USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Chicago and Cook County official Republican directory and sketch book, 1900 > Part 8
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Hon. James C. Irwin, the fearless, honest and thoroughly honorable president of the Board of Cook County Commissioners is one of the ablest and most fairminded men that ever held an elective office in Cook County, and while he is firm and unchange- able in his decisions and rulings in all matters pertaining to pro- tection of the taxpayers interest, yet aside from this, he is one of the most charitable kind-hearted men that ever served as chief guardian of the institutions of Cook County. During his term as president of the county board Mr. Irwin clearly demonstrated his ability and integrity by at all times protecting the expendi- ture of the public funds.
The enormous duties which devolved upon Mr. Irwin since his election as president of the Board of Cook County Commis- sioners, was even greater than that of any of his predecessors and in many instances may not be thoroughly understood by the public.
When the State Legislature passed the law creating a board of Cook County assessors and board of review, it overlooked the necessity of making provisions for the maintenance of the two boards above referred to, and hence left Cook County to defray the entire expense out of its usual funds. The Board of Asses- sors and Board of Review together cost Cook County $278, 618.32 during the year 1899. The expense of operating the various towns under the old town assessor system had heretofore, been met by a direct tax. So it can be very plainly seen that the duty of providing this enormous extra expense devolved upon Mr. James C. Irwin, as president of the Board of Cook County Commissioners, and the manner in which it was promptly done
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by him has met with public approval. The Legislature also neglected to provide the necessary expense for operating the new primary law, which has been provided for by the Commissioners, through Mr. Irwin. All this additional expense necessitated good sound judgment in the curtailing of expenses of other departments under the supervision of the president of the Board of Cook County Commissioners.
The county institutions have all been admirably administered and all of them kept within their appropriations, including the department of supplies, during the year just passed. The county agent's office of which Mr. Irwin is chief guardian, distributed relief to 36,138 families during the year of 1899, for which was expended $110,000.
Mr. James C. Irwin is the chief guardian of the Cook County Hospital, which is the grandest institution of its kind in the world. The Dunning Institutions, including the hospital for consumptives, the unfortunate insane, the poor orphans, the home for the aged poor, blind and maimed, are also under his supervision, and besides this he is the head fountain of supplies for the poor in time of need.
Mr. Irwin also has supervision of all appropriations for suste- nance of the following departments of Cook County: the state's attorney's office, the sheriff's office, county treasurer's office, county clerk's office, coroner's office, board of assessors, board of review, clorks of the various courts of Cook County and the maintenance of the county jail, as well as the Board of Cook County Commissioners. The enormity of the office of president of the Board of Cook County Commissioners can easily be imagined from the above list of institutions which are under his personal supervision.
Mr. James C. Irwin was born in Ireland some forty-four years ago, and came to the United States while still in his teens. On his arrival in this country he immediately came to Chicago, where he has resided ever since. He became engaged in various pursuits of livelihood up to 1887, at which time he branched out into the meat business, and through close application coupled with thoroughly honorable business methods, soon prospered and took high rank in the commercial circles of this city as a sound and prosperous business man. Mr. Irwin's meat markets are located at 5825 State street, and 304, 306 and 308 South Clark
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street. He has a very extensive trade among the leading hotels and restaurants of this city, as well as among the retail butcher trade of Chicago.
Mr. Irwin has always been a Republican, he served as a mem_ ber of the Republican County Central Committee from the Thirty-fourth Ward in 1894, and has taken an active interest in the success of his party candidates for a number of years. He was nominated and elected County Commissioner in 1896, and for faithful services rendered was nominated and elected presi- dent of the Board of Cook County Commissioners in 1898, by a tremendous majority, and but little fears are entertained but what he can again succeed himself in November of 1900, if he so desires.
The private and political career of Mr. James C. Irwin is one to be proud of, and serves as a source of gratification to his many friends and admirers as well as the Republican party which honored him with election.
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IION. O. N. CARTER.
The very able, fearless and clean cut Judge of the Cook County Court.
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HON. ORRIN N. CARTER.
THE IMPARTIAL JURIST OF THE COOK COUNTY COURT.
Hon. Orrin N. Carter, the impartial Judge of the Cook County Court, was his own architect in fortune seeking, and so well did he succeed as the constructural architect of his own successful destiny, that his life history from boyhood up to the present day, is full of lessons to the young men of America.
Judge Carter was born in Jefferson County, New York, January 22, 1854. His father died before he was two years old. His education was begun in New York state, and continued and completed under adverse circumstances in Illinois, where his family removed when he was only ten years old, and located on a farm in Du Page County. Mr. Carter worked on the farm during the spring, summer and fall months, and attended school in winter. In this manner he managed to contribute toward the support of a widowed mother, and the balance of the family, as well as obtaining a fairly good education.
Mr. Carter later on taught school in Grundy County, in order to keep up the payment of his living and educational expenses. A short time before his admission to the bar he was elected county superintendent of schools in that county, which position he held for over two years. He was admitted to the bar in 1880, and continued the practice of his profession at Morris, which is the county seat of Grundy County, up to 1882, when he was appointed prosecuting attorney for Grundy County, a position in which he served with the greatest credit for six years.
In 1888 Judge Carter sought a larger field for his law prac- tice, and in that year came to Chicago, where he continued to practice law for a term of four years, during which time he met with considerable success.
In 1892, when the Sanitary District Board of Chicago needed a lawyer of great ability to assist in the prosecution of its gigantic work, Mr. Carter was chosen attorney for that body,
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and performed the duties of that responsible position with ad- mirable tact and success from March of that year, until his resignation in the fall of 1894, after accepting the Republican nomination for County Judge. His election to that office was a triumphant one, which demonstrated not alone his party's strength, but his personal popularity with the public. He was again re-nominated in 1898, and again demonstrated his popular- ity with the voters of Cook County, by leading his ticket to success by several thousand votes.
Judge Carter's life, private and public, has been an ideal one. The bench and the bar esteem him, and the public approve of his devotion to duty without fear or favor. Mr. Carter is a Republi- can who lifts his head above party prejudice in judicial life. He stands for purity in politics. He is patient, just and true, and it might be very truthfully said, that Cook County never had a. better judge than Orrin N. Carter, whose star of destiny shines very bright for still greater glories in the near future.
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HON. W. W. WHEELOCK.
The distinguished Attorney for the Board of Election Commissioners of Cook County.
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HON. W. W. WHEELOCK.
THE VERY ABLE AND EMINENT LAWYER, WHO IS THE PRESENT IMPARTIAL ATTORNEY FOR THE ELECTION BOARD.
But few practicing attorneys in Chicago to-day command such high respect of the bench and bar as Mr. W. W. Wheelock.
Mr. Wheelock has held many important positions which demanded high legal ability and talent, in all of which he has given entire and universal satisfaction.
Hon. W. W. Wheelock was born at Felt's Mills, Jefferson County, New York, September 24th, 1864, and came to Chicago in 1887. He was elected secretary of the Garden City Athletic Club and also secretary of the Lincoln Club, of which he was afterwards elected president.
Mr. Wheelock was appointed assistant attorney for the great American waterway, known as the Sanitary District of Chicago, and in this capacity rendered some very valuable decisions, and resigned said position when he was elected member of the State Legislature.
While a member of the Legislature Mr. Wheelock opposed all class legislation, including corporations and trusts, and many of the most valuable laws which appear in our statute books to-day owe their existence to him. At the expiration of his term inducements were held out to him to accept a renomination, which was equivalent to election, but Mr. Wheelock positively declined, preferring to devote his time to the practice of law. He was again appointed assistant attorney for the Sanitary Dis- trict of Chicago, which position he held up to 1894, when he again resigned to accept the position as attorney for the Board of Election Commissioners, which position he has held ever since, and at one time acted as chairman of that body.
In connection with the Board of Election Commissioners Mr. Wheelock has rendered very valuable services to the citizens of
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Cook County, and his decisions at all times have been fair and impartial.
While acting as attorney for the Election Board Mr. Wheelock, at various times, was confronted with some of the very best legal talent in the city of Chicago, namely, A. S. Trude, the late ex-Judge Prendergast, and several other heavy weights, who were frequently retained by interested clients to represent them. But it mattered not to Mr. Wheelock what legal talent he had to compete with, as he always held to and never deviated from the letter of the law.
Hon. W. W. Wheelock, though young in years, has dis- played more good, sound legal talent than any man of his age practicing at the Chicago bar to-day.
From the important decisions rendered at various times by him it seems as though he would make a model jurist, which it is not at all unlikely he will be soon elevated to.
Mr. Wheelock is a member of the Union League, Hamilton, Menoken, Illinois Law and Pistokee Yacht Clubs. He is also a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Asso- ciation, and is also a Knight Templar, Mason and Mystic Shriner.
Mr. Wheelock has always been a Republican, and, like the practice of his profession, will not tolerate other than honest, honorable, sound politics. He is a very valuable adviser in the councils of his party, which, no doubt, will honor him with a much more exalted position in the near future than he at present holds.
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HON. J. P. MALLETTE. Sanitary Trustee of Chicago.
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HON. JAMES P. MALLETTE.
THE VERY ABLE SANITARY TRUSTEE, AND FAMOUS REAL ESTATE MAN.
Hon. James P. Mallette, the subject of this sketch, has ren- dered to the people of Chicago invaluable services as trustee of the great American waterway known as the Sanitary District of Chicago. The close attention paid to the prosecution of this enormous undertaking by Mr. Mallette, ever since he was elected member of that body, is indeed deserving of the highest commen- dation of the citizens of this community.
During the latter years of prosecution of this work, the Board was almost daily confronted with obstacles such as litigations, injunctions and trouble with contractors and various other mat- ters too numerous to mention. It was during all these trouble- some and trying times that. Mr. Mallette rendered to the Board of Sanitary Trustees, as well as the citizens of Chicago, his most valuable services. Being a man of superior ability and sound judgment, he was able to solve many of the problems which came before that body, and while doing so was ever mindful and eco- nomic in the expenditure of the public funds. . To Mr. Mallette belongs a great deal of credit for the hasty completion of this great waterway, which is to-day and will for generations to come prove a blessing to Chicago.
In the councils of the Sanitary Board, Mr. Mallette is regarded by his associates as the most valued member of that body, and if he can again be induced to become a candidate in 1900, the public will rally to his assistance as they have found in him a very valuable public servant in the past.
Mr. James P. Mallette was born in St. Louis, Mo., October 17, 1851. He was educated in the public and high schools of his native city, and graduated from the latter mentioned school with high honors. At the age of twenty-two years he came to Chicago, where he has resided ever since. He first became
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engaged in the wholesale woodenware business, and later on became engaged in the furniture manufacturing business, the factory being located on Canal street. While in this latter busi- ness he first began his operations in real estate. In 1884, he dis- posed of the furniture business and concluded to give his entire time and attention to real estate. He organized the firm of J. P. Mallette & Company. Associated with him were Mr. R. E. Brownell as a general partner, and Mr. C. B. Eggleston as a spe- cial partner. These three comprised the famous and well-known real estate firm of Eggleston, Mallette & Brownell, and were identified with some of the finest subdivisions and resident pro- perty in the vicinity of Chicago, two of the most notable subdi- visions being Eggleston and Auburn Park In the two latter mentioned Mr. Mallette and his associates spent over three quar- ters of a million dollars in street improvements alone, making of both what is considered the handsomest residence districts in or about Chicago.
Owing to the decrease in value of real estate in Chicago, Mr. Mallette has not made any extra effort to push his real estate on the market. Yet he is always open for business in the shape of a sale or trade in the real estate line.
Mr. James P. Mallette has been a lifelong devoted Repub- lican, and for years has rendered very valuable services to his party. In politics, as in a commercial line, he will not for one moment tolerate anything that is not strictly honorable. He clearly demonstrated his popularity when he was elected Sani- tary Trustee of Chicago, by running right up in the front rank of his ticket, and leading many of his running mates by several thousand votes.
Mr. Mallette was one of the organizers and for several years served as president of the Home Club at Englewood (a social organization). He is also vestryman of Trinity Reformed Epis- copal Church, of Englewood, and resides with his extremely happy family of six children at Eggleston.
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FRANK ORREN LOWDEN. A talented Lawyer of remarkable ability.
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FRANK ORREN LOWDEN.
A TALENTED LAWYER OF REMARKABLE ABILITY. A REPUBLICAN OF THE PURE SCHOOL.
Mr. Frank Orren Lowden is recognized by the legal profes- sion and bar, not alone of Chicago but the entire State of Illinois, as a talented lawyer of remarkable ability.
His intimate knowledge of corporation law and his method of handling large corporate interests has made him much sought for as attorney for large chartered concerns.
The career of Mr. Frank Orren Lowden is full of valuable lessons to the young men of America. When only a youth, while assisting his father as a farmer's boy of all work, he made up his mind to become a lawyer, and his determination and spirit in this direction was indeed a true personification of that of Chicago, which finds eloquent expression in the brief declaration, "I will."
Mr. Frank Orren Lowden, the subject of this sketch, comes of very good old Revolutionary stock. His great grandfather, Joshua Lowden, served in the war of 1812, and his grandmother's father, who was John Lummis, served in the Revolutionary war. The mother of the subject of this brief sketch also came of Revolu- tionary stock on her mother's side of the family.
Mr. Frank Orren Lowden, who is as patriotic as any of his ancestors, was born in Sunrise City, Minnesota, January 26, 1861, his parents being Lorenzo Orren and Nancy Elizabeth (Breg) Lowden. In the fall of 1868 the father of the subject of this sketch removed with his family to Point Pleasant, Hardin County, Iowa.
At the time of his removal to Iowa, Frank Orren Lowden was only seven years of age. During his early youth he attended the common schools in winter, and in the summer months assisted in the cultivation and development of the home farm. At fifteen
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he began teaching school in Hardin County. While acting as teacher he prepared himself for college, and in September, 1881, entered the Freshman class of the Iowa State University. He was graduated in June, 1885, as valedictorian of his class.
His college course completed, Mr. Lowden secured a position as teacher of Latin and mathematics in the high school of Burling- ton, Iowa. Here, during his leisure hours, he engaged in the study of law. In July, 1886, he came to Chicago and entered the law office of Messrs. Dexter, Herrick & Allen. Simultan- enously he became a student in the Union College of Law, from which he graduated in July, 1887. He was valedictorian of his law class, and received the first prize for his oration and the first prize for scholarship. He remained with Dexter, Herrick & Allen three years after his graduation from the law school.
In July, 1890, Mr. Lowden entered into partnership with Emery S. Walker. In May, 1892, he became a partner of Wil- liam B. Keep, and was associated with him until September 1, 1893. From this time he practiced his profession alone until March 1, 1898, when he became a member of the firm of Low- den, Estabrook & Davis. Almost from the outset of his prac- tice he was recognized as a very able lawyer of remarkable ability.
Mr. Lowden is first vice-president of the Hamilton Club and is also a member of the Calumet Club, the Chicago, Union League, Washington Park, Marquette, the Chicago Literary, the Sunset, Saddle and Cycle, Chicago Golf and the Thousand Islands Yacht Clubs.
He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and belongs to two college fraternities, the Beta Theta Pi and Phi Delta Phi, and is also a member of the Law Club, of which he served as president for one term, and holds membership in the Chicago, Illinois State and American Bar Associations. He is a trustee of Central Church, and in politics is a Republican.
Mr. Lowden was married on the 29th of April, 1896, to Miss Florence Pullman. They have two children.
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CHARLES H. ALDRICH.
Ex-Solicitor General, who is a Lawyer of remarkable ability.
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HON. CHARLES H. ALDRICH.
FORMER SOLICITOR GENERAL, A POPULAR REPUBLICAN AND A LAWYER OF FOREMOST RANK IN THE UNITED STATES.
Hon. Charles H. Aldrich is one of the most popular clean cut Republicans in Illinois, and besides this he stands in the front rank of the leading lawyers in the United States.
The career of such a man as former Solicitor General Charles H. Aldrich is full of lessons to the young men of America. His spirit is a personification of that of Chicago, which finds eloquent expression in the brief declaration, "I will." His distinction has been won by the exercise of those admirable qualities of industry and integrity, without which not even the most gifted men may hope for permanent success. He has honored the exalted place to which he has been called, and in so doing has shed luster on the bar of his adopted city.
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Mr. Aldrich is remotely of English descent. His father was Hamilton Metcalf, and his mother Harriet (Sherwood) Aldrich, and were natives of Indiana, whither the parents of the former had come from Vermont, and the parents of the latter from New York. The families of Aldrich and Sherwood, from which they descended, had been farmers for generations The father of Mr. Charles H. Aldrich was a farmer, and it was as a farmer's boy-of- all-work that the Ex-Solicitor General passed the days of his childhood and youth. By the time he was sixteen he had done a good deal of hard work, and had mastered such education as was afforded by the common schools in his neighborhood. At that time his parents removed from La Grange County, Indiana, where he had been born August 26, 1850, to Orlando, Steuben County, Indiana, to secure for their children better educational advantages.
After a course at the Orlando Seminary young Aldrich entered the high school at Coldwater, Michigan, and later at Ann Arbor, to prepare for college, and was graduated at the latter
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place in 1871. That year he entered the University of Michi- gan, classical course, and was graduated therefrom in 1875. His standing in college is attested by many complimentary letters written by the president and members of the faculty of that institution, which has lately conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts.
Before he had been a year out of college Mr. Aldrich began the practice of law at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and soon took high rank at the bar of that state. In 1884 he was urged to become a candidate for the office of Attorney General of Indiana, and though he did not visit a place in the state in the interest of his- candidacy, he lacked but few votes of receiving the nomination. This was significant of the fame as a lawyer and the popularity as a citizen which he had attained.
Two years later Mr. Aldrich removed to Chicago, and almost from the outset of his practice here was recognized as one of the ablest lawyers at the bar. He first came into national promi- nence by his connection with the cases of the United States against the Central Pacific and the Southern Pacific Railroad Companies, and his tiumph later in the case of the United States . against the Union Pacific Railway Company and the Western Union Telegraph Company, in which he was opposed by some of the leading counsels of America, gave him added professional eminence.
These achievements led indirectly to his selection as Solicitor General of the United States to succeed Hon. William H. Taft, who had been appointed a Judge of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals.
This office of high responsibility Mr. Aldrich held from March, 1892, to June, 1893. Upon his retirement he resumed his private practice in Chicago, and he has since been engaged in many important cases in these and other courts.
Members of the bar, without dissent, testify to Mr. Aldrich's high standing as a lawyer, and it is a significant fact that he has for several years derived a large income for his services as counsel in important cases.
His intimate knowledge of corporation law and the method of handling large corporate interests has made him much sought for as attorney for large chartered concerns, but he has in all cases declined engagements by the year with such companies
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preferring the more independent course of selecting his busi- ness.
His efficiency as a lawyer is attributed to several causes. The first is the careful preparation of his cases. To this may be added his careful preparation of himself for every work in hand; his reading in any case always exceeds the limits of the case itself, and his appearance always at the bar of the court ready for any emergency that may arise. Beyond these his great ability as a trial lawyer, for such it is conceded that he has few, if any, superiors at the bar. Beyond and above all combined is his sin- cerity of purpose, for to him a belief in the justice of his cause is essential, and believing in it thoroughly, he presents it in a manner which is little likely to meet defeat from mere tricksters and triflers with the law.
Mr. Aldrich is popular with the leaders of his profession not only in Chicago, but throughout the United States. He has served as president of the Chicago Law Club, and has served on the board of trustees of the Chicago Law Institute. He served as first vice-president of the Union League Club, and on the political action committee of said club. He is a member of the State and National Bar Associations.
Mr. Aldrich is a devoted Republican of the pure school, he has read widely in science and literature, and gives special atten- tion to all questions involving the happiness and prosperity of the people. He is domestic in his tastes, and finds the greatest happiness at his own fireside. He was married to Miss Helen Roberts, a lady of much personal attractiveness and many accom- plishments, to whose sympathy and encouragement he attributes . his success in life. They have a family of one son and two daughters.
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