Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 77

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 77

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Martin N. Kimbell was but six years old when the family moved to Windham, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, and a few years later another remnov- al was made to Tioga County, New York. Though his parents were able to equip him with little otlier education, they implanted in his mind those upright and honorable principles which, with the

habits of industry, frugality and sobriety acquired in early youth, admirably fitted him for the battle of life. At the age of twelve years he began working out among the neighboring farmers, his first wages being $4 per month. The money earned in this way was spent for schooling-most of his education being obtained after he had passed the age of eighteen years. At the age of twenty he returned to Saratoga County, New York, where he was employed as foreman upon a large farm at the extraordinary salary of $1 1 per month, the other help receiving from $6 to $8. So satisfactory were his services that he was offered still farther advance in salary, but after a few years he again went to Tioga County and taught school for several terms at a salary of $15 per month, "boarding around." Having heard wonderful tales of the great West, in 1836 he came to Chicago. His first employment here was at farm work and teaming. In the fall of the same year he made a claim to a quarter-section of land in Jefferson Township, now inside of the city limits, and in the spring of 1837 built a shanty of hay on his claim. In 1838 he purchased this land, paying to the middle inan who secured the title from the Government, the sum of $2.50 per acre in annual installinents of $100. The same year he built a frame house near the location of his late residence, and engaged in active farming operations. Four years later he rented a hotel on Milwaukee Avenue, at the corner of the thor- oughfare now known as Warner Avenue. This house was at that time known as "The Prairie Grocery," but he changed its name to " Live and Let Live." Although this enterprise was quite successful, he resolved to abandon it because it did not provide satisfactory environment for his growing family, and two years later he returned to his farm, which was his home during the rest of his life. At one time his farm comprised two hundred and seventeen acres, most of which has been subdivided in city lots. In addition to his farmning operations he engaged for some years in jobbing and general contracting. In 1849 lie began to grade and plank the highway known as Milwaukee Avenne, and built about three miles thereof, and was afterward employed for five

530

M. N. KIMBELL.

years as superintendent of the Northwestern Plank Road Company. His winters were spent in getting out oak plank for this purpose in the Desplaines woods, and some of the timber is still found in the grade of that thoroughfare. Mr. Kimbell was also interested in several other en- terprises, and was for eleven years a director of the National Bank of Illinois. He was always a firm friend of the cause of education. Two terms of school were kept in his house, during which time he boarded the teacher gratuitously, and he often contributed money in excess of his school tax for the purpose of securing capable teachers. The first schoolhouse in his district was built by himself and two neighbors at their own expense. He was a school officer for thirty years, giving of his time and labor for the benefit of the public schools without liope of reward.

In early life he was a Democrat, but upon the passage of the fugitive slave law he renounced tliat party, and during the agitation which fol- lowed that act, he several times sheltered runaway negroes in his house, and rendered them other assistance in escaping from their pursuers. He made no secret of these acts, but such was the respect with which he was held in the community that no one interfered with this practical demon- stration of his principles. Upon the organization of the Republican party, he became one of its strongest supporters, and consistently held to that course ever after. He was a member of the first Board of Supervisors of Cook County, and served as Deputy Sheriff at one time. Three of his sons served in the Union Army during the Civil War, in Battery A, First Illinois Light Artillery, and Mr. Kimbell spent most of his time for three years in sanitary and benevolent work for the soldiers. The first contribution of $300 which he raised, was the proceeds of a ball at the Jefferson Town Hall. In this and other ways he subse- quently contributed largely to the funds of the Sanitary Commission.

Mr. Kimbell was married on the 31st of Au- gust, 1837, to Sarah Ann Smalley. Her father, Nehemiah Smalley, died in 1836, soon after com- ing to Chicago with his family. Mrs. Kimbell was born in Madison County, New York, April 16,

1816, and has been an able helpmeet of her hus- band during their long and laborious career. Of their children, Charles B. is now living retired at Hinsdale, Illinois; Julius W. is their second son; Spencer S. is the third; Anne Maria (now deceased) was the wife of Jacob Stryker; Frank A. is a resident of Missouri; Angeline, Mrs. E. H. Sinalley, resides at Caledonia, Minnesota; Martin N., the fifth son, resides on part of the old homestead; and Edward C. is a resident of Los Angeles, California. Three of the sons still reside near the old homestead. All are well- known business men, and the firms with which they are connected and manage, have furnished more stone and brick for Chicago buildings than any other firm in existence. Mr. and Mrs. Kimbell liad twenty-eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, beside seventeen children and grandchildren by marriage, at the time of his demise. When congregated at the old home- stead, this family exceeds in number the gather- ings which took place at the house of Obadiah Powell in Mr. Kimbell's childhood.

Mr. Kimbell was a Universalist for fifty-seven years. He contributed toward the building of five churches in the city of Chicago, and was a member of the Church of the Redeemer. All the members of the family cherish the same faith.

Endowed by nature with a strong and vigorous constitution, he always enjoyed good health until about the year 1890, when he began to have trouble with his feet, which gradually developed into gangrene. This continued to increase stead- ily until, in January, 1895, it was decided by a council of physicians that in order to save, or even prolong his life and relieve the intense suf- fering he was enduring, it would be necessary to amputate his left leg above the knee. This was accordingly done, with his full consent, and with the hope on the part of the family that his other- wise robust constitution would enable him to rally from the operation. But his advanced age of eighty-three years was against him, and he sank gradually until the end, which came Febru- ary 13, 1895. The last years of his life were spent in quiet retirement, surrounded by his numerous family, enjoying the fruits of a life of

531

A. J. GALLOWAY.

hard and honest labor, combined with temperance, plary life well worthy of emulation by rising benevolence and frugality, a useful and exem- generations.

ANDREW J. GALLOWAY.

NDREW JACKSON GALLOWAY, one of back, as there were then no roads over the moun. the pioneer railroad builders of Illinois, las tains. The Pierce family was very early identi- fied with the colony of New Jersey. witnessed the growth of the State from a few scattered hamlets to one of the most populous and Of Andrew Galloway's ten children, two died in infancy; the subject of this sketch is the fourth, and beside him, but three are living, namely: Julia, widow of Francis S. Galloway, Sarah J., widow of William Bedford, both residing in Chi- cago; and George, now of Jackson County, Ore- gon. wealthy commonwealths of the Union, and is still vigorous of mind and hale in body. He inherits from his Scotch ancestry those subtle qualities of mind which make the successful business man and the vigorous constitution which enables men to carry on continuous and fatiguing enterprises. His father, Andrew Galloway, was born in Done- gal, Ireland, and emigrated to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, during the first year of the present century. His ancestors were among those who fled from the persecution of the Protestants in Scotland to the North of Ireland, and their descendants are now numerous in America, in- cluding many enterprising and successful business men. Several brothers of Andrew Galloway set- tled in America. Robert G. also located in Fay- ette County, Pennsylvania. John settled at Bal- timore, Maryland, and Samuel went to New York, whence he removed, in 1836, to La Salle County, Illinois.

Andrew Galloway's wife (the mother of the subject of this biography) was Isabel, daughter of Hugh Wilson, who came from Ireland to Vir- . ginia with his father, John Wilson. The family moved from Virginia to Pennsylvania, where Hugh became a lieutenant of militia in the War of the Revolution. He married a daughter of Mr. Joseph Pierce, who was, doubtless, of Eng- lish extraction. He moved from New Jersey to Westmoreland (now Allegheny) County, Penn- sylvania, in 1772, making the journey on horse-

Andrew J. Galloway was born near Butler, the seat of Butler County, Pennsylvania, December 21, 1814. Before he was six years old, his father moved to the vicinity of Corydon, then the capi- tal of Indiana, and in 1823 settled on a farm in Clark County, same State, where he remained ten years. He died in Marseilles, La Salle Coun- ty, Illinois, in October, 1843, of congestive fever contracted while making preliminary improve- ments on a farm which he had just located. His age was sixty-six years.

While a boy, A. J. Galloway spent his sum- mers in doing such work upon the farm as he was able to perform, getting a little insight into the mysteries of letters during the winter months. At the age of fifteen, he found an opportunity to earn his board by working evenings and Satur- days, while attending a grammar school at Camp Creek, some miles distant from his home. In 1834, he entered the preparatory department of Hanover College, Indiana. He had intended to study the classics, with a view to taking up the science of medicine, but his attention was turned to engineering by the great demand made by canal and railroad construction, and the liberal

532

A. J. GALLOWAY.

compensation offered to competent engineers. Under the instructions of Professors Harney and Thompson, he inade special studies in mathemat- ics and engineering, and received his diploma as civil engineer in April, 1837.

Proceeding to Evansville, he hoped to obtain a position on the Indiana Central canal, but was of- fered the charge of the Mount Carmel Academy at Mount Carmel, Illinois, soon after, and accepted for one year. Among his pupils were many young men who have since become distinguished men of business, law and letters. At the close of his school year, he accepted an appointment as assistant engineer in the service of the State, and was actively employed in the location and con- struction of railways in that section of the State.

In the fall of 1840, he went to Springfield, and was employed during a part of the following win- ter as assistant enrolling clerk of the Senate. In the following July, he received an appointment from the Canal Commissioners as engineer on the Illinois & Michigan Canal, under Chief Engineer William Gooding and his assistant, Edward B. Talcott. He continued in this work until the suspension of operations in the winter of 1843-4, when he retired to the farm which he had pur- chased in 1842, on the Big Vermillion river in La Salle County. In 1845, he resumed his posi- tion and employment on the canal, with head- quarters at Marseilles, and continued until De- cember, 1846, when the work was about com- pleted and he was relieved. Within a few days, he was elected enrolling and engrossing clerk of the lower house of the Legislature, to which posi- tion he was also elected in 1848. At the close of the session in 1849, he was appointed Secretary to the State Trustee of the Canal Board, with of- fice in Chicago. He moved his family to the city, and for over two years filled this position, until he resigned to accept the office of assistant engineer under Col. Roswell B. Mason, on the Illinois Central Railroad.

Mr. Galloway located about one hundred and fifty miles of the line of this road, and superin- tended the construction of the twelfth division until near completion, when he was transferred to the land department of the same road, with an

increase of $1,000 per annum in salary. He superintended the survey of more than a million acres of the company's lands, and made sketches for maps of the same, with descriptions of the character and quality of every tract surveyed.

He retired from the railroad service in July, 1855, and formed a company, with two others, to deal in real estate and lands, under the title of A. J. Galloway & Company. Before the close of that year, they bought sixty thousand acres of Illinois Central lands, all of which eventually passed into the individual possession of Mr. Gal- loway. For some years he was occupied in dis- posing of these holdings, together with sales on commission for the company and other owners, and has done his share in securing the location of desirable citizens in the State.

Mr. Galloway cast his first Presidential vote for Martin Van Buren, in 1836, and has voted in every national contest since. He adhered to the Democratic party until the organization of the Republican in 1856, since which he has af- filiated with the latter party. He was a member of the Twenty-seventh General Assembly of Illi- nois, and chairman of the committee on canal and river improvements in the house. This was the first Legislature under the present State Consti- tution, and held four sessions, two of them being called by the Governor of the State, and one of which was made necessary by the fearful conflagra- tion which destroyed some two hundred million dollars' worth of property in Chicago in the brief space of twenty hours. He was elected to fill a va- cancy in the Cook County Board of Commissioners in November, 1872, by some eight thousand major- ity, but was beaten on the "law and order" ticket iu the following year for the same office, by some ten thousand majority given for the candidate on the "people's ticket." In 1882, he was a candi- date on the Republican ticket for County Clerk, and though elected by the legal votes cast, was counted out. While at Springfield, he formed the acquaintance of Abraham Lincoln, and their mutual friendship continued with the life of the latter.

As chairman of the committee on taxation of the Citizens' Association, he has rendered valu-

533

JAMES TOMPKINS.

able aid to that very useful organization, and at various times, through the medium of the press, has given to the public useful hints, facts and statistics which ought not to be forgotten.

In November, 1838, Mr. Galloway was mar- ried to Miss Rebecca Buchanan, youngest daugh- ter of the late Victor Buchanan, senior, of Law- rence County, Illinois, a well-known and highly esteemed farmer, a native of Pennsylvania, who died and was buried on his farm in the year 1843,

having reached the ripe age of eighty-one years. Following are the names of Mr. Galloway's children: Rebecca Elizabeth, wife of George G. Gunther, now residing in California; Robert Wil- son, an amateur artist and member of the Chicago Board of Trade, died at the age of twenty-seven years; Margaret, widow of Samuel L. Fogg, and James Buchanan, a prominent business man, re- side in Chicago. Jessie died in 1870, aged twenty years.

REV. JAMES TOMPKINS, D. D.

EV. JAMES TOMPKINS, D. D., for seven- teen years Superintendent of the Congrega- tional Home Missionary Society of Illinois, is not only an able preacher but a superior busi- ness man as well. His practical ideas and genial, sunny disposition inspire confidence and interest in all with whom he comes in contact, and secure ready co-operation in his work. He was born in Galesburg, Illinois, on the 6th of April, 1840. His father, Deacon Samuel Tompkins, was one of the founders of that city, being a member of the committee that came from New York, in 1835, to select the site of an institution of learning and, incidentally, of a town in the "wild West." The committee entered a township of Govern- ment land and platted a village in its center, in the name of Knox College. Tompkins Street, on which is located Knox Female Seminary, is named in honor of this pioneer. Samuel Tomp- kins was a native of Rhode Island, and his wife, Mary Grinnell, was born at Paris Hill, Oneida County, New York.

James Tompkins spent his early years in his native place, studying in the public schools, until 1854, when he entered the preparatory depart-

ment of Knox College. He graduated from that institution in 1862, taking the degree of Bachelor of Science. In1 1865, having pursued special lines of study, he received the degree of Master of Arts. In 1867, he graduated from Chicago Theological Seminary, and in 1888 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Illinois College.

During his preparatory and college course, he maintained himself by teaching school, and the same year of his graduation-at the age of twen- ty-two-he took charge of Elmwood Academy, at Elmwood, Illinois. He continued here two years, at the end of which period a regular system of graded schools was established by the town and the trustees of the academy decided to merge that institution in the public high school. The formation of the grades and establishment of the high school was a task assigned to Mr. Tomp- kins, and faithfully carried out.

While he was in college, the call of President Lincoln was issued for seventy-five thousand men to put down the rebellion, and a company was enlisted at Knox College, Mr. Tompkins being among the first. So many men were enlisting

534

JAMES TOMPKINS.

throughout the State that it was feared the com- pany of students would not be accepted, and its captain was sent to Springfield to urge the matter upon Governor Yates, but the mission was vain, and thus several good soldiers were spoiled in the making of some good ministers.

After graduating, Mr. Tompkins aided in re- cruiting some companies of volunteers under a later call. These went into the Seventy-seventh and Eighty-fifth Regiments of Illinois Volunteers. Through much open air speaking in recruiting, Mr. Tompkins was suffering from a slight inflam- mation on the lungs at this time, and the exam- ining surgeon refused to pass him for military duty. As lie was anxious to go out with the men he had enlisted, he endeavored to persuade the surgeon that his ailment was temporary, but the official was inexorable and he was compelled to remain behind. After resigning his position at Elmwood, however, in June, 1864, he was en- abled to give his services to the country by join- ing the United States Christian Commission, which did such valuable work for the "boys in blue" in campand hospital and on the battle- field. In this service, he remained until the close of the war. He was first sent to the Army of the Potomac, in company with Rev. W. G. Peirce, the beloved and heroic chaplain of the Seventy- seventh Illinois. When they reached City Point, Virginia-General Grant's headquarters-they responded to a call for volunteers to go to the front, and were assigned to duty at Point of Rocks, on the Appomatox river. Here Mr. Tompkins met with an accident which nearly proved fatal. After hovering between life and death for a week, he rallied sufficiently to be taken in an ambulance to City Point, and was placed on a steamer bound for Baltimore.

On his recovery, he was engaged for several weeks in lecturing throughout Central Illinois on the work of the Christian Commission, and col- lected several thousand dollars for its use. He then visited the Army of the Cumberland and followed General Thomas as he drove the Con- federate army, commanded by General Hood, out of Tennessee. He cared for the sick and wounded of both armies, took the last message of the dy-

ing for the loved ones at home, and aided in giv- ing a decent burial to the remains of those who had given up their lives for their country.

Mr. Tompkins was ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry April 24, 1867, immediately after graduating from Chicago Theological Seminary, in the Congregational Church at Prospect Park (now called Glen Ellyn), and entered upon the duties of the Congregational pastorate, serving jointly this church and the First Church of Christ in the neighboring village of Lombard, Illinois. On visiting Minnesota for rest and recuperation, he was engaged as stated supply of the Congre- gational Church at St. Cloud. From there, he was called to the pastorate of the First Congrega- tional Church of Minneapolis. Three years' resi- dence in Minnesota made it apparent that a milder climate was necessary to the health of both himself and wife, and he resigned his charge in Minneapolis. He soon after accepted a call from the Congregational Church at Kewanee, Illinois, which he served as pastor for over six years.

In May, 1878, the General Congregational As- sociation of Illinois voted to appoint a Superin- tendent of its work in the State. A number of prominent clergymen were candidates for the position, and after several ballotings, Mr. Tomp- kins received a majority of all the votescast and was declared elected. He entered upon his new duties in the succeeding July, with headquarters in Chicago, and is still occupying that position. He has introduced several new methods in the prose- cution of the work, and awakened a deeper inter- est and more hearty co-operation in all the churches. The most important of the new in- strumentalities was the employment of able men as State Evangelists. This gave new impetus, strength and enlargement to the work.

In 1869, on the 8th of September, Mr. Tomp- kins married Miss Ella A. Kelley, a native of Rutland, Vermont, daughter of J. Seeley Kelley and Mary E. Hall. To Mr. and Mrs. Tompkins have been given four children, namely: Roy James, born in Minneapolis, Mabel Ella, William C., born át Kewanee, Illinois, and Seeley Kelley, born at Oak Park, Illinois.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HUMAN

KASPAR G. SCHMIDT.

535

K. G. SCHMIDT.

KASPAR G. SCHMIDT.

1 ASPAR G. SCHMIDT was born in Vocken- hausen, near Wiesbaden, Nassau, Germany, February 20, 1833. His parents' names were John and Elizabeth (Dinges) Schmidt. John Schmidt was a tailor by trade and, in later life, became foreman of a tannery. He served in the German army as a sergeant-major under General Blucher. After participating in the bat- tle of Waterloo, he accompanied the victorious army to Paris. His death occurred in 1854, at the age of sixty-two years. Mrs. Elizabeth Schmidt survived until 1882, attaining the vener- able age of eighty-two years.

Kaspar G. Schmidt is one of a family of nine children, of whom but one beside himself came to America. This was a brother, named Nicholas, who now resides in Chicago. Kaspar received a common-school education and, at the age of four- teen years, began to learn the trade of a machinist. After serving a four years' apprenticeship at Mines, he followed the same occupation for some time at Frankfort-on-the-Main. Iu April, 1854, he set sail for America. After a tempestuous voyage lasting fifty-six days, he landed in New York. Thence he came direct to Chicago, where he soon obtained employment at his trade. His enterprising spirit was not destined to be confined to mere mechanical labor, however, and he began saving his surplus earnings with a view to mak- ing a permanent investment. He did not have to wait long for an opportunity, and when, in 1857, several large Milwaukee brewers became bankrupt, he purchased a stock of beer at an ad- vantageous figure and began doing a small whole- sale business in that product. This enterprise continued to prosper until 1860, when he was en- abled to start a small brewery, at the corner of Superior and Clark Streets. Two years later, he removed to Grant Place, which has ever since

been the scene of his operations. His extensive buildings were totally destroyed in the great fire of 1871. His loss at that time, including his residence, amounted to one-fourth of a million dollars. He was able to recover but a small per- centage of his insurance, and the entire business had to be built up anew. Rebuilding upon a small scale, he enlarged the establishment at in- tervals until it attained a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels per day and furnished employ- ment to one hundred men. Having more than recovered his loss by the great fire, and being re- solved to retire from active life, he sold out his plant in 1890, and is practically retired from business.

Mr. Schmidt was married in 1856 to Barbara Wagner, who was born in Rhodt, Rheinpfalz, Bavaria. She died on the 21st of September, 1894, at the age of sixty years. Of the eight children born to this union, five reached mature years. Barbara Elizabeth is now the wife of George W. Kellner, of Chicago; Katie Emma is Mrs. Martin Herbert, of Chicago; August died in 1889, at the age of twenty-eight years; George K. and Edna complete the list of the survivors. Ten living grandchildren make glad the heart of Mr. Schmidt.

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Album of genealogy and biography, Cook County, Illinois, Volume 1899, Part 77

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