History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 192

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 192

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F. A WOODBURY. attorney at law, with office at 97 Clark Street, Chicago, is a native of liardner, Me., and received his early education at floden. Me. Ile came West at the age of twenty-four years, localing in Englewood in September. tBoy Ile continued his law studies at Union Law College, Chicago, grailnating in 1870, and was at that time admitted to the Bar. Ile has since practiced his profession in Chicago Mr. Woudbury is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and E. M. Jarrett Chapter, R \ M , Englewood, amel Apollo Commandery, Chicago, He a als one of the fast members of the Englewind Citizens Association.

NORMALVILLE.

Normalville is the post office name of a settlement extending from Sixty-fifth to Seventy-first Street, and from a line west of the Normal School to Hyde Park Township. The location is on a table-land, some six feet above the western portion of Hyde l'ark, and like the other vicinities hereabouts is supplied with lake water. Three years ago there were here only the Nor- mal School building, together with a few suburban hontes; now it is well built up, and is one of the most popular of the southern suburbs.

The Normalville post-office was established in 18;2, with the present Postmaster, McClintock, in charge.

The first business houses in the neighborhood were Dr. Arnold's drug store, the post office store, and the grocery stores of Huse and Dahlgreen.

The settlement of Normalville may be said to date back to 1871, when a few dwellings only stood on its present site. Dr. Arnokl, William Benedict, F. Benton, 1.uce Hicks, L. W. Beck, Thomas Edwards, and a few others were antong the settlers at that period. There were in all seven houses between Sixty-seventh and Seventy-first streets, west of the Chicago & Rock Is- land Railroad. The Brennan, Huse and Nurse families settled on Webster Avenue, in the vicinity of Seventieth Street, in 1869. The Kimball family, also carly resi- dents here, lived on the Vincennes road ; Peter Dralli- gan, a Hollander, residled west of Normal as early as 1860, while east of the railroad a few small houses of cabins were standing in 1852.

When Mr. Bartlett, Sr., visited the district in 1854. he stood on the line of Sixty-sixth Street, and looking south saw a wide expanse of water, which led him to form the conclusion that the lands in the vicinity were not worth twenty-five cents per acre. In later years he selected the heart of this very territory for his residence, and retracts his statement of 1854, that he who would build a house on this prairie waste would not he wise. Not one of the early settlers, in his brightest day-dreams, could picture the physical change which a quarter of a century has effected; even in 1873 there were few who could form a conception of what modern enterprise and taste has done for this favored suburb. To the industry and ability of C. 1), l'erry and D). W. Storrs a collection of private residences has been brought into existence. How their labors were recognized is best told by the present importance of the place.

In a communication to the Chicago Inter Ocean, June 24. 1883, the contributor, speaking of Normalville, says: "In population the figures are not at command. unless the eye, marshaling the upspringing streets, can take the census-the whole town has risen up since the last census, and approximates a thousand new inhab- itants this year. It libraries, culture and means, in en- couragement of all adornments of civilization, the com- * munity is among the foremost of suburbs. . Among the new householders may be mentioned the following substantial citizens: Byrus F. Sugg, George L. Berry, S. H. Wright, Thomas B. Seavey, J. M. Wat- son, Lee Haas, R. W. Dobson, S. W. Wheeler, A. S. Dunham, Dr. A. W. Freeman, - Stebbins, G. C. Barton, E. W. Prescott, W. C. Dodge, George Mittenholl, Martin B. Bush, R. T. James, R. L. Warren, J. B. Clark, Asa Swift, Albert White, J. A. Bartlett. J. W. Johnson, J. M. Spotter, Jantes K. Paul, M. E. Croft, Welkin Hay, James A. Curtiss, Henry Gill, J. J. Blodgett, Dr

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HISTORY OF LAKE.

Hemmingway, L. H. Moore, M. F. Hallowell, A. S. Smith, George H. Eichelberger, M. P. A. Guthrie, H. G. Brainard, E. K. Brown, J. G. Richardson, 1), Bru- baker, Thomas Edwards, M. A. Leeson, Isaiah S. Raisor, George A. Redmond, R. A. Lambert, C H. Foster, Otis Hall, Simon P. Stahl, -- Sproule, S. R. Scott, C. Huse, John F. Quinn, - Mcclintock, Colonel Malley, D). W. Storrs, and others.

THE NORMAL SCHOOL.

During the years 1865-66 complaints against the thoroughness and efficiency of the educational work done in the common schools of the county were many and serious, In the latter year Professor John F. Eberhart re- ported to the County Board in favor of a teachers' training-school. The subject was fully discussed, and

month, the Supervisors visited the various villages from which propositions had been received, and one week later the vote was taken, resulting as follows: Engle- wood, twenty-five; Blue Island, thirteen; Norwood, nine. The site being thus finally chosen for the permanent location of the school, work was at once begun. The citizens of Englewood gave $25,000 in cash and twenty acres of land, one-half of which, valued at $2,000 per acre, was cionated by 1 .. W. Beck. The buildings were erected at a cost, when completed, of $95,000, from plans drawn by J. K. Winchel, architect, who also super- intended their construction.

Professor Wentworth was chosen principal of the school, a position he filled with marked ability from 1867 to his death in 1882. He was succeeded by Francis W. Parker, of Boston, Mass., who resigned his position

NORMAL SCHOOL ..

STUDENTS' HAI.L.

in view of the fact that the State Superintendent of Schools heartily recommended the proposed measure, the Committee on Education, in December, 1866. re- ported in favor of a County Normal and Training- School. In March of the following year the Board of Supervisors authorized the establishment of such a school for the term of two years, and the Committee on Education was empowered to receive propositions from the several villages and towns of the county regarding the location of the school buildings. Bluc Island, Lyons, Richton and Harlem at once became bidders for the institution, and each made favorable proposals setting forth its ad- vantages. Blue Island was finally selected as the site, and in September, 1867, the first normal school of Cook County was inaugurated, with Professor D. S. Went- worth as principal.

In December, 1868, the question of the permanent location of the school was brought before the Board of Education, who deferred final action in the matter until March of the following year. On the 12th of that

as supervisor of the public schools in that city and took charge of the Cook County Normal January 1, 1883.

The school, which is designed for the training of teachers for work in the public schools in the county, is divided into four grades or classes, three of which do academical work, while the fourth or highest class study the science and art of teaching and practice teaching in the public school which is attached to and forms a part of the Normal school. This class now numbers one hundred, twenty-five of which have been teachers. The public school belongs to, Englewood District No. 2. Pupils living within this district can attend the school free of any charge, while those outside of the prescribed boundaries are charged an admission fee of $25 per annum. The attendance in this department in 1882 was 175; in 1883, 275-

The school depends for its financial support upon the county, with the exception of the tuition fees already mentioned, which amount to ahout 82,000 a year.

Graduates receive a certificate for teaching from the

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

County Superintendent, on the recommendation of the principal of the Normal, which are valid in the county. but not in Chicago. It is the intention of the Board of Education to grant certificates of graduation only after the most thorough and satisfactory proofs that the can- didate can govern and teach an ordinary school. The members of the training class are required to teach or to observe the work of a thoroughly skilled teacher for one hour each day during the year. There is also in the school a kindergarten training class, which is sup- ported by the Chicago Froebel Society, of which Mrs. E. W. Blatchford is the president. It is proposed to carry Frocbel's plan of teaching through the entire course, thus giving the pupils the full benefits of this most admirable system of instructing the young.

In order to better accontmodate students from a dis- tance in the county and to enable them to obtain the advantages of the school at a minimum cost, Students' Hall, a handsome brick structure, has been erected near to the Normal building, where board is furnished at from $3.00 to $3.50 per week. The matron of the Hall is Mrs. Wentworth, widow of the late lamented principal.

All students living in Cook County, and who intend to make teaching a profession, and who promise to give Cook County the benefit of their services after they shall have finished their course, are entitled to adınis- sion to the Normal free of charge; those outside the county are required to pay a tuition fee of $50 per an- num. Pupils who are regular graduates of a grammar school are admitted to class " D " of the Normal, and then passed to the higher classes " C" and "B," after having given satisfactory evidence of their fitness for promction to the "A" class, or professional training class. Graduates of colleges, or of four-years course in high schools, and promoted members of the " B " class of the Normal, are eligible.

Industrial education is also made a prominent feat- ure; four rooms are devoted to hand work, two to moulding in clay and sand, one to wood work, and one to miscellaneous work. The other rooms are devoted to experimental work in chemistry, physics, zoology and mineralogy.

Belonging to and surrounding the school are twenty acres of beautiful land, part of which is set apart for a play ground, a portion to a horticultural garden, and the remainder to forestry.

The present faculty of the institution are as follows: Francis W. Parker, principal; H. H. Straight, teacher of science and industrial education; W. C. Dodge, professor of chemistry and physics; Eleanor Worthington, teacher of history and literature; W. W. Speer, inathematics; Emily J. Rice, language; Helen R. Montfort, drawing; Mrs. Alice H. Putnam, kindergartett; Mrs. Frank S. Parker, elocution; Miss Lelia Patridge, gymnastics; Alex E. Frye, principal of the grammar school; Cora M. Wheeler, teacher in the grammar school; Mary A. Speer, primary methods; Sarah E. Griswold and Louise E. Leighton, teachers in primary school; George W. Fitz, head mechanic. At the opening of the school in 1884 the number of pupils in each department were as follows: Grammar and primary, three hundred; kindergarten training-class, twenty-four; kindergarten pupils, fifty; in the normal school, two hundred and seventy; total num- ber in attendance, six hundred and forty.

BECK PARK .- This tract of ground, which was platted in 187t, is a part of the north half of the southwest quarter of Section 21, Township 38, Range 14, except the ten acres already mentioned, which were donated by Mr. Beck for the use of the normal school building. In 1872 the work of converting the platted portion into

a park was begun. Driveways were laid out, shade trees planted, and an artesian well was completed during that year. The panic of 1873, however, and the busi- ness depression which followed, prevented Mr. Beck from then carrying out his plans regarding this beautiful section of Englewood, and until t875 nothing more was done. With the revival of good times at that period, work was again commenced, and the vicinity suon began to assume the form and beauty which it now bears, while it still shares in that remarkable prosperity which has visited Normalville within the past few years.

NORMALVILLE BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ROBERT AITCHISON, president of the Robert Aitchison Perforated Metal Company ; works at South Chicago, and city of- fice in Chicago. The factory was built in 1874. The building for the perforated work is constructed of brick, and is 50xtoo feet in arca, with engine and boller room 20x25; store-room, 35*35 ; thirty six men work in this department under the su- perintendence of Andrew I)., a brother of Mr. Aitchison. The foundry is a frame building 65xtoo feet in area, with capacity of three tons of iron per day ; here twenty men are employed in the manufacture of plate work, grates, fenders and summer fronts, under the superintendence of A. Drysdale. In the japanning funm, 20x20, three men are employed. The officers of the com- pany are : Robert Aitchison, president ; John McWade, vice- president : Robert D. Aitchison, secretary ; A. B. Condit, treas- urer ; A. D. Alichison, superintendent perforating works ; An drew Drysdale, superintendent foundry. The business of this company has grown from small beginnings in Chicago to its pres- ent large proportions in South Chicago, and from time to time its capacity will have to be increased to meet the growing demands on its manufacture, which reaches every State and Territory, South America, the Mexican mining regions and Canada. Robert Aitchison was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, October 27. 1830. He lived in Edinburgh until eighteen years of age. Alter learning the trade of machinist, he worked four years at his trade in Glas- gow. Coming to the United States in 1852, he worked some time in New York City and Ontario County, N. Y., and in 1859 came to Chicago, where he worked in the Architectural Iron Works seven years, for John Clark & Son. Ile was then employed one and a half years in the manufacture of smut machines, after which he began the manufacture of perforated metal in 1868, in Chicago, and continued there until the firm's removal to South Chicago.

JOHN A. BARTI.ETT. real estate agent, office 21 Otis Block, Chicago, is a native of Oxford, Worcester Co., Maes., and was reared in Webster, 3.ass., where his father was engaged in the manufacture of machinery and where he learned the trade of ma- chinist, following that occupation some years, He came West at the age of twenty-five and located In Chicago in 1854, and was for some fifteen years engaged in the wholesale boot and shoe busi- ness. In 1870 he embarked in the real estate business, Mr. Bart- lett was one of the pioneers in the wholesale manufacture of boots and shoes on a large scale at Chicago, and only ceased that besi- ness on account of continued ill health. He has resided at Not- malville since April, 1880. Hc handles considerable Englewood and Normalville real estate, making a specialty of that property. He is a member of the Englewood Citizens' Association.

WILLIAM C. DODGE was born in Oswego County. N. V., in t848 When he was six years of age his parents moved to Bar- rington, Cook Co., Ill., where he was educated. There, for a season, and in the State Reform School of Wisconsin, he taught. In 186g he moved to the town of Lake, and attended the Cook County Normal, where in September, 1871, he organized the pre- paratory department, and for a year had charge of it. In 1872 he taught in the Englewood High School. In 1873 he attended Cornell University, N. Y., and also Columbia School of Mines, studying at each nearly a year. Mr. Dodge subsequently went to Colorado, where he engaged in mining pursuits. Returning to Illinois he had, during 1875-76, charge of the public schools of La- Grange, and for two years of the schools of Braidwood. Professor Dodge, in January, 1879. took charge of the preparatory and sci- ence departments in the Cook County Normal, and is now pro- fessor of physics and chemistry. He Is a deservedly popular teacher. For eight months he was acting principal, during the illness of and a short time subsequent to, the death of the late l'ro- lessor Wentworth, in 1882.

A. S. DUNIIAM, secretary of the C. & W. I. R R. Co., Is a native of Northfield, Washington Co., Vt. He has been for the past twenty-four years engaged in railroad business. When a boy he entered the employ of the P., Ft. W. & C. R. R. Co., at Pitts- burgh, Penn. He was employed in various capacities on that mail- road and its branches, and when he ceased his connection with

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them was assistant auditor of the P., C. & St. L. R. R. Co. }Ir. Dunham came to Chicago in February, 1973, with what is now the C. & E. I. R. R. Co, Ile has filled the positions of auditor and general passenger agent, and is now secretary of the company: is also secretary of the C. & W. 1. R. R. Co., 10 which he was ap- pointed May 1. 1882, and secretary of the Belt Line road of Chi- cago, having received the latter appointment in March, 1883. Mr. Dunham has made his home at Normalville since April, 1882, and is connected with the Citizens' Association of Englewood.

JOHN P. FOWI.ER, manufacturer of mattresses, spring beds, etc., is a native of Butler County, l'enn., and at the age of eighteen years located in Chicago, in 1865. He at that time entered the employ of Allen, Mackey & Co., dealers in house furnishing goods. Ile remained in their employ about eleven years, and during the greater part of that period he had full charge of the bedding de- partment, In 1876 he engaged in his present business in company with 5. 11. Wright, whose interest he bought out in September. 1882. Mr. Fowler's business is growing rapidly, and he gives em- ployment to about forty hands at his factory. Mr. Fowler is sec- retary of the Furniture Manufacturers' Association of Chicago. He has resided at Normalville since the spring of 1978.

JOHN S. KENDALL, president of the National School For- nishing Company, was born at Syracuse, N. Y., in 1841, and when young his parents moved to Beloit, Wis, Ile was edurated in the schools of that place and at Beloit College, where he graduated in June, 1862. In September following, he enlisted in Company B. 22d Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. Two and a half years later he was promoted to Second Lieutenant and assigned to Company C. 48th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and six months after made First Lieutenant, serving until March, 1866. Subsequently he went to St. Louis, was employed in school furniture business as a salesman, and in 1870 tonk the St. Louis agency of the National School Furniture Company. Ile came to Chicago in 1872, and has since been associated with this company, hirst as general manager, and since the fall of 1881 as president, Many improve- ments in school apparatus have been made and introduced by Mr. Kendall, among them Kendall's tellurian globe, which is now largely in use in this country and being introduced in Europe, Mr. Kendall has resided at Normalville since the spring of 1880. lle is a charter member of the Englewood Citizens' Association, and the Englewood Veteran Club.

WILSON F. MCCLINTOCK, merchant, was born in Lyons Township, Cook Co., Ill., in 1844, and reared on a farm. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Company 11, 127th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out in June, 1865, after which he re- turned to the farm and followed agricultural pursuits in Cook County until about 1872, when he went to Pawnee County, Neb .. and engaged in mercantile and agricultural pursuits. lle was also for two years Postmaster at Tiff's Branch. Returning East in April, 1876, he located in Englewood, where for six months he car- ried on a grocery business, then moved to Normalville, where he carries a nice stock of dry gonds, etc. He also owns considerable property in this locality, and devotes a portion of his time to the improvemnt of the sanie. The subject of this sketch has in con- nection with other pursuits been l'ostmaster at this place, since December to. t$7S. Ile is the son of Wilson MeClintock, who came to Chicago in 1833 and was one of the first street com- missioners of that city.

EDWIN S. METCAL.F. attorney at law, office, room 35. 164 La Salle Street, Chicago, was born March 25, 1842, in Wash- ington, Orange Co. \'t. He entered the high school at Rutland, \'t., and in 1961 he enlisted and served for three years in the Union Army. Ile participated in the engagements around Harper's Ferry, but was on detached duty during the greater part of his term of serv. ice, which expired in 1864. After he was mustered out, he pro- ceeded to La Crosse, Wis., where he remained but a few months, and then settled in Boston, Mass., where he pursued the study of music. In 1867, he was supervisor of music in the public schools of Cambridge, and while there was musical director of several church choirs. In 1869 he went to Europe and settled in I.cipsic. He entered the University, took a course of music, graduated therefrom at the end of two years and received a diploma. Ile then remained abroad one year perfecting himself in music, and studying the Italian language. In 1872 he returned to Boston, and there followed the teaching of music, etc., devoting his spare time to the study of law, and upon his removal to Chicago, where in 1879 he opened a school of music and art, he entered the Union College of Law, and was admitted to the Bar in March, 188t, since which time he has been engaged in active practice. Mr. Metcalf has resided in Normalville since 1880. For about a year he taught rhetoric, music, etc., in the Cook County Normal School. Ile takes an active interest in municipal politics and the cause of tem- perance. In 1883 he was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for the town of 1.ake, and is the present incumbent,

FRANCIS WAVLAND PARKER. principal of Cook County Normal, was born October 9, 1837, in the town of Redford incar Manchester), N. 11. llc came of a race of scholars and teachers. Ilis grandfather on his mother's side was librarian of Hatvanl Col. lege. Ilis father died when Francis was hut six years of age, aml at cight the boy was apprenticed to a farmer until he was twenty-one years of age. A farmer he could not and would not be, and at the age of thirteen he broke his bonds. For the next four years he worked at whatever he could find to do, going to schond whenever the opportunity offered. Subsequently he obtained his first school; it was at Corser Hill, Boscawen (now Webster), and he was paid fifteen dollars per month, and for several years he taught in the schools of New England. In the fall of 1859, he took charge of the graded school at Carrollton, III., and there he re. mained until the outbreak of the war in 1861, when he started for the Fast, where he was at once enrolled as a private in the 4th New Hampshire Regiment. Ile fought all through the war, became 1.icutenant, Captain, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Brevet-Colonel. He was woundled in the throat and chin at battle of Deep Bottom, August 16. 1864; was taken prisoner by the Confederates at Magnolia, N. C., and released just as peace was declared. Then with the rem- nant of his regiment he returned in New Hampshire, and was mus- tered out in August, 1865. Although many fine offers presented themselves in various businesses, he preferred to teach, and accepted the principalship of the North Grammar School of Manchester, N. 11., and held the position three years. From there he went to Dayton, Ohio, in 1869, to take charge of the school in district No. 1. At the end of the year he became principal of the Dayton Normal School, a position he held for two years, being then elected assistant superintendent of city schools. To consult the highest authorities in teaching, he went to Germany in the fall of 1872, and entered King William's University, at Berlin, for a two years course in philosophy, history, and pedagogics. On his return to America he took the supervision of the schools of Quincy, Mass., which position he held for five years with great credit. In 1880 he went to Boston, having accepted the position of supervisor, and at the expiration of his time (two years) was re-elected for a second term. In October, t882, Colonel Parker received an urgent call to the principalship of Cook County Normal School. In December he resigned his position in Boston, and upon the 1st day of January. 1883, entered upon his duties as principal of Cook County Normal.

HON. HILON A. PARKER was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1841, and was educated in the schools of that place. In July. 1862, he enlisted in Company F. toth New Vork Artillery, subsc- quently was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and mustered out with the rank of First Lieutenant in July. 1865. In 1566 he began to study for the profession of engineer and surveyor. In the fall of that year he became connected with the C., R. I. & P. R. R. was employed on construction work in lowa up to 1877. when he was appointed engineer of the Illinois Division C., R. I. & P. R. R., a position which he now hokis, making his headquarters at Chicago. Mr. Parker has resided at Normalville since July, 1877. He is a member of the Englewood Veteran Club, and wax president of that body for the years 1881-82. In the fall of 1882 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the State Legislature of Illinois from the Second District.

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 192

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