USA > Illinois > Biographical and memorial edition of the Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 69
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With the close of hostilities, Captain Wilkin- son returned home, and for some time con- ducted a collection and insurance business, but once more entered the mercantile field, this time in partnership with M. W. Keigley, main- taining this connection until 1800, when he lo- cated at Princeton. For a number of years he had responded to popular clamor and served in various offices, having been town clerk for thirty years, school treasurer for sixteen years, supervisor of Arispie Township for one year prior to entering the army, and for ten years, from 1880 to 1800, at which time he resigned to enter upon the duties of county clerk. After his term of four years expired, he was made
town marshal, and served as such for one term. Following this, he and James Rawson estab- lished what afterwards developed into the lead- ing boot and shoe establishment of Princeton, and later the firm bought a rival store and conducted both, until they built their own store building, and, moving into it, continued to operate both stores as one until they sold to W. T. Cain.
In 1860 Captain Wilkinson married Maggie Welch, a sister of John Welch, of Tiskilwa. and they had one child, who lived to be eighteen months old. Mrs. Wilkinson died in June, 1862. In October, 1865, Captain Wilkinson married (second) Miss Sarah A. Smith, who survives him, and who, with a sister, now a resident of Denver, Colo., is the only survivor of her family. Captain Wilkinson had three brothers, Marshall. Lyman and Charles, and a sister, Mrs. Mary J. Smith, of Atkinson, Ill. Captain Wilkinson was a Mason and a Knight Templar and be- longed to the lodge at Princeton. He also was a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public, and served as commander of his local post for many years, and for eight years was president of the Bureau County Soldiers' and Sailors' Association.
For some months Captain Wilkinson was in poor health, and his death, on June 7, 1914, was not a surprise to his family and friends, his age being seventy-seven years, eight months and ten days. The funeral services were con- ducted by the Rev. C. C. Carpenter of the Christian church under the auspices of the local G. A. R. post, and interment was made in Mount Bloom Cemetery, Tiskilwa, according to the rites of the Masons. Although he had lived out his allotted days. Captain Wilkinson was sincerely mourned, for he had won and always retained the respect and confidence of his asso- ciates.
THOMAS BARRER.
Galesburg has ever honored its war veterans, the younger generations realizing what the country owes to the men who saved the Union in the time of civil strife. One of the men who no longer remains to be honored by his country's gratitude for his services in war, and who, while living did his full duty in peace, as a citizen at Galesburg, was the late Thomas Barrer. Mr. Barrer came from Ireland to the United States, having been born in County Limerick, April 23, 1838. Leaving his native
land in 1550, he arrived at Baltimore, Md., but ten years later moved to Knoxville, Ill., and within a year, settled at Galesburg. Although he was not yet a naturalized citizen of his adopted land. Mr. Barrer made its cause his own, and enlisted as a private in September, 1861, in Company H, Thirty-third Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, and in November of that year was promoted to a sergeantey of the fourth order. On October 1, 1864, he was made a sec- ond sergeant, and on September 21, 1865, was
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made first sergeant. He was mustered out soon after his final promotion, at Vicksburg, Miss., November 24, 1565. His regiment saw service in Missouri, Alabama and Mississippi, and participated in the battles of Jackson, Spanish Fort, Vicksburg, and others of less it- portance. At the close of his military service. Mr. Barrer returned to Galesburg, where for many years he was one of the business men of that city, but finally retired and for ten years prior to his death, which occurred March 16, 1913, enjoyed the fruits of his former labors. He was an honest, industrious man, who lived up to what he conceived to be his full duty, and enjoyed the confidence and respect of all with whom he was connected.
On December 21, 1865, Mr. Barrer married Emily L. Rogers, and they had two children,
namely : Mrs. David Fuller, of Galesburg; and Fannie, deceased. Mr. Barrer belonged to Galesburg Lodge No. 142, I. O. O. F., and served it as treasurer for a quarter of a century, was also past grand of his lodge, and lived up to the teachings of that order. He was loyal to the end and belonged to Galesburg Post No. 45, G. A. R. In political faith, Mr. Barrer was a strong Republican, but never desired to come before the public as an office seeker, preferring to exert his influence as a private citizen. Al- though reared in the creed of the Episcopal church, he did not connect himself with any religious organization, but lived out in his life the principles embodied in the Golden Rule, and set an example those of the coming generation will do well to follow.
WILLIAM H. WILLIS.
Medicine embraces a vast field of knowledge spread to nearby towns, to which he was often called. Desiring to perfect himself on some spe- and the successful physician must be a man of varied learning. Never at any time has the ' cial studies, he took a course at the New York healing art demanded more in its practitioners than at the present day and never has the pro- fession given so fair an account of itself. Find the leading physician in a community and this acquaintance will indicate, with few exceptions, the man of most intellectual attainment, the keenest mind, the most progressive spirit, and, in most cases, the greatest public benefactor. Such a man was the late Dr. William II. Willis, of Peoria. Polyclinic during 1897-8, and was graduated from that institution. Following this he located at Peoria and entered upon a general practice, from the first, however, specializing in surgical cases, his skill in this line being unquestioned. His first office was at No. 101 Madison Street, but he later found it more convenient to be in the Jefferson Building. His expert knowledge was so generally recognized that he was placed upon the staff of both the St. Francis and Proctor hospitals. Recognizing the value of medical so- cieties to the physician, he became a member of the Peoria City and Illinois State Medical socie- ties and the American Medical Association. His practice, which was a very large one, extended among the best people of Peoria by whom he was regarded as a real friend as well as med- ical adviser.
Dr. Willis was born at Ipava. Fulton County, Ill., January 20, 1560, a son of Dr. Amos Q. and Jane (Quillan) Willis, natives of Freeport, Ohio. His mother, eighty-seven years old at the time of his death, and a brother, I. H. Willis, sur- vive him, and reside at Galesburg, Ill. After graduating, in June, 1847. from the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical College. Dr. Amos Q. Willis came direct to Ipava, IN., and there was in ac- tive practice of his profession until his death in 1861, his son, William II., being at that time only thirteen months oldl.
William HI. Willis attended the schools of Ful- ton County as he grew up, and deciding upon a medical career, attended and was graduated from the Missouri Medical College, at St. Louis, in 1SS1. Following this he began practicing at Eureka, Ill., continuing there for five years, when he went to Whitefield, IL., in Marshall County, and was there for eleven years. Here he built up a wonderful country practice and his reputation
While residing at Eureka, Dr. Willis was mar- ried to Miss Dycie Van Dyke, a daughter of William G. and Mary (Denny) Van Dyke, natives of Harrisburg. Ky .. and Londonderry, Ireland, respectively. Mrs. Willis was the sec- ond born in the following family : William, who died at the age of sixteen years; Dycie: Robert T., who is engaged in farming at Enreka, Ill. ; Fannie, who is Mrs. J. J. DeMotte of El Paso, Ill. : Laura, who is in business at Eureka, Ill. : James IL, who died when twenty-seven years old; and Lewis H., who is a druggist of Eureka. Dr. and Mrs. Willis became the parents of the
William 'Ft. Will.
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following children: Ethel, who is Mrs. E. O. Brown of Galva, Ill., has one child, Edwin Willis; Harold D., a real-estate operator of Peoria ; and Hazel D., who is the wife of E. E. Smith of Elmwood, Ill. She has one child, Susanne Inez.
In political faith Dr. Willis was formerly a Republican, but later became identified with the Progressive party. He was a consistent member of the Christian Church, and died firm in its belief, July 4, 1014.
Aside from his professional interests, Dr. Willis was a heavy landowner in Illinois and Missouri, his properties being very valuable. At one time Dr. Willis was active in the Illinois National Guard and was considered one of the
best rifle shots in the state. He was a member of the Creve Coeur Club of Peoria, and was very popular in this organization. A profound scholar and sympathetic man, Dr. Willis at- tracted men to bin and held their friendship through the years that followed. Always look- Ing on the happy and cheerful side of life, and always with deep interest in each individual case, this beloved physician went his daily rounds, leaving not only healing drugs but smiles and happy words and genuine sympathy. His life was one that polois a moral, and its record will lead others to emulate his virtues and stim- ulate those of his profession to meet his standards.
JOHN MONTGOMERY PHELPS.
The name of the late John Montgomery Phelps was for many years intimately associated with Chicago history, and to him several of the towering mercantile houses owe much of their initial success which later brought them their present worldwide prestige. His activities along mercantile and other lines were so well directed and his management of affairs so masterly handled that he was rated among the most able men of his day, and earned the confidence and gratitude of men of high standing with whom he was associated. His success was entirely due to his own ability and his advance to wealth and high position was steady and con- tinnous. In the handling of credits, in which he was an adept, he was almost phenomenally successful, and his name still stands for the best work in this line Chicago has ever known. He was born December 21, 1528, in Schoharle County, N. Y., a son of George Chapman and Mary Phelps. The former was a farmer who came to New York State from Connecticut.
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Growing up amid rural surroundings John M. Phelps secured only such educational advan- tages as the local public schools afford, but made such good use of his time and opportunities that he was able to become a teacher and tanght school for three years. He ther embarked in a dry goods business with Elisha Fero, thus commencing a career which was to be a long and eminently successful one. The firm was known as Elisha Fero & Co. and did business at Catskill, N. Y. In the fall of 1\52 the budding merchant was far-sighted enough to see the future before Chicago, and decided to cast his fortunes with it. With his brother,
W. W. Phelps, he interested Potter Palmer, and the three founded a mercantile business which has finally developed into the largest of its kind in the world, that of Marshall Field & Co. Mr. Phelps was made credit man of the new busi- ness, and attended to the retail store, while his brother held the same position with regard to the wholesale house. He was also financially interested with the business and when the firm of Palmer & Phelps became Field, Palmer & Leiter, Mr. Phelps continued with the new con- cern as credit man. The credit end of any business in those days was in its infancy, so that Mr. Phelps was really the father of many of the methods which prevail today. Ile re- duced the extension of credits to a definite sys- tem, and so proved his ability and knowledge of men that when he resigned on January 1. 1571, the firm in appreciation of his long and valuable services, tendered him a beautiful sil- ver service as a slight token of the esteem of the partners. While with this firm he was the highest salaried man in Chicago. With the severing of his ties with Field, Palmer & Leiter, Mr. Phelps assumed new ones as credit man for J. V. Farwell & Co., and in the fall of that year rendered the firm incalculable service by saving, at the risk of his life, the credit books which otherwise would have perished in the terrible fire. When he retired from this firm Mr. Phelps went into an insurance business with R. W. Hosmer & Co., of Chicago, becom- ing an insurance broker and continued his as- sociation with this concern until his death August 19, 1913.
On July 4, 1566, Mr. Phelps was united in
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marriage with Miss Mary Frances Wheeler, a daughter of Samuel Monroe and Jane ( Brew- ster) Wheeler. The Brewster family comes of Mayflower stock. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps became the parents of the following children : Charles Brewster, May Lewis, Wallace W., and Ada Irene. For a number of years the family be- longed to the Reformed Episcopalian Church, and were of Bishop Cheney's parish. During the many years that Mr. Phelps was so impor- tant a factor in the business life of Chicago, he saw many changes and took part in some of the most important. His residence at Chicago covered a period of considerably over fifty years,
and during that time he passed through the great fire which swept pioneer conditions into the remote past and saw the spirit of the com- ing metropolis of the county materialized on the lake front in the Columbian Exposition. He witnessed a revolution in business methods and commercial ratings. From year to year dur- ing his residence here he was rejoiced to see the current of trade deflected from eastern mar- kets to this, and no one took a deeper interest in every advance step than he. While he lived to a ripe old age he was such a dominant factor wherever found, that his loss is felt and his in- fluence will live for years to come.
WILLIAM HOUSTON FULKERSON.
Colonel William Houston Fulkerson was born September 9, 1834, at the homestead of his father in Claiborne County, Tenn., but comes of excellent Virginia stock. His father, Dr. James Fulkerson, was born in Virginia, a son of Colonel Peter Fulkerson, who commanded troops in the Continental Army. Dr. Fulkerson married Miss Frances Patterson of Philadel- phia, Pa., in the native city of his bride, and then with her moved to eastern Tennessee, where they rounded out useful lives. The Pat- terson family is a prominent one in Pennsyl- vania, and its members were very patriotic. A maternal uncle of Mr. Fulkerson, Robert E. Patterson, was a veteran of three wars. An- other uncle, William Chamberlain Patterson, was the second president of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Dr. Fulkerson was a medical man of considerable note and a graduate of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania.
Colonel William Houston Fulkerson was edu- cated in the best schools of Tennessee, and fin- ished his educational training at West Point Military Academy. During the trouble with the Mormons, he gave valuable service, during 1858-0, but when the North and South declared war his sympathies led him to espouse the cause of the latter and from the beginning of hostilities until their close he served gallantly as colonel of the Sixty-third Tennessee, al- though wounded at the battle of Chickamauga. With the close of the war. Colonel Fulkerson returned to Tennessee, but like so many of those who had fought so bravely for the "Lost Cause," he found that opportunities were lack- ing in his old home, so in 1866. he left Rogers- ville where his boyhood and young manhood had been spent, and moved to Jersey County,
Ill. Here he found congenial surroundings and associates, and developed the magnificent stock farm known as the Hazel Dell property, there entered extensively into the business of breed- ing Shorthorn cattle and met with a very grati- fying success. He still resides on this farm where so many useful years have been spent.
On October 17, 1861, at Rogersville, Tenn., Colonel Fulkerson married Miss Cornelia T. Russell, born at that place November 16, 1832, a daughter of Joseph and Jane ( Richards) Russell. Mrs. Fulkerson was educated at the Rogersville Seminary and at Salem, N. C., and was a lady of many accomplishments. Her death occurred October 31, 1900. Colonel and Mrs. Fulkerson became the parents of the fol- lowing children : Frances R., James W., Joseph R., Frank E., and Sarah B. Of these James W. is deceased, and Sarah is the wife of Judge Charles S. White.
Colonel F'ulkerson was carefully reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church during his boyhood. His political inclinations and con- victions make him a Democrat, and while he was never active in politics, he served one term as judge of the County Court of Jersey County, two terms as president of the Illinois State Board of Agriculture, and was a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. He was also a member of the Illinois State Board of World's Fair Commissioners at the time of the World's Fair at Chicago. A man of sterling qualities, Colonel Fulkerson is honered and respected by all who have the honor of his acquaintance. While he has been concerned in his business operations, he has never neglected the finer things of life, and
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enjoys the best in literature, reading exten- sively and appreciating the productions of his favorite authors. Not only has he traveled ex-
tensively in his own country, but also abroad, and is one of the most cultured and well in- formed men in his section of the state.
ALBERT ROBBINS SABIN.
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With the elevation of an educator to the highest office in the land, has come an added dignity to scholastic attainments which must be gratifying to those who have labored long and faithfully to guide wisely and conscien- tiously the young people entrusted to their charge. Not only are some of the ablest liv- ing men, members of this honored profession, but there are those who have passed into the Heavenly realms who thought that life could bestow no higher honors than those which came from the realization of what their learned influence and kindly sympathy had accom- plished. One of these able educators whose life was spent in training others, was the late Albert Robbins Sabin, five years master of Lake Forest Academy, and a teacher in the public schools of Chicago. Albert Robbins Sabin was born at Rockingham, Vt., Sep- tember 30, 1837, and he was seventy-five years old when his useful tife terminated January 29, 1913, at his home No. 4062 N. Kenneth avenue, Chicago. He was a son of Deacon Elisha S. and Sophia ( Hall) Sabin, and spent his early life in an agricultural community but from boyhood it was his ambi- tion to secure a good education. With this end in view he partly provided for further study by teaching writing schools in the winters and then entered Middlebury College, in Vermont, after completing a common school training. While there he had as a classmate, the late Ezra J. Warner, of Lake Forest, with whom he continued a lifelong friendship. He left college in his junior year to enlist in response to President Lincoln's call for men. He en- tered service as a private, April 23, 1862, or- ganizing a company at Middlebury, and was elected its captain on June 24, serving as cap- tain of Company C (color company), Ninth Vermont Volunteer Infantry. Company C was mustered into service July 9, 1862, at Brattle- boro, Vt., and moved on to Washington; was engaged in building Fort Winchester until Sep- tember 2, when it joined General Miles at Harper's Ferry and engaged in its defense unti! September 15, where the men were surrounded and taken prisoners of war. Captain Sabin was paroled and with his company marched to
Ammapolis; from thence they were sent to Camp Douglas, where they were engaged in guarding prisoners. As there was no prospect of an exchange of prisoners and active service and camp life being distasteful, Captain Sabin resigned December 24, and was honorably dis- charged. He always felt that in the service of the schools he was furthering his service to his country.
Immediately thereafter Mr. Sabin came to Chicago, where, for the next half century, he was a foremost figure in educational circles in this part of the State. He secured work at first in the offices of the Northwestern Railroad and then was appointed an instructor in the old Dearborn school on the present site of the Boston Store. His next charge was the New- berry school and from that he went to the Franklin. The last named was burned during the great fire of 1871, and in 1872 he was con- nected with the Douglas school until he was transferred to the Central high school at Mon- roe and Halsted streets. It was while serv- ing in the latter that he resigned, severing his connection with the Chicago Board of Education to accept the head mastership of Lake Forest Academy. After the academy burned he was - made professor of Latin at Lake Forest Col- lege, where he remained for two years. During his residence in Lake Forest he served one term as county superintendent of Lake County. . In 1881 Mr. Sabin was appointed principal of the Kinzie school, and in 1SS7 was made assist- ant superintendent. This position he filled for fifteen years with credit to himself and great advantage to Chicago's public schools. He came in contact with large numbers of teachers and his aptitude to develop teaching ability in others was great. Hundreds of teachers in Chicago credit their success to his faculty in this direction exercised in their behalf. He was gentle and tender hearted and had an ab- sorbing love for little children and easily won their confidence and affection. Often he was heard to murmur as they gathered about him, "Of such is the Kingdom." Later Mr. Sabin served as principal of the Audubon school, leaving it to become principal of the Irving Park schools, and in 190S was placed in charge
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of the Medill school, a position he was admir- ably tilling at the time of his demise.
A man of exceptional musical ability, MIr. Sabin was always interested in musical mat- ters, and the choir of the old Second Presby- terian Church, which, prior to the fire, stood at the corner of Monroe street and Wabash avenue, benefitted from his tenor voice. It is interesting to note that the stones of this his- toric building were transferred after the fire to Lake Forest, where they were utilized in the construction of the First Presbyterian Church of that place. Mr. Sabin was the leader of the choir in the Second Presbyterian Church, and from there went to the Westmin- ster Presbyterian Church, then at the corner of Dearborn and Ontario streets, where he con- tinued in charge of the choir. When the Apollo Club was organized in 1872, Mr. Sabin was one of its charter members, and continued active in it for many years, frequently being one of its soloists. While his services as a musician were widely known and appreciated, it is not quite as generally understood that during the time of his military service, his sweet voice was often used to cheer and com- fort his men at the close of a long day's march, and they loved him for this show of devotion to them and for his willingness to exert him- self for their pleasure. It is interesting to note that among those who studied under the direction of this learned man were the follow- ing: John V. and Francis C. Farwell, the late Horatio O. Stone, Thomas W. Magill, Edwin J. Learned, Howard H. Gallup, E. Brand Walker, Benjamin Manierre, Myron H. Norton, Foster A. Rhea, Edward B. Rice, Delavan W. H. Smith, John H. Hubbard. Arthur C. Irvin, the late Lansing Warren. James T. Howe, William H. Scott, Everill W. Stiles, Horace R. Parsons, Elbert H. Gunnison, Roscoe Horton, Lynn Helm, Donald G. McLeod and Dr. Neweil Dwight Hillis of Brooklyn.
After his death his widow received many touching communications from those who had known and honored her husband, among them being letters from Richard S. Tuthill of the Circuit Court of Illinois, F. G. Blair, John D. Shoop. O. F. Barber, H. G. Bigelow, E. E. Cole, R. M. Hitch and many others. The Medill school was represented at the funeral by the following pupils: Robert Sherman, Joseph Schwartz, Harry Teter, Joseph Rosenfeld, Sam Cohn, Emanuel Davis, Jacob Greenfield, Ed- win Weisel, Benjamin Goldberg, Earl Richol-
son, Benjamin Sidemac. Louis Block, Jack Seglin, Reuben Cob, Rey Levinsou, Sam Gross- man, Sam Lipschultz, Bobunnl Koptick and Morris Sherman. On Saturday afternoon, Feb- ruary 1, 1919, a simple service was conducted by the Rev. H. E. Ganster. The pall bearers were: R. M. Hitch, H. G. Cox, W. M. Roberts, Orville T. Brignt, Oliver S. Westcott, Prof. L. M. Hewes, W. D. Spiser, and G. M. Clayberg. Twenty-seven automobiles formed the funeral cortege, interment being made at Rosehill ceme- tery. Mr. Sabin is survived by his widow and two sons, Stewart B. and Albert R. To show honor to the memory of Mr. Sabin, the presi- dent of the Chicago Board of Education ordered that all flags on school buildings be placed at half mast for a period of ten days. Educa- tors from all over the State united in paying tribute to his memory and Mrs. Ella Flagg Young, superintendent of schools, remarked with feeling: "He was a great man, and one of the most useful the schools have ever had."
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