USA > Illinois > Biographical and memorial edition of the Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 56
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perity of the country but the sustenance of the world. The present conditions relative to agri- culture in any section are largely due to the in- telligent efforts of men who, for years, have de- voted themselves to bettering farm conditions. One such, who was regarded, during his life, as a representative of the best class of farmers in his neighborhood, was the late James Charles Winslow, of Pontiac, formerly a farmer of Avoca Township, Livingston County. He was
4. le Winslow
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born on the farm he cultivated for so many years, March 13, 1865, and came of excellent pioneer stock, a son of Thomas and Katherine (Clark) Winslow. Thomas Winslow was born in East County Meath, Ireland, February 14, 1831, and in 1851, he came to the United States, locating first in New York City. After he se- cured the position of engineer for the U'tica In- saue Asylum, he transferred to that city, and later was an engineer in a sawmill at Williams- port, Pa. Upon his return to Utica, N. Y., in 1855, he married Katherine Clark, also a native of Ireland born in West County Meath. When left an orphan, she came alone to the United States and met and married Mr. Winslow at Utica, N. Y. Soon thereafter, they came to Liv- ingston County, Ill. Mr. Winslow obtained em- ployment by the month among the farmers, and his wife worked for the same family that gave her husband employment, they all being bound by a common nationality. Saving their earnings these worthy people invested in forty acres of land in Avoca Township, on which they built a small frame house in 1856. Taking proud pos- session of their new home, they entered upon pioneer housekeeping. The doors of this primi- tive house, which Mr. Winslow manufactured himself, were made of black walnut. Here all their children were born, and they resided in this house until their son, James C. was two years old. At that time Mr. Winslow secured possession of a commodious residence in process of construction by Edmond Norman who died before completing it, and into it the family moved in 1867. The first forty acres owned by Thomas Winslow cost $500, although it is now worth many times that price. He added to his farm until at the time of his death he owned 719 acres of fine farming land, although he was one of the most generous of men and gave freely to all who needed assistance. Although dead for many years, the older people remember him for his kindness of heart, his broad humani- tarianism. Not only did he give to individuals, but to churches, and educational movements and public enterprises received bountifully at his hands. It was his pleasure to welcome everyone who came to his door, and when he died in 1004, it was a recognized fact that the county lost one of its most valued citizens. His wife had died in 1893, but prior to this, they had retired to a beautiful residence in Fairbury, Ill. Six children were born to them, as follows : Mary, who married V. I. Aaron, of Chicago; Ann, who married George McGuire, a farmer
of Mile Grove, Ill. ; Jane, who married Charles Hanley, of Fairbury ; John, who married a Miss Coughlin of Chatsworth; and James C. The parents and all the children are members of the Catholic church. In politics the father was a Democrat and held a number of township offices. Charles, John and George Winslow, brothers of Themas Winslow, also came to the United States, but none came to the West. All had fam- ilies, and Charles and John are deceased, but it is thought that George still survives.
James C. Winslow was reared in Avoca Town- ship, and was there educated. On leaving the homestead, he began working by the day and montb, taking a great interest in farm duties, and so continued until 1895, when he rented land and began farming on his own account, but within three years, he assumed charge of his father's farm, and subsequently became the owner of 160 acres of what is one of the best farms in the township. In addition to general farming, he raised cattle and hogs of excellent grade, his judgment in this line bringing sub- stantial results.
On June 21, 1894, Mr. Winslow was married to Miss Minnie Albertine Wilson, who was born in Avoca Township, a daughter of John and Rebecca (DeMoss) Wilson, natives of Ohio and Avoca Township, respectively. John Wilson, who is now deceased, was a pioneer of Livings- ton County, III. Mr. and Mrs. Winslow became the parents of the following children: Mary Katherine, who died when two years and seven months old: John Thomas, who died at the age of thirteen months: Mary Cecelia, who was born August 22, 1809: and Frances Philimena, who was born September 8, 1901.
With regard to Mr. Winslow's real work, farming was his chosen life occupation, but he made investments at times and built two modern residences in Pontiac. On February 23, 1909, he left his farm and moved to Pontiac, desir- ing to give his daughters the benefit of the su- perior educational advantages of this city, and placed them in St. Mary's school. They had fin- ished their courses in this institution, and the family were planning a return to the farm in the spring of 1915, when Mr. Winslow was taken suddenly ill, and died at St. Francis Hospital. Peoria, December 22, 1914, In accordance with the dying wishes of Mr. Winslow, his widow and daughters will return to the farm.
In polities Mr. Winslow was a Democrat, and was active in public matters, He possessed
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many of his father's desirable characteristics, and made and retained many friends. A man of diversified tastes, he was fond of reading and
enjoyed his books. For recreation, he liked fish- ing and hunting, and he also traveled exten- sively.
JAMES KINNEY.
While many have made enviable records of the field of battle, not all have served their country and locality equally well after returning to private life. Still there is something in the army discipline which makes for good citizenship provided a man has the necessary attributes, and the last half a century has proven that if the Civil war did nothing else. it gave to this country men of sterling integrity, uprightness of purpose and the ability to labor faithfully and well for the common weal. Such men have often been called upon to serve their fellow citizens in offices of publie trust and responsi- bility, and when they have done so, the people in general have profited. Obedience to a su- perior officer teaches a man lessons which he seldom forgets, and this stern training when properly applied later on in civie life, renders him peculiarly fitted for the burdens of office and the responsibilities of trust. Such a man is James Kinney, now residing at Toulon, Stark County, Ill. He was born February 11, IN4ti. in Guernsey County, Ohio, a son of John and Eleanor (Nixon) Kinney, the former born in Berks County, Pa., September 25, 1814, and the latter in Hampshire County, Va., August 5, 1816.
The American founders of the Kinney family came from Ireland to New Jersey, where a son, Adrian Kinney, was born, and later became a Revolutionary soldier. After the close of hos- tilities, he moved to Berks County, Pa., where David Kinney was born April 26, 1785. The lat- ter married on April S. 1805, Mary Ann Shafer, whose parents came from Holland. David Kin- ney, with his wife and family, moved from Pennsylvania to Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1 23, which district was then considered the "far west," beyond the mountains and across the Ohio River. During the exciting period ante- dating the Civil war, John Kinney and his wife not only were active members of the Wes- leyan Methodist Church, but strong Abolition- ists, and their home was one of the stations on the Underground Railroad, where runaway slaves were concealed and transferred to the next station. In 1868, John Kinney moved his family to Greene County, Ind., and after his eight children were married and settled in
homes of their own, he and his wife came to Stark County, III., where they died and are buried. During his active life, John Kinney was a farmer and monument worker. During the gold excitement in the fifties, he went to Pike's Peak in 159, where he prospected.
Until he was twelve years old. James Kinney attended the schools of his district, and then was given the advantages afforded by a four years' course at a high school. Being excep- tionally good in mathematics, he stood at the head of his class in that branch, and both while on the farm, where he lived until twelve years old, and the following four and one-half years, he was reared in an excellent home. With the outbreak of the Civil war, it was but natural that the son of such ardent patriots as his parents should enlist for service, and he was enrolled on September 9, 1862, in the Ninth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, continuing as a mem- ber of that regiment until August 5, 1865, during which period he served in the Western Depart- ment. in Eastern Kentucky and Eastern Ten- nessee, Northern Alabama, and was in the cam- paign which extended from the battle at Chat- tanooga, to Atlanta, Ga. On General Sherman's famous March to the Sea, he was one of the gallant force which swept all before them, and continued with that command up through the Carolinas, his immediate commander being Gen- eral Kilpatrick.
Returning home in 1865, he took a year's course in an academy, and then taught school in Ohio until ING7, when he moved to Knox County, Ill. For the following sixteen years he continued teaching in Knox, Peoria and Stark counties. His abilities and wide knowledge of human nature were such as to fit him for public office, and he was enrolling and engrossing clerk of the State Legislature during the Forty-fourth, Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth General Assemblies. Mr. Kinney has been employed by the State Board of Equalization for the past sixteen years to compute and distribute to the several coun- ties of the state the assessment of all the rail- . road property of the state, and is now so en- gaged. In addition Mr. Kinney has served very acceptably as town clerk of Goshen Township, Stark County, from 1551 to 1SS6; as clerk of the
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Circuit Court of Stark County from 15SS to 1896, being elected on the Republican ticket : as village trustee for twelve years of the village of Toulon, now the city of Toulon, Ill., and for fourteen years as trustee of Toulon Academy. Mr. Kinney is a member of Toulon Post. No. 327, G. A. R., of which he has been Quarter- master and Post Commander for six years, For thirty-five years he has been an active member of the Odd Fellows, having passed all its chairs, and for the last ten years been its representa- .. tive to the Grand Lodge of the state. While attending service regularly every Sunday at the Congregational church of Toulon, he is not a member of any religious denomination. A rad- ical Republican, he has progressive tendencies, but is not a "Bull Moose."
On August 31, 1877, Mr. Kinney was married
at Guernsey, Ohio, to Helen Garvin, born August §, 1846, near Culberland, Ohio, in the same county. They had three children, namely : Lulu B., who was born October 22, 1868; Frank I., who was born August 16, 1870; and Nellie B., who was born July 9, 1872. Mrs. Kinney died June 1, 1$$4. On November 26, 1955, Mr. Kinney married ( second) Anna Morrow, of Peo- ria County, IN., and by that marriage be has one danghter-Lois E., who is now attending the University of Chicago. Mr. Kinney is one of the men who passed through the vital drama which preserved a country from disruption, and turned Illinois from a somewhat unimportant State to the fourth in the Union. In both war and peace he has well borne his part as a man and citizen, and few men of Stark County stand any higher in public esteem than he.
JOSEPH BLOCK.
The men of the older generation who laid broad and deep the foundations for the great industries which have made the name of Chi- cago and Chicagoans famous throughout the world were, in a large degree, self-trained. Their knowledge of the lines of industry in which they were engaged came not from the text-book, but from actual experience, the com- ing in contact daily with the operations of their chosen vocation. Many came to Chicago after they had been firmly established in other locali- ties for a number of years, recognizing the possibilities and advantages offered by the metropolis of the lakes.
The late Joseph Block, while a resident of Chicago for only thirteen years, may be num- bered among the men whose ability, foresight and acumen placed the steel business on a firm and lasting basis in Chicago. A man of most forceful character, he brought to this city the knowledge gained through long years of con- nection with steel and its varied connecting industries, as well as an indomitable spirit which had been forged in the fire of a number of trials and which had come forth a finished, invulnerable product. That his labors resulted in the building of a monument to his abilities is shown by the prominent position ocenped today by the Inland Steel Company.
Joseph Block was born May 13. 1531, in Pfaffenhofen, France, a son of Leopold and Rose (Weil) Block, natives of Pfaffenhofen. France. The father brought the family to the United States in 1838, locating in Wisconsin, where he
became largely interested in dairy farming, and continued to be thus engaged for many years, but later removed to Dayton, Ohio, where he died in 1865. The mother finally moved to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and died in 15$1.
Joseph Block was seven years of age when he made the trip with his parents to the United States on a sailing vessel, and his education was seenred in the country schools of Wisconsin and the graded schools at Dayton, Ohio. He entered upon his personal career when about eighteen years of age, at which time he began traveling the Mississippi River, as buying agent of serap iron for the firm of Mitchell Tranter Company, of Cincinnati, as well as a Louisville concern, and continued thus engaged for about. five years. About the year 1856 he entered busi- ness on his own account as junior member of the firin of B. Benjamin & Company, of Cincin- nati, in the handling of scrap material, and in 1661, with the other junior partner, embarked in business as Block-Pollak Iron Company, of Cincinnati. During the great panic of 1503, the Chicago Steel Works, a creditor of the Block- Pollak Iron Company, failed, and Mr. Block came to Chicago to investigate the trouble, and while he found the concern would have to be abandoned, he was much impressed with the outlook at Chicago, and from that time forward never lost his faith in its future. At that time there was on foot a new company. organized to take over the Chicago Steel Works, and in this enterprise Mr. Block invested heavily, the first plant being located at Chicago Heights, Ill., the
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venture adopting the name of the Inland Steel Company, with an initial capital of $200,000. It was largely due to his efforts that the com- pany made such rapid progress that within a few years it was found necessary to build an entirely new plant, which was located at Indiana Harbor, Ind. From that time until his death he was a member of the executive board and the board of directors, as well as a substantial stockholder of this concern, and the greater part of the stock is still held by the original organizers of the company, the capital of which is now $10,000,000. At the time of the organiza- tion of the enterprise, Mr. Block's son, Philip D., became treasurer of the company; in 1SOS Leo- pold Block, another son, came to Chicago to become vice-president, and in 1900 a third son, Emanuel J. Block, came to this city to accept the dual position of purchasing agent and assistant treasurer. Mr. Block had various business interests at Cincinnati, and was a director of the Buffalo Steel Company, at Tona- wanda, N. Y., but in 1901 came to Chicago and this city continued to be his home until his
death, which occurred December 6, 1914, at his residence, No. 5010 Drexel boulevard, from whence the funeral services were held, inter- ment being made at Mount Maariv.
man of generous and helpful nature, sym- pathetie in time of trouble and always ready to help those in need, Mr. Block was not only much beloved by his business associates, but by those in his employ and others with whom he was brought into contact. He was deeply interested in religious and charitable work and was a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the K. A. M. Temple, in Chicago. Among his fellow-members of the Standard and Lake Shore Country clubs of Chicago, his many sterling qualities won him numerous friends.
In 1861 Mr. Block was united in marriage with Miss Rose Colin, who is now deceased, and they became the parents of seven children, Mrs. Alice Berman, of Chicago; Mrs. Benjamin Lehman, of Fort Wayne, Ind .; Mrs. Jacob G. Joseph, of Buffalo, N. Y., and Mrs. Herbert L. Hart and Leopold E., Philip D. and Emanuel J. Block, of Chicago.
WARREN SPRINGER.
Warren Springer, capitalist, was born in New York, October 9, 1844, and came to Chicago when he was a mere lad. His great-grandfather was Carl Springer, born in 1658, and buried in 1735, at Christina, now known as Wilmington, Del. Warren Springer was one of the pioneer mia- chinery builders of Chicago. His shops were located at Madison and Canal streets. All his earnings were invested in real estate between Halsted and State streets, and the river and Harrison street. After the fire calamity in 1871, he began to build and erected an eight-story and basement mill construction building on Canal street, south of Jackson street, fronting the river, in the middle of the block on ground that originally cost him $50 a front foot. This building was sometimes called the "Springer Folly," because he had dared to go so far south and away out of the other business district, but his judgment was vindicated for this property was sold. in 1893, to the Tunnel Company. for $2,500 a front foot.
Mr. Springer was the originator of a partienlar style of building which has proven so adequate and desirable that it has been largely adopted. Hle contended that for efficiency a man's office and salesroom should be situated at his factory. and that if the construction were heavy enough
he could locate several factories and centralize the industries, while the operating expenses would be much more economical. Consequently he built in proximity, first a boot and shoe fac- tory, then a wood works building. following with a printers' building, erecting and operating thirteen buildings in all. Mr. Springer special- ized and centralized, furnishing light, heat, live steam and power, night and day, summer and winter. In the early days of the seventies and eighties, operative force was furnished by old means of transmission, but in the nineties an electric plant was installed which generated electricity for power and light. He lived to see his construction idea adopted in all of the large cities of the country, and many capitalists in Chicago today are following his lead in building.
The foresight and appreciative acumen of the men who early located at Chicago are largely responsible for many of the desirable conditions existing in this city today. These men laid the broad, solid foundations of the city's prosperity, and those who have followed have carried out their work according to the standard raised by the pioneers. In this city, as elsewhere, true worth and keen business sense has noticeably been rewarded by a fair show of worldly pros- perity and often a goodly inheritance of ma-
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ضدحة
Hassan Springer
سأونكون
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terial wealth. Some of the men who came to the city at an early day had supreme faith in future expansion, although it is doubtful if any even in the most remote degree, visualized the extent of its growth, and those who acquired and held property until it commanded a high price, reaped a fortune. Among the far-seeing business men of Chicago and a large real estate investor was the late Warren Springer, who won the title of "The Father of the West Side," where he owned large tracts of land. In 1:93 he retired from his machinery business in order to devote himself exclusively to looking after his own real estate interests, and was so en- gaged at the time of his death, which occurred February 8, 1912, at his residence No. 607 Rush street, after a short illness.
On April 4, 1893, Mr. Springer married Miss Marguerite Maginness. Mr. Springer is sur- vived by his widow and a daughter, Frances
Warren, who married Edwin D. Keith, July 30, 1914. A man of more than ordinary ability, Mr. Springer was an excellent judge of values. He brought knowledge and experience to bear upon his business, was an authority upon all matters relating to real estate, and his advice was sought and his judgment relied upon by those interested along this line. That he did Inore than any other man to develop the West side, where his manufacturing property was located, no one denies, any more than the fact that Chicago owes him a debt for his public spirit which often prompted him to exert wisely and conservatively the influence he undoubtedly possessed. He never mingled in politics; never used tobacco or intoxicating liquors in any form, was a strictly home man. He hated sham and pretense. He was a member of the Episcopal church.
RICHARD BAXTER UNDERWOOD.
It is given to but few men to win in a greater degree the success that attended the business efforts of the late Richard Baxter Underwood, of Canton, Ill., or the respect and esteem of their fellow-men as a result of probity and in- tegrity. As a lad of nineteen years he came to this city in 1851, delighted at the opportunity of securing a position as the driver of an ox-team at the salary of fifteen dollars a month. When he died March 25, 1598, he was president of the First National Bank, and had large holdings in realty and was recognized as a cogent factor in the business life of this part of the state. Hle was born May 14, 1832, at Augusta, Maine, and was of excellent birth, being a son of Jo- seph Underwood, a native of England, who was by trade a jewelsmith and also was a minister in the Congregational church. Mr. Underwood was given superior educational advantages, at- tending a boys' school well known in New Eng- land, and the public schools of St. Johnsbury. Caledonia County, Vt. While there is no doubt that Mr. Underwood could have found a posi- tion in the East that would have allowed him to rise to importance the West appealed to him as the fairest field for the winning of a competency, and accordingly, in 1851, made his way by river and canal to Fulton County. Il. Ilis funds had become exhausted and he gladly accepted a position driving ox-teams for Capt. A. C. Babcock and later became a clerk for the mercantile firm of Amos C. and William Bab-
cock, succeeding which he acted in a like ca- pacity in the stores of Lamport & Company and Walter & Baughman. In 1857 he entered busi- ness on his own account as a member of the firm of Seaton, Trites & Underwood, and upon disposing of his interest there in 1862 went to Fort Dodge. lowa, where he engaged in the clothing business. Returning to Cantou he be- came manager for the clothing business of Mr. Resor and then again entered business as the proprietor of a clothing store of his own on the south side of the square, under the firm name of Babcock & Underwood. Upon becoming the sole proprietor of this enterprise he erected the store building at present occupied by O. T. Salis- burg, and in 1:91 soll his interest to the Rus- sell Brothers, the present proprietors. For a number of years Mr. Underwood lived in retire- ment and in 1599 was elected president of the First National Bank of Canton, in which he had been a member of the board of directors since 15$2. Later he became a money loaner on a large scale, taking as security improved and unincumbered farm lands.
Mr. Underwood was a Republican in bis political views, but it was never his ambition to become known as an office seeker or politician. preferring to devote his entire attention to the management of his large business and financial interests. He was a faithful and consistent member of the Congregational church to the movements of which he always contributed gen-
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erously. In August, 1857, Mr. Underwood was married to Miss Catherine Kinsey, a native of Salem, O., daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Hipple) Kinsey, the former of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Kinsey conducted the Philips House at Dayton, Ohio, for some years, but later moved to Fulton County, Ill., and located in Banner Township, when Mrs. Underwood was eight years old. They later spent some time in Ohio, but re- turned eventually to Fulton County, and here lived retired during the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of four daughters and three sons: Henry, a retired farmer of In- dianapolis, Ind. ; Mrs. William Babcock, of Can- ton; Susan, the wife of Charles Maple, of Chi-
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