History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 168

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

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SCHouts, -The first public school-house in the vil- lage was built in 1848-49. Its location was on Ver- mont Street near Maple Avenue. The house was a long, one-story frame structure, and is yet in existence, being now the residence property of a Mrs. Kenirsch. Daniel Barnanl, a Miss Perkins and a Mr. Hamilton were among the first teachers who taught in the old frame, and Daniel O. Robinson taught the last term in it before the new house was built. The first Sunday- school organized in Blue Island was held in the old school-house ; this was in 1849. When the new house was built, Rodney Day purchased the okl bnihling and used it for a time as a paint shop ; he finally sokl it to the Baptists, who moved it to Greenwood Avenue and converted it into a church. It was used for religious purposes until the Baptist organization at Blue Island ceased to exist, when it was again removed and fitteil up as a dwelling.

In 1855 the present house standing on Vermont Street and Maple Avenue was erected, and the first teachers were Professor Rodney Welch, now of the editorial staff of the Chicago Times, and Miss Mary Maxen. The house as originally built contained but two rooms, but was from the first a graded school; it bas, however, been enlarged and additions huilt on from time to time, as necessity required, and to-day has ten large aml commodions apartments, For the past three years Professor J. W. Troeger has been the principal ; under his management the school has prospereil finely and ranks among the best of the public graded schools in the country. At present the corps of teachers is as follows : J. W. Tronger. principal ; Misses Clark, Star buck andl llegan teacher's in the grammar grades : Miss Bise intermediate, and Misses Kieth and Swan in the primary departments.

THE NORMAL Schout, Was establishedl at Blue

Island, and opened in September, 1867, with Professor Wentworth, principal. During its probationary or ex- perimental term of two years at this place, it proved very beneficial, and by authority of the County Board was made a permanent institution, although its location was ultimately changed in the town of Lake. The present school buiklings of Blue Island were devoted to the uses of the Normal, until the completion of the establishment at Normalville in 1869.

CHURCHES .- The first religious meetings were held in the old school-house which stood near the site of the present school building. All societies assembled there for public worship, until the crection of the Ger- man Methodist Episcopal Church edifice, in 1855. which was the first rhorch buikling in the village.

The German Methodist Society of Blue Island. Sandridge and Black Oak, was organized in 1854. and had at that time thirty-seven members. Rev. F. Kupp was the first pastor. In 1855 the church cdifire, winch is still standing, was erected in Blue Island. From that date to the present, the soriety has enjoyed con- tinurd and uninterrupted prosperity ; having now one hundred and twenty-seven members and a large and growing Sabbath-school. Rev. C. G. Weinrich is the present pastor in charge.

The Methodist society was organized in August. 1873, many of the members having been formerly attendants at the Congregational Church. The new organization started out with twenty-four members, among whom were Elijah Brayton, O. E. Eames, Rev. J. Eines, M. C. Eames and family, the Wingate and Holmes families, Dr. W. C. Egan, John M. Green and wife, and A. Frisby. Messrs. Wingate. Brayton and Eames were the principal promoters of the new society, and to their unceasing labors in its hehalf the church owes much of its present prosperity. Until the follow- ing year meetings were held in the houses of the Con- gregationalist or Universalist societies. In the begin- ning of 1874 the erertion of a new house was begun, which was completed by October, being dedicated on the 24th of that mouth. The cost of the building was $3.150. From 1874 to 1877 the pulpit was supplied by Kevs. M. Bristol and George Chase; subsequently stu- dents from the Garrett 'Theological Seminary, among whom were C. W. Crawl. J. T. Ladd, and P. H. Swift. Rev. William Osborn is the present pastor. The society is now in a flourishing rondition, having over sixty members in the church and a Sabhath-school with one hundred and fifty scholars, under the charge of G. A. West, superintendent.

The German Evangelical Lutheran society was organized on the 23d dlay uf January, 1863, with ser- enty-five members and Rev. M. Ranniker, pastor. Their house of worship was built and completed by October of the following year, and dedicated on the 24th of the month. The congregation now numbers righty-five members, and has besides a flourishing Sabbath-school with over one hundred regular attendants. A denomi- national day-school was also started at the time the church was huilt, aml is still kept up.

The Congregational Church was organized in 1861 with Rev. Henry Hammond supply. The first men- bers were Mrs. Elizabeth Sanders, Mr. amt Mrs. Atkin- son, Mr. and Mrs. I. P. Young, and Mrs. Funk. Rev. lemuel Foster succeeded Mr. Hammond as pastor. Rev. M. Larrimore, now principal of one of the Chicago public schools, came next, and was in inen followed by Kev. Samuel Dickinson, who was succeeded by Ker Henry W Brewster, and he by Rev. W. B. Millard, who is the present pastor in charge. The society has a

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HISTORY OF CALUMET AND WORTH.

growing and interesting Sunday-school, and a church membership of nearly fifty.

The first services of the Catholic Church here were held in 1854, and in 1861 the Church of St. Benedict was erected. The pastoral duties were until Septem- ber, 1883, performed by the priest in charge of the church at Washington Heights. At that time Father Beda, a Benedictine from Chicago, was assigned to this field and now has pastoral charge of the parish. In connection with the Church a day-school for the young of both sexes is conducted under the management of three Sisters from Notre Dame. The school, which is an excellent one, is well patronized and has now nearly fifty pupils.

The first meetings of the Universalist society were held in the old school-house in 1849-50. At that time the families professing the Universalist faith were the Joneses, Rexfords, Robeys, Days and Cooles. The first preachers were Kevs. Otis Skinner, Manley and J. M. Day, the latter residing in Blue Island, while the former were traveling ministers, whose visits to the village were only occasional.

In 1855, when the new school-house was built, the meetings were held in Massey's Hall, in the Bochts Building, on Western Avenue. The society now as- sumed a regular organization, and began to increase in strength and numbers, having a large congregation. a regular pastor and a well attended Sunday-school. In 1865 the church edifice on Greenwood Avenue was built at a cost of $5,000, and four years later the par- sonage was added. The church was erected during the · pastorship of Rev. T. H. Tahor, who remained until 1869, when he was succeeded by Rev. A. Tibbetts, he continuing in charge until 1871, when Rev. S. Gilbert was pastor for one year. Mr. Tibbetts returned in 1872 and remained until 1875. Rev. J. M. Hanson, of the Star and Covenant, took his place, preaching one year. The pastors since then have been : 1876 to 1878. Miss A. J. Chapin ; 1878 to 1881, Miss Florence Kollock : 1881 to 1883, Rev. A. Shaw. The present pastor is Rev. J. F. Rhoades, who is an earnest and efficient worker. The society is at present in a growing and prosperous condition ; and numbering, as it does, among its members some of the oldest and best families in the village, it has a character and stan ling placing it among the foremost of the religious institutions of Blue Island.

SOCIE TIES .- Calumet Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered October 7, 18;4, with the fol- lowing named charter members : John Siddel, Harry B. Robinson, Alden P. Peirce, Henry Bertrand, Mathias Holberg. Charles F. Eidam, Henry W. Schmitt, Chris- tian Ricklenberger, Frederick Hlohman, George Luch- temeyer, Orville E. Atwood, John Roll, Robert C. Ank, Frederick C. Diefenbach. Herman Bose, Edward P. Hanson, John W. Wolfe, Edward Seyfarth, Joseph G. Gasser, George Kuhn, William W. Watson, F. Fehnu- kaup, Louis Luchtemeyer, Ira M. Cord, Albert Crandall, Christian Andnis, Frederick L. Gurrard and J. Howard Waldo. The officers were: John Salel, W. M .. and HI. B. Robinson, secretary. The Lodge has now a mem- bership of nearly sixty.

Walhalla Lodge, No. 54, 1. O. O. F., was organized in 1875 and has from the first enjoyed an uninterrupted and prosperous growth. Among its charter members were Charles Dilg. Nicholas Stoll. August Ennis, Ed- ward Stege, August Kancler and John Clausen. The present officers of the lodge are Christian Sacher, N. G., and August Klenk, V. G. The institution has now a membership of forty.

Blue Island Court of the Independent Order of Foresters was organized September 26, 1882. The charter members were Henry Dorhman, Nicholas Stoll, Christian Sacher, William Kirchner, Hans Pates, Her. man Koheler, Frederick Koeneker and Henry Heider. Though a young organization, it is growing rapidly. having now a membership of twenty-seven The officers are: 11. Ileiden, Il. C. R .; 11. Koheler, secretary; and John Wolf, treasurer.

NEWSPAPERS .- The history of the Press of Bine Island begins with the Herald, a paper started in 1873 hy Charles A. Feistcorn in the Zacharias Buikling; Charles A. Dilg was the editor. The Herald did not long exist, and was succeeded by the Daily Press, which paper also published editions for Riverdale, Dohon and Washington Heights. This enterprise also proved a failure within a short time, publication being suspended in 1875. In the following year, the citizens feeling the need of a local paper, took steps toward the securing of a journal which should be of a permanent character; 8600 was raised by subscription, to be applied toward purchasing type and material, and William Freedman was employed to edit and publish the new paper, which was named the Standard. This venture did not snc- ceed, but the people persevered and finally a Mr. Jones, of Mokena, purchased the paper and removed the office from Sauertieg's building, on Western Avenue, to the Schaffer storage-house on the same thoroughfare. The second attempt to place the Standard on a sure business footing also proved a failure, and the next newspaper was what was known as the Blue Island edition of the Chicago Son, which was in charge of C. A. Dilg; this not receiving sufficient patronage to warrant its continu- ance, was discontinued, and was shortly followed by the Standard-Herakl, and again hy a Blue Island edition of the Chicago Beobacter, with Dilg editor. At this time Gardner sold the Standard-Herald to S. F. Wuest, and Mr. Dilg was made associate editor, but still con- tinned to edit the Blue Island edition of the German paper already mentioned. In April, 1883. the Standard was purchased hy its present editor. E. M. Pope, who besides being a young man of newspaper experience, is also a practical printer as well. Under his management the paper bas been a gratifying success, having now a circulation of over five hundred copies, besides a fair advertising patronage.

WATER WORKS-Few villages of the same size can boast of a water-supply so simple and efficient, and yet obtained at so trifling a cost, as can the thriving little town of Blue Island. Regarding the manner in which so desirable an adjunct to the health, comfort and safety of the village was secured, Mr. Greenacre says : "On June 12, 1877, at a special meeting of the Village Board, it was resolved that .improvements for supply- ing the village with water for the purpose of extinguish- ing fires shall be made on the public grounds.' At the same meeting, also, Messrs. Lusson, Thuenning, Hin- mon, and Diefenbach were appointed a committee to visit and examine the water works at Chebanse. This committee went to Chehanse and reported their conclu- sions at the next regular meeting of the board on July zd. Their report was favorable to the adoption of the same system in Blue Island. Accordingly, it was resolved to sink a well in the highest portion of the vil- lage. It was to be deep enough to supply the village with water for all purposes required. Bids were invited. John Warnke, of Washington Heights, was the success- ful bidder. Hle completed the well in Angust, 1877, at a cost of 8306, His work was accepted by the board.

The well was six feet in diameter and forty-five feet

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

deep. It contained eleven and a half feet of water and the Trustees were delighted. A meeting was next called for the purpose of receiving and opening bids for the erection of a tower over the public well. There were six bicklers. John Poerbel's bid was the lowest and was accepted. On November 12 the tower was vir- tually completed, and the contractor was discharged. The tower as finished cost $1,650. The contract for tank and wind-mill was awarded to L. Leach, of Joliet, September 22, 1877. The work was not completed, however, until June 17, 1878. It cost $1,165. Pipes were then laid on Vermont Street and Western Avenue, and the supply of water began to be a reality. The wind-mill worked quite satisfactorily for some time. For three years it continued to supply the village with water. Then it became shattered by storms and unfit to perform the work required of it. In July, 1881, the mill was taken down and the next fall an engine was purchased and an engine-house built. This accounts for the date, " 1881," now upon the house. For a time the engine was run by the captain of police, but later it came into the hands of the present incumbent, Mr. I. R. Stafford. The tower of the water works is fifty feet high. The tub is eighteen feet above the tower, and is twenty-four feet across at the bottom. The entire structure, including the bell tower, is over seventy feet in height. The well is very deep and seems to be prac- tically inexhaustible. A day's pumping is nearly twelve hundred barrels. But there are twelve feet of water in the well, and it is replenished very rapidly. About five hundred barrels per day is the average consumption of water from the tank. An indicator, consisting of a piece of iron outside the tank attached to a strap and float inside, shows the height of water. When the float rises the iron weight outside falls, and if the tank is full the weight will be at its lowest point, and vice versa. The pumping apparatus consists of twenty horse-power boiler and an engine of ten horse power, with a pump placed several feet below the top of the well. One curious fact is the tank never freezes, even though the top is uncovered. This is the more remarkable as the staves of which the tank is made are only three inches in thickness, and are entirely unprotected from the air. In the warmest weather of suminer, also, the water retains its own temperature almost perfectly.

No finer view can be obtained than that presented from the tank at the water works. Lovers of scenery would do well to try it. The outlook in every direction is unobstructed. The prairie stretches out like a sea. Every object seen appears distinctly in the clear air. It is a panorama and a bird's-eye view in one. It gives one a fine idea of the surrounding country.

MANUFACTURES .- In the way of manufacturing interests, Blue Island for a place of its size is fai ly represented. It has three breweries, one of which, thit of Louis Busch, was started in Blue Island by Valedine Busch, the father of the present proprietor, twenty-five years ago. This brewery has a capacity of five thou- sand barrels per annum; employs six men and three teams the year through,

'Two years ago the Continental Oil Transportation Company located its western distributing station at Blue Island, from which it distributes nearly 400,000 barrels of petroleum oil each year to the western trade. This company has also started here a canning establish- ment, for casing or canning oil for the mountain trade. This is done by filling two twenty-five gallon cans with oil and encasing them in a wooden box. In mountain- ous districts it is only in this form that the oil can be packed and transported to reach its intended destina-

tion. C. W Lockwood is the manager of this institu- tion here, which employs quite a number of men and teams, thus materially adding to the industrial interests of the village.

There was formerly a glucose factory in the place, but it suspended operations some two years ago. Lately, however, a company has been formed to take these buildings and convert them into a starch factory. This, it is expected, will be in operation during the present year.

BLUE ISLAND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

C. P. ALBEE (deceased) came to Chicago, Ill., in 1834 and engaged in all kinds of work. llc soon went into the meat market business, which he continued until 1871. For several years of the time he went out of business, lle was born in Highgate, Franklin Co., VI., March 23, 1813. For ten years he was a mem- ber of the Volunteer Fire Company. August 29, 1843, he was married to Miss Harriet Wilson, who was born near Dayton, Ohio, December 31, 1824. She is a daughter of Samuel Wilson, a na- live of Virginia, but who immigrated lo Fountain County, Ind., in an early day. Mrs. Albee's mother's maiden name was Sarah Carr. a native of Kentucky. They have two children living-Charles Albee, now living in San Francisco, Cal .; and larry W., now a resident of Blue Island. Mr. Albee was a member of the Masonic Order.

JAMES MADISON AUBERY, general agent Merchants' Despatch Transportation Company, was born in Burlington, Vt., January 1. 1843, and lived there until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to Milwaukee, Wis. In February, 1864, he enlisted as a private in Company (, 36th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, was in a short time promoted to Quartermaster-Sergeant, Sergeant- Major, then commissioned Second Lieutenant of his company, for meritorious conduct, was Acting Adjutant during a period when the Adjutant was in Libby I'rison, and was with the regiment in nearly all of the engagements in which it participated, from the " Wilderness " to the surrender of Lec. lle was mustered out of service August, 1865. After the close of war he returned to Mil- wankce, where he attended college for a year ; then went to Portage, Wis., where he conducted a commercial college : was also interested in colleges at Sparta and La Crosse, Wis., until 187t. when he again returned to Milwaukee. Here he was connected with the Merchants' Despatch until 1877, when he was called to Chicago lo take charge of the company's business. He bought a home in Blue Island in 1882. He was, for several years, one of the Board of Directors of the Young Men's Library Association of Milwaukee, Wis. (now Milwaukee Public Library). In 1867 he married Miss Frankie Cooke, of Milwaukee, Wis. They have three children-James Madison, Jr., Fanny Grace and Leila Vander- bilt. Mr. Aubery is Junior Grand Warden of Oriental Consistory. Chicago ; a member of Apollo Commandery. Knights Templar, Chicago, of Excelsior Lodge, F. & A. M., Milwaukee, Wis., of Royal Arcanum, Morgan Park ; is Past Noble Grand of Milwau. kee Lodge, No. 2, I. O. O. F., and member of the Grand Lodge, I. O. O. F., of State of Wisconsin. Mr. Aubery, at the request of many members of the 36th Regiment is now writing a history of his regiment, entitled " The 36th Wisconsin, from the Wilder- ness to the Appomattox."

MARCUS S. BARNEY, locomotive engineer on C., R. I. & P. R. R., came to Chicago in the spring of 1854, with his parents, He was horn in Rochester, N. Y., December 14, 1841, where his parents lived five years ; thence moved to Niagara Falls, where they lived eight years, then coming to Chicago. When Mr. Bar- ney was twenty-one years old, he began learning the trade of machinist and engineer. Ile began running a locomotive in 1862. In 1870 he was married to Miss Sarah F. Hyde, of Des Moines, lowa. They have three children-Mary E., John J. and Marcus S. Mr. Barney is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

WILLIAM BAUMBACH, merchant tailor, and dealer in gents' furnishing goods, came to Cook County June 6, 1850, and settled at Blue Island, where he engaged in merchant tailoring until 1379, when he moved his business to Joliet, where he con- tinued until November 1, 1883, and then returned 10 Blue Island. He was born in Saxony, Germany. March 7, 1823, and came to the United States in June, 1850. February 2, 1852, he married Miss Juliana Diest, born In Hesse, Germany, November 22. 18.30. They have four children-Frederick William Christian, Onto C., Emily and Ferdinand. They are members of the German Lutheran Church.

HENRY J. BEER, Deputy Sheriff of Cook County, came 10 Chicago In 1872, where he engaged as veterinary surgeon some time, after which he was shipping clerk in a wholesale fruit store. In the fall of 1873 he moved to Blue Island and kept a boarding

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house until 1878, after which he re-engaged in veterinary practice and the sale of farm implements. He was appointed Deputy Sheriff in the fall of 1982. Ile was born in Hanover, Germany, May 24. 1845. Ile graduated from the Osnabruck Veterinary College in 1867, then engaged in the practice of his profession. He came to the United States in 1872. Mr. Beer married in 1874 Miss Minnie Krueger, of Blue Island. They have six children-Ilermina, Anna, Paulina, Fannie, John and Modesta. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., United Workmen, Turner Society and Sanger Chor.

AUGUST C. BOEBER, dealer in hard and soft coal, wood and ice. Ile supplies Blue Island with ice, and employs two men. He was born in Blue Island December 17, 1558, and was raised and educated in Blue Island and Chicago. Ile is a member of the Imlepenilent Onler of Foresters of Illinois. Ilis father, Fred Boeber, came to Blue Island in 1851.

WILLIAM B. BRAYTON came to Cook County in 1855, locating on a farm near Biue Isiand, where he followed agricult- ural pursuits for a number of years. In 1870 he built a home in Blue Island, where he has since lived and since been doing intsiness in Chicago.' lle was born in Steuben County, N. Y., October 9, 1831, and was raised in Wayne County, same State. In 1859 he was married to Miss Lucy M. Greenwood, a native of Madison County, N. Y., but raised in Wayne County, and a daughter of Ira Greenwood. Mr. and Mrs. Brayton have four children- William Seward, Minnie E., Ira S. and Adelbert G. They are members of the Baptist Church of Blue Island.

LOUIS BUSCII, proprietor of Busch's brewery, Blue Island. This brewery was erected and began operations in 1856 under Busch & Brand. The capacity is 4,000 to 5,000 barrels per year. and he employs eight to nine men. Mr. Busch was born in Chi- cago January 24. 1858, where he was raised and educated. Ile came to Blue Islandl in 1876 and took charge of the above business.

FRANKLIN L., BUSHNELL. first came to Cook County, III., with his parents, and settled at Batchelor's Grove in 1846. Ilis father, Chester Bushnell, came to Cook County in 1833. heing one of the early pioneers. Mr. F. 1 .. Bushnell lived in the neighborhood of Batchelor's Grove until 1360, when he went to Vermillion County, Ill. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Company H1, 20th Indiana Volunteer Infantry,and participated in all the bat- tles of his command, and lost his left eye in the battle of Gettys. burg; was mustered out of service in May, 1964, and returned to Cook County, III. Ile has since followed farming some time, and owns a fine farm near Blue island. He is serving his second term as Village Trustee. In 1875 he moved into Blue Island and erected a fine residence, where he now resides, Ile was married Novem- ber 15, 1865, to Mary Jane McCord, a native of Cook County. III. They have three children-Berthena, Harriet and Betsey.

ALVAS E. CLAPP, superintendent of eating house at the cross- ing of the Grand Trunk and Rock Island railways, came to Chi- cago in 1874 and engaged in the restaurant business until October 9. 1882, when he took charge as above. Ile was born In Urbana, Champaign Co., Ill., October 7. 1953, and was raised in his native county. In 1876 he was married to Miss Marv A. Shields, of Albany, N. Y. They have four children-Joseph Ilenry, Amanda Ogden, Adell Eveline and Della.

RODNEY N. DAY (deceased) came to Cook County and located at Blue Island in 1852, engaging in the manufacture of Wagons and carriages. Ile was born in Oneidla County, N. Y., March 27, 1818. For many years he lived near Rochester, Monroe County, N. Y. In 1839 he was married to Miss Sarah Tann, of London, England, born December 4. 1820. They have ten chil- dren-Frances O., Charies M., Wallace M., William E., Ellen I ... Henry 11., Emma C., Friedel D., Elmer F., and Sarah M. Ile was a member and deacon of the Universalist Church of Blue Island. Ile served as Justice of the Peace a number of years, and practiced law some time. He died April 21, 1883.

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 168

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