USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Historical review of Chicago and Cook county and selected biography, Volume III > Part 30
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Mr. Mead's long connection with the real estate business dates from 1863, when, having partially recovered from his illness caused by military exposure, he became connected with the office of his un- cle, Abner L. Ely, then the largest real estate agency in New York City, and remained in his employ until his removal to Chicago, Janu- ary 1, 1867. His previous training had given him a thorough knowl- edge of the business, and enabled him to take a place at once in the front ranks of independent agents, which he has ever since main- tained. The partnership was terminated only by the death of his as- sociate and friend in July, 1901, but the business has continued under the old firm name of Mead & Coe by Mr. Mead, surviving partner. During this forty years of continuous active business, the firm has enjoyed its full share of prosperity, incident to the phenomenal growth of the city from a population of 296,000 to over 2,000,000. As ever. the name of Mead & Coe stands for honest service in the interests of clients and square dealings in all transactions. Mr. Mead believes there is no room in the legitimate real estate business for underhand methods or sharp practices, and his influence as a charter member of the Chicago Real Estate Board has always been in favor of the
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best things for the profession and the good of the city. He is also interested in Wisconsin mining, being president of the Grant Mining and Lumber Company, controlling several lead and zinc mines.
Mr. Mead is an old-time Republican, having always voted the straight ticket, and is a member of the George H. Thomas Post No. 5. Grand Army of the Republic. He has also been a member of the Union League Club since its organization. For many years Mr. Mead has been prominent in the religious and charitable work of the city and country, and his first commission received in Chicago was donated to the Fisk University of Nashville, Tennessee. He is se- nior deacon of the First Congregational church of Chicago, and also vice president of the Congregational Church Building Society, of New York; is president of the Chicago Christian Home Society for Young Women, and for many years has been on the general board of management of the Chicago Young Men's Christian Association. For years he has been a director and member of the executive com- mittee of the Washingtonian Home, and is one of the vice presidents of the American Sunday School Union. For nearly twenty years he was treasurer of the Illinois Home Missionary Society, and for many years was one of the trustees of the Illinois College, at Jack- sonville.
In September, 1868, Mr. Mead wedded Miss Mary E. Packard. daughter of James B. and Sarah C. Packard, and the following are their surviving children: Elizabeth M., now the wife of Rev. A. A. Tanner, pastor of the Congregational church, of Alton, Illinois ; Agnes M., now the wife of C. W. Van Law, who is a mining engi- neer and company manager of the Guanajuato Reduction and Mines Company, at Guanajuato, Mexico; and Lucy Irene, teacher of sci- ence in the high school at Rhinelander, Wisconsin. The family resi- dence is at No. 632 Washington boulevard.
Henry. G. Foreman is one of the leading real estate operators and financiers of Chicago, as well as one of its leading Republicans and
public citizens. He is especially identified with
HENRY G. FOREMAN. the wonderful system of parks which has made Chicago famous, and with the outer belt of pleasure grounds and recreation features which is now in process of develop- ment and is destined to bring the city even greater fame. Mr. Fore- man is a true Chicagoan, both in birth and spirit, his natal day being
Vol. III-20.
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August 22, 1857, and his parents, Gerhard and Hannah (Grenne- baum) Foreman. Educated in the city schools and a business college of Chicago, he received his first business training in the First National Bank, and he has since devoted the bulk of his time and abilities to real estate and financial interests.
Mr. Foreman was one of the organizers of the Chicago Real Estate Board in 1888. In March, 1902, he was appointed a member of the board of South Park Commissioners for the term expiring 1903, and was reappointed for a term ending 1908, being chosen president of the body in March, 1903, and March, 1904. In January of the latter year he was appointed as a member of the commission to create and develop, in its initial stages, the great outer system of parks destined to encircle Chicago and make it one of the most picturesque metropoli of the world.
Since the commencement of his voting years Mr. Foreman has been a firm and enthusiastic Republican, and in June. 1900. was sent as a delegate to the national convention which met in Phila- delphia. In November, 1902, he was elected chairman of the board of Commissioners of Cook county for a term of two years, and his service in that position materially strengthened his reputation as a man of energetic and broad practical abilities.
In April, 1885, Mr. Foreman married Miss Lottie Schwab, daughter of Charles H. Schwab, the well known retired shoe manu- facturer and public official. They reside at No. 4706 Grand boule- vard. Mr. Foreman is prominent as a clubman, being identified with the Union League, Standard, Marquette and Mid-Day, all of Chicago.
John C. Fetzer has been identified with the financial, real estate and busines affairs of Chicago since 1895. Locating here as man- ager of the Cyrus Hall McCormick estate, he was largely instrumental in organizing the International
JOHN C. FETZER. Harvester Company, with the McCormick and Deering interests as the largest components: When the Union Trac- tion Company's affairs became so involved that they were thrown under the direct supervision of the courts, Judge Grosscup appointed Mr. Fetzer as managing receiver of the traction property. While managing receiver from February 15, 1904, until May 15, 1905, he directed the expenditure of more than two million dollars in rehabili- tating the traction lines on the north and west sides.
MENEW YORK CLIC LISEIRY
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Mr. Fetzer's ability as a financial organizer and manager was next brought into prominent notice as the result of the Milwaukee Avenue Bank failure. This institution, one of the largest on the northwest side of the city, in which an army of depositors had stored their hard-earned savings, failed to open its doors on August 6, 1906, following the regular examination by the state bank examiner. The following day Judge Brentano, then chief justice of the superior . court of Cook county, designated John C. Fetzer receiver for the bank. His bond, fixed at one million dollars, was temporarily given by the Illinois Surety Company, and two days later was endorsed by the National Surety Company, the United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, and the American Bonding Company, each com- pany becoming liable on the entire bond, making one of the largest bonds ever given to anyone without personal guaranty or reserving supervision. Mr. Fetzer at once took charge as receiver of the wrecked bank. Though his work was much impeded by the in- vestigation still being conducted by the state examiners, and the examination by the state and city police department, who were seek- ing clues concerning the whereabouts of the defaulting officials and evidence for their prosecution, Mr. Fetzer gave his entire energies to saving the property of the twenty-two thousand depositors, and seventeen days after his appointment as receiver began the payment of the first dividend of twenty per cent. The most rigid methods of accounting and auditing were adopted by the receiver, all fees and expenses were pared down, and not one cent of the funds of the receivership was diverted to any private use or any purpose other than the benefit of the depositors, which is an innovation in the receiverships of Chicago. The receiver's sales netted an unusually high per cent of real valuation, and by judicious management thou- sands of dollars were realized for the benefit of the depositors. On October 24th a second dividend of twenty per cent was begun, and on November 5th payment on a third dividend of the same amount was begun. Thus within three months after the bank failure the depositors realized sixty per cent of their losses, notwithstanding that the forgeries and manipulations by Stensland and Hering had pro- duced a total loss of a million and a half dollars. On January 14, 1907, a dividend of ten per cent was declared, this being probably the final dividend of any consequence. With the payment of more
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than two-thirds of the losses within five months, Mr. Fetzer has established a remarkable record in the history of important receiver- ships. Comparing it with other noted cases, it will be seen that they required from four to ten years to complete the final settle- inent. that their total dividends seldom amounted to over one-half of the liabilities, and that the expenses of the receivership have been from three to thirty times as large. Mr. Fetzer considered it his duty to "liquidate, not litigate," and that the money involved belonged to the depositors, and belonged to them note in preference to being paid to their heirs and assigns at some distant day hence. There- fore, expedition and economy marked his work from beginning to end, and the successful and speedy conclusion of the receivership is pointed to with pride in Chicago' financial circles.
Considering his achievements, Mr. Fetzer is one of the youngest members of the group of foremost financiers and business organizers in Chicago. He was born in Clarion, Pennsylvania, June 13, 1865, a son of William H. and Henrietta (Clark) Fetzer. Three years later his father, who was a lawyer, moved to Ottumwa, Iowa, and for twenty years was active in Republican politics in that state. Mr. Fetzer graduated from Ottumwa high school in 1881, and dur- ing twelve years of his early business experience was employed as head man under President Euclid Martin, of Parlin, Orendorff & Martin Co., a large wholesale agricultural implement house in Omaha. January 10, 1896, he became manager of the real estate and financial interests of the McCormick estate, and has since been closely identi- fied with many large affairs of Chicago. He aided in the organiza- tion of the Jackson Trust and Savings Bank, the First Mortgage and Bond Company, and the Illinois Surety Company. He is a direc- tor of the Fort Dearborn National Bank, the Protection Mutual Fire Insurance Company and the Keystone Mutual Fire Insurance Com- pany. In 1903 he was appointed a member of the Chicago board of education, and served much of the time as chairman of the finance committee. In July, 1905, he was elected vice president of the board.
Residing at the Palmier House, Mr. Fetzer takes an active part in First ward politics, and as a Republican lends his efforts to elevat- ing the political conditions of that notorious civic division. He was second vice president, in 1903-04, and first vice president, in 1904-05,
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of the Hamilton Club ; and is a member also of the Chicago Yacht. Chicago Athletic, Hinsdale and Hinsdale Golf clubs, and a member of the Chicago Real Estate Board. Mr. Fetzer married, August 27, 1904, Miss Alice A. Stick, of Union City, Indiana.
Horace A. Goodrich, a veteran real estate dealer and one of the leading Methodists of the west, was born in Chicago on the
HORACE A. 9th of July, 1837, and is a son of Grant Goodrich
GOODRICH. and Juliet (Atwater) Goodrich. He received his education in the public schools of Chicago and at Mount Morris, Ogle county, Illinois, as well as at the Northwestern University, Evanston. At the institution named he attended both the preparatory and collegiate departments, but was obliged to relinquish his studies, on account of a failure of health in 1860. Later he studied law, but was finally obliged to seek open-air employment. Mr. Goodrich had clerked for the Methodist Book Concern in 1855-6, but in pursuance of the medical dictum that he must get into some active form of physical work, he went to Joliet, Illinois, in 1862, and assumed the position of superintendent of the sewer pipe, drain tile and fire brick business of the Joliet Mound Company. In this line of employment he busied himself for about five years, and from 1868 to 1871 traveled for his health.
Since 1872 Mr. Goodrich has been continuously engaged in the real estate and loan business in Chicago. He is a charter member of the Chicago Real Estate Board, and has been trustee of the First Methodist church of Chicago since 1889, having served as secretary and treasurer of the board of trustees since 1893.
Mr. Goodrich has been twice married-first, to Miss Theodosia Hamline, at Evanston, Illinois, on the 7th of July, ISSO, and secondly, to Miss Alice La Due, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 25th of September, 1883. The children born to him have been as follows: Tuliet Theodosia, Harriet, Gladys, Grant and Grace (died in in- fancy). Mr. Goodrich is a Republican and identified with Methodist interests. He resides at 1788 Deming place.
Grant Goodrich, the father of Horace A., was one of the noble souls of Chicago's pioneer times, who inspired his own generation and that of a later day with far higher ambitions than those relating to material advancement. He was a brilliant lawyer, a settler of 1834, and, although basing his life on his profession, labored for
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fifty-five years for the educational, moral and religious advance- ment of the city whose greatness and world-wide influence he foresaw. Among the other leading institutions with which his name is inseparably connected are the First Methodist church of Chicago, Northwestern University and Rush Medical College, and his pioneer work, especially in connection with the church, has been in large measure continued by his son, Horace A.
Grant Goodrich was born in Milton, Saratoga county, New York, on the 7th of August, 1811. In his boyhood he was rather delicate, and during that period of his life spent much of his time sailing the lakes on a vessel belonging to his brother. In 1830, when nineteen years of age, he graduated from the Westfield Academy, Chautauqua county, New York, and after studying law for-some time, came to Chicago in 1834. The village then consisted of the fort, eight frame houses and less than one thousand inhabitants, and in this raw frontier town he commenced the practice of his profession. In 1836 he formed a partnership with Giles Spring, which continued unbroken until 1849, when the latter was elected to the bench. He next formed an association with Buckner S. Morris, and later with W. W. Farwell and Sidney Smith. In 1857 he went to Europe for his health, and in 1859 was elected a judge of the superior court, then newly organized. On the expiration of his term he returned to practice, but retired in 1874 and spent the remaining years of his life in the care of his property and the fostering of the many philanthropic and religious enterprises with which his good name is identified.
Judge Grant was one of the very few conscientious men who not only survived the great panic of 1837. but honorably discharged all his debts, although it meant to him a decade of wearing labors which he might have avoided by joining the self-confessed mob of bank- rupts. He was one of the founders of the First Methodist church, and saved its remarkably productive property on the corner of Clark and Washington streets, as well as establishing its influence as one of the great religious organizations of the west. He was one of the first board of trustees of Rush Medical College in 1837, and remained its secretary from its permanent organization until his death. He was actively interested in the first common school convention, and in 1842 was one of the board of school inspectors. He also pre- pared the charter of the Northwestern University, was one of its
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incorporators, and was a member of its board of trustees the re- mainder of his life. As to the Garrett Biblical Institute at Evanston, he was president of its board of trustees from its foundation until his death. An anti-slavery Whig, one of the most patriotic of pa- triotic Republicans, a stanch member of the Union Defense Com- mittee during the Civil war and a director of the Freedmen's Aid Society afterward, his work as a citizen was always open, positive and effective. He was also one of the foremost of temperance advocates, being a founder of the first local societies and of the Washingtonian Home.
Judge Goodrich's death, which was universally mourned, occurred March 15, 1889. He was the seventh in direct descent from William Goodrich, who came to New England in 1630, and whose descend- ants numbered Revolutionary heroes and scholars of note.
Major B. R. De Young, a resident of Chicago over forty years, is an authority on Chicago real estate and has been prominently ac- B. R. DE YOUNG. tive in public affairs. He was born in New York City, August 18, 1843, being a son of Benjamin and Emily (Warwick) De Young. His parents moved to Philadelphia when he was about one year old, soon after which his father died, leaving his mother and an only sister. Having re- ceived a common school education, and after passing the high school, he went, at the age of sixteen, to learn to be a compositor in a large book-publishing house in Philadelphia, where he remained until the war broke out, when he enlisted, at the age of eighteen years, in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served all through the Army of the Potomac, participating in all the battles with his regiment. It was said of him that he was a good soldier, never missing a battle or a march. At the battle of Chan- cellorsville he went in with 750 men and came out with 150, and at Gettysburg he went in with 400 men and but SI came out with him. He received several promotions for valor and faithful service.
After the war Major De Young returned to Philadelphia, where he remained until December, 1865, when he came west, locating in Chicago. He was tendered the position of correspondent in the local agency of the Travelers' Insurance Company, of Hartford, where he remained two years; when he went into the fire insurance business in which he was engaged until 1870, when he was offered a position
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in the regular army, and was stationed at Fort Pembina, Dakota Ter- ritory. After serving one year he resigned, preferring mercantile life. Returning to Chicago, he was married to a most estimable young lady, Miss Lizzie Farnon, of Philadelphia. Mr. De Young, after again locating in Chicago, engaged in the life insurance business, be- ing connected for six years with the Massachusetts Mutual Life and afterward with the New York Life Insurance Company. In the year 1881 Mr. De Young concluded to sever his connection with life in- surance and embark in the real estate business, forming a copartner- ship with his brother-in-law, Mr. John Farnon, of Philadelphia, under the firm name of B. R. De Young & Co., in which business he is still engaged, doing a very large and successful business, represent- ing large eastern capital, and enjoying the confidence and respect of the entire business community. He is a prominent member of the Chicago Real Estate Board, and was elected by that body a member of the valuation committee, on which committee he has served two terms. His judgment is regarded as authority on values. He was elected, without effort on his part, for four successive terms to the office of assessor of the South Town of Chicago, which district in- cludes the main business center and most valuable property of Chi- cago, a very responsible office, which he very ably filled to the gen- eral satisfaction of the tax payers, and was highly complimented by the press for his honesty and fairness in his assessments. Even the opposition to him were compelled to admit that he was just to all. rich and poor, a record in which he ought to feel justly proud. He was, in 1888, selected by the great London Syndicate to appraise the properties of the breweries and malt houses ; also elevators purchased by the English capitalists.
Major De Young is connected with all. the army organizations of this city ; is also a member of the Union League Club of Chicago. He rendered good service during the riots of 1877, was instrumental in the organization of what was known as the Sixth Regiment, Illi- nois National Guard; raised the first company of that regiment that participated in the riots; was elected its captain, and afterwards elected major of the regiment.
He was selected by the first organization of the World's Colum- bian Exposition as a member of the finance committee, and for a term rendered invaluable service on the sub-finance committee in
THE NEWYORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR TILOFA . . VOX
Edward Hôtes
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classifying, equalizing and increasing the subscriptions to the fair fund. In politics Mr. De Young has always been identified with the Republican party and has, at different times, rendered able service to his party.
Anyone who has the good fortune to resemble William Mckinley was certainly well born, and if, in addition, he possesses some of the lamented president's traits of amiability, ability and
EDWARD H.
a profound sense of justice, he is doubly blessed.
PETERS. Edward Harvey Peters has the resemblance both of feature and disposition, and his acquaintances have, therefore, nothi- ing but congratulations to offer on the success of his real estate en- terprises in Chicago and his high standing as a man in the city. Al- though he has always paid the closest possible attention to the devel- opment of his real estate business, he has never forgotten his man- hood or his gentlemanliness.
Edward H. Peters, one of the best-known business men of Chi- cago, and a member of the leading real estate firm of Fetzer, Peters & Co., was born at No. 231 East Eleventh street, New York City. on the IIth of August, 1860, being a son of William Atwater and Lena (Hedner) Peters. His father was himself a native of the metropolis, a millwright and contractor at different periods of his life, and died in 1880.
Mr. Peters of this sketch received his education in the public schools of New York and at an academy in that city until he was twelve years of age, when he removed with the family to Catskill, New York, where his father had purchased a hotel. Until he was seventeen years of age he was associated with the latter in this en- terprise, when he came to Chicago and was in the employ of an ice company both at Goose Island and the stock yards. He was then, for a year, a conductor with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road, at which time he entered the real estate and investment busi- ness in Chicago.
Mr. Peters became thus employd as a resident of Chicago in 1891, and for the succeeding nine years the business was trans- acted under the firm name of Edward H. Peters & Co., although, be- fore venturing as an independent dealer, he had had some experience with the firm of H. O. Stone & Co. On April 1, 1904, a partnership was formed with John C. Fetzer, with the title of Fetzer. Peters
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& Co., the firm largely devoting its business to the handling of down- town or central property and elevator, warehouse, railroad and manu- facturing properties. The transactions in these lines amount to fully seven million dollars annually, and altogether, the business is one of the largest in the city. Mr. Peters' entire time is now devoted to the real estate business of this firm and the care of his own property, the office being at No. 215 Dearborn street.
On June 18, 1902, Mr. Peters was united in marriage to Miss Nellie 'M. Mullaly, daughter of Major John E. Mullaly, of Chicago. Mrs. Peters' family is of Boston, as is her mother, and her father has been identified with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company as claim agent for the past forty years. The two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Peters are Ethel and John Edward. The family home is an elegant residence at the corner of Central Park and Jackson boulevards, overlooking Garfield Park. Mr. Pe- ters has always taken a deep interest in the pleasure grounds of the city, and has now served for four years as a commissioner of the West Park Board, under appointment from Governor Yates. For many years he has been a leading Republican.
Mr. Peters is also a trustee of the Chicago Homeopathic College and Hospital, and a member of the Hamilton (life member), Chi- cago Athletic, Illinois (a life member) and Chicago Yacht clubs.
For a number of years past William Henry Brown has enjoyed a leading identification with Chicago real estate interests as the se- nior member of the firm of Wm. H. Brown Com-
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