History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 157

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 157

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).

" "The company have right at their works, a cooper shop, where all their kegs are made, a machine shop, a carpenter shop and a blacksmith shop, and also have in their yards five miles of track, and have their own engine to do their switching. This company gives employment to 1,200 men,"

The early settlers of the adjacent region are thus summarized by John Kleinmann who came to South Chicago in 1845, and bought the toll-house at the old bridge; he staid there about ten years and then moved to his present location, about the cor- ner of Exchange Avenue and One Hundred and Thirteenth Street, where he hecame a trespasser upon the domain of the musk-rat. He remembers Cassidy. who lived at Chittenden's bridge, and Woodman who lived near him, Kleinmann ; also James Carney, who sulisequently lived in Woodman's house, also a man named Bunt, Samnel Ray and Joseph Reeves. Wood- man kept a stage ranche, and he got the road located, over which John Kleinman-he had apocopated his name by this time-drove stage from the State line to Cleaver- ville. Mr. Kleinman states that the first road made was put through in 1847, and that the first house in the region where he now resides was either Cassidy's or Bromley's, and the next was Woodman's. Prior to the running of a road through the country the travel all went by the Lake Michigan beach. The old gentleman distinctly remembers the Nimrod of early Chicago, John L. Wilson ; whose recollections of that epoch have formed interesting and instructive reading for so many of the present residents.

The first hotel of the paludal region was built by Abe Kleinman in 1873, and needs no description to make it a reality to the minds of those for whom it was built-the hunters, John Kleinman was born May 29, 1811, in Wittenberg, the town where Martin Luther nailed his ninety-five theses in 1517; was married March 25, 1837, and has five boys named respectively John, Abc, Henry, George and William. He came to America in 1833 and settled in Pennsylvania, remaining there until his removal to Illinois. It is perhaps un- necessary to state that the boys all shoot, and a legend states that their "long clothes" were rubber boots ; the trade mark of the Kleinman family. The old gen- gentleman is hale and sturdy, and carries his seventy- two years as sturdily as the twelve bushels of wheat he once carried while a vine dresser in Germany.

The boundaries of Cummings are hard to define, but a general idea of its location may he gained from the geographical definition that it lays east of the north end of Lake Calumet, and between that and Calumet River : extends north to somewhere about One Hundredth Street, and south to the same river. The first resident was George Phillips, who was brought to Irondale to build the platform to lay the corner stone of Brown's Mills, and he was paid for the work by James H. Bowen, Mr. Phillips's statement of the primordial events of the town are that

the first store was at the corner of Commercial Avenue and One Hundred and Sixth Street, kept by a Mr. Riley, and the second was a saloon kept by A. Hart- wig. Thomas Connors built the first hall, although the initiatory terpsichorean performance was held in the buikling erected by Mr. Phillips at the corner of One Hundred and Fourth Street and Torrence Avenue, in 1874. Mr. Phillips also cut the first pound of ice and r.tailed the first groceries in Irondale. The first butcher in the town was Christ. Meyer : the first baker, Charles Seipp, and Fred Tager kept the first hotel about 1875. The first brick block was built in 1876 by Gagne and Morier. J. Smith kept the first blacksmith shop. The first hirth was that of a child of Mrs. Mulhorn, and the death of J. Reilly or Mrs. David Reeves the first in the town.

The first school was called the Irondale school, and and was opened in June, 1876, in a rented room on Tor- rence Avenue, hetween One Hundred and Seventh and One Hundred and Fighth streets, with forty-five scholars and Cyrus A. Stone, the present principal, as teacher, The Irondale School District, No. 9, Township 37 north, Range 14 east, comprises Sections 12, 13, 14, and that part of Section 25 lying north of the Calumet River, and was organized in the spring of 1876, with Messrs. Hannett, Smith .nd Fred. Taeger, school directors. The present Irondale school, on Hoxie Avenue and One Hundred and Seventh Street, was completed January 1, 1877 ; George Phillips, builder. A new brick building will be ready for occupation January 1, 1884. The teachers now are : Cyrus A. Stone, principal, and Miss Mar- guerite Donovan, assistant ; the number of scholars is one hundred and ninety, and according to the school census of 1883, there are five hundred and thirty-three children in the district under twenty-one, and three hundred and forty-five between six and twenty-one years of age. The population of the district is about twenty-six hundred. The present school directors are : Patrick Gough, president ; Patrick Carmody, and John HI. Davis, clerk.

The Evangelical Association inaugurated a series of meetings in Watson's Dining Room, in 1875, and subsequently the congregation met in Torrance Hall, where the Sunday-school was organized June 4, 1876, with eighteen scholars, and Mr. Hodge, Mrs. Reeves and Miss Emma Phillips, teachers. The congregation at present numbers about twenty-five members and hokl services in the public school, Rev. T. W. Woodside, of Colehour, supplying the pulpit. The Sunday-school now numbers about eighty-five scholars, and William Hughes is superintendent.

The Methodist Episcopal Church is situated at the corner of Torrence Avenue, and now has a congrega- tion of about one hundred and fifty, with a Sunday- school, under the superintendency of J. F. Runnels, of some ninety pupils. The pulpit is supplied by Rev. Parker. The first services were held by Rev. Dr. Willing, in the school-house. The present church was erected about 1880.

The Welsh population also attend services on Sun- day, given in their native tongue by Rev. T. M. Grif- fiths ; the Catholics attend the churches in South Chicago.

The post-office was established on June 15, 1878, with the present incumbent, A. Gagné, as Postmaster. Its name, from its opening, until January 1, 1882, was Brown's Mills, but upon that date, its name was changed to Cummings, in honor of the president of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad. From the nature of the prevalent industry of Cummings, the secret

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

societies naturally would have some relevance to the personal interests of the inhabitants ; thus there are two lodges of the Amalgamated Iron and Steel Workers' Associations ; the first :

Calumet Lodge, No. 7, was organized November 15, 1878, in the residence of Abraham Harris, between Cummings and South Chicago, with the following offi- cers : Abraham Harris, president ; John R. Lewis, vice- president; George Carney, recording secretary; Edward Parry, financial secretary ; Jerry Larkins, treasurer ; William Picknell, inside guard, and Oliver Stanton, out- side guard. The present officers are : John J. Davis, presitlent ; Enoch Ward, vice-president ; Michael Mc- Quade, recording secretary ; Thomas Moore, financial secretary : Peter Stirling, treasurer ; William McCaus- lin, inside guard, and Edward Hickey, outside guard.

No particulars of Irondale Lodge could be obtained from the corresponding secretary. The last list of officers published gives the following names : James Hagan, president ; Thomas Dowler, vice-president ; John Evans, recording secretary ; Edward Bennett, financial secretary ; William Aurelius, correspoding secretary : John Small, treasurer ; William Harris, guide ; Fred Stevens, inner gnard, and John Rafferty, onter guard. These two lodges meet on alternate weeks at the public school buikling.

Good Samaritan Lodge, No. 90, Sons of St. George, was instituted on March 18, t882, and the follow- ing officers were then made : Samuel Adams, Charles Bush, John Wrathall, George Cotton, Robert Barlow, Enoch Ward and Frederick Raftrec. The present off- cers are John Wrathall, John I., Thomas, William Run- dle, James Raftree, Thomas Stirling. Peter Stirling, John Lantpier and Enoch Ward. The meetings are held in the basement of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Irondale Division, No. 86, S. T., was organized Octo- ber 20, 1881, with the following officers : W. E. Aurelius. W. P .; C. A. Stone, W. A .; J. F. Runnels. R. S .; Mrs. L. Evans, A. R. S .; F. P. O'Neill, F. S .; T. W. John- stone, T .; S. E. Willing, chaplain ; W. 1 .. Jones, C .; Mrs., J. 1. Welch, A. C .: Miss M. Jones, I. S., and John Edwards, O. S. The number of initiations on the open- ing night were twenty-three, and prior to the relinquish- ment of the organization, in February, 1883, one hun- dred and nineteen persons were initiated. The officers of the lodge, when it ceased to exist, were : Daniel Wink, W. P .: Miss Nettie Beall, W. A .: F. P. O'Neill, R. S .; Miss Kate Richards, A. R. S .; J. B. Price, T .; Louis Wink, F. S .; John C. Lee, chaplain ; James B. Lyon, C .: Miss Susie Jones, A. C .: Miss M. Beall, 1. S .; John C. Butcher, O. S., and J. F. Runnels, P. W. P. The nteetings of the lodge were held in the basement of the Methodist Episcopal church.

The fire company of Cummings was organized nn January 15, 1883, but they have never received either apparatus or equipment.

CUMMINGS MOGRAPHICAL. SKETCHES.

WILLIAM EDWARD AURELIUS was born in Monmouth- shire, South Wales, April 21, 1848. Ile has been engaged in iron work since ten years of age. Hle came to America in 1869, and for six months, in 1880, engaged in iron work ; Then returned East and continued the same till 1880, when he received liis present position in the finishing department of the Calumet Iron & Steel Compa- ny's works, He is a member of Ilarbor Lodge, A. F. & A. M., South Chicago, and Royal Arcanum. In 1870 he married Miss Mary Ann Southan, of Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England. They have seven children-Harriet A .. Marcus A., Edward, Eliza, Harry, Walter E. (deceased), and Edith May.

GEORGE H. BEALL, pharmacist and druggist, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 12, 1836. llere he was raised, and began

to learn pharmacy at the age of fifteen, which business he bus followed with little exception since, lle came to Cummings in June, 1881. Mr. Beall, in 1860, married Miss Arletta Moses, of Buffalo, N. Y , and they have five children-Edward H., Annette, Maud, Walter C., and Joseph G.

CHARLES BUSHI wa, born in England December 24. 1843. and came to America in 1860. first settling in Pennsylvania. lie has since visited all parts of the West, aud came to Cook County in the fall of 1876 and entered the employ of the Calumet Iron & Steel Company as healer. He is a member of the Amalgamaled Association of Iron and Steel Workers of the United States. In 1870 Mr. Bush married Miss Kale Batchelor, of Pott-ville. l'enn. They have six sons-William C., Henry, Charles, Jolin, George and Joseph. Hle is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

FRANK CRANE was born In Waddams, Stephenson Co. 111., September 21. 1849. At the age of eighteen he went to the Lake Superior country, where he had charge of various furnaces until October 1. 1883. December 1, 1883. he was made foreman of the blast furnace of the Calumet Iron & Steel Company's works. lle was married in 1879 to Miss Kalle Nackermann, a native of Marquette, Mich. They have one daughter, Josephine, born June 21. 1893.

P. C. CRAWFORD, proprietor of the Crawford Ilouse, was horn in Chicago March 15, 1849. Ile began life as teamser for his father, clerked eight years, Then was in the retail liqnor busi- ness. In May. 1881, he opened his present hotel. He Is a lhemo- crat, and has been assistant lax collector for North Chicago; was clerk in the County Treasurer's office, and also worked in the County Clerk's office a short time. In 1878 he married Miss Mary Doherty, of Chicago, who had one son by ber former marriage, James B. Mr. Crawford is a member of the Mutual Protective Association of Ilyde Park.

A. GAGNE, general merchant and Postmaster, was born in the Province of Quebec, Dorchester County, parish of St. Anselme. where his father was a farmer, and he remained with him uand eighteen years of age. From 1838 10 1851 he was engaged in the lumber business in Quebec ; from there he went to New York, where he engaged in the commission business for two years; then was in the lumber trade at Cheboygan, Mich., until he came to Chicago, in 1856, and there engaged in the same business for fourteen years. After this he gave his attention to real estate for four years, and then retired for two years. He came to Com. mings in the spring of 1876, when he erected his present beick block. In January. 1863, Mr. Gagne married Miss Elizabeth Gos- selin, a native of the same place, by whom he had three children, two boys, who died when young, and one girl, Mary Louise, born in 1864. Mrs. Gagné died in June, 1865, and he married for a second wife, in 1872, Elizabeth Josephine De Roche, of Stanfald, Canada, by whom he had two children, one boy deceased and one girl living. born in 1873

CHRISTOPHER HEANEY, stevedare and general rigger of vessels, was born in Chicago October t. 1854, where he was raised and educated. He engaged at his present occupation in early hfe and has since followed the business, employing from twelve to ffy men, as the case requires. Recently he has been in the employ of the Calumel Iron & Steel Company's works at the same business. Previous to that he had been employed by the Chicago Gas. Ligin and Coal Company, and various other parties in the city. He is a inember of the A. O. U. W. and Ancient Order of Hibernians, and is now vice president of the latter. In 1879 he married Miss Kit Grogard, of Chicago. They have two children-Mary and Auna Viola,

WILLIAM HODGE was born in Scotland February 10, 1842, and from ten years of age has been employed in iron works, and is familiar with ils every department. He has worked in Pittsburgh, Penn., Cleveland, Ohio, and Milwaukee, Wis, In 1876 he came to Cook County, entering the employ of the Cale- mel Iron & Steel Company, and in 18;8 was promoted to his present position, that of superintendent of the puddle-mills, Mr. Hodge is a member of the Royal Ascanum. In July. 1863, he married Miss Isabella Brown, a native of Scotland. They have seven children-George W., Gabriel B., Sarah, Isabella, Elizabeth, Ava nnd William B.

WILLIAM E. JAKWAY. of Jakway & Wink, dealers in general hardware, sloves and household furniture, was born in Bradford County, Penn., November 29, 1858. His father was a commercial salesman, and moved to Owego, N. Y., where they lived until he was thirteen; then at Decatur, Mich, two years; then clerked in a general store al Crown Point, Ind., until Dec.m. ber 1, 1880, he opened his present business in Cummings. In a year he admitted Mr. Wink as partner, and they have now two stores, one of hardware, the other household furniture. 1a 1SSt Mr. Jakway married Miss Virginia E. Millikan, of Crown Point, Ind. SAMUEL. JOB, superintendent of the Calumet Jron & Steel Company's works, was born at Beaufort, South Wales, November

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HISTORY OF HYDE PARK.

19. 1842. At the ageof five he removed to Blaina, Monmouthshire. where from the age of twelve he was brought up in the iron and steel manufacturing business, working through all branches of the steel department to the position of rotler, which he held for twelve years in the works of the Blaina fron & Steel Company. In June, 1871, he came to America and took the position of superin. tendent of the Riverside Iron Company's works at Cleveland, Ohio, then in the Cleveland Bethel Union Relief Association, until November, 1851. At that time he took charge of the merchant steel department of the Joliet Steel Company's works, at Johet, 111. He took his present position November 15, 1882. Mr. Job is a member of Apollo Conunandery, No. 1, Chicago, and of the Baptist Church at South Chicago. On April 7. 187t, he married Miss Ann Christmas, a native of Llanelly, South Wales. They have one daughter, Maggie.

THOMAS W. JOIINSTONE, street builder, contractor and real estate dealer, was born in Eastport. I'rinee Edwards Island, New Brunswick, April 20, 1846, and was raised and edneated in Boston, Mass, His father, Thomas W. Johnstone, was a Boston pilot. At the age of eleven the subject of this sketch went with an uncle on a trading voyage to the west coast of Africa, it taking thir. teen and one hall months to make the trip. A short time after this he wentto the Island of Odessa, in the Black Sea. After following the sea until 1859 he went to Chicago, and was afterward engaged in the timber trade, between Tonawando and Toledo, Ohw, two years. Ile than located in Chicago and opened an intelligence office in company with a Mr. Wilham Redpath, continning in the latter business three years. January 15. 1564, he removed to New York City, where he operated a porter and ale house thiee years, at the end of which time he had spent a fortune of $61.000. Returning to Chicago he learned grain painting, and followed that occupation until the fall of 1874, then removed to Hyde Park. where he engaged in trade until he removed to Irondale. At the latter place he assisted to ereet the Calumet Iron & Steel work s. In these works he was promoted to foreman, and from that position to assistant superintendent. June 1, 1883. he engaged in street building and contracting. Ile is a member of Oriental Consistory. Home Lodge, No. 508, of Chicago ; Knighta of Pythiax, Ellsworth Lodge, No. 114 ; Calumet Council, No. 56g. R. A. ; and Knights of Labor. In 1872 he married Miss Katharine S. Swan, of Racine, Wis. They have one son. Thetcher Walter. From 1878 until 1883. Mr. Johnstone was a member of the Ilyde Park Board of Trustees.

HENRY H. KLEINMAN was born in Lycoming County, Penn., in 1844. Janmary 28. 1864. he married Miss Robie A. Hallock, a native of Geauga Conoty, Ohio. They have five chil- dren- Hattie H., Harry M., Walter II., John E., Jessie C., and Ar- thur II., deceased. His parents were John Kleinman, born in Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, Germany, May 29. : 8:1, and Christiana (Warner) Kleinman, a native of Germany, who came to the United States in 1835. John J., Abraham S., and Heniy H. were born in Pennsylvania, and George R. and Wilham E. were born at Calu- met, Cook County. John J., Abraham S., Henry H. and George f. came to Chicago in 1844, and lived there about nine months, when, in 1845 they came to South Chicago, then called Calumet. In 1856 they removed to their present place, about three-quarters of a mile southeast of Cummings Village, where they took up land and followed farming some time. Their land is now worth $1,000 per aere.

JOHN McINERNEY, yard master for the Calumet Iron and Steel works, took charge of their yards in November, 1880. Mr. MeIneiney was born in Burlington, Vt., December 10, 1856, was raised there and educated in the common schools, He then went to Crown Point, N. Y., and ran a freight train for the Crown Point Iron Company some time, when he was promoted 10 con. ductor of a passenger train, which he ran four years. He then came to Chicago and went into the employ of the above company as a weighman for the blast furnaces for some time, after which he was promoted to his present position. Ile is a member of the Independent Order of F'oresters of Illinnis. In 1880 he married Miss Jennie Fee, of Essex County, N. Y. They have two children -John 11. and Edward.

ARCHIE MCKINLEY was born at Lubee, Me., April 13. 1846. He was raised in the nail business at Wheeling. W Va., and about the close of the war was a member of the West Virginia Militia a short time. He came to Chicago April 25. 1878, to take a position as nail-maker in the Calumet [ron & Steel Company's works He is a member of the Amalgamated Tron and Steel Association of the United States.

CHARLES A. MULLEN, wholesale and retail dealer in meats, was born in Chicago September 25. 1857. his father, Ber- nard, coming in 1831 and opening the second grocery in the city. Ile started In life as a grocery clerk, but in 1574 opened in the meat business. In 1877 he began business at the Rock Island Railroad shops, removing it to South Chicago, and in April, 1880,

to Cummings, Ill., and Hammond, Ind., having a market at both litter places. Ile is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters. October 15. 1882, Mr. Mullen married Misa Many Elizabeth O'Connor, of Eailville, Ili. They have one daughter- Olive Bridget.

EDWARD O'CONNOR, grocer, was born in La Salle County. III., December 10, 1858, and was raised in his native county. Ile came to Chieagc in 1871, and began business at Cummings in 1880; continued two years, went out of business until November, 1853. when he resumed and has since continued. In November, 1883. he married Miss Mary Ann MeManous, of Cook County, 111.

TERRY O'NEIL, dealer in wines, liquors and cigars, was born at Port Henry, N. Y., October 11, 1853. Ifere he was raised and was drug clerk ten years, then for a year clerked for J. J. Harrington, druggist, at Chicago. For two years he worked in the biast furnace of the Calumet Iron & Steel Company's works. July. 1883. emharking in his present business, Mr. O'Neil is a member of the school board, Distriet No. 1. South Chiesgo.

GEORGE PIIIL.I.IPS, builder and contractor, was born in Merryworth, County Kent, England, May 28, 1825, and was raised a builder, this being the calling of his father and grandfather. Ile came to Chicago in the fall of 1871, and there followed his trade. In 1375 he came to Cummings, where he is now erecting for him. self the Union Hall. Mr. I'hillips married, in 1852, Mary Wiley. who died in 1859, when he married again, in 1860, Frances Bart. lett. They have three children -Elizabeth, Emma, and George, Jr.

JOHN E. SMALL was born in Pittsburgh, l'enn., July 17. 1829, and there he was raised. He was the oldest of thirteen chif. dren, and at the age of eight he began work in the iron business- Ilis parents were born in Pittsburgh, and removed to a farm in Gallia County. Ohio, on the Ohio River, and engaged in the coal trade. The family becoming rather large, in 1849 John E. re- turned to Pittsburgh and entered the employ of Graff, Bennett & Co. as a roller or finisher of iron. Afterward he was employed by Zug & l'ainter, with whom he remained twenty-one years. In 1564 he located on a farm in Porter County, Ind. He has been identified with the Calumet Iron & Steel Company since it started as a finisher of iron and steel, and has remodeled three of their trains of rolla. He is now making nail plate for them. In 1851 he married Miss Mary J. Riley, who came with her parents tn the United States when an infant. They have eight children living. four boys and four girls-Mary J., married to A. (i. Hardesty, an attorney of lincoln County, Kan .; Elizabeth, married Jolin Crissman, a farmer of Porter County, Ind .; Richard H., married Miss C. [laxton, of same county ; Isaae, proprietor of milk depot at Engle- wood. Ill .; John E., Jr., stock huyer of Porter County, Ind .; Kat- tie, married F .. Wood, of Lake County. Ind., a miller ; Indiana, the youngest daughter, now eighteen years of age. resides with her parents ; Simon S., the youngest son, married Miss Cora Deardolf, of Porter County. Ind., and is now controlling his father's farm of 2to aeres, Mr. Small is a member of the Amalgamated Associa- tion, and organized and drafied the constitution and by-laws of the first llealers' and Rollers' Association in the United States. ; lle is also a member of Valparaiso Commandery, No. 25, K. T .; also of the Sons of St. George, Cummings, Cook Ca., III.

CHARLES 11. SQUIER was born in New Castle, Penn .. Au- gust 17. 1852. After obtaining his educatioo he began working at the nail business which he followed about eight years, and was then railroading for a short time before coming to Cook County. He came to Trondale in April, 1878, and assisted in erecting the mills of the Calumet Iron & Steel Company, in whose employ he is at present, in charge of four nail machines, Ile is a member of the Amalgamated Iron and Steel Association of the United States, and of the Royal Arcanum : also a member of Triluminor Lodge, U. D., A. F. & A. M., of South Chicago, In 1876 Mr. Squier married Miss Mary Hughes, of New Castle, Peoo. They have one son, Willie D.

WILLIAM STEWARTSON, engineer for the Calumet Iron & Steel Company, took charge of his engine January 19, 1862. 11e is a native of Prince George's County. Md., born April 30, 1847. Ile was raised and educated at Peoria, Iil .. living there until 1871, when he took charge of a freight engine for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, and run the same eleven years. Then he took charge of their roundhouse at Peru, Ill., from Feb- ruary. 1881, until July. 1882, when he began'running a freight en- gine for the Peoria & Pekin Union Railroad, five months later coming to his present position. In February, 1883. he married Miss Amelia Bleeler, of Chicago, lil. By a former marriage Mr. Stewartson has two sons, William and George.

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 157

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