USA > Illinois > Biographical and memorial edition of the Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 84
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In 1866 Major Peters came to Watseka, Ill .. and for a time was a hardware merchant, but not finding this business congenial, he sold and opened the first book and stationery store at Watseka. In November, 1879, he turned the business over to a faithful clerk who had ren- dered him excellent service for a decade, and gave all his attention to newspaper matters, he having in the meanwhile become first proprietor of The Iroquois Times, which he sold after eighteen months, in 1874. but bought it back in 1878. Hle continued at the head of his paper until 1908, when he sold and retired, and since then has devoted himself to literature and study.
In connection with his labors elsewhere, Mr. Peters took an intelligent and active interest in polities, and in 1875 was elected mayor of Wat- seka and in 1877 was re-elected to succeed Hon.
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Franklin Blades, who resigned to accept a judgeship. In 1876, he was elected to the state legislature on the national ticket, and in 1SS! was the Democratic candidate for state senator from his district, composed of Iroquois and Kankakee counties, but was defeated because the district was overwhelmingly Republican. In 1886, he accepted the Democratic nomination for congressman, fully aware that there was no probability of his election, as the district was at that time normally Republican by three or four thousand majority.
Having been an enthusiastic soldier, it was but natural that Major Peters should be inter- ested in military affairs, and in 1874 was largely instrumental in organizing the first military company in Iroquois County, of which he was elected captain. When the military code of Illi- nois became a law, and the various companies of the state were organized into regiments and battalions, the Watseka Rifles were designated as Company A. Ninth Battalion, Illinois Na- tional Guards, and Captain Peters was elected to command the battalion with rank of colonel.
Fraternally, he has been closely associated with the Odd Fellows, many times representing his lodge and encampment in the grand lodge; and be also belongs to the Knights of Honor, repre- semting the grand lodge of Illinois in the su- preme lodge of the Culted States for three years. Ile is also a Bive Lodge, Chapter and Knight Templar Mason.
On June 19, 1867, Colonel Peters was united in marriage with Clara M. Lyon, at Sycamore, Itl., whose sympathy and appreciation have proven invaluable to her husband.
During 1884, Colonel Peters built The Times building at Watseka, which is one of the finest structures in the county. He not only has held office, bat was chairman of the Iroquois County Democratie Central Committee during 1SS4, and has done all he could to advance the interests ef his party, although until 1872 he was a Re- publican. In February, 1915, he was commis- sioned as governor of the Danville ( Ill.) Na- tional Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, which position he now occupies.
LE GRAND S. BURTON.
While the legal profession for centuries has enlisted some of the most profound minds of the times, modern business conditions have opened up new fields for the brilliant attorney, and many of this calling have turned their at- tention to particular branches, specializing along certain lines. This development has been necessary, for the problems presented by the complex conditions existing today are so seri- ous and difficult of solution that the average lawyer has not the experience or expert knowl- edge necessary to handle them all satisfactorily. For some years prior to his death, the name of the late Le Grand Burton was associated with some of the most important jurisprudence of the country connected with real estate law, and he was admitted the greatest legal special- ist in this line Chicago had produced. Mr. Bur- ton was born at Chicago, September 27, 1546, a son of Stiles and Ann W. (Germain) Burton, a sketch of whom appears in this work.
Le Grand Burton was given every advantage offered by a refined home and intellectual sur- roundings, and for a short time he attended the Chicago public schools, but later was given a four years' course at Baltimore, Md. He then attended the grammar school and a college for seven years, at Racine, Wis., being under the
instruction of Dr. de Koven, with whom he went abroad, Dr. Ashley accompanying them, and both these gentlemen were very much in- terested in the brilliant young man, who re- turned their affection. Mr. Burton studied in Paris, residing in the Latin Quarter, and at- tended lectures given at the College of France, and was making remarkable progress when he was called home by the illness of his father. Upon the latter's improvement in health, Mr. Burton entered Columbia College, and was grad- uated therefrom, following which he was admit- ted to the bar of the state of New York. He then came back to Chicago and assisted his father in handling the large Burton realty in- terests.
Not long after this, the whole estate was wiped out by the great fire of 1871, with the exception of the building on the present site of the Auditorium. With characteristic energy, the two, father and son, rebuilt, putting up a building at Lake and State streets, two stores on South Water street, and buildings on Dear- born, South Water streets, Wabash avenue. op- posite the present site of Marshall Field & Co., the family residence, and other buildings, displaying to a remarkable degree his ability and strength of character. Although he never
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entered upon a general practice, he made him- self an expert in real estate law, and his supe- riority along this line was unquestioned. Ilis death occurred at Berlin, Germany, June 7, 1914:
On April 7, 1875, Mr. Burton married Mary F. Roberts of New York, a daughter of Lewis and Harriet E. (Burbank) Roberts, natives of Rochester, N. Y. Mr. Roberts was always in- terested in railroad work, and executed con- tracts on the New York and Albany Railroad. Broad, intelligent and a great believer in edu- cation and moral uplift, Mr. Roberts' friends were such men as Morse, Cyrus Field and sim- ilar men of note. He possessed a famous col- lection of art, but while he was interested in the beautiful things of life, he did not neglect the material side, but was the founder of the firm of Lewis Roberts Co., flour brokers of New York City. He displayed great ability along many lines. His death occurred at Philadel-
phia when he was in his eightieth year, his wife having died in her sixty-fourth year. Ile was one of the charter members of the Metro- politan Museum of New York City, and the present Le Grand S. Burton, his grandson, has inherited his membership.
Mr. and Mrs. Burton had one son, namely : Le Grand S. Burton, who has been managing the Burton estate for the past ten years. He and his mother are residents of Chicago, living at No. 1254 Lake Shore Drive. A year before his demise, the late Mr. Burton was unusually honored, being decorated with the Cross of the Legion of Honor by the French government. He inherited his father's admiration for the French people and took a deep interest in those of that nationality who resided at Chicago. A man of culture, and refined tastes, Mr. Burton developed a beautiful character, and held a high position among the foremost men of his age and community.
STILES BURTON.
The development of Chicago from a compar- atively small town to a full-fledged metropolis forms an important part of the history of com- mercialism in this country, and as is but natu- ral no record of this period can be truthfully and completely written without some account of the men who were associated with this growth. Through their faith and progressive spirit, the natural resources were developed, outside capital was interested, and new con- cerns were established. Railroads were in- duced to build here; labor was attracted, and industrialism given every encouragement. It took men of unusual caliber to foresee some- thing of the future, but fortunately for Chicago, these same men not only could convince them- selves, but others as well, and through their enthusiasm wrought mighty changes that are still felt, although many of the pioneers in various lines have passed away. In mention- .ing these men of note above referred to, none stand higher than did Stiles Burton, although a new generation has risen since he was taken away from his field of activtiy.
Stiles Burton was born at Trumbull, Conn., April 6, 1SOS. a son of Eli Burton. His mother bore the maiden name of Hawley. The pater- nal grandfather was a native of England. Eli Burton was a farmer of Connecticut, but died when his son Stiles was eight years old. The lad remained with his mother until he was
sixteen years old, when he entered the employ of a French wine merchant as a clerk. Prior to this his educational advantages had been somewhat limited, but his business. experience developed new capabilities and his employer, recognizing his worth, took him to Charleston, S. C., and there he remained for two years. While maintaining this connection, Mr. Burton learned French, and so liked the language that he perfected himself in it by study and read- ing so that he spoke the tongue fluently.
At the end of the two years he returned to Connecticut and with a small amount of money obtained from his father's estate, established himself in business at Bridgeport, and after nine years of prosperous dealing, he went to Montreal, Canada, where he conducted a mer- cantile establishment for two years, continuing his French studies. He was attracted towards Chicago, however, and arrived in this city in May, 1836, where he leased a store in a frame business block on Lake street, between Clark and Wells, and opened in it a wholesale grocery store. Some time later he bought a lot from the government at the corner of State and Lake streets, on which he built a sub- stantial brick building, and removed his busi- ness to it. For some years the lot was after- wards occupied by the City Hotel. About 1841, owing to ill health, Mr. Burton closed his busi- ness and traveled abroad, visiting the home of
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his ancestors in England, and also went to France.
Returning, improved in health, he bought goods at several points and ordered them shipped to St. Louis, Mo., but reshipped them to Chicago, where he resumed his wholesale grocery business and continued to conduct it until his retirement. Ilis death occurred in 1875, and in his passing Chicago lost one of its most efficient business men and desirable citizens. His faith in Chicago was unbounded and he made his investments accordingly, and that his judgment has been justified, the re- markable increase in values has proven, as the lot he bought from the government at the corner of State and Lake streets, still in the family, is worth today many times over what he paid for it. The family residence property on Michi- gan avenue has increased phenomenally, and his other purchases were made with equal soundness of judgment. Mr. Burton never speculated, but bought his property with a defi- nite end in view, so that his purposes were above board and his investments legitimate. For many years Mr. Burton spent three months annually in travel and very materially broad- ened his outlook on life, and enlarged his circle
of friends. St. James' Episcopal Church of Chi- cago held his membership, and profited from his benevolences, although he did not confine his contributions to that burch, giving generously and freely outside it. For years he was one of the trustees of the Dearborn Seminary, which was established in 19H, and was always also in- terested in the progress of young men, many of whom he assisted.
In 1844 Mr. Burton was married to Ann W. Germain, a daughter of Stephen Germain, a pioneer farmer of the Fox River country, who came to Illinois the same year as did Mr. Bur- ton. Mis. Butten was born in Chenango County, N. Y., Gen. Obadiab Germain being one of her uncles. Mr. and Mrs. Burton became the par- ents of the following children: Le Grand. Lester aud Mrs. fra Holmes. No better tribute could be paid the memory of Mr. Burton than that rendered in the following extract which is quoted from a contemporary writer :
"A successful man of affairs. a worthy citizen, and a Christian gentleman of the old school, Stiles Burton was one of the men most honored and esteemed among the early citizens of Chicago."
ABRAHAM C. BIRD.
In looking back over the history of this coun- try, it sometimes appears to the thoughtfui student that the mighty men of affairs, those who controlled the destinies of thousands. have all passed away and that their places still re- main empty. It may be that circumstances will develop those capable of handling current prob- lems, but certain it is that old conditions have gone and that the forceful events which brought forth men of the caliber of the late Abraham C. Bird, will not be repeated. Such men as this dean of railroad traffic, had their charac- ters matured on the battlefields of the Civil War, and took into the peaceful marts of busi- ness, many of the policies which resulted in the conquering of the enemy. The work of these men is accomplished. They brought about mighty changes, and then, their life work com- pleted, entered upon the fuller life of eternity. Mr. Bird's business career led him into the thick- est of the fight, from which he emerged with a conspicuous victory, and his last days were hap- pily spent on a ranch in California.
Abraham C. Bird was born in Pike County, Ill., March 4, 1843, a son of Rev. William Har-
rison and Eliza Evaline (Gash) Bird. The fa- ther was a Presbyterian minister, a Virginian by birth, whose strong anti-slavery views com- pelled his leaving the family plantation and a slave-holding father, and seek a new home in Illinois. He married his wife at Palmyra, Mo., and studied for the ministry at Dr. Nelson's college at Quincy, Ill.
Abraham C. Bird attended the public schools of that time, and when just eighteen years old he enlisted for service during the Civil War in the Twenty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and eighteen months later entered the Fourth United States Cavalry and served for four years. Leav- ing the army, he became associated with the Chicago, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad at Pana. Ill., where he was in general charge of the depot business under the agent. Three years later he was given a position in the freight traffic depart- ment of the Kansas City & Northern line, at St. Louis, Mo .. later was merged with the Wa- bash Railroad. So efficient did he prove him- self, and so capable of handling the problems of his department, that he was made general freight agent and freight traffic manager. He was
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then offered the position of traffic manager of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad of Milwaukee. After twenty years' connection with this road, Mr. Bird was invited by George Gould to assume charge of the general freight traffic work of all the Gould lines, and in accepting this offer, he entered upon a broad field of use- fulness which he was compelled to leave on account of failing health. With a natural bent
towards traffic work. Mr. Bird was able to grasp a situation and to master details to such an extent that whenever any information was required by legislative committees or conven- tions, he was chosen to represent the railroads and render expert testimony to the entire sat- isfaction of all.
In 1907 Mr. Bird retired from railroad life, and bought a ranch at Compton, Cal. When death claimed him, December 1, 1914, he was living at Pasadena, Cal. A Mason, he had reached the Thirty-second degree. Socially he belonged to the Union League, Milwaukee and Chicago clubs. His religious affiliations were with the Presby- terian church. All his life he was a strong Re- publican.
On October 24, 1867, Mr. Bird married at Pana, Ill., Sara E. Lippincott of Marine Settle- ment, Ill., a daughter of Rev. Thomas Lippin- cott, a Presbyterian minister and one of the early settlers of Illinois, he having come to the
state in 1815, prior to its admission to the U'nion. He wrote a valuable and extensive his- tory of pioneer days in Illinois which was pub- lished in the Alton Telegraph. Mr. and Mrs. Bird had the following children : Alberta, Mar- tha H., Evelyn, Catherine, and William Harrison. For a number of years prior to his locating in California, Mr. Bird maintained a home at Ev- anston, where he is remembered with the deepest respect and admiration. Although during busi- ness hours his life was filled with the problems of his calling, at the close of the day he delighted to forget his cares in his home circle, and his greatest happiness was found in his home. A constant reader, he accumulated a fine library in Evanston, and loved his books and generally carried a volume with him. A man of genial character, he enjoyed conversation with his friends and was noted as a raconteur. Ilis personal habits were above reproach, and he was extremely temperate in all things. It was his firm belief that much of his success in life lay in the fact that he did not touch liquor in any way, and he sought to impress the value of temperance upon his associates and those who worked under him. His ex- ample as a business man and private citizen was so strong that it would be almost impossible to estimate correctly the weight of his actions, or the amount of good he accomplished.
JAMES GORDON CARTER BROOKS.
Broad-minded and sober of judgment, some men possess a character that creates respect and invites intercourse, so that in their passage through life they win and retain the confidence and affection of their associates. When these characteristics are combined with an apprecia- tion of constructive community interests and the power to develop their own capabilities to the highest possible degree of efficiency, success along any line is certain, and the locality in which they reside proves the beneficiary. In the case of James Gordon Carter Brooks, Chi- cago was the city that was advanced because of his inauguration of a new era of improve- ment, and the handsome and imposing Saint Gaudens' statue to Lincoln, in Lincoln Park, stands not only as a monument to the martyred president but to the aggressive and construc- tive spirit of the men who carried through the project of erecting his statue. In addition to the characteristics which made him a public- spirited man, Mr. Brooks possessed others which
enabled him to develop a large mercantile con- ncetion and placed him among the successful men of his day. Mr. Brooks was born at Salem, Mass., August 25, 1847, a son of William Haw- thorne and Sarah (Carter) Brooks. The Brooks family was founded in this country in 1651 when Henry Brooks located at Woburn, Mass., and married Susanna Richardson. He later was one of the judges in some of the famous witchcraft trials of his day. The line of descent is traced from Henry Brooks through his son John and his wife Eustace Mousall ; their son John and his wife Mary Cranston ; their son Timothy and his wife Ruth Wyman; and their son Luke and his wife Mary Haw- thorne, who were the grandparents of James Gordon Carter Brooks. William Hawthorne Brooks was a noted educator.
James Gordon Carter Brooks was educated in the Cambridge and Boston public schools which he attended until he was eighteen years old, and in that year he went to Chicago to
J.C. Provas
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become an employee of his uncle, Artemas Carter, a pioneer lumber merchant of this city. Within two years Mr. Brooks identified himself with the lumber firm of Mears, Bates & Co., and when this company with another was, in 1879, merged into the Oconto Lumber Co., Mr. Brooks was made its president, and so continued until within a few years of his death. While his mental alertness and wide experience made him a power in the lumber trade, Mr. Brooks always felt his best work was done with regard to placing Saint Gaudens' statue of Lincoln at the entrance of Lincoln Park. This noted monument was a gift to Chicago from Mr. Brooks' partner, the late Eli Bates, and to Mr. Brooks was entrusted the entire details of its planning and erection. Mr. Brooks devoted the greater part of three years to this work, and the result has occa- sioned a wide-spread appreciation.
On January 10, 1867, Mr. Brooks was mar- ried to Rose Ridgeway, a daughter of Samuel Thomas Hambleton and Ann ( Behymer) Ridge- way, the former a lumber merchant and steam-
boat builder of Cincinnati, Ohio, where the latter was born. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks became the parents of four children, namely : Alice Haw- thorne, who married George Farnsworth of Chicago; Edith Gordon, who married Henry Blakely of St. Louis; Charles Richardson ; and James Hambleton Brooks. The two last named were unmarried and are both deceased. Mr. Brooks died at Chicago, April 15, 1914. James Gordon Carter, for whom he was named, was, with Horace Mann, the originator and founder of the normal school of Boston. Mr. Brooks was a man of most genial personality, and be- loved by all who knew him. His friends, old and young who were associated with him in club life affectionately called him "Unele Jim." Although he took an intelligent interest in pub- lic matters, he could not be induced to accept nomination for office, although urged to do so upon more than one occasion. During the many years he was associated with Chicago history, he proved that his connection with any movement was a guarantee of its reliability and its ultimate successful termination.
SAMUEL MARTIN DALZELL.
It is not given to all men to be successful both as an employer and employe. Certain char- acteristics are necessary in order that a man may faithfully represent capital and labor. He must be fair in his judgments, upright in his actions, and open to argument, and backward in making decisions until all sides of a question are presented. Looking at affairs from different standpoints, as they do, employers and em- ployes oftentimes find it difficult to reach a neutral ground, and only through the mediations of some of those who appreciate the attitude of both factions, can some disagreements be reached. The state is coming to recognize these facts, and the governments of the different com- monwealths are instituting commissions and boards, presided over by men who possess the capability of handling efficiently and satsfac- torily the matters brought before these organiza- tions. The late Samuel Martin Dalzell was one of those men capable of rendering untold serv- ice to both capital and labor, and for some years he was a member of the Illinois State Labor Commission, being appointed by Gover- nor John R. Tanner. For twenty-six years he . was general manager of the Spring Valley Coal Company, and associated with other conl in- terests of Illinois. Mr. Dalzell was born at
Hlartstown, Pa., December 3, 1850, a son of the Rev. William Dalzell, and his wife, Elizabeth C. (Martzall) Dalzell. The former was born in Ireland, at Dromore, County Down, but his parents were of Scotch birth. Samuel Dalzell, grandfather of Samuel Martin Dalzell, came to the United States in 1:27, locating in Lawrence County, Pa., where he died in 1848, aged sev- enty-one years. He was a son of William Dal- zell. a native of Scotland, who went to Ireland with the chief of the clan, the Earl of Carn- wath. The Dalzell family was one of the old established ones of Scotland, dating back to a period prior to 900. In 1551 the Rev. William Dalzell, father of Samuel Martin Dalzell, left Pennsylvania for the then frontier town of Le Clair, Iowa, where he lived and labored for two and one-half years as a missionary. Ile was then called to Ohio, and did pastoral work at Mansfield. Kenton. Hanover. Carrolton, Me- chaniestown, West Point and Mineral Ridge, that state, and he died at Niles, Ohio, in 1877, aged fifty-seven years. Hle and his wife had seven children, as follows: Samuel Martin, who was the eldest ; Margaret Ellen, who married Louis S. Blachly of Spring Valley. Ill .; Mary Leila Ada, who died at the age of four and one-half years; William Francis, who is a resident of
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Pittsburgh, Pa .; Charles Edgar, who is a resi- dent of Chicago; Lizzie Madeleine, who married Rev. A. A. Mealy of Pittsburgh, Pa .; and Lyda St. Clair, who married James Kilduff of New York City, is deceased.
Samuel Martin Dalzell attended the public schools of Ohio, and a seminary in the same state. When only eighteen years old, he began business life as a merchant, and within four years entered the field in which he was to achieve so much distinction, and from theu ou was connected with the coal interests. In August, 1589, he located at Spring Valley, and the following month entered upon his du- ties as general manager of the Spring Valley Coal Company. Prior to this, he represented the Scott interests in the coal and iron busi- ness at Cleveland, Ohio, and he was also asso- ciated with M. H. Taylor, chairman of the board of directors of the Pittsburgh Coal Company. In 1901 Mr. Dalzell was made president of the Illinois Third Vein Coal Company, and in 1902 was made president of the Ladd Mercantile Company. He was also director and treasurer of the Illinois Coal Operators' Fire Insurance Company, a director of the Kenwood Trust & Savings Bank, a life member of the S. M. Dal- zell Lodge No. 805, A. F. & A. M., at Spring Valley, a member of the Peoria Consistory, a member of the Mystic Shrine and Medinah
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