USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Chicago and Cook County official Republican directory and sketch book, 1900 > Part 7
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The history of the Carr family in the United States would indeed to do them justice fill a larger book than this is intended to be.
The family which were originally of English descent, branched out to Scotland and even Ireland, and distinguished themselves in the battle field as far back as the 11th Century. In Battle Abbey, under William the Conqueror, Benjamin Carr, the great grandfather, by five generations back of H. H. Carr, the subject of this sketch, was born in London, England, August 18, 1592. Cable Carr, his son who was also born in London, December 9, 1616, came to America in 1635, and after holding many honor- able offices was appointed Governor of Rhode Island in 1695, which position he continued to hold up to the time of his death.
. From this time down to the present day we have a long list of distinguished members of the Carr family.
, Captain John Carr, born in Newport, R. I., 1738, fought under Washington in the Battles of Rhode Island, and Trenton Bridge, N. J.
Major James Carr, born in Dover, N. H., in 1748, was also a soldier of the Revolution.
Cable Carr, born in Newport, R. I., 1744, married Margaret Adams, a cousin of John Adams who was the second President of the United States. Mr. Cable Carr was also a soldier of the Revolutionary War and fought at the memorable Battle of Sara- toga, in 1777.
Dabney Carr was born in Virginia, October 26, 1743, was probably one of the most illustrious of the Carr family. He
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married Martha, a sister of the immortal Jefferson. He was a member of the House of Burgesses, and introduced and had passed a bill of rights which was regarded as an entering wedge to the separation of the Colonies from England. His speech on that occasion was regarded by Thomas Jefferson, as "a masterpiece of patriotic eloquence" on this subject. Mr. Jefferson after- wards wrote, "I well remember the pleasure expressed in the countenance and conversations of the members generally on this debut of Mr. Carr, and the hopes they conceived as well from the talents as the patriotism manifested. But he died two months later, and in him we lost a powerful fellow laborer."
From the date of the Revolutionary War down to the present day, the history of the Carr family in the United States has at no time grown less important, and during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865, several members of the Carr family distinguished them- selves as officers and privates in the front rank of many a hard fought battle in defense of the stars and stripes, and many of them even gave up their lives to the cause.
Henry Herbert Carr, the subject of this sketch, was born in Northville, La Salle County, Illinois, June 20, 1844. His father was engaged in the grain and general mercantile business. It was here that Henry H. Carr spent his youthful boyhood happy days, and it was here while in his youth that he first conceived the original idea of consigning shipments of grain and other farm products in which he has for years been successfully engaged.
Mr. H. H. Carr received his early education in the public schools of his native town, and at the age of fifteen attended a commercial college at Chicago, from which he graduated in 1860.
When the war broke out, though still under age, he tried to obtain the consent of his parents to enlist, but was refused be- cause of his age. The following year, while still only eighteen years of age, he secured the consent of his parents and enlisted in Company H, 105th Regular Illinois Infantry. During his three years service, his regiment was engaged in the campaign of the Army of the Cumberland, and marched through Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South and North Carolina, Vir- ginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. The regiment was engaged in nearly all of the battles of the southeast, and for three months was quartered within gunshot of the enemy.
Mr. Carr was with his regiment in Sherman's march to the
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sea. He was also at the review at Washington in 1865, from thence to Chicago, where the regiment was mustered out in June, 1865.
After the war he moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was engaged in the mercantile and supply business. He returned to Chicago, in the fall of 1866, afterwards moved to Quincy, Ill., where he became engaged in the mercantile business. In 1869 he again returned to Chicago, and took a position with the wholesale firm of Field, Leiter & Co., where he remained only a short time. Mr. Carr afterwards took a position with the old Board of Trade firm of E. F. Pulsifer & Co., in which firm he secured an interest later on. After the great fire he made several trips through the West, combining business with health seeking. In 1877 he engaged in the sheep raising in Texas, and in the fol- lowing spring returned to Chicago.
In 1884 Mr. Carr became associated with the well-known grain commission house of Norman B. Ream, the latter men- tioned retired from the firm in that same year, when the firm of H. H. Carr & Co. was established with N. B. Ream as special
partner. After two years Mr. Ream retired from the firm. Thereupon Mr. Carr departed from the old fashioned methods of the trade, and originated the system of direct consignment from the farmers throughout the United States. Mr. H. H. Carr has ever since been known as the original "farmers' friend." He does not speculate in any shape, manner or form, in the markets of the Board, but Mr. Carr receives direct consignments from the farmers, which he personally supervises.
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HON. ARTHUR DIXON. Better known as the former Father of the City Council.
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HON. ARTHUR DIXON.
THE PUBLIC SPIRITED CITIZEN TO WHOM CHICAGO OWES MUCHI OF HER GREATNESS.
Arthur Dixon is one of Chicago's most highly respected public spirited citizens, and to him Chicago owes much of her greatness to-day.
To Arthur Dixon we owe our unequaled public library sys- tem, and to him we owe the building of sewers by special assess- ment system, the building and owning of city water-works, the building of viaducts over the deadly railroad crossings, the city's interest upon her public funds, the annexation of suburbs and the extension of the city's fire limits ; besides fathering all these measures and securing their adoption, both in the General Assembly and the City Council, he also earnestly advocated, during his latter years in the City Council, that the city own and operate its own gas plant.
During his thirty-eight years of residence in Chicago, twenty- four years were spent by him in the City Council and two in the State Legislature, always legislating in.the interest of our rapid growing and ever busy metropolis. He was known throughout the city as the ablest Alderman that ever occupied a seat in the City Council, and was referred to as the "Father of the Alder- men " and "Watch-dog of the City Treasury."
Mr. Dixon's private character is one to be admired, and as a public official, his record stands without a blemish. His life has been devoted to pure motives and manly principles, and through untiring, energetic efforts and honorable business methods, he has risen from the humble walk of life to a high honored posi- tion in commercial circles of the great city of Chicago.
Mr. Dixon was born in Ireland and comes of good Scotch- Irish parentage, who were Arthur and Jane (Allen) Dixon. His father was a farmer and country school teacher ; he was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, having practiced law for a time with considerable sueeess.
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When a youth of eighteen Arthur came to the United States to visit some friends in Philadelphia ; being attracted by the many opportunities afforded young men in the new world, he concluded to remain in the United States. In 1858 he moved to Pittsburg, where he became engaged in the nursery business. In 1861 he came to Chicago and entered the grocery business on a small scale ; his retail grocery being then located on Wells street, now Fifth avenue. His connection with his present business commenced in 1863, and came about in what seemed an accident. In payment of a grocery debt, he was obliged to take a team and wagon, and with this he began a general teaming business at No. 299 Fifth avenue, then South Wells street. From this be- ginning, prosperity has attended the undertaking, until to-day it is the largest transferring company in the United States. His success is entirely due to close application to business, personal good management and honorable dealings.
In the spring of 1867, Arthur Dixon was first elected Alder- man from the Second Ward on the same ticket with Mayor Rice. He was re-elected with increased majorities and sometimes with- out opposition, up to 1891, when he voluntarily declined to longer remain a member of the City Council.
Besides retiring with an unequaled record, he had the honor of having served longer as a member of the City Council than any other Alderman of Chicago. On June 1, 1891, he was presented by the City Council with resolutions endorsing the official action of Alderman Dixon. These were richly bound, superbly illumined and engraved, and he prizes them, even to-day, as one of his richest treasures.
At a regular meeting of the City Council of the city of Chi- cago, held April 27, 1891, the following preamble and resolu- tions, indorsing the official actions of Alderman Dixon were unanimously adopted :
WHEREAS, The City Council of the city of Chicago, is about to lose the services of its oldest and best known member, through his voluntary and we hope temporary retirement from the politi- cal field of action,
Resolved, That we, the colleagues, some of many years, others of short acquaintance, tender to Alderman Dixon, on this occasion, the expression of our heartiest good wishes for his future, and also the expression of our appreciation of the loss
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the council and the city sustains through his withdrawal from our municipal legislature.
Resolved, That we place on record our conviction of his great public worth, his zeal for honest and economical govern- ment, his sincere interest in the cause of the tax-payers and his undoubted and unquestioned ability in every position assigned to him ; and further, we record the expression of our hope that his zeal, his earnestness and ability may soon be utilized for the public in some new capacity ; and be it further
Resolved, That the City Clerk be and is hereby directed to spread this preamble and the resolutions upon the records of the council and to present to Alderman Dixon a suitably engraved copy of the same.
HEMPSTEAD WASHBURN, Mayor.
JAS. R. B. VANCLEAVE, City Clerk.
The above resolutions are much prized by Mr. Dixon, and it is but little wonder they would, for they are a splendid testi- monial of his honesty, integrity and ability as a public official, in which capacity he served for upwards of twenty-six years, having served two years in the State Legislature and twenty-four successive years in the City Council, which breaks all records in the City Council so far, and is more than likely to stand for generations to come.
During the years which Alderman Dixon served in the City Council, he held many important and responsible offices, such as Chairman of the Finance Committee and others too numerous to mention, and in every instance gave entire satisfaction. Being the oldest member, he was usually called to the chair in the absence of the Mayor, and it might be said that he acted at all times in that and other capacities in the interest of the city of Chicago.
In 1874 Mr. Dixon was chosen President of the City Council and was re-elected to that position for six years. He was a recognized leader of the City Council for many years, and as a debater had no equal in that body. He was a practical parlia- mentarian and authority on anything pertaining to the interpre- tation of the powers and provisions of the City Charter.
He was appointed by the Mayor one of the Executive Com- mittee of Arrangements for the World's Columbian Exposition, and was also one of the committee that was instrumental in arranging and passing the ordinance providing for the loan of
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$5,000,000 for the Exposition. In April, 1892, Mr. Dixon was elected a Director of the World's Columbian Directory and his services and counsels in that capacity were invaluable in the prosecution of that enormous enterprise.
Arthur Dixon has been a member of the Republican Central Committee for more than thirty years, and has frequently served as Chairman of that body. He was elected President of the first Irish Republican organization in Chicago in 1868, and the follow- ing year was President of the National Irish Republican Conven- tion, also held in this city. He was also President of the Irish Literary Society of Chicago.
Mr. Dixon represented the First Senatorial District in the Twenty-seventh General Assembly of Illinois, and as a member of that body, had charge of measures and rendered services of great value to the city of Chicago. Among the bills introduced by him, which was passed by the Legislature, was one providing for the location of the Chicago Public Library, the Drainage Canal, the one authorizing the mill tax and special assessment. He was a delegate to the National Republican Convention, which nominated Garfield for President. In all his public career, Mr. Dixon has maintained a character above reproach and all his actions at all times have been straightforward, business-like and in the interest of good government.
Mr. Dixon was President of the Hamilton Club from 1894 to 1895, and it was under his management that the club com- menced to flourish and increase in membership. The club owes much of its success and existence to-day to its Ex-President, Mr. Dixon. He is also a member of the Union League and Sheridan Clubs. He is Director in the Metropolitan National Bank, the B. & O. and Chicago & Grand Trunk railroads, the Sibley Ware- house, the Consolidated Stone Company and President of the Arthur Dixon Transfer Company.
In 1862 Mr. Dixon was married to Miss Ann Carson of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, to whom fourteen children have been born, thirteen of whom are living. In the midst of his extremely interesting family and his most estimable wife, Mr. Dixon passes his happiest hours away.
Should his name ever appear upon the council records again, we predict it will be as Mayor of Chicago.
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HON. WILLIAM BOLDENWECK.
President of the Great American Waterway.
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HON. WILLIAM BOLDENWECK.
PRESIDENT OF THE SANITARY DISTRICT OF CHICAGO.
UNDER WHOSE SPLENDID MANAGEMENT THE GREAT AMERICAN WATERWAY WAS OPENED JANUARY 2, 1900.
Mr. William Boldenweck was born at Jettingen, Germany, August 9, 1851. Charles George Boldenweck, his father, was a native of Wustemberg, and was a very competent engineer and extensive contractor. He was employed by King Ludwig, of Bavaria, to personally supervise and construct a canal to con- nect the rivers Danube and Main. He next built the great tun- nel through solid rock on the Obesstanfen railroad, and later was appointed Superintendent of Engineers on the Augsburg Ulen ' railroad. This reponsible position he held until he resigned to come to the United States with his family, which was in 1854. One month after their arrival both parents died of cholera, leav- ing William Boldenweck, the subject of this sketch, an orphan at the age of three years.
Mr. Boldenweck received his early education at the old Dear- born school, which was located on Madison between Dearborn and State streets. He attended the Dearborn and a private Ger- man school until he was twelve years of age, when he took a one year course in Dyrenfurth's Business College, where he learned bookkeeping. He afterwards lcarned the tinsmith trade, and subsequently took a position as bookkeeper with a tin-hardware and stove firm. Later he became a dry-goods salesman, which position he held up to 1871. He then became connected with his brother, Louis, who was engaged in the cut stone contracting business, where he remained until 1875, at which time he suc- ceeded his brother in the business and formed a partnership with Philip Henne. The firm of Boldenweck & Henne cxisted up to 1883, at which time it changed to the firm of Boldenweck
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& Heldmaier. The latter named firm continued to exist up to 1887, when Mr. Boldenweck retired.
Here the political career of the Hon. William Boldenweck commenced, when he was elected Supervisor of the town of Lake View, in the spring of 1887, and in June of the same year he Was elected Mayor of Lake View. He was re-elected Mayor in 1889, which position he held up to the time the city of Lake View became annexed to Chicago, the city of Lake View being at that time the second largest city in the state of Illinois.
The honcst, business-like administration of affairs of the city of Lake View, as administered by Mr. Boldenweck, who was its first, last and only Mayor, was in itself sufficient to commend him to his party for a higher office. The nomination in the Rc- publican county convention for Drainage Trustee came to him unsolicited in 1891, which position he has ever since filled with credit to himself and the "Republican party." He was elected President of said Drainage Board in 1897, and again in 1898, the president being selected by a majority vote of the board for a term of one year.
Mr. William Boldenweck is what may be very .truthfully termed a self-made man; his success in business was entirely due to hard work, honesty and economy. It might also be said that his success from a political standpoint is entirely due to the hon- est, fearless, straightforward, business-like administration always rendered by him as a public servant, which he terms himself.
Mr. Boldenweck was a member of the Board of Education from 1891 to 1893, being appointed by Mayor Washburn for a term of three years. He resigned under Mayor Swift to devote his entire time to the sanitary district work.
Mr. William Boldenweck is destined to become a power in the Republican politics of Illinois in the near future.
He resides at 1681 North Halsted strcet.
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PATRICK H. O'DONNELL.
The very able Lawyer and Public Administrator of Cook County.
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PATRICK H. O'DONNELL.
THE EMINENT LAWYER, AND FAMOUS REPUBLICAN ORATOR.
AS PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF COOK COUNTY HE HAS RESTORED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO RIGHT- FUL OWNERS FROM OBSCURITY.
Patrick H. O'Donnell is one of Chicago's most eminent young lawyers, and but few members of that profession com- mands such high respect of the bench and bar of Illinois as he does. Mr. O'Donnell was known throughout his native state (Indiana), as the famous boy orator of the Republican party, and is even up to this day referred to as a natural born orator. Dur- ing the memorable national campaign of 1884, he stumped the state of Indiana, together with Ex-President Harrison, in the interest of James G. Blaine, Mr. O'Donnell being at that time only twenty-one years of age.
Patrick H. O'Donnell, the subject of this sketch, was born on a farm in Carroll County, Inidana, in 1863. His father, who was born in Ireland, came to the United States in 1854, and for a time resided in the state of Ohio. He took up a farm in Carroll County, Indiana, in 1860, where the entire O'Donnell family of seven, four girls and three boys, were born. His father being James and mother Bridget ( McGlynn ) O'Donnell. One of the sons named Charles, is still a resident of Indiana, being engaged in the farming business. The other brother John is assistant in the office of Patrick H., the subject of this sketch.
Mr. O'Donnell received his early education in the public schools of Carroll County, where he afterwards taught school from the age of sixteen to twenty-four.
He subsequently attended the Georgetown University at Washington, D. C., where he took a seven years course, and graduated from the law school of said University in 1894.
After returning from Washington he stood examination for admission to the bar, and passed with high honors before the
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Supreme Court of this state. Though a resident of Chicago, and a citizen of Illinois, Mr. O'Donnell was tendered the nomination for Congress by the Republicans of his native district in Indiana. This high honor is seldom presented to non-residents of any of our states.
Locating in Chicago in 1894, Mr. O'Donnell began the prac- tice of law in partnership with the brilliant young lawyer, Mr. James T. Brady, and the well-know law firm of O'Donnell & Brady has ever since remained unchanged.
Mr. O'Donnell has taken an active part in politics in his na- tive county in the interest of the Republican party ever since he was sixteen years of age, and in 1884, when he was then only twenty-one, became famous throughout the entire state as a national orator of rare ability.
He was nominated for state senator by the Republicans of said county in 1886, but declined the honor to perfect his law study. Mr. O'Donnell devoted his entire time to the campaign that fall, and carried Carroll County for the Republicans.
This was done with the view to elect Ex-President Harrison United States Senator.
Since that time he has been an active campaigner every year, and rendered very valuable services as an orator throughout the states of Ohio, Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana and Illinois, in the presidential campaign of 1888, 1892, and the memorable cam- paign of 1896, having delivered over 100 speeches in each of the above mentioned states.
Mr. O'Donnell also rendered very valuable services to the Republican organization of Cook County during the fall cam- paign of 1898, and the spring of 1899. His description of the charge on "San Juan Hill," the gallant victory of Dewey, Schley and Sampson, filled his listeners' hearts with such fighting determination that many of them imagined themselves in the thick of the battle while listening to his splendid orations on the unequaled heroism of American soldiers.
As a campaign orator he has no equal in the State of Illinois.
Mr. Patrick H. O'Donnell was appointed Public Administra- tor of Cook County by Governor John R. Tanner, April 15, 1897, and since that time much valuable property, real and per- sonal, has been rescued from oblivion or restored to rightful heirs by the public administrator, Mr. P. H. O'Donnell.
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The Fortieth General Assembly amended the Act of 1872, in regard to the administration of cstates. It is provided by the Act that letters of administration shall be granted upon the goods and. chattels of decedent to the surviving husband or wife, or to next of kin to the intestate, or some of them, if they will accept the same, or the court may grant letters of administration to some competent person who may be nominated to the court by either of them, and if none of the persons hereinbefore mentioned applies within sixty days from the death of intestate, the county court may grant administration to the public administrator of the proper county, and the Act further provides that counties having a population of 200,000 or over, it is the duty of the county court to turn over such estate to the public administrator. This includes all cases where the intestate is without a widow, or next of kin or creditors in this state, but leaves property within any county in this state having the required 200, 000 population or over. In cases where any contest shall arise between the widow, heirs-at-law, next to kin, or creditors of the intestate in relation to the granting of letters of administration, and it shall appear to the court that the estate is liable to waste, loss or embezzlement, administration to collect shall be granted to the public adminis- trator. The public may rest assured that in the appointment of Mr. Patrick H. O'Donnell to this important trust, Governor Tanner placed it in very safe and competent hands.
Mr. O'Donnell's ability as a criminal lawyer, as well as a trial lawyer is second to none in the city of Chicago to-day. The famous murder case conducted by Messrs. O'Donnell and Brady only a few months ago is fresh in the minds of the public; this was the case of Augusta Styles charged with killing her mother, because she claimed her oldest child was an (illegitimate). This noted case lasted several days, and according to the press of Chi- cago, was one of the clevcrest defended cases tricd in the crimi- nal court in years. The closing address of Mr. O'Donnell to the jury which filled cvery listener's eyes with tears, will never be forgotten by those who heard it, and no doubt remained in the minds of listeners, but it had the desired effect on the jury- men, who after a very short space of time returned with a ver- dict of not guilty, and discharged. Besides a very bright legal carcer, we predict for Mr. Patrick H. O'Donnell a great political future.
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JAMES C. IRWIN.
The very honorable, honest and thoroughly competent President of the County Board.
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JAMES C. IRWIN.
THE EQUITABLE, HONORABLE AND FEARLESS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, WHO IS THE CHIEF GUARDIAN OF THE VARIOUS INSTITU- TIONS OF COOK COUNTY.
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