warm friend of David Davis, and, going to the president, he said: "If you will give that place to Davis I will take it as one-half for him and one-half for myself, and never again will ask you

LEONARD SWETT.

for anything." David Davis got the appoint- ment, and Leonard Swett was true to his word. He said, not long before his death, that he was always glad he kept out of office.

After his removal to Chicago, he devoted him- self exclusively to his profession, and absolutely ignored politics. Mr. Swett was distinguished as successful in the trial of causes, in fact, he did little else during his professional life. In Chicago the most important cases were intrusted to him, and it was a rare thing that he lost one of them. The reason of this was, that he attended to the details of the preparation personally, himself see- ing and talking with his witnesses, so that when the cause was heard in court it fitted together "without noise of axe or hammer."

His business, in the main, was in civil cases; for instance, Thomas A. Scott, during the war, employed him for the Quicksilver Mining Com- pany to go to California to get possession of the great quicksilver mine near San Jose, after an adverse decision in reference to the Almaden claim. This country acquired by the treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo, at the close of the Mexican War, a large tract of land, now embracing many States and Territories, described by boundaries, and our Government agreed, wherever individu- als owned lands within these boundaries, it would issue to such parties a patent. Under the Mexi- ican law there were two kinds of titles, a mineral title, or a right to what the land contained under the surface, and a surface title. One man might own one title and another man the other. We have but one, the surface, and one owning that owns all above and below. The Barons had a mineral title to what they called the Almaden mine, and had made, prior to the decision, im- mense improvements. Justos Larios owned the surface title, and this was bought, and the Quick- silver Mining Company was organized upon this title. In 1863 the Supreme Court of the United States decided that the Baron title was a forgery. The quicksilver claim of Justos Larios had not been heard, and this left this property of immense value belonging either to the Government or to the quicksilver company. A contract was made between the Government and the quicksilver

company, by which a possession might be taken, which should be joint as between the Government and said mining company, and Mr. Swett was appointed by President Lincoln to go to California and acquire this joint possession, it being under- stood that he would offer the Barons one million dollars for their improvements. It was also a con- dition of this agreement that the proceeds of the mine should be deposited in the mint at San Fran- cisco until the termination of the litigation between the Government and the Quicksilver Mining Com- pany. He went to California, arriving there May 19, 1863, and leaving September 14, having, by aid of the courts and negotiations, secured the possession of the mine. Although Mr. Swett maintained a large office at Chicago, he, occasion- ally, at home and abroad, defended persons from criminal accusations, when the defense presented something attractive. In the vindication of honor, or if, upon the common frailty of the race, an act was done, he was a most accomplished and effect- ive advocate for the accused. He dealt, like a mental philosopher, with the purposes of the mind of the accused, and revealed to the compre- hension of the court and jury the mysterious in- fluences which produced the act of the party. He tried the will, purpose and intent, and not the mere physical act upon which the charge was founded. His mind delighted in the beautiful philosophy of the law; he dealt with its spirit, not with its letter. In this manner, in thirty-six years, he defended twenty men for murder, en- tirely clearing eighteen and two escaping with light punishment in the penitentiary.

He was called out of the city in criminal cases from Hartford, Connecticut, to defend the officers of the Charter Oak Life Insurance Company for conspiracy; to Deuver, where, with Hon. Thomas Patterson, he defended Stickney, who shot a man in a fit of jealousy, killing also a young and at- tractive woman; and to Yankton, where he de- fended Wintermute for the killing of McCook.

His style in a trial was simply the abnegation of every consideration except winning that case. To this he sacrificed everything. His style of speaking was earnest and convincing. He was the Chicago counsel for the Union Mutual Life

LEONARD SWETT.

Insurance Company, of Maine, and distinguished himself by gaining a suit for that company against the Chicago University, which had become fa- mous in the legal reports for its knotty problems of law and equity.

On the 21st of June, 1888, he made the nom- inating speech for Walter Q. Gresham for Presi- dent of the United States. Mr. Swett's address was an independent utterance, touching in an extremely effective manner the salient qualities of the individual eulogized, and also those points in his public career which had brought him so prominently before the people as a possible presi- dential candidate.

In private life Mr. Swett was a man of social disposition and strong attachments. He was a pleasant companion and a warm and steadfast friend, and was generous almost to a fault. His nature was kind, genial and sympathetic, and his social intercourse was enlivened by so many gen- erous and endearing qualities, that it won for him the affectionate regard of those who knew him intimately to an extraordinary degree. In person he was imposing; six feet two inches in height, and weighing, when in health, two hundred and twenty-five pounds or more. He possessed a strong face, with heavy, bushy, black eyebrows, over-hanging deep-set brown eyes, sparkling and brilliant, but kindly withal. An expansive, in- tellectual forehead betokened his strength of character. His voice was extremely rich and musical, and always pleasant to listen to.

The Chicago Bar, by Frank B. Wilkie, said of him the following:

"As a speaker he had few or no superiors at the bar. He required scarcely any preparation to make a speech on any subject. He saw a case clearly, and had the faculty of presenting it with equal clearness. He had that tendency toward amplification found in all true orators, and by whose aid he presented a single point in so many salient aspects, that it became as apparent as sun- light to his auditory. This ability to not only clearly present a point, but to restate it and reit- erate it under a slightly changed form up to a

boundary where it becomes thoroughly under- stood, and yet, which is not carried beyond into the region of verbosity and tiresome and useless reiteration, is one of a high order, and it is one which Mr. Swett seemed to possess to perfection. Its due and judicious exercise requires an accur- ate knowledge of the men whom it is employed upon, and the precise ideas and illustrations which are demanded by their comprehension. Mr. Swett had all these qualities, and the additional one of being an excellent logician and an admirable manager, who thus not only knew what should be presented, but the very best form in which the presentation should be made.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 10

Author: La Salle Book Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : La Salle Book Co. Number of Pages: 910

Author: La Salle Book Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : La Salle Book Co.
Number of Pages: 910