History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 221

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

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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).

CHARLES A. WELCII, of Porter & Welch, dealers iu wool, was born in Chicago in February. 1851, and after reaching the age of mauhood, was for some five years employed in the stationery business. In 1875 he became associated with P. C. Porter, and en- giged in his present business. The firm do a large business in wool pulling, employing at their factory some forty men. Mr. Welch has resided at Oak Park since 1870. He is an active mem- her of the Universalist Church, Oak Park, and has for four years been secretary and treasurer of the Universalist society.

FRED C. WOLCOTT, of Stewart & Wolcott, commission merchants, was born at Northampton, Mass., in June, 1835, and three years later his parents moved to Portage County, Ohio, where he learned the trade of carriage ironer, following that occupation until about 1560, when he moved to Berrien County, Mich., and there embarked in business as an extensive Iruit grower, carrying it on for some three years. Ile was also for two years engaged in Insiness at St. Joseph, Mich., as photographer. In 1866 he moved to Coldwater, and was employed at his trade up to 1868, when he came to Chicago. For four years he was employed as a salesman in commission business, after which he became associated with Charles A. Stewart, and established their present business. Mr. Wolcott moved to Oak Park in November, 1879.

OLIVER C. WOI.COTT, painter and paper hanger, was born in London, England, in 1844, and there served an apprenticeship of seven years to the painting business. In 1861 he immigrated 10 Brooklyn, N. Y., where he commeuced in business as a practical painter and paper hanger. In 1875 he moved to River Forest, and worked as a painter in Chicago. In May, 1881, he moved to Oak Park and established himsell in this business. He carries a small stock of paints, paper, etc., and has an excellent reputation for do- ing good work.

THOMAS J. WORSWICK, farmer, was born at Providence, R. I., April 12, 1841, and nine years later his father, James Wors- wick. moveil to llarlem, Cook Co., III., where the subject of this sketch was reared on a farm. Mr. Worswick is quite an extensive land-owner and is largely engaged in agricultural pursuits, besides which he gives considerable attention to carpenter work and build- ing. He has resided in this neighborhood since 1850, with the ex. ception of the years 1867 and 1868 when he resided in Wisconsin. Mr. Worswick was married at Oak Park, December 26, 1864. to

Jane Elizabeth, third daughter of Joseph Kettlestrings, the earliest settler at this place.

ROBERT'S. WORTHINGTON. secretary of the Board of Real Estate Managers of the Board of Trade, was born in Albany. N. Y., and came to Chicago in 1855. Ile has been a resident of O ik Park since 1877.

CENTRAL PARK.

This village comprises the south half of Section 10, Township 39, Range 13. It is the result of the location of the car shops of the Chicago & North-Western Rail- way near its present site in 1873. The plat was made by the West Chicago Land Company, and it is called the West Chicago Land Company's subdivision, This company built, in the summer of 1873, the first houses in the village proper, though there were at the time the plat was made, a few shanties and farm houses, some of which had been built for twenty years, The first store was built here by W. W. Wilcox in t873, near the corner of West Lake and Forty-second streets. This was a grocery. The second was a drug store, built in 1874. by Hunt & Eldridge on Lake Street, near Wilcox's store. At the present time there are four grocery stores in the village, two drug stores, two dry goods stores. two clothing stores, one millinery store, one blacksmith shop, six saloons and five large boarding-houses. There are nearly two thousand people in the village, most of the heads of families being employed in the car shops.

The Tilton school-house was erected in 1874. It is a three-story-and-basement brick building, containing twelve large rooms. It was named in honor of G. W. Tilton, superintendent of motive power and machinery of the Chicago & North-Western Railway. Previous to its erection school had been taught in the district school-house by Rolla Pearsall since 1860, and after its completion Mr. Pearsall taught in tt as principal from the fall of 1874 to the summer of 1876. He was fol- lowed by R. C. Smyres, who taught until the spring of 1877, and was succeeded by J. B. Thompson, who remained until the summer of 1878. Miss Virginia Sayres then was principal of the school until the fall of 1882, when Miss Cuckoo became principal and remained until July, 1883. The present incumbent, Edwin E. McCarthy, became principal in the fall of 1883. His assistants are Miss Annie E. Carter, Miss C. L. Haskins, Miss Ida M. Butts, Miss Alice M. Mooney, Miss Mary McGrath, Miss Erin C. Hanrohan, and Miss Eugenia Crosby. The school-house stands on the corner of West Lake and Forty-fourth streets. The children living east of Forty-eighth Street in More- land attend here, while those living west of this street attend the Amerson School.

Central Park Lodge, No. 284, A. O. U. W., was or- ganized in July, 1883, their constitution and by-laws being adopted on the 17th of that month and approved August 4: There were thirty-two charter members, among them J. B. Sage, J. H. Critchett, William Bar- clay, J. D. Coburn, H. E. Kingsland, Daniel Cruse, Frank Bullock, William Hawkes, Thomas Preston, Jr., William Amerson, Erick Erickson and Thomas J. Rogers, The objects of the Order are to unite frater- nally all acceptable men for common good and protec- tion; to stimulate mental and moral culture; to encourage useful industry; to render mutual aid and assistance to each other in adversity, and to protect each member's family from want when he dies, by securing a mortuary benefit of $2,000 at its actual cost. The present offi- cers are F. J. Ellis, P. M. W .; William Hawkes, M. W .: George W. Tucker, overseer; Thomas Preston, Jr., fore-

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man; George D. Boone, recorder; Frank Bullock, finan- the other 32 by 160 feet. The number of men employed cier, and Daniel Cruse, receiver.

The post-office at Central Park was established in 1874, with W. W. Wilcox first Postmaster, who held the office one year. Charles Hunt, the druggist, was then appointed and held the office until he died in 1883. The present incumbent, Edward Mallory, was then ap- pointed.

Religious,-A Baptist Sunday-school was started here in 1870 in the small school-house then standing on the corner of Lake and Fortieth streets, This in 1872 became a union Sunday-school, with Rolla Pearsall for superintendent. In 1873 the school house was moved to the corner of Lake and Forty-fourth streets; C. B. Beach became superintendent and has held the position ever since. This Sunday-school purchased the little school-house and moved it to the corner of Forty-first and Fulton streets. In 1874 a Union Church was organ- ized, taking the name of the Central Park Church, the membership being made up of all denominations. This organization is still maintained with a membership of about fifty. In 1880 a new chapel was erected at the corner of Forty-first and Fulton streets, the West Chi- cago Land Company having donated two lots for a site. This chapel cost $1,200. The mission was under the ministerial charge of Rev. A. Blackburn, of Austin, as a supply, and when the Church was organized Rev. E. Barrett became pastor and remained from 1874 to 1876. He was succeeded by Rev. David Clark, who remained six years. From the autumn of 1883 the Church has been in charge of Rev. W. E. Davidson.

St. Phillip's Catholic Church was started in 1878, holding services about two years in the T'ilton school- house. The society then built a church on the corner of Park Avenue and Forty-second Street. The first pastor was Rev. Thomas Morrissini, who remained until January, 1883, when he went to Rome. The present pastor, Rev. J. B. McDonald, then succeeded. The present membership of the Church is about one hundred families. The church building is a one-story brick structure, sixty by thirty feet in size, and cost about $2,000.

St. Barnabas' Episcopal Mission was organized in 1881. At first they occupied a room in the Tilton school-house, which they occupied until December, 1882. Their church was then built at the corner of Park Avenue and Forty-fourth Street. It is a one-story frame building, and cost about $2,800. It was dedi- cated in April, 1883, by Bishop McLaren. The first pastor was Rev. Mr. Luson. He was succeeded by Rev. T. N. Morrison, the present rector, in the summer of t882. There are now about twenty communicants. The Sunday-school has about fifty scholars. The first superintendent was E. H. Harlow, who still remains in that position.

The Chicago & North- Western Car Shops are situated just west of and adjoining the limits of Chicago on the .Galena Division of the Chicago & North-Western Rail- way. The buildings, most of which were erected in 1873, consist of an engine-house, 242 feet in diameter, containing stalls for forty locomotives; a machine shop, 120 by 552 feet; a blacksmith shop, 80 by 30t feet; two boiler shops each 80 by 200 feet; a two-story store- house, 50 by 300 feet; two paint shops, each 80 by 302 feet; two erection shops, each 80 by 302 feet; a com- bined blacksmith and machine shop, 80 by 308 feet; a two-story wood machine shop, 80 by 308 feet; a dry- kiln, 43 by 80 feet; a two-story oil-house, 50 by 50 fect; a tinsmith-shop, 24 by 60 feet; an iron shed, 32 by 100 feet; and two coal sheds, one of them 28 by 300 feet,

here averages about fifteen hundred, and the monthly pay roll amounts to about $6,500, and all the various kinds of repairing and manufacturing required by the company are here carried on. During the past few years about twenty-five new locomotives have been built annually, and a considerable number of all kinds of cars. The works are divided into the car and loco- motive departments. Under the latter head are engine- house, and blacksmith, boiler, machine and paint shops, and brass foundry and erecting and tool floors; under the former head are the wood, machine shop, and black- smith, iron working, freight car, passenger car, paint and tool shop. G. W. Tilton is superintendent of motive power and machinery for the company, with office at these works, and William Campbell is his assist- ant superintendent. The locomotive department of the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company comprises 637 locomotives, and the car equipment consists of 10,388 box freight cars, 74 refrigerator cars, 2,382 platform and gondola cars, 1,909 stock cars, 3,964 mis- cellaneous cars, as dump, ditching, pile driving, iron ore, etc., and 347 caboose cars, making a total of 18,990 cars in the freight department. The total number uf passenger cars is 425. The Winona & St. Peter Rail- road equipment amounts to 1,433 cars; the Chicago & Tomah (narrow gauge) to 92, and the Des Moines & Minneapolis (narrow gauge) to 41, making a grand total of 20,981 cars. Four of the locomotives enumerat- ed above are for the narrow gauge roads.

CENTRAL PARK BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

SOLOMON WARNER AUSTIN, M.D., was born in Mexico, Oswego County, N. Y., February 7. 182g. At the age of nineteen he entered the Mexico Academy, in his native village, and on leav. ing it he became a teacher, having taught school two terms in Oswego, and one term in Onelda County, N. V. Subsequently he became a student of Dr. Wright, at Camden, Oneida County remaining several months, and afterward entering the Medical Col- lege of Geneva, N. Y. On leaving this institution he became a student of Dr. Rhodes, of Geneva, who soon placed him in regu- lar practice, becoming quite expert in practical surgery before leav. ing the office. Ile ilien entered the Albany Medical College. attending two lerms, and graduating June 13. 1854. After receiv- ing the degree of M. D). he opened an office in Oswego, N. Y. Hie immediately became a member of the Oswego County Medical Society, and during the fifteen years of his membership cited many cases of interest. On being drafted into the State service in 1565, he was appointed assistant surgeon on Colonel Sullivan's staff, of the 48th New York Regiment, serving four years. He was surgeon of the United States Marine Hospital for five years. The Doctor was also marshal of the Union League, at Oswego, at the time of the draft. The membership numbered about cight hundred, good. reliable Union men. The records of this associa- tion were lost in the Chicago fire of 187t. On removing to Chi- cago in the year 1869, he gave his attention for about one year to the manufacture of lumber, and to mercantile pursuits, after which he entered again upon the duties of his profession. At this time he had property at four different points in Chicago, all of which was consumed in the great fire. Being left without a vestige of property, the Doctor obtained a pass to go to Albany, N. V. On application he obtained from Dr. Armsly a situation, and after spending several months at the Alhany Hospital, he returned to Chicago and opened an office, and attended to the duties of his pro- fession. On learning that the North-Western Railroad Company were to build car works at or near West Fortieth Street, he repaired thither and erected the building he now occupies, using nails which he carried over Chicago-avenue bridge at the time of the great fire. The Doctor is the proprietor of the drug store and coal office located at West Fortieth and Lake streets, and has also a coal yard at West Forty-eighth and Kinzie streets, Ilis time is devoted to the interests of the drug store and his professional elu- ties, while the coal business is taken charge of by a brother, who is agent for the firm of S. W. Austin & Co. The Doctor has been a notary public for Cook County for about ten years.

DANIEL, CRUSE was born in Boston, Mass., in 1835. After leaving school he learned the trade of wood carver, and was em- ployed at that trade for some years, and also for seven years fol- lowed a sea-faring life. In 1867 he came to Chicago, and for some

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HISTORY OF CICERO.

four years was engaged at his trade. In the spring of t87t he be- gan the retail sale of liquors, and in September, 1374, he Imili large business premises at Central l'ark, where he now does busi- ness. lle has also, since 1880, been agent at this place for the l'hillip Rest Brewing Company of Milwaukee, and for the past four years has held the office of County Constable. Mr. Cruse is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Ilarlem Lodge, No. 540; Washing. ton Chapter, R. A. M., No. 43: K. of 1'., Excelsior Lodge, Chicago,and the A. O. U. W., Central Park Lodge, No. 234. of which latter body he holds the office of receiver.

JOHN W. CRYSLER was born in Dundas County in t84t. and after leaving school was employed in various capacities there, and for about sixteen months in Wisconsin, In November. 1 564, he came to Chicago, and at once became employed in the shops of the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company, learning the trade of machinist. He has been In the employ of the company since that time. In 1868 he was transferred to 1:scambia. Mich., and a ycar later sent to Negaunce, where he remained until t875 (during which period he was foreman of motive power and machinery in the company's shops at Negaunee and Ishpeming). Returning to Chicago, he worked as a machinist in the shops of the company at this place, and in .August. 1583, was made foreman of the round- house at these shops. Mr. Crysler is a thorough mechanic, having had twenty years' experience at his trade.

PETER DUHAMEL was born in Montreal Canada, March 26, 1826. When quite a youth he began to learn the trade of car- penter, but finished learning the trade at Ottawa, Ontario, to which place he moved. At twenty years of age he went to Keesville. N. \' .. and worked at his trade for two years, and was then for five years employed in the ship-yards at Buffalo, N. V. Mr. Duhamel came West about 1853, and located in Whitewater, Wis., where he carried on business as a contractor and build. er. Returning to Ottawa, Ontario, in 1860, he followed the same business until December, 1566, when he came to Chicago. For seven years he was foreman for Gardner Bros., who were ex- tensive builders, and in June, 1973. he engaged in business av a contractor. The subject of this brief sketch was one of the first to locate at Central Park, this being the place where he located when he started as a contractor. lle has in the past three years had his son Charles, an experienced brick mason, asociated with him un- der the style of P. Duhamel & Son. They have erected a large number of buildings in this place at Central Park.

SURDEN ERICKSEN was born in Norway February 27. 1540, and immigrateil with his father. Jacob Ericksen, to Chicago in August, 1849. llis parents arc still living, and reside at this place. The subject of this sketch at the age of sixteen years en- tered the employ of the Galena & Chicago Union Railway Com- pany-now the Chicago & North Western Railway-and learned the trade of blacksmith in the company's shops, which occupation he followed in those shops for a number of years. Ile was then transferred to Harvard, Ill., and for about twelve years filled the" position of foreman in the blacksmith shop of the Chicago & North-Western Railway. Returning, he located at this place about 1876, and engaged in business as a dealer in wincs and liquors. MIr. Ericksen is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Harvard Lodge, No. 309, and Harvard Chapter, R. A. M., No. gt, of Ilar- vard. Ill.

ERICK ERICKSEN was born in Norway October 29, 1837. Ile immigrated to Chicago in August, 1849, with his father, Jacob Ericksen, who is now a resident of Central Park. The subject of this sketch was eilucated at what is now called the Kinzie school. In February, 1852, he was apprenticed, in the shops of the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company, to the trade of blacksmith, and has since followed that occupation in the employ of this road. ile was made foreman of the company's shop in 1961, and ranks among the old employe's of these shops. Mr. Ericksen has resided at Central Park since November, 1873. lle is a charter member of the A. O. U. W., Central Park Lodge, No. 234, and a trustee of the same.

WILLIAM HAWKES, merchant, was born at Aylesford. Kent Co., England, in 1846. During his youth he assisted his father, who is a large dealer in general merchandise at that place. In 1869 he came to Illinois, and followed agricultural pursuits in Champaign County for a short time, and was also for six months in the employ of the Indianapolis, Burlington & Wabash Railroad. Coming to Chicago shortly after the great fire of 1871, he teamed for one year, then was with O. L. Mann, manufacturer of bricks. for two years, after which he was employed at car and bridge building, and with the United States Rolling Stock Company as clerk for sev. cral years. Ile subsequently visited his home in England, where he assisted his father in the grocery and butcher business. Return- ing to Chicago two years later he opened a meat market, and in June, 1881, came to Central l'ark and engaged in the grocery business. He also carries on a meat market. Mr. Ilawkes is master work- man in the A. O. C. W., Central Park Lodge, No. 234, and is a

member of A. F. & A. M., Pleiades, No. 478, and Cicero Chapter, R. A. M.

TIMOTHY T. KENNEDY was born in Saratoga County. N. Y., June 10, 1853, and reared on a farm. He came to Cook County March 28, 1868, and located near Central Park Ile assisted his father, a large cattle dealer. up to the time of his death, in 1875. Timothy then embarked in business for himself as a grow. er and dealer in hay, and contractor for street work. In 1878 hc entered the employ of the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company, in their blacksmith shop, where he remained until about September, 1570. when he was appointed patrolman on the Cicero police force. On the 3d day of June. 1883, he was appointed chief of police. Captain Kennedy is a charter member of the A. O. U. W., Central Park Lodge, No. 234: A. O. 11., Division No. 18 ; and was elected a member of the Board of Directors of the Tilton school In 1992, and is president of the same.

H. K. KINGSLAND, merchant, was born in the city of New York February 5, 1840, and for several years was employed as a clerk in mercantile business, In the spring of 1858 he moved West, to Jowa City, Iowa, and in September of that year went to St. Louis, Mo., where he subsequently learned the trade of machinist. At the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion he came north to Mus- catine, lowa, enlisted in Company F. 35th lowa Volunteer Infantry. and served three years, after which he was employed in the United States Arsenal at Rock Island, III. In 1867 he went to Clinton, lowa, entered the employ of the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company as machinist, and was transferred by that company to the shops at Central l'ark in 1878. Mr. Kingsland severed his con- nection with the railroad company in 1881, and embarked in busi- ness as a dealer in dry goods, notions, etc., and has quite a nice Irade. lle is the pioneer dry goods merchant of Central Park. Mr. Kingsland is a member of the A. O. U. W., Central Park Jarige, No. 234, and was recorder of the Lodge for the first year : is also a member of the Episcopal Church of that place.

ADOLPH KLEMT was born in Germany in 1842, where he learned the trade of millwright. In 1868 he immigrated to Wash- ington County, Wis., and worked there, and in other States, at the carpenter trade. Mr. Klemt came to Chicago in the fall of 1871, and for nine years was employed as a journeyman carpenter, three years of that period with the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company. Ile located in Central Park in the spring of t874, and for six years engaged in contracting and building. He built St. Barnabas' Episcopal church at this place, and many large dwelling houses. Mr. Klemt is a member of the A. O. U. W., Central Park Lodge, No. 234.

ED. F. MAI.L.ORY is a native of Seymour, Conn., and after leaving school, learned the trade of machinist at Bridgeport, and was also for thirteen months employed in the drug business in New York City. Hle then went to Kansas, where he was em- ployed for some years as a locomotive engineer, Coming to Chi- cago in 1876, he entered the employ of the Chicago & North-West- ern Railway Company as a locomotive engineer, and at that time located at Central Park. In March, 1883, he severed his connce. tion with the railroad and embarked in the drug business in the old store of Charles Ilunt & Co., who were established in June. 1874. Mr. Mallory is a practical druggist, and is doing well. He was made l'ostmaster of this place January 2, 1884

IOSEPHI PARKMAN, merchant, was born in South Wales, England, in August, 1848, and, after receiving a good education. became employed in a large retail clothing and cloth house. In September, 1880, he immigrated to Chicago, and was employed as a clerk in mercantile business up to December, 1882, when he moved to Central Park and opened a small dry goods and notions store. Mr. l'arkman has had fourteen years' experience in the busi- ness, and has built up quite a large trade in this locality.

RO1.1.\ PEARSALL. was born in Chenango County, N. Y., June 5. 1827, and came with his father, Albert Pearsall, to Chicago July 9. 1839. His father opened the Barry Point Half-Way House, near Chicago, and in 1842 moved the building to what is now called Central Park. Ilis hotel was known as the Four-and-a-half-mile I louse; this he disposed of in 1846, and went farther West. The subject of this sketch at that time enlisted and served in the Mex- ican War. Returning here in 1847, he began his business life as a teacher, and followed that occupation up to within a few years, Hle has taught in the public schools of Cook County for over thirty years, and twenty years of that period has been spent in the schools of this town. fle is one of the veteran educators of the county. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1875, and still occupies that office. Mr. Pearsall married in Iroquois County, I11 .. in 1852. Miss Susan Egbert, who died in 1855, leaving one daughter, Clara J. Ili second marriage was in 1557, at this place, to Miss Ann Blan- nerhassett. They have seven children-Ada, Annie, Rolla, Jr., George, Hannibal, Alice and John.

JAMES PENKETHI was born in Lancashire, England. Juba 6, 1824. At the early age of eleven years he was apprenticed to

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the trade of boiler-maker, and served seven years, since which pe- riod he has followed that occupation for a livelihood. in all over forty years. Mr. Penketh was employed in the boiler shop of the first railroad opened for public traffic in England. About 1854 he immigrated to Chicago, and subsequently entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company as foreman of The boiler shops. A year later he was transferred to the company's ships at Aurora, III. In 1857 he resigned his position, returned to Chicago, and entered the employ of the Chicago & North-Western Railway Company as foreman of their boiler shops, which position he has filled for the past twenty-seven years, and is une uf the oklest foremen in the employ of this railroad. Mr. Penketh has been a resident of Central Park since July, 1874.

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 221

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