History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 212

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 212

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S. W. RIDERBURG, member of school board of the Eleventh District of Jefferson, was elected in the spring of 1882. lle was born In Gothenburg, Sweden, July 1, 1846. In 1859 he came to the United States, located for a time in Albany, N. Y., and other places, and then came West. In 1862 he settled in Chicago, where he engaged in floral gardening about two years. lle then took a p nitton on the Chicago & North-Western Railway in lowa, as locomotive engineer. In 1866 he took a position in the U'nion l'acific shops at Omaha, Neb., as foreman of the truck-making de- partment. Ile returned to Chicago in 1868 to take charge as fore- man in A. 11. Andrews & Cos,' furniture factory, and some iwo years later he took charge of the picture frame factory of Sammions, Clark & Co, with whom he remained until the buildings were de- stroved by fire in 1851. lle then engaged in the manufacture of moldings on his own account until the spring of 1883. when he re. ceived an appointment to the County Recorder's office, where he still remains, Mr. Riderburg married in Chicago, March 21, 1571. Miss Alice Burquist, a native of Gothenburg, Sweden. They have five children-11ilma. Alice, Walter, Lily and Arthur Alexander. Mr. Kiderburg was a member of the Jefferson Board of Trustees from 1879 to 1883, during two years being President of the hoard.

JOMIS RASMUSSEN, proprietor of the Humboldt Park Coal Company. The business was established in the fall of 1883. The company have erected buildings one hundred and twenty-five by une hundred and twelve feet in area, using over forty thousand feet of lumber in their construction, and covering their entire stock. Mr. Rasmussen was born in Denmark in 1850, lle was educated there, and after leaving school engaged in farming. In the spring of 1972, he settled in Chicago, and was employed in a paint factory there many years. He was married In Denmark in 1871. to Miss Anna Joergensen, They have three children-Marios, Mary and Ilenry.

J. J. RUMPF, agent Commercial Union Assurance Company of London, England, and the Springheld Insurance Company of Springfield, Mass, The business was established in Humboldt Park in 1891. Mr. Rumpf was born in the city of Hamburg, Ger- many. September to 1855, and was educated in his native city. In 186g he located in Chicago, where he took a position in the office of the agent of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. In 1873, he received an appointment in the Bank of Montreal, with which institution he is still connected. Mr. Rumpf is a member of the K. of P., and of several tierman societies, all of the city. He is now a member of the school board of the Eleventh District of Jefferson.

1011N STRUBLE, M. D., physician and surgeon, was horn in Westmoreland County, Penn., January 8. 1846. llis parents moved to Mercer County, III., about t856. Ile finished his literary education in Wheaton College. DuPage County, and commenced his professional studies in 1876, graduating from Bennett Medical College in 1871), and in the same year from the Chicago College of Ophthalmology and Otology, le commenced practice at once in tirand Island, Neb, the same year. In June, 1881. he returned to Chicago, where he has since remained in practice. Dr. Struble is a very painstaking physician to secure pure medicines, compound- ing most of the material he uses, Hle is a member of the Chicago Eclectic Medical and Surgical Society, Illinois State Eclectic Medical Society, and is a registered pharmacist.

1. A. THOMPSON, manufacturer of splint and stave baskets of all kinds, established business in 1880. The buildings are thirty by one hundred and twenty-five feet In area; employs twenty- five hands and turns out three hundred dozen baskets daily. Mr.

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Thompson was born in Christiana, Norway, March 15, 1842. He Co. In the fall of 1871 the firm removed to 139 Lake was educated in his native city, and at the age of fifteen went to sea. In 1860, he came to the United States, and after spending a short time in New York City, finally settled in Chicago the same year, Ile was engaged in McCormick Reaper Works some five years; afterward some six or seven years in the ship supply busi- ness, lle subsequently entered the employment of S. I. Russell, basket manufacturer, where he remained until isso. He was mar- ried in Chicago, June 20, 1872, to Miss Agnelta Troseth, a native of Norway. They have four children-Arthur I., Josephine, Ade- laide and George.

11. TIMMERMANN & SON, grocers, established business in 1879. 11. Timmermann, the senior member of the firm, was born In Mecklenburg, Germany, January 15. 183t. Ile was edu- caled there and engaged in teaching until 1864, when he located in Chicago. Here he opened a school and continued in charge of it up to 1877. Ilis wife, whom he married in Mecklenburg, died, leaving seven children.

E. F. TIMMERMANN was born in Mecklenburg August 25, 1861, and was educated uniler his father's instruction. lle commenced his business life in 1975 in the employ of the American District Telegraph Company. In 1877 he commenced clerking in a grocery, in which he continued until 1879. Mr. Timmermann is a member of Humlealdı Park Lodge, No. 193, A, O, U. W., and Humboldt Park Lodge. No. 53t, K. of H.

WILLIAM A. WEYLAND, senior member of the firm of Weyland & Bandlow, was born near the city of Berlin, Prussia. December ts, 1847. His parents settled in Milwaukee, Wis. in t 848, in which city he received his education. In t865 he local. ed in Chicago and engaged in clerking in a grocery until 1874, when he organized the business of which he is now the head. Mr. Wer- land was married in Chicago May 12, 1870, to Miss Emma I .. Bandow. of Waukesha County, Wis. They have one son, Charles E.

WARREN WHITE, agent for Western Union White Bronze Company, 'of Detroit, Mich., manufacturers of bronze monu- ments, etc. Mr. White has been representing this company in Jefferson Township since the fall of 1883. Ile was born at Boston, Mass., in 1833. llc was educated in his native city. and after leaving schonl learned the carpenter's Irade. In 1857 hc removed to St. Paul, Minn., where he was captain of police two years. In 156t he enlisted in the zd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged on account of disability after serving about nine months, lle afterward engaged in mercantile business in New York City and in Detroit, Mich .. 'ater engaged in shipping horses and mules South. In t 864 he engaged in travel- Ing for a mercantile house in Indianapolis, Ind., and subsequently traveled for a furniture house in Dubuque, lowa, several years. In 1680 he settled in Cook County, III., representing the piano firm of Whitney, of Detroit, until he engaged in present business.

CRAGIN

Cragin is situated on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, seven miles from Chicago. The station was established here a short time after the opening of the Cragin Manufacturing Company's works at this point, previous to which time there were but few houses here. At present there are twenty-seven houses and a popu- lation of over two hundred. There is also one general store, two school-houses and three saloons. A Congre- gational Church was organized here on Sunday, Decem- ber 9, 1883, with eleven members, by the Rev. J. M. Williams. Cragin is situated on the south half of Sec- tion 33. Kelvyn Grove is situated about one mile north- cast of Cragin, on the southwest quarter of Section 27, and on the Belt Line of railway around Chicago. At this point there are but a few houses.

The Cragin Manufacturing Company's works are located near the station at Cragin. The firm of Cragin Brothers commenced business in Chicago at 230 Lake Street May 1, 1866. The firm was then composed of Henry B., Charles C., William P. and Edward F. Cra- gin. The business was that of jobbers of tin plate, sheet iron, tinners' supplies and house furnishing goods. Within two years Charles C. Cragin left the firm, and in April, 1869, Henry B. Cragin retired. Their places were supplied by Charles G. Chandler and Henry S. Slaymaker, the firm name changing to Cragin Bros. &

Street, and were scarcely settled in their new quarters when the great fire reduced their store to ashes. Within five days new quarters were secured at 56 and 58 North Clinton Street, and they were carrying on their business as usual. In 1872 they removed to their present location, 143 and 145 Lake Street. On January 1, 1874, Mr. Slaymaker retired, and the firm name was changed to Cragin Bros, & Chandler. In 1878 the firm commenced to manufacture coal hods and other sheet iron goods, and also commenced the business of galvanizing and the manufacture of tinware. Owing to ill-health, Mr. Chandler retired from the firm in December, 1881, and Charles L. Dudley entered, the firm name again changing to Cragin Bros. & Co. In the spring of 1882, on account of the increase of business, their factory was removed from Michigan Street to the junction of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway with the Chicago & North- Western, about six miles from the Chicago Court-House. The place was named Cragin, a depot was built, a post- office established and a prosperous town commenced. The Belt Line Railway Company have since made this station the terminus of their road, and thus the ship- ping facilities of Cragin are among the best in Cook County. In the same year the firm purchased the en- tire plant of the Northfield Rivet Company, of North- field, Conn., and moved the machinery and workmen to the new works at Cragin. At present this is the only manafactory of rivets in the West.

Early in 1883 the Cragin Manufacturing Company was organized with a paid in capital of $150,000. The following officers were elected: President, W. P. Cra- gin; secretary, Charles L. Dudley; treasurer, Edward F. Cragin. These with General John L. Thompson and J. V. Taylor were elected directors for the year. Dur- ing the year their galvanizing department was enlarged to include the manufacture of galvanized sheet iron. The different departments of their business include the manufacture of rivets and bolts, tinware, oil stoves, peerless stove-pipe, coal hods, patent oil-cans, egg beat- ers and miscellaneous goods, and galvanizing and ja- panning. On the ist of November, 1883, Charles Dud- ley, secretary of the company and superintendent of the factory, in attempting to get on a moving train of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, missed his footing and fell under the cars. He survived but a few hours. Edward F. Cragin was elected secretary to fill the vacancy, and W. P. Cragin assumed the duties of superintendent. The plant of the company is on eleven acres of land owned by them. Building A is used for the japanning department, having two large ovens at- tached for baking and drying. Building B is used for galvanizing, the arrangements being complete for gal- vanizing large and small castings and sheet iron.

The Washburn & Moen Manufacturing Company, drawers of iron and steel wire, was established at Wor- cester, Mass., in 1831. It has now the largest wire mills in the world, employs between three and four thousand operatives and manufactures over one hundred different varieties of wire. The officers of the company are : P. I .. Moen, president ; Charles F. Washburn, vice- president and secretary, and Charles G. Morgan, general superintendent. In August, 1877, it was deemed advis- able to try the experiment of opening a branch at Chi- cago, and a conditional engagement was made with H. B. Cragin to take charge of such branch. It was be- lieved that Mr. Cragin would have special qualifications for the position. Before six months had passed it became evident that the branch would be a success. Quarters were at once procured at 215 Lake Street,

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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON,

desk room on the second floor and storage on the fourth floor. 'At first it was designed to take orders for direct shipment from the works at Worcester, carrying only a light stock at Chicago to supply the smaller demands and to fill the orders of parties who could not wait for the goods to be sent from the factory. But the business developed so rapidly that on January t, 1879, the premises at No. 107 Lake Street, with basement, first, third and fourth floors were engaged for three years. At the expiration of this period the business had still more largely developed and a lease was made of the whole building, Nos. 107 and 109 Lake, for a period of five years from January 1, 1882. In the meantime it became evident that a larger stock should be carried in Chicago, and it became necessary to hire outside storage. The weight of the goods is so great that it was neces- sary to store in basements. Short leases were taken as a rule, for storage was required only during the close of navigation. But it was found inconvenient to have warehouses situated at different points, and it was some- times difficult to procure sufficient room. Consequently, on June 1, 1882, nearly three acres of land were pur- chased at the intersection of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, with the Belt Line at the point subse- quently named Cragin upon which the erection of a warehouse was commenced May 1, 1883. The ware- house was completed October i of the same year. It is at this time one of the finest, if not the finest ware. house in the West, as regards size, care in construction, and adaptability to the purposes for which it was erected. Its dimensions are one hundred and seventy-two by two hundred feet, and its capacity from five hundred to six hundred cars. Although but one story it is forty feet high. It is constructed entirely of brick, stone, iron and asphaltum, and is absolutely fire-proof. All the openings are provided with iron shutters that are han- dled from six points, making it possible for one man to shut them all in a few minutes. Several thousand dol- lars were expended for gravel, so that the floor might be on a level with the floors of cars, and as the buikting is surrounded by railroads on three sides, loading and unloading cars on any of the roads can be accomplished . most expeditiously. There has also been erected on the south of the warehouse a comfortable dwelling for its superintendent. The total amount of this expendi- ture has been about $40,000. Such a saving has been effected in insurance, cartage and time, that it is proba- ble the example set by this company will at no distant day be followed by other wholesale houses of Chicago, and that within a few years the entire line of the Belt railway will be occupied by warehouses and manufact- uring industries.

Whisky Point .- This famous point is in the imme- diate vicinity of Cragin, it is where the first quarterly Methodist meeting was held in Jefferson Township. There are various " true reasons" given for the origin of the name. One is that Deacon Lovett ttsed to keep here, in early days, a barrel of "genuine copper dis- tilled" whisky, which he sold at "two cents per thin bottomed tumblerful." Another is that George Merrill, in those same early days, kept tavern in the vicinity, that at his tavern good whisky was much more plentiful then good water, and that farmers living to the west- ward, who were in the habit of stopping at this tavern on their way to and from Chicago to regale themselves on Mr. Merrill's excellent whisky, gave the place this name. And still another is that there were living near the Point two early settlers who were, like the majority of their neighbors, addicted to bibulous habits, and that on a certain occasion when their favorite beverage had

run low, in order to gratify their appetite, they resorted to the whisky that had been used by their wives to make "whisky pickles," and thus pretty nearly spoiled them- selves and quite spoiled the pickles.

And yet another theory is that previous to the removal of the Pottawatomie Indians from the western shores of Lake Michigan, a certain liquor merchant in Chicago buried a number of barrels of whisky in the earth at this Point, carefully strewing leaves over the place of interment, for the purpose of concealing the whisky front the beforementioned marauding Indians.

Another theory still is that Mr. Rowley, who lived at the point of the grove, ttsually kept on hand a barrel of whisky for the purpose of "dispensing it to such of the early inhabitants as had to have it to take their quinine in."

CRAGIN BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

C. E. BELLEW, agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, and assistant Postmaster, was born in Cedarburg, Ozau- kee Co., Wis., November ty. 1553. lle was educated at the Madison University, and commenced his business life in 1870 as telegraphı operator in a railroad office. lle was subsequently agent of the C. M. & St. P. R. R. at l'enaukee and Richard, Wis. He came to Chicago as operator and chief clerk at the North .Chicago office, and from there was promoted to assistant train dispatcher at the main office, In March. 1833, he took charge of his present office, and on the transfer to the C. M. & St. P., retained it.

HENRY S. BREEDEN, foreman of the machinery depart- ment of the Cragin Manufacturing Company, was born in Hart- ford, Conn., in 1846. He was educated in his native city, and at the age of seventeen entered the employ of the Hartford Foundry & Machine Company, with whom he learned his trade. He had previous to this been employed for short intervals in a lithograph- ing establishment and in a boiler shop, and rolling mills. After finishing his trade he was employed in the Government shops at the Portsmouth Navy Yard; thence he removed to New York City, where he was connected with the Quinted Iron Works. His spe- cial work has been in mathematical instrument making, in which line he worked in the tinited States coast survey, at the Brooklyn Navy Vard, and with J. W. Queen, of Philadelphia, l'enn. In 1876 he removed West, locating in Quiney, Ill., where he was ap- pointed engineer on a locomotive on the Wabash & St Louis Rail- road. From Quincy he returned to Chicago and, after a short interval, was appointed in 1879 to his present position. Mr. Breeden was married in Hannibal, Mo., to Miss Florence G. Gray, a native of New York State. They have one child, Ilerbert F.

HENRY COOK, foreman of the galvanizing department of the Cragin Manufacturing Company, was born in Staffordshire, England, in 1839. Al the age of fourteen years he learned the trale of galvanizing, and followed it until 1862. He then went into iron and steel manufacturing. in which he continued until t567, when he came to the United States and settled in Chleago. llere he organized a firm to engage in the manufacture of galvan- ized iron, and retained his connection with the firm until he took his present ;wwition in t878. Mr. Conk was married in Stafford- shire, England, June 29. 1862. to Miss Sarah Burton. They have five children-William J., Thomas E., Edwin B., Henry A. and Alfred 1.

D. M. FULLER, foreman of the rivet department of the Cra- gin Manufacturing Company, was born in Chicopee Falls, Mass., September 16, 1847. He was educated in his native town, and at the age of sixteen began the machinist's trade at Holyoke, Mass. Ile afterward followed his trade in Meriden. Wallingford, and New Haven, Conn., subsequently entering the employ of the Quinnepiac Rivet Company, at Quinnepiac, Conn., and also a rivet company at Northford, Conn. In t882 he came West, and in August of the same year was appointed to his present position. He was married in Chicopee, Mass,, August 3, 1867, to Miss Mary Ann Crawford, of North Lee, Mass .: two children survive her-Jennie A. and Lydia F .. Mr. Fuller again married June 12, 18;1, at Meriden, Conn., Miss Celia E. Darrow, of Wallingford, Conn. They have one son. Walter Everett.

GEORGE J. GURGIUS, foreman of the tin and sheet iron department of the Cragin Manufacturing Company. is a son of Ilubbard Gurgius, who setiled in Chicago in 1846, and engaged in shoe-making on the North Side for many years, and died in 1877. leaving two sons and three daughters. George J. was born in Chi- cago January 25. 1847, and was educated in the city schools. In 1864 he began the trade of tinsmith, and has followed it uninter- ruptedly since, having been in business on his own account some years. He was appointed to his present position October 16,

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

diately west of Irving Park. It was named in honor of John Gray, whose fine residence is quite near the sta- tion. It is located on Section 22.

GRAYLAND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GEORGE L. GRAY, manager of the Home Insurance Com. pany, at Chicago, is a son of Honorable John Gray, of Jefferson." and was born in Chicago March 28, 1846. During the war he was connected for a time with the Quartermaster's department at Nash- ville, Tenn. In 1870 he entered the employ of the llome Sewing Machine Company, at Chicago, in a subordinate capacity, and has since then passed through all the departments, in 1879 being ap- pointed manager. He married at Jefferson, Cook County, Feb- ruary 17, 1871. Miss Mary A. Fleming, a native of Ohio. They have one child, Cora. Mr. Gray is a member of Providence Lodge, No. 711, A. F. & A. M.

HON. JOHN GRAY, ex-county sheriff and old settler, was born in Franklin County, N. Y., November 8, 1810, He was brought up on a farm and followed farming there (with the ex- ception of some two years when he was employed in a saw mill) un. til 1837, when he settled in Chicago. About one year after his ar- rival he took charge of the Chicago Hotel, corner West Lake and Canal streets, and afterward opened a livery stable, operating the latier up to 1350. lie sold out and opened a hotel at Dutchman's Point, Niles Township, Cook County, where he remained about five years. lle then bought a farm in Jefferson Township, on which he still resides. In 1858 he was elected Sheriff, and hell the office until 1860; he then returned to his farm. Mr. Gray was married in Franklin County, N. Y., February 20, 1834, to Miss Phebe M. Allen, of the same county. They have six children- Jane E., married H. Howland : Caroline M., married M. Iloff- man ; Allen W., married Sarah H. Adams ; Clara M., now Mrs. I.T. Merchant ; George L., married Mary Fleming, and Hattie, now Mrs. F. J. Sherman.

F. J. SHERMAN, son of Oren Sherman, one of the settlers of 1836, was born in Jamestown, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., April 7, 1847. lle was educated in Chicago, and since entering upon his business life has principally been associated with his father. He married in Chicago. July 24, 1872, Miss Haitie E. Gray, daughter of John Gray, of Jefferson.

FOREST GLEN.

This embryo village is located on the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railway, ten miles from Chicago. The part already platted, about ten acres, lies on W. C. Hazleton's farnr, and is described as the center of the cast half of the west two-thirds of the northeast quarter of Section 9, Township 40, Range 13 east. Tite name comes down from the home of Dr. Mercereau, which is situated just north of the North Bank of the Chicago River, past which " Forest Glen Avenue" runs. The railroad station, village and post-office are thus naturally named Forest Glen. Forest Glen Avenue here inter- sects the EElston road, and the old Indian boundary line intersects both, a short distance north of their intersec- tion. The plat has nut as yet been recorded, nor the villagc surveyed. Application for the establishment of a post-office has been made, and W. C. Hazleton's name sent forward as Postmaster. The location is very fine, surrounded by groves on the north and east. Excellent drainage is furnished by ravines running up from the North Branch, which is about sixty rods distant to the northeast. The station is a very neat brick structure, built at a cost of $2,700, and was opened on the 17th of December, 1883. The depot grounds were donated to the railroad company by the citizens of the place, and the brick of which the depot is built were donated by the Forest Glen Brick & Tile Company, a company recently organized for the purpose of making brick and tile at this place, with a capital of $100,000.

WILLIAM C. HAZELTON, P. O. Jefferson, was born in Mer- rimack County, N. H., November 14, 1832. He was educated in his native county and engaged in teaching there after finishing his education. About 1855 he settled in Illinois, where he taught in graded and district schools some two years, and then took up land and engaged in farming until the breaking out of the war. fle

enlisted September 18, 1861, in Company D. 8th Illinois Cavalry. On the organization of the regiment he was elected Orderly Ser. geant, promoted 10 Second. afterward First Lieutenant, and at the elose of the war he held the commission of Captain of the same com. pany. This 8th Regiment was attached to the Army of the l'otomac, and had inscribed on its banners the names of one hundred battles. Captain Hazelton was with his regiment continuously with the exception of some six months, during which time he was detached on special duty. He took part in the battles of Antietam, Gettys- burg, Peninsula campaign. Petersburg campaign, and many others. At the close of the war in 1865. he bought where he now resides. Mr. Hazelton married in Merrimack County, N. H., in :863. Miss Fannie A. Morrill, of that county. They have four children, one son and three daughters. Mr. Hazelton is a prominent member of the Congregational Church. During his residence in Jefferson he has held the office of treasurer of the school board some twelve to fifteen years.

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 212

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