History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 196

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 196

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).

On the 11th of February, 1859, a legislative act was approved to incorporate the Rosehill Cemetery Com- pany, its members consisting of William B. Ogden, Charles G. Hammond, John H. Kinzie, Hiram A. Tucker, Levi D Boone, Benjamin W. Raymond. Charles V. Dyer, James H. Reese, John Evans, Jonathan Burr, Levi B. Taft, E. K. Rogers, Robert H. Morford, Andrew T. Sherman, William Turner, George Schneider, C. H. Deihl, Andrew Nelson, James V. Z. Blaney, Henry Smith, Philo Judson, E. L. Jansen and Francis H. Ben- son. The eighteen persons first named constituted the Board of Consultation, and the last five the Board of Managers. The limit of the amount of land to be held by the company was fixed at five hundred acres. Pre- vious to drawing this act of incorporation a letter was addressed by the speaker of the House of Representa- tives of Illinois to a number of influential gentlemen of Chicago, " inviting their cooperation and assistance in the endeavor to supply to Chicago a rural cemetery adequate to her necessities, and worthy of her antici- pted future." These gentlemen were, under the act of incorporation, named as the first governing board of the company, which organized as follows : President, Dr. J. V. Z. Blaney ; vice-president. Colonel Henry Smith ; secretary, A. T. Sherman ; treasurer, J. Woodbridge Smith. The site was dedicated on the 28th of July, 1859, in the presence of from 8,000 to 10,000 citizens Free trains of twenty cars each were run, and as the day was balmy and clear, they were crowded to their utmost capacity. The train bearing the procession proper, with the Masonic fraternity, clergy, officers of the day

and others, reached the ground about 10 o'clock a. M., and headed by the Light Guard Band, the concourse took up its line of march to the center of the cemetery, where, on a finely chosen site for the proposed chapel, a foun- cation having already been laid, all was in readiness for the initial ceremonles of the day.

The corner-stone was laid under the auspices of the Masonic fraternity. It was of Athens marble, and was inscribed as follows :

" This stone was laid July 28, A. D. 1859, A. I .. 5859, by the Masonic Order. M. W., I. A. W. Buck, Grand Master."

At the conclusion of the ceremonies, H. A. Johnson, M. D., acting Grand Master, eloquently addressed Pres- ident Blaney, who made a fitting and interesting response. From Dr. Blaney's address is taken the fol- lowing extract, bearing particularly upon the inception of the movement for the founding of the cemetery :

" In the autumn of 1858 a petition was presented to the Common Council of Chicago remonstrating against the further interment of the dead in the City Cemetery. The gentlemen to whom the matter was referred, pro- ceeded with their duty with commendable zeal and promptness. They opened a correspondence with the authorities of the several large cities of the United States and the Canadas, procuring a vast amount of statistical information and numerous documents. They also made a reconnoisance of the vicinity of Chicago, with a view of effecting a new location for the city cem- etery. Among other localities the one upon which we now stand was examined, and in the unanimous opinion of the committee, was not merely the best, but the only spot in all respects suitable for the purpose. The re- port of the committee attracted the attention of several of the gentlemen corporators of the Rosehill Cemetery. 'The idea of the suitableness of this tract of land for cemetery purposes had previously occurred to them, but until the report was made to the Common Council adverse to the continuance of the city cometery, the movement was thought to be premature. This report suggested that the time had arrived when the public sentiment of Chicago was prepared to support the efforts which might be made to establish a rural ceme- tery at a convenient distance from the city limits. The Board of Managers of Roschill Cemetery, appointed under the act of incorporation, encouraged by the re- port of the committee of the City Council, and feeling bound to supply the need of a place for burial, without delay initiated the preliminaries for the location of the cemetery at this place. With this view they solicited and obtained the eminent counsel of J. Jay Smith, Esq., President of Laurel Hill Cemetery, at Philadelphia, who. in view of the importance of the movement to the future health and prosperity of Chicago, sacrificing his con- venience and other engagements in an inclement season of the year, visited Chicago and freely gave his assist- ance in locating the grounds for the future cemetery, and both then and since has been of eminent service by his advice in the management of the enterprise. The Board of Managers would wish thus publicly to express their obligation to this gentleman and their high estima- tion of his experience in the management of rural cem- cteries, and the value of his counsels."

On the 11th day of July, 1859, the first funeral cor- tege entered the gates of Rosehill with the remains of Dr. J. W. Ludlam. Since that time over twenty thou- sand bodies have been there deposited. The first plat of the cemetery consisted of about sixty acres. In No- vember. 1873, one hundred and sixty more acres of land were added, and preparations are now (January, 1884,)

718

HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

being made to lay out and beautify about seventy acres in the southwestern portion of the grounds. The pres- ent officers of the Roschill Cemetery Company are: Frederick Tuttle, president; William H. Turner, vice- president and auditor; Van H. Higgins, treasurer; Joseph Gow, secretary. Robert I. Higgins is superin- tendent of the grounds. Mr. Tuttle has been president of the company for the last twenty years, and J. Wood- bridge Smith, who at present is not connected with it, acted as its treasurer for fifteen years.

An important feature has recently been introduced at the request of a number of the most prominent and wealthy citizens of Chicago, who desired to secure large and handsome lots for themselves and heirs, by which special covenants were incorporated in their warranty deeds, agreeing to never sululivitle their property. The Rosehill Cemetery Company therefore caused several sections in the finest portions of the groundls to be im- proved and laid out on the lawn plan for the benefit of these special lot-holtlers. Here are the family lots of Matthew Laflin, Byron 1 .. Smith, John B. Drake, Henry M. Hooker, D. B. Gardner, estate of S. S. Gardner, Henry A. Rust, Dr. N. S. Davis, Frederick H. Kales, Richard T. Crane, A. D. Lamb, Mrs. Henrietta E. Mor- ton, Arabella T. Calkins, John W. Calkins, Gary G. Calkins, Almon H. Calkins, Henry F. Lewis, and others.

St. Henry's | R. C.) Parish, Rose Hill .- In 1842 the first Catholic settlers arrived in the vicinity of Rose Hill, and in 1850 were gathered together in the form of a little society, by Rev. H. Fortmann, resident pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Gross Point. The few families which then comprised the congregation had been wor- shiping in the house of Peter Schmitt. At first they met irregularly, whenever any of the pioneer priests of Chi- cago could find time to attend, afterward at stated pe- riods. Among those who had care of souls in these early times of St. Henry's Parish, were Rev. Fathers Fortmann, Kopp and Kremer, from Gross Point. When Father Fortmann came in 1850, preparations were made to ereet a church building, which was done during this year. In the beginning of March, 1863, the Redemp- torist Fathers who had been called to St. Michael's Church, Chicago, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Dugan, took charge of St. Henry's Parish, attending it every second Sunday. The first one of the Fathers who was detailed for this work. was the Rev. Jacob Nagel, who found it necessary to enlarge the church edifice to more than twice its original size. In July, 1864, he was called elsewhere, and St. Henry's Parish was successively served by Rev. Fathers Hahn, Majerus, Scheffler, and Fimmer, all of St. Michael's Church. About New Year's Day of 1867 the people of St. Henry's, which was then a parish of about sixty families, welcomed their first resident pastor in the person of Rev. Edward Haemers. He was succeeded in March, 1870, by Rev. J. A. Marschall, who, after a period of only six months, made place, in October, 1870, for Rev. Andrew Michel. Father Michel remained until the 6th of January, 1873, when he was removed to Lin- coln, Logan County. In the month of February his successor, the Rev. Henry Wagner, took charge. Ile found the people of St. Henry's willing and anxious to make improvements, and during his short stay succeeded in erecting a new church and transforming the old struct- ure into a school building. On the 15th of September, 1875, he was transferred to Mendota, LaSalle County, and the pastor at that point, the Rev. C. J. Niederber- ger, took charge of St. Henry's Parish. His principal merit consists in having reduced the debts of the parish by $4.000, within the short space of three years and eight months, In May, 1879, he resigned. The pulpit

remained vacant for two months, when Rev. A J. Thicle, the present incumbent, was appointed to the charge. The present condition of St. Henry's Parish is in marked contrast with the feeble society founded in 1850. It has now a congregation of two hundred and fifty families, with 1,400 souls. It owns five acres of valuable real estate for church, school, parsonage, and cemetery pur- poses, and the structure in which the prosperous and growing society worship, although frame, is spacious and elegantly furnished and frescoed. The parish also possesses a fine brick school-house, containing four school-rooms and exhibition hall, and it is probable that ere long a fine and substantial parochial residence will be erected.

The Orphan Asylum of the Guardian Angel, Rose Hill .- A German Catholic orphan society was organ- ized in 1865, its board of directors being the pastors of the different parishes throughout the city of Chicago, and two laymen from each congregation. In 1867 buildings were erected at Rose Hill, at an expense of $8,000. These were, however, destroyed by fire Octo. her 23. 1879. Previously, however, on the eleventh of September, 1872, the " Angel Guardian German Cath- olic Orphan Society of Chicago " had been incorporated under general State law, its object being "the support, maintenance and education of such orphan and half- orphan children as the society may choose to receive." The first trustees, who numbered nine, were as follows : Revs. Ferdinand Kalvelage, Peter Fischer, Peter Zim- mer, Dennis Stolz, Clemens Venn, and Messrs. Lorenz Biehl, John Herting, Anton Schager and Anton Fran- zen. Immediately after the destruction of the first asylum building by fire, in 1879, the trustees began the erection of the present structure, which is so imposing a land-mark in this section of the town. The asylum stands upon high ground, where the air is pure, and commands a beautiful expanse of country. When com- pleted, the cost of the building was $35,000, and the entire valuation of property is placed at 850,000. That the institution has fully met the purpose for which it was founded, is quite evident from its status. Over one hundred and thirty orphans find a home there, under the motherly care of the Poor Handmaids, who not only teach their fatherless and motherless charges the rudi- ments of their education, but nurse them in sickness, and protect them in health. The grounds of the Asy- lum, including houses and farmland, cover forty-nine acres of ground. The officers at present are: Rev. J. Essing, priest ; A. I. Amberg, treasurer ; L. Biehl, secretary. In conclusion, it may be stated that the Katholischer Jugen-freund, a semi-monthly and monthly publication, is issued for the benefit of the Asylum, it being under the general management of Mr. Bichl.

HAVELOCK AND ROSE HILL BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

J. Il. ANDERSON, manufacturer of marble and stone work, was born in Kincardineshire, Scotland, July 2, 1841. He was engaged both in stone cutting and building, both in Scotland and England, up to 1864, when he came to Rose Ifill, Lake View Township. Cook Co. Ill .. and worked for a short time for Edward Walker, marble culier. The same year he established his present business, as the firm of Cooper & Anderson, which way cuntinued for eighteen months, and which was then dissolved, from which time he has carried on business himself. From 1872 he held a lease of Rose Ilill to do alf the work under the supervision of The cemetery authorities. In November, 1882, he formed the Wis- consin Granite Company, of which he is vice-president and man- aging director. Ile has held the office of Postmaster at Rose Hill since 1863, and is also trustee of the Congregational Church. ile was married 10 Miss Emma I., Reels, of Syracuse, N. V., November 30, 1866, who died March, 1882, leaving three children-Adelaide A., Isabel and Roy J.

LAWRENCE BAER was born in Chicago November 5. I851. At the age of cighteen he commenced business with his

Digitized by Google

719

HISTORY OF LAKE VIEW.

father in his saicon in Lake View Township, and remained with him up to 1875, when he went into partnership with his brother, Frank A., which comsinned until 1881, Ile then was employed as book-keeper for William Seng & Co., until 1833. when he started a foundry in Lake View Township. Ile was married to Miss Bar- bara Hlaskamp, of New Trier Township, Cook County, June 17, 1875. They have three children-Mary, Anthony 11. and Law- rence .N.

WALTER E. BAXTER, blacksmith, was born in Hunting- donshire England, Angust 18, 1849. Ile learned his trade with his father, and worked as a journeyman up to coming to the United States in 1872, locating in Hyde Park, Cook County, where he worked at his trade for one year, and in September, 1873. came to Lake View Township and started his present shop. He has been Constable since 1879. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Dickin- son, cf Lincolnshire, England. in 1872. They have four children- Martha 1 .. , Annie .\ .. Alonzo Frederick John and Catharine E ..

GEORGE S. CAIRD was born in Kincardineshire, Scotland, April 25. 1854. Ile learned the trade of marble and stone cutter in Scotland, and was employed as superintendent for different tirms in Scotland up to the spring of 1882, when he came to Lake View Township, Cook Co., Ill., and has been since superintendent and general manager for J. 11. Anderson, dealer in marble, etc., at Rose Hill. Ile married Miss Catharine Kay, of Scotland, They have three children-James, Maggie J. and George S., Jr.

ROBERT CRAN;, foreman of Rosehill Cemetery, Is a native of Kenfrewshire, Scotland, born May 31, 1924. Ile was engaged in farining and on the publie works in Scotland, July 3. 1853, he came to America, to Philadelphia, Penn., and then went to Wood. ford County, Ky , where for three years he was employed by Robert Alexander in taking care of the fine stock upon Ins farm. In 1856 Mr. Craig went to Wisconsin, and in December of the same year came to Chicago. There he was first employed upon the Galena Railroad as section boss, and also In ditching the South Branch of the Chicago River. After 1856 he spent his winters in the South, making ditches and levees. In 1857 he built ditches. for the village of Evanston, and in 1858 for Bowmanvil'e, Cook County. In 1862 Mr. Craig moved to Hyde Park and constructed the disches, sewers and highways for that town. In 1879 he was made foreman of Ro-chill Cemetery, which position he now fills, Mr. Craig married Miss Sarah Messenger, who died leaving no issue. Ile then married Mrs. Wragg. nee Miss Elizabeth Maske- len, of England She has one son, Lienrge Wragg.

R. J. DONOVAN, proprietor of green - house, was born in County of Cork, Ireland, March 14. 1848. lle was engaged in gardening both in Ireland and England up to coming to the United States in 1870, living one year in I'hiladelphia, during which time he was in the employ of R. Buist. In 1871 he came to lake Forest, where he was in the employ of Alex. White np to 1873, when he came to Rose Ilill and engageil in gardening and green-honse work up to 1878, when he started his present green-house. Ile has been school director. He was married to Miss Kate Navin, October 18, 1877. They have two chikiren, Ellen J. and Mary. Mrs. Donovan's parents, I'mrick and Kate, settled in Lake View Township in 18ss. Her father died there.

HENRY ENSCHI was born in Luxemburg, tiermany, May 22, 1543. lle attended college at Luxemburg and Bastnach, grau- uating in ts61. Ile then engaged in the manufacture of cham- pagne wines in Rheims, France, and continued it up to 1864. when he came to the United States and carried on gardening in Evans- ton, Cook County. In 1867 he settled in Lake View Township. where he now engages in farm gardening. Ile has been School Director for the past five years. Mr. Ensch was married to Miss Regina Jung. of Lake View Township, July 8, 1867. They have seven children - Martin S. A., Margaret A., John A., Louisa, l'eter N., Katie A. and Frank .A.

THEODOR FEILS, farmer, was born in Prussia, Germany, October 14, 1832; came to Highland Park, Cook Co., III., in 1857; engaged in farming for three years; then was in Evanston up to 1863, when he came to Lake View Township. His life has always been that of a farmer. lle was married to Miss Josephine Grotz, of luxemburg, Germany, January 6, 1857. Iler father came to Ev- anston in 1875, and died there September 9, 1880. They have five children-Mary (now Mrs Hubert llansen), Henry, Barbara, Michael and Maggie.

NICHOLAS GIRSCH was born in Luxemburg, Germany, in 1834. lle came to America in 1860, and up to 186] worked as a blacksmith in Chicago. In 1364 he came to Lake View Town- ship and carried on a blacksmith shop at Rose Hill until 1874. when he opened his present saloon. Ile married Miss Mary Kein- berg, of Luxemburg, Germany, They have seven children-Mary, Kate, Annie, Christine, Martin, Charles and John.

ERASMUS HANSEN, manufacturer of marble-stone work. was born in Denmark July 10, 1841. 1le came to Chicago in 1866, and learned the trade of marble-cutter with John W, Ilu-

ber, of Graceland, Cook Co., Ill. In the spring of 1871 he came to Rose Hill and worked for J. 11. Anderson up to the fall of 1872, when he started in linsiness as the firm of MeGrath & Hlan- sen. Mr. Metirath having retired from the business, the firm then became Swetzer & Hansen up 10 1577, when Mr. Swetzer retired and F. Ilest became a partner, which continued one year as tirm of Hansen & Iless. Since 1875 Mr. Hansen has carried on the business in his own name.

HENRY HANSEN, proprietor of a green-house, was born in Christiana, Sweden, February 9. 1859. fle came to Chicagu in 1868 with his father. Erick, who now lives at Rose Ilill. Mr. Hansen commenced the green-house business wist. his uncle, John Hansen. For two years up to July, 1883, he worked for Rose Hill Cemetery Company, when he opened his present green-house.

HUBERT HANSEN, restaurant, was born in Lake View Township April, 1859. Ilis parents, Michael and Margaret K., settled in Lake View Township, Cook Co., Ill., in 1847. where his mother died, his father still living with her son. Mr. Hansen first engaged in gardening with his father, aml afterwards for nine years as rubber and polisher for J. 11. Anderson and R. Hansen, marble cutters, Rose Hill. In February, 1880, he started his pres. ent business. He was married to Miss Mary Files February 24, 1876. They have one child, Henry M.

W. A. JACOBY, marble cutter and carver, was born in Phila- delphia. l'enn., October 4, 1851. Ile learned his traile with his uncle, G. W. Jacoby. In 1972 he went to St. Paul, for one years working at his trade; then to New Mexico for two years on a stock ranch; then to Ilouston, Tex. In 1874 he came to Kme Ilill and worked for J. 11. Anderson, then with J. 11. Gall, of Graceland, after which for five years he mined and prospected in the Black Ilills. Returning to Graceland he again went into the employ of Mr. Call, and from him to his present employer. K. Hansen, Kose Ilill. Ile was married to Miss Lizzie Bernhard, of Chicago, March 29. 1880. ller father was superintendent of German Intheran C'emetery, at Graceland, and now lives at St. Paul. They have two children. Charles C. and Isabella.

MARTIN JUNG was born in Hesse-Darmstadt November 11, 1806. He came to America in 1846, locating in Lake View Town- ship, and was engaged in gardening. Frum 1554 he spent six years in Chicago, but returned to Lake View Township, and has carried on gardening since. lle was Commissioner of Highways from 1848 for three years. Ile married Miss Margaret Arnold, of Hesse: Darmstadt, January 6, 1858. They have one child, Regina, now Mrs. Henry Ensch, of Lake View Township.

SEBASTIAN KEIL, was born in Rhenish Prussia, Germany. February 24. 1824. Ile came to the United States in 1857 and settled first in Hartford, Conn., for four months. He then came to Chicago and engaged in gardening up to 1863, when he came to Lake View Township, and upon the opening uf St. Boniface Cemetery, was made superintendent, which position he now holds. lle married Miss Elizabeth Laux, of Prussia, Germany. They have three children-John, Kate (now Mrs. Peter Williams) and Jacob.

PETER KINN, carpenter and Imilder, was born in Luxem- burg, Germany, June 24. 1850. Ile learned his traile in 1.uxein- burg, and worked at it up to the time of coming to the United States, In ts70 he came to 'hicago, where he remained one year, and then moved to Lake View Township, where he has since been engaged as a carpenter and builder. In 1878 he opened a grocery, which he also carries on. Hle was married to Miss Mag. gie Nilles, of Luxemburg, tiermany, November 30, 1876. They have two children -Theodore and Nicholas.

NICHOLAS KRANSZ was born in Luxemburg, Germany. August 16, 1816. He was employed in the manufacture of dry goods in Huschrodt, Germany, and for several years before coming to the U'nited States engaged in the manufacture for himself. _ July 7. 1845. he came to the United States, direct to Lake View Town- ship, Cook County, and with his brother bought the farm upon which he resides, Since 1860 he has acted as agent for different fire insurance companies, especially American Fire Insurance Com- pany, of Chicago, in which he owns an interest. Ile also repre- sents the German Fire Insurance Company of Freeport. Ill. Mr. Kransz for some fifteen years held all the township offices, with the exception of Supervisor. He was married to Miss Margaret Faber, of Luxemburg, Germany, February 7, 1849. They have five children-Nicholas H., Peter P., Mary, Henry P. and Annie.

NICHOLAS MULLER, farmer, was horn in l'russia. Ger- many, February 2, 1821. Ile came to the United States in 1847. to Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked up to 1850, when he came to Lake View Township, on his present farm, near Rose Hill Cem- etery, where he has since engaged in gardening. Ile was married to Miss Anna Greenawalt, of Prussia. August 2, 1851. They have seven children-John, Joseph, Nicholas, l'eter, Henry, Mathias and Anna.

ROBERT PURVIS was born in Sterlingshire, Scotland, in

720

HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

the year 1813. Coming 10 the I'niteil States in 1940, he was em- played as gardener by several gentlemen in New York City and vicinity for several years, Ile came to Chicago in 1856, moved into Lake View in January, 1857, went to Evanston in 1959, and located on his present farm in 1962, where he has since been engaged in market gardening. He opened his present green house in 1870. Mr. l'urvis's wife is Phillis Baklock, of London, England. They have one son, koben James, who now carries on the green- house business.

PETER REINBERG was born in Lake View Township March 5. 2858. Ilis parents, Henry and Catharine, camr In Lake View Township in 1543, where they engaged in farmning up to the death of his father in February. 1591. Mr. Reinlurg lived npon the farm with his father up to his death, and since has engaged in farm gardening for himself. Ile was married to Miss Mary Kro- nealærger, of Germany, May 22. 1883. Her parents setiled in South Evanston in 1804.

K. C. ROBERTSIIN, marble-polisher, was born in Kincar- dineshire, Sontland December 26, 1847. Ile worked in a passen- ger deput in Aberdeen, Scotland, up to coming to Canada in 1972, where he remained six months, then rame to lake View Township, and has worked with J. 11. Anderson, and also R. Hansen, marhle dealers, ever since Mr. Robertson married Isabella White, of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in t873. They have five chillren-Jane, Alexander, Well, Mamie and Jessie.

;. A. RUSE, statinn agent, was born in Albany. N. V., Sep- temlær 22, 186t. Ile attended welund up to the age of seventeen, when he became employed as telegraph operator at Bear Creek, Wis., on the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad, and also on the same mad at Appleton Junction, Wis., which position he held up to July 16, 1881, when he was appointedl station agent al Rose Hill, Conk Cn., 111., on the Chicago & North-Western Railroad, which position he hekl up to April, 1893, when he was transferred to the general offices at Chicago as telegraph operator. On No. vember 1, 1883. he was returned to his present position as station agent at Kose Ilill.

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 196

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