History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 147

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 147

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his studies he preached regularly. Hle assisted in starting the work at Grand Crossing, serving for a time at his own charge. lle also served the Church at Palatine, a second year at Grand Crossing, and one year at Arlington Heights, In May, 1875, he graduated from the institute, and one year later received from his alma mater the degree of B. D. In October, 1875. he joined the Rock River Conference was ordained, and appointed to La- Grange, Cook County, and two years later to Falton-street Church, Chiengo. On account of loss of voice he was obliged to leave the lake front, and in 1879 was appointed to Turner Junction, Du Page Co., Ill., where he served three years, and was then appointed to a third term of service at Grand Crossing. He has had suc- cessful revivals in every charge, and has left in each instance a church stronger in all respects than when he assumed its pastorate. Mr. Ilolmes was married at Lima, N. Y., June, 1875, to Miss Me. lanie Goddard, a graduate of Ingham University, Le Roy, N. Y., and previous to her marriage was principal of the Art Department in the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, and for some time teacher in Genesee State Normal School, and Ingham University. They have two children-Ralph William, born October 1, 1876, and Marion, born November 10, 1878.

E. W. HUTCHINSON, secretary and superintendent of the Grand Crossing Tack Company, was born in Abington (now known as Rockland), Mass., November 19, 1853, and was educated in his native town. At the age of fifteen he went into the tack factory of D. B. Gurney, at Sonth Abington, Mass., with whom he re- mained antil 1876, when he removed to Cook County, and hecame connected with the Chicago Tack Company. In 1883 he entered into partnership with his brother-in-law, A. J. Bassett, and formed the present company. Mr. Hutebinson is a Knight Templar in the Masonie fraternity.

A. C. KANTZLER, dealer in groceries and meats. The busi- ness was established in 1878 by Kantzler & Kuhr, Mr. Kantzler has been alone since October, 1883. Hle occupies a handsome brick building, the store-room being 22x65 feet in area, with a large ice-house in addition. He carries a stock of some $3,000. and is dolog a large and increasing business-in fact, the leading one in towo. A. C. Kantzler was born in Saxony, Germany. His parenta settled In Blue Island, Cook Co., Ill., in 1856. Finisbing his education, he learned the trade of bnteher, afterward engaging in business in Blue Island until he removed to Grand Crossing. He was married at Blue Island, September 25, 1570, to Miss Mina Werner. They have three children-Hermann, Edward and Angust. Mr. Kautzler is a member of the K. of H. of Grand Crossing, and the I. O. O. F. and Turn Verein of Chi- cagn, In 1982 he was delegate to the Republican county convention.

KEMP & THOMPSON, proprietors Grand Crossing Hotel. W. M. Kemp was born in St. Lawrence County. N. Y., Septem- ber 6, 1844. He engaged in farming and clerking in hotels until 1864, when he enlisted In the United States navy, serving until the close of the war in the United States steamer "Susquehanna." Ile then returned to St. Lawrence County and opened a hotel in Potsdam, which be operated ahout nine years. Hle then sold out and removed to Philadelphia, during the Centennial being in the employ of the association. In 1878 he went to New York City, where he clerked for a time, and then entered the employ of Mrs. Commodore Vanderbilt, where he had charge of the stables. Ile continued In this position until 1881, when he resigned and went to Chicago. After running the Grand Crossing Hotel a few months he opened a restaurant in Chicago, which he operated un- til the present fim was organized. C. E. THOMPSON, of the above firm, was born in Livingston County. N. Y., August 17. 1834. His parents moved to Mellenry County, Ill., in 1842, wherehe engaged in farming as a hoy, afterward being in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad at Mendota. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 72d Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. known as the First Board of Trade Regiment, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1863; in May, 1864, First Lieutenant, and in Novem- ber of the same year Captain of Company H. At the close of the war he engaged in the hotel business at Vicksburg, Miss., where he remained about twelve years. He then returned North and en- gaged in various occupations uotil the present firm was formed.

JOSEPH LAWTON, Postmaster at Grand Crossing, was first appointed in July, 1872, and has since held the office. He waa born in Lancashire, Eogland. January 26, 1833. His parents set- tled in Southport, Wis., in 1842, afterward removing to Yorkville. The subject of this sketch was edneated in Racine Connty. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, 8th Wisconsin Infantry. known as the " Eagle Regiment," and served until August, 1864, the expiration of his term of enlistment. He then returned to Ra. cine County and engaged in commission business. In 1866 he re- moved to Chieago and organized the firm of Lawton Brothers & Marr, produce commission merchants, continuing in this until the fall of 1872. when he settled in Grand Crossing, and opened the first store in that place, first dealing In groceries, afterward adding

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

drugs, ete. The business was established in 1872, and is at present carrying a stock of §3,000 to $4,000,

WILLIAM McPHIAIL, foreman of the Nickel-Plate Railroad shops on Stony Island Avenue, two miles south of Grand Crossing, took charge in September, 1883. having come to Cook County. III., In August of that year. In these shops there are 250 men employed, about eighty of whom are in the machine shop. 59x 219 in area, They repsir and rebuild locomotives. Mr. Mcl'hail was born in Scotland in 1825, and was there raised and educated. Ile served an apprenticeship of seven years as a machinist at Tain, Scotland, after which he followed the trade. In 1848 he came to the United States, settling at Schenectady, N. Y., where he worked at locomotive building for some time. Removing to Fort Wayne, Ind., he was foreman of the Wabash locomotive car shops eighteen years, when he changed to the Fort Wayne, Muncie & Cincinnati Railroad shops, where he was master mechanic eight years. He then spent Iwo years at Slater, Mo., on the Western Division of the Chicago & Alton Railroad as division master mochanie, and thence removed to his present position. He is a member of the Masonic Order of Fort Wayne, Ind.

CHIARLES E, MERRILL, dealer in books, stationery. fancy goods, conectionary, etc., is doing a prosperous business and is now preparing to add a circulating library of some tive hundred volumes, The business was established in 1879. Mr. Merrill was born in the city of Chicago March 2, 1860. Ile was educated in that city, and after leaving school engaged in elerking until he established his present business.

MRS. S. A. MILNER. principal Madison-avenue school, is a native of Watertown, N. Y. Her parents settled in Lake County, Ill., where she received a partial education in the public schools, finishing at the Waukegan Academy, under Professor H. M. Twombly. In 1861 she began teaching in Lake County, having charge of county schools eight terms ; was then appointed 10 the p imary department of the North School in Wankegan, in which position she remained five years; was then appointed principal of the East Division School, and two years later principal of the North School, a position she resigned on her marriage. "After the death of Mr. Milner she taught in the Central School of Wauke- gan nnil 1883, when she removed to Cook County.

F. PATZACK & CO., manufacturers of sewing machine fur- niture. Grand Crossing, 111.

HIRAM L. PEASE, M. D., physician and surgeon, was born in Jefferson County, Wis., February 12. 1849. In 1869 he entered Lawrence University at Appleton, Wis., remaining three years. Ile then engaged in clerking in Milwaukee, Wis. In 1874 he re- moved to Chicago and entered the Chicago Medical College, from which he graduated March 20, 1877, immediately afterward set- tling in Grand Crossing in the practice of his profession. Dr. Pease is secretary of the Knights of Honor of Grand Crossing, and member of the Grand Lodge of K. of II. of Illinois, and Chiel Ranger of the A. O. F.

CHARLES EPHRAIM REES, Police Magistrate, was born In 1832 in Batavia, Genesce Co., N. Y., of Jacob and Mary (Pelton) Rees, In 1846 he came to Chicago, and worked at his trade of shoe-maker for a short time. Having saved some money he pur- chased an outfit and followed the business of teaming from about 1849 to 1852. He purchased a farm on Wolf Lake, within what are now the corporate limits of Hyde Park, in 1853. The last piece of this farm he sold in 1883, for village lots in Ainsworth. In 1871 Mr. Rees was appointed a Justice of the Peace for Cook County, In the town of Hyde Park, to replace James Bennett. IIe was elected his own successor in 1873, but he resigned in 1874. when he became the successful candklate for Police Magistrate of Hyde Park. At the close of his term in 1878, he turned his atten- tion to business pursuits. But in April, 1882, he was again elected Police Magistrale for the full term ending in 1886. In 1859 Mr. Rees was married to Sarah Bowles, who died in 1864, leaving two children, In 1865 he married Bridget D. Kelcher, by whom he has hsd seven children. Mr. Rees has been a Mason since 1873. and is a Democrat in politics.

H. C. ROBINSON, dealer in drugs, fancy goods, etc. The business was originally established about 1877. Mr. Robinson was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, in 1843. He was educated in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where his parents removed, In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company K, Both Ohio Volunteer Infan- try; was commissioned Second Lieutenant of same company in January, 1862; promoted to First Lieutenant in October of the same year ; in 1864 commissioned Captain of Company K ; while holding this rank, being allached to the staff of General Green B. Raum ; in 1865 commissioned Major of the 80th, and the same year promoted to Lieutenant-Culonel, which rank he held at the close of the war. He then settled In Martinsburg, W. Va., where he opened a drug store, which he continued to operate, until 1879. when failing health compelled him to make a change of ellmate. He then removed to Chicago, 111., and shortly afterward bought

his present business. Mr. Robinson is at the head of the Repub- lacao organization in the Fourth Precinct of Ilyde Park.

WILLIAM. C. SCOVEL, M. D., physician and surgeon, and notary public, was born in Colombia County, N. Y., December 6, 1834. Ile received his education under his father, the principal of the Hudson River Seminary, and afterward engaged ia leaching in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In 1860 he entered the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia, graduating in 1863, and Immediately afterward began practice al Bloomington, Ill., where he remained until 1872, when he removed to Grand Cross- ing. lle has been a notary public some ten or eleven years,

TINSLEY BROTIIERS, dealers in clothing, bonts and shoes. hats and caps, etc. The firm is composed of J. W. and J. R. Tinsley, the latter having charge of their store in South Chicago, The business was established in Grand Crossing in 1876. They carry a stock in both stores of about $10,000. J. W. Tinsley was born in Booneville, Oneida Co., N. Y., December 11, 1840. He was educated in his native county. After leaving school he was employed in his father's store, afterward engaged in clerking in New York city some two years. He then learned the photographing business in Albany, N. Y., and in 1864 opened a gallery in Chicago until 1871. when he sold out, after this following photography at different points until 1874. Mr. Tinsley is a member of Knights of Honor of Grand Crossing.

JOHN WATSON, proprietor of the Grand Crossing Shooting Park, was born in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1858 be came to the United States and located in Burlington County. New Jersey, where he engaged in farming. During the war he was attached to the General Hospital at Washington as chief clerk, afterward to the pay and Quartermaster department. At the close of the war he returned home and resumed farming. About 1869-70 he engaged in produce business in Philadelphia. T'enn. In 1871 he removed to Grand Crossing, where he has since remained. In addition to his duties in the Shooting Park. he is also extensively engaged in the real estate business, making a specialty of subdivisions in this vicinity.

G. T. WILLIAMSON, proprietor Williamson's foundry, was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He began his business life in 1870 31 s clerk in a hardware store, afterward buying ont the business, which he continued to operate until 1876, when he removed to Cook County and established the foundry which he at present operates,

H. WULFF, dealer in coal, wood, flour and feed. The busi- ness was established in June, 1883. Ile carries a full stock of hard and soft coals and does the leading business in his line in the town. Mr. Wulff was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, Jane- ary 10, 1844. After leaving school he learned the machinist trade, which he followed at home until t870, when he came to the United States and located in Chicago; afterward followed bis trade some years in Ohio, Returning to Chicago shortly after this, he moved Io Grand Crossing to take charge of the attachment room in Wilson's sewing-mi chine factory. a position he retained until the establishment closed, He was married at Grand Crossing in September, 1877, to Miss Emilie Housen, of Chicago. They have two children-Henry and Ferdinand. Mr. Wulff is a mem- ber of the K. of H. of Grand Crossing.

CHELTENHAM BEACH.

This is a residence property on the lake shore; first known by the name of White Oak Ridge, then as Westfall's subdivision, and is one of the latest addi- tions to the lists of suburban property. It extends from Seventy-fifth to Seventy-ninth streets, and from the track of the South Chicago division of the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad to Lake Michigan ; it is nine miles south of Chicago and one and one-half miles north of South Chicago. The South Shore school, located at the corner of Seventy-fifth Street and Railroad Avenue, furnishes scholastic facilities for the children of resi- dents.

SOUTH CHICAGO.

It has always been a mystery to the student of his- tory why the United States Government decided upon placing a fort at Chicago in lieu of placing it at, of near, the embouchure of the Calumet ; the precedent established by La Salle would designate a southerly

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HISTORY OF HYDE PARK.

location for the post, and a fort at the mouth of the Calumet would certainly be more centrally located, relatively to the Indians over whom it was intended to terrorize, and would have been just as accessible as at Chicago. Explicatory of this matter tradition narrates the following somewhat apocryphal anecdote, as the reason why Fort Dearborn was located upon the bank of the Chicago River: Sometime about 1800, the com- manding officer of the troops stationed at Chicagou fell in love with a black-eyed demoiselle Française named Le Mai, the daughter of an Indian trader who was in the employment of the American Fur Company, and whose shack, or hunt, was situated in the elbow of the river, about where Rush-street bridge now stands. In consequence of the affection borne by this modern Mars for the Venus of Le Mai, Chicagou was reported to be the most eligible and effectual position for a fort, and there, in 1804, Fort Dearborn was placed ; rumor fur- ther states, upon the exact spot where Le Mai's cabin stood ; but whether as a trophy of successful military ardor, or as a monument to the coldness of this Diana, legend fails to disclose. Few people, in traversing the prosaic region around Rush-street bridge, think of this idyllic reminiscence of near a century since; and few people think of the difference that the selection of the Calumet region as the location of the fort, would have made in the histories of the two places. But there are destinies, genii loci, that overrule the affairs of cities as of men ; the Eternal City was necessitated to be the abode of the Catholic hierarchy despite the efforts of the pontiffs of Constantinople and Alexandria, and not- withstanding the selection of Avignon by Clement V. in 1309. Chicago was to be the western metropolis in contravention of all the natural advantages of the Calumet region, notwithstanding many potent influences brought to bear upon legislators in favor of the latter place and adverse to the former ; and for many years it seemed as though the Calumet region was doomed to be nothing but a hunting and fishing region for the re- laxation of the inhabitants of Chicago. How its fart- unes waxed and waned; how its inhabitants grew heartsick and weary, waiting for the improvement that came so slowly, and how the achievement that resulted upon the patient working and tenacity of a few, far transcended their wildest imaginings, be it the pleasant task of this history to show.

AsitkuM .- The first proprietor of the land whereon Calumet City was intended to be erected, appears to have been Ashkum, Indian chief of the Pottawatamies and lord of the Callimink Valley, who here held his tribal autocracy. His name meant " more and more." The district donated to him by the Treaty of Tippe. canoe was Section 7, south of the Indian boundary line. Aslıkum gave the land to Father La Salle and his heirs confirmed the title in Father E. Sorin, of South Bend, Ind., a religious of the convent there, and thence came the present name of the property ; the Notre Dame Addition to South Chicago. Section 8, the one contiguous on the east, was likewise donated to a Pottawatomie chief of the Great Father and from him W. G. Ewing derived title.

'The next chronological event that is connected with this region is a document concerning the first ferry, and that is taken from the old records of Peoria County, as follows:

" County Commissioners Court of Peoria County, June Term, 1830.

Oniered: That William See be allowed to keep a ferry across the Callimink at the head of Lake Michigan, pay a lax of two dol- lars, and charge the following rates :

Each foot passenger. 8 .12%

Each man and horse. .25

Each wagon or cart drawn by two horses or oxen. .75

Each four-horse wagon ..... 1,00

Each one-horse carriage or wagon .37%

Passed on 7th day of June, 1830."

There is no evidence that William See-who was a Methodist clergyman and the first to perform the mar- riage ceremony in Chicago-ever ran this ferry him- self ; if he did, he was the first clergyman of Calumet. Mr. Thomas Gaughan states that one Hale was the first ferryman over the Callimink, and that he sold all the property around that region to Lewis Benton for $8,500. However this may be, the Rev. William See upon August 3, 1830," married John Mann to Ar- kash Sambli, a three-fourths white, one-fourth Indian, girl, and the adopted daughter of Antoine Ouilmette ; and Mann is known to have ran the ferry in 1835; he may have done so much earlier than that. He was one of the voters of Chicago in 1830, but at what time he left Chicago and ran the ferry under the license accorded to the Reverend See, it is impossible to determine. He lived on the east side of the Calliminkt River about where Ninety-third Street terminates. His business, besides the ferry, was that of primitive Indian trader- ship, bartering whisky for peltries, and became quite well-to-do from his business. But he was cf intem- perate habits and the remonstrances of Mrs. Arkash Sambli Mann were unavailing to restrain his dipsoma- nia. When the last of the Pottawattomies left the Callimink, about 1838, Mrs. A. S. Mann informed Mann that she must reverse the example of Ruth, as she could not leave her people, so she forsook John. The pre- sumption is that Arkash was not unmindful of the mari- tal claims of Mann, but that all her efforts at reclama- tion had been so utterly futile that she had no recourse but to abandon him. After he was forsaken by his wife, poor John lost the little restraining influence that she exerted over him, and became a drunken ne'er- do-weel. He left the Callinink and went to Wiscon- sin; when last heard of there he was keeping a sort of garden at Racine ; after which he was lost sight of. Some of the children of John and Arkash Sambli Mann, are buried nearly opposite the southern end of the Ninety-second street bridge, which was the general cemetery of the carly settlers, and there-

" Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, Each in his narrow cell forever faid

The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." -Gray.

Many attempts have. been made to have the remains exhumed and re-interred in some established cemetery; but the relatives and descendants of the hundred sleep- ers who there calmly rest, prefer to have them remain there, near the unquiet surges whose song they loved so well in life. Here rest G. M. Jackson, died January 23, 1850, Æ, thirty-three years; Patrick Henry, æ. three years; Lory, æ. six months, and William æ. five months, children of G. M. and B. M. Jackson; Sarah Ellen, daughter of A. T. and Matilda Gage, died November I, 1854; also " Hier ruhet in Gott dem Herrn der Wohl- geborne Andreas Zirngibl, geb, den 30 Marz, 1797, gest. den 21 August, 1855. Sanft ruhe seine Asche." Other graves are there; unmarked and undisturbed. August Mageritz, who lives on the Point, is a self-constituted sexton and nails up an occasional board or props up a

* Chicago marriages recorded In Peorin County; see " Lectures on Early Chicagn " by John Wentworth, LL. D .; Fergus Ilistorica] Series.

t Callimink is the Indian name fue Calumet, and the river was so called in early days. Chickamin was the Pottawatomie name, and Ponay The Touwa name ; they all signify the same : Pipe-of-peace.

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-1919

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

declining post, and has his meditations among the acknowledgeil by Samuel C George, John P Chapin, tombs, after the miomer of Hervey. Lewis Beneun Gew & B. Clark and William French.

CALUMET HARBOR CROSLN .- In 1833 the United States Government directed that a critical survey should be made of the Calumet and Chicago rivers, to discrim- inate as to the superiority for marine and commercial purposes. This duty was entrusted to Lieutenant Jefferson Davis, of the United States Engineer Corps, whose name has since been prominently identified with the so-called 'onfeilerate States This officer strongly recommended and urgently advocated the improvement of the Calumet Kiver, and the establishment of the bar- bor there; not akme because of the superior natural depth and liberal seaboard of the river, but because of Lake Calumet having such ample facilities as a hiding- place and refuge for the American navy. The spirit of prophesy might have been with him, and he have clescried the need of a harbor of refuge from the dis- criminating eyes of reporters and naval inspectors, for the navy. Actually, the idea of those days was to have a place where the navy could be hidden to avoid a gen- eral engagement being forced upon it, and from whence it could make sorties on the enemy: something of the naval tactics of the bnecanrers of the Caribbean Sea.

LEWIS BENTON about this time determined upon migrating to the Callimink; fondly anticipating that the terminus of the Illinois & Michigan Canal would be near its mouth. Stephen A. Dmglas considered Calu- met as the most proper outlet for the canal; among other reasons for its construction esteeming that it would afford a water-way for the shipment of grain, and thus avoid so much wagon transportation: amdl he thought that the C'alumet was the natural outlet for such canal. Lewis Benton huilt a store-the first store in C'aluniet- on the west bank of the Callimink, and about sixty yards from its month at that time. This store was re- plete with everything that could be needed by a pioneer family; the counterpart of sich stores can be seen in any frontier settlement. Closely contiguous to this store he built several houses for his employés, and then quietly sat there to await the arrival of the canal. That it never came is unnecessary to state; the result of its destined terminus at Chicago was to cause the almost complete alandonment of the settlement at the mouth of the Callimink; the settlers going to the line of the canal to endeavor to recover the losses they estimated they had sustained by their settlement. Political influ. ence, more potent than any that Benton couldl wiekl, decided for Chicago against Calumet, and the l'arc.y seemed to have nothing bet a tangled skein for the latter locality. About 1833, Benton became the owner of a Government patent, and platted the majority of Sections 5 and 6, west of the Calumet River, which in that year, was known as the

CITY OF CALUMET.

The sululivision of Calumet was filed for record on June 13. 1836, and recorded in Book HI of maps, at page 79. and was acknowledged by George W. Dole. Lewis Benton and Rachel, his wife, Elijah K. Hubbard and Elizabeth S. D., his wife, as proprietors, John Wentworth and other prominent men considered it desirable to " hedge," lest there was a possibility of Calumet attaining commercial importance and conse- quent financial value; and, in furtherance of this project, bought large tracts of property in the vicinity of Calu- met, the outgrowth of which was

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 147

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