USA > Illinois > Cook County > History of Cook County, Illinois : being a general survey of Cook County history, including a condensed history of Chicago and special account of districts outside the city limits : from the earliest settlement to the present time, volume I > Part 67
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Henry P. Caldwell, 188 East Madison street. To be elected year after year to the responsible executive position of any organization is an honor that falls to the lot of but few men. To serve for a period of thirty-two years as secretary of one of the greatest secret fraternal associations in the world, is certainly a matter of which any man may well be proud. These honors are enjoyed by Henry P. Caldwell, grand keeper of records and seal of the State of Illinois than whom possibly no better known fraternal official lives in the state.
Mr. Caldwell was born at Washington, Guernsey county, Ohio, January 11, 1840. He attended the private schools of his native town and in 1861 graduated from Jefferson college, Cannonsburg, Pa., a seat of learning now known as Washington and Jefferson college, Washington, Pa. Afterwards for two years, he assisted his father in his general store at Washington, and was at home when John Morgan, the Confederate freelance, made his historic raid north of the Ohio river, which passed through Washington.
Shortly after the Morgan raid he enlisted as private in Company H, 12th Ohio cavalry, and was elected first lieutenant of the com- pany. His first service was in Kentucky and he subsequently took part in the active campaign against Morgan, participating in the battles at Mt. Sterling and Richmond and other events in the pur- suit of the Confederate raider. He was then detailed to serve as Vol. I-40.
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one of a board of examiners, charged with selecting the officers for the colored troops recruited for services against the Southern Con- federacy.
At the expiration of two years of active service Lieutenant Cald- well was forced to resign as the result of a severe attack of typhoid fever, during which his life was more than once despaired of. Leav- ing the army after his partial recovery, he returned to his home in Washington, where he resumed his position in his father's store.
In 1886 he engaged in the drug business in Kansas City and in the month of August, 1867, removed to Chicago and became a part- ner in the drug firm of Levi Wing & Co., and continued in that business about three years, when the firm sold their stock and en- gaged in general real estate business. Their office was at 127 Dear- born street, which was totally destroyed in the great fire of October, 1871. Their residence was at the southeast corner of Wabash avenue and Congress street, in a block of seven buildings which was in- cluded in the structures blown up by General Sheridan to stop the further progress of the fire to the south. Their building being the south one, was not absolutely destroyed and the firm made their office in the basement and resumed business the next day.
Mr. Caldwell joined the Knights of Pythias in 1870 and seven years later was elected grand keeper of records, a position which he has ever since filled with credit and distinction. In his official capa- city he has witnessed a wonderful growth in the Pythian order- from fifty lodges and about 2,000 members in the state at that time, he now transacts the business of 600 lodges with a membership of nearly 60,000.
During the earlier period of his connection with the Grand lodge office, he served for ten years as deputy south town assessor, where he also made an enviable record.
Mr. Caldwell was married at Jerseyville, April 3, 1889, his bride being Mrs. M. L. McGready, and he and his wife for several years have made their home with a married daughter in this city.
He is nearly "seventy years young," a statement easily compre- hended when his physical and mental condition is considered.
Still active and possessing the esteem of the great army whose business affairs are largely in his care, Mr. Caldwell is a true repre- sentative of the best type of American manhood.
Robert Franklin Carr, president of the Dearborn Drug & Chem- ical Works, was born March 21, 1871, in Argenta, Ill., and is a son of Dr. Robert F. and Emily A. (Smick) Carr. He was educated in the public schools and later attended the University of Illinois, where he pursued a course in chemistry and graduated in 1893 with the degree of bachelor of science. He began active business in 1894 with his present company. He first worked in the capacity of chemist and in the selling department and finally was promoted to general manager and vice-president. In 1907 he was given the
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presidency of the concern, which position he occupies at the present time. He is a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity; also of the University, Union League, Chicago Athletic and Westward Ho Golf clubs, the American Chemical Society, and the Railroad club of New York. On April 25, 1906, he married Louise Smiley, of Chicago, and they have one child-Louise Hagar Carr, born May 5, 1908. They live at 413 Forest avenue, Oak Park.
Perley D. Castle, present cashier of the Austin State bank, was born in Barrington, this county, on March 2, 1863, and is the son of Lester D. and Lucy A. (Taylor) Castle. The Castles are of English descent and originally lived in New York state. The Taylors are also of English descent and were Puritans in colonial times. Lester D. is . the descendant of Henry, who came to the colonies in 1635. Phineas Castle, the great grandfather of Perley D., served as a captain in the French and Indian war, and later, when well advanced in years, was a continental soldier in the Revolutionary war under General Israel Putnam. The grandfather of the subject was Edward Castle, who married Jerusha Bellew, and their children were Lester D .; Emily, who married W. J. Lytle; Rhoda, who married Ira J. Chase, a former governor of Indiana, and Charlotte. Edward was one of the pioneers of Cook county and settled in the township of Palatine, near the village of Barrington. He purchased eighty acres of the government, and owned a total of 160 acres. This land is still held by the members of the family. Edward finally owned a total of 200 acres. He was public spirited and one of the prominent pioneers of that community .. He assisted in establishing the First Methodist church at Barring- ton. He died in 1870, aged seventy years.
Lester D., father of the subject, was born on March 4, 1826, in New York. He received a common school education and at the age of seventeen years came to Cook county with his father. He finished his education in Waukegan academy and then worked on his father's farm. He married Lucy A. Taylor, daughter of Samuel, who was an Illinois pioneer and a descendant of Puritan ancestors. Lester D. remained on the homestead after his mar- riage and there became a prominent and useful citizen. Late in life he retired to Barrington. He was a great admirer of Abraham Lincoln, and was a stanch anti-slavery and Union man. He held several local offices with credit and fidelity. He served as a mem- ber of the Board of County Commissioners in the '50s when only twenty-seven years old. His wife was a member of the Methodist church. He passed away in 1905, in Barrington. To him and wife were born the following children: Arthur L., Percy V., Charles S., Fredrica, Perley D., Ben B. and Lotta.
Perley D. was reared on his father's farm and was educated at the district school and at the Barrington high school. He taught school in his home district and later began work in the store of A. F. Davis,
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at Ridgefield. Later he was in partnership with Mr. Davis, under the name of Davis & Castle, general merchants. After six years he moved to Austin and in 1891 assisted in organizing the Austin State bank, becoming one of its stockholders. He was elected cashier and has held the office ever since, to the satisfaction of the stockholders. On June 25, 1890, while living in Ridgefield, he married Edith A., daughter of A. F. Davis, and they have four children, Harold A., Lester D., Dorothy J. and Virginia E. The family are members of the Presbyterian church of Austin.
Frank Hall Childs was born at Findlay, Ohio, February 16, 1859, and is the son of Nathaniel Emmes and Emily ( Hall) Childs. The father began life as a farmer, then taught school and later became the first passenger conductor in that state, running on the Mad River & Lake Erie road between Sandusky and Springfield. He served as Probate Judge of Hancock county and was a Whig, an Abolitionist and later a Republican. He was actively connected with the "underground railroad" and assisted many runaway slaves to reach the Dominion of Canada. In religion he was Puritanical. The family is of English descent, the ancestors in America being among the first to colonize the Old Bay state. The great grandfather of Frank H. participated in the battle of Bunker Hill and narrowly escaped death, a bullet passing between his ear and his head. He served with honor throughout the Revolution.
Frank H. was educated in the union schools of Findlay and Re- public, Ohio; the normal school, Republic; Columbia Law university, Washington; Union College of Law, and Kent Law School, Chi- cago, graduating from the latter in 1893 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. During his early schooling he built fires to pay his tuition, and at one time worked on a farm for $5 per month. In 1878-79 he was stenographer in the Government printing office, Washington ; in 1880, clerk in the pension office ; in 1881-90, clerk in the office of the superintendent of railway mail service, Chicago; in 1891 post- office inspector, Chicago division; in 1892, chief clerk in the office of the postoffice inspector in charge, New Orleans. Since 1893 he has practiced his profession. From 1898 to 1900 he was professor of law in Kent College of Law ; from 1900 to 1903 he was professor of law in Chicago Kent College of Law ; from 1905 to 1910 he was professor of law in the Chicago Business Law School, teaching twenty-two subjects; from 1908 to 1910 he was instructor in busi- ness law in Armour Institute of Technology; from 1902 to 1910 he was a director in the Northern Liquidation company ; and in Sep- tember, 1909, he was appointed manager of the Colonial Land com- pany. He has been closely identified with politics for the last twenty years and has served as vice-president of the Second Ward Repub- lican club, senatorial committeeman and member of the executive council of that club. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Associa- tion. He was admitted to the bar November 12, 1884, on an appel-
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- late court examination. He has traveled extensively, having been in every state of the Union and in foreign countries. In 1908 he was a candidate for congress. He is the author of "Childs on Surety- ship and Guaranty," "Ewell on Fixtures," second edition; the article on "Principal and Surety," in the Cyclopedia of Law and Procedure, and is now at work on "Childs on Personal Property," to be published in 1910. On February 18, 1886, he married Amy, daughter of Edwin Hunt, a wholesale hardware merchant of Chi- cago.
Will H. Clark, attorney, was born in Homer, Cortland county, New York, on October 24, 1863, and is a son of Chester M. and Rachel K. (Haynes) Clark. He was educated mainly in private schools in early life and came to Chicago about 1870. From 1872 to 1876 he attended the Moseley public school here. From 1876 to 1878 he attended the Homer academy, Homer, N. Y., and in 1878-9 Professor Taylor's private school at Syracuse, N. Y. Soon after this he entered Union College of Law, Chicago, and was graduated therefrom in the class of 1885. However, prior to this, or about 1879, he began studying law in the office of Hiscock, Gifford & Doheny at Syracuse, but returned to Chicago in the fall of 1882 and entered the office of Cooper, Packard & Gurley. Later he be- came associated with W. W. Gurley and has been associated with him ever since except two years (1889-90), when he was president of the Chicago South Side Rapid Transit Railway company. He has served as director of the Metropolitan Elevated Railroad company, of the Rockford, Beloit & Janesville Railroad company, and also of other corporations. He is a strong Republican and takes much in- terest in the success of his party and in the public welfare generally. He served in the cadet corps of the 1st infantry, Illinois National Guard, and during the world's fair was a member of the famous Hussars, afterwards serving in the 1st cavalry, Illinois National Guard. He is a member of the Union League Club, of which he was secretary in 1898. He was also a charter member of the Ham- ilton club. His office is in the Marquette building and his residence at 34 Groveland Park.
George Washington Clarke was one of the pioneers who came to Chicago when it had little more than Fort Dearborn and its garri- son ; when its total population was but a scant few hundred ; when Indians were more plentiful than whites, and when it required cour- age and self-reliance to make the tedious and perilous trip from the East through the unbroken forests of the West. His career was one that shed honor on the early manhood of Chicago and his name can never be effaced from the roll of pioneers who, by their wisdom and self-sacrifice, laid the foundation of prosperity which will be enjoyed by all generations yet to come. Born at Brownsville, Pa., in the year 1810, the son of Robert Clarke, he was of notable family connection.
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Originally the family came to America from England during the sixteenth century and for many generations resided in the valley of the Brandywine, in Pennsylvania. During the Revolutionary War the Clarkes, in person and with money, aided the colonies in securing their independence from the mother country. A brother of George W. Clarke, Robert by name, was a classmate at college of Edwin M. Stanton, who afterward became Secretary of War in President Lincoln's cabinet. By him Robert was appointed a major in the Union army during the war between the states, and afterward be- came a paymaster in the army. Another brother, Henry F., was graduated from West Point in 1842, in the class of which Ulysses S. Grant was a member, and served through the entire war with Mexico. For brave and meritorious conduct at the battle of Chapul- tepec he was brevetted captain. In 1847 he was appointed military instructor of artillery and cavalry at West Point, and during the Civil War was chief commissary of the Army of the Potomac on the staff of Gen. George B. McClellan. For many years after the war he served as chief commissary for the Department of Missouri on the staff of Gen. P. H. Sheridan with headquarters at Chicago. Later he was transferred to the staff of Gen. W. S. Hancock, on Governors Island, as chief commissary of the Department of the At- lantic. He became a major-general and died at Washington, D. C., and is buried there.
In a deed dated 1860, conveying 8,000 acres of Indiana land to a purchaser, George Washington Clarke said this of himself : "George Washington Clarke, formerly of the county of Fayette, State of Pennsylvania, civil engineer, formerly engineer on the first location of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, also engineer on the first location of the Illinois Central railroad, 1838 and 1839; also appointed en- gineer on the first location of the Illinois and Michigan canal and for some time past a resident of Chicago."
It is thus seen that Mr. Clarke was closely identified with the growing greatness of Chicago almost from its very beginning. Al- though born at a period when opportunities for securing an educa- tion were very meager, he received scholastic advantages far beyond the ordinary. He was a graduate from both the classical and en- gineering courses at Jefferson college, and in 1833 came to the frontier village of Chicago. As an engineer he ranked high and helped to build the Baltimore & Ohio and the Illinois Central rail- roads and the old Illinois and Michigan canal. When the glowing reports of the discovery of gold in California in 1849 were reported, he bought lumber and manufactured it into material for houses ready to be put together. This he shipped with him on a sailing vessel bound from New York to California via Cape Horn, but owing to severe storms the entire cargo was lost at sea and the passengers with great difficulty were saved. Not discouraged in the least by this disastrous experience, Mr. Clarke again prepared a similar cargo
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which he took with him on the "Tennessee," the first steam pas- senger vessel that ever made the trip to California. Accompanying the consignment he perceived the difficulties and dangers of passage through the Straits of Magellan and at once prepared a chart of the straits which was published upon his arrival at San Francisco and was afterward used by ship captains in weathering the cape. Re- turning to Chicago in the early '50s, his keen and observant mind foresaw the future greatness of Chicago and he became a heavy purchaser of realty. He was prosperous and accumulated a consid- erable fortune. He died April 14, 1866, and was buried at Rose Hill. Mr. Clarke was never married and by will his property was left to his brothers and sisters, among whom were Gen. Henry F. Clarke, Major Robert D. Clarke, Mrs. Jacob Forsyth, Sarah J. Clarke and Harriet S. Clarke.
Ferdinand A. Cmejla, who now represents the real estate depart- ment of the Wisconsin Central railway or what is known as the "Soo System," is located at 1827 Blue Island avenue. He was born in Ctinoves, Okres, or County of Litomerice, Bohemia, May 27, 1874, and is a son of Frank and Frances (Janda) Cmejla. The parents came with their children to the United States in 1883 and first located in Kewanee county, Wisconsin, where the father cleared and improved a farm of forty acres and lived thereon with his family until 1889, when he removed to Milwaukee and is there now living a retired life. He and wife were the parents of the follow- ing children : Frederick, Charles, Rosie, wife of Peter Stauber, and Ferdinand A.
The latter was educated in the public schools of his native land and those of Wisconsin. He began business in 1897 in New York City as a dealer in stationery and importer of books. He conducted the business successfully until 1899, when he came to Chicago and handled local real estate one year. Since 1900 he has been engaged in his present business. He is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Honor and the C. S. P. S., and in politics is a Republican. On May 30, 1889, he married May, daughter of Albert and Catherine Mazance, of Chicago, and they have one daughter, Viola.
Dr. Lorin C. Collins was born August 1, 1876, and is a son of Lorin C. and Nellie (Robb) Collins. The mother was born in Chi- cago in the early fifties and was a daughter of one of the old set- tlers, a ship chandeler, firm of Hubbard & Robb, now G. B. Carpenter & Co., and one of the original volunteers in the first fire brigade. The father greatly distinguished himself in this city. He was edu- cated in the common schools of St. Paul, Minn., and was prepared for college at Delaware, Ohio. In 1868 he entered Northwestern University, and graduated therefrom in the classical course in June, 1872. He immediately began the study of law in the office of Clark- son & Van Schaack, Chicago, and in September, 1874, was admitted to the bar. His success was immediate and pronounced. In 1878
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he was elected to the legislature, was re-elected and was made speaker. He was prominently identified with all the important legis- lation of that period. In 1884 he was a delegate to the National Republican Convention, and later was appointed to the circuit bench, and still later elected to the same position. He resigned from the bench in 1894, and was a candidate before the Republican State convention for the gubernatorial nomination, but was defeated by Mr. Fifer. He was associated with Goodrich, Darrow and Vincent in the practice of law, but after three years the firm became Collins & Fletcher, with office in the Title and Trust building. In 1904 he was appointed one of the associate justices of the canal zone, Pana- ma, with headquarters at Christobal. He was very active in poli- tics and in the practice of law.
Dr. Lorin C. was educated in the Chicago public schools, Uni- versity school, North Western Academy, and in 1896 entered North Western Medical School, and was duly graduated with credit in the class of 1900. The last year he was in school he was an assistant pathologist in the Michael Reese hospital. Later he served as interne in the Samaritan hospital, in the Chicago Lying-in hospital and in the Children's Memorial hospital. He then began the practice with residence at 1158 Addison avenue, now moved to 3704 Maple Square avenue, and office at 1834 North Clark street, and made a specialty of children's diseases and obstetrics. He is a member of the Chicago Medical Society, Physicians' Club, American Medical Association, and Alumni of the Chicago Lying-in hospital. In 1904 he married Anna E. Fonstoff Lindblad, of Chicago, and they have Lorin C. (No. IV.), born February 2, 1905, and Almeda Grace, born August 29, 1908.
William M. Connery was a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, his birth occurring in 1833. He was reared to manhood in his native country, receiving a common school education. In the year 1852 he immigrated to America. Until 1863 he resided in Rhode Island engaged in farming. He there married Mary Tobin and in 1863 removed to Chicago, which was the home of himself and wife until their respective deaths August 27, 1883, and December 14, 1896. While a resident of Chicago, Mr. Connery was engaged in railroad bridge building, the grocery business and as a retail coal merchant. He superintended the building of the old north pier for Fox & Howard. While ordinarily he was a Democrat, yet as a matter of fact he was an independent and original thinker along political lines. Both he and his wife were members of the Catho- lic church and died in that faith. They were the parents of a family of fourteen children, twelve of whom grew to years of maturity and live in Chicago. William M., John T., Michael M., James P., Francis D., Ellen M. (Mrs. James Riordan) ; Joseph F., Henry T., Helena B., Vincent A., Catherine A., and Elizabeth M.
John T. Connery was born in Bristol, R. I., January 10, 1861, re-
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ceiving his education in the Chicago public and parochial schools and the Chicago Athenaeum. He was associated with his father in the grocery and coal business until 1879, then was employed as yard clerk for E. L. Hedstrom, coal merchant, until 1881, when he be- came cashier and bookkeeper for the Silver Creek and Morris Coal company, of which he later became a stockholder and in 1883 secre- tary. He continued with this concern until 1895, when the busi- ness was sold and merged into another corporation. He then be- came the resident manager and established the business of the Youghiogheny & Lehigh Coal company, continuing his association with this concern until he resigned to accept the presidency of the Miami Coal company, in which capacity he is now serving. He was married June 9, 1886, to Miss Mary E. Daly, by whom he is the father of six children: Mary E., Marguerite M., Esther L., John D. (deceased), Edwin F., and Bernadette (deceased). He resides at 2159 Sheridan Road, Edgewater, and is a member of the Edge- water Golf Club, Edgewater Country Club, South Shore Country Club, Germania Country Club, Chicago Athletic Club, Illinois Ath- letic Club, Chicago Automobile Club and Mid-day Club.
Dr. William L. Copeland was born at St. Catherines, Canada, on January 7, 1851, and is a son of William L. and Dency Prudence (Moore) Copeland. When a small child the father came with his parents from County Armagh, Ireland, to the United States, and for a time lived at Lewiston, N. Y. Later the family moved to Canada and located on a farm near London. There James lost his life by accident when William L. was only four years old. The latter at an early age began work on the farm, but a little later was em- ployed in a hat, cap and fur house and still later in the postoffice. He finally was appointed postmaster and as such served for twenty years, after which he retired. He died in 1887 and his widow in 1880.
Dr. William L. was educated in the public schools. After re- ceiving thorough academic training, he entered McGill Medical college and graduated therefrom with credit in the class of '72. The following year was spent by him in the hospitals of London, England. He then returned to St. Catherines, Canada, and began the general practice of his profession, continuing with success for six years. In 1879 he came to Chicago and located on the West side where he still resides. Since coming to this city his practice has been general and successful. Besides the office at his house, he has a down-town office at 103 State street with his brother-in-law, Doctor St. John. Doctor Copeland has been connected with the Chicago College of Dental Surgery for the last twenty-five years. He is professor of anatomy at the Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery, and is a member of the Chicago Medical Society, the Amer- ican Medical Association, the Therapeutic and Menoken clubs, the Royal League and the North American Union. In politics he is a
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