Biographical and memorial edition of the Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 58

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 joint ed
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell publishing company
Number of Pages: 1290

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from Germany to Oswego. N. Y. The father passed away in 1893, and the mother in March, 1003. All the schooling Alderman Beilfuss had was obtained in his native land prior to his fourteenth birthday. After his arrival in this country, he began learning the printing trade, and incidentally the English language. In 1876 he came to Chicago, and from that time on made this metropolis his home and the scene of his endeavors. He came here to join the Rev. Sev- eringhouse, editor of a German church paper, who had moved his plant to Chicago, and he became a typesetter on that periodical. In time he bought half the business, forming a partner- ship with George Severinghouse, a nephew of the original owner. This association continued until 1912, when Mr. Beilfuss sold to his partner.

AAlways a Republican, Mr. Beilfuss was elected in 1896, from the old Fourteenth (now the Fifteenth) Ward, as a member of the city coun- vil, and served continuously, having been elected for his tenth term in the April preceding his demise. At one time he was the candidate of his party for the General Assembly, but lost by a majority of forty votes. For more than ten years Alderman Beilfuss was a member of the finance committee, and for several years was chairman of the Special Park Commission. Ilis record was such that his candidacy was endorsed by the Municipal Voters' League and other re- form organizations. He was the primary caudi- date for city treasurer in 1911, but not elected, fate reserving him for a continuation of his work in the council. He was a member of the board of directors and advisory board of the Home Bank and Trust Company, and was a director of the Concordia Cemetery. As a Lutheran, he gave earnest and hearty support to the church of his denomination, and died firm in its faith. He was a member of the committee of the council appointed to redistrict Chicago,

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and carried the work on to a rapid and suc- cessful consummation. A tribute to his popularity was shown when he was made president of the Oswego Club of Chicago, which office he held for two years, formed of former residents of Oswego, N. Y.

However, it is as the "Father of the Small Park System" that Alderman Beilfuss is going to be remembered and will go down in history as the kindly philanthropist who, in the midst of a busy, useful life, found time to look out, as did no other, for the needs of children. He early recognized the necessity of providing recre- ation grounds for the children who had no place to spend their play time, except the streets. Like all reformers, he often met with rabid opposition, but worked steadily ahead, gradually enlisting the attention and co-operation of men and women of influence, and today the children of Chicago have a number of these playgrounds, and their parents have small parks to which they may go when their day's labor is ended. The beneficent work is only well commenced, and as long as Chicago stands, the movement begun by Alderman Beilfuss will redound to his credit. Countless little ones, yet unborn, will have reason to bless the name of one who remembered their importance in the eyes of the Master, and who worked for their health and happiness.

Municipal honors were showered upon him; business prominence came to him: social dis- tinction was his; fraternities struggled for his membership: his church appreciated and loved him, and yet, of all be accomplished, he recog- nized the fact that the monument to his ability and generous spirit was the effort he made in behalf of the little ones.

Mr. Beilfuss was married October 1, 15$1, at Chicago, to Miss Emily Martens of Chicago, a daughter of Fred and Louise ( Warkentien) Martens, both natives of Germany. The father came to the United States soon after attaining bis majority, and located at Fullersburg, Ill. Here he married and lived until the family migration to the vicinity of Elmhurst, where settlement was made on a Du Page County farm. In 1872 another change was made, and the family came to Chicago, where the father died November 25, 1873, and the mother, September 5, 1901. Alderman and Mrs. Beilfuss had the following children: William, who is deceased ; Emily, who is Mrs. Arthur Meyer, of Chicago, has one daughter, Margaret: Matilda, who is Mrs. William Schuckmell, of Chicago, has two children, Ruth and William; Louise, who is at home ; Frederick, who is deceased ; and Lydia and Albert, both of whom are at home.

THOMAS PHILIP HAMM.

Some men appear born to distinguish them- selves along certain lines, while others are en- dowed with a genius for business details which if developed leads on to fame and fortune. It is a mistake to think that the business man does not in his way, display as much genius as he who paints the masterpieces; interprets the meaning of famous writers upon the stage; thrills thousands with a magnificent voice; sways multitudes as an orator, or from high political office changes the policy of a nation. The work of the business man creates a center from which radiate the spokes of the wheel of progress. Contemporary history contains the names of men of sagacity, rare discernment and pronounced executive ability who have left their stamp upon their times. They have forged ahead, working towards a given point, and the record of their achievements reads like a romance. The late Thomas Philip Hamm, presi- dent of the Alabama, Sumatra & Havana Tobacco Company, belonged to this class and during his all too brief life, accomplished much.

He was born in Clarion County, Pa., April 21, 1863, a son of Solomon and Lucretia (Green) Hamm, natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively.

Thomas Philip Hamm was given an academic education, and his first step in the business world was taken when he entered the employ of J. B. Haynes & Son, a general mercantile store at Pittsburg, Pa. Later the young man struck out for himself, establishing a dry goods store at Centralia, Ill., which he successfully con- dueted from 1SS5 to 1595, at which time he dis- posed of his interests there and in that year he felt strong enough financially to come to Chi- cago, where he broadened his field of operation, conducting a string of stores, with headquarters at Chicago. In 1599, Mr. Hamm decided to give a practical demonstration that a high grade of Sumatra tobacco can be grown in the United States. This end in view, he laid his plans, and founded the Alabama, Sumatra & Havana Tobacco Company with himself as president, and from then on until his death worked unceasingly

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to prove his contention. His efforts were crowned with a success far beyond anything he had hoped, and his company has a sound foun- dation and high rating. He also filled the execu- tive chair of the Animal Therapy Company, giving the latter concern a full meed of his time and attention. In the midst of his business ac- tivities, Mr. Hamm found time to relax in the society of his fellows, and belonged to the Chi- cago Athletic and South Shore Country clubs. The Catholic Church had in him a faithful member.

On June 29, 1857, Mr. Hanno was united in marriage with La Vonie Roberts of Centralia,

Ill., a daughter of Dr. John F. and Mary ( Has- sey ) Roberts, natives of Virginia and New York, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Hamm became the parents of three children, namely : Thomas Philip, Jr., who is living in New York City ; Marguerite, who is Mrs. Joseph C. Borden of Chicago ; and Ruth, who is Mrs. Louis H. Piper of Minneapolis, Minn. Mr. Hamm died Febru- ary 20, 1912, at his residence No. 4512 Grand boulevard, Chicago, and in his death Chicago lost a sound, reliable and useful citizen. Since his demise the family have moved to. No. 4002 Michigan avenue, Chicago.

FRANCIS JULIUS FITZWILLIAM.

Francis J. Fitzwilliam, soldier and mer- chant, was born at Bainbridge, Ohio, July 11, 1840, the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. William M. Fitzwilliam, and a lineal descendant of Earl William Wentworth Fitzwilliam of Eng- land. His great-grandfather came to America and settled near Washington Pa., where some of his descendants still reside, while representa- tives of a later generation settled . in Ross County, Ohio. The subject of this sketch was early inspired to secure an education and learn the details of a merchant's busy life like that of his father before him. He attended the dis- triet school of his native village until about fourteen years of age, when he was sent by his father to assist in establishing a branch store. The skill and courage exhibited while still a youth in making long journeys on horseback for the purpose of making collections for his father, gave evidence of traits of character which were manifest in his future life.

After leaving the district school, Mr. Fitz- william entered Union Academy in his native village, where he prepared himself for a college course, upon which he entered in 1859 at the Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio. In com- mon with multitudes of the young men of the time he left college in 1861 to enter upon the more arduous duties of a soldier, enlisting and being mustered in Company G, Thirty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in which he became first lieutenant, under command of Colonel Sill. During the previous winter and spring he had been undergoing the process of drilling as a member of the "Olentangy Grays," made up of college students organized with a view to training for the soldier life, which eventually came to nearly all the members of

the organization. Mr. Fitzwilliam continued to discharge the duties of first lieutenant of his company until honorably discharged, October 15, 1864, after serving the full period of his enlistment of three years. On March 15, 1864, he was tendered promotion to a captainey, but declined to be mustered in under commission as such, for the reason that it would have bound him to the service for another "three years or during the war."

Early in 1862 the Thirty-third Ohio crossed the Ohio River at Maysville, Ky., and uniting with the Forty-second Ohio, then under com- mand of Col. James A. Garfield, joined in the memorable campaign under General Nelson against Humpbrey Marshall, who, at the head of a force, had entered Eastern Kentucky through the Cumberland Mountains and was devastating that portion of the state. March- ing by way of Flemingsburg, the Thirty-third met the main command at Prestonburg. Marshall was defeated and driven out of Ken- tucky, soon after which the Thirty-third Ohio descended the Big Sandy and, at its mouth, took transports down the Ohio to Louisville, where it became a part of the division under command of Gen. O. M. Mitchell of the Army of the Ohio. On the reorganization of the army, the Thirty-third Ohio was attached to the First Brigade, First Division of the Fourteenth Army Corps, so remaining, it is believed, during the entire period of Lieutenant Fitzwilliam's serv- ice. Among the various battles, sieges and cam- paigns in which he and his command partici- pated may be mentioned the following : Bridge- port and Fort McCook, Ala., Perryville, Stone River and Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Look- out Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Rocky Face

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Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Dug Gap, Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Moun- tain, Peach Tree Creek, Siege of Atlanta and Jonesboro. In all of these he not only took part in obedience to orders but won the com- mendation of his superiors and the love and esteem of his companions in arms.

Captain Fitzwilliam was a charming narrator of interesting events and scenes connected with his army life, drawing pictures so vivid and inspiring, that even those without actual ex- perience in war were wont to feel as if they were in the field with him. It was one of his greatest pleasures to turn aside from the duties and responsibilities of business and join his former comrades in recalling reminiscences of the war period and commemorating, in the State and National Encampments, the deeds and patriotism of their associates in arms. In a memorandum, filed with the George II. Thomas Post, G. A. R., after coming to Chicago, Cap- tain Fitzwilliam makes mention of a number of events connected with his army life, includ- ing the pursuit under General Nelson of Hum- phrey Marshall through the mountains of Eastern Kentucky ; of the union, as a part of Gen. O. M. Mitchell's Division, with the Army of the Ohio under command of General Buell : of the capture of Huntsville, Ala., in April, 1862, which resulted in securing control of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, thereby ent- ting off recruits from reaching Beauregard's army at Shiloh ; of the lively experience of his command in defense of Fort McCook, overlook- ing the Sequatchie Valley, and the race with General Bragg into Kentucky. After the reor- ganization of the Army of the Ohio at Louis- ville, Captain Fitzwilliam served for a time as aide-de-camp and assistant adjutant-general on the staff of Col. L. A. Harris, of the Second Ohio, as acting brigadier-general, and held this position during the battles of Perryville and Stone River : and also had the unique experience of taking part in the battle of Lookout Moun- tain and the assault on Missionary Ridge.

After retiring from military service. Captain Fitzwilliam decided to re-enter mercantile life. locating at Bloomington, Il., in 1866, where he established what was then the largest dry-goods house in Central Illinois, under the firm name of Fitzwilliam & Sons. In 1802. having sold out this establishment, he organized the Na- tional Home Building & Loan Association of Bloomington, of which he became president and which, under his administration, became the

largest financial association of its kind in the state. In January, 1896, he resigned the presi- deney of this association with a view to enter- ing upon the quiet of a retired life, which he had so richly earned.

In 1866 Captain Fitzwilliam married Miss Lucretia Mott Read, of New London, Ohio, a most estimable woman, who died April 23.' 1893. Of this union were born two sons and two daughters. On June 23, 1896, he married Miss Sarah E. Raymond, of Boston, Mass., who had previously been superintendent of schools for the city of Bloomington,-a position which she held for eighteen consecutive years, and, being the first city superintendent of schools in the United States.

During his residence in Bloomington, Captain Fitzwilliam was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for nearly twenty years, was superintendent of its Sabbath school for four- teen years, and contributed liberally, but never ostentatiously, to the support of the church and charitable objects. He founded a mission church in honor of his deceased wife, which was named the "Lucretia Chapel," which still stands as a worthy monument, not only to the revered woman in whose memory it was erected, but of the practical Christian life of its founder. A brave soldier, a successful business man, a loving father and a good citizen, in the truest sense of the word. he lived the life which he professed. Always courteous and genial, he made all who came within his magnetic influ- ence feel that he was a man to be implicitly trusted and respected.

In April, 1897, Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam re- moved to the city of Chicago, taking up their residence on Vincennes avenue, where they identified themselves with the social, religious and intellectual interests surrounding them, and established a home which became an attractive center for lovers of art and the cultivated and refined of the community. In Chicago Captain Fitzwilliam became a member of the George H. Thomas Post. G. A. R. ; the Loyal Legion, com- posed of commissioned officers of the Civil war; Kenwood Social Club, the Ellessly Golf Club and the Hyde Park Baptist church. Here they had looked forward to a period of quiet leisure and happy contentment in each other's society before age should bring on its added burdens. These bright anticipations were doomed to disappointment, however, for on December 23, 1899, Captain Fitzwilliam passed

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away, leaving behind him the memory of a devoted father, a faithful husband and a true patriot. Peacefully, honorably, he met and dis-

charged all life's duties ; honored and beloved be passed away sincerely mourned by all who knew him.

SARAH E. (RAYMOND) FITZWILLIAM.

Kendall County has good reason to be proud of one of its early residents, Mrs. Sarah E. (Raymond) Fitzwilliam, whose life history is an example to the younger generation in this and other sections. She was born in Kendall County, commenced her studies in its district schools and pursued them further in the acad- emy at Lisbon, Kendall County's important and early contribution to the literary institutions of Illinois. Her ancestry is notable. Her father, Jonathan Raymond, was a descendant of one of the early inhabitants of Ipswich, Mass. One of the early settlers and an ancestor, William Raymond, joined New England's famous rebel- lion against Governor Andros, in 1657, for which offense he was imprisoned at Boston, thus becoming one of the early defenders of American independence. The town seal of Ipswich bears this inscription. "The Birthplace of American Independence, 1687." The mother of Mrs. Fitzwilliam was a descendant of Thomas Burnham, another founder of a noted Puritan family of Ipswich and, perhaps, in his way, quite as prominent as was William Ray- mond.

Mrs. Sarah E. Fitzwilliam's ancestry is further commented on by a well known resi- dent of MeLean County, J. H. Burnham, as follows: "Perhaps my early knowledge of our Burnham and her Raymond descent from old Ipswich was one reason for my own interest in her personality. One of my own maternal ancestors, William Goodhue, was also an Ips- wich victim of the tyranny of Governor Andros, having been imprisoned in Boston with Mr. Raymond, thus giving Mrs, Fitzwilliam and my- self a common interest in an uncommon event. I married a Kendall County girl, Miss Almira S. Ives, whose grandfather, Judge Almon Ives of Pavilion, was one of Kendall County's very earliest and most valuable inhabitants, and as the Kendall County Ives and Raymond families were quite intimate, the way was thus pre- pared for a lifelong friendship between the later members of these families."

Sarah E. Raymond taught school in Kendall County for several terms after leaving Lisbon Academy, and in the fall of 1802 she entered the Illinois Normal University at Normal, IN.,

and completed the course in 1866. She was fortunate in having been nearly all this time under the instruction of President Richard Ed- wards, who had been principal of the Salem (Mass.) Normat School, which he had made the foremost institution of its kind in the United States. His magnetic and earnest enthusiasm inspired Miss Raymond to exert her faculties to the utmost. She was blessed with a fine physique, with unbounded energy, had untiring industry and perseverance and these qualities, combined with commendable ambition, con- tributed to the results of her life work that seem worthy to be herewith presented. How- ever, it should be noted that she pursued the even tenor of her way without display or notice- able effort. She faithfully and carefully per- formed cach day's task or each term's duties with exact, intense. never-failing honesty, con- scientious in everything she undertook.

As an instructor in Fowler's Institute, at Newark, once a very important educational in- stitution of Kendall County, Miss Raymond entered the educational field after her gradna- tion from the Normal school, and in 1868 began teaching in the public schools of Bloomington, Ill. Although she could, at that time, com- mand but a very moderate salary, she was given one of the most difficult positions, one that re- quired diplomacy as well as education, and, seemingly without effort. secured control of the discordant elements, and so thoroughly won the approval of pupils, parents and school offi- cials that she was shortly promoted and became principal of the Fifth Ward (now the Sheridan) school, situated in the most populous part of the city of Bloomington. She continued in this position for eight terms, when she was again promoted, becoming first assistant in the Bloom- ington High school, and in the following year was placed in full charge as principal, with a salary of $1,200 per year. In all of these posi- tions Miss Raymond encountered obstacles, which, to many teachers, would have proved insurmountable. but perseverance, industry. good judgment and never-failing zeal carried her through these many trials. Her work has been performed in plain sight of Bloomington's citizens and almost under the eye, as it were,

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of President Edwards, of the Illinois Normal University, and one can well understand that she has become a woman of induence and abil- ity, well qualified for subsequent duties.

At this time the Bloomington schools were not in a very satisfactory condition and there seemed to be a general desire for new and more competent leadership. Up to the time referred to no woman in Illinois, young or old, had ever been considered capable of filling so im- portant a position as superintendent of the pub- lic schools of the city and it was an unheard of innovation to place a woman at the helu. The Bloomington Board of Education, how- ever, was unusually progressive and wide awake and they decided that in Miss Raymond the people would find a superior educator and a capable manager, one able to cope with the many complex problems presented at that time in the city schools. On August 4, 1874, Miss Sarah E. Raymond became the first woman Superintendent of Schools in the State of Illi- nois and in the United States, a notable distinc- tion, and this position she ably filled until 1892, a period of eighteen years. Her annual salary in this position was $1,800, which in- cluded the pay of the secretary of the Board of Education. Her appointment attracted wide attention and the women of ber state were very proud of her success. In all there were nearly ninety teachers under her charge in nine or ten different schools. There was a very exacting public school interest and it required the super- intendent's utmost efforts to maintain the edu- cational standard required, yet it can scarcely be said that there was, at that period, any well defined standard of school superintendence. Educators had not yet arrived at any general agreement in the matter of standards and per- haps Miss Raymond had as much to do with fixing these standards as any other person of that period. The Normal University, but two miles distant. contained some of the keenest educational minds in the entire West and it may, therefore, be supposed that criticism was wide awake and alive on every hand, and for Miss Raymond to oversee the physical, financial and educational needs of Bloomington's public schools for these eighteen years, must have re- quired foresight, good judgment, poise, a thoughtful watching of publie sentiment, a care- ful balancing of forces and a degree of wisdom seldom possessed by any one individual.

Some of Bloomington's leading citizens were. at different times, members of the board of

education in charge of the schools. Among these may be mentioned : Hon. Adlai E. Steven- son, afterward Vice President of the United States; Hon. Jonathan II. Rowell, for four terms a member of Congress from the Bloom- ington District, several mayors of the city, and other men prominent in affairs. For fifteen years Miss Georgina Trotter was the only female member of the board. In business activity, in energetic, capable action and in civic zeal, she was the equal of any man belonging to this body. She was ever the right hand assistant of her devoted friend, Superintendent Raymond, and both these ladies appeared to be inspired by a common ambition, which was to throw as much as possible of their own personalities into the overseeing of the Bloomington schools, to make them as perfect as possible. Miss Trotter sustained the superintendent as far as practicable in all of her plans for the better- ment of the schools and thus it resulted that while one used her best efforts to lead the schools to a higher plane of educational effi- ciency, the other exerted herself in equal degree to aid the other members of the board in carry- ing out the plans of the superintendent. General harmony between Miss Raymond and the board of education resulted, as noted above, in her con- tinuous employment for eighteen years, and her resignation in 1892 was after being once more elected to the position, and her act met with with almost universal regret from the general public.

Miss Raymond spent several succeeding years at Cambridge, Mass .. and passel several of the pleasantest years of her life in Boston. She interested herself in club, society and public activities and became identified with some of Boston's leading literary and social circles, which gave her excellent opportunities for a valuable acquaintance in that center of literary and educational influence. She became secre- tary of the All Around Club, one of the largest literary clubs of Boston, and in this organiza- tion she became acquainted with such distin- quished personalities as E. D. Mead. Jane Aus- tin, Mary Livermore, many of the Harvard professors, and such literary notables as Julia Ward Howe, Col. T. W. Higginson, Oliver Wen- dell Holmes and others of the men and women of culture. She was a member of the "Boston Branch of the National Folk Lore Society," and of the "American Academy of Political and Social Science," of Philadelphia.

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Biographical and memorial edition of the Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 58

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 joint ed Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, Munsell publishing company Number of Pages: 1290

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913 joint ed
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Munsell publishing company
Number of Pages: 1290