USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Historical review of Chicago and Cook county and selected biography, Volume II > Part 37
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Soon after graduating from the State University, Mr. Junkers- feld came to Chicago and in September, 1895, entered the employ of the then Chicago Edison Company. For the first three years and a half his experience consisted in operating and construction, and in June, 1899, was placed in charge of the electrical engineering work, a few years later being advanced to the superintendency of the en- tire engineering department.
Mr. Junkersfeld is a loyal son of the University of Illinois, now serving as president of the Chicago Alumni Association. He is a
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member of the Tau Beta Pi Association, the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and the Western Society of Engineers, Chicago Engineers' Club and the Chicago Athletic Association. He was mar- ried June 19, 1901, to Miss Anna C. Boyle, and lives in Austin, being identified with the Oaks Club, of that place, and the Westward Ho Golf Club.
Samuel Insull, president of the Commonwealth Edison Company, of Chicago, since the commencement of his business and professional
SAMUEL career has been identified with some of the manifold
INSULL. interests which have been established by the great inventor and promoter in the amazingly expanded field of electricity. He is a native of the world's metropolis, born on the IIth of November, 1859, being the son of Samuel and Emma (Short) Insull. After receiving a thorough education in various private schools of London, Reading and Oxford, England, Mr. In- sull begun his connection with the electric business as private secre- tary to Colonel George E. Gouraud, who, as the representative of Thomas A. Edison, was then engaged in forming the Edison Tele- phone Company, of London. This company was subsequently merged into the Bell Telephone Company, which, in turn, became part of the National Telephone Company.
Mr. Insull's labors in London brought him to the favorable notice of Mr. Edison, and in February, 1881, he came to the United States to assume the position of private secretary to the American inventor, in that capacity having, for many years, full charge of his broad and complicated business affairs. He represented Mr. Edison in the or- ganization and management of the Electric Tube Company, who were the first manufacturers of underground conductors for electric lights in the world; also built and operated (as general manager for Mr. Edison) the Edison Machine Works at Schenectady, New York, as well as being his personal representative in the affairs of the Edi- son Lamp Company. In 1889 the various Edison manufactories and the Edison Electric Light Company were consolidated under the name of the Edison General Electric Company, of which he became second vice president, in charge of the manufacturing and selling departments, and when that company was combined with the Thom- son-Houston Company as the General Electric Company he was elected second vice president of the consolidation. In June, 1892,
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INTERIOR VIEW TURBINE HOUSE OF THE FISK STREET GENERATING STATION OF THE COMMONWEALTH EDISON COMPANY, CHICAGO
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he resigned to accept the presidency of the Chicago Edison Company; in 1897 the Commonwealth Electric Company was formed, and after the two were consolidated under the name of the Commonwealth Edi- son Company, he assumed the presidency of the new concern.
Mr. Insull is also president of the North Shore Electric Company, operating electric light and power plants in territory around Chi- cago; also, of the United Gas and Electric Company and the Louis- ville and Southern Indiana Traction Company. He is president of the Economy Light and Power Company, and director of the Union Gas and Electric Company. Professionally, he enjoys membership in the American Institute of Electrical Engineers and the British In- stitute of Electrical Engineers.
On May 24, 1899, Mr. Insull was married to Miss Margaret A. Bird, and they reside at 23 Lake Shore drive, Chicago. In politics Mr. Insull is a Republican, and his remarkably broad social connec- tions are evidenced by his membership in the following clubs: Chi- cago, Chicago Athletic, Chicago Automobile, Onwentsia, Saddle and Cycle, Exmoor Country, South Shore Country and Mid-Day clubs, all of Chicago; Metropolitan, Union League, Engineers, Mid-Day. Lawyers and Seawauhaka Yacht clubs, of New York; Pendennis Club, of Louisville, and the Devonshire, Whitehall and Royal Auto- mobile clubs, of London, England.
The veteran engineer, Gustavus Adolphus Mathias Liljencrantz, who, for thirty-seven years, has been identified with the river and harbor improvements of the national government GUSTAVUS A. M. 'at Chicago, is a typical representative of Sweden- LILJENCRANTZ. faithful, industrious, scholarly and efficient. Born at Upland, Sweden, April 11, 1842, he is a son of Baron Johan Carl and Anna Eleonora Henriette (von Schoultz) Liljencrantz. He is not only of noble but of very ancient family, his oldest known an- cestor being Bishop Laurentius Petrie, a pupil of Martin Luther, while the first to bear the family name, so far as can be traced, was Count Johan Westerman Liljencrantz, councilor of state and minis- ter of finance.
Until he was thirteen years of age Gustavus was carefully edu- cated under private tutors, for five years thereafter attending the pub- lic schools of Stockholm. In pursuance with the obvious bent of his mind. in 1862 he entered the Royal Technological Institute of the
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capital city, and in 1866 graduated from the civil engineering course of that institution with the regular professional degree. He at once engaged in engineering work on the construction of Dahlsland's Canal, Sweden, being thus employed from 1866 to 1868, and in the spring of the following year came to America. He first located at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. From May, 1869, until May, 1870, he was connected with the United States engineer office at that city as draughtsman, and for about a year thereafter held a similar position with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company. On the 12th of April. 1871, Mr. Liljencrantz came to Chicago to accept a position as draughtsman in the United States engineer office, on river and harbor improvements, and in the following year was pro- moted to be assistant engineer, which position he has ably filled to the present time. The fall of his first year's residence in Chicago was marked by the great fire, which finally swept over a great part of the north side, incidentally taking Mr. Liljencrantz's entire belong- ings at Illinois street.
Mr. Liljencrantz has enjoyed a long and prominent identification with professional fraternities. He has been a member of the Swed- ish Engineering Society, Stockholm, since 1865, and is an honorary member of the Scandinavian Engineering Society, Chicago, while his connection with the Western Society of Engineers includes par- ticipation in its proceedings since 1878 and his election to the first vice presidency in 1905. As a Mason, he is a member of Blaney Lodge No. 271, of which he has served as secretary, and was W. M. in 1898, having also been a member of the Masonic Veteran Associa- tion since 1890. In accord with his firmly settled belief and in ac- cord with the historic traditions of his family, Mr. Liljencrantz is of the Evangelical Lutheran belief. In politics he is independent.
The married life of Mr. Liljencrantz commenced April 27, 1875, when he married, at Albany, New York, Miss Adaline Charlotte Hall, a native of North Pownal, Vermont. Their daughter, Ottilie Adaline, is an authoress of expanding reputation.
When, on May 6, 1907, Mayor Busse appointed Charles Valen- tine Weston as the city's representative on the board of supervising CHARLES V. engineers Chicago traction, the general expression WESTON. of press and public was that no better selection could have been made, owing to the appointee's em-
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inent abilities as an engineer and his thorough integrity as a man and official. The rehabilitation of Chicago's traction system, which is the municipal improvement uppermost in the minds of the citizens at this time, is largely entrusted to this board of supervising engi- neers, and Mr. Weston's presence as a member of the board gave assurance that this work will be well done, and to the best interests of all concerned. Mr. Weston was the city's representative during the important year 1907. when notable advancement was made in the city's traction interests. On January 3. 1908, he resigned from the board of supervising engineers to accept the presidency and general managership of the South Side Elevated Railroad Company in Chicago.
Mr. Weston, who was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, February 14. 1857, and educated in the public schools of that city, gained his first practical experience in his profession as rodman in the employ of the Sabine Pass & Northwestern Railway ( Texas). He began that work in 1879, when twenty-two years old. He was afterward transitman on surveys for the Texas Trunk Railway; was assistant engineer of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad in Texas, in 1880-81 : assistant engineer of the Kansas City, Springfield & Mem- phis Railroad, 1881-82; assistant engineer Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, 1882-84; assistant engineer of the Kansas City, Clinton & Springfield Railroad, 1884-86, and division engineer in charge of the construction of the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe in Texas, 1886-88. These have since become some of the most important railway lines in the southwest country. After locating in Chicago in 1888, Mr. Weston took charge of the construction of the Lake View in-take crib and water tunnel under Lake Michigan for the water supply of the city of Lake View, and after the annexation of that mu- nicipality to Chicago in 1889, he continued the work for the greater city. In 1890 he took charge of the construction work of the West Chicago Street Railroad tunnel under the Chicago river near Van Buren street ; the tunnel was completed in 1894. He was chief engineer of the Northwestern Elevated, the Union Elevated and the Lake Street Elevated railroads from 1894 to 1901. During 1901-03 he was associated with his brother, George Weston ( now assistant engineer to Chief Engineer B. 1. AArnold) in the firm of
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Weston Brothers, consulting and constructing engineers. Since 1903 he has been chief engineer of the South Side Elevated Railroad. This career of rapid advancement in his profession and the character of his work in connection with large transportation enterprises proves the wisdom of his choice for a position that directly concerns the welfare of Chicago.
Mr. Weston is a member of the American Society of Civil Engi- neers, the Western Society of Engineers, and the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association. He married, November 12, 1889, Miss Catherine Dyer; they have a daughter, Florence. Their home is in Kenwood. Mr. Weston's parents were John Weston and Catherine Clark. His father was born of English parentage in the city of Lincoln, England, and came to America after reaching manhood. Catherine Clark, whose father was English and mother Irish, was born at Owensboro, county Cavan, Ireland. and was brought to America during childhood.
George Washington Maher is the acknowledged originator of a distinctive style of architecture. While pursuing his studies abroad, GEORGE W. MAHER. he became convinced that in this country there should rightly be an art expression akin to the national ideals, founded upon the spirit of past architectural achievement ; but that it should, in no wise, be an exact copy of the productions of a foreign people. With this general idea in mind, Mr. Maher has developed a style which is distinctively his own, and so original that it may almost be claimed to be indigenous to the United States. He has introduced a new theory of design into all his work, which he calls the motif rhythm. This theory takes its inspiration from surrounding life and environment, at the same time following closely ethical laws which govern good architectural design. Thus, in James A. Patten's house at Evanston the thistle is combined with certain pronounced geometrical figures, forming the motif of the design. Throughout the exterior and interior of Harry Rubens' unique country residence at Glencoe the motif flower is the holly- hock, combined with certain structural themes, while the American honeysuckle, with strong horizontal lines, furnishes Mr. Maher with his flower and rhythm motif in the construction and embellish- ment of John Farson's beautiful and original place at Oak Park. His suggestive and original style is also aptly illustrated by the residences
Jorge 11. Make
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of A. B. Leach, at South Orange, and F. T. Gates, at Montclair, New Jersey; the Edgewater Presbyterian church; the Assembly hall at Kenilworth, and the Swift Engineering Hall, on the Northwestern University campus grounds, at Evanston. At the present time he is engaged in formulating a comprehensive plan of bringing the grounds and buildings of the university into harmony with the char- acteristic landscape of the locality, as well as providing for the ex- pansion of the future, both in new buildings to be erected and addi- tions of ground. Mr. Maher has already made a pronounced departure in shaping such suburbs as North Edgewater and Kenilworth, es- pecially in the innovation of beautifying the grounds around railroad stations and village entrances. The entrance which he designed to the village of Kenilworth is particularly attractive and unique, his interest in that place being especially personal, as it is his place of residence.
As Mr. Maher is still in the prime of early middle life, his originality and enthusiasm in his chosen profession will bring him greater eminence than he now enjoys. Although a southerner by birth, in education, training and spirit he is truly of the west, as witness the following extract from one of his papers, read before the Chicago Architectural Club: "Our democracy exalts the individual, and, if I understand the spirit of the West, it proposes that the indi- vidual shall express his ideals and will encourage him so to do, irre- spective of any dictum, irrespective of any fault or failure on his part, so long as it is an honest effort. I repeat that here in the west the tide of any false conservatism will be turned; that here will originate a new school of architecture which will grow stronger each succeeding generation until all the life assimilated in this new country will find full expression in marble and stone. Already the men who are fostering this new architecture and this new movement are gaining recruits, and broader range in their influence is being felt daily. It can no longer be said that the architect who follows the new does so at the peril of losing patronage. The young architect in our city who will grow in favor is he who embraces this new art. Recognition comes to him alike from the people, from the press and in publication. If an exhibition were held in these rooms tonight of the work done by these young men and placed against the work executed by the so-called conservative men, you would find that most
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interest and enthusiasm would be centered in the work favoring the most progress. We do not stop to consider how virile is this new art and to what extent it is attracting attention, not only in our country, but in Europe. Viewing the situation from abroad, they understand full well that a new expression of art must come from this country-an expression born of a democracy where the effort is not hindered to any extent by precedent or tradition. Here ought to be unfettered opportunity for an expression of the new. Further, you will find that the opinion abroad is pronounced that this new art will evolve and gather headway in the Central West, end even at the present time they are publishing such examples of this art from the West.
"Much could be said in this connection, explaining theories of design, that would be of interest to the student. Some are working on the motif and rhythm theme, understanding that nature and music are phases of inspiration to be formed into the concrete; and with the real living motive, that of surrounding life, the production of great works of art should be forthcoming. It is no longer necessary for any school or student to rely only on precedent for the teaching of architecture, since all around us is motive power, nature, music, life. It is unfortunate that there is no text book as yet compiled that would give the technical schools foundation for the instruction of this new theory. However, certain buildings are already in evidence, and more of them will soon be erected; and eventually will come the professor and the book."
The main facts in the life of George . W. Maher, this typical western architect, are that he was born at Mill Creek, West Virginia. on the 25th of December, 1864, and is the son of Theophilus Daniel and Sarah (Landis) Maher. His father is of French and Irish extraction, and his mother of German ancestry, the American branch of the maternal family being Pennsylvania Dutch, members of which settled in the Keystone state in ante-Revolutionary times. In his early boyhood days his parents removed to New Albany, Indiana, and he received his primary education in its public schools. He began the study of architecture in Chicago and completed it while abroad, thus laying the basis of his present architectural style and standing. Mr. Maher is a member of the American Institute of Architects, and
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is also identified with the Union League, Chicago Athletic Associa- tion and the Indiana Society (of Chicago).
Mr. Maher was married, October 24, 1893, to Miss Elizabeth Brooks, an artist, the daughter of the well known portrait painter, Alden F. Brooks. They have one child, Philip Brooks Maher. The family is prominent in the social affairs of Kenilworth. Mr. Maher himself has taken a leading part in shaping and developing the muni- cipal growth of the village, having served both as trustee and park commissioner.
Charles Sumner Frost, for twenty-five years a Chicago architect, with an ever expanding reputation, is now the senior member of
CHARLES S. the firm of Frost & Granger. He is the son of
Albert Ephraim and Eunice (Jones) Frost, his
FROST. father being a native of Tewksbury, Massachusetts, and his mother of Newport, Vermont. The family is prominent and old in the annals of New England, Charles S. being the eighth gen- cration from Edmund Frost, of Ipswich, England, who settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1635. The boy obtained the elements of his education in the public schools of New England, and received his professional training in the offices of leading Boston architects, as well as by special studies in the Massachusetts Institute of Archi- tecture.
Mr. Frost's independent practice as an architect commenced in January, 1882, when he formed a partnership in Chicago with Henry Ives Cobb under the firm name of Cobb & Frost. In 1889 the con- nection was severed and Mr. Frost was alone for several years, on January 1, 1898, associating himself with Alfred H. Granger under the name of Frost & Granger, the present firm. Among the more important buildings erected under his supervision are: George Smith Memorial Hospital, Michigan avenue ; Terminal Railway station, Chi- cago and Northwestern Railway Company ; General Office building for Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company ; La Salle Street Termi- nal Railway station; Hyde Park Y. M. C. A. building: St. James Methodist Episcopal church; Home for the Friendless: Commercial building for Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co., wholesale hardware, State street ; the Union and Calumet clubs : Terminal Railway station, Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota; important railway stations at Milwaukee, Sioux City and
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Omaha, besides innumerable minor station buildings throughout the central west; memorial chapel and library, dormitories and science hall for Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, Illinois, and a great many dwellings, both urban and suburban, ranging from small cost to those considerably exceeding $100,000. Mr. Frost is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects and stands high both with his pro- fessional fraternity and the public from which he draws his patronage.
On January 7. 1885, Mr. Frost wedded Miss Mary Hughitt, daughter of Marvin Hughitt, president of the Chicago and Northwest- ern Railway Company, and their three children are Margaret, Marvin and Virginia. The family residence is known as Eastover, Lake Forest, Illinois. Mr. Frost is popular among the clubs, having mem- bership with the Union League, Mid-Day, Onwentsia and Winter.
The firm of architects, Hill & Woltersdorf, successors to Bauer & Hill, has, during the past thirteen years, designed many struc-
ARTHUR F.
tures that now form a creditable part of Chicago's
WOLTERSDORF. architecture. Conspicuous changes have taken
place in the general building style of Chicago dur- ing this time, and it is possible to discriminate readily between struc- tures erected before and after the World's Fair. To what extent the general increase of taste and demands of commercial utility, or how far the ideals of architects have influenced these changes. it is impossible to say. But in one class of building, at least, Hill & Woltersdorf have gone a step in advance of general custom and set a standard of architectural taste where it would be least looked for. In their designs of warehouses, embracing the largest part of their recent work, they have succeeded, according to some eastern critics, in achieving an æsthetic rendering of an intensely practical problem, and which has hitherto been treated with homely utility as the only end in view. Among examples of their work in this field may be mentioned the new Peter Schuttler Company's plant at Twenty- second and Rockwell streets, buildings for Devoe & Raynolds, paint manufacturers ; the Richard Raynolds building, Green and Congress streets; Eastman Kodak Company's at Eighteenth street and Indiana avenue; Parke, Davis & Co. building, 50 Franklin street; the Gould Company's building, at Ohio and Franklin streets; the designing and engraving plant of the Meyer-Both Company, 2316-18 Indiana ave- nue, and many others. The firm has a general practice, covering
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schools, churches, hospitals, residences, warehouses, etc. Their work is found in residences in this city, in Burlington. Iowa, and Lake Delavan; St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Chicago, and the Holy Family Hospital, now in course of construction at La Porte, Indiana. The best church designed by them is St. Paul's German Evangelical Luth- eran, on Orchard street near Fullerton avenue. In the downtown business district the thirteen-story Thomas Church building at Wa- bash avenue and Monroe street was designed in their office.
Arthur Frederick Woltersdorf, whose successful career as one of Chicago's leading architects has been indicated above, was born in Chicago, January 19, 1870, of German parentage. His father, Louis Woltersdorf, was born at Wendisch-Warnow, province of Branden- burg, and his mother, Emma (Haeger) Woltersdorf, at Slate bei Parchim, Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Attending the Chicago grammar school and the West Division high school, he began his architectural studies in the office of Bauer & Hill; remained with them three years, then spent a short time with the well known firm of Burnham & Root, after which he was two years engaged in special courses at the Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology, completing his course with honors in the spring of 1892. Then came a study and sketching tour through Europe for eight months. In the summer of 1891 he was employed by the World's Columbian Exposition, and he, with others, put to work on the Fine Arts building (now the Field Museum) to develop the sketches of Charles B. Atwood, architect of the building. At the end of September he left to resume his studies at the School of Technology. After his return from Europe he was employed for a time by Yost & Packard, architects at Columbus, Ohio, and spent the rest of the year 1893 in Chicago, devoting much time to the ex- position. February 1, 1894, following Mr. August Bauer's retire- ment from the old firm of Bauer & Hill, he entered into partnership with the other member, Henry W. Hill, thus forming the present firm of Hill & Woltersdorf.
Mr. Woltersdorf is an ex-president of the Illinois Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and vice president of the Chi- cago Architects Business Association. Besides these, he is a member of the Chicago Architectural Club, the Germania Club, the Illinois Athletic Club, and the Cliff Dwellers. His office is at 70 LaSalle street, and he resides on Ashland boulevard.
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