History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 155

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 155

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

A. SCIIN ELL, is proprictor of a meat market, in which he retails all kinds of fresh and salt meats, etc. In 1880 he erected a market building twenty-two feet wide by sixty feet deep, two stories high, at a crat of $2,000. Ile was born in Germany, October 10, 1853, and came to the United States in 1866, engaging in the meat-market business at Baltimore, Md., for six years, Ile removed to Chi- cago in 1872, where he engaged in the same occupation until 1874. when he came to South Chicago, In 1877 he married Miss Anna V. Richards, of Baltimore, Md. They have one soo, William A. Mr. Schnell is a member of Harbor Lodge, No 731, A., F. & A. M., and the German Harugari.

OTTO SCHOENING, contractor and builder, was born in Stralsund, Germany, January 26, 1854. Hecame to Chicago first in 1868, and after some time he returned to his native land. In 1871 he iminigrated to the United States with his parents, and settled at South Chicago, where he began contracting and building. Ile employs fmm six to twenty-five men in the business. In company with another party he erected the Taylor school building of South Chicago, and has been engaged in erecting many of the good build- ings of the latter city, lie is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the South Chicago Liederiafal. In 1874 he married Miss Fredericka Behn, a native of Germany. They have one daughter, Ida Fredericka Carolina Josephina,

JACOB SHEPHERD, heater in the rolling mills, came to North Chicago in 1875, and went into the employment of the North Chicago Rolling Mills as a heater, continuing there until he came to South Chicago and began work in the above department in May. 1882. Ile was born in Switzerland April 8, t&40; came to the United States in September of 1857, and located near Detroit, Mich., where he followed farming until 1867, after which he went to Wyandotte, Mich., and entered the employ of the above com- pany. Ile is a member of Garfield Lodge, No. 699, I. O. O. F .: Independent Order of Foresters of Chicago, Garden City Lodge, No. 1: A. O. U. W., Myrtle Lodge, No. 226, South Chicago. In 1863 he marriedl Miss Emma Flowers, born In Washtenaw County, Mich., October 9, 1845. They have two children, Ella M., born November 15, 1865, and Alta M., August 7, 186g.

PETER SMITHI, of the firm of Kowalski, Smith & Co., whole- sale and retail deniers in wines, liquors and cigars, was born in Chicago, Ill,, December 20, 1953, and was there reared and began work ax a carpenter and builder. This occupation he followed seven years, after which he worked for the North Chicago Rolling Alill Company ten years, coming tn South Chicagn July 1, 1850. and embarking in his present business. The firm erected their store, 25xt00 feet in area, in 1880, and began trade.

CAPTAIN JOSEPHI SNYDER came to Cook County March 1. 1870 ; bought a team and entered the employ of the Slarine Ranking Company, improving their lands, etc., until October 6, 1871, when he became night watchman for the Marine Company & Mechanics' National Bank, until February 1. 1874. In june of the same year he went into the employ of the Western News Com- pany, continuing three years, after which he was for a year sergeant of police in Hyde Park, then for three years was captain of the

force. May 1, 1881, he came to South Chicago, bought property and erected his present hotel restaurant, Ile was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., June 7, 1840 : lived there until t860, then spent one winter in Indiana ; then in Kane County, Ill., engaged in the sale of farm implements for some time. After this he farmed in Livingston County, Ill., until he came to Chicago. Ile Is a mem- ber of South Park Lodge, No. 662, Slasonic Order. January 21, 1963. he married Miss Jane Iloward, a daughter of l'hilo Howard, of Blackberry Township, Kane Co., Ill. They have four sons- Charles, Edward, Lewis and Frank. Mr. Snyder has a half-inter. est in the celebrated new process of making syrup from Indian corn. From this process one bushel of corn will yield from two to three gallons of the best syrup, and the meal left is said to then contain excellent fattening qualities for any kind of farm stock.

JOHN B. STRASBURGER is principal of the South Chicago high school and superintendent of all schools in South Chicago and Colehour, consisting of ten schools. Mr. Strasburger was born in Naperville, III., November 23, 1856, and was educated at Aurora Seminary and l'ekin Academy, and graduated from the Cen- tral High School of Chicago in the class of t878. One year be- fure graduating he taught the Ilamilton School, Lee County, Ifl. Since graduating he has taught in South Chicago. He is a inem. ber of I'rofessor Swing's Church, and the Fireside Club, of which Professor Swing is president. Ile conducted the Ilarmonia Mu- sical Society of Chicago two years, and is now a member of Irving Society, of Chicago,

P. S. STUL.TS, yard-master of the North Chicago Rolling Mills, South Chicago, tuuk charge of this department February 15, 1983. Mr. Stuits was born at New Lyme, Ashtabula Co .. Ohio, August tz, 1849, and lived in his native place until t861. Going to L'leveland, Ohio, he clerked in a store until 1866, after which he went to Meadville, Penn. Ilc there went into the employ of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad as a conductor and agent until 1872, in which year he went to Danville, Ill., as yard-master for the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes and the C'hieago & Eastern Illinois railroads until 1878. Then removing to Chicago, he there held the same position for the latter railroad until February 15, 1853, when he went into the employ of the North Chicago Kolling Mill Company. Ile is a member of the Yard Masters' Mutual Benefit Association of the United States and the Canadas. In 1870 he married Miss Emma Wood, of Greco- ville, l'enn. They have four children-May, Lenna, Ida and Ray.

CHARLES F. SWAN, physician and surgeon, was born in Byron, Ogle Co., Ky., October 5. 1850. Ile was reared in his native place and the State of Illinois, and for some time was a student at the Beloit College, Wis. In 1874 he graduated at the Cincinnati Medical College, Ohio, During 1874-75 he was interne or house physician, in the Good Samaritan Ikapital, Cin- cinnati, Ohio, Ile began the practice of medicine In March, 1875, at South Chicago. Hle is a member of the Calumet Council. No. 569. R. A. ; South Chicago Lodge, No. 696, 1. O. O. F. ; and Trlluminar Lodge, A. F. & A. M., South Chicago, In 1875 he married Aliss Ilulda Austerman, of Waukesha, Wis, They have two children, Nellie and Anna Louise.

D. S. TAYLOR, dealer in real estate, was born in New York City in 1847, and was reared and educated in New Haven, Conn. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, 116th New York Volun- teer Infantry, participating In all the battles of his command. At the close of the war he caose to Chicago, where he was identified in the manufacture and sale of carriages until 1873. Ile then removed to South Chicago, where he embarked extensively in the real estate business. Ile also has an office in Chicago,

W. 11. TAYLOR, builder and contractor, does a general build- ing business and employs twenty men. He has erected many fine buildings in South Chicago, amongst them E. D. Marsh's double store, the brick store of F. Sommer & Co., the residence of Thomas Gaughn and several others, Ile came to Chicago in August, 1880, and worked at his trade until February 20, 1882, when he located at South Chicago and began his present employment. Ile was born in Oakville, Ont., September 24, 1854, and was raised in london, same province, Since twelve years of age he has followed his present occupation. In 1882 he married Miss Jane Jackson, of Wyoming. Ont. SIr. Taylor is connected with the Knights of Pythias of South Chicago.

JOHN THOMAS, roller in the finishing department of the North Chicago Rolling Mills, at South Chicago, was born In Khymney, Glamorganshire, South Wales, July 7, 1850. Ile passed his boyhood days at Maesteg, South Wales, where his father was blast furnace manager for ten years and until his death. Mr. Thomas came to America in t865 and located at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he served his apprenticeship as machinist, completing it at Muncie, Ind. Ile came to Chicago in 1868 and worked at the Union Kolling Mills two years, after which he removed to Oaks- ville, Ont., and worked at his trade one and one-half years. Re- turning to Chicago he worked two years for Fox & Howard,

Dla so by google

592

HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

machinists, During this time. March 5. 1872, he married Carrie E. Jenkins, daughter of Reuben Jenkins. They have tive chil- dren-Reuben, James, Charles Edward, Emmaand Ada Ann. Ile then worked for the Joliet Iron & Steel Company one and one-half years, for the St. Louis Rail Fastening Company two years, for the l'rane Brothers Manufacturing Company two years, and on the erection of the fulling mills at South Chicago has been there emplayed. Ile received his present position in August, 1852. lle Is a member of Myrtle Lange, No. 229, A. O. C. W., and is its present Receiver.

W. W. TIMBERLAKE was born in t'aroline County, Va .. January 20, 184t, and was raised in the nai. business at Richmonil. November 6, tist, he took charge of the nail department of the Calumet Iron & Steel Company's works, and superintends the work of about two hundred men. fle is a member of the Encampment and Lodge, 1. (t. O. F., Chapter and Masons' Lodge, and Kuyal Arcanum. In 1865 he married Mis Timpie M. Bailey, of Rich- mand, Henrico t'o., V'n. They have six children-Florence I ... Alive V., Lula M., Willie W., Charles 1 .. and Myrtle 13.

FENTON TINSLEY, firm of Tinsley Brothers, dealers in gents furnishing goods, clothing, boots and shoes, etc. They also have a branch store at tirand Crossing, Cook County, In 1974 they erected their store at South Chicago, twenty-twn by sixty-six feet, and two stories high. J. W. Tinsley is the other member of the firm. Fenton Tinsley came 10 Chicago in 1864 and engaged in photographing, continuing the business in part until just pre- vious to locating at his present place. Ile was born In Oneida t'aunty, N. V., June 30, 1813, and was raiseil at Bouneville, snc cauuty, and employed as clerk a number of years. In October. 1861, he enlisted in Company A, 97th New York Volunteer In- fantry, participating in all battles uf his cominand as a drummer boy for one year. Ile is a member of Calumet Council, No. 596, R. A. In November, 1880, he married Miss Nellie Jeison, of Racine, W'is,

JAMES S. TI'LLY, foreman on a section of the P., Ft. W. X {. R. R., took charge in (858, and for twenty-five years has remained at the head of this departinent. Ile came to Illinois in 195t and settled at Ten Mile tirove. Vermillion County, where he worked on a farm at twenty-two dollars per month. In t#52 he came to Chicago, where he worked on the docks, and in the fall of the same year came to South Chicago, He.erected the first frame house in the village proper, now close to the public school building. where he has since lived. lle went into the employ of the Mich. igan Southern Railroad for about three years, after which he began work for the above company. He was horn in Churchtown. C'hunty Meath, Ireland, February 22, 1822, and came to America in 1850 and settled in Westchester County, N. Y., where he worked on a farm until he came to Illinois. lle has served as school treas- urer of South Chicago for the past four years, and has been school trustee three or four years. Himself and fanily are members of the Catholic Church. July 18, 1852, he married Miss Rose Cain, a native of County Meath, Ireland. They had eleven children- Mary .3., boin June 3, 1852, deceased ; l'eter, born July 12, 1854, deceased ; l'at, born May 6, 1855 : James, born August 26, 15sb deceased ; John, barn August 26, 1859; Michael, born Octoher S. 1860; Jennie, burn November tà, 1803; Thomas Francis, horn November 29, 1865 : Julia, born November to, 1967 : Richard. born December 24. 1869, and Matthew, born November y, IS?1.

MARTIN TURNER, dealer in coal. wood, sand. loom, slag and nshes, employs about seventeen men and seven teams in the business, lle furnishes sand for the rolling mills and foundries, and in the year 1883 furnished one thousand and seven hundred car loals of sand to the P'ullman l'alace Car Company's brickyards antd works. He began In this business in 1880. In t86t be settled in Madison, Cook Co., Ill., and fullowed hay pressing six years ; thence removed to Lake County. Ind., and followed agricultural pursuits until he returned to Cummings and began his present business, Hle was born in Allegany County, N. Y., February 2, 1 940, and was raised there In the spring of 186t he enlisted in Company B. 20th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was in the service one year. January 12, 1856, he married Miss Hannah Miller, of Erie County, N. Y. They have one son and one daughter, Legrand and Lottie.

FRANK M. WEBSTER, wholesale dealer in coal, and agent for the Chicago Belt Road. C. & E. 1., and C., R. I. & P'. rail- roads. lle was lwin in Racine, Wis .. December 22, 1850. and there was raised. Br graduated from the Racme High School, and for some time attendrd Rac'ne I ollege after which he was in the employ of the Western I'nion Railway until he came to Chicago, July 29. 1463, where he took charge of the business affairs of the C., R. I. & P. R K. He had servel three years on the Board of Education of South Chicago, and one year as its president. Hle was elected and served four years as Village Trustee of Ilyde l'ark, and is now serving his fourth year as a member of the Cook County Board of Education. In 1873 he

married Miss Fannie Allison, of Beloit, Wis. They one ilnighter-lda Elizabeth. Ile is a member of the Blue L elge anıl Chapter, A. F. & A. M., South Chicago, and Ap alo L'im- miamilery, No. 1, Chicago, Ile is also connected with the Library Anxiation.

GEORGE WEKIL.E. engineer in charge of engine Nu 11 in the rolling mills, was bon near Cumberland, Md., in a =. l' miming town called Eckert Mine, February 28. [858, and was thuis re in i In the fall of tszy, going in Texas, be entered en ph of the Texas Pacific Railroad, in 1881 returning to Idite place In the spring of 1882 be came to South Chung while he has since followed engineering. He began firing in ! I war ive Iur Ins father at fourteen years of age. llc is cov - napilet # the 1. 11. O. F. if Frostburg, Md.

1 \. WIII FF, dealer in coal and wood, began business in Aunth APuteaga August t, 1882. The first year be sold abom :.. . .. le ns nl res. four car loads of wood and iso cords af dali Il mples hu men and three teams in the business. His binh- pids wa l'abraham, Muss., where he grew to manhood, laboring Eph I . t.thur's farm during the summer, and in the public si J Lest as a heat and then for several years as teacher, dure mi, paen't and winter In thes he opened a prairie larm in lionjunta County, Ill., where he remained until March, 1861, when he responded to the call for volunteers to defend the country and the flag, and enlisted in Company ti, 19th Illinois Infantry. An onler being subsequently oldtained from the war department to organize said company ns liglit artillery, he recruited the com. pany to the requisite number at Chicago, and afterward wacrveded to the comintand of same as Captain, Remaining with them to the chne of the war, and until they were mustered out at Chicago, July 10, 1965. Ile soon after organized the first general baggage auil piekage express business of Chicago, and was variously en- gageil in insurance, real estate and hotel business until the spring of 1951, when he took charge as superintendent of Langdon, Richardson & Cn's cal docks at South Chicago. This position he left to embark in the coal business as cited above. He is a member of Triluminar lodge, A. F. & A. M., L. D., and I'mm. mander of .\. E. Burnside Post, No. 109, G, A. R. In 1806 be married Miss Annie 11. Ferris, of Clifton, Ill. They have three children-Clarence F., Frank and Harold.

CHARLES WII.D. agent for all kinds of sewing machines, and dealer in millinery and hair goods, began business March 10. 488t. 1le came tu Chicago in 1878, where he worked at his trade of bell hanging, and sold different articles, etc, until he came to South Chicago. Ile was born in Yorkshire, England, June ty. 1836, and was raised in his native place. Ile came to the United States in 1857, following his trade at Lancaster and Philadelphia, l'enn .. until he came to Chicago. In tig he mat- ried Miss Susanna Fisher, a native of Yorkshire, England.

CLARK P. WILDER is a member of the firm of Smith & Wilder, dealers in real estate, also fire, marine and life insurance agents, who began business as a firm in t882, this office being established in 1871. Mr. Wilder was born in Medway, Masi, August 1, 1858, and was raised in his native place, and came to t'hieago in 1876, where he shortly became a member of the firm of C'lark, Tingy & C'o,, who dealt in groceries until 1879, when Me. Wilder came to South Chicago and fullowed the same business until t882. He is a member of Triluminar Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Sonth Chicago.

WIL.1.1AM 11. W11.KINSON, SR., master mechanic of the B. & O. K. k. shops at South Chicago, took charge as maslet mechanic March 1, 188t. He was born in Baltimore, Md .. June 1. 153t, and was reared in his native city, Since t852 he has hees in the employ of the B. & O. R. R., first at Baltimore, then at Jieilmont, Va .; afterward at Wheeling and l'arkersburg, W. Va Then he had charge of the transfer at Blair, Ohio, for thirteen years; thence went to Chillienthe, Ohio, in the employ of the Marietta & Cincinnati Railrond; thence to Cincinnati, Ohio, in the machinery department of the same railroad, aftewand running a locomotive for some time at Blair, Ohin; thence to Cumberanıl, Md., where he took charge of the machinery in the hotel depart- ment of the B. & O. R. R., and in February, 188t, came to t.bi- cago. In September, 1852, at Little York, l'enn., he married Miss M. 1 .. Ramby, of Westminister, Md. They had cight children- Elizabeth, Jane (deceased), Marry Bella, William 11 .. Alice t&e- ceased), George R., lila M., and Samuel J. Mr. Wilkinson is a

DENNIS C WIL.SEV, foreman of a blast furnace of the North Chicago Rolling Mills, South Chicago, took charge of ton furnaces in June, 1853. Jannary t6, 1973, he went into the cm. uf this company at Nurth Chicago, and in February, esSt vair in South Chicago, Ife was bort in Washington Corte, N V June 27. t.57, lived there antil fifteen years of age then mel to Chicago, In March, t#73, he married Miss Alice D 1 the latter city. They have two children, George and Then

gle

593

HISTORY OF HYDE PARK.

ALFRED WILSON was born in New York City June 14, 1837. Ilis parents lived there until 1549; when they removed to Milwaukee, Wis., where they resicled until 1862. February 24 of that year he enlisted in the 16th United States Infantry, and soon afterward was appointed First Sergeant of Company C. zd Battal. ion. He participated in several battles, and was taken prisoner at the battle of Chickamauga, and after fifteen months' confinement in Andersonville and other rebel prisons, was returned 10 Annapo- lis, Md. Hle was mustered oul March 3. 1865. After army life he was identified ten years in the insurance business at Columbus, Ohio. July 12, 1866, he married Miss Annie Pulling, of the latter city, a native of Worcestershire, England. They have thice chil. dren-Mand, Alfred, Jr., and Newion. In 1874 he removed 10 Chicago, where he was employed in the Cook County Treasurer's office four years, and a year in the Recorder's office. In 1879 he removed to South Chicago, where he was engaged as weighmaster at the rolling mills a number of years, afterward being appointed Street Inspector. In Isso was elected a member of the Board of Education for three years, and was secretary of same. Ile is presi- dent of the Fifth District Republican Club, and is the present com- mander of A. E. Burnside Post, No. 109, G. A. R.

HERMAN F. WITTE, foreman of the wood-working machine works of llenjamin, Fischer & Mallery, was born in Blue Island, Cook County, July 16, 1860, and raised on a farm there. In 1877 he began his apprenticeship as a machinist in Chicago in the employ- ment of the American Steam Engine Works. continuing there three years, after which he went into the employment of the Vul- cau Iron Works, and later in the Columbia Iron Works of Chicago, remaining there until he came to South Chicago, April 1, 1583. Ilis father, Christian Witte, is a farmer near Blue Island.

J. HENRY ZEIS, principal of the Giallistel school, Colehour. Ile took charge of this school September 1, 1993 Mr. Zeis was born January 24. 1860, at Fort Seneca, Ohio, and was raised in Springfield Township. Allen Co., Ind., near Fort Wayne, where his parents still reside. Ile was educated at Valparaiso, Ind., and Ada, Ohio, Since 1877 he has taught in the public schools of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. He is a member of Mt. Sinai Lodge, of South Chicago, and the Philomathean Society of Northwestern Normal School of Ada, Ohio, for some time having been president of the latter institution.

COLEHOUR.

This suburb derives its name from Charles W. Colehour, and is known also as the Iron-worker's Addi- tion to South Chicago. This was laid out in the south half of Section 8, Township 38 North, Range 15 East, and in the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 17, same township and range ; the limits of Colchour are hardly definable, especially in view of the fact that the inhabitants of the vicinity who live north of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago, Michigan Southern & Baltimore and Ohio railroad tracks, designate their local habitation as being exclusively in Taylor's addi- tion. In deference, therefore, to the idiosyncrasies of such residents, the northern boundary of Colchour, may be designated as such tracks ; the eastern, the State line ; the western, the Calumet River; and the southern, One Hundred and Tenth Street. There is but little his- tory to this region, unless an apocryphal narration of Indian denizens be tokl, for Martin Finerty, perhaps

The oldest living settler, who came in 1859, and located on what is now Avenue K, near One Hun- dred and Eleventh Street, says that then there were but three people in Colehour, Michael O'Byrne, Mrs. Ann O'Byrne and George Wurley, and that "The country was all a bush and prairie, water and musk- rats, and that the mosquities coukl be shot by the bushel-basketful." The first death was that of James Prendergast, in November, 1858, a settler of 1851, whose widow Finerty married in 1859; and the first and only road for many years, was one that followed the route of the Indian trail, starting at the old Indian graveyard, thence running to Ewing Avenue and south- cast to State line. Upon this road, Finerty states, are the remains of an old tavern; he also relates, on the authority of Mrs. Finerty, that Frank Degnan came to

Colehour about 1851, and Rogers Murphy about 1852. The church of the period was the residence of Michael Doyle, whereat mass was said by Father " Tom " Kelly. The actual existence of Colehour subsequent to this legendary genealogical epoch was commenced in 1873, when the survey was made after the purchase by the Silicon Steel Company of twenty-six acres in the north- western corner for their rolling mills. In September of that year it became manifest that accommodations must be made for the workmen, whom the opening of the rolling-mills would bring to the place, and streets were opened and real estate thrown upon the market ; the first general auction sale taking place October 27. Not- withstanding the general depression lots were sold at prices averaging seven dollars per foot. But failure upon the part of the Silicon company to fulfill the pro- visions of the contract under which they procured their land caused litigation; and the reversion of the property to Mr. Colehour. The buildings erected by them for a . rolling mill are now occupied by E. A. Shedd & Co. as an ice house.

TAVLOR'S ADDITIONS TO SOUTH CHICAGO .- These additions may be generally said to extend from the railroad track designated as the northern bound- ary of Colchour, northward to the Calumet River and forming a triangle bounded by such tracks, the river and Lake Michigan. D. S. Taylor, purchased and subdivided some three hundred! acres in 1872-73, and he also sold twenty-six acres to the Silicon Steel Com- pany, that reverted to him in the same manner as those of Mr. Colehour. From near the entrance to Calumet River, Mr. Taylor has cut a large slip whereon are two thousand five hundred feet of frontage. In 1873, Mr. Taylor built the Ewing House, at the corner of Ewing and One Hundredth Street, at a cost of $10,000, the first hotel in the Taylor-Colehour district ; the mention of the other features in which will hereafter include both regions.

THE FIRST School. in the region was attached to the Colehour German Lutheran Church, and organized in 1874, with the Church, with about fifteen scholars; it now numbers eighty-six pupils, and the principal is A. F. Ahner. The congregation, at the time of their segre- gation, were ten families ; at present the congregation comprises fifty-eight families ; the pastor is Rev. John Feiertag ; the trustees are Fr. Eggers, Fr. Miller and Henry Millis. The church property consists of five lots on One Hundred and Third Street and Avenue A, and two buildings; the church, school-room and pastor's residence. The buildings, with furniture, are worth $3,500.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 155

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