USA > Illinois > Kendall County > Genealogical and biographical record of Kendall and Will Counties, Illinois : containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present > Part 54
USA > Illinois > Will County > Genealogical and biographical record of Kendall and Will Counties, Illinois : containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present > Part 54
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OBERT MANN WOODS. One of the best known men of Illinois is the subject of this article, who won the title of major during the Civil war and whose record, both in military and civil affairs, is one of which he and his may well be proud. He is a member of a family de- scended from old Scotch-Irish Presbyterian stock. His father, William J. Woods, a native of Penn- sylvania and a cabinet-maker by trade, removed from the east to Illinois in 1842 and settled in Pike County. He was the only man in that county who voted for James G. Birney for presi- dent. He was an Abolitionist and Prohibitionist as far back as 1825. In 1848 he moved to Gales- burg, Ill., where he published a free-soil paper, the Galesburg Free Democrat, in which office the subject of this sketch learned the printer's trade. In 1855 Mr. Woods, Sr., was one of several gen- tlemen who founded the Western Industrial and Scientific Institution and organized the college at College Springs, Iowa. At a later date he moved to Minneapolis, Kans., and there died May 10, 1900, at the age of ninety-five years. He was three times married. His first wife was Sarah Lyon Mann, a native of Maryland, daughter of Maj. Robert Mann, a soldier of 1812, and of the family of Horace Mann, the great educator. She was a kin to Mary Lyon, founder of Mt. Holyoke Seminary. By their union ten children were born, of whom the major was the fifth.
Born in Greenville, Mercer County, Pa., April 17, 1840, Major Woods was two years old when the family settled in Illinois. His earliest recol- lections are of the pioneer surroundings and in- cidents of Pike County. While living at Gales- burg he attended Knox College. In 1858 he went to Iowa and taught school there and in Missouri for three years. At the opening of the Civil war he was appointed by Governor Yates to a position in the office of the quartermaster-gen- eral and afterwards that of the governor, where he remained until June, 1864. He was then made adjutant of Yates' Sharpshooters, which formed the Sixty-fourth Illinois Regiment. He served in this through the Atlanta campaign, after which he was detailed as a mustering officer. Later he served on the staff of Maj .- Gen. Giles A. Smith, taking part in the march to the sea and the campaign through the Carolinas. His commissions as captain and major were the re- ward of gallantry and valor on the field of battle.
After taking part in the grand review at Wash- ington and also serving as a mustering-out officer for General Sherman's army at Louisville, Ky., Major Woods was summoned to Springfield, Il1., by Adj .- Gen. I. N. Haynie, and there he com- piled the regimental histories (filling nine vol- umes) of all the Illinois regiments. In the spring of 1866 he wrote the constitution and by-laws of the Grand Army of the Republic, which was or- ganized by Dr. B. F. Stephenson, and of which Major Woods was the first adjutant-general. Soon afterward he organized the various depart- ments throughout the northwest. The first char- ter issued, that of Decatur Post No. I, has his name upon it. In 1868 he went to Chicago. For some years he was chief clerk during the con- struction of the United States custom house and postoffice in that city. In 1877 he was made insurance examiner of Illinois, a position of great responsibility and one which he filled most cred- itably. During the time in that position he was obliged to close up, in the courts of the state, every life insurance company then organized under this state.
As a newspaper man Major Woods began his career in 1879, when he purchased the Joliet Re-
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publican from James Goodspeed. This paper he conducted successfully, proving that the ability which had made itself manifest in the army and in business was also fitted for the field of journal- ism. In 1883 he purchased the Joliet Sun, which he merged into the Republican. By the subse- quent purchase in 1888 of the Daily and Weekly Press he extended his influence as a newspaper man, merging the three papers into the Republic and Sun, a popular and influential daily and weekly paper, which took a leading part in all the activities of the local Republican organization. There was also a job department and a book bindery. In 1892 he disposed of his interest in the newspaper business. Organizing the St. Louis Paving Brick Company of Galesburg, he became its secretary and treasurer. He after- ward organized the Peerless Portland Cement Company of Union City, Mich., of which he was vice-president. He now has an office in Chicago and goes to that city daily, but still makes his home in Joliet, being too devoted to this place to desire to transfer his citizenship elsewhere.
October 5, 1867, Major Woods married Miss May Florence Miner, who was born in Harding, Ill., April 8, 1851, a daughter of Samuel E. and Asenath (Darrow) Miner. The. Miners and Darrows were Massachusetts and Connecticut Yankees, having had six ancestors who were minute men at Lexington in the Revolutionary war, and twelve in the war of 1812. Major and Mrs. Woods have two children, Alice M. and Miner R.
From this résumé of the life of Major Woods it will be seen that he is a man who has wielded a potent influence in public affairs, bearing a part in many lines of activity that have been far- reaching and powerful. Every duty of life he has discharged faithfully and well. As a soldier lie performed duties that were hazardous. In all the hardships and responsibilities of forced marches, bloody battles or monotonous camp- life, he proved himself a true son of Mars, giving unmistakable evidence of endurance, patience and heroism. From the ordeal of a soldier's life he emerged with laurels won npon sanguinary battlefields and with an official rank that had
been well earned. Nor has his subsequent career as a private citizen been less meritorious. The same qualities that brought him success in the one contributed to his advance in the other. When in the world of journalism he used his influence to promote enterprises of undoubted merit, whose success would mean the enhancement of Joliet's progress. Realizing the power of the press, lie sought to make his paper a power for good, a factor in the moral, educational and commercial advancement of his town. In the real-estate and loan business, to which some of his best years have been given, he has won many warm friends and built up a patronage that is valuable and of a high class. The wisdom governing his actions has inspired confidence in his judgment, and his entire circle of acquaintances concede to him high ability and unwavering integrity.
OHN C. COWING was born at Lisbon, N. H., June 6, 1833, a son of David and Polly (Jessemen) Cowing. His father, who was born at Lisbon February 6, 1795, became a minister in the Free Will Baptist Church. He was married at Sugar Hill, Grafton County, N. H., in 1814, to Polly Jessemen, who was born June 24, 1795. They both died at Elk Grove, Cook County, Ill., his death occurring Septent- ber 17, 1848, while his wife passed away March 3, 1850. They had come, with their family, to Illinois in 1844, arriving in Chicago on the 9th of November, and settled first at Half Day, on the Desplaines River, in Lake County, Ill, but shortly afterward removed to Chicago.
After the decease of his mother, our subject made his home in Richmond, McHenry County, Ill., for a short time, but during the same year (1850) went to Twelve Mile Grove, Will Coun- ty, Ill., and thence to Rockford in 1852. He was married in Beloit, Wis., December 29, 1853, to Elizabeth Bradshaw, of Rockford, Ill., who was born in Derry Township, Columbia County, Pa ..
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
January 31, 1834, and died on their farm at West Peotone, Will County, Ill., September 22, 1896. In 1854 he settled in the township of Wilton, Will County, but sold his property there and set- tled on section 19, Peotone Township, in Febru- ary, 1855. He still resides there and is the old- est permanent settler in the town. His first pur- chase in the township was eighty acres. By sub- sequent purchases he became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, but of this he has sold a large part, and now has a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He is an active Republican. He has filled some township and local offices, in- cluding those of constable, commissioner of high- ways and school director. An active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he is steward and a trustee of his congregation, and has the honor of having organized the first Sunday- school in his district. For some years he has been practically retired, having given the man- agement of his farm (on which he still resides) to his youngest son.
The lady whom Mr. Cowing married was a lineal descendant of Judge Bradshaw, who sat on the bench at the trial of Charles II. Her father, George Bradshaw, in early life engaged in teach- ing school, but later cultivated a farm. On coming west he made his home in Rockford, I11., for some tinie, but finally removed to Lee County, this state, where he died. One of his sons, B. H. Bradshaw, was a power in the Republican party and an active man in public affairs, serving several terms as a member of the Illinois leg- islature and holding other offices of trust and honor.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Cowing comprised the following sons and daughters: Mary Luella, who was born in Wilton Township, September 29, 1854, and died in Peotone; Il1., July 6, 1885; Albert H., who was born in Peotone, May 29, 1857, being the oldest surviving male child born in the township of Peotone; George J., born in Peotone, March 25, 1859; John F., who was born in Peotone, February 12, 1869, and died in Ann Arbor, Mich., February 5, 1884, while a student in the law department of the State University; Addie M., who was born in Peotone, April 4,
1866, and who resides with her father; Herbert H., who was born in Peotone, January 9, 1869, and died September 29 of the same year; Arthur B., who was born January 10, 1871, and is now pre- paring for the profession of law; and James R., who was born in Peotone, May 25, 1873, and now has charge of the home farm.
EORGE J. COWING. This well-known attorney of Joliet, member of the firm of Cowing & Young, is one of the native-born sons of Will County. He was born in Peotone Township, March 25, 1859, and received his ele- mentary education in public schools and under private tutors. From seventeen until twenty-one years of age he taught in district schools, and with the money thus earned he began a course of study in the Northwestern University in 1880, but his incessant labor had impaired his health and he was obliged to temporarily discontinue his studies. In the spring of 1881 he went to Colorado, where he remained for fifteen months, returning in the summer of 1882. Soon after- ward he matriculated in the law department of Michigan University, where he took the regular course of lectures, graduating in 1884. Among his classmates was the since well-known "Dick" Yates, who has become a power in Republican circles of Illinois.
Constant devotion to his studies had again af- fected Mr. Cowing's health and after graduating he found it necessary to spend several months recuperating. As soon as he had recovered his health he came to Joliet and began the practice of law, associating himself with the law firm of Olin & Phelps. After eighteen months with them he opened an office at No. 317 Jefferson street, in an office adjoining that of Hon. Edward C. Aiken, to whose large and valuable law li- brary he had free access. Soon afterward he formed a partnership with Col. J. B. Fithian, un- der the firm name of Fithian & Cowing, and this firm built up a large practice. In 1889 their
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partnership was dissolved. Soon after this Mr. Cowing entered into partnership with Hon. Bell- jamin Olin, which continued until Mr. Olin was elected county judge. In his canvas for that office Mr. Olin had no supporter more active than his law partner, in spite of the fact that the candidate was a Democrat and his partner a stanch Republican. In 1892 Mr. Cowing asso- ciated himself with George W. Young and Octo- ber 1, 1898, they removed their office to the Cut- ting building, where they have a well-equipped suite of three rooms.
Fraternally Mr. Cowing is identified witlı Mat- teson Lodge No. 175, A. F. & A. M .; Paul Re- vere Lodge No. 371, K. of P., in which he was chancellor commander; and Mound City Camp, Modern Woodmen of America. He is admirably fitted for successful work in his profession and in the public service, being systematic, exact and business-like, and at the same time well-informed, genial and accommodating. He isconnected with the Richards Street Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee. In 1890 he married Miss Stella Titsworth, daughter of H. M. Titsworth, of Aurora. They have three children, Luella A., Glen L. and John C.
ILLIS A. STRAIGHT, a well-known manufacturer residing in Manhattan, was born in Fairbury, Livingston County, Ill., August 5, 1859, a son of Hon. R. C. and Fran- cina (Abbey) Straight, natives respectively of New York and Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Arba Straight, who was a lifelong farmer, came from New York to Illinois in 1849, and settled at Fairbury. From that time until his death lie tilled the soil in Livingston County. A man of deep religious convictions, he took an active part in the Baptist Church, and, at his own ex- pense, erected a house of worship for that denom- ination in Fairbury. At the time of his death he was ninety-four years of age.
At the time of coming to Illinois in 1849, Hon.
R. C. Straight established his home in McLean County, but ten years later he moved to Fair- bury, where he followed farin pursuits for a time. Later, for ten years he manufactured tile in that city, being the first to embark in that business in his section of the state. Not only was hie a pioneer in the business, but a large manufacturer as well. I11 1887 he retired from active busi- ness cares, and, at sixty-six years of age, is passing his time in the supervision of his prop- erty interests and continues to make his home in Fairbury. In politics a Republican, he was elected on that ticket as the representative of Livingston County in the state legislature, and at other times has held various local offices. Of his eight children all but two are living. They are: W. A .; Lee S., who lives in Fonda, Iowa; Lizzie M., wife of William Wilson, and a resi- dent of Paxton, Ill .; Nellie V., a widow living in Pasadena, Cal .; Guy H., in Iowa; and Es- tella, who has been prominent in educational matters and for several years held the principal- ship of the schools of El Paso, Ill.
After studying for some years in the district schools and Fairbury high school, our subject, at the age of fifteen, began to work in his father's tile factory, and soon became familiar with the business. In January, 1883, he and his brother, Lee S., came to Manhattan and built a factory for the manufacture of tile, at the same time or- ganizing the firm of Straight Brothers, whichi continued for some years, until Lee S. sold his interest to liis brother. The latter lias since en- larged the plant, which now has a capacity for ten thousand tile per day. These he sells through agents, in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Missouri; where he has built up a large trade. While he resides in the village, he owns and mall- ages a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, 011 which he raises Norman horses and other stock; and he also has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Livingston County, which he rents. By his marriage to Nellie M., daughter of Wesley D. Jones, of Mokena, Ill., he has six children, Natalie, Floyd W., Helen F., Arby R., La- Dessa and Willis W.
Politically Mr. Straight favors Republican
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
principles. For four years he served as super- visor of Manhattan Township. He is connected with the Knights of the Globe at Manhattan, and has passed all of the chairs in the order, of which he is now the chief justice. Having been familiar with the tile business from youth, he is fitted to carry it forward advantageously. He is one of three brothers, all of whom have been suc- cessful manufacturers, and at one time five factories were owned by members of the family.
OUIS J. FREDERICK, M. D., a successful physician and surgeon of Joliet, is one of the skilled professional men of this city and has gained an enviable reputation in his chosen calling. Since he began in practice here, in Sep- tember, 1896, he has won many friends, both professional and social, and is recognized as one of the rising men in the medical field. He has his office in the Armory block, on the corner of Chicago and Clinton streets. His success is at- tributable to the close attention which he gives his profession and his careful study of every form of disease, with the remedial agencies best ad- apted to each. Genuine love for his profession makes him a student, united with which are painstaking care and genial, gentlemanly courtesy, all being important factors in success.
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The doctor's father, Louis Frederick, a native of Germany, came to the United States in boy- hood and during the Civil war served in a Mas- sachusetts regiment. For many years he was engaged in business in Chicago and he is still living in that city, but is now retired. He mar- ried a member of a pioneer family of Waukegan, Ill., and they were the parents of four sons and three daughters, our subject being the oldest of the family. He was born in. Chicago October 8, 1867, and received his education in the city schools, graduating from the high school in 1884. Afterward he clerked in a drug store, in which way he became familiar with pharmacy, a knowl- edge that was extended by a year's study in the Chicago College of Pharmacy. While employed
in the drug business he studied medicine under Dr. A. L. Farr. In 1889 he entered Rush Med- ical College, from which he graduated in 1892, with the degree of M. D. In 1892 he received from Governor Fifer the appointment of assistant surgeon at the Illinois state penitentiary and con- tinued in that position until September, 1896, when he resigned in order to engage in private practice. Since coming to this city he has estab- lished domestic ties, his wife being Lula, daugh- ter of Capt. Charles Rost, who is a prominent resident of Will County. Mrs. Frederick was born in Tennessee, but has spent her life prin- cipally in or near Joliet, and is well known in the most select social circles. She is identified with Central Presbyterian Church and contributes to its maintenance.
All matters connected with his profession re- ceive Dr. Frederick's attention and enlist his in- terest. At this writing he is physician for Will County and surgeon for the Western Stone Com- pany. It has been his aim to keep abreast with every development made in therapeutics, and for this reason lie is a constant student of his profes- sion. In 1896 he took a course in the Post-Grad- uate Medical School in Chicago, and during the summer of 1899 he went east, in order to study in the Bellevue Hospital College of New York. While he is well informed in every department of medicine, his specialty has been diseases of women and children, in which field of practice he has been exceptionally successful. He is a mem- ber of the Chicago and Will County Medical So- cieties, and has served the latter as secretary. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Wood- men of America and the North American Union, of which latter he is examining physician. In politics he affiliates with the Republican party.
OHN FREDRICK, who has been connected with the E. Porter Brewing Company as chief engineer since July 18, 1893, was born December 2, 1857, under the stars and stripes aboard an American sailer on the Atlantic ocean
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
between Havre and New York. He was the coek," the "Josephine" and the "Norman." third in a family consisting of four daughters For a time, during the winter months, he engaged and three sons, all of whom are still living. His as engineer on the "St. Paul," between Milwau- kee and Prairic du Chien. In 1887 he became engineer for the P. H. Best Brewing Company, and later was made their chief pump man. On the formation of the Pabst Brewing Company he took a position in their brewery and continued there until lie resigned. Since July, 1893, he has been with the E. Porter Brewing Company; and under his supervision a number of improve- ments have been made in the plant, a new elec- tric light having been introduced and one new boiler put in of one hundred and fifty horse power. The plant has two ice machines and all the modern improvements. father, Joseph, was born in Bavaria, and studicd the trade of wood engraver and dyer under his father, who bore the same name as himself. During the year 1852 he came alone to America and settled in Troy, N. Y., where he was em- ployed for three years. Being favorably impressed with this country he determined to settle here permanently, and accordingly, in 1856, returned to Germany for his family. In the latter part of 1857 they made the journey across the ocean and settled with him in Troy. Later the family re- moved to Albany, tlic same state, thenee went to St. Louis, Mo. In the latter city he engaged in the oilcloth business until obliged to close out on In politics Mr. Fredrick is independent. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Court of Honor. His home is at No. 114 South Broadway. He was united in marriage in Milwaukee to Miss Annie Schwrien, who was born in Mechlenburg, Germany, and came to America with her father, August Sehwrien, who was a blacksmith in Mil- waukee. The two children of Mr. and Mrs. Fredrick are Lillian and Mamie. account of the war. In 1865 he was one of the first settlers in Wausau, Wis., where he became interested in the sawmill business. Afterward he moved to Milwaukee and again engaged in thic oilcloth business, but failed in that. He then operated a machine shop, in which were manu- factured some inventions of his own. Finally he retired from business cares, and now, at eighty- two years of age, hc makes his home in St. Paul, Minn. During the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army, serving in Company B, Second Mis- souri Infantry, under the gallant "Phil" Sheri- dan. His wife was Magdalina Richter, who was born in Weisensultz, Bohemia, and died in Mil- waukee, Wis.
When the family moved from Wausau to Mil- waukee the subject of this sketch was nine years of age. He soon began to work in his father's machine shop, where he learned the machinist's trade. At thirteen he became an apprentice to the trade in Jolmson's machine shop, where he served for four years. In order to meet the re- quirements of the government when his appren- ticeship was ended he secured employment on a schooner, where he remained for one year, after which for a similar period he was fireman on the "City Burge," out from Milwaukec. He tlien successfully passed an examination as chief engineer. Following this, he was for one year each employed as engineer on the barge "Hick-
LFRED J. STOOS has the distinction of being the youngest dry-goods merchant in Joliet. He was born in this city January - 18, 1870, and is a son of Joseph and Mary Stoos, who are represented on another page of this work. In the parochial schools principally the rudi- ments of his cducation were obtained. He then entered St. Joseph's College at Teutopolis, I11., where lie continued a student until the junior year, but at that time discontinued his studies in order to engage in business. His first position was as cash-boy in Mr. Calmer's dry-goods store, and later he was a clerk and bookkeeper in the same establishment. January 7, 1892, hc was admitted into the firm as owner of one-half interest in the business, and the title was changed to Calmer & Stoos. In January, 1895, M. Cal-
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
mer purchased the interest of H. C. Calmer, but the firm title remained unchanged. January 12, 1897, the junior partner disposed of his interest in the company and immediately began plans for a business of his own.
March 25, 1897, Mr. Stoos opened a store in the first floor of the Barber building, where he has ample accommodations, 66x120 feet, and carries a complete assortment of dry-goods, cloaks and millinery. By reason of his good judgment in purchases he is enabled to sell at low prices, while the excellent quality of all his stock brings him a large patronage among the best people of Joliet. There is in the business world only one class of men who can attain suc- cess, and that is the class possessing energy that never wearies, enthusiasm that never yields to discouragement, and good judgment that always holds the enthusiasm in check. Such a man is Mr. Stoos. He is a representative of a family whose members for generations have been up- right, persevering and energetic, and these quali- ties are his by inheritance.
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