USA > Illinois > Biographical and memorial edition of the Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 27
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DUDLEY C. SMITH.
Dudley C. Smith was born at Shelbyville, Ill., December 9, 1833. He carried on an important mercantile business and early became possessed
of large landed interests near Shelbyville. He took a patriotie part in raising troops for the Civil war in 1861, and entered the military serv-
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ice as early as April 22, 1861, as captain of Company B, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. He was a brave, enthusiastic, active and efficient officer, and was so severely wounded at the bat- tle of Shiloh, in 1862, that he was obliged to re- tire from the army. On his recovery, in 1864, at the organization of the One Hundred and Forty- third Illinois Infantry, he was made its colonel and served during the full term. Colonel Smith
removed to Normal, Ill., in 1869, since which time, in addition to caring for large landed and other interests, he has given much time, thought and very liberal financial assistance to religious, educational and benevolent institutions. This aid has not been confined to local objects. He is a gentleman of culture, an eloquent speaker, and possesses fine literary taste.
JOHN FRANKLIN GOODWIN.
It is one of the deplorable facts of our exist- ence, a fact recognized by men and borne out by figures, that some of the most cogent influ- ences in our lives, some of the men who have the most influential bearing upon individuals and affairs, are taken from us when their work is but, comparatively, commenced. There is something infinitely sad about the death of a man who has labored assiduously; who has had a definite end in view; who has devoted all of his capable energies in the effort to reach a certain goal; who has seen his ambitions almost realized, and then has had to succumb to the insidious attack of the enemy who lies in wait behind-and that after he has met and defeated the multitudinous enemies whom he has met and overcome in front. And still it is not all defeat that he leaves behind. There is the clear-cut and vivid picture left of his triumph over difficulties; the color of the pic- ture in which is depicted the awakening of his self-reliance in his own abilities cannot fail to leave its lesson; and the etching, though perhaps uncompleted, shows what the final drawing would have been had the Master Artist seen fit to complete his work-the masterpiece titled "A Man." There is no further need to Introduce the name of John Franklin Goodwin to the citizens of Minonk. Ill. They will rec- ognize his connection with the foregoing few statements. He lived his life, he lived it clean, and there are many aside from his immediate family and friends who deplore his loss as a loss to the commercial and industrial life of Minonk, Ill.
John Franklin Goodwin was born at Minonk, Ill., December 28, 1870, and was a son of Edwin G. and Frances ( Rateliff) Goodwin, na- tives of England. The father is deceased, but the mother is still living and resides in Minonk. On completing his education in the public schools, Mr. Goodwin entered the employ of his father, in the latter's brick-yard, and sub-
sequently purchased the elder man's interest in the business. Several years ago a partner- ship was formed, when Mr. Goodwin took into the venture his brothers, Arthur and Bert Goodwin, the firm at that time becoming known as the Minonk Brick and Tile Company. The Clark and Pickard brick and tile yard was later purchased by this concern, and John F. Goodwin continued as the active directing head of the company until ill health caused his retirement from active business lite. Mr. Goodwin was the ideal business man, sane in his investments, but courageous in grasping opportunities; unbending in his decisions, but in his decisions just; forgiving in another's delinquencies, but unassailable in his personal dealings. To use a colloquialism: "A man to tie to." It may seem a mere biographical phrase to say : "his home was his castle," and yet such was the case with Mr. Goodwin. He loved his home above all else and found his true happiness there. Yet he was not indiffer- ent to the pleasures to be found in the com- panionship of his fellow-men, and the high esteem and regard in which he was held by his brother members of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he held membership in Bliss Encampment and Allen Rebekah Lodge, and the Morris Lodge of Masons, of which he was master for five years, bear eloquent proof of his general popularity. When he passed away, March 16, 1913, Minonk's business and social circles mourned.
On February 19, 1903, Mr. Goodwin was married to Mrs. Gratje (Minger) Heinrichs. born in Minonk, daughter of Jacob and Lena (Bouk) Heinrichs, natives of Germany. Mr. Minger was for some years a grocery merchant in Minonk and is now deceased, while his widow still survives. By her first marriage Mrs. Goodwin had two daughters: Sophia, the wife of John Ryan, of Minonk; and Henrietta, who resides with her mother.
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HISTORICA
John Goodwin.
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WILLIAM H. DOOLITTLE.
A man devoted to the highest ideals of his humane profession, of prominence and wealth yet unspoiled by his position and prosperity, whose life was filled with kindly thoughts and deeds, a man of sterling integrity and probity, who typified in his everyday life the highest type of Christian character, was the late Dr. William H. Doolittle, of Woodstock, whose death, June 10, 1912, was a distinct loss to the Illinois medical profession. Reared on a farm, he early adopted medicine as the field of his activities, and so faithfully and assiduously did he labor in his chosen noble calling that he rose to the very forefront among the physicians of his day, while as a citizen he was no less honored and respected.
William H. Doolittle was born at Marshland, Tioga County, Pa., December 16, 1850, a son of Dr. Darwin C. and Eliza M. Doolittle. His early education was secured at Windsor Academy, Windsor, N. Y., following which he became a student in the Poughkeepsie (N. Y.) Business College, and then for a few years was in the lumber business with an uncle in Pennsylvania. The family came to Illinois in 1866 and settled on a farm near Ridgefield, but subsequently Dr. Darwin C. Doolittle removed to Chicago, where in the city's business center he opened a phar- macy. He conducted this establishment for sev- eral years, but eventually turned it over to his sons, Herbert and Darwin, who operated it in partnership, the father then coming to Wood. stock practically to retire. He died a few years ago at an advanced age, honored and respected by the entire community, while his widow still survives and makes her home in Woodstock.
After some preparation, William H. Doolittle entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, where he was graduated with his degree in 1876, and following this entered upon the practice of his profession in Chicago, where he succeeded in building up a large and representative practice, with two city offices, and in addition acted in the capacity of head surgeon for the N. K. Fairbanks Manufacturing Company. In 1890, on account of failing health, occasioned by his uninterrupted devotion to the self-sacrificing duties of his profession, he was compelled to give up his practice in the large city, and in that
year took up his residence in Woodstock, where he was successful in no less a degree. A close friend and admirer of Doctor Doolittle said at the time of his death :
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"To his many friends and acquaintances the death of Doctor Doolittle means much. It means 'the loss to our community of one of our best and most beloved citizens, a man whose name was always associated with honesty and strict integrity. It means the loss of one of our most able physicians, whose presence in the sick- room inspired confidence and whose counsel was highly valued. There were three traits in Doc- tor Doolittle's character that made him conspic- uous among men. These were honesty, patience and modesty. No one ever presumed to doubt the Doctor's word or his honesty of purpose ; his patience was proverbial and despite infirmi- ties, when disease had made inroads on his health, he met the trials and troubles of life with the most serene patience. His great mod- esty made him the good, faithful family physi- cian that he was, and his patients had the utmost confidence in him because of this trait. He was an honor to the medical profession and among his brother practitioners he was held in high esteem, his courteous and strictly ethical bear- ing toward other physicians winning for him the warm friendship of all his associates."
Doctor Doolittle preferred to devote himself entirely to his profession, and for that reason never sought public honors, yet, without his solicitation, he was for five terms successively elected president of the Woodstock School board. He was a lover of home, and his home life was such that it stood out before all men as a bright example of loving devotion and sacrifice, and in its radiant beauty it brought to him the love and admiration of all who knew him.
In 1845 Doctor Doolittle was married (first) to Miss Carrie Blume, of Chicago, Ill., who died October 20, 1906, without issue. His second union occurred in the fall of 1907, when he was married to Miss Mary Macnair, of Winnebago, Ill., a daughter of Robert and Ann (Greenlees) Macnair, natives of Scotland. To this union came one daughter: Mary Elizabeth, born Octo- ber 8, 190S.
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AUGUSTUS SEIBEL.
As both soldier and citizen the late Augustus Seibel demonstrated his worth as a man and a defender of his country, and never forgot in the years of peace that followed the great Civil war the lessons he learned after, as a lad of sixteen years, he enlisted in response to the call of his country. Material success came to him in after life, but he clung to the memories of his experience as a soldier and continued in close touch with his old comrades until he en- tered the army of the Infinite, where doubtless he found numbers awaiting to welcome him. The sufferings of his body and spirit while a soldier brought forth the best that was in him and made it possible for him not only to de- velop into a man of fine character, but ever enabled him to sympathize with those who were in trouble of any kind, so that he not only ac- cumulated money, but friends, and hold the latter in higher esteem than the former.
Augustus Seibel was one of the best exam- ples of the stalwart German-Americans this country ever had. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 23, 1845, a son of John and Catherine (Otterstädter) Seibel, came to this country in 1856, and located at Cincinnati, Ohio. There he continued attending school until civil war broke out, when he enlisted in the Union army in 1861, in the Sixth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, and re-enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania Vol- unteer Infantry. His worth was soon appre- ciated and he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant and adjutant of the Twenty-third United States Colored Volunteer Infantry. During his service he participated in some of the heaviest battles of the war, including those of Coldl Harbor, Shiloh, Mine Explosion. Fort Donelson and Petersburg and Richmond, and rode into the latter city upon its capture at the head of his troops. At the close of the war his regiment was sent to the Mexican frontier and did garrison duty at Brazos Santiago and along the Rio Grande until December of that year. when it was ordered to Washington, D. C., and there honorably discharged. Colonel Foster. assistant adjutant-general of the colored troops, offered Lieutenant Seibel a position in the regu- lar army, but the brave young officer, then barely twenty years of age, had no desire to continue a soldier, and refused.
On March 17, 1868, Mr. Seibel came to Bloom- ington, Ill., and from that date was intimately
connected with this city, establishing the Au- gustus Seibel Bakery, a wholesale and retail concera, from which be retired in 1902. Real- izing the future of the city, he invested from time to time in real estate, and lived to see it increase very materially. A man of keen busi- ness sense, he was able to look into the future and determine the value of investments, and did not keep this knowledge to himself, but used it for the benefit of his community. He was largely instrumental in securing the reten- tion of the Chicago & Alton Railroad shops at Bloomington, which have borne so important a part in the development of the place.
. For years be had been a loyal and enthu- siastic member of William T. Sherman Post No. 146, G. A. R., of Bloomington, and took part in all of the reunions of that order, notably that of the officers of the colored regiments of the Civil war, which was held at Minneapolis, Minn., from August 13 to 18, 1906. He served his post as adjutant, commander and quarter- master, and was active in all of its work. In addition to this he was affiliated with Bloom- ington Lodge No. 43. A. F. & A. M., and Re- memibrance Lodge No. 77, I. O. O. F.
On July 2. 1867. Mr. Seibel was married at Cincinnati, Ohio, to Miss Margaret Hoffmann, of Newark, N. J., and they had three children : Margaret. Elizabeth, and Edgar, all of Bloom- ington. Ill. Mrs. Seibel died July 9, 1901, at the family residence on West Chestnut street, Bloomington. The funeral services were con- ducted by the Rev. J. H. Mueller, of the Unita- rian church, and interment was made in the Bloomington cemetery. She is mourned ten- derly. for she was a lady of lovely, Christian character whose influence was felt not only in her own family, but by those on the outside to whom she was an example of all that a wife and mother should be. Mr. Seibel died January 6. 1913, and was laid to rest by the side of his wife. The same clergyman who conducted the funeral of his beloved wife had charge of the services held over the remains of Mr. Sei- bel. and spoke touchingly of the incident as well as of the life of the deceased. All of the local papers gave extended notices of his life and death, as did the Millerton Advocate of Millerton, Pa., under date of January 17. The local G. A. R. post was officially present.
Perhaps no better picture could be drawn of the life and work of Mr. Seibel than that con-
John of mack
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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
tained in the words of his pastor, who knew and appreciated him so thoroughly. In part Mr. Mueller said :
"This man as a soldier, citizen, father, has well deserved a place in the fond hearts of those who knew him best. As a soldier he was always ready to bear a share of the common dangers with his comrades in battle. When the south was pitted against the north he re-
mained true to his country, and with a patriot- ism which has distinguished his career he has been honored with tribute. He was a father in the highest sense of the word, a man who bad the tender feeling characterizing him as a de- serving father and husband. As a citizen he was held in high repute with all with whom he came in contact."
JOHN JEWELL MACK.
What man could ask more of life than to make a record with reference to his counce- tions with others to the effect that he was never heard to utter a harsh or unkind word of anyone? Charity such as this is rare, for it is so much easier to criticise than to praise, and yet the late John Jewell Mack was just that kind of a man. To him all men were strug- gling towards perfection, not fallen from it, and he never failed to give an encouraging word, or extend a helping hand. Mr. Mack, whose long and successful business career at Joliet, IN., demonstrated that such generosity of opinion did not necessarily interfere with his material prosperity, was born at Mount Bethel, Northampton County, Pa., June 30, 1810, a son of George and Clarissa (Jewell) Mack, the latter of whom was born February 14, 1818. The father was a saddler by trade. During his boyhood, Mr. Mack attended the common schools of his native place, and then went to live with an uncle, Joseph Mack, who had moved from Pennsylvania to Joliet, Ill. When the Civil war burst upon the country, Mr. Mack, with his uncle, Firman Mack, and a cousin, l'ziah, offered loyal service, but he was re- jected on account of his poor eyesight. This was a disappointment to the patriotic youth, but he tried to do his duty as a private citizen, and succeeded nobly.
In 1868 Mr. Mack and John Gorges formed a partnership for the purpose of buying out the shoe store of Firman Mack on the west side, and Mr. Mack continned this connection until 1883, when he was forced to retire on account of failing health. To recuperate he went to Breckenridge, Col., to inspect some min- ing interests left him by his father. He then returned to Joliet and for a period he was in- terested in the Illinois Steel Company, now the American Steel and Wire Company, but
eventually retired, and enjoyed a dignified leisure until March 16, 1905, when he passed away very quietly, just as he had lived.
On January 13, 1864, Mr. Mack was united in marriage with Miss Voisa Brownson, a daugh- ter of Dr. and Mrs. M. K. Brownson, old set- tlers and prominent people of Joliet. Mr. and Mrs. Mack became the parents of the follow- ing children: George; Jennie F., who is now Mrs. A. E. Bateman; Dora, who is Mrs. John Frantz; Charles M .; John J., Jr .; Catherine B., who is now Mrs. Geo. Cameron; and Frederick W. and Arthur B. Fraternally Mr. Mack was an Odd Fellow during his earlier life, but as the years crept on upon him, his love of home increased, and he severed many out- side ties. A lover of children, he had many friends among the little ones of his neighbor- hood, and enjoyed their companionship. His love of flowers was intense, and proverbial, and his residence was surrounded by them. A reader of good literature, his active brain was stored with useful information, and as he had an excellent memory. he could recall what he had read or events of his earlier life with re- markable accuracy. His friends were legion. and joined with the family in deploring his death, many attending the funeral services at his late residence, No. 200 Cagwin avenue, Joliet. Impressive services were held by the Rev. C. G. Reynolds, and his remains were laid at rest in Oakwood. Although he was reared a Methodist, Mr. Mack never joined any reli- gious denomination, his beliefs being too broad and tender to admit of special ties. His whole life, however, was a beautiful epitome of high living, deep moral sense. keen percep- tion of civic responsibility and Christian char- ity, that teach a lesson not likely to be soon forgotten by those who had the honor of com- ing into contact with him.
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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
ALBERT WALLACE FISK.
Which success is the more meritorious, that of the man born "with a gold spoon in his mouth," or that of him born of a sturdy, hard- working family, to a heritage of thrift. This will be a long mooted question for the cir- cumstances against which each must strive are so varied as to battle comparison. However, the Last Recorder may apportion honors between these two, certain it is that the lad who is thrust forward to fend for himself early in his 'teens and gains not only financial inde- pendence but education and culture, has evinced the qualities that make men proud of being men. Albert W. Fisk, of DeKalb, attorney at law, bank director, and confidential secretary in the firm of I. L. & W. L. Ellwood, was born near Reeds- burg, Wis., October 21, 1857, in a family not overly burdened with worldly goods. His father, a native of Danby, Vt., moved with his parents when he was but a youth, to New York State and remained there for some time after the rest of his family had journeyed west, to Sauk County, Wis., to join his father, Royal Fisk. Prior to leaving New York to again make bis home with his folks he married Miss Cordelia R. Harris, a daughter of Eseck Harris, a farmer of Erie County. Mrs. Fisk died at the age of sixty-nine years, in May, 1904. She was the mother of three children, of whom Albert W. and Marion E. still survive.
Albert W. Fisk, during his younger days, spent in his New York home, attended the com- mon schools of his neighborhood and utilized his time to such advantage that he was offered a position as instructor in the public schools, when he was not yet seventeen years old. For one year he followed this work. When he was eighteen years old he secured work with the firm of Bates & White of Collins Center. N. Y. During the four years of his service with this house he used his odd moments in perfecting his study of shorthand; and the knowledge that he gained in this way was the means of securing for him a much better employment in the office of Slocum & Thornton, the official reporters of the Eighth Judicial Supreme Court District, who were located in Buffalo. In the spring of 18$1, Mr. Fisk came west to Chicago to fill a position of which he knew nothing except through the correspondence had with his new employers. On bis arrival in the western metropolis he was sent to De Kalb, Ill., to un-
dertake some stenographic work for I. L. Ellwood & Co., of that city. The end of a year's time saw Mr. Fisk the confidential amanuensis of Mr. Ellwood; and later, when Mr. I. L. Eilwood became more deeply interested in horse and cattle raising. a large share of his duties, in the Ellwood firm, fell on the shoulders of Mr. Fisk. When the offices which the Ellwoods occupied were moved and located nearer their residence, Mr. Fisk was made private secretary of the company. This was in 1857, and since thet time he bas bad nearly the complete control of the office end of the busi- ness. Subsequent to the death of Mr. I. L. Ellwood, Mr. Fisk has assumed charge of his son's horse and stock farm interests. Mr. Fisk was admitted to the bar of Illinois, on the 1Stb of April, 1900, having previously read law and finished a course in its study in the Chicazo Law School, from which he was grad- uated in June, 1800. He does not, however, engage In much outside practice, but applies his training along the lines of his other business interests. He was formerly a director of the Commercial Trust and Savings Bank and is the president of the De Kalb Building and Loan Association.
On the 27 of February, 1883, Mr. Fisk was married to Miss Clara Perry, a daughter of Edwin S. and Lucinda J. (Downer) Perry, who later became the mother of his four children : Catherine L., Perry W .. Alan W. and Harris D .. all of whom except Alan W., who died in April, 1913, now live at home.
In his social relations. Mr. Fisk has mem- bership in the DeKalb lodge No. 144, A. F. & A. M., and the De Kalb lodge No. 765, B. P. O. E. His vote is usually cast with the Republican party and he has served his county on that ticket as assistant supervisor for ten years. and was secretary of the Republican County Central Committee for an almost equal length of time. Advancement came to Mr. Fisk as the result of his own enterprise, thrift, and per- severance, and the wise and systematic use of time. He now enjoys much confidence and re- spect and his integrity is as unquestioned as it is unquestionable, for the lofty ambition which he has always entertained has led him in an effort of which any conscientious and honorable gentleman might well be proud.
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HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
LOUIS GREENE STEVENSON.
Hon. Louis Greene Stevenson, Secretary of State for Illinois, was born at Bloomington, Ill., August 15, 1SUS. He was educated at the well known Phillips Academy of Exeter, N. II. III health caused Mr. Stevenson to select a some- what active life and in 1Sst he became a mem- ber of Major Powell's exploring expedition in Colorado. He was subsequently superintendent of the large tracts of farm land owned by Mrs. Matthew T. Scott, when he became one of the leaders in the new processes of agricultural development. and induced his farm tenants to at. tend the short agricultural courses of the Univer- sity of Illinois. He was private secretary for his father during his term as vice president of the United States, from March, 1893, to March, 1901. He was afterwards employed by William R.
Ilearst in various confidential capacities. He had a very large share in the management of the Hearst newspaper at Los Angeles, Cal., and had full charge of the large relief train sent by Mr. Hearst to the aid of the San Francisco earthquake sufferers, a peculiarly difficult and strenuous labor of love. Governor Dunne ap- pointed him president of the Illinois State Board of Pardons, in 1913, in which capacity Mr. Stev- enson won the approval of the men of all parties in the state and was so satisfactory to the governor that in 1913, on the death of Sec- rotary of State Woods, he appointed Mr. Steven- son to the office for the unexpired term of three years. The position is one of very great respon- sibility.
JOHN CORMANY GARVER.
Gifted in marked degree, fitted by training and natural ability as a jurist, it is not sur- prising that the late Judge John Cormany Garver attained to distinguished eminence among the celebrated members of the Bench of Illinois, or that his death was so deeply felt, not only in Rockford, his home city, but throughout a wide territory, where bis ex- traordinary ability was known and appreciated. Judge Garver was an admirable jurist, bringing to the court the weight of his great experience, his strong common sense, his stainless integrity, his keen discernment and bis deep learning.
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