Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 20

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

USA > Illinois > Cook County > Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899 > Part 20

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A pioneer in opening the legal profession for women, Myra Bradwell's signal service to her sex has been in the field of law reform. Finding women and children without adequate protection in the law, she devoted herself with the zeal of an enthusiast to secure such protection. One of the most wonderful phases of her character was the power which she exerted in securing these changes in the law.

It is interesting in this connection to note that she was the only married woman who was ever given her own earnings by special act of the Legislature. She drafted the bill giving a mar- ried woman a right to her own earnings. A case in point, so monstrous in its injustice, gave an added impetus to her zeal. A drunkard, who owed a saloon-keeper for his whisky, had a wife who earned her own living as a scrubwoman, and the saloon-keeper garnisheed the people who owed her and levied on her earnings to pay her husband's liquor bill. It needed but an applica- tion like this for her to succeed in her efforts to pass the bill. She also secured the passage of the law giving to a widow her award in all cases. Believing thoroughly in the principle enunciated by John Stuart Mill, "of perfect equality, admit- ting no privilege on the one side nor disabil- ity on the other," she was an enthusiastic sup- porter of the bill granting to a husband the same interest in a wife's estate that the wife had in the husband's. While holding most advanced views upon the woman question, she recognized that the prejudice of years cannot be overcome in

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a day, and that the work must be done by de- grees.

She therefore never missed an opportunity to try to secure any change in the law which would enlarge the sphere of woman. With this purpose in view, she applied to the Governor to be ap- pointed Notary Public. Finding her womanhood a bar to even this humble office, she induced her husband, who was in the Legislature, to intro- duce a bill making women eligible to the office of Notary Public, which bill became a law. The bill drafted by her husband permitting women to act as school officers, and which was passed while he was in the Legislature, received her hearty sup- port. In all the reforms which Mrs. Bradwell se- cured, she was not acting as the representative of any organization, but they were secured through her personal influence. Twice Mrs. Bradwell was honored by special appointment of the Gov- ernor, being appointed a delegate to the Prison Reform Congress at St. Louis; and it was mainly by her efforts that women, after a severe contest, were allowed a representation on the list of officers, she declining to accept any office herself; subse- quently she was appointed by the Governor as one of the Illinois Centennial Association to repre- sent Illinois in the Centennial Exhibition of 1876.

Mrs. Bradwell circulated the call for the first Woman Suffrage Convention held in Chicago, in 1869, and was one of its Vice-Presidents. She was one of the active workers in the suffrage convention held in Springfield in 1869, and for a number of years one of the executive committee of the Illinois Woman Suffrage Association. She also took an active part in the convention at Cleveland which formed the American Woman's Suffrage Association. Once only was she per- mitted to exercise the right of suffrage. Under the recent school law in Illinois she cast her bal- lot for the first and last time, her death occurring on the fourteenth day of February, 1894.

A thorough Chicagoan, in the life, progress and best interests of her city she had a citizen's interest and a patriot's pride. She was untiring in her efforts to secure the World's Fair for Chi- cago, accompanied the commission to Washing-

ton, and rendered valuable services there in ob- taining the location of the Exposition in Chicago. She was appointed one of the Board of Lady Managers, and was Chairman of the Committee on Law Reform of its auxiliary congress. It is interesting to note that the woman who labored so courageously, persistently and effectively to secure for women their rights was herself a rep- resentative in the first national legislature of women to be authorized by any Government.

Mrs. Bradwell was the first woman who be- came a member of the Illinois State Bar Associa- tion and the Illinois Press Association; was a charter member of the Soldiers' Home Board, the Illinois Industrial School for Girls, the Wash- ingtonian Home, and the first Masonic chapter organized for women in Illinois, over which she presided; was a member of the Chicago Women's Club, the daughters of the American Revolution, the Grand Army Relief Corps, the National Press League and the Woman's Press Association.

A gentle and noiseless woman, her tenderness and refinement making the firmness of her char- acter all the more effective, Mrs. Bradwell was one of those who live their creed instead of preach- ing it. Essentially a woman of deeds, not words, she did not spend her days proclaiming on the rostrum the rights of women, but quietly, none the less effectively, set to work to clear away the barriers.

A noble refutation of the oftimes expressed be- lief that the entrance of women in public life tends to lessen their distinctively womanly char- acter, she was a inost devoted wife and mother, her home being ideal in its love and harmony. She was the mother of four children, two of whom survive her, Thomas and Bessie, both lawyers, and the latter the wife of a lawyer, Frank A. Helmer, of the Chicago Bar.

Of this gifted and honored lady it has been truthfully said: "No more powerful and convinc- ing argument in favor of the admission of women to a participation in the administration of the Government was ever made than may be found in Myra Bradwell's character, conduct and achievements."

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JOHN FRINK.

OHN FRINK, who was probably as well known as any man in the United States, out- side of National public life, was a leader in the operation of transportation lines before the days of railroads, as well as in railroad building and operation. He was born at Ashford, Con- necticut, October 17, 1797, and died in Chicago May 21, 1858. He represented the seventh gen- eration of his family in America, being descended from John Frink, who settled at New London, Connecticut, previous to 1650. The last-named took part in King Philip's War, as a Colonial sol- dier, and for his services in that conflict was awarded by the General Court of Connecticut a grant of two hundred acres of land and permis- - sion to retain liis arms.

John Frink, the father of the subject of this notice, removed about 1810 from Ashford, Con- necticut, to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, becoming the proprietor of the Stockbridge Inn, a noted hostelry, which is still kept there. He afterward kept taverns at Northampton and Palmer, Mass- achusetts. His death occurred at the latter place in 1847, at the age of sixty years.

While a young man, John Frink, whose name heads this article, started out in the operation of a stage line. One of his first ventures was the establishment of a stage line between Boston and Albany, by way of Stockbridge. His partner in this enterprise was Chester W. Chapin, of Spring- field, Massachusetts, afterward conspicuous in railroad operations. A branch to New York City was soon added, and the undertaking was entire- ly successful, becoming a prosperous medium of travel. Mr. Frink was subsequently instrument- al in the establishment of a stage line between Montreal and New York, an undertaking of con- siderable magnitude in those days.

About 1830 he made a trip, by way of Pitts- burgh, to New Orleans, and was so favorably im- pressed with the development and progress of the

West that he determined to transfer the field of his operations to a new territory. Accordingly, in 1836, he came to Chicago, and soon after his arrival purchased the stage line in operation be- tween Chicago and Ottawa, Illinois. He soon afterward established a connecting line of steam- boats on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, be- tween the latter point and St. Louis, and the route thus completed immediately became a pop- ular thoroughfare. Another stage line was short- ly afterwards put into operation between Galena and Chicago, by way of Freeport. Galena was then the metropolis of the Northwest, and this line of stages became the most important over- land route of travel in that region. Another ex- tensive undertaking was the establishment of stages between Chicago and Madison, Wisconsin. The business was conducted at the outset by the firm of John Frink & Company, later known as Frink & Walker. This became one of the most powerful business concerns in the Northwest, and its operations eventually extended to Des Moines, Iowa, and Fort Snelling, Minnesota. All compe- tition was driven out of the way, even though business was sometimes conducted for a season at a loss, in order to maintain their supremacy. An immense number of men and horses was em- ployed. The stage sheds were located at the northwest corner of Wabash Avenue and Ran- dolph Street, with extensive repair shops adja- cent; and the principal stage office was on the southwest corner of Dearborn and Lake Streets, opposite the Tremont House, then the principal hotel of Chicago.

One of the most important features of the busi- ness was the carriage of the United States mails, and the securing and care of the contracts for the same kept Mr. Frink in Washington a large por- tion of the time, and brought him in contact and intimate acquaintance with the leading politicians and public men of the nation. These contracts,

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which involved large sums of money, were faith- fully carried out, a fact which enabled him to hold them in spite of aggressive competition. He was a man of rare executive ability, excelling the various partners with whom he was associated in that respect to such a degree that he was kept constantly on the move to regulate the adminis- tration of business. He was a man of fine phys- ical make-up and of most unusual colloquial and conversational abilities, which made him popular in any circle where he chanced to be. He was extremely fastidious in dress and the care of his personal appearance, and required the most scru- pulous care and thrift in all his employes. No man who failed to keep inatters under his charge in first-class order could remain a day in his em- ploy.

When the steam locomotive became a practical success, Mr. Frink at once saw that it would su- persede the horse as a means of propelling pas- senger vehicles. He accordingly began to close out his interests in the stage business, transfer- ring his capital and energy to railroad building and operation. He was one of the prime movers in the construction of the Chicago & Galena Un- ion Railroad, and also the Peoria & Oquawka, now a part of the great Burlington System, and in the Peoria & Bureau Valley Railroad, at pres- ent a branch of the Rock Island System. He did not live to witness the ultimate completion of these lines, but their success vindicated his foresight and judgment.

Mr. Frink was first married to Martha R. .

Marcy, who died in Chicago in 1839, leaving three children: John, Harvey and Helen. The last-named became the wife of Warren T. Hecox, one of the original members of the Chicago Board of Trade, and all are now deceased. For his second wife he chose Miss Harriet Farnsworth, who was born in Woodstock, Vermont, July 2, 1810, and died at Wheaton, Illinois, March 7, 1884. Her father, Stephen Farnsworth, was a descendant of Matthias Farnsworth, an early set- tler of Groton, Massachusetts. The descendants of the last-named, in direct line, were Samuel, who was born at Groton, October 8, 1669; Steph- en, born in 1714, died at Charleston, New Hamp- shire, and who took part in the French and Indian War, in which two of his brothers were killed. Stephen, Jr., father of Mrs. Frink, was born in Charleston, New Hampshire, June 20, 1764. He moved to South Woodstock, Vermont, where he became a prominent farmer and miller. He served as a member of the Vermont Legislature, and was a Justice of the Peace for a great many years.

Mrs. Harriet Frink was one of the earliest members of St. James' Episcopal Church of Chi- cago, and when Trinity Church was formed on the South Side she joined that society. She aft- erwards became a member of Christ Church, and continued to be a communicant thereof until her death, both she and her husband being buried from that church. Their children are George, Henry F., and Eva, Mrs John W. Bennett, all of whom reside at Austin, Illinois.

OTHNIEL B. PHELPS.

6 THNIEL BREWSTER PHELPS. The springing from the marriage of George W. Phelps subject of this sketch was born at Cones- ville, Schoharie County, New York, Febru-

with Zerviah Potter. His mother dying when Othniel was only two years of age, his father ary 18, 1821, and was the elder of two children . married Mary Chapman in the year 1824,

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wherefrom it will be seen that his step-mother was the only maternal parent of whom he ever had a memory. From this second union eight children came into being, the eldest of whom was William Wallace Phelps, a sketch of whom will be found upon other pages in this work; in con- nection with which will also be found a succinct account of the Phelps genealogy, which, for ob- vious reasons, is not reprinted at this place.

His early life was spent upon a farm (it seems as if the farms of that generation did the raising of all the brains, as well as vegetables, etcetera, of the country), and his erudition, save the self- learned, was limited to the common school. At a very youthful age, he went to Catskill, New York, as clerk in the mercantile house of Joshua Fiero, and, being one of unusual energy and self- reliance, after a few years he started a mercantile business for himself at Windham, Greene County, New York, to which place he removed, and in which occupation he was engaged for the next succeeding six years.

Selling out at the end of that period at an ad- vantage, he removed to Williamstown, New York, where he engaged in the tanning business, be- coming the possessor of one of the finest proper- ties in that part of the country at that time ( es- pecially notable in one of so few years). He was estimated to be worth an estate of $80,000, which, however, was entirely swept away by the panic of 1857.

Almost directly with the disappearance of his household gods, he set his face towards the then far West to retrieve, as fortune should favor him, his lost accumulations. Chicago was the fortun- ate end of his journey, which was not then; as might be now, wooed into a longer continuance than necessary by luxurious conveniences for treveling. He bought a house on West Madison Street; but within a few years found the spot henceforth to be most dear to him on earth, pur- chasing again, at Number 2427 Indiana Avenue. The large brick mansion, standing to-day nearly as he found it, was one of the finest places in the city at that time, and a veritable landmark in this generation; for in the early sixties and for long after this was well out on the edge of the

town, viewing to the westward, as far as Michi- gan Avenue, a thrifty cornfield in summer time.

His business relations from the start were with our prince of citizens, Potter Palmer, for whom he acted as confidential adviser and credit man, with power of attorney (a position of great re- sponsibilities) up to the time of the Big Fire in 1871. From this time, although in the very mer- idian of life, hale and hearty, having re-made a conspicuous estate, he lived the retired life of a gentleman of leisure.

Politically he was a Republican, and for sever- al years he acted as a prominent City Alderman, closing his record thus in 1882, because of the results of an outspoken nature, which would nev- er quietly allow public wrongs to be attempted.

He was a keen lover of finely bred dogs and horses, of which he owned many in his time, finding in this about his only real extravagance. Most pleasant days found him on the boulevards behind as fine a pair of gentleman's drivers as our city could boast; and when a better pair passed him on the road, he quietly remarked to himself, "That is the team I want." From this trait, it has been said, those who knew this proud weak- ness often realized exceptional prices for horses from one who, they knew, would have them, if he had set his mind that way, regardless of cost. In this connection it should not be forgotten that he was a charter member of the famous Washington Park Club, now for long years one of the most distinguished places for race meetings in the country.

Not what would be called a pious man, he was none the less a fair-minded, public-spirited citi- zen, who was a great credit to our city (more so, perhaps, than some who are prominent in mat- ters ecclesiastical), and a regular attendant at Dr. Scudder's Congregational Church. Between Dr. Scudder and Mr. Phelps there was a deep and wholesome regard, and this pastor officiated with much feeling at the final obsequies, after which the remains were borne to Graceland Cemetery, where they lie at the foot of a sightly monument.

Physically, he was a portly man; facially, lie had a physiognomy in which all could read a grim determination that whatsoever was undertaken

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would, the Heavens permitting, be put through; yet, he was kind and generous; though blunt, warm-hearted indeed. His health was uniformly good, save for the vital lurkings of the insidious heart disease, which suddenly took him hence on the seventh day of February, 1891.

Mr. Phelps was twice married. First, to Miss Emerette Steele of Windham, New York, about the year 1846. She died, withont issue, in the year 1880, and was buried at Graceland. Second, to Mrs. Sarah Van Buren, the widow of Aaron R. Van Buren, of Catskill, New York, in Decem- ber, 1882. Her first husband was of the family of the so-called "Kinderhook" (New York) Van- Burens, which has produced a number of illus- trious men, chief among them being our eighth National Chief Magistrate, Martin Van Buren.

Mrs. Sarah (Van Buren) Phelps survives her husband, in good health, and without children. Mrs. Phelps' parents were Franklin and Hannah (Groom) Graham, of Catskill, New York, her fa- ther being a son of Samnel and Martha (French) Graham, of Windham, New York. Her grand- mother French was of French parentage, and from Montreal, Canada. It is needless to remark that the Grahams are of Scotch antecedents. From Beers' "History of Greene County, New York" (p. 402), we learn that the said Samuel Graham went from Conway, Massachusetts, about the year 1800 to Windham, New York, where, in the village, he bought of one Constant A. Andrews a property (at present known as the Matthews Place, and owned by N. D. Hill), whereon the The Rev. John Graham, A. M., a second son first tannery of the place, a large one for the ‘ of a Marquis of Montrose, was born in Edinburgh times, was constructed prior to 1805 by said Samuel Graham. The latter passed into a son's hands, and continued to be operated up to 1832. Samuel died there in 1830, aged seventy years.

The Massachusetts Grahams are undoubtedly descended from old Connecticut stock, which lias been very prolific in numbers and emigrating members to other of the United States, not a few of whom have made prominent names for them- selves. From Cothren's "History of Ancient Woodbury, Connecticut" (pp. 545 et seq.), we

glean the following of both the trans-Atlantic and native tree:

The family arms are: Or, on a chief sable three escalops of the field; crest, an eagle, wings hover- ing or, perched npon a heron lying upon its back, proper beaked and membered gules; motto, Ne Oubliez.

The family is of great antiquity, tracing its de- scent from Sir David Graeme, who held a grant from King William the Lion of Scotland from 1163 to 1214. His descendant, Patrick Graham, was made a Lord in Parliament about 1445, and his grandson, William, Lord Graham, was, in 1504, by James IV., created Earl of Montrose. His son William was second earl, succeeded in turn by John, John ( Junior ) and James, fifth earl, a very distinguished character in history. He was born in 1612, and joined the Covenanters against Charles I., but later became loyal to liis sovereign, who created him Marquis of Montrose. He had a varied career, which ended by his execution in 1645 by the axe on the scaffold, as did that of so many contemporaries. He was succeeded by James, James, and James, fourth Marquis, who was made Lord High Admiral of Scotland in 1705, and in 1707 Duke of Montrose. Then came David, Earl and Baron Graham, succeeded by William (his brother), James, James, the fourth Duke of Montrose, etc., who was a Com- missioner of India Affairs, Knight of the Thistle, Lord Justice-General of Scotland, Chancellor of Scotland, etc.

in 1691; he graduated at the University of Glas- gow, and studied theology at his native Edin- burgh; came to Boston in 1718, where he married Abigail, a daughter of the very celebrated Dr. Chauncey, of Harvard College. Later Rev. Mr. Graham removed to Exeter, New Hampshire, but in1 1722 to Stafford, Connecticut, and in 1732 to Woodbury, Connecticut, where he lived until his death, in December, 1774. He was an eminent man and left a family of five sons and fonr daughters, from whom are descended a numerous progeny.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

مے

S. B. COBP.

143

SILAS B. COBB.

ILAS BOWMAN COBB. In the entire his- tory of the world it has been vouchsafed to but few men to witness the growth of a mil- nicipality from a few dozen in population to a million and a quarter souls. No story of Chicago's development can be written without cognizance of Silas B. Cobb as one of its initial forces. It was such sturdy, self-reliant and hopeful young men as lie that began the development of her great- ness, and carried forward her growth in middle and later life. Ever since the little band of Pil- grims established a home on the rocky and frost- locked shores of Massachusetts, New England has been peopled by a race of enterprising and adven- turous men, whose habits of industry and high moral character have shaped the destinies of the Nation. It is not strange, then, that the hamlet planted by their descendants on the swampy shore of Lake Michigan in the 30s' should become the commercial, industrial and philanthropical me- tropolis of America.

Silas W. Cobb, father of the subject of this sketch, gained a livelihood by various occupa- tions, being in turn a fariner, a tanner and a tav- ern-keeper, and the son was early engaged in1 giving such assistance to his father as he was able. When other. boys were applying themselves to their books, he was obliged to employ his strength in support of the family. His mother, whose maiden name was Hawkes, died when he was an infant, and he knew little of maternal love or care, growing up in the habit of self-reliance which carried him through many difficult enterprises and made hint a successful man. He was born in Montpelier, Vermont, January 23, 1812, and

is now entering upon the eighty-fourth year of his age. He is keenly active in mind and sound in body, taking a participating interest in all the affairs of life.

At the age of seventeen, young Cobb was regu- larly "bound out," according to the custom of those days, for a term of years, as apprentice to a harness-maker, having previously made a begin- ning as a shoemaker, which did not suit his taste. Within a twelvemonth after he was "articled" to the harness-maker, his employer sold out, and the new proprietor endeavored to keep the lad as an appurtenance to his purchase. Against this the manly independence of the youth rebelled, and the new proprietor was obliged to give him more ad- vantageous terms than he liad before enjoyed. Having become a journeyman, he found employ- ment in his native State, but lie was not satisfied with the conditions surrounding him. After nine months of continuous toil and frugal living, he was enabled to save only $60, and he resolved to try his fortune in the new country to the then far West.

Joining a company then being formed at Mont-' pelier to take up land previously located by Oliver Goss, the young man-having but just at- tained his majority-in spite of his father's re- monstrance, set out. From Albany, the trip to Buffalo was made by canal packet, and in tlie journey from home to this point all his little sav- ings, except $7, were exhausted. The schooner "Atlanta" was about to leave Buffalo for Chicago, and Mr. Cobb at once explained to the captain his predicament. The fare to Chicago was just $7, but this did not include board, and Mr. Cobb

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was delighted, as well as surprised, when the captain told him to secure provisions for the jour- ney and he would carry him to Chicago for the balance. After a boisterous voyage of five weeks, anchor was dropped opposite the little settlement called Chicago. Its hundred white and half-breed inhabitants were sheltered by log huts, while the seventy soldiers forming the garrison occupied Fort Dearborn. And now a new hardship assailed the young pioneer. Disregarding the bargain made in Buffalo, the tricky commander of the schooner refused to let him leave its deck until his passage money had been paid in full. For three days he was detained in sight of the promised land, until he was delivered by a generous stranger, who came on board to secure passage to Buffalo. His first earnings on shore were applied by Mr. Cobb in repaying the sum advanced by his kind deliverer. Before the boat sailed he found employment on a building which James Kinzie was erecting for a hotel. He knew noth- ing of the builder's trade, but had pluck and shrewdness, and took liold with such will that he was placed in charge of the work, at a salary of $2.75 per day-a very liberal remuneration in his estimation. The building was constructed of logs and unplaned boards, and did not require a very high order of architectural skill, but within a few days a man, seeking the position, called at- tention to the lack of experience on the part of the youthiful superintendent, and clinched the matter by offering to do the work for fifty cents less per day.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 20

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