USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Historical review of Chicago and Cook county and selected biography, Volume II > Part 34
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The chief of the Chicago fire department is forty-eight years of age, a vigorous, wide-awake, experienced man, and promises to main- tain the service of which he is the head at its past standard of supe- riority, and incorporate into the system the methods and improve- ments indicated by. the advancement of mechanics and science.
Daniel Alexander Campbell was appointed postmaster of Chicago April 15, 1907, by President Roosevelt on the joint recommendation
DANIEL A. of the two senators from Illinois, and his confirma-
CAMPBELL.
tion was so prompt as to excite general comment.
Postmaster Campbell is an Illinoisan, born in Elgin, on the 23rd of June, 1863, moving when a boy to Win- nebago county, this state, where he attended the public schools. In 1892 he was elected to the state house of representatives and in 1894 to the senate. He was re-elected in 1898, 1902 and 1906.
1 Since 1893 Mr. Campbell has served as a member of the Repub- lican county committee, and in his profession is identified with the Chicago Bar Association. He is married, lives at No. 1209 Wash- ington Boulevard.
Colonel James E. Stuart has been in the employ of the federal government almost continuously for forty-six years. In this long
period of years is contained a service that for vari-
JAMES E. STUART. ety and usefulness is rarely, if ever, surpassed. A soldier and officer in the Civil war, also in the Span- ish-American war, and long a beloved officer in the National Guard, a postal clerk, a postoffice inspector for a third of a century, the or- ganizer of the postoffice system in Porto Rico-this is but a brief outline of a career of notable vigilance in safeguarding public office, of praiseworthy enthusiasm in official service, and of splendid loyalty to a country of which he is an adopted son.
July 8, 1907, his sixty-fifth birthday, he was retired under the army regulations from active connection with the National Guard, with the high rank of brigadier general. This is an unusual honor, he being the first officer of the Illinois division of the National Guard
Jaures thanh Col 2" Infantry I.r.G
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to be retired with this rank, and in order to make this promotion pos- sible a vacancy was created in the three eligible posts of brigade commanders of the state militia. He has been active in the Second Regiment, the "Fighting Second," Illinois National Guard, since 1885, and during the last eight years before his retirement was its colonel, having been successively re-elected. He entered the regi- ment as captain of Company C, and was the choice of the company for that office until he was unanimously elected major in 1891. He held the latter rank when the regiment was mustered into the active service of the United States, May 16, 1898, for the war with Spain. During part of the time he was engaged in secret service work, and after the war, the Second having returned to Florida, he was assigned to a special service that will always stand as among the most impor- tant work of his life. He was appointed chairman of the military postal commission sent to Porto Rico to establish postal service on that island. He made a thorough study of the cumbersome methods used under the Spanish regime, and directed the organization of an efficient system to take its place. The work of the commission, which was concluded early in 1899, has been regarded as of exceptional value, and a type of the beneficent work done for our insular people under American rule. After he had rejoined the regiment and the regiment had returned to Chicago, a reorganization was effected and on July 6, 1899, Major Stuart was made colonel of the regiment. As "Colonel Jim" during the last eight years, his popularity with his men has made him one of the most valuable officers in the militia service, and the Second Regiment, under his command, has made a record for discipline, drill and endurance and efficiency not surpassed by many regiments of regulars. The portrait accompanying this sketch represents Mr. Stuart at the time of his retirement from mili- tary service in 1907.
In the Chicago postoffice, Colonel Stuart has been a familiar figure for years, and his work as inspector has identified him with so many cases of interest to the public that he has become one of the best known public officials in the city. References by the news- paper men to "Inspector Stuart" have a certain tone and manner that betoken their esteem and admiration for him such as few men in the public eye are favored with. He entered the government service as railway postal clerk, on the route between Chicago and Green
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Bay, Wisconsin, in 1866, and during the following years followed the railway service as it was expanded into many new sections of the northwest. He was chief clerk of the Iowa mail service 1870 to 1873, and in the latter year was promoted to postoffice inspector for the states of the middle west. He was sole inspector for a territory over which he now directs the work of thirty-five inspectors, and the amount of irregularity and thieving was so great that his work was exceedingly arduous. Colonel Stuart's record in ferreting out and convicting large numbers of persons for fraudulent use of mails and other postal crimes is unique in the history of the department, and any number of instances might be cited, if need be, to establish his reputation for shrewdness in detecting such crimes and adroit meth- ods of securing conviction and putting an end to the depredations. That his services have long been considered invaluable is shown by his appointment in 1877 by President Hayes as chief inspector of the district, and his retention in the office continuing through the suc- cessive administrations of all the presidents since then, Democratic and Republican alike.
No period of Colonel Stuart's life is lacking in those details that make interesting biography. He was born July 8, 1842, at Forfar, Scotland, a region that Barrie has celebrated in his stories. His parents, James and Helenor ( Edwards) Stuart, brought him to Amer- ica when he was nine years old, and he grew up in Oshkosh, Wiscon- sin, continuing in its public schools the education he had begun in his home in Scotland. When the war came on he was studying law in the office of Gabriel Bouck, and but for the changes caused by that great event would probably have devoted his talents to law through- out his career. But when his preceptor made a dramatic appeal for volunteers after the firing on Fort Sumter, Stuart was one of the first to place his name on the enlistment roll. He was mustered in as a private of Company B, Twenty-first Wisconsin Volunteers, and when the regiment went south he was first sergeant. From the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, in October, 1862, until the close of the war, he made a brilliant record that entitled him to one promotion after another, until he left the service as captain. He participated in the western and southern states campaigns, including the well known en- gagements of Murfreesboro, Chattanooga, Hoover's Gap, Chicka- mauga, Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain, Resaca, Kenesaw
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Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and other battles on the Atlanta cam- paign ; the march to the sea and the battle of Bentonville and the sub- sequent march of Sherman's army through the Carolinas and Vir- ginia to Washington. After the war he returned home, and after a brief service as right-of-way agent for the Northwestern Railroad, entered the postal service, which turned out to be his life work. Colonel Stuart is a member of the Union Veterans League, the United Spanish War Veterans, the Loyal Legion, the Grand Army of the Republic. He married October 3, 1870, Miss Marie Roberts, daughter of one of the first settlers of Iowa City, Iowa. They reside at 1419 West Monroe street.
John C. Ames, collector of customs for Chicago, ex-United States marshal for the northern district of Illinois, and an active and promi -
nent Republican leader of the state, is a native of
JOHN C. AMIES. Freedom township, LaSalle county, Illinois, born on the 17th of July, 1852. His paternal ancestors were early New Englanders, and his father, who was a native of Maine, was for many years a leading business man of Streator, Illinois, where he also became prominent in public affairs and whence he was sent as a representative to the state legislature.
When John C. was about two years of age the family moved to Livingston county. After working on the home farm and attending district school until he was fourteen years of age, John C. Ames commenced a broader life by entering the State University at Normal. where he remained for two years. In the meantime his father had removed from Livingston county to Streator, and upon leaving school the young man joined the family there. Just before reaching his majority John C. entered the drug business, but after two years joined his father in the hardware trade by purchasing the interest of the latter's partner. Two years later, when their entire stock was destroyed by fire, he became the sole owner of the concern. Notwith- standing this temporary setback, Mr. Ames continued to profitably conduct the business for ten years. In 1880, while thus engaged, he organized the J. C. Ames Lumber Company, of which he is still president, and in 1891 founded the City National Bank of Streator, of which he also remained the head until in January, 1898, when he was appointed by President Mckinley to the office of United States marshal for the northern district of Illinois.
In the meantime Mr. Ames had been attaining prominence by
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gradual and most creditable stages: From 1885 to 1889 (two terms) he served as mayor of Streator and declined a nomination for a third term. During four years, under Governor Fifer, he also held the office of president of the board of canal commissioners. His ap- pointment to the United States marshalship was therefore considered but a deserved advancement. Mr. Ames continued to discharge the duties of that office with zeal, honesty and ability, until he was hon- ored with the appointment of collector of the customs for the port of Chicago, on July 12, 1906.
On March 2, 1876, Mr. Ames was united in marriage with Miss Minerva Ross, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Hunter) Ross, of Lacon, Illinois .. Of their three children one only survives-Isaac Carlos Ames, born in 1880. In 1899 he enlisted for the war in the Philippines, as a private in Company C, Forty-third United States Volunteer Infantry. He served as corporal with his regiment in that service, and resigned in 1901. He is now associated with his father in the lumber business at Streator, Illinois, being a director in the company. John C. Ames is popular socially, belonging to the Chi- cago, Union League and Hamilton clubs, of this city, and the Streator Club, of Streator, having served as the first president of the organiza- tion last named.
There is no one man connected with the Chicago postoffice to which the service is more indebted for practical and permanent in-
JOHN M. provements than to John Maynard Hubbard, assist-
HUBBARD. ant postmaster for nearly twenty years and for a decade previous identified with the department in minor capacities. His earnestness, honesty and unassuming ability have retained him in office through many changes of administration and party managements. The final result of his faithful and pro- gressive service is not only to firmly establish him in the confidence .of the local public, but to give him a national standing on all matters connected with the postal service of the United States.
Mr. Hubbard is a great, hearty, big hearted and large brained son of the Granite state, born in Drewsville, on the 13th of March, 1847, son of Leonard Clark and Caroline Partridge (Maynard) Hub- bard. His early years were passed at Saxton's River, Vermont, where he attended the district school and academy. In September, 1864, when in his eighteenth year, he came west to Chicago, where he has
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since resided, to the mutual advantage of himself and the city. His first employment was with the dry goods house of John V. Farwell & Co., and the five years spent therein gave him a valuable business training both in the mastering of details and an insight into the man- agement of a great commercial enterprise. He remained with the house until June 1. 1870, and in April of the succeeding year was appointed a clerk in the mailing division of the Chicago postoffice. He continued in the local postal service until July, 1881, when he became deputy sheriff of Cook county, holding that office for eight years. On May 1, 1889, he returned to the Chicago postoffice, his advancement in which includes the following steps: From a clerk- ship in the mailing and registry divisions he was promoted to be the postoffice correspondent in 1872, and afterward became superinten- dent of the city division, upon his shoulders falling the great burden of reorganizing the service after the fire of 1871. He then became superintendent of delivery, the postal business of Chicago being then transacted under one roof. Later, the postoffice had its six sub- divisions, or central distributing points, and to Mr. Hubbard was largely due the working out of the present system of mail distribu- tion, with its 250 stations and 45 sub-stations. As now organized, the system is of incalculable benefit to the public. He also suggested the original plan for establishing the collecting and delivery services on separate bases; specialized the methods of city distribution, and anticipated the Civil Service law by recommending to the postmaster the appointment of substitute carriers as regulars, according to senior- ity. Another important piece of executive work placed to the credit of Mr. Hubbard is the amalgamation of fifty-four independent post- offices with the Chicago office in the summer of 1894.
Mr. Hubbard has been called before national governmental bodies as an exponent of the views of the Chicago postoffice, one of his latest appearances being in October, 1907, in response to a summons from the postal commission appointed by Congress to revise the law re- garding second class matter. In a clear and practical paper, which created earnest discussion among the members of the commission, he recommended, according. to his own words, "an amendment to the law limiting the pound rate of postage to single copies of regularly entered publications addressed and mailed for delivery to bona fide subscribers, exchanges, and advertisers by publishers or their author-
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ized news agents. It needs no elaboration to see what the effect would be of such a sweeping change in our system. It would oblige pub- lishers and news agents to make arrangements with the railroad and express companies for the transportation of bulk packages of their publications. It would relieve the postoffice department of the neces- sity of providing for the distribution and transportation of a class of matter which at present is handled at an absolute loss."
Since attaining his majority Mr. Hubbard has been an ardent Republican, and in early years joined a famous campaign quartette, which traveled throughout Illinois four times, covered other portions of the middle west, and even did fine service for the party in the Em- pire state. As an old-time Republican and a public official of promi- nence, he has come into intimate relations with such of the great lead- ers of national affairs as James G. Blaine, James A. Garfield, John A. Logan, Roscoe Conklin, Oliver P. Morton, Benjamin Harrison, Henry Wilson, Richard J. Oglesby and Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll.
On the 23rd of December, 1868, Mr. Hubbard was united in mar- riage with Miss Helen M. Childs, of Boston, Massachusetts, and their two children are John M. Hubbard, Jr., assistant superintendent of the money order division of the postoffice, and Mary Maynard, who is now the wife of Fred A. Paddleford, a board of trade operator of Chicago. The family residence has long been at No. 7145 Euclid avenue. Mrs. Hubbard affiliates with All Souls church, of which Jenkin Lloyd Jones is pastor.
For thirty-nine years Mr. Hubbard was a prominent figure in choral circles-twenty-six years with the Second Presbyterian church, ten years with the First Presbyterian and two years with the Church of the Messiah. For many years he has also been a leading Mason, being a member of Thomas J. Turner Lodge No. 409, A. F. & A. M., and Apollo Commandery No. I (life member), K. T. He is also identified with the Chicago Press Club.
Thomas N. Jamieson, naval officer of the port of Chicago since February II, 1904, was born in the county of Grey, Ontario, Canada,
THOMAS N. on the 29th of February, 1848, being the son of
JAMIESON. James and Agnes (Robertson) Jamieson. At the age of fourteen, after he had received a common school education, the boy entered a drug store as an apprentice. He continued thus employed for some four years, when he removed to
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Chicago as a full-fledged drug clerk, and in 1869 established a busi- ness of his own. Although Mr. Jamieson has since become a widely known manager within the Republican party, he first acquired prom- inence in his chosen profession. He served as president of the Chicago Retail Drug Association for three years; was president of the Illinois Board of Pharmacy for five years, and was one of those who materially assisted in the passage of the Pharmacy law now in force, which protects the public from poisonous drugs and incompe- tent druggists. He was also the founder of the Chicago Veteran Druggists' Association. It may be added, as an illustration of his readiness and competency to do a good citizen's part in the meeting of public emergencies, that for two weeks after the great Chicago fire he worked night and day as a member of the committee which distributed the fund and provisions for the immediate relief of the sufferers.
In 1890 Mr. Jamieson came into more than local political prom- inence as chairman of the Cook County Central Committee, being appointed secretary of the Republican State Central Committee in 1892, chairman of the same body in 1894, and a member of the Illi- nois Republican National Committee in 1896. In the last named capacity he served for four years, showing that in his advancement from the management of local to national politics he had ever retained a firm and sound grasp of the details entrusted to him, and that his adroitness and common sense made him one of the most successful managers who had ever been attached to the interests of the great party.
Mr. Jamieson has also served the city of Chicago and Cook county in a number of offices, having been inspector of weights and measures in 1892-4, superintendent of the public service of the county in 1894-6, and clerk of the appellate court in 1896-1902. The last named office preceded that of naval officer of the port.
In 1874 Mr. Jamieson married Miss Anna M. Bingham, and their residence is at No. 4508 Woodlawn avenue. He is a Knight Templar Mason, being a member of Landmark Lodge, Fairview Chapter and Montjoie Commandery. He also enjoys membership in the South Shore Country, New Illinois Athletic, Chicago Athletic and Press clubs (life membership in the last two clubs) ; but, although most
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popular in such circles, Mr. Jamieson is more given to the sociability which is in the household than that which centers in the club.
Hon. William Henry Ruger, a leading Republican and also long and actively identified with the postal service of Chicago, is a native WILLIAM H. RUGER. of Plattsburg, New York, born on the 15th of August, 1841. When he was six years of age his parents, Harmon B. and Caroline Ruger, brought him to Chicago, where he received his education in various public schools and at the West Division High School. He enlisted for service in the Civil war in September, 1861, joining the Union navy and being assigned to the United States steamer "Essex," com- manded by Commodore W. D. Porter. He served as surgeon's stew- ard until the conclusion of hostilities, being honorably discharged in October, 1865. In this capacity he participated in all the engage- ments from Fort Henry to New Orleans, including the running of the blockade at Island No. 10, Vicksburg, and the engagements at Port Hudson, being aboard the "Essex" when it captured the Confed- erate ramı "Arkansas."
Soon after his discharge from naval service, Mr. Ruger was appointed to a position in the Chicago postoffice, under Postmaster J. D. Scripps, and was gradually promoted until he became assistant superintendent of mails under Captain M. J. McGrath. In this capacity he served until his election to the Illinois state senate in 1882, being a representative from the Fifth district. As he had been elected to the upper legislative house on an Independent ticket, his vote was much sought in the famous contest for the United States senatorship in 1885. But he remained faithful to his old comrade, John A. Logan, and to him is given the credit of sending the latter to Washington. It is a noteworthy political fact that the district . which elected Mr. Ruger to the state senate had a normal Democratic majority of about three thousand, which he not only overcame, but passed by 931. While a member of the senate and of the Republican State convention of 1884, he was also chosen a delegate to the National convention which nominated James G. Blaine for president and John A. Logan for vice-president.
Mr. Ruger's father was a well known Chicago pioneer, and as early as 1849 was chosen Captain of the Watch, or the first chief of police, being placed in command of a force of fourteen men. This
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circumstance gave him the title of "Captain" H. B. Ruger, and later- day citizens and lawyers remember him as a popular justice of the peace, on the west side, for sixteen years, and as bailiff of the United States court, in which latter position he served for forty-six years, or until his death in February, 1896. He was also for some time president of the Veteran Relief Association, incorporated in July, 1889. Mr. Ruger's wife was formerly Miss Elizabeth Boden, to whom he was married at Chicago in 1867, and their family consisted of five children, of whom two, Harmon and Earl, are living. The latter is a well known athlete, a pitcher for the White Sox.
George M. Shippy, general superintendent of police of the city of Chicago, has won promotion to the head of his department, both
because of his fearlessness as an officer and his
GEORGE M. SHIPPY. executive talents, and his courteous and pleasing personality. He was born in this city, on the 24th of June, 1854, and after attending the Jones, Foster and Douglas public schools took a business course at Allen's Academy.
In August, 1876, Mr. Shippy joined the fire department, being promoted to a lieutenancy in February, 1879. He became a captain in December, 1884, but resigned in 1886. After engaging in business for a time, he was appointed police patrolman by Chief Ebersold, first serving under Captain Buckley at the Harrison Street station and later as desk sergeant at the Stanton Avenue and Twenty-second Street stations. After holding this latter position for a year and a half he became minute clerk for Judge Driggs and later deputy circuit clerk under Henry Best. Subsequently he acted as record clerk in the condemnation proceedings brought by the South Side Alley L Railroad Company.
As Mr. Shippy had so thoroughly demonstrated his unusual capacity for all kinds of police work, he was not allowed long to occupy such purely clerical positions, and in June, 1891, Mayor Washburne appointed him lieutenant at the Harrison Street station. He was promoted to captain October 5, 1891, and was transferred to Woodlawn station in April, 1892. He was captain of police at the opening of the World's Columbian Exposition, and had charge of the escort of Mayor Harrison (the elder) on the occasion of the visit of the Princess Eulalia, of Spain. In July, 1893, he resigned his captaincy and again entered business, but was returned to the
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Woodlawn station by Mayor Swift and transferred to the Stock Yards station by Mayor Harrison, the younger. The latter action was a decided tribute to his character as a brave, active and efficient officer, as that section of the city was considered peculiarly turbulent and troublesome. In November, 1898, he passed the civil service examination, was transferred to the South Chicago station and in 1904 was promoted to be police inspector of the great west side district, with headquarters at the Desplaines Street station.
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