History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 151

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 151

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Chicago Canal and Dock Company in descrying this fact has made their fortunes ; that, and their persistent obtrusion upon the public notice, of the facilities South Chicago proffered for commercial purposes. The his- tory of the region is one of tardy recognition of in- herent advantages, of intrinsic value becoming known and tangibly appreciated despite influential opposition. In the annals of the town, there appears to have been no especial boom that led to its present populous and thrifty condition ; that some individuals may have over- estimated the present necessities of the time wherein they inaugurated ventures is only an epitome of the general history of Western cities, towns and hamlets ; but in a town like South Chicago, the wildest dreams of visionaries are distanced hy cold mercantile matter of fact.

On June 24, 1873, a convention was held at South Chicago, where John L. Beveridge predicted that " Lake Michigan will forever sing the blessings of the day when this harbor is opened." A little flamboyant, but true nevertheless.

SOUTH CHICAGO A PORT OF ENTRY .- South Chi- cago was made a port of entry, tributary to the Chicago district, in 1873. The following table exhibits the arrivals and departures of sail and steam vessels, with their gross tonnage ; also the amount of dues collected, as follows :

Vessels entered.

Vessels cleared.

Tonnage.

Dues collected,

1875

138

126

17.442

...

1876.

136

135

41.055

$123 00

1877

22.514

72 50

1678

15.988

43 20

1879 steam.

114

.......

1879 sail.

14.001

.......

1880 steam.

15.780 }

1880 sail ..

29.385

90 70

1881 steam

105

167.416 }

158 00

1881 sail

292

300

177.214 1

1882 xleam

163

151

295.660

1882 sail.

380

377

211,971 1

1883 steam

108

156,819 }

311 50

1883 sail ..

223

215

196,050

The deputy collector at South Chicago is John L. Marsh ; the particulars exhibited were kindly furnished by F. C. Greene, deputy collector of the Chicago Cus- tom House. This is a lecture on the growth of the town. Andrew Krimbill first opened his real estate office in 1873; the first personal enterprise of that nature in the town. From 1873 to the present time the progress of the town has been that of any commercial center ; augmentation by producing or manufacturing establishments and their employés. The advent of large numbers of inhabitants rendered necessary the presence of clergymen to minister unto their spiritual needs, and the following account specifies the establish- ment and growth of the various denominational sodali- ties, as nearly as can be ascertained ; definite data as to foreign congregations being sometimes impossible of acquisition, because of the collaborator's ignorance of the majority of the languages, distributed at the philo- logical grab-bag of the Tower of Babel.

The first religious gatherings at the settlement of Ainsworth were those of the Catholics. The first license for a ferry was given to William See, a clergyman and blacksmith, but there is no authentic evidence that he ever even visited the Calumet region : still less held any relig- ious service. Therefore the palm for the introduction of the Gospel must be given to the descendants of the early Catholic missionaries, who founded

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494 50

580

HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

THE PARISH OF ST. PATRICK'S is an okl established partition by the Catholic Church, and at one time embraced the entire district from the city limits to the Iniliana State line. The first church of St. Patrick's was built in 1860, on the site of the present Bowen school, by Rev. Thomas Kelley, the proprietor of said site. Hardly was the church finished when the war broke out, and Father Kelley became the chaplain of Mulligan's Brigade. After spending two years as such military ecclesiastic he returned in shattered health, and lived only long enough to see his little church com. pleted and the cross raised upon it, above the ruins of the Indian wigwains. " The following list comprises the incumbents of the office of parish priest of the parish of Saint Patrick's : Reverenils Thomas Kelley, Peter Corchran, Peter O'Dowd, P. J. Murphy, P. J. Conway, - Bowles, P. J. Butler, Michael Lyons, Thumas F. Leydon, Thomas Kennedy, - Campbell, P. M. Flannigan, James Cassman, Denis A. Tighe and Martin van de Laar. The latter assumed charge of the parish on February 22, 1880, when there were about one hundred and fifty families within the parochial boundaries. He was the first resident pastor, andl established the parochial house and raisedl and enlarged the church and underneath it built an excellent school, well ventilated, commodious anil with separate rooms for the scholars of different grades. Prior to Mr. Van de Laar's incumbency there was no schoul. It was established in August, 1883, and is under the manage- inent nf the Sisters of Mercy of the academy of Saint Xavier, Chicago ; the attendance, threemonths after its establishment was two hundred and forty. Its dimensions are sixty feet by one hundred and twenty feet, The church and school are worth about $9.500. the parsonage about $4,000, and nine lots belonging to the church, about $1 3.500. The congregation has about four hundred families, or some three thousand people amenable to the religious direction of the parish priest. The church is a neat building capable of seating eight hundred com- fortahly, and is well adapted for auditory purposes. It has emblematic stained windows behind the organ luft. and one on either side of the sanctuary representing Saint Patrick and Saint Bridget. Rev. Martin Van de I.aar was born in the diocese of Bois-le-Due, Holland, on April 9. 1844, and studied six years in the Petit Senn- naire, and six years in the Grand Seminaire, of Bois-le- Duc, in the Septentrionale District. He left Holland in 1873. arriving in Chicago the same year, and remained there as assistant Priest of Sant Columbkill's Church, until his assignment to the parish uf Saim Patro k's. Father van de Laar has the typical traits of the ull Hollanders, sturdy, persistent industry ; pan-taking a Unwearying application and firm tenacity of purpose : in his physique and characteristics, and in the revte wiel of the labor he has performer, it is easy to trace descent from the men who fought the encroaching sea. and little by little ultimately conquered the ocean. Ile has for assistant priest, Father Owen Kelley, whu com- menceil his duties on August 10, 1883. Mr. Kelley is a graduate of Saint Mary's Seminary, under the manage- ment of the Sulpicians, in Baltimore, Md.

The second charch, in point of early organization, is the IMMANUEL EVANGELILAL LUTHERAN CHURCH. It i- situated on Houston Avenue between Ninetieth and Ninety-first streets, and is a neat two-story frame build- ing. The first Lutheran congregation, organized in 1871, was that of this church, of which Ferdinand Eoeder- lein, now in Homewood, Cook County, was pastor ; le

"Particulars of the early St Patrick's were given by Muharl Doyle, and are La ird r-atly in bis lainguugr

was succeeded by H. P. Dubourg, now in Black Oak, Conr County, and he by the present pastor, Carl Eissicklt. in May, 1879. The congregation comprises about une hundred Swedish families, of whom about fifty air church members. The parochial school, conducted in Swedish and English, has about seventy-five prapuis; Adolph Herter is the principal of the schuol, under the superintendente of the pastor. The church building. schaal and property, is valued at about $7.000.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- On Sep- tember 10, 1872, 1 meeting was held at Harbor Avence, whereat the question of the formation of a congrega- tinn and the enciiun of a bonse of warship was discussed It was then decided and a constitution was adopted and the following names signed thereto: Gideon E. Clark .* Elam G. Clark, Davel Mellale, Charles E. Bacon, C. K. C'oates, Fred 6; Wersingle. Louis Weislogle, Mrs. A. H. Weislogle, Mr. ( I. Tiffany, T. S. Spafford, G K. Edwards, K. H. Kent, W. E. Dempsey, R. B. Pooler. I F. Persise, Jr., O. F. Gear, Robert Covert and J. C. Duckworth. Under the auspices of this congregation a church was built and completed about New Year's day, 1873. Of this church Rev. C. A. Towle became pastor in the fall of 1873. This was the original Congrega. tical society. In the spring of 1874 the fallowing per- sons met and organized the First Congregational Church of South Chicago: William H. Miller,t first deacon; Mary A. Miller, Flora Miller, Richard Ransom, Martha A Ransam, Jacob Schell, Mary M. Schell, Charles E. Bacon, Sarah F. Brandt, Jane Caddick, M. Jennie Towle, and C. A. Towlc, first pastor. On August s, 1876, C. A. Tawle left and Rev. L. T. Chamberlain, of the New England Congregational Church, had the sup- plying of the pulpit until January 1, 1877, when Rev. C. H. Rogers, of Chicago, served as pastor until May 15. 1877, and then Rev. W. B. Floyd occupied the pulpit until October 1, 1877. After that date the pulpit was desultorily occupied until Christmas of 1878, when Rev. T. A. Wadsworth assumed charge of the Churchand re- mained abat a year. Then again there was a casual supply until April 10. 1881, when Rev. George Hiram Bird occupied the pulpit on probation; he was called to the pastorate June 17, 1881, the society 'met and con- curred in the call June 24. 1881, and on June 30, 1881, he accepted. On July 7 a council composed of city pastors convened for his examination and ordination.

GEORGE HIRAM BIRD was born in Milford, N. H., on Juh ;. 1854. but passed almost all his early life at t'aumbridge, Mass, his primary studies being pursued at the grammar school at that place. Next he went to Phillips Academy at Andover, where he graduated in 1870. Ile was then in business with his father in a foundry at Cambridgeport, Mass., for one and a ha'f years. In the fall of 1872 he entered Harvard ('". lege, gualnating in the summer of 1875 : the flest year he taught school at Foxboro, Mass., and iluring This period of teaching decided upon studying for the ministry. In the fall of 18;6 Mr. Bird went to Neu Haven Theological Seminary and stand there two years. preaching in Albany, Maine, during the two spinner vacations. In the fall of 18;8 he continued his the og- ical studies at Amlover Theological Seminary, gradus ing there in the class of 1879; the summer of that ves he spent at Augusta, Me., taking a post grad late Chatse at Andover, July 1, 1880. In this memb he came l'est and located in Englewood, preaching there wr firy

*Gideon F .. Clark eras the first Sunday's wool esperintruth a thaiss il whout thirty, he was an active mee in the Imp The Sunday-who existed al u wa thunk organ ted

+1 arun Mi'ler diet in the powie of if-

gle

581

HISTORY OF HYDE PARK.

weeks, when he was invited to settle there; while con- sidering the matter he was invited to South Chicago and came in 1881. In the winter of 1881-82 the church was enlarged to more than double its previous congrega- tional capacity, having room now for three hundred people ; it was occupied, with services, the first Sunday in March, 1882. It is now twenty-four feet by sixty feet in area, with a wing twenty-four feet by twenty- six feet connected thereto, and is worth, with the ground, about $5,000. The congregation numbers about two hundred and the Sunday-school about two hundred and fifty. This church also maintains a mission Sunday - school, at the Ninety - eighth - street Danish Chapel, of some seventy-five or one hundred children.

SWEDISH BAPTIST CHURCH. - This congregation also meets at the Congregational Church, and is under the pastoral care of Rev. F. Landquist.

SWEDISH METHODIST CHURCH, - This congrega- tion have a neat building on the southeast corner of Exchange Avenue and Ninety-first Street ; they have no regular supply for the pulpit at present. The church numbers about twenty-five members, and the present building was erected in 1882. A Free Meth- odist congregation also meets here.

DANISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH .- The Danes of South Chicago, who profess the faith of this Church, meet at their church on Ninety-eighth Street, near Commercial Avenue. The last pastor, who regularly supplied the pulpit, was Rev. H. P. Duborg. The Danish Chapel of the Congregational Mission also have services at the same place.

GERMAN BAPTIST CHURCH .- This congregation is a mission from the Church at Colehour, and was organized April 18, 1882 ; pastor, Gotthard Mengel. Meetings are held in the church building that was first opened on October 1, 1882, on Superior Avenue, near Ninety-second Street, on Sunday evening ; the congregation at time of organization was fifty, and the Sunday school scholars forty ; the congregation at present numbers sixty-four, and the attendance at the Sunday-school averages seventy-seven. The value of the church property is $2.929.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH .- The congregation of the First Baptist Church meet in the building belonging to the German Baptist Church, and have the pulpit sup- plied by students from the Morgan Park Seminary, D. D. O'Dell being the gentleman who now performs that function. The congregation is not large, but is com- posed of carnest workers.

SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN BETHANY CHURCH .- This church was first organized in June, 1880, with about twenty-seven members. The trustees then were Ola Peterson, Nels Munson, G. A. Johnson, Nels Paulson, Charles P. Sjoquist and Magnus Johnson, and these trustees held office until January 1, 1881, when a regular election was held. The congregation met for some time in the Taylor school and then in the school- room of the German Lutheran Church. The church was commenced in August, 1881, and completed in February, 1882, the building of which cost $4,150. The Calumet & Chicago Canal and Dock Company gave one lot to the church ; the other cost $600 ; they are now worth $1,250 each. There was never a regular minister of this Church, the pulpit having been supplied from the Augustana, Rock Island, College. The con- gregation now numbers about two hundred. The Sun- day-school was inaugurated in 1882, and has an average attendance of forty-five scholars. The present trustees of the church are Ola Peterson, Nels Munson, John

Lindquist, John Peterson, Pehr August Israelson and Jacob Gotthard Vallin ; the deacons are Nels Munson, John Peterson, P. A. Israelson, Magnus Johnson, Charles P. Sjoquist and Carl Magnus Swenson. In connection with the church the Lutheran secular school was held, three months' tuition having been given in 1882, Miss Anna C. Vide'n, principal; and four months" instruction imparted in 1883, A. P. Martin, principal. The sessions of the school were held in the church and the average attendance was forty-four.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,-This religious body was organized November 18, 1875, at the Ma- sonic Hall, South Chicago, with Elder Gloss of Joliet, in the chair. The name adopted was the First Methodist Episcopal Church. of South Chicago, and the officers were R. Ransom, secretary ; Stephen Hawkins, treasurer; E. W. Parmeley, C. E. Bacon, U. P. Edmond, A. J. Burroughs and R. Ransom, trustees, and R. Ransom, E. W. Parmeley and Lewis Burnwood, stewards. The congregation now numbers about forty- five, with a Sunday-school of about one hundred; church is held in the Masonic Block and Rev. John Lee is the pastor. The present trustees are Andrew Krimibill, G. B. Hannahs, Lorenzo D. Barr, Nathan M. Reynolds, Fenton Tinsley and William Marsh. The Church owns five lots on the northeast corner of Superior Avenue and Ninety-first Street, worth $4,000, whereon it is intended to build a handsome church.

THE CHURCH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION .* -This church was founded in the summer of 1882 by Rev. John Radziejewski, and is composed of Poles. The church is situated on the corner of Eighty-eighth Street and Commercial Avenue, and is one of the most prominent objects in the landscape when entering the city from the west. It is a large two-storied frame building, fifty feet by one hundred and thirty ; the first floor being used for secular school purposes, at which one hundred and fifty children attend. The school is conducted by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word from Texas. When the Church was founded there were one hundred and fifty families in the parish, now there are two hundred and fifty that attend services. The cost of the building was $18,000, of the land $5,600.

THE CHURCH OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL .- This Catholic congregation was founded in the spring of 1882 by Rev. Mathias William Barth, the first pastor. The temporary church and school edifice is a frame building forty feet by eighty-five feet, the first story being used for a school and the upper story for church pur- poses. It is situated at the corner of Ninety-first Street and Exchange Avenue, and cost $9,200; the ground per- tainingto the church comprises five lots twenty-five feet by one hundred and thirty-five feet, and cost $3.710. The parish at the formation of the church had forty- five families ; it now numbers ninety-five. The school is conducted by the Sisters of Saint Francis from Joliet, and there religious and secular instruction is given ; the regular attendance thereat is eighty children.

SOUTH CHICAGO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. - This body was organized in June, 1882, with fourteen members. They then met, and still continue to meet, at Centennial Hall ; the pastor still being the one who has charge of the congregation, Rev. O. W. Latti- more. The members of the Church now number twenty- eight, and the attendance at the Sunday-school averages fifty-five children. It is contemplated by the congrega- tion, to erect a church edifice within the ensuing year.

GERMAN EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ZION'S CHURCH * As the priest in charge of this church speaks only Polish, and as the collaborator does not speak that language fluently, he is indebted for these particulars to Rev. M. W. Marth.

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

is the result of a secession from the Immanuel Lutheran Church, occasioned by an inability upon the part of the seceders to subscribe to a Calvanistic doctrine of predestination. The first meeting of the anti-Calvinists was held in January, 1882, and commencing at 8 P. M., lasted until after midnight. Consequent upon this meeting the Church was organized in March, 1882, and the first meeting was hekl in the new church on Superior rior Avenue, between Ninety-first and Ninety-second streets, on April 2, 1882. At the same time the school was established, wherein is taught an English-Ger- man course of study, based upon religious princi- ples; of this school the former principal was C. F. E. Sauter, who was succeeded by F. Ganschow, The pastor, Heinrich Karl Gotthelf Docrmann, has general supervision of the school. Hle is a man who commands respect by the quiet fervor of his belief and the deep earnestness of his nature. The congre- gation numbered twenty-six at

its inception and now has thirty-two members; the school has grown from thirteen to seventy-two scholars, and the Sunday-school has an average attendance of about about eighty-five. The church building and grounds are valued at $3,000.

From this syllabus of the various creeds taught in many languages, it is apparent that a man must be extremely isolated in his dogmatism and language, if his theological beliefs could not receive sustenance and comfort in the churches of South Chicago.

FIRE DEPARTMENT .- On August 24. 1874, a com- pany was organized to operate the chemical engine in- tended for this company. The members were about the same as those of Hose Company No. 5 : A. R. Beck was captain and M. B. Arnold secretary. The chemical engine was received by the company in Octo- ber, 1874, and placed in their first house, an old build. ing on Harbor Avenue, between Ninety-first and Nincty-second streets, that had been donated to the company by James H. Bowen, and repaired by the members of the company.

On November 25, 1879, South Chicago Hose Com- pany No. 5 was organized ; the chemical engine was sent to Oakland and subsequently sold, and a hand engine, one hand hook and ladder truck and one two- wheel hand hose cart purchased for the use of the com- pany. The first members were : A. R. Beck, president ; Patrick M. Conboy, captain ; Clark A, Winslow, fore- man ; Adam Griesel, first assistant ; W. J. McVey, second assistant ; John A. McIntosh, foreman hook and ladder ; William T. Decourcy, assistant foreman hook and ladder; Peter Carr, secretary ; Charles F. Swan, treasurer ; Thomas F. Doyle, William B. Arnold, Louis Donath, John L. Walsh, A. J. Griggs, Conrad Eigenmann, F. M. Webster, George K. Edwards, P. Tully, E. G. Clark, Thomas Culver, E. Dougherty, Hank Herker, Charles Johnson, Thomas Hoyle, Cor- nelius Conboy, George W. Richards, W. H. Ransted, Peter McGonaghan, Charles Bassett, Henry Slocum, H. S. Pendergast, Peter Ringenberg, Loren Love, Otto Schocning, Ernst Erfurth, Nicholas Heinsen, August Busse, Chris, Rasch and J. A. Hall, privates. The company has twelve hundred feet of rubber hose at their house, near the corner of Ninety-second Street and Houston Avenue, in addition to the equipment before noted as purchased for them. The hose house, with the police station attached thereto, cost 81,500. The present members of the company are : George W. Richards, captain ; Peter Carr, Benjamin C. Garsides, Charles Raih, August Schnell, Ernst Erfurth, Loren Love, August Busse, Charles S. Bowman, Otto Schoen.

ing. John W. Leigh, Albert D. Hendey, C. Vincenz, Christ. Rasch, Harry Stallman, Adam Griesel, Charles Myers, Riley I., Mickey and John Born.

On August 6, 1876, a yachting event occurred at South Chicago that being the first time the Chicago yacht clubs visited the South Chicago docks. Eleven yachts participated in the excursion, as follows: " Fleetwing." Commodore Tim Bradley, head of the squadron; "Annie Louise Carey," Vice-Commodore William T. Higgin, Rear Commander John A. Farrow and Secretary C. E. Kremer ; " l'eri," Treasurer John F. Triggs; "Flic," Captain John Prindiville ; " Lulu," Captain William E. Miller, and the yachts " Zephyr," " Falcon," " Valiant," " Lizzie, " Dawn " and " Drew."

Diversity of theological opinion creates a multiplic- ity of churches, difference of nationality begets a variety of secret societies. While sume admire the calm placidity of the initiations of the Sons of 'Temper- . ance, others are not content unless they are subjected to Druidical hammer and tongs, or the severe ordeals demanded by kindred organizations. It is a curious fact also that the metaphysical, deliberative German always takes his secret societies highly spiced with the " lasciate ogni speranza voi ch' entrate" element ; cre- ating the suspicion to the woe-begone novitiate that Deutsch order von Harugari really may mean to him the German order of Hari-Kari. This fact is a peculiar study for the ethnologist and physiologist. Were it a fact of a southern race who are hot-blooded and impul- sive, in lieu of a phlegmatic, steady, careful people, no peculiarity would be observable. It is, however, a fact that in the impartation of degrees by German lodges, such degrees are customarily about the boiling point. This, however, may not apply to MELOMANIA LODGE, No. 330, D. O. H., which was organized February I, 1874, by Henry Trager, and at that date had thirteen members ; it now has fifty-eight members, a fund of sixteen hundred dollars, no debts, and the following officers : Charles Bergner, O. B .; Richard D. Lender, U. B .; Mathew Sanley, secretary; Peter Ringelberger, treasurer, and Frank Spaeti, financial secretary.

South Chicago, Stamm 222, United Order of Red Men, was chartered September 4, 1881, with the fol- lowing charter members: John Born, Fritz Lenz, Adolf Oelkers, Peter Weber, Charles Buschel, H. Ker- ker, Fritz Meyer, Joseph Petrij, Jacob Sichert, Will- iam Mosler, Joseph Michel and Anton Zumstein. The first officers were: John Born, O. C .; Fritz 1.enz, U. C .; Joseph Michel, B. C .; Peter Weber, P .; Chr. Anderson, ist S .; Charles Buschel, ad S .; Joseph Petrij, T .; Henry Kerker, K .; Simon Willnau, W., and Anton Zumstein, G. The present officers are : Henry Kerker, O. C .; John Wulf, U. C .; Anton Zumstein, B. C .; Peter Weber, P .; Charles Buschel, Ist S .; Nic. Heinsen, 2d S .; Jac. Seter, T .: Max Bermes, K .; Gus. Preuss, W., and Gus. Nass, G.

South Chicago Lodge, No. 696, I. O. O. F., the first lodge in the village, was chartered August 26, 1881, with the following charter members: Andrew Krim- bill, John J. Davis, George B. Hannahs, M. W. Gallis- tel, John E. Danielson and Peter Jefferson. The first initiations-occurring the same evening-were John A. McIntosh, Charles H. Krimbill, J. L. Buck, J. D. Will- iams and 1). T. Davis. The lodge has now a member- ship of about fifty members, meets every Thursday evening and has the following officers: C. H. Krim- bill, N. G .; C. J. Danielson, V. G .; J. A. McIntosh, P. S .; Frank McWinnie, R. S .; A. O. Avery, treasurer; James Riddell, warden ; J. S. Willard, C .; A. Krimbill, chaplain; George B, Hannahs, Rep .; T. D Avann, R. S.

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 151

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