History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 225

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 225

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AUGUST C. G. MAAS, engraver, was born in the city of Greifswald, Prussia, November 9, 1837. Immigrating to America in 185t, he was for several years employed in a printing office in Syracuse, N. Y., and for four years in the ilrug business, Mr. Maas is a natural artist in his profession, and has followed it since 1858. He is also quite a gifted artist in drawing, etc. le came lo Chicago in 1861, and previous to the fire of 1871 was of the firm of Maas & Manz, engravers. For the past three or four years he has given his main attention to what is known as crayon etching, which he has succeeded in bringing to a high state of per- fection. He has resided at Maywood since June, 187t, where he has a very fine residence, His present place of business is at the southeast corner of Clark and I.ake streets.

JOHN T. ROCKAFELLOW, superintendent of foundry, Crane Bros.' Manufacturing Company, was born in Livingstone County,

N. V., in 1838, and at the age of about seventeen years began to learn the trade of molder, and before quite finishing his time was placed in charge of the foundry, since which he has been employed as foreman in various foundries. lle came to Chicago in June, 1871, and was superintendent of foundry for D. M. Ford & Co. for a short time. Subsequently he built a foundry for General John MeArthur, and managed it for two and a half years, In 1874 he became connected with the Crane Bros'. Manufacturing Company, and has the management of their foundry. Mr. Rockafellow moved to Maywood in May, 1878, and was interested in the incor- poration of the village and served two terms as Trustee. Ile is a member of Golden Rule lanlge, A. F. & A. M , No. 726, Chicago.

WILLIAM 11. SHARP was born at Milroy, Rush Co., Ind., December 11, 1835, and educated at a Quaker academy, at Mount Pleasant, Ohio. He began his business carcer at the age of twenty-one years, at Cambridge, Ind., where for five years he was engaged in dealing in sewing machines, agricultural imple- ments, etc. Early in 1862 he moved to Indianapolis and rep- resented the Florence Sewing Machine Company as State agent. In 1863 he came to Chicago, locating there in August. Mr. Sharp continued for thirteen years general Northwestern agent of the Florence Sewing Machine Company. In October, 1876, he em- barked in the manufacture of patent medicine in the firm of L. L Gifford & Co., continuing in that until November, 1682, when he becane interested in the cattle business in the West, to which he now devotes his entire time. May wood has been his residence since March. 1874, his house being one of the finest there.

ASIBLE JOHN STEELE, farmer, was born at Chicago, 111., April 15, 1842, his father. Ashble Steele, was Sheriff of Cook County at that time, and at the expiration of his term of office in 1843, returned to his farm in Proviso Township. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm, and has always devoted a considerable portion of his time to agricultural pursuits He has resided on his present farm adjoining Maywood since 1872. Mr. Steele has for some fifteen years done considerable business in ag- ricultural implements, and is now, in connection with other pur- suits, acting as agent for the Champion Reaper. His father was a very early settler, having located here in 1833. Ile died in 1861, but his widow still resides on the old place.

OLIVER S. WESTCOTT, teacher, was born at Wickford, R. 1., December 15. 1834, where he received his early education. Hle began life as a teacher in 1853, while still continuing his studies at Suffield, Conn., and in 1856 graduated at Brown University, Provi- dence, R. 1. In t858 he came to Dwight, Livingston Co., 111. Hle taught for some years in that place, and in Kendall and Kane counties, at one time holding the office of County Clerk of the for- mer county. Ile also taught at Warsaw and Lockport, Ill., and in the fall of 1867 came to Chicago. lle was professor of mathemat- ies in the Central High School for three years, after which he was for the same length of time in the employ of Brewer & Tileston, publishers, of loston; then again at the Central High School as professor of mathematics and zoology for a term of four years, sub- sequently going to Racine, Wis., where he was for three years Su- perintendent of the schools of that city. Returning to Chicago in the fall of 188t, he was for a time professor of mathematics and zoology at the North Division High School, of which he is now principal I'rofessor Westcott has made his home at Maywood since the fall of 1872.

RIVER FOREST.

This village is located on the east bank of the Des- plaines River, and on the Galena Division of the Chi- cago & North-Western Railway, nine and eight-tenths miles from Chicago. The three original subdivisions of this village were made in 1870 by Roger Fowler, George I .. Thatcher, Solomon Thatcher and Mr. Lathrop. Five hundred acres were laid out, lying in Sections 1, 2, 11 and 12. Lake Street passes through the southern por- tion of the village, and is continued across Desplaines River by a bridge. The development of this village was quite rapid during the first few years of its exist- ence. The brick school-house was built in 1860, at a cost of Sto,ooo, and the Methodist church building. which cost about the same amount, was completed in 1873. By this time about fifty houses had been com- pleted, varying in value from $2,000 to $25,000, Sol- omon Thatcher's house costing the latter sum. The west end of what is now River Forest was originally named Thatcher by the railroad company, in honor of

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

D. C. Thatcher, who in 1856 purchased a section of ing the mission for about two years. At the expiration land which comprised a portion of what is now the west of the two years the main supporters of the inission. after securing the lecture-room of the new brick school- house, moved to Chicago, and the cause declined ; and at their return, two years later, the Episcopalians occu- pied the building, and continued to do so for several years. The Methodlists, therefore, united with the Episcopalians and built for the latter society a church building. In the fall of 1869, the Methodists again asserted their independent existence, and. under the leadership of Solomon Thatcher, Jr., organized a soci- ety. During the first year of this second autonomy, the pulpit was supplied by the leading Methodist ministers of Chicago. The second year, this Church joined the Rock River Conference, and Rev. S. N. Griffith was stationed there, Some of the first members were Will- iam S. Luther, Hiram Odell, Mary Odell, Clara F .. Thatcher, Frank M. Thatcher. Solomon Thatcher, Sr., Susanna Thatcher, Janet E. Morey, Martha Vanatta, Henry Willett, Sarah Willett, Jacob A. Cost and Ada G. Cost, The act of incorporation was adopted February 14, 1871. The first trustees were Hiram Odell, Charles Bushey, William S. Lasher, S. Thatcher, Jr., A. E. Bishop, R. R. Learden. A. J. Hoffman, George L. Thatcher and S. Thatcher, Sr. A subscription to the amount of $2,000 or $3.000 was raised to erect a church- building, but conflicting interests and the great Chicago fire caused delay, and the building of the church was postponed until 1873. In this year the Thatcher family built the church edifice now used by the Methodists, andl presented it to the society. It cost Sto.ooo, and has a fine auditorium, capable of seating three hundred and fifty people, and a very fine Sunday-school in the base- ment. Among the ministers of this Church have been Revs. Ellery Beal, Mr. Beans, S. N. Griffith, Mr. Kauf- man, A. J. Scott, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Sparrow, Dr. Will- iam H. Daniels, Mr. McClish, Prof. Simmonds, Watson Tranter. P. H. Swift, Charles M. Stewart and R. W. Bland, the present pastor. The membership of the Church is at present sixty-five. end of River Forest. In 1863 the railroad company established their depot here, naming it Thatcher. Sam- uel Rattle went there in 1858, and both Mr. Thatcher and Mr. Rattle built houses there. River Forest was incorporated in 1880. The petition for incorporation stated that there were more than three hundred inhab- itants within the limits of the territory proposed to be incorporated, which was described as follows : The west half of Section 12, the northeast quarter of Section 12, the northeast quarter of Section 11, lying east of the Desplaines, the southeast quarter of Section 11 lying east of the Desplaines, and the south half of Section 1. The election to decide the question of incorporation was held September 24, 1880. Amos Pack, Henry L. McKallor and Jacob A. Cost being judges of election. The opposition to the incorporation obtained and served an injunction upon the judges, but under the advice of John P. Wilson and George I .. Thatcher the injunctoin was disregarded. T'lte total number of votes cast was fifty-two, forty-four for incorporation, seven against it, and one blank. The: election was contested and carried to the Supreme Court, and decided in favor of the village. Six Trustees were then elected, October 30, 1880, as follows : T. Kirk, R. S. Odell, 11. H. Scharen- berg. J. 11. Hillmer, John S. Zimmerman and Henry Broughton, T. Kirk was elected chairman, and John 5. Zimmerman Clerk. George L. Thatcher was employed as village attorney, and has been so employed ever since. On the roth of January. 1881, H. H. Scharenberg, R. S. Odell and John S. Zimmerman were appointed a committee to draft ordinances. The Trus- tees electedl in 1881, for two years, were H. H. Scharen- berg, David A. Thatcher and J. H. Hillmer; Clerk, John S. Zimmerman; and Treasurer, R. S. Odell. On the Ist of August, ISSt, the Treasurer's bond was fixed at $2,000. In 1882 the Trustees elected were William F. Blocki, Charles O. Reed and Albert Mills. Felix J. Griffin was elected Clerk. In 1883 David A. Thatcher, J. H. Hillmer and H. H. Scharenberg were elected Trus- RIVER FOREST MOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES tees for the full tern, and Louis C. Bitting to fill a vacancy, and Felix J. Griffin Clerk.

The ordinances approved June 29, 188t, divided the village into two license districts - District No. 1 including all that part of the village lying in the cast half of Sections 1 and 12, the remainder of the village constituting District No. 2. This was in reference to the selling of intoxicating liquors. A bond in the penal suin of $3,000, payable to the State of Illinois, was required, a license fee of $100, and a bond payable to River Forest, in the penal sum of $500, in addition to the $3,000 bond. Subsequently, by Ordinance No. 37, the license fee was raised to Sz50, and on March 3, 1884, it was raised to $500, in accordance with the Harper law, the bonds remaining the same.

The Thatcher M. E. Church,-During the summer of 1860 a Sunday-school was organized and held in the red school-house, situated a short distance from the present school-house in Thatcher , River Forest). Miss Frances E. Willard and Miss Clara E. Thatcher were the teachers. Miss Thatcher continued the school alone for some months, and as the school prospered it was deemed advisable to establish a mission. In the fall O. A Willard, a biblical student, was engaged to teach the public school during the following winter. By his aid a small society was established, and was ininistered to by students of the Garrett Biblical Institute, among them (1. A. Willard, Dr. C. H. Fowler and Messrs, Washburn. Mead, Dr. Muller and a Mr. White, each in turn visit-

WILLIAM F. BLOCKI, of Gale & Blocki, druggists, is a native of Germany. He came to America at the age of ten years. localing with his people al Sheboygan, Wis., where they resided some nine years. Mr. Blocki came to Chicago in 1859, was ent- played in the drug business with E. O. Gale, and in 1861 They become associated as partners. The firm of Gale & Blocki is well and favorably known throughout the county as the leading retail drug establishment of Chicago. MIT. Blocki has maile his home in River Forest since 1980. He has a fine house, which is surrounded by beautiful grounds. lle has for the past two years been a mem- ber of the Board of Trustees of River Forest. The subject of this brief sketch is a charter member of Siloam Commamlery, No. 54. Knight Templars, Oak Park, and holds the office of eminent com- mander of that body, and is also a member of the Oriental Con- sistory of Chicago. The firm of Gale & Blocki are largely interested in the suburb River Forest, owning a large share of the land south of the railroad track, and have already erected seven houses thereon. HENRY E. BROUGHTON was born in Washington County. N. Y .. September 21. 1630, and was reared on a farm. At the age of Twenty years he located in Winona County, Minn., where he took up a homestead and improved a farm. About 1355 he embarked in mercantile business at St. Charles, Winona County, and gradually launched in the grain business, carrying on extensive elevators and flour mills, Ile sold out and came to Chicago after the great fire of 1871, and has been identified with the commission business ever since-operating extensively on the Board of Trade. He moved to River Forest in March, 1876, and was for two years a member of the Board of Trustees. Ile is an active member of the Siloam Commandery. (uk Pink, No. 54. K. T

14:1.11:5 6. KLITHORP, baggage master of the C & N. W. R. R. V'o., was born al Bridport, Addison Co., Vt., in r546, and was for some years employed In agricultural pursuits, and also in lumbering business in that State and New York. He came West in 180G, and for three years was employed in this State, Texas. Kansas, Coloradu, etc., after which he located at Chicago, where

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HISTORY OF PROVISO.

he was employed as brakeman on the C., R. I. & P. R. R. In December, 1871, he went to work for the C. & N. W. R. R , and was for six years employed in the train service of the railroad ; was then for some four years employed in the passenger depot as pas- senger agent, etc., and on January 7, 1882, he was appointed to his present position, having full control of the entire baggage depot in Chicago, He has resided in River Forest since May 1, 1882. Mr. Elithorp is an active member of the 1. O O. F.

EDWARD A FOX. surveyor and civil engineer, office 208 LaSalle Street, Chicago, is a native of Roxbury, Mass., and studied for his profession at Framingham Academy, Massachusetts, and since 1850 has followed it as an occupation. lle came West to Quincy, III., In 1852, was employed as an engineer and surveyor on railroads in Missouri, lowa and Illinois for about twelve years, and in 1865 came to Chicago. For a short time he was in the employ of the city, and early in 1867 he became associated in business with Alex. Wolcott, who was then surveyor of Cook County, They con- tinuer in partnership up to 1575, since which time Mr. Fox has conducted business alone. Ile was one of the proprietors and com- pilers of "Peltzer's Atlas of Chicago," published in 1972 by l'elt- zer, Fox & Hoffman. Mr. Fox has resided at River Forest since May, 1880. Ile is considered one of the leaders in his profession in this county.

WILLIAM HENRY HATCH was born in 1849, on Adams Street, Chicago, in one of the first brick dwellings erected on the South Side. Ilis parents were David Ilatch, one of the early hard- ware dealers of Chicago, and Caroline (Smith) Hatch. Since com. ing to man's estate W. 11. Hlateh has been for the most part engaged in the grain trade, Ile was married in 1876 to Elizabeth Florence, a daughter of Daniel 11. Ilarne. They are the parents of three children-Arthur Silloway, born in 1577: Albert Van Dyke, in 1879, and Sidney Herbert, in 1883. Mr. Hatch is a Republican in politics.

JOHN HENRY 1111.1.MER, contractor and builder, was born in llanover March 5, 1818. There he learned the trade of cabinet-maker, and followed that occupation for a livelihood. lle served seven years in the German Army. In 1854 he immigrated to DuPage County, Ill., and in 1856 came to l'roviso Township. Cook County, since which time he has followed the business of builder. He has a family of six children, five of whom were born here. Mr. Hillmer is an active member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at llarlem, and has been a trustee of the same eleven years. Ile is also a member of the Board of Trustees of River Forest.

ABRAM J. HOFFMAN, draughtsman and engineer, was born at Albany, N. Y., in 1834, and there learned his 'profession, which he followed in that city for some years. Ile was also for four years of the firm of Hoffman, Knickerbocker, Peas & Tolle. printers, lithographers, and steel plate printers, publishers of the largest list of toy books and games on the market at that time, also printers for the United States Government, printing the coast survey work; also New York State printers of the State geological work and wood engravers. In 1863 he came to Chicago, and was for a year connected with the drug firm of Hoffman Bros., after which he was engaged in the lithographing and engraving business with Baker & Co. a year. He disposed of his interest in that con- cern and embarked in the real estate business, Mr. Hoffman also gives some attention to engraving, etc., and is at present employed with Baker & Co. lle moved to River Forest in 1969, and has always taken an active part in its religious and municipal affairs. Ile also built and opened the River Forest Young Ladies Seminary, in 1881, at a cost of $13,000, This institution was conducted by Mrs. Hoffman until quite recently, when she sustained a severe injury in Chicago, and the institution is now under the manage. ment of Mrs. Martha W. Hlakes, formerly principal of the Rock Isl- land Institute.

HENRY 1 .. McKALLOR, with the Western Bank Note & Engraving Company, Chicago, was born in Argyle, Washington Co., N. Y., June 9. 1830, and was reared on a farm At the age of nineteen he moved to Waterford, N. Y., where he learned the trade of machinist, and followed it in various portions of the State. In 1866 he came to Chicago and has since been in the employ of the above company. In t574 he located his home at River Forest, and was for seven years a member of the school board of that district, and has for the past year filled the office of police magistrate of the village.

ROBERT S. ODELL, with the Continental Fire Insurance Company, was born in Ontario County, N V., and caine West at the age of twenty-one years, with his father, Iliram Odell, who located at River Forest in 1871. The subject of this sketch entered the employ of the Continental Insurance Company shortly after his arrival in this State, has filled various positions, and now has charge of the business of this company in the States of Nebraska, Kansas and Dakota Territory. Mr. Odell is treasurer of the River Forest Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school. Ile was for two years

a member of the Village Board of Trustees, and was also Treasurer of the village for a year. Mr. Odell is an active member of the A. F. & A. M., and is a charter member of the Siloam Command- ery, Oak Park, No. 54, K. T.

CHARLES OWEN REED, manager of Wilson Bros', shirt manufacturing department, Chicago, was born in Troy, Miami Co., Ohio, April 21, 1846. When quite young he developed a taste for agriculture, this being the pursuit of his ancestors. To give growth in this direction, in 186t his father purchased and set- tled upon a farm near town. In 1864 he entered the service in the War of the Rebellion, enlisting in Company 11. 147th Chio Volun- teers, serving as Sergeant of a company which did garrison duty in the vicinity of Washington. After the war he resumed farining. continuing until he came to Chicago, in August. 1870, where he entered the employ of Wilson Bros, with a desire to learn manu. facturing. After three months" instruction he was given charge of the cutting department. The business, during his superintendency. has grown to large proportions. In september, 1873, he moved to Kiver Forest, and has been identified in its interests since, Ile is a member of the Village Board.

11. 11. SCHARENBERG, bailiff of I'robate Court, was born in Germany in 1838, and in 1855 immigrated to Chicago, Ill. Ile was for three years employed at general farm work near the city, after which he was employed as a clerk in mercantile business, I)n April 17. 186t, he enlisted In the ist Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and served three months, after which he enlisted in the 16th Illi. nois Cavalry: eighteen months later he was promoted to Second lieutenant and served until July, 1864. Ile then returned to Chi- cago, was generally employed for a time, and in November, 1865, he entered the office of the Sheriff of Cook County, and has since been employed alternately as deputy sheriff and bailiff. Mr. Scharenberg is a member of the Union Veteran Club, Chicago. He moved to River Forest in 1869, and is chairman of the Board of Trustees of the village.

DAVID C. THATCHER, deceased, was born in Coopers- town, Otsego Co., N. Y., in 1810, his people having moved there from Connecticut, and originally from Massachusetts Bay. In his early years he assisted his parents on the farm. In 1838 he came to Chicago and engaged in mercantile business, continuing until. in 1854. he retired, having amassed a competency. Mr. Thatcher moved to what is now called Kiver Forest in 1858, was the first person to settle there, and was prominently identified with the in- terests of the place. He died in April, 18h. Ile married Susanna Babcock, who still survives him, and she still resides at River Forest, where she has one daughter, Mrs. Solomon Thatcher, and two sons, David A. aml George L. The latter was born in Chi- cago. Ile studied law at Chicago University, graduated in 1871, was admitted to the Bar, and has since practiced his profession. David A. also was born in Chicago, and is a contractor of public works, etc

SOLOMON THATCHER, JR., real estate dealer, office Room 50, 97 Clark Street, was born in Ilopewell Centre, Ontario Co., N. V., in 1833, and came West to Chicago in 1855. Ile was con. nected with the American Express Company as express messenger between Detroit and Chicago for some time, and assistant agent of the company at the Michigan Central Railroad depot for some years, "off and on." During a portion of that period he attended l'almyra high school and lima Wesleyan Seminary, New York. In 1868 he engaged in real estate business at Chicago, which he still continues, and is also a member of the firm of Keyes & Thatcher, manufacturers and dealers in stone, lime, etc., and owners of the block stone quarry that is becoming so popular in building residences. In 1874 the Methodist Episcopal Church appointed a committee to look up grounds on Lake Michigan to establish a Martha's Vineyard of the West, and Mr. Thatcher was on the committee. In 1875, from that appointment he was appointed president of lake Bluff, in Lake County, Il1., and was the original founder of the same. He was also one of three per- sons appointed at Chicago to make arrangements for the building of Mordly's Tabernacle, and was also a member of the executive committee to huild the same. Mr. Thatcher has resided at Kiver Forest some fifteen years or more, and was one of the organizers of the River Forest Literary Society, formed some fourteen years ago. Also he and his family gave to the town the beautiful Church finished off in hardwood. taken from Thatcher l'ark. He has been a director of the school for nearly nine years, and is Postmax- ter of the place at present.

HENRY WILL.ETT, of Willett & Bedard, proprietors of the Oak Park Planing Mills, is a native of Ontario, Canada. There he learned the trade of carpenter, and also carried on business as a builder for some years, and then in Detroit, Mich., for a short time. He came to Chicago in 1866, and has since followed the business of contractor and buildler. In January 1883, he became associated with Antoine Bedard, and embarked in the planing mill. This concern does a large business in manufacturing building

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HISTORY OF COOK COUNTY.

material, ele., besides their contracting and building department. Mr. Willett resided al Maywood from 1869 10 May, 1880, since which time he has made his home at Kiver Forest.

HERMON W. YAL.DING, with the American Express Company, is a native of Alstead, Cheshire Co., N. 11., where he was born in 1842, and cante with his father, Jonathan P'. Yalding, lo Thil'age County_ III., in 1957, where he followed agricultural pur- quEts, In september, 1962, he enlisted in Company M, 8th Illinois Cavalry, and served three years. In October, 1865, he entered the employ of the American Express Company at Chicago, as train messenger, and has continued with them ever since. March 1, 1875. he was appointed roule agent, a position he still occupies. Mr. Valding has made his home at River Forest since October, 1372.

HARI.EM.

Originally Harlem comprised what is now Oak Park, the east part of what is now River Forest, and the most or all of what is now llarlem. When Oak Park was named, Harlem was limited to that part of it lying in Proviso, and when River Forest was incorporated, Har- lem was still further limited to that portion in Proviso lying south of the railroad. In 1866 this latter portion contained about fifteen houses. Since this time the growth of the town has been gradual, until now the popu- lation is about six hundred. In Jannary, 1884, the cit- izens of this village moved in the matter of its incorpo- ration, by petitioning to Judge Prendergast for the privi- lege of voting upon the question. This petition was signed by thirty-four persons, and dated January 22. The territory desired to be incorporated was described in the petition as follows: The southeast quarter of Scc- tion 12, all of Section 13, all of Section 14 lying east of the Desplaines River, and all of the north half of Section 24 lying cast of the Desplaines River. The election on the question of incorporation was held February 16, 1884, in the public school-house. Fred Ilintze, Charles Dehn and Henry Barrenscheen, were the judges of election. On the zoth of February, Judge Prendergast called to his assistance Daniel Scully and John K. Prindiville, two Justices of the Peace, to canvass the returns, and this board certified to there having been cast one hundred and thirty-one votes, seventy-six of which were in favor of incorporation and fifty-five against it. An election was then ordered for the election of six trustces, to be hekl March 22, 1884. James Brown, Sr., William Senne and August Kurster, were appointed judges of election, and Frederick Blohm and August Michalsky, clerks.

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History of Cook County, Illinois From the Earliest Period to the Present Time, Part 225

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