Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 74

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 74

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Mr. and Mrs Weimer have become the parents of seven children, namely: George A .; Rosa, wife of Peter Meilinger, of Chicago; Mary Ann, Joseph M., Maria Elizabeth, Frank Joseph and Benjamin Franklin.

George A. Weimer, of Lemont, is a son of George and Elizabeth C. Weimer, whose sketch is

given above. He was born at this place on the 5th of June, 1862, and obtained a good education in the schools of the town, where he spent his early life, attending until nineteen years of age. In 1882, he began to learn the drug business, and continued in that line until May, 1893, becoming in the mean time a very proficient pharmacist. His first employer was G. A. Bodenschatz, with whom he remained six years, when J. G. Boden- schatz succeeded to the business, and Mr. Weimer spent the remaining years in his employ. His genial disposition and good character made him a favorite with Lemont people, and when but twenty-one years of age, he was elected to office, and from that time to the present he has filled some public position. In 1883, he was elected Town Clerk and filled that office until 1888, when he was appointed City Clerk, thus serving until the next election, when he was elected. In dis- charging the duties of that position his time was passed until April, 1893, he being annually re- elected. At the last-mentioned date, he was elected Township Supervisor, and was again the people's choice in 1894. In 1893, he was ap- pointed to a place in the County Treasurer's office, which he held until February, 1894, when he was made deputy in the office of the Recorder of Deeds in Cook County, in which capacity he is now serving. In the fall of the present year (1894) he was nominated by the Democracy as the can- didate of that party for State Senator from the Seventh Senatorial District.

On the 22d of October, 1883, Mr. Weimer was joined in wedlock with Miss Lizzie V. Hettinger. daughter of George Hettinger, who came to Le- mont about 1863. He was a member of the first volunteer fire company of Chicago. To them four children, two sons and two daughters, were born, all of whom died of diphtheria in less than two weeks' time, in May. 1893. The death of his children destroyed Mr. Weimer's faith in the ef- ficacy of medicines and caused him to abandon pharmacy. He is an ardent and influential sup- porter of Democracy and a member of several fra- ternal societies.

508

W. S. WHITE.

WILLIAM S. WHITE, M. D.

ILLIAM SEYMOUR WHITE, M. D., is a native of Greenwood, McHenry County, Illinois, and was born on the 30th of De- cember, 1864. The records show, and the Doc- tor modestly admits, that he is descended on the maternal side from Francis Capet (Coquilette), the Huguenot half-brother of Louis XIV., King of France, who, on account of the persecutions to which that sect was subjected, fled to America, and, changing his name to Coquilette, became the progenitor of a numerous family in Westchester County, New York, and later removed with his family to Rockland County, New York. His de- scendant, William Coquilette, the great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch, died in Rock- land County, New York, at an early age. Maria (Garrison) Coquilette, his wife, died at the age of eighty-eight years. Peter Cook, Dr. White's maternal grandfather, a native of New York and a descendant of the Knickerbockers, married Eletta, daughter of William and Maria Coquilette.

Capt. William White, the paternal grandfather of Dr. White, was born in the city of Gottenburg, Sweden, in 1813, and at an early age became a sailor. In his voyages, Capt. White carried troops to Mexico while the United States was at war with that country, transported the first ship- load of stone for the construction of Ft. Moultrie, and twice circumnavigated the globe. His wife, who still survives him, was Mary Ehrhardt, of Philadelphia. ·

William R. White, the father of the subject of this sketch, and the son of Capt. William and Mary White, was born in New York City, in 1841, and has been engaged in mercantile pur- suits all his life. He married Emily A. Cook, daughter of Peter and Eletta Cook, two children,

William S. and Wilomene T., being the result of this union.

William S. White came to Chicago with his parents in 1865. He received his education in the public schools of Chicago. His first work was in the grocery store of John A. Tolman & Co., where he remained a year. He later entered the employ of D. S. Munger & Co. as office boy, and in three years worked his way upward to the position of cashier. In 1884 he entered the Chi- cago Homeopathic Medical College. At that time the course required only two years, but he at- tended three years, and during the season of 1886-87 demonstrated anatomy to the class of which he was a member, and also a part of that time to the senior class. He graduated in 1888. Following his graduation, he was successful in winning honors in a competitive examination, and during the years 1888 and 1889 was interne in the Cook County Hospital for eighteen months. Subsequently he was called to Rochester, New York, where he opened and put in practical oper- ation the Rochester Homeopathic Hospital, com- monly known as the Monroe Avenue Hospital.

Returning to Chicago, Dr. White entered into the general practice of medicine and dermatology, in which he has since been engaged, with office at No. 70 State Street. In the fall of 1889 he re- ceived the appointment of Demonstrator of An- atomy in the Chicago Homeopathic College. In 1890 he was made clinical assistant in the depart- ment of dermatology, and in 1893 was appointed Adjunct Professor of Physiology in the same insti- tution. In January, 1893, lie received the ap- pointment of Dermatologist in the homeopathic department of the Cook County Hospital, and still fills all of these positions. He is a member

509

JEROME BEECHER.

of the Illinois Homeopathic Medical Association and of the American Institute of Homeopathy. He holds membership in two fraternal organiza- tions, being medical examiner in the Improved Order of Heptasophs.

On the 5th of October, 1892, Dr. White was united in marriage with Miss Isabelle Stone, of Charlotte, Vermont, daughter of Luther D. and Phœbe (Rogers) Stone.

To judge the future from the past, it is not diffi- cuit to predict for Dr. White success in a much

greater measure than usually falls to the lot of the medical practitioner. His mind is active, his memory retentive, his habits studious, his com- prehension of the science of medicine rapid, intui- tive and thorough. His manner is easy, affable and vivacious, with a dash of bonhomie, which, no doubt, is inherited from his Gallic ancestors. It is not too much to say that mental attrition with Dr. White would brighten many preten- tious members of the medical profession.

JEROME BEECHER.

EROME BEECHER, among the early, sub- stantial and most exemplary citizens of Chi- cago, was a scion of old and well-known New England stock. His father, Mather Beecher was one of the pioneers of Central New York, going thither from New Haven, Connecticut. He was a tanner by occupation, and gave to his family the training which has developed so much of thrift, enterprise and morality among the sons of New England, and has made an indelible impres- sion upon the religious, educational and mercan- tile conditions of the United States, and particul- arly the northern half of the country. Wherever a leaven of Yankee blood is found in a community, there are sure to be found churches, schools, fac- tories and sound business men, Chicago was es- pecially fortunate in that the major portion of her pioneers came from the land of industrious habits and careful economy, and to this cause alone may be attributed her wonderful progress in busi- ness supremacy, as well as in social and moral culture.

Jerome Beecher was born in the town of Rem- sen, Oneida County, New York, January 4, 1818. His first implement for self-help was the intellect-

ual training afforded by the village school, and he was early made familiar with the occupation of his father, mastering all that pertained to the manufacture of leather and its uses. His natural sagacity and shrewdness, with these helps, en- abled him to conduct the large business which he built up in later years, and to manage intricate financial trusts which were placed in his care.

The year 1838 found him in Chicago, whither his father sent him to look .after a stock of leather, boots, shoes and findings which had been entrusted to an incompetent or unfaithful agent. He managed this undertaking with such success and found such glowing prospects in the young city that he decided to remain here and engage in business permanently. At that time the center of business clustered about the corner of Lake and LaSalle streets, and his pioneer store was among those forming the group. He shortly set up a tannery, which was destroyed by fire about 1858. During these years, he had grown in wealth with the rapid growth of the city and surrounding country, his industry and integrity bringing him a large trade, which he retained until he de- cided to retire and give attention to his invest-

510

JEROME BEECHER.

ments. His accumulations had been invested in land and improved real estate. With other care- ful investments, these had grown in value beyond his fondest anticipations, and he found himself while yet in vigorous middle life a man of in- dependent means, and at the time of his demise, after more than half a century's residence here, his estate had become very valuable.

He became interested in the gas business as early as 1850, and was made a director in the Chi- cago Gas Light & Coke Company. He was in- terested in the Merchants' Savings, Loan & Trust Company, and was one of the purchasers of the Chicago West Division Railroad, of which he was many years a director, in 1863. A recent writer says: "Among the enterprises of his earlier years, for which he should be remembered with grateful regard by those who survive, was his connection as trustee and treasurer with the Graceland Cemetery Improvement Company, in whose peaceful grounds so many once active in the brisk life of Chicago have found their last resting place."

Mr. Beecher had in his youth attended the worship of the Unitarian society near his home in New York, and he adhered to the faith which he there imbibed throughout his long and useful life. The First Unitarian Society of Chicago was a feeble band, in the third year of its exist- ence, when he came to Chicago, and to his zealous aid much of its subsequent strength is due. At his decease, after completing more than the allotted years of the scripture, the church pre- pared and had engraved a most beautiful and touching memorial, which was presented to his widow. He was a member of the Calumet Club, whose meetings of old settlers in annual reunion gave him great pleasure. The Old Settlers' As- sociation embraced most of his business and social companions, and he was prominent in its con- duct. Mr. Beecher always endeavored to fulfill the duties of citizenship, but was conspicious in politics only once in his life. This was in the memorable campaign of 1840, when the Demo- cratic party was overthrown and William Henry Harrison, the Whig candidate, elected to the Presidency. Mr. Beecher was a delegate in the

convention which nominated Harrison, and took part in the political meetings held in a log cabin on the north side, near Rush Street bridge.

In his business relations, Mr. Beecher was a man of unspotted integrity, careful and quiet in action, and reticent in speaking of himself or his affairs. One of his favorite methods of benevolent action was the assistance of some worthy man in starting in business, realizing that the truest way to help others is to teach and aid them to help themselves. He loved to gather children and young people about him, and a number were taken into his family and educated. He was es- pecially fond of music, and to his own family con- nections and friends he was ever generous. His style of living was unostentatious, and his hab- its were simple and domestic. In bearing, he was affable and considerate, and he always spoke charitably of men, making it a rule never to speak ill of any person.

Four years after his arrival in Chicago, Mr. Beecher took a helpmeet in the person of Miss Mary Warren, daughter of Daniel Warren, whose biography will be found on another page of this book, and she proved in every way a companion to him. Mrs. Beecher's twin sister married Silas B. Cobb, another pioneer leather merchant (see skeech in this work). The sisters so closely resembled each other as to be often mistaken, one for the other.

The first housekeeping experience of Mr. and Mrs. Beecher was in a modest rented house at the corner of Lake Street and Michigan Avenue, and they afterwards built a home on Michigan Ave- nue. The advance of business drove them to several removals until the family homestead at No. 241 Michigan Avenue was constructed. This is one of two or three which escaped the flames in the great fire of 1871, and is almost the sole repre- sentative on the lake front of "old Chicago." Here they dwelt for more than thirty years, and here Mrs. Beecher continues to reside. She is greatly in- terested in benevolent work, and has been active in promoting several of the most important charities of the city, regarding a fortune as a blessing only in the proportion it is devoted to doing good.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

CHRISTOPH BECK

MRS. CHRISTOPH BECK

(From Photo by W. J. ROOT.)

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

CHRISTOPH BECK.

511

CHRISTOPH BECK.

HRISTOPH BECK. In this enlightened age, when men of energy, industry and merit are rapidly pushing themselves to the front, those who have won favor and fortune may properly claim recognition. Years ago, when the West was entering npon its era of growth and development and Chicago was laying the foun- dation for future prosperity, there came thither from all parts of the world, men poor but honest, and with their sturdy independence and a deter- mination to succeed that justly entitles them to a place in the history of Chicago. Among the names of those who came here empty-handed, and have through their ability and perseverance overcome obstacles and earned for themselves honor, esteem and wealth, that of Christoph Beck is worthy of a conspicuous place.

He was born in Koerner, near Muehlhausen, Saxon-Gotha, Germany, May 1, 1832. His parents were Christoph and Anna Eliza Beck. His father died when Mr. Beck of this sketch was a small boy, and the mother in the Father- land many years ago.

After attending the parish school until he had reached the age of fourteen years, young Beck entered into an apprenticeship at the butcher's trade. remaining at this occupation until the date of his emigration from his native land. In March 1852, he sailed from Bremen harbor, and ten weeks later landed in Baltimore. He came di- rect to Detroit, Michigan, where he worked at luis trade a few months and then came to Chicago. The three succeeding years after his arrival he was employed by C. B. Albee, in the old State Street market. Ambitious to achieve greater fi-

nancial success than he could hope to obtain as an employe, he engaged in business on his own account, and in a short time found himself in the enjoyment of a profitable trade. Under his judi- cious management the business prospered, and he widened his operations until he became proprie- tor of a large butchering and wholesale business, at that time one of the foremost in the city. For about a year he was engaged in shipping cattle to eastern markets, and for about five years, during the Civil war, he was associated in business with Nelson Morris, the present wealthy packer of Chicago. In 1872, having reached the goal of his ambition, he gave up business and has since lived in retirement. On the 6th of June, 1856, he married Miss Louise Arnhold, a most estima- ble woman, who has proved a true and faithful helpmate. The following year he purchased property on Fry Street and built a residence at No. 157, which has been their home since.

Mrs. Beck was born in Grossberndten, near the city of Nordhausen, Harz Mountain. She is a daughter of Henry Christian and Justina Arn- hold, who came from Germany and arrived in Chicago September 17, 1853. They had six children, all of whom are living at this writing, namely: Louise, Mrs. Beck; Johanna, wife of Carl Hoffmeyer, of Kansas; Augusta, wife of Frederick Bergman, of Chicago; Charles; Fer- dinand; and Frederica, now Mrs. Fred. Knoff, of Lake County, Illinois. The father died in Chicago, November 27, 1890, and the mother November 29, 1892.

Mr. and Mrs. Beck have two sons: Louis, who learned the trade with his father, and Christoph,

512

GEORGE DERKES.

who has been several years in the employ of the United States Express Company. Both enjoyed good educational advantages and are useful and respected members of society in their native city.

While Mr. Beck has always felt a just pride in his adopted country and home city, he has never been a politician in any sense, but has faithfully discharged the duties of citizenship by casting his vote for the man he thought most capable of filling the position.

When he and his good wife located at their present place of residence over forty years ago, there were but a few settlers in that locality, the country around being mostly an unbroken prairie. They have seen marvelous transforma- tions in their day, and yet retain sufficient vigor of body and mind to interest themselves in the busy life that surges around them, and enjoy the good things with which Providence has crowned their lives of industry and probity.

GEORGE DERKES.

G JEORGE DERKES has been a resident of St. Louis. While there he had a hard expe- Chicago since 1855, and has lived at his present residence since 1856. He was born in Gercom, Holland, July 1, 1828. His parents died when he was a small boy and he lived for a short time with an aunt, until her death, and was then placed in an orphan asylum. He had no opportunity to acquire an education in schools, and the hard school of experience had to be his vehicle for obtaining knowledge.

At the age of thirteen years he came to America sailing from Rotterdam and landing at New York. Ever since that early age he has been self-sup- porting and is strictly a self made man. The man who brought him to America brought him as far west as Michigan and there he worked in a saw mill for a time, later finding employment in a tannery. In the following summer he worked on the lakes as a sailor, and the next year was a fireman on the old propeller "Oregon."

He entered the services of a carpenter in Buffalo, New York, and remained thus occupied two years, becoming quite thorough in the trade. He then worked his passage from Buffalo to Chicago, after which he went down to the old canal on the scow "Walker," to Peoria. From there he worked his passage on a steamboat to

rience, as he was attacked with fever and ague and became very poor in flesh as well as in purse. He next engaged with a man by the name of John Smith to chop cord wood on Coon Creek, in Illinois, and worked in the summer of that year. In the fall he returned to St. Louis and entered the services of William Crood, on Washington Street, whom he served three years as carpenter. He subsequently went to Memphis, Tennessee, and worked at his trade in various places, finally reaching New Orleans in 1851. In that city, February 16, 1853, he married Sophia Munster- mann, a native of Hanover, Germany. She came to America in June, 1852.

On the outbreak of the yellow fever that spring, he left, with his young wife, and went to Louis- ville, Kentucky. They remained in that city until 1855, and arrived in Chicago March 1 of that year. He immediately became occupied at carpenter work and purchased property on Chicago Avenue, where Milwaukee Avenue crosses. At that time this locality was all in prairie and used for farming purposes. He erected a residence on this lot, and has since made it his home, a period of forty-three years having elapsed since that time.

513

F. D. HESS.

In the fall of 1859 times were dull in Chicago and wages low, and Mr. Derkes was in debt. He went to New Orleans and during the winter earned nearly four hundred dollars. He came back to Chicago in the spring and paid his in- debtedness. In the fall of 1860, taking his wife with him, he went back to New Orleans. Owing to the trouble growing out of the secession and the early approach of the rebellion, he was obliged to leave the South and in February, 1861, re- turned to Chicago.

In 1863 he started a flour and feed store at what is now No. 439 Milwaukee Avenue. He built the second house in the block. The flour and feed business not being very profitable, he abandoned that and resumed his trade, and be- gan working for the Chicago & North-Western Railroad Company in its shops, which were then located where the viaduct is now, on Halstead

Street. He later entered the employ of G. K. Russell, at the corner of Clinton and Fulton Streets, in a sash, door and blind factory. In 1870 he opened a grocery store on Milwaukee Avenue, and continued about twelve years, doing a profitable business. He invested his savings in real estate and has become wealthy.

He has been living in comparative retirement for several years, devoting his time to taking care of his large property interests. He never held nor sought public office of any kind. He de- serves much credit for his success, as he was thrown on his own resources when but a mere child. He is a charter member of Goethe Lodge No. 329, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has no children and is not connected with any church, though an honorable, upright character, and using his influence at all times for the bene- fit of mankind.

FREDERICK D. HESS.

REDERICK DAVID HESS, one of the prominent citizens and property owners of the portion of Chicago where he resides, is also a business man of great ability, and success- ful in proportion to his energies and ambitions. He was born October 17, 1841, and is a son of Frederick David and Nannie (Rippman) Hess, who resided in Wettenburg, Germany, at the time of his birth.

Frederick David Hess reached Chicago Noven- ber 29, 1865, and immediately occupied himself at teaming until 1874. He conducted the busi- ness with teams of his own part of the time. In 1874 lie established a catering enterprise at the northwest corner of Sixty-fourth and State Streets, and was located there until 1867. He then pur- chased property at the southwest corner of the same streets, and built a store, where he con-

ducted a similar business. When, in 1890, Mr. Hess looked over his accounts, he found himself $20,000 the better for his financial transactions. He erected another building at No. 119 West Sixty-fifth Street, in 1888, and shortly after another building at Nos. 6319-21 Halsted Street, which he used for business and residence pur- poses. He next placed a building at No. 115 West Sixty-fifth Street, to which he moved his home.

October 17, 1892, Mr. Hess began the erection of a fine, substantial building at the southwest corner of Sixty-fifth and State Streets, which was finished in May, 1893. It has one hundred feet of frontage and contains twenty-one flats and five stores. The building is one of prominence, is eighty feet deep, and a credit to the neighborhood and the city of Chicago. It is brick, with stone

514

M. L. FRANKENSTEIN.

frontage on two numbers of each street. Mr. Hess has thus been active in doing his share of the upbuilding of the better part of Chicago.

He was married in 1874, but was blessed with no children. He is independent in political views,

and votes in favor of the man, rather than the party. He has been active in making improve- ments in Chicago and has erected five buildings, including the largest and one of the finest struc- tures in Englewood.

MAX L. FRANKENSTEIN.

M AXL. FRANKENSTEIN, deceased, whose active career of nearly half a century was divided between Europe and America, was a member of a prominent and scholarly family of Germany. He was born in Olbernhau, Saxony, May 22, 1849, and was the second of the four children of Dr. Conrad C. and Julia S. (Fleischer) Frankenstein. Conrad C. Frankenstein was a prominent physician of Olbernhau, where he died at the advance age of ninety-six years. His children all showed marked ability. Adolph, the oldest, gained prominence as a civil engineer; Ameal, the third, left the Fatherland and became a well-known banker in Brussels; and the youngest, Clara Sudoria, became the wife of Pro- fessor Paul Wolf of Germany.

Max L. Frankenstein, with whose life this ar- ticle is most concerned, laid the foundation of his subsequent scientific attainments in the schools of his native place, and at the age of eighteen began an apprenticeship of three years with a druggist. He was then employed for some time at liis chosen calling, and later served one year in the army of the Emperor.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 74

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