Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 58

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 58

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

"Oct. 1637. ABRAHAM TOPPAN."

The genealogy from this time on is as follows:

Jacob (son of the above), b. 1645, m. Hannah Sewall 24th August, 1670.

Abraham, b. 29th June, 1684, m. Esther Sewall 24th October, 1713.

Edward, b. 7th September, 1715, m. Sarah Bailey 7th September, 1743.

Enoch, b. 7th May, 1759, m. Mary Coffin 2nd February, 1794.

Edward, b. 7th April, 1796, m. Susan L. Smith, 22nd January, 1821.

James S., b. 7th October, 1830, m. Juliet A. Lunt, 13th August, 1861.

The old homestead upon Toppan Street, in Newburyport, was built by Jacob Toppan in 1670, and was first occupied by himself and his bride. The house has been lived in almost continually since, and is still in the possession of the fam- ily, being, even now, in a remarkably well-pre- served condition.

Edward Toppan, the father of the subject of this sketch, spent his entire life as a farmer in the neighborhood of his native town, and was the fa- ther of the following children: Edward S., Charles, Hannah, James S., Margaret, Susan L., Serena D. and Roland W.

James S. left school at twelve years of age, and remained at home upon the farm until he was fifteen, when he entered a stationery store in his native town.

In May, 1849, when less than nineteen years of age, he left Boston for California in the barque

"Helen Augusta." A stop of seven days was made at St. Catherines, Brazil, where, on the day after their arrival, six of the crew deserted, and as 110 others could be had to fill their places, four pas- sengers, including Mr. Toppan, volunteered to fill them, and did sailors' duties for the remainder of the voyage. After rounding Cape Horn, they spent one day on the island of Juan Fernandez, made famous as the home of Robinson Crusoe. Another stop of a week's duration was made at the Gallapagos Islands for the purpose of secur- ing supplies of water, terrapin and fish, and on the Ist of October they arrived in San Francisco.

Mr. Toppan's first work here was to build a fence around some lots on the Sand Hills for a Mr. David Murphy, and also to cloth and paper two houses for the same person. When this was completed, he, in company with another young man, bought a whale-boat, which they ran as a ferry-boat between San Francisco and what is now Oakland.

Shortly afterwards this was sold out at a good profit, and, in company with two others, Mr. Toppan laid claim to one hundred and sixty acres of mission land, supposing it to be public property. A redwood tree, measuring eight feet in diameter at the butt, was cut down, and from one length of the trunk they built a house some thirty by eigh- teen or twenty feet in size. Two yoke of oxen and an old prairie wagon were purchased for $1,200, and the land was cleared, plowed and planted.

While waiting for their crops to mature they employed their leisure time in cutting wild hay and building a lever press-a young sycamore tree serving as the lever. Strips of green raw- hide were used in binding the bales, and in this manner six tons of hay were baled. They then loaded it on old overland wagons, two of which were borrowed, drawn by oxen, and started for San Francisco, a distance of forty-eight miles.

Upon arriving at the Dolores Mission, they found a large number of persons waiting to pur- chase the hay, and in less than an hour they had disposed of their loads for $2,400. This was the first large quantity of hay that had ever reached San Francisco.

396

J. S. TOPPAN.

On their return they gathered their crops and purchased a sloop, with which to take them to market at San Francisco. Potatoes bronght eigh- ty-five cents per pound, and other products were proportionately high. After remaining in this business for a year, Mr. Toppan was prostrated with fever and ague, and was obliged to sell out and return to San Francisco. Having remained there three months and experienced no improve- ment, he accepted an invitation from the master of the ship "Lowell," of Newburyport, to take a trip with him to Mazatlan, Mexico. From there the vessel was ordered to Ypala, a thousand miles south, where it was loaded with a cargo of dye- woods for Boston. As Mr. Toppan did not care to return home by the way of Cape Horn, he ac- cepted an invitation from a wealthy Spanish gen- tleman to accompany him to the City of Mexico. They made their way to Typic, and thence to their destination, making the entire trip on horse- back, stopping at the principal towns along their route. Mr. Toppan remained in the City of Mexico six weeks, and was then appointed a special bearer of dispatches to Washington by the United States Minister.

After delivering these dispatches and visiting his home he went to New York and took passage in the Vanderbilt steamer "Daniel Webster" for San Francisco, by way of Nicaragua.

They reached Nicaragua during the rainy sea- son, and were eighteen days in crossing the Isth- mns, and while passing up the Pacific Coast to San Francisco eleven stops were made for the purpose of burying people who had died of fever contracted on the Isthmus.

On reaching the Golden Gate City, Mr. Top- pan formed a partnership with George Mansfield, a former chief steward of the Massasoit House, of Springfield, Massachusetts, and they opened a hotel on Clay Street, which they called the Mas- sasoit House. This venture proving a success, they carried on the hotel until it was destroyed in the second big fire. They then purchased an in- terest in a stern-wheel boat called "The Fashion," which they ran between San Francisco and Colusa, the latter place being on the Sacramento River, one hundred miles above the city of Sacramento.

A year after this Mr. Toppan, being ill with bilious fever, sold his interest in the boat and took passage for Honolulu, Sandwich Islands. After a stay of six weeks he boarded the clipper ship "Sovereign of the Seas," bound for New York. At that time this ship was the largest sailing-vessel afloat, and eighty days after leaving Honolulu they reached New York, having made the shortest passage ever made by a sailing-vessel.

Two months were now passed at home, and then, the family physician having advised a warmer climate for him, he sailed from Boston to Calcutta, going as third mate of the vessel. Be- fore starting he had made arrangements with Frederick Tudor, a large dealer in and shipper of ice, to act as his agent. He represented Mr. Tudor for eight years in Calcutta, two years in Ceylon, two years in Singapore, and two years in Java, opening new houses in the last three places.

During his residence in the East, Mr. Toppan visited Newburyport three times, remaining about three months on each occasion. These trips were made through the Red Sea, Suez Canal, the Med- iterranean and overland across Europe to Liver- pool. He was on the eve of going to Hong Kong, to open an ice-house there when Mr. Tudor's death prevented.

Mr. Toppan then returned home and accepted a position with Addison, Gage & Co., of Boston, to start an ice business in Havana, Cuba, but af- ter three years they were obliged to discontinue operations on account of the internal dissensions of the people of Cuba.

He then returned to Boston and became inter- ested in petroleum oil. By experimenting, he discovered a new way of filtering, and went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he made arrangements for manufacturing and placing his oil upon the market. This business venture continued until the peculiar grade of oil which was used as a base became exhausted, since which time none like it has been found.

Again, he went to Boston and purchased a one- third interest in a large' fish-oil house, taking possession on the 15th of September, 1872. On the roth of November the entire plant was de- stroyed in the great Boston fire. The business,

N. S. HAYNES.

397

however, was soon resumed, and continued until the following September, when the Jay Cook panic caused a failure.

Four years after this, or in May, 1877, Mr. Toppan became identified with the Galena, and the Signal Oil Works, Limited, of Franklin, Penn- sylvania, coming to Chicago as their Resident Manager for this territory.

He was the originator of the contract system of supplying railroads with their lubricating oils, these contracts being based upon the car and lo- comotive mileage of the different roads. So sat- isfactory and successful has this system proved, that to-day upwards of seventy per cent. of the railway mileage of the United States and Mexico is supplied in this manner by the above-named concerns.

Mr. Toppan was married, August 13, 1861, in Newburyport, Massachusetts, to Miss Juliet A. Lunt, who immediately accompanied him to Java. She is the daughter of the late George and Caroline (Chase) Lunt, and had one sister. Both her parents died in Newburyport, the father at the age of seventy-six, and the mother at seventy-five. Mr. Lunt was a ship-owner and master, and spent the major part of his life at sea. Mrs. Toppan made two or three trips with him around the world, and first met her husband in Calcutta.

Mr. and Mrs. Toppan became the parents of four sons and two daughters. The first child, James S., was born in Batavia, Java. When this child was ten months old, Mr. and Mrs. Toppan left Java for home, sailing from Liverpool on the old Cunarder "Africa." When two days out, small-pox broke out in the cabin, the child took it and died ten days after reaching home. Frank W. was born in Cleveland, and lived only a few weeks.

Of the remaining children, George L., who married Grace D. Chapman, of Boston, resides in Evanston. William R. married Carrie H. Clark, or this city, and has a son and daughter. Carrie L. married George T. Loker, of this city; and Fannie C. is still at home.

Mr. Toppan is a member of the society of Cali- fornia Pioneers, and of the Sons of Massachusetts; is domestic in his tastes and fond of his family. He was brought up in the Unitarian faith, and he and his wife attend Prof. Swing's and Bishop Cheney's Churches.

He always votes the Republican ticket, and is a stanch supporter of his party, keeps abreast of the times, is broad-gauged and well informed, and is a pleasant, genial man and an entertain- ing companion.

REV. N. S. HAYNES.

C 2 EV. N. S. HAYNES, pastor of the Engle- wood Church of Christ, Chicago, is a native of Kentucky, his birth having occurred in Washington, Mason County, on the 7th of March, 1844. When he was a lad of eight summers, his parents removed to Illinois, settling in Woodford County, on a farm near the town of Eureka. No

event of special importance occurred during his youth, which was passed in the usual manner of farmer lads. During the summer he aided in the labors of the field, and in the winter months be- came familiar with the common branchies of learn- ing by study in the district schools. In 1859, he became a student in Eureka College, where he

398

N. S. HAYNES.

remained until after the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, when, prompted by patriotic im- pulses, he joined an Illinois regiment and went to the front. On his return from the South, he re- sumed his study in college, and in 1867 was grad- uated from the full classical course. He con- tinted his studies after this, however, and in 1868 the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him.

In the fall of 1867, Mr. Haynes received the ap- pointment of principal of the public schools of Kan- sas, Edgar County, Illinois, and for a year filled that position in a creditable and acceptable man- ner. In May, 1868, he determined to enter the ministry, feeling that his services were needed in the cause of Christianity, and in June of that year he was ordained to the ministry by the churches of Kansas and Eureka. In July he became the regular pastor of the churches of Kansas and Dud- ley, and did good work in both. During that time he also organized the church in Newman. In the fall of 1869, he entered the Bible College of Lex- ington, Kentucky, where he remained during the school year, and then returned to his former field in Edgar County. . In July, 1872, he went to Prince Edward Island, where he spent one hun- dred and two days, during which time he delivered one hundred and five sermons and held a two-days public discussion with Rev. Mr. Melville, a min- ister of the Kirk and a graduate of Edinburgh Uni- versity. As a result several prominent members of the Kirk were converted and a strong and influ- ential church was organized at Montague Bridge, where the debate was held.

After his return from abroad, Mr. Haynes, in August, 1873, became pastor of the church in De- catur, Illinois, where he remained almost uninter- ruptedly until January, 1881. He found there a church of small membership, with little influence, and the services were held in a very dilapidated house. Undaunted by the obstacles in his path, with zeal and energy he began his labors there, and during his pastorate a commodious chapel was erected at a cost of over $7,000, the membership of both the Sunday-school and congregation was more than doubled, and the church was placed on

a good working basis, becoming one of the lead- ing religious organizations in the city.

Soon after his removal to Decatur, Mr. Haynes was married. On the 20th of November, 1873, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Rose Frazier, the ceremony being performed near Paris, Illinois. Three children have been born to them, but Ruth, the eldest, died at the age of eighteen months. Rose, aged fifteen, and Ethel, ten years of age, are still at home.

On resigning the pastorate of the Decatur Church, Mr. Haynes entered upon his duties as State Evangelist, to which position he was elected by the Illinois Christian Missionary Convention on the Ist of January, 1881. He thus served un- til September 1, 1886, during which time the Permanent Fund of the society grew from less than $2,000 to $20,000, and it is now a source of constant income for the evangelistic work in the State. He traveled extensively all over Illinois, laboring untiringly, aiding missions, preaching the gospel, locating pastors, and performing all the labors that came to his hand which were calculated to ad- vance the cause of Christianity.

On the Ist of September, 1886, Mr. Haynes be- came pastor of the First Christian Church in Pe- oria, Illinois, where he continued until the Ist of March, 1892. There again his labors were very successful and he left the church in a flourishing condition, its work being carried on systematically, while everything was in a harmonious condition. On the Ist of March, 1892, he accepted a call from the church of Englewood, where he has since con- tinued, winning the love and respect of his con- gregation and the esteem of all with whom he has been brought in contact, of whatever denomina- tion. He is an able writer and has long been a valued contributor to the Christian Evangelist, one of the leading papers of the denomination. His writings are clear, logical and to the point, and in every department of church work he has proven almost equally successful. As a teacher, evangelist, pastor, writer and superintendent of missionary operations, he has indeed shown him- self to be "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed."

OF THE ! ""VERSITY OF ILLIN"";

ABRAHAM P. KLINE.

399

A. P. KLINE.

ABRAHAM P. KLINE.

A BRAHAM PULLING KLINE was born September 10, 1825, at Tribes Hill, near Amsterdam, New York, and died in Chi- cago on March 8, 1898, at the home of his sou- in-law, Congressman George E. White, No. 381 Washington Boulevard. He was the son of James Kline and Jane Quillhot, both of Fulton County, New York, who settled there in colonial days, and whose descendants are still prominent in the life of that community. Mr. Kline was a citizen of Chicago for a half century, having come here in 1849.

When a young man he learned the trade of wheelwright, and followed the wagon-making business until he came to Chicago, where he became a pioneer in the manufacture of thresh- ing machines, and was long prominently identified with the business and railroad interests of this city. Endowed with good intellect and energetic temperament, he kept pace with the rapid devel- opment of machinery during that period of the century, and was one of the first to substitute machinery for laborious work of the hand in the making of vehicles. The inventing of the thresh- ing machine to supersede the primeval flail opened a new and profitable field of industry, whose opportunities he was quick to grasp.

Upon coming to Chicago, in 1849, he engaged in the manufacture of a new and then wonderful machine for the separation of grain, as a member of the firm of Wampole, Kline & Company. Later he was associated with the firm of H. A. Pitts & Company, manufacturers of the old

"Buffalo" thresher, familiar to everybody who lived in an agricultural community in those days, and which was hardly as great an improvement on the flail as the modern traction machine is on the first thresher.

After some years Mr. Kline quit the manu- facturing business to engage in railroad work, assuming the position of superintendent of car- building and repairs for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, subsequently occupying the same position on the old Great Eastern Railroad, now part of the Fort Wayne system. He next took supervision of the woodwork department of Furst & Bradley, founders of the present David Bradley firm, and remained in that position fifteen years. This was his last active work, and his closing years were passed in enjoyment of the quieter walks of life.

In the business community Mr. Kline was extensively known, and in the West Side neigli- borhood where he lived many years he was held in peculiar esteem by old and young, whose at- tachment he won by his kindly nature and the simplicity of his life. He was an attendant of the Ada Street Methodist Church, and was an ardent Republican, though never taking an active part in politics.

Mr. Kline married Phebe Catherine Peckham, December 23, 1848, at Fultonville, New York, a few months before they came to Chicago to live. Her parents were Benjamin Peckham and Magdalena Moore, of Little Compton, Rhode Island, and Troy, New York, respectively. Ben-

400

C. W. A. WILKE.

jamin Peckham was a lineal descendant of John Peckham, senior, anoriginal settler of Rhode Island prior to May 20, 1638, and a disciple of Roger Williams, who resided in that part of Newport which afterwards became Middletown. The Peckham family took a very prominent part in the early colonial history of Rhode Island.

Mr. and Mrs. Kline had three daughters (Mrs. George E. White, wife of Congressman George E. White; Mrs. D. L. Obordorf; and Mrs. William J. Moore, whose husband is a partner of S. E. Gross in the real-estate business) and one son, James D. Kline, of the firm of George E. White & Company.

CHARLES W. A. WILKE.

HARLES WILLIAM ADOLPH WILKE, one of the best known German-American settlers of Chicago, is a worthy pioneer of the city and, as such, deserves more than passing notice in this work. He was born in the village of Taken, in the province of Brandenburg, Germany, March 11, 1836, a son of Christoph and Caroline Wilke, both of whom were members of very prominent families in the Fatherland.

Christoph Wilke was prominent as a speculator and merchant. Of the seven children born to him and his wife, Caroline, the man whose name heads this article is the only one now living. He was deprived of a father at the age of seven years and, since he was nine years old, has pro- vided for himself, and deserves much credit for the success and respectability he has maintained. In early life his educational advantages were very meager, but he attended school for a short time. He improved every opportunity and by private study succeeded in acquiring a good, practical education, which was largely supplemented in the school of experience.

He came to America in 1849 with his mother and brothers and sisters. His mother died in Chicago Jnne 14, 1882.

The first work Mr. Wilke did in Chicago was in unloading canal boats and, being obliged to win his daily bread, he willingly accepted any honorable employment. At the age of seventeen

years he hired out to Henry Weber, to learn the trade of blacksmith, but remained only a year and one-half. He was next employed by Whitbeck & Bishop, manufacturers of farm wagons and plows, and remained with them about four years. In 1853 he joined the old Volunteer Fire Com- pany, and remained a member of that division until he became connected with the Island Queen Company, No. 4, and was the first paid fireman on the West Side. This came about by his hav- ing performed two days work in putting up the engine house prior to the complete organization of the company. He was actively engaged with that company about ten years and, owing to fail- ing health, was advised by his physician to take up some out-door employment. He resigned his position and operated an express wagon for a couple of years, and then opened a grocery store and farmers' hotel on Milwaukee Avenue, be- tween Chicago Avenue and Carpenter Street, which he conducted with good success for a period of two years.

He again entered the fire department and re- mained until the death of his mother. It was in compliance with her request, made two hours be- fore her death, that he quit the dangerous business of fireman. When the office of fire inspector was created he was offered the position, but declined. He holds a certificate of life membership in the Fireman's Benevolent Association. He rang up

401

FREDERICK OESTERLE.

the first fire alarm turned in on the new electric fire alarm system, from Box No. 69. When he left the fire department he delivered his badge to the proper authority and the next day Marshal Sweney sent Assistant Marshal Charles Petrie with his badge, who told him that by order of the Chief of the department he returned to him his badge to retain to the end of his life.

Since withdrawing from active service under the fire department, he has done some real estate business and has been chiefly occupied in specu- lating and looking after his property interests. Mr. Wilke is a lover of fine horses, and always keeps a few fast ones. He is a member of the West Side Driving Association. He takes an active interest in politics, and has supported the Republican party and voted at every election held in Chicago since he became a voter. He has also attended a number of State conven- tions, and is prominent in the councils of his

party. He helped to organize the Logan Club in the Thirteenth Ward, and was one of the dele- gates representing the club at a convention held at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In 1893 he helped to organize the first McKin- ley Club in the United States, which was char- tered by the State in March, 1894, and has held the office of vice-president. He is a member of the Teutonia Maennerchor. For all things tend- ing toward the good of the public, of city or Nation, he has given his support.

March 1, 1858, he married Miss Christina Ehrhardt, who was born in Baden, Germany, and came to America in 1849. They have had seven children, but only the following are living: Lena, wife of Charles Eils; Adolph J., who is a letter carrier; and Edwin Ferdinand. The members of the family are connected with St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and influential and substantial supporters of the organization.

FREDERICK OESTERLE.

REDERICK OESTERLE, who possesses and successfully conducts a respectable and strictly high grade resort at the corner of Fifty-ninth and State Streets, can with all truth be called an old settler. He has resided in Chi- cago since 1866, and has participated in all moves for the city's good and the furthering of all improvements. Frederick Oesterle was born January 20, 1847, in Hohenzollern, Hechingen, Germany, and is a son of Jacob and Anna (Spitz) Oesterle.

His paternal grandfather, Nicholas Oesterle, was ninety-six years old when he died, and his wife reached the age of ninety-seven years. They were the parents of two children, a son, Jacob, and one daughter. Mrs. Nicholas Oes-

terle's maiden name was Bachmann. Jacob Oesterle was born March 14, 1814, and lives in the city of his nativity, Hechingen, Germany. He was a gunsmith, but has lived retired the past few years. His wife was born in 1816, and died in 1883. She became the mother of eight children, of whom brief mention will be made. Franz is the oldest. Josephine married Gottfried Metzger, and resided in Chicago subsequently until her death. Rudolph is chief engineer for the concern with which he is employed, and re- sides on Halsted Street, near Forty-fifth Street. Theresa married Leobold Pfister, and never emi- grated from her native land. She is now a widow. Frederick, of whom this article treats, was the next in order of birth. Mary, now re-

402

NICHOLAS ECKHARDT.

siding in Venice, Italy, is the wife of Charles Waters. Joseph is also still in the land of his nativity; and Charles resides in Joliet, Illinois.

Frederick Oesterle reached Chicago in July, 1866, and as he had served as apprentice to a machinist in his native land, he began to seek employment at this trade. He established a ca- tering business at the corner of Halsted and Forty-fourth Streets in 1874, which he conducted eight years. He then removed to the corner of Wentworth Avenue and Fifty-ninth Street, later removing to Fifty-ninth and State Streets, where he still continues. He was married November 23, 1873, to Miss Josephine Metzger, daughter of Sebastian Metzger, and a native of Germany.

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

Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 58

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