Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 76

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 76

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In 1845, on November 6, Mr. Schermann mar- ried Miss Frances Schermer. She is a native of

the city of Stettin, province of Pomerania, Prus- sia. They have six children living, namely: Louise, wife of Louis Frank; Dorothy, now Mrs. Thomas Nalepinski; Dennis, of No. 144 Augusta Street; Frances, wife of ex-Alderman August Kowalski; John, in the insurance business at the corner of Bradley and Noble Streets; and Josephine, Mrs. Anton Klimek, all of Chicago.

This remarkable patriarch has never worn spectacles and is still able to read fine print with- out their aid. For nearly fifty-five years this couple has traveled life's journey together. They have thirty-six grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. The members of the fam- ily are connected with the Polish Catholic Church and are highly respected in the community in which they reside.

KARSTEN MIKKELSEN.

ARSTEN MIKKELSEN, who has resided in Chicago more than a quarter of a century, was born September 2, 1852, in the northern part of the province of Schleswig, which was formerly a part of Denmark, but now belongs to Germany. His parents were Niels and Elizabeth Mikkelsen, and he is the third of the six sons born to them. They were both natives of Schles- wig, where the subject of this notice spent his boyhood and early youth. He attended the com - mon schools a few years, but, when twelve years old, began to learn the tailor's trade with his father. He continued to work with his father during the next six years, and became a rapid and skillful workman.

But the opportunities for advancement were not great enough to keep him in his native country and, accordingly, he began to look for greater advantages in some foreign land. Those of his fellow-countrymen who had emigrated to

this country, sent back glowing descriptions of good business openings to be found in the United States, and young Mikkelsen resolved to try his fortune in the Great Republic. In 1871 he made the journey to Chicago, to which city a large part of the immigration was directed, and there found work at his trade. Until 1878 he worked by the piece, laying by as much as pos- sible of his income.

To this rigid spirit of economy his start in business is due, as in no other way could he have obtained the necessary capital. With his brother, Theodore Mikkelsen, as a partner he established a tailor's shop in Ohio Street, which was con- tinued about five years. At the end of that time the partnership was dissolved, each of the brothers going into business by himself. Kar- sten Mikkelsen first located in Huron Street, where he carried on a good business for some time. In 1888 he built his present factory, at

523

E. A. ROBBINS.

No. 286 West Superior Street. He now does a large business in the manufacture of clothing, employing twenty-five hands. He has not aban- doned the frugal habits of his earlier days, and the results have been correspondingly greater as his income has increased. Besides owning his business establishment, he has erected a residence at No. 48 Evergreen Avenue.

In 1878 Mr. Mikkelsen was married to Miss Caroline Nelsen, also a native of Denmark. Their family consists of four sons, Victor, George, Henry and Irvin, all of whom were born in Chicago. The eldest was graduated from Met-

ropolitan College, and has been in the employ of Marshall Field & Company four years. The others are still attending school. The subject of this sketch has, in his long years as a business man of Chicago, gained a wide acquaintance, es- pecially among his fellow-countrymen, and has the respect and confidence of all who know him. He is one of the strongest members of the Dania Society, having been connected with that organi- zation since 1874. In political principles he is a Republican, but does not allow his party zeal to prevent his voting for the candidate whom he considers to be the best fitted for official station.

EDLEY A. ROBBINS.

DLEY AMOS ROBBINS, who is among the most enterprising and successful of the citizens of Chicago, was born Septem- ber 11, 1860, at the northeast corner of Throop Street and Archer Avenue, where the Citizens' Brewery now stands. His parents were Amos Stokes and Elizabeth Robbins. Amos S. Robbins was born on Sunday, June 15, 1834, in Munn Chapel, Lincolnshire, England. He died in the winter of 1867, and his remains were interred in Oakwoods Cemetery. He probably emigrated from his native land in 1853. On September 14 of that year he gave his son a bible which was made in 1812. This was, probably, the date of his emigration from his native land.

On his arrival in Illinois Amos S. Robbins be- came employed by a tiller of the soil, Mr. Buch- hults, who owned a farm near Summit, in Cook County. In 1859 he married a daughter of his employer, and opened a grocery store at Throop Street and Archer Avenue. He later dealt in ice, flour and feed and conducted a large business. His wife died in 1866, at the age of thirty-two years, and her remains were interred at Mount

Bartholomew. Her children were four in num- ber. Edley Amos is the eldest. Marie Ann was born October 16, 1861, married Joseph W. Poole, and resides at No. 3607 Robey Street. Their children are named: Mildred, Dale and Myrtle. Rudolph Robbins died while still an infant. Eliz- abeth was born February 29, 1864, and married Thomas J. Healy, who is now a policeman, and resides at No. 3018 Archer Avenue. Their chil- dren are named: Clarence, William, Thomas and Florence.

At the age of fifteen years E. A. Robbins' edu- cation, as far as daily schooling was concerned, was at an end. He then began the battle of life and entered the hard but profitable school of ex- perience, becoming one of the employes in the D. V. Purinton brick yards, where he remained five years and mastered the art of brick-making. He began to work in the Stock Yards, for Armour & Fowler, at the end of that time, and subse- quently occupied himself at his trade in the sum- mer and in the Stock Yards in the winter. He worked for a gas company from 1883 until 1886. He was one year foreman for the Consumers' Gas

524

HENRY SANDMEYER.

Company and in 1886 entered the service of the Equitable Gas Company. He was its foreman one year and, later, was employed at the works of the Hyde Park Gas Company, and was fore- man for this company from 1887 to 1892. One year subsequently he was foreman for the Chi- cago Gas Light & Coke Company, and has since that time been occupied in the same capacity with the People's Gas Light & Coke Company. He is a valuable and respected employe, and his services are rewarded accordingly.

October 14, 1885, Mr. Robbins married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Patrick and Sarah (Kane) Flaherty. Mrs. Robbins was born April 24, 1868,

at the corner of Thirty-first Street and West- ern Avenue. Her children are as follows: Walter, born July 8, 1886, died July 8, 1886; Clarence, born July 21, 1887; Edley Joseph, born Novem- ber 11, 1889, died July 21, 1890; Ethel, born March 21, 1891, died July 18, 1891; Myrtle, born February 23, 1895; Edley Ambrose, born Jant- ary 20, 1897, and Walter Albert, born April 21, 1898.

Mr. Robbins is a member of Amity Council, No. 13, Royal League, and is independent in politics, voting for the man who, according to his idea, is best fitted to fill official position to the interests of the people.

HENRY SANDMEYER.

ENRY SANDMEYER, one of the retired employes of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, is a man whose characteristic is fidelity. This fact is proven by his record of twenty-six years in the interest of one employer. He only retired when advancing years made it necessary for him to stop to enjoy the evening of his life in a well-earned rest.

Henry Sandmeyer learned the trade of a brass finisher and moulder in the city of Mamel. He was born in the town of Oldendorf, Prussia, and is a son of Louis and Sophia (Hupe) Sandmeyer, who were living in this town at the time of their son's birth, July 2, 1844. Henry was forced to serve a four years' apprenticeship at his trade, and was employed at his chosen occupation one year in Hamel. He spent two years in Berlin, Germany, and served three years in the standing army of the country. He left the land of his birth in 1867, and landed in New York in May.

He traveled westward and located in Columbia City, Indiana, with his brother, Louis Sand-

meyer, who had been there since 1852. In the fall of 1867, Henry Sandmeyer removed to Chi- cago. He was unable at first to find employ- ment, and occupied himself on a farm near Chi- cago two months. In November of the same year he entered the service of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, at Twenty-sixth Street, in the brass and foundry department and continued in the same employ until January, 1892. From 1880 until the time of his retirement he was fore- man.

September 29, 1872, Mr. Sandıneyer was mar- ried to Miss Augusta Stoffregen, daughter of Henry and Louisa (Mertens) Stoffregen. Mrs. Sandmeyer was born July 9, 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Sandmeyer were blessed with two children that have proved a blessing to them in every respect. Edward John, the elder, is twenty-one years of age at the present writing, in 1898, and is em- ployed in the office of the German and Milwauke Mechanics' Insurance Company, located at the corner of La Salle and Adams Streets. Alma

525

JOHN BERNER.

Augusta is nineteen years of age, and is at home with her parents.

In May, 1885, Mr. Sandmeyer erected a resi- dence at the southeast corner of Madison Avenue and Sixty-third Street, which included a store building. For six months his brother conducted a drug store in the building, and for two years a hardware store, since which time it has remained a drug store. In 1891 Mr. Sandmeyer built an L shaped building around two sides of the old frame building, the new part being a three-story brick. He made the building occupy No. 328 Sixty-third Street and No. 6307 Madison Avenue. For two years the old residence portion was occu- pied by a barber shop, but the Hopkins restau- rant has since been located in the said space. In 1892 he built a frame two-story building at Nos.

6309-11 Madison Avenue, in which is a meat market and flats.

Mr. Sandmeyer was made a Mason in Waldeck Lodge No. 672, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons. He is a member of Hutton Lodge No. 398, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has filled all the chairs. Though never seeking to hold public office, Mr. Sandmeyer is a staunch upholder of the candidates of the Democratic party. He is a man of pleasing address. He resides in the old building on the corner of Madison Avenue and Sixty-third Street and this home is presided over by his faithful and loving helpmate, who is a lady of refinement. Mrs. Sandmeyer is inter- ested in all social and benevolent events and has aided in the rearing of two happy and devoted children, both of whom remain with their parents.

JOHN BERNER.

OHN BERNER, one of the most popular, progressive and enterprising citizens of Lyons Village, was born in Sharpsburg, Al- legheny County, Pennsylvania, August 29, 1856, a son of Baltzer and Anna M. (Hofmann) Ber- ner, natives of Hessen-Darmstadt, Gerinany. His paternal grandfather, as well as uncle, Joseph Berner, were popular and well-known educators in the province of Wurtemberg, Germany, fol- lowing teaching as a profession. His great- grandfather on his mother's side, George Hof- mann, was a tanner by occupation, and attained the remarkable age of one hundred and thirteen years.

The maternal grandparents of John Berner, Alois and Anna Mary (Wilhelm) Hofinann, came from Hessen-Darmstadt to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1846. They removed to Sharps- burg, a place adjoining Pittsburgh, in 1849, where the grandfather embarked in the cooperage

business, manufacturing staves and nail kegs, and also owning and conducting a farm. He was widely known in western Pennsylvania as a talented musician, and died in February, 1882, at the age of eighty-seven years.

Baltzer Berner, father of the man whose name heads this article, was one of the early German settlers in Allegheny County, and was a mason by trade. He was many years engaged in con- tracting, in that line, in Pittsburgh and vicinity. He was fatally injured, while superintending the erection of a bridge on the Butler Plank road, near Sharpsburg, in 1868, dying from the inju- ries September 29 of that year. His widow sur- vived him exactly thirteen years, dying Septen- ber 29, 1881. The family consisted of eight children, five sons and three daughters, all of whom survive, and of whom John is one of twin boys.

John Berner was reared in Sharpsburg, Penn-

526

JAMES HUGUELET.

sylvania, receiving an education in the German Catholic parochial schools and continuing until he reached the age of twelve years. In 1868 his mother established a gardening business and he was her assistant until 1884. In March of that year he removed to Illinois, locating in Lyons, and embarking in the hotel business. He was five years occupied at this business, and subse- quently spent two years in the market business at Riverside. In 1891-92 he conducted a restaurant and general catering establishment in Chicago, and from 1892 to 1899 has been proprietor of a summer garden in Lyons.

He purchased the fine property at Lyons, which he now occupies, at the corner of Joliet and Ogden Avenues, conducting a successful restaurant and cafe of a first class kind, making this one of the most popular resorts in Lyons.

Mr. Berner was married March 9, 1882, to Miss Magdalena, daughter of Louis and Eliza- beth (Fritch) Durrstein, of Sharpsburg, Penn- sylvania. He is the father of two children, Edward J. and Lizzie A. His family is con- nected with the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Berner is a staunch advocate of the public school system, and mainly through his efforts the pres- ent public school building was erected and the system put on the solid foundation it now enjoys in Lyons Village. He was also one of the incor- porators of Lyons Village, being the main pro- motor which brought its incorporation to a suc- cessful issue. He has been a member of the Vil- lage Board of Education seven years, was one of the first trustees of the village, and served as treasurer two terms. In political matters he is a staunch Democrat. ,

JAMES HUGUELET.

AMES HUGUELET, a man of good family and reputation, and a loyal citizen of Chi- cago, is an employe of the city at the present time, and has been occupied at different occupa- tions during his life. He was born October 13, 1845. For his ancestry refer to biography of Louis Huguelet, on another page of this work.

James Huguelet began the battle of life for himself when but thirteen years old, being a sturdy and energetic youth. He was first employed by the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company one year, and then entered the service of Mr. Loveday, where he remained but seven months. For ten subsequent years he was in the service of Thomas Goodwillie, located on the North Pier, in the industry of making boxes. Mr. Huguelet had charge of a department during the last two years he spent in this employ, showing that he knew how to make his services valuable and that his employer honored and valued him. He was

later for a period of eight years with James Max- well, located at the corner of Loomis and Sixty- first Streets, also engaged in making boxes.

Mr. Huguelet spent eighteen months at the same occupation with Cook & Raftman and next was employed six years by the city under the Cregier administration, at the water works. He was generally employed later, serving in asses- sor's and collector's offices as watchman. He re. sides with his family at No. 98 Delaware Place.

He was successful in marrying a congenial, harmonious helpmate, January 8, 1874, when he was united to Miss Susan Marx, daughter of Adam Marx. They have become the parents of nine interesting children, of whom one is de- ceased, Samuel, who died at the age of seven months. In order they were named: James, Eugene, Joseph, Samuel, William, Della, David, Lily and John. The family makes a happy cir- cle of peace and exemplary domestic life.

527

O. D. RANNEY.

ORRIN D. RANNEY.

RRIN DATUS RANNEY was born at East Granville (on Holden Hill), Massachusetts, March 6, 1812, unto Orrin and Betsy Ran- ney, (nee Gibbons. ) He had one brother and three sisters, all of good attainments. The brother, Timothy Pickering Ranney (now deceased), was long a prominent laywer at Newark, New Jersey. His sisters, Nancy Deborah and Sarah Sheppard Ranney, were both graduates of Mount Holyoke Seminary, Massachusetts. The former (now de- parted) for many years had a private ladies' seminary at Elizabeth, New Jersey. Sarah ınar- ried Mr. J. Austin Scott, a capitalist, of Toledo, Ohio. Sarah Sheppard Ranney Scott and hus- band are now both dead.

The subject of this sketch, on account of ill health was obliged to forego youthful aspirations for becoming a clergyman. After finishing his common school education, at the age of fourteen- years, he began clerking in Westfield, Massachu- setts. Upon his marriage, at the age of twenty- one, he began to conduct his own store at Lee, Massachusetts, whence he removed to Adrian, Michigan. Thence he went to Maumee City, Ohio, where he remained for a period of about ten years; thence to Toledo, Ohio. In all of these places he continued, with varying fortunes, in the mercantile business.

Removing from Toledo, Ohio, he came to the final destination of his earthly life, arriving in Chicago in 1856. He went directly into tlie pro- vision commission business, on South Water Street, where he was long associated with the still surviving veteran Sherman Hall. Later he was for some years a member of the Board of Trade, in which we need not add he was deeply interested, and at whose marvelous growth he was, with his compeers of earlier days, obliged to mar- veł greatly.

In May, 1872, he became attached to the force

of the First National Bank, serving that corpora- tion most faithfully in the capacity of Manager of the Safety Deposit Vaults, for upwards of a score of years, unto the very time of his death, March 4, 1894.

By political faith, he was a staunch Republi- can, following tlie progressive career of that su- premely American party in every election with his unvarying support at the ballot box. The uplifting force of his long and good life is found in the Presbyterian dogma, to which he sub- scribed by actions which "speak louder than words." At the time of his coming to our city, he identified himself with the First Presbyterian Church, in which he was ever honorably promi- nent, acting as an Elder for long years, up to within about two years of the time of his decease. He was also warmly interested in the welfare of the Foster Mission, a time-honored school of that denomination. The Rev. Herrick Johnson offici- ated at his funeral, and he was laid at rest in Albion, Michigan.

Our departed friend belonged to no clubs, he was no society man; he belonged to his home; he was a man for the fireside and his tried, true friends. Said one of those high in position, with whom business associations for a lengthy period had brought the subject of this sketch into close relations of importance," I would as soon have thought of our bank suddenly becoming bankrupt for some inexplicable reason, as to know that anything had gone wrong with our Deposit De- partment while it was under Mr. Ranney's super- vision." Another, standing under the shadow of his tomb, said, "He was an honest man in every way, church, business, social and domestic life; none could come nearer perfection than Orrin Datus Ranney. All knew him only to respect and love, as one of God's noblemen."

As the Creator does not finish the lives of any,

528

M. N. KIMBELL.

no matter how saintly, upon this lower earth, so we cannot record in worthy fulness what is most deserving of historic remembrance and emulation on the part of succeeding generations of business men, about to enter upon important duties in our vast and rapidly growing metropolis. Surely, we may trustfully believe, as he was without fear, he passed to fields of Paradise without punish- ment; as he submissively wore the cross, the crown of eternal bliss is already encircling his be- loved brow.

Mr. Ranney was twice married, having and leaving children only by the former marriage. The first union was with Miss Phoebe Eldredge, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Isaac Knapp, at Westfield, Massachusetts, April 15, 1833. Three children came to them, as follows: Charles Luce Ranney, born January 14, 1834 in Westfield, Massachusetts; went through the Civil War, and died in a hospital in Portland, Oregon, in 1890, unmarried. Ellen Maria Ranney, born July 5, 1839, in Lee, Berkshire County, Massa- chusetts, died in childhood at Maumee City; Alice Maria Rauney, born July 5, 1849 at Maumee City, Olio; educated at Miss Ranney's Private School in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and later a graduate of the Chicago Dearborn Seminary. She married December 10, 1868, Walter Weeks Hilton, a banker of early Chicago, by whon she has two children: Myra Fisk Hilton, born Sep- tember 27 1869, educated at the Chicago Dear- born Seminary; and married June 26, 1889, to Mr. William Z. Mead, formerly of Virginia, now

of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he is engaged in the insurance business. John Ranney Hilton1, born September 5, 1873, educated in the Chicago High School, unmarried.

On the 19th of January, 1881, Mr. Ranney was married to Mrs. Adeline S. Peabody, (nee Grosve- ner) a prominent family of Albion, Michigan, by the Rev. Daniel M. Cooper, of Detroit, Michigan. Their more than half a score of happy years of wedded life were not blessed by offspring. She still survives him, living at Albion, and visiting his last resting place on frequent occasions, feel- ing honored in being the associate of one in every way so worthy of the best of womankind.

It will be seen that Mr. Ranney leaves no male child to bear his name throughout the coming years; therefore, although the good traits of fe- male descendants will loudly voice themselves in his behalf, it is especially appropriate that at this time and in this place and manner, in dignified setting, surrounded by the best of his contempo- raries, a lasting memorial be created, befitting in some degree the superlative characteristics of manhood possessed by him of whom this is written.

It is to be regretted that some fuller record of Mr. Ranney's lineal ancestry is not available; for the present it is known that his maternal grand- parents were Timothy and Elizabeth Gibbons, and that the preceding in the male line was Peter Gibbons. It is unnecessary to call attention to those prominent in this family, a Cardinal being in the mouths of us all, at first mention. The pa- ternal grandfather was Jonathan Ranney.

MARTIN N. KIMBELL.

ARTIN NELSON KIMBELL, one of the S - most public-spirited of Cook County's pio- neers, who ably bore his part in promoting its moral and intellectual progress, as well as aid-

ing in its material prosperity, was born in Still- water Township, Saratoga County, New York, January 24, 1812. He was the eldest rliild of Abel Kimbell and Maria Powell. The former

529

M. N. KIMBELL.

was born at Pownal, Bennington, County, Ver- mont, and was a son of Noah Kimbell, a native of Rhode Island, who removed to Vermont while a young man. The last-named was of Scotch- Irish descent, and a fariner and miller by occu- pation. He joined the Continental forces and took part in the battle of Bennington. Abel Kimbell, in early life, removed to Saratoga County, New York, where his death occurred in 1833 at the age of forty-two years. He was a veteran of the War of 1812.

Mrs. Maria Kimbell died in Saratoga County, New York, in 1830. Her mother, whose maiden name was Nelson, was of Dutch descent, and her father's name was Frost Powell. He was of English-Welsh extraction, son of Obadiah Powell, a Quaker, who died in Saratoga County at the age of nearly one hundred years. Some time previous to the Revolutionary War he removed thither from Dutchess County, New York, with his wife Betsy, bringing all their belongings on a pack pony. They became the parents of three sons and eight daughters, all of whom lived to extreme old age. During the Revolutionary struggle, Obadiah Powell was much censured by his neighbors on account of his non-combatant principles. and most of his personal property was confiscated. He was steadfast in his convictions, however, and lived to become one of the leading farmers of the county. At the age of ninety-eight years he husked several baskets of corn and car- ried them to the loft of his carriage house. His house was a favorite gathering-place of his nu- merous descendants, including the subject of this sketch, who was the recipient of considerable at- tention from the old gentleman on account of his being the first great-grandchild. About 1840 Frost Powell moved to Wisconsin, settling near Waterford, in Racine County, where he died a few years later.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 76

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