History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 125

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 875

USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time > Part 125

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THOMAS W. LUCE, blacksmith, was born in Wheeling. Cook County, in 1830, son of Charles M. and Elizabeth Luce. Ilis parents came to Wheeling in 1832, where they lived until

1953, when they moved to lowa. The subject of this sketeh learned his trade in Arlington Heights in 1871. In 1879 he established his present business of blacksmithing in Desplaines. He owns his shop on Ellenwood Street, and two houses and seven lots. He was married in 1876 to Miss Clara Skinner. daughter of A. E. and Kilzabeth Skinner. They had two children : ane is now living, Gracie Luce.

AUGUST MEYER, proprietor of the Meyer House, was born in tiermany in 1835, son of Henry und Wilhelmina Meyer. lle came to America in 1855. thence after a residence of ten years in New York, came to t'ook County and located in De- plaines, engaging in the mercantile business ; also established his hotel. He owns the hotel buihling. 40x50 feet, two stories high. Ile was married. in 1×8. to Miss Catharine Mo- lune, und they had three children-Wilhelmina, Edda and lann. Mrs. Meyer died in JN66. and during the same year be was married to Miss Cathrine Fry, who has borne him tun children -tieurge and Muttie.

WILHELM MEYER, proprietor of hotel and boarding. house, was born in Hanover, fiermany, in 1832, son of Ileury and Wilhelmina Meyer. Ile came to America in 1854 und spent several years in Missouri and Kansas, engaged at his trade, that of u shoe-maker. In 1861 he entered the army as temister. after which he came to Chicago, where for three years he followed his trade. In 1865 he removed to the town of Leyden, Cook Comty, where he spent two years at farming and shor-making: thenre, in 1867. enme to Desplaines, and for three years followed his trade. He then erected for a butel and boarding-honse a builling 25x40 feet, two stories high. with room to accommodate twenty-five guests. Ile was mar- ried in 1859 to Miss Lizzie Fry. They had five children-Wil- helin, Minnie, Anton, August and Amelia. Mrs. Meyer died in 1872, and he was married in 1874 to Miss SHrina Kumat. They have had four children -Annie, Servina. Elizabeth and Lena. Mr. Meyer has been a member of the Board of Trus- tees af Desplaines.

ALFRED PARSONS. farmer, P. O. Desplaines, was born in Lewis County, New York. in 1810, son of Stephen and Pena Parsons, lle cume to Cook t'ounty in 1842 and purchased a tract of State land containing 1.440 acres, situated near Des. plaines, 140 acres being within the corporation, Ile siso pur- eliased a famn in Deerfield, Lake t'ounty, where be made his residence twenty-eight years. in 1870 moving to Desplaines, where he has u fine residence, erected at a cost cf $6,000, lle also built six tenement houses and a brick business bioek. which is used for stores and post office. Adjoining the village he has a fam of 440 arres, which he rents. Mr. Parsons was married in 1841 to Miss Susan 11. Vedder, daughter of Philip and Margaret Vedder. They have had seven children, five now living-Ellen. t'harles, Albert, Hattie and Philip, lle is a member of the Congregational Society, and has been Church trustee for ten years. He was C'ommisslouer of High- ways for a number of years In Luke t'onuty.

BENJAMIN POYER, farmer, was born In Lower Canada in 1826, son of John and Louisa Poyer. Ile eame to ('ook t'ounty in 1846 and bought a farm of fis neres in Maine Town- ship, where he resided for eight years. Ile then sold that farm and bought the one he now owns, one-half of a mile from Despaaines, containing 196 acres. Ile was engaged in general farming until 1840, since which time he has rented his farm. lle has n fine fruit orchard on his farm containing over 300 apple and cherry trees. Ile was married in t836 to Miss llen- riesta Paine, daughter of William and Charlotte Paine. They have had seven children five of whom are now living-Flor- enre, Nelson. Alma. Falith und Lester. His family are attend- ants of the Congregational t'hurel.

LEWIS POYER, farmer and Supervisor, was born in Lower Canada in 1830, son of Juli and Loonisn Puyer, He came to t'ook t'ounty in IN46, Jocuting in Maine Township, on the farm where he now resides, containing 114 acres, three miles from Desplaines. Hle is engaged in dairving and general farming. Ile was married, in 1861, to Miss Matilda Wheeler, daughter of Nathan and Sarah Wheeler. They have had ten children, seven are now living-Ehuer I .. , Ulysses ti., Alonzo K., Oli- ver N., Melvin S., Marion L. and Daisy H. Mrs. Poyer is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church He is Super- visor of Maine Township : wus elected in 1873 and re-elected each succeeding year. 'Ile was fall Road Inspector of the county for two years, lle has been school director for about fifteen years,

SOCRATES RAND was born in Franklin County, Mass., in 1804. son of Ebenezer and Dorothy Rand. Ile ilved with his parents until he was twenty-one years old. In 1826 he went to Buffalo, N. Y., and engaged in harbor building, and continued in the same work at Black Rock, Niagara Falls, Port Dalhon- sie, ns well as in Buffalo, nutli the fall of 1827. Ile was

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HISTORY OF MAINE.

engaged in the same work for a year and a half at Kettle Creek; he then went into the timber and vessel business for some time, and then went to Detroit on his way to the West, but having no definite point in view. While at Detrolt, in 1833, he was frequently present at the meetings of the Territorial Conneil. Governor Doty was a member of the Council from Wisconsin, and made a motion that a mail route be opened from Chicago to Green Bay, by way of Milwaukee. Tho motion prevalled. and Jeneau took the contract. Falling in with some men who had been at Chicago, he then determined to make that city his objective point, with a view of building the harbor there, pier- building being his business. He arrived In Chiengo in 1834. resided there one year, and then located on a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, adjoining the corporate limits of Desplaines. Ile followed farming until 1801. In 1835 he bought the saw mitl erected on the Desplaines River by the construction company of the Chicago & North- Western Hallway and in 1801 he changeil It to a steam grist. mill which he run for about twenty years. In 1866 he sold his farm. lis residence has siner been in Desplaines, on the corner of Miner and Lee streets. He is now the oblest resident in the town. lle was married in 18MI to Miss Fanny Wicker. daughter of Joel and Lydia (Hoxie) Wieker, and granddaughter of Peleg Hoxie, n Quaker, who commanded an American war vessel in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Raul was elected Supervisor at the second election held in the town, which office he held for two years. In 183; he was elected Justice of the Peace of Des- plaines Precinct, which then included Lake, aml a part of Kane, Mellenry and Du Page counties. He held that office for four years. In 1846 he was elected Treasurer of the Board of Trustees of Maine Township, and held the olllee for twenty years.

ANDREW SALLSTROM, carriage-maker, was born in Sweden in 1814, son of alof and Mary Larson. He came to America in 1808, and, after n resilence of three years in St. Panl. Sinn., removed to Arlington Heights, where he remained two years. In 1x;3, he came to Desplaines and established his present business of carriage-making, owning the building where his business is located, 21xtu feet. He makes carringes to order only, and employs four men. The subject of this sketch was married. in Isin, to Miss Mary Westhurg. They lidl two children-Charles and William. Mrs. Sallstrom died in 1977. He is a member of the Reformed Lutheran Church, mund of the Board of Corporation Trustees of Desplaines.

EDWARD C. SCHAEFER, merchant, was born In Wheel- ing in 18is, son of John M. and Mary Schaefer, early settlers of Wheeling, where his father was engaged in mercantile business. On attaining his majority, the subject of this sketeli engaged as salesman in the mercantile business, In ts;1, he established business in Desplaines, in company with J. W. Satherland. nunder the firm name of Sutherland & Schiefer. After one year he went to Chicago, and engaged as salesman fur J. \. Farwell & Co., miel subsequently becatne bouk- keeper for that firm. In tust he established his present grocery business. Mr. Schaefer is a member of the Preshy- terian Society.

JOIN SCHUH, blacksmith, was born in Germany in 1×13. son of Michael and Mary Schuh. In 1866, he came to Chicago, aml, after working two years at his trade, he came to Desdames, and established his present business. Mr. Schul is unmarried. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Des- plaines, and also a member of the C'atholie Church.

E. D. SCOTT'. dealer in farm Implements, was born in Ver- mont in 1449, son of Enos and Elizabeth Seutt. He came to Cook County, with his parents, In 1852. They located on a farm in Maine Township, where they were engaged in farming until his father's death, which nevarred in 1868, at the age of Ilfty-four. His mother is still living, at the age of fifty-slx. On attaining his majority. the subject of this skelch engaged In farming for about eleven years, In 1882, leaving the farm. which he still owns, he established his present business, which is located on Ellenwood Street. He owns the store, and a feeil, cider and sorghum mill, which he runs in connection with his business. fle owns a residence on Miner Street. Hle Was married in 1876 to Miss Ella Webster, daughter of llenja- min Welster. They have one child, Mary. He is a Commis- sioner of llighways, and has been member of the school iward for four years. lle has been n resident of the town of Maine for the past thirty years. His old neighbors testify of him in this wise: "The son of his father-an honest man ?"

H. C. SENNE. County Commissioner, was born In Germany in 1826, son of Henry and Mury Senne. He came to America in 1845, amil located in Chicago, where he remained until 1819, working at his trade, which is that of a tailor, lle then moved to Elk Grove Township, and engaged in farming and merchandise until 1861, when he came to Desplaines, where

he has since resided. He was engaged in merchandising from 1861 to INGS, lle then began farming, which he followed until 1821. He was elected Representative to the Illinois Legis- lature in 1871, and re-elected in IN ;; t. Ile was elected Super- visor in 1866, and served until 182t. Ile was elected County Commissioner in 1876, and re-elected in 1879 and in 1882. le has taken an active luterest in the political issues of the county. lle was appointed Justice of the Peace of Elk Grove, and served for three years. In 1862, he was Instice of the Peace in Maine Township, which position he held until 1877. He was married in ISIN to Miss Doratha Linnimann. daughter of Christian and Doratha Linnimann. They have lnul eight children ; seven ure now living-William, George, John, Mary, Louisa, Minnie and Sophia. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, and of the Desplaines Ald und Relief Society.

FRANK THOMA, proprietor of the Desplaines Hotel, was born in Germany in 1841. son of Jolin and Eliza Thoma. He came to t'hieago in 1854, und for a number of years engaged in the wholesale liquor linsiness. In 1801 he enlisted in Company 1. 1:tth Illinois Volunteers, participating in the battles of Pea Ridge, White River expedition, Vicksburg. Hager's Illuff. Jackson, Miss., Lookout Mountain, Ringgold. Ga., Bridgeport. Ma .. and other engagements of his command ; he was inustered out In June. 1804. In INKt he came to Ites- plaines, and erected the Desplaines Hotel, n fine structure Six?2 feet, three stories and basement, with thirty-five rooms for guests. the building being erected at a cost of $12,000. lle was married in 1461 10 Miss C'aroline Becker: they have had four children, three wow living-Frank, Fred and Charles. Hle is Republican in politics, and has been an active worker for the interests of his party.

JUIN WELLER. farmer, P. O. Desplaines, was born in Philadelphia in 1813. wo of Jacob und Catherine Weller. He came to t'hicago in 1840, where he remained for twelve years, engaged in the carpenter business and various other pursuits. In 1852 he enme to Maine Township, and purchased a farin of 146 neres, one mile, from Desplaines, where he has since resided. lle makes a specialty ol dairying. and has a stuck of Ity cows. Mr. Weller was married in 1840 to Miss Hettie Ituck. daughter of Peter and Sarah Iluck. They have seven children-dames S., Hiram, lantisa, Amanda, Klida, Philander uml lafayette.

FRANKLIN WILITTOMII, brick und tile manufacturer, was born in Jefferson t'ounty, N. Y., in 1830, sun of Moses and laley Whitcomb. He caine to Cook County in 1843, and located in t'hleago, following the Inke during the summer, and working in the ship yards in the winter. for six years. Ile then located ut Niles, and followed building until 1863. Ile then engaged in brick-making, being foreman of the pressed brick department in the yard of Penny & Meachum, at Park Ridge. He remained with them for four years, and was one year engaged in Imilding. In 1808 he came to Itesplaines mund established his present business of brick-making. lle owns thirty-six acres, twenty neres of brick material. Ile manufactured 800.000 brick the first year, and has since aver- uged alont 3.000,000 per year. Ilis market is divided between local und city trade. ' In 1xst he added tile manufacturing. turning ont 250,000 during the summer of that year. He was married in JNitt tu Mbs Elizabeth Jones, daughter of Evan and Ann Jones, They have had six children: three are now living -Mary F., Elda and George. He has been member of the Board of Trustees of Desplaines for nine years, and director on the school board for ten years.

PARK RIDGE.

This village is situated on the Wisconsin Division of the Chicago & North-Western Railway, thirteen miles from Chicago, on an elevated site, overlooking the valley of the Desplaines River to the westward, aml that of the North Branch of the Chicago River to the eastward. It is elevated above the former (Desplaines River) thirty-four feet, and above Lake Michigan about eighty feet. In very early days, about 1840, two men, named Warner and Stevens, took a claim where the village of Park Ridge is now located, and built a frame house where now stands the large brick house bitilt, in 1837, by George W. Penny. Not many years afterward, Mancel Talcott, Jr., built a small

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498

HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

one-and-a-half-story frame house, with a wing, which is still standing, on l'ark Avenue, opposite J. H. Bat- ler's residence. Of these two frame houses, there seems to be no reason to doubt that that built by Warner and Stevens was built first. In 1853, when George W. Penny came to this locality, to look for clay that would make red brick, these were the ouly houses it the place. In 1834 Mr. Penny, in company with Robert W. Meacham, under the firm nume of Penny & Mencham, opened a brick yard, and commenced the business of making pressed brick. This firm con- timmed to manufacture brick, mainly for the Chicago market, until 1866, when they sold out to Meacham, Lockwood & Co., Mr. l'enny retiring from the busi- ness. The price of red pressed brick, during this period. ranged from $18 to $25 per thousand, while that of Philadelphia pressed brick, at the same time, in the Chicago market, ranged from $50 to $75 per thousand. The quantity of brick made by Penny & Meacham, during the period above mentioned, was about 5,000,000 per year, all by hund. The first briek honse built in this place was the one by George W. Penny, in 1856, on the site of the frame house previously erceted by Warner and Stevens, The next brick buikling was the store by Penny & Meachum, in 1857. The third wus the railroad dep.t, in 1859, and the fourth was the Methodist church, also in 1859. In 1865 Penny & Meacham started a lumber yarıl, planing mill, and a sush, door and blind factory, which supplied the eonntry for some years. This business was contiuned about four years, the annual sales amounting, a part of the time, to $50 000, farmers and others coming to l'ark Ridge (or Brickton, as the place was then called) in pref- erence to going to Chicago. Tho Inmber business was continned until aftor the sale of l'enny & Meacham to Meacham, Lockwood & Co., and was by them permitted to lapse. After the great Chicago fire, Meacham, Lockwood & Co. made a large number of flower-pots, and a potter eame here and made a quantity of jars, but soon became discouragel. In 1880 a man started the brick-making business again, it having been discontinued for some years, but failed, and for the past year or two John Hasseman has been carrying it on in a moderate way, the clay being very nearly cxhuusted.

The name first attempted to be upplied to this place was Pennyville, after George W. Penny, who was the originator of it, and who did a great deal for it in its early history. But as he was opposed to having it named after him, the name Brickton was selected. probably in 1858. Only a few houses were moved into the place or erected before 1800, but occasionally an addition was made and the town continned to grow. Penny & Meacham continued their store as long as they continned the manufacture of brick.

The Post-office was established in 1856, and Robert W. Meacham was appointed Postmaster. A. B. Sher- win succeeded him in 1873, and was himself succeeded in 1880 by the present incumbent. C. E. Stebbings, who bought the store bnikdling of Mrs. Penny in 1872, and who has conducted the store since 1880.

The Schools .- A meeting was held in the Brickton school-house in District No. 2, September 17, 1860. John C. Clark was elected director, and ten months' school for the year determined upon. The teacher's wages were fixed at 85.25 per week for the summer term, and for the winter term $1.37} per day. R. W. Gunnison taught in the winter of. 1861-6% and received for his services $137.50. In the summer of 1862 Miss

Aagusta Meacham tanght the school and received $1 per day, teaching five days in'the week. George A. Follanshee taught in the winter of 1862-63 and re- eeived $8.50 per week. In the summer of 1863, Miss Anna R. Ely received $1.124 per day as teacher. The portion of the school fund belonging to District No. 2 for the years 1860 to 1863 was $257.45, $250.87, $233.85 and $173.42 respectively. In the fall of 1863 a tax of twenty cents on each $100 of taxable "prop- erty was levied for the support of schools, and one of thirty cents for the purpose of enlarging the school- honse The addition to the school-house made was 14×18 feet, and was resolved upon October 1,1863. At the same time a set of rules for the government of the school was adopted hy the directors, comprising twenty-eight long sections. In the summer of 1864 Mrs. Ross, of Niles, was paid $1.50 per day as teacher. The wages of the teachers continued to be raised from year to year. In April, 1867, Z. D. Root, Jr., was offered 848 per month, with the reservation that at the end of the term it should be optional with the direct- ors to pay him $50 per month if they thought he had earned it. On June ;, 1867, the school directors were authorized to issue bonds to any extent within the lim- its of the law to build a new school-house. and afterward $5,000 was the umount agreed upon. The new briek school-house was soon afterward commenced, aud m August, 1869, 82,880. 14 had been expended on the build- ing. It was completed in 1870, at a total cost of $6,542, and the old house was sold for $65. In 1881 an addition was mado to the school-house of about the same size as the original building, aud at a cost of $5,000. There are three rooms occupied in the first story by 150 schul- ars, tanght by three teachers, a principal and two assistants.

The Methodist Episcopal Church .- The exact date of the organization of the Church does net appear on th.a records, but it was as early in 1856, for in that year the members of the various religious societies in Brickton met to consult aboat building a house of worship to bo used by all. After disenssion it was found that the several denominations could not unite in building a union house, so the meeting adjourned. Subsequently at a meeting of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, held October 7 of the same year, they agreed that they would build a church, to be located at Brickton, and also that a subscription be taken to assist in meeting the expense. A lot was pre- seuted to the society, as were likewise plans for the construction of the building. according to which the estimated cost of it would be $6,000. In April, 1856, the Rev. Mr. Bundock preached, and reported that he had obtained $4,000 in good subscriptions. Thereupon the building committee was anthorized to contract for the work. In May, 1857, contracts were wmde with Chittenden & Gorden for the carpenter work, for $1,250, and with Wilton & Victor for the mason work. for ¿950, the committee to furnish the material. Work was commenced and pushed forward rapidly until it became evident that a portion of the subscriptions would not be paid in time to meet payments to the contractors, and as symptoms of a panic were becom- ing more and more clearly discernible, it was decided to stop the work and settle with the contractors, the carpenters being willing to deduet $513, and the masons $168, from the contract price. On these terms settlement was made for the work done. But by this time the lecture-room was finished and prepared for meetings. The society worshiped here until 1859, when a proposition was made to donate the joiner work

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HISTORY OF MAINE.

. necessary to finish the church, amounting to $400, four years, during which time the school-house was provided the same amount could be raised to purchase used. In 1873 the present church edifice was com- menced, and after some years of patient waiting and toil, completed. It is a tasteful Gothic briek struct- ure, built at a cost of about $7,000. The present membership of the Church is about twenty. It was first ealled the Congregational Church of Monroe Precinet, then the Congregational Church of Briekton, and finally the Congregational Clinreh of Park Ridge. the materials. Subscriptions were therefore taken, in shares of $2.60 each, persons taking from one to ten shares. When $312 were subseribed in this way work commenced again. but when the work was finished only $204 could be collected, and there re- mained an indebtedness on this last work of #114.18. Of this the trustees and building committee paid $62.13. There was still a deficit here of over $50, and on the original contract of abont $200. The experi- ment was tried of raising this sum by an excursion to Crystal Lake, which was successful, $237.88 being the net sum realized thereby. The society being thus happily successful after a long struggle, the ehnreh was dedicated in October, 1859, Bishop Simpson preneh- ing the dedicatory sermon. The total cost of building the church was $5,967.40, This Church was called the Briekton Methodist Episcopal Church until Septem- ber 7, 1871; the name Park Ridge Methodist Episco- pal Church was first applied to it December 7, 1871. A complete list of the ministers of this Church would be very long, as cach one stayed but a short time and many of them were nicrely temporary supplies. Some of them are as follows: Rev. Samuel Bnudock, 1857 ; Rev. J. M. Davidson, 1861 ; Rev. N. H. Axtell, 1863 ; Rev. Charles Perkins, 1867 ; Rev. John Ellis, 1869; kev. Alexander Younker, 1869: Rev. A. J. Swartz, 1871 ; Rev. M. F. Stewart, 1872; Rev. A. D. Travel- ier, 1873; Rev. J. F. Stout, 1874 ; Rev. Mr. Kaufman, 1875; Rev. E. M. Boring. 1876; Rev. G. E. Acker- man, 1×76; Rev. George Drake, 187; Rev. E. B. Sparrow, 1878; Rev. C. Wilcox, 1879; Rev. George Day, 1881, and the present pastor, Rev. Alfred Charles, 1883.

The Congregational Church of Park Ridge .- Prelim- inary steps were taken toward the organization of this Church Jannary 22, 1843, and the organization was effected on the 4th of February following. at the Smith school-house. The original members of the Church were Curtis Clark and his wife Electa, J. C. Clark, Asa Clark. Mrs. Sarah Brooks, Mrs. Paulina Richmond, Mrs. Hannah Seney, Mrs. Naomi Forgn- son, Mrs. Susannah Sweeney, John Sweeney, William Bishop, Sarah Bishop, Miss Eliza Sherman, Miss Emily Forguson and Joseph Lovet. The first minister . was Rev. E. E. Wells, who with the assistance of B. B. Drake organized the Church. The subsequent minis. ters in chronological order were Revs. John Downs, Charles R. French, A. W. Henderson, C. R. Clark, J. HI. Laird, Simeon Gilbert, - Davis, M. Webber, M. M. Skeels, -- Gulick. L. P. Sabin, J. M. Lubach aud the present pastor, J. G. Haigh.

The first church building, which was a small frame structure, was erected in June, 1848. While never finished, it was used about four years. The building of the Chicago & North-Western Railroad changed the centers of population and the house was sold. The funds realized from the sale were held nutil a suitable location could be decided upon, when at length Brick- ton was started and the society selected this as the location for their new building, holding services first in the school house, and then in the newly erected Methodist Episcopal Church building. Although the Church was weakened by the death of some and the removal of other of its members, and failed for some years to hold regular services, yet it kept up its organization. In 1568 Rev. J. E. Roy visited the place. the church was built, and a call extended to Rev. J. If. Laird, of Fairfield, Ohio, who remained

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 125

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900 Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas Number of Pages: 875

Author: Andreas, A. T. (Alfred Theodore), 1839-1900
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : A.T. Andreas
Number of Pages: 875