Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 46

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 46

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under date of November 28, 1710, in which he bequeaths to his widow and children a large amount of land and personal property, his inter- est in commonage and his negro man, Jack. The early residents of New England had to contend with conditions differing widely from those sur- rounding pioneers of the present day, and few can realize the energy and perseverance required to make a home in the wilderness. Only those of strong body and mind could survive the rigorous climate and overcome the obstacles to human progress. Among the present generation, only those who have made a study of the subject can realize, in a faint degree even, what were their surroundings, ideas and character.

315

J. S. RUMSEY.

Levi Rumsey was one of the first graduates of Williams College, at Williamstown, Massachu- setts (in 1800), and settled at Batavia il1 1822, becoming one of the foremost attorneys of western New York and serving as District Attorney of Genesee County. He died there in 1834. At the solicitation of her brother, George W. Dole, already a resident of Chicago, the widow decided to move to the new and growing city with her younger son (the subject of this biography) and two daughters, in the spring of 1835, but death interposed and removed the mother before this purpose could be consummated. With an aunt, Mrs. Coffin, and her husband and Miss Townsend (who afterward became Mrs. Dole), Julian Sid- ney Rumsey and his two younger sisters came to Chicago, arriving on the steamer "Michigan" July 28, 1835. This vessel was owned by Mr. Dole's partner, Oliver Newberry, of Detroit, and was by far the finest vessel then on the Lakes. The trip was made from Buffalo to Chicago, with a stop at Green Bay, in a little over eight days. Among the passengers were George Smith, who afterward became a wealthy banker of the city; Mr. and Mrs. John H. Kinzie and a young infant, and Miss Williams, who became the wife of Mark Skinner, one of the judges of Chicago in later life.

Young Rumsey had attended a private school in Batavia taught by Rev. John F. Earnst, a widely-known educator of that place and Buffalo, and after his arrival here he had the benefit of such schools as the new town afforded for a few months. He soon took employment in the ship- ping house of Newberry & Dole, where his elder brother, George F. Rumsey, was already estab- lished. This association made him acquainted with all the boats coming to Chicago and their officers. These included the bark "Detroit" and brig "Queen Charlotte," former_British vessels, which had been sunk in the bay at Erie, Penn- sylvania, by Commodore Perry in 1813, and sub- sequently raised and fitted for commerce.

In September, 1839, the Rumsey brothers, while still in the employ of Newberry & Dole, shipped the first cargo of grain ever sent out of Chicago, consisting of about 2,900 bushels of wheat, put on board the brig "Osceola" for Buffalo. This had

been taken from farmers' wagons and stored, awaiting an eastbound boat. In 1841 Capt. E. B. Ward brought eighty tons of bituminous coal to Chicago, which was probably the first here, and this was sold out by the Rumsey brothers in two years' time, thus indicating that the consumption was small in those days. The firm of Rumsey, Brother & Company ultimately succeeded New- berry & Dole, and became one of the heaviest grain shippers and dealers in the city.

Mr. Rumsey was one of the organizers of the Board of Trade early in 1848, and continued his membership with his life. During the early years of its existence, it was his custom, with others of the younger members, to visit business men in their offices and urge them to go "on 'Change," in order that it might be truthfully recorded that such a meeting had been held. He was elected President of the Board in 1858 and again in 1859, and in the latter year he drew and secured the passage of its charter and code of rules. He also secured, in the face of much opposition, the pres- ent system of grain inspection-Chicago being the first city to adopt the plan. During his adminis- tration, the current plan of obtaining and publislı- ing statistics of trade was inaugurated, and the first annual report of the Board issued, and in the same period the membership doubled and the permanency of its existence was established.

Mr. Rumsey was one of the organizers of the Volunteer Fire Department in 1844, and at one time was Foreman of Engine Company Number Three, and did much to improve the old and or- ganize new companies. In those days, many of what are now the most prominent and wealthy citizens regularly "ran with the boys." The venerable Stephen F. Gale was Chief Engineer and Mr. Rumsey Foreman in 1847, when the pa- rade was made in honor of the famous River and Harbor Congress of that year. In his report to the New York Tribune, Horace Greeley said: "I never witnessed anything so superb as the appear- ance of some of the fire companies, with their en- gines drawn by led-horses, tastefully caparisoned. Our New York firemen must try again. They certainly have been outdone." Thurlow Weed wrote to his paper: "Let me here say that the

316

J. S. RUMSEY.

firemen's display in this iufant city to-day excited quartered in the sheds of an old race track, after- universal admiration. I never saw anything got 11p in better taste. The companies were in neat uniforms. The machines were very tastefully decorated. There was also a miniature ship, manned and full-rigged; drawn by twelve horses, in the procession. While moving, the crew on board "The Convention' made, shortened and took in sail repeatedly."

In early life Mr. Rumsey associated himself, as a political factor, with the Whig party, and joined its successor-the Republican-at its inception. He was often a delegate in the county and State conventions, and was a member of the State Cen- tral Committee of his party when Abraham Lin- coln was first elected to the Presidency. He had the honor of entertaining Mr. Lincoln at his home in Chicago, was present at his inauguration, and was a member of the committee on which devolved the sad duty of receiving his remains when brought back to Chicago, preparatory to final interment at Springfield. In 1871 Mr. Rumsey was elected County Treasurer and Collector on the "Fire- proof" ticket, the result of a political compromise, and served two years in that responsible capacity.

Before the actual commencement of hostilities, in the War of the Rebellion, early in 1861, a Com- mittee of Safety was organized in Chicago, and Mr. Rumsey was made a member of the sub-com- . mittee to carry out its objects. This involved the judicious expenditure of nearly fifty thousand dollars, and required the labor of its members for nearly two years, much of it of a secret character, and all of vast importance to the State and Nation. One of the first undertakings was the fitting out of an expedition to take possession of Cairo, and thus save Illinois to the Union. After four days and nights of arduous effort, a force of five hundred men was dispatched by the Illinois Central Rail- road, and the plan successfully carried out. Mr. Rumsey never asked for office, but was elected Mayor of the city in the troublous days of 1861, and maintained the high financial standing of the municipality. During his term of service, the Government sent twelve thousand rebel prisoners here from Fort Donelson, without any warning or previous provision for their care. They were

wards known as Camp Douglas, until suitable barracks could be erected for their care and reten- tion. Among them were about two hundred offi- cers, most of whom possessed knives or pistols, and with the small police force and absence of firearms (caused by the drain in supplying Union troops), the city seemed entirely at the mercy of its unwilling guests. Through the vigilance of Mayor Rumsey, and his appeals to the Govern- ment, the danger was averted-the officers being removed elsewhere, and the privates speedily pro- vided with suitable lodgings, and safeguards cre- ated for the city.

July 31, 1848, at Chicago, occurred the wedding of J. S. Rumsey and Miss Martha A. Turner. Mrs. Rumsey, who still survives her husband, is a daughter of John B. Turner, one of the most honored and worthy of Chicago's early citizens, whose biography will be found on another page of this work. This union resulted in eleven chil- dren, eight of whom were daughters. One of the latter died in infancy, and one after a short mar- ried life. Two daughters are married and reside in Massachusetts and New York, respectively, and the eldest son and two daughters, also mar- ried, reside in Chicago.

Mr. Rumsey passed away in Chicago April 20, 1886, aged sixty-three years. He was ever inter- ested in the city and its welfare, and did much to place it in its present proud commercial position. He did not shirk any duty as a citizen, and left to his children an honored name. His recollections of early Chicago are very interesting, and extracts from his pen picture are here given:

"When the 'Michigan' arrived off Chicago in July of 1835, a dense fog covered the surface of the lake, and the town could not be easily located. After reaching the mouth of the Calumet River, the captain was set right by the direction of an Indian, and returned to the city. In the mean time the fog had lifted and when the boat came to anchor the fort and Government pier and light- house seemed the most prominent features. No entrance to the river existed for lake craft, and even the yawlboat which brought the passengers ashore grounded on the bar at the mouth of the

317

ANDREW ORTMAYER.

river, and a passage had to be carefully sounded before it could be brought in. The river was then but little more than half as wide as at present, and portions of its shores were occupied by wild rice, and near the mouth the abode of the musk- rat was prominent. Fish and wild fowl were abundant. There was one 'gallows-frame' hoist bridge at Dearborn Street, crossing the river, one pontoon over the South Branch, between Lake and Randolph Streets, and another across the North Branch, just south of Kinzie Street. The Tremont House was then a yellow wooden build- ing at the southeast corner of Lake and Dearborn Streets, kept by Star Foot.

"The population was abont twenty-three hun- dred, divided in something like this proportion: Eight hundred on the North Side, twelve hundred on the South Side, and three hundred on the West Side. The Postoffice was located in the angle at the intersection of Lake and Sonth Water Streets. There were no sidewalks or improved streets, and cattle, pigs and wolfish dogs occupied

the thoroughfares at will, and sometimes at night wolves came into the settlement. Street lights were unknown, as were sewers, cellars or water service, and there were very few brick buildings. The people came from all parts of the world and included many lıalf-breeds, and all were exceed- ingly democratic in habit. It was no uncommon thing for ladies to employ a dump-cart, uphol- stered with hay or buffalo robes, as a means of transportation when making social excursions. There was still a garrison at the fort, and on two subsequent occasions Indians to the number of thirty-five hundred and five thousand, from the Pottawatamie, Winnebago and Sacs and Foxes tribes came here to receive pay for their lands from the Government. During the summer of 1835, the 'Michigan' made four trips between Chicago and Buffalo, and one or two other vessels visited the port. While anchored in the bay off Milwau- kee, on her first trip, only one house was dis- cerned at that point, though the weather was clear."

ANDREW ORTMAYER.

A NDREW ORTMAYER, who was for nearly half-a century a resident of Chicago, was numbered among the most substantial and well-known citizens of German birth. He was born in Bartenstein, Wurtemberg, Germany, on the first day of May, 1826. His father, Joseph Ortmayer, was a native of Nenoetting, Bavaria, and his mother, Margaret Ullman, was born in the same village as her son, where her ancestors had for several generations carried on the saddlery business. Joseph Ortmayer was also a saddler, and when the son had completed the prescribed German term of school, ending at the age of fourteen years, he entered the shop and was able -through being the son of a master-to become

a journeyman at the age of sixteen. He first sought employment in his father's native city, where he remained one year, and was afterwards employed in Saalzburg and other Austrian cities.

By the time he had attained his majority, he determined to follow the sun towards that land of promise, the United States, as he saw little op- portunity for a mechanic to better his condition in Europe. His was the same spirit which not only led to the discovery of the Western continent, but to the development of its resources, east and west. Being in London, England, in the spring of 1849, he took passage in March of that year on board the sailing-vessel "Apeona" for New York, where he arrived on the fourth day of

318

ANDREW ORTMAYER.

July, the voyage consuming nearly four months. He proceeded directly to Buffalo, New York, where he was able to maintain himself at his trade until the following spring.

Again moved by the spirit of enterprise, he took the first steamer which left the port of Buf- falo for the upper lakes in the spring of 1850, and landed in Detroit on the 30th of March, after a two days' voyage. Thence, he proceeded di- rectly by rail to Chicago, arriving on the last day of the month.

His first employment in this city was with J. O. Humphrey, the first carriage manufacturer in Chicago, by whom he was engaged as a carriage trimmer. This continned until Mr. Humphrey went out of business two and one-half years later, when Mr. Ortmayer rented a room in the now idle factory and engaged in trimming carriages on his own account. He had by this time formed business acquaintances and established a reputa- tion for honest and faithful work, and did a fairly prosperous business. At the end of six months, he established a shop on Franklin Street, and in the fall of 1854 he opened a harness shop on Randolph Street, between Canal and Clinton Streets. Though his work as a carriage trim- mer had proved satisfactory to his patrons, it did not satisfy himself, on account of the unsteadiness of the demand, and he found business inuch more remunerative in the harness and saddlery line.

In 1863, he began the wholesale trade at No. 42 Lake Street, in partnership with William V. Kay and William H. Turner, under the style of A. Ortmayer & Company. For a quarter of a cen- tury, beginning with 1866, the business was located at Nos. 16 to 22 State Street. Messrs. Turner and Kay successively retired from the firm, and after the great fire of 1871, it was known as Ortmayer, Lewis & Company, until it became A. Otrmayer & Son in 1882. In 1891, the firm purchased of the Farwell estate the building now occupied, on Illinois Street, be- tween La Salle Avenue and Wells Street, to which two stories were added, and the building was fitted for the extensive manufacture of har- ness and saddlery ware now carried on there.

Mr. Ortmayer was married at Buffalo, New

York, in the spring of 1850, to Miss Marie Cher- bon, who was born in the same place as himself, and is descended from French ancestors, her grandfather having moved from France to Ger- many. In 1876, he built a pleasant mansion at No. 496 Dearborn Avenue, where dwells a united and happy family. Mr. Ortmayer was also pos- sessed of other improved real estate, which was secured through his own industry and prudent management. Having made his way from hum- ble beginnings, he was in sympathy with all hon- est efforts for success, and held out encourage- ment not only by word but by his own example, which any American youth may well emulate. The same steadfast and persistent effort which characterized his career in life is sure to bring prosperity to any one. He never spent time or money in the follies which are all too prevalent among young men of the present day, but re- solved on a course of industry and thrift, and ad- hered to his plans through "good" and "bad times."

Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ortmayer, three died in early childhood. The eldest of the others, Annie, died while the wife of Albert Kuhlmay. Carl G. is manager of the business of A. Ortmayer & Son. Carrie is now the wife of Albert Kuhlmay, and Emma is Mrs. Theophile Pfister, all of Chicago.

Though always a busy man, until failing health compelled him to abandon his activities three years ago, Mr. Ortmayer found time to cul- tivate pleasant. social relations, and was always deservedly popular among his fellow-citizens. He was for many years an active member of the Germania Club, and held membership in Accor- dia Lodge, No. 277, of the Masonic order. He cherished liberal religious views, and always ad- hered to Republican principles in politics. He was never ambitious to hold public office, but always strove to fulfill the duties of a good American citizen, and with eminent success. He died on Sunday, February 3, 1895, having succumbed to an acute attack of bronchitis, whichi, combined with other difficulties, burst the bonds of life.

OF THE

L 'TVERSITY OF ILLIN "'

Magazine of Western History

Jose Ellis

JOEL ELLIS.

319

JOEL ELLIS.

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

His first ancestor of whom any record is now to be found was Barzillai Ellis, born June 9, 1747, presumably in Massachusetts, and of Eng- lish blood. March 6, 1773, he married Sarah Tobey, who was born June 5, 1755, no doubt in the same state and of similiar ancestry. They resided in Conway, Franklin County, Massachu- setts, whence they moved, about the close of the last century, to Chautauqua County, New York. Here Barzillai Ellis died in 1827. His youngest son, Samuel Ellis, died in Chicago in 1853. The other children were Barzillai, Asa, Freeman, Ben- jamin, Joel and Elnathan.

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

Joel Ellis was born in Fredonia, Chautauqua County, New York, May 25, 1818. As above

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

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

From 1840 to 1858 he was associated withi Archibald Clybourn, an active business man of Chicago, and became thoroughly conversant with the meat business, which was one of Mr. Cly- bourn's chief enterprises. It was at the house of

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JOEL ELLIS.

Mr. Clybourn that he met the lady who became the leading hotels and to vessels entering Chicago his wife in 1844. This was Miss Susan Gallo- way, a sister of Mrs. Clybourn and danghter of James and Sally (McClenthan) Galloway, of Pennsylvania birth and Scotch ancestry. Her grandfather, Samuel Galloway, was a native of Scotland, whose wife was of Pennsylvania-German descent. They were among the earliest settlers on the Susquehanna River, and Samuel Galloway was a soldier in the Revolutionary Army. Mrs. Ellis was taken by her parents, when a small child, to Sandusky, Ohio, and thence the family came to Chicago, arriving on the 9th of Novem- ber, 1826. They left Sandusky on the Ist of October, in a sailing-vessel, and were wrecked south of Mackinaw, but were rescued by another vessel, which brought them to Chicago.

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

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

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

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

A quiet, unassuming man, he gave little at- tention to public affairs, though he took the in- terest in local and national progress which every true American must feel, and discharged his duty as it appeared to him by supporting the Republi- can party after it came into existence, having formerly affiliated with the Whigs. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and was an active supporter of the Universalist Church, be- ing among the organizers of St. Paul's congre- gation, whose pastor, Rev. W. E. Manly, per- formed the ceremony which made him the head of a family. Besides his widow, he left three children, namely: Lucretia, the widow of George W. Pinney, residing in Chicago; Winfield, of Highland Park, Illinois; and Mary Josephine, Mrs. Algernon S. Osgood, of Chicago.

321

FRANK SPAMER.

RANK SPAMER, who is a highly respected citizen of Chicago, comes of a race of sturdy men, of a nation recognized as possessing great stability and perseverance, which qualities help to make up a strong character. Born Feb- ruary 22, 1826, Mr. Spamer is a son of George Theodore and Dorothea (Gaebel) Spamer, who resided in the city of Schatten, Darmstadt, Ger- many, at the time of the birth of their son Frank.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 46

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