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 69
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Frederick, born April 3, 1832, in Gilden, Hanover, had also a common school education and was between eighteen and nineteen years old when he came to America. Upon reaching his majority he began work for himself, carefully saving his money. In 1857 he bought 113 acres of land in Leyden township, paying down $600 and agreeing in the end to pay $45 per acre. On February 12, 1858, he married Christianna Köhler, born in Meucha Sachsen, Altenburg, Germany, December 10, 1838, the daughter of Jacob and Christine (Gruner) Köhler. Her father was a bridge builder's foreman. His children were Anna, Sophia, Herman and several who died in in- fancy. The Köhlers came to America at an early date and finally settled in Leyden township. Jacob Köhler died in 1858 and his widow in 1872. They were members of the Evangelical church. Christianna, their daughter, as above stated, married Frederick Dierking. She received in youth a fair education and was con- firmed at the age of thirteen years. She came to America in 1852 in company with her sister Anna. They reached New York in May, 1852. Both sisters secured employment. She was sent to her mother's sister at Watkin's Glen, N. Y. Near there she first worked for fifty cents per week, but later for better wages. She worked and saved her money until 1854 and then came to Leyden township. After working for the Dunlaps, the Thatchers, the Higgins and William H. Sampson, the last named being one of the first real estate dealers in Chicago, she finally married as above stated. She greatly assisted her husband to pay for the farm and also to make an addition of eighty acres thereto and still other additions later. She
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made many trips to Chicago, driving the horses herself. In 1887 they bought a place in Bensenville, where Mrs. Dierking now re- sides. Mr. Dierking met with a severe accident by a fall from an apple tree in September, 1873, and by another mishap bruised his head in 1887. From these accidents he never fully recovered. Paralysis set in and he finally died July 12, 1896. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dierking were members of the Evangelical church. He was a Republican, an honest man and a highly respected citizen. He occu- pied several responsible official positions. To him and wife were born the following four children: Clara Eliza, born March 11, 1859, died May 12, 1863; Anna Caroline, born October 31, 1861, died June 1, 1863 ; Christian Emil, born June 9, 1864, in Leyden township, Cook county, Illinois, married Christine Geils of Arling- ton Heights on May 12, 1887, and is the father of two children, Fred C. being the name of the only one living; and Edna Louisa, born October 28, 1869, married Dr. H. W. F. Bartells on February 12, 1887, and is the mother of six children, the following now living : Edna E., John C., and Ina L. Mrs. Dierking is yet living and is remarkably well preserved for her age. The following verse from the scriptures, learned early in life, has always been a source of comfort to her : "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
William Henry Dierking was born in Hanover, Germany, May 24, 1845, and is the son of Christian and Louisa ( Röders) Dierking. The father was born in December, 1804, in Hanover. He was the son of a farmer and early in life was left an orphan. He engaged in farming in boyhood and in time owned a small place in the father- land at Nieuhagen. However, in early life he learned merchant tailoring which occupation he followed more or less afterwards. His wife, Louisa Röders, was born in Hanover, December 24, 1804. Christian and Louisa were the parents of five children who lived to maturity : Louisa, born 1828; Dorthea, born 1830; Frederick, born April 3, 1832; Henry, born 1834, and William H. All the children were probably born at Gilton Amt Ahlde.
In 1846 Christian alone came to America accompanied by friends from the old home. He landed in New York City and after a short time came West to Bensenville, Du Page county, arriving in the autumn of 1847. He bought eighty acres of wild land where his son now lives and in 1849 brought out his family and all made their home on the new farm. The first home was a rude log house and was occupied for several years. The land was broken by Christian and his sons with ox teams. In 1856 a good frame house was erected. The family were members of the St. John's Evangelical church of which he was one of the founders. He assisted in build- ing the first church the same year he came from Germany. He was a sturdy, honest, well informed, reliable citizen. He died at the age of about fifty-six years. His wife died March 4, 1887.
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William H., his son, was three years old when he was brought to America. Members of the family differ as to the time of the arrival in America. Several say they came in November, 1848, and lived the succeeding winter in an old log house owned by Louis Smith in Du Page county. William H. received a fair education in youth, one of his teachers being the pastor of the St. John's church. He also attended the district school in his neighborhood and a parochial school of the Evangelical church located on Lake street, Chicago, when a young man. He was confirmed at the age of four- teen years. Farming has been his occupation through life. On April 7, 1865, he married in Leyden township Marie Annie Cath- erina Duhne, who was born May 5, 1846.
Her father, Henry, was born in Hanover, Germany, November 8, 1808, and was a farmer by occupation. In 1832 he came to Amer- ica, landing at Baltimore. Later he worked two years in Michigan, then came to Chicago and a little later to Leyden township. There he bought ninety-five acres on the line of Du Page and Cook coun- ties, all wild land, which he improved. On January 10, 1845, he married Annie Adelaide Franzen, born October 13, 1820, who came to Leyden township in 1843. Henry Duhne was a prominent and substantial citizen, owning one hundred and twenty acres of land. His children were Marie Anna and Martha, born July 30, 1865. Henry lived to be fifty-two years old, dying December 11, 1864. His widow died January 16, 1906, aged about eighty-six years.
William H. Dierking and his wife lived a few years on the Henry Duhne farm and then located permanently on the Dierking farm. They improved the latter materially with good buildings, fences, etc. Their children are as follows: Clara M., born November 26, 1865; Bertha, born May 20, 1872; Otto Fritz, born December 30, 1873; Emily, born ` November 18, 1875; Walter H., born November 3, 1877; Robert, born May 17, 1880; Gustav, born April 19, 1883; Herman, born October 20, 1886; Augusta, born March 7, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Dierking are members of the St. John's church of which he has been treasurer for six years. He assisted in building the present church structure. In politics he is a Republican. He owns one hundred and forty acres of excellent land with orchards, out-houses and other important improvements. The family is well known and highly respected. Clara married Albert Kolze and lives in Du Page county; Bertha A. married Henry Lagershausen and lives in Du Page county ; Otto F. married first Ida Landmeier and second Martha Glander. He lives in Bensenville; Emily married Gustav Landmeier and lives in Elk Grove; Walter married Manda Wiemerslage and lives in the town of Leyden. The other children are at home with their parents.
William Dillon, attorney-at-law, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., July 10, 1850, and is a son of John B. and Adelaide Dillon. At the time of his birth his father was living in exile because of his par-
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ticipation in the operations of the Young Ireland party. The father returned to Ireland in 1856 and was a member of Parliament from County Tipperary at the time of his death. He distinguished him- self in fighting for the rights of Ireland.
His son William was educated in the schools of his native land and finished at the Catholic university in Dublin. He then began the study of law and was called to the Irish bar in 1874. He began the practice and continued successfully until compelled to relinquish it by reason of his health in 1880. He then came to the United States and went to Colorado where he remained until 1893, spend- ing a portion of his time on a cattle range and resuming the prac- tice of law. While there in 1885 he married Elizabeth Ratcliff. In June, 1893, he came to Chicago and in March of the following year became editor of the New World, a Catholic weekly, with which he was connected until 1902. Since then he has been engaged in the general practice of law. He is a Democrat and a member of the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Order of Foresters, Iroquois club and Illinois Athletic club. His office is at 59 Clark street and his residence at 1321 Lunt avenue.
Charles Doctor was born on Section 17, Orland township, in the house in which he is now residing, the same being the old homestead of his father. He is the son of Joseph Doctor, a native of Alsace- Lorraine, France (now Germany), and was born on October 16, 1823, who was himself the son of Joseph Francis Doctor or Docteur, as the name was originally spelled in French. Joseph Francis Doctor was likewise a native of Alsace-Lorraine, France, and there married Jane Dominique Mayer who was a native of the same province. In 1831 the father came with his family to the United States and set- tled near Cape Vincent, N. Y., where he purchased land and lived until death. He and wife were the parents of six children.
Joseph, the father of Charles, was the eldest of the family. He was reared a farmer and followed that occupation during life. In 1844 he came to Cook county and first secured employment in Chi- cago with Philo Carpenter, a pioneer of the city. The next spring he went to Lockport, Will county, and worked on the farm of Hiram Norton, continuing about two years. He then became a canal boat- man between Chicago and LaSalle, but two years later secured other work on the canal, but in winter time worked in the flour mill of Norton & Company in Lockport. On May 9, 1848, he married Marie B. James, a native of Holland, born May 4, 1820, but reared in Belgium mostly. Her father died when she was a child and her mother married again and moved to America in 1847, settling in Chicago. In 1849 Joseph Doctor bought eighty acres in Orland township where Charles his son now resides. He settled on this farm in 1854. In March, 1850, he crossed the plains on his way to California, traveling as far as Salt Lake City by horses and wagon. They traded their horses to the Mormons for oxen and continued
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on to the diggins in California. There he remained for four years, meeting with fair success and in August, 1854, returned to Cook county and settled on his farm in Orland township. There he re- sided until his death. He was an enterprising, progressive citizen and a Democrat in politics, but during the Lincoln campaign changed his views and voted for Mr. Lincoln in 1860. Ever after he was a strong Republican. He served as commissioner of highways, school trustee and school director and was instrumental in establishing the first school in the district. He died July 1, 1902, after an active, useful and correct life. His wife died October 2, 1906. At the time of his death Joseph Doctor owned two hundred and forty acres in Orland township and two hundred acres in Indiana. He and wife were the parents of six children as follows: Joseph F., born June 15, 1849, now living in Ontario, Canada; George, born April 10, 1855, lives in White county, Indiana; Oliver, born February 22, 1857, resides in Newton county, Indiana; Lewis, born August 22, 1859, died December 11, 1860; Charles mentioned above, born August 2, 1864 ; Ellen, born May 12, 1867, died September 27, 1868.
Charles was reared a farmer and has followed that occupation during life. He was educated in the district schools, the Englewood High school and Cook County Normal school. On May 19, 1886, in Chicago he married Mary E. Tilsy, a native of Will county, born November 25, 1864, a daughter of William and Dora (Holm) Tilsy. Her parents were natives of Germany and came to Cook county in youth. They were married in Chicago and later lived in Will county where the father died in 1883, but the mother still survives. The Tilsys were the parents of five children: Lewis, William, Mary E., Henry and Caroline. Charles Doctor owns the old home- stead of two hundred and forty acres, also twenty additional acres adjoining, and his wife owns an adjoining tract of forty acres. He and wife have the following children: Lawrence W., born April 19, 1887; Ray W., born February 22, 1891; Esther B., born July 21, 1892; Amil J., born January 7, 1897. Mr. Doctor is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, a Republican, and takes much interest in public affairs. He has been school director for more than twenty years, a justice of the peace and has been a notary public for ten years. He is one of the most enterprising, public spirited and prominent citizens of this community.
Edmund A. Drach was born at the corner of Clark and Huron streets, Chicago, on March 21, 1859, and is a son of Joseph and Sophia (Rochelsberg) Drach, who came to the city from Cologne, ,Germany, in 1855. Joseph, the father, was a practicing musician of eminence-was a well-known flutist-and was a member of the or- chestra in the old Crosby opera house. After coming here he re- mained a resident until his death. He was connected with all the leading musical organizations and entertainments of the city during that early period of artistic development. His home on Sedgwick
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street near Lincoln Park was destroyed in the great fire of 1871. He died in 1874.
His son Edmund was educated in the public schools, finishing in the old Newberry school building. After receiving a thorough musi- cal training he became a practical flutist and played in the principal theatres here until 1897, except during five years, 1880-1885, when he was a resident of St. Louis and played in the Grand opera house there. From 1885 to 1898 he was secretary of the Chicago Musical Society and was one of the national officers of the national organiza- tion for eight years. This organization was the National League of Musicians of America. In 1898 he embarked in the real estate business at Lincoln and Diversey avenues, doing a general real estate loan and insurance business. In 1907 he located in Ravenswood, 907 (now 1423) Wilson avenue. Mr. Drach has ever been active in ward and local politics generally. In 1883 he married Emilie Deicke of St. Louis, and they have the following children: Eugenie, born in March, 1884; Edmund L., born January, 1887, and Carl Harrison, born in November, 1898. The family resides at 695 (now 1721) Leland avenue.
William Obed Duntley, president of the Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company of New Jersey, is a native of Michigan, his birth occur- ring July 21, 1867, at Wyandotte, and he is a son of John F. and Mary (Lyons) Duntley. The father was a foundryman during his early business career, later becoming identified with the Chicago Pneumatic Tool company, of which he became vice-president. He is at present looking after the general interests of the company, and particularly is active in the management of the Detroit factory.
William O. Duntley received his education in the public and high schools of Detroit and when seventeen years old began serving an apprenticeship as an electrician. Two years later he came to Chi- cago and began working in the electrical department of the estab- lishment of E. Baggott, continuing thus until 1894, the last two years acting as manager of his employer's St. Louis store. In 1895 he entered the employ of the Chicago Pneumatic Tool company of Chicago as traveling salesman, continuing in this capacity until 1898, when he was promoted to general sales manager. From this time on his advancement in the company was rapid. In 1900 he was made general manager, and in 1901 elected vice-president, succeed- ing his father on the board of directors. In 1902, at the time of the reorganization of the company and when the name was changed to the Chicago Pneumatic Tool Company of New Jersey, the capital stock was increased to $10,000,000, and Mr. Duntley was elected vice-president and general manager. He continued in this capacity until February 15, 1909, when he was elected president of the cor- poration to succeed his brother, J. W. Duntley, who had resigned.
The Chicago Pneumatic Tool company is the largest of its kind in the world, having plants located at Franklin, Pa .; Cleveland, O .;
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Detroit, Mich .; Montreal, Canada; Fraiserburg, Scotland, and St. Petersburg, Russia. Under normal conditions 2,000 hands are given employment, and their product is used throughout the civilized world.
Mr. Duntley is one of Chicago's best known substantial business men. He is a member of the Union League club, the South Shore Country club, the Automobile club, the Illinois Athletic association and the Colonial club of Chicago, the Missouri Athletic club of St. Louis and the New York Athletic and Machinery clubs of New York. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, is a Republican in politics and a Methodist in religion. October 15, 1898, he married Miss Elizabeth Arnold and they have two children named Crawford and Blanche. Mr. Duntley's office is at 1010 Fisher build- ing and his residence at 688 East Forty-eighth place.
Dr. Charles Orpha Du Plessis was born at Syracuse, N. Y., Sep- tember 17, 1853, a son of Odilon and M. Rosalie Du Plessis. In both lines he traced his ancestry to France, but it had for several generations been confined to Canada, where his parents were born. Odilon Du Plessis was a contractor and builder. Dr. Du Plessis attended grammar school and high school in Syracuse till, at fifteen, he began to serve an apprenticeship under his father.
He developed a taste for athletics and attained to much proficiency as an athlete, and in 1870, when he came, aged seventeen, to Chicago with his father's family, he became a night instructor in athletics at the Chicago Athenaeum, then at 50 Dearborn street, while em- ployed by day in his father's contracting and building business. In 1876 he devoted himself exclusively to athletics and until 1881 was professor of physical culture at the Athenaeum, then resigned to accept a like position at the Northwestern university, Evanston. In 1883 he went to Minneapolis and erected gymnasiums there and at St. Paul.
In 1884 he began the study of medicine at the Minnesota Hospital college, Minneapolis, and was graduated with the Medical Doctor's degree in March, 1888. In 1888-89 he was assistant city physician of Minneapolis and in 1890 he returned to Chicago and during the ensuing year was connected with the A. G. Spalding sporting goods establishment. After a part of a year spent as superintendent of the Detroit Athletic club, he was recalled to work for Mr. Spalding. But he soon made a tour of the East for the inspection of the best gymnasiums, and when he came back superintended the erection of the gymnasium of the Chicago Athletic association. At the solicita- tion of many prominent physicians of Chicago, who had come to recognize the value of massage and physical culture in the treat- ments of certain ailments, Dr. Du Plessis in 1893 established himself in Chicago on the South side as an expert masseur and physical cul- turist. His clientele, sent to him by influential practitioners, was drawn from among the wealthy. While engaged in this work he
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carefully kept up his connection with athletics and general field sports.
In 1898 he was elected handicapper for the Amateur Athletic as- sociation. He was in constant demand by the principal colleges of the Northwest as starter and field judge, in which capacities he acted at every important athletic meet for athletic societies and miscel- laneous athletic organizations in Chicago and was employed by the A. G. Spalding company to write up the histories and records for their yearly Sporting Almanac, also by the Daily News to write up their annual records published in their paper and Almanac.
In 1902 he passed a civil service examination and was made superintendent of playgrounds at all the small parks in the city, but other demands upon him were so imperative that he soon gladly relinquished the position. He passed another civil service examina- tion in 1907 with a view to accepting the same position but died sud- denly of heart disease April 11, that year, at 3104 South Park avenue and was buried at Rosehill. Dr. Du Plessis married Mrs. Addie Taylor of Chicago, May 10, 1879. His life was a remarkably clean one, devoid of excesses or dangerous indulgences of any kind, and his lovable character won the high regard of all who knew him.
Walter E. Dwight, president of the village of Oak Park, is a descendant of the New Haven family of Dwights, the progenitor of which came to America and settled in Connecticut in 1634. His mother, Sarah (Northrop) Dwight, was of the family of Northrop which for more than 300 years was prominently identified with New England history. Corydon G. Dwight, the father of Walter E., was an expert brass moulder and during the Civil War had important contracts with the government. He had enlisted in the Thirteenth Connecticut volunteer infantry of which he was made colonel, but owing to his expert knowledge of brass furnishings and foundings, he was induced to give up service in the ranks in order that this knowledge could be utilized by the Ordnance department. Owing to failing health he moved to a farm in Michigan in 1866, and three years later settled in the village of Plainwell, where he yet resides at the age of eighty-one, retired from active business pursuits.
Walter E. Dwight has had a varied experience during the past thirty years. He was born at New Haven, Conn., June 14, 1860, and when six years old was taken by his parents to Michigan. After graduating from the high school at Plainwell he took a course in the State Normal school at Ypsilanti, then for two years worked on the farm summers at $12 and $13 per month and in winters taught dis- trict school at $35 per month. In 1880 he began working at paper- making in Yorkville, Ill., where he acquired a practical knowledge of the business. In 1881 he went to Leadville, Colo., where for six years he was employed as a bank clerk and also invested in mines at which he made money. In 1887 he returned to Michigan where he bought and for five years operated a fouring mill. While there
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he took an active interest in political matters and although in no sense a politician in the general acceptation of that word, he was nominated and elected as a Republican to the office of treasurer of the town of Gun Plains. In 1892 he moved to Chicago and for the last twelve years has resided at Oak Park. On coming here he em- barked in the wholesale paper business with his brother, A. H. Dwight, and the present corporation of the Dwight Brothers Paper company is one of the leaders of its line in the West. While his business career has been one of strenuousity, Mr. Dwight has found time to cultivate some of the social amenities of life. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, of the Chicago Press club, of which he is a life member; the Union League club and the Oak Park and Colonial clubs, the last two being located in Oak Park. In 1908 he was elected trustee of Oak Park. Evidently his services were appre- ciated for one year later, in April, 1909, he was elected president of the village. While in Leadville, in 1883, he married Miss Clarabelle Stiff who died in Oak Park in 1903, leaving one daughter, Inez C., now Mrs. Harold Parsons, of Austin. In 1904 he married Miss Jane C. Pither. Mrs. Dwight is a member of the Episcopal church. Mr. Dwight affiliates with the Congregationalists.
Col. B. A. Eckhart, president of the West Chicago Park Com- missioners, was born in Alsace, Germany. His parents came to America soon after his birth and settled on a farm in Vernon county, Wisconsin. He attended the country schools until he was seven- teen years old when he entered college at Milwaukee, where after three years he was graduated with honor. In 1870 he came to Chicago as the representative of the Eagle Milling company of Milwaukee, but four years later founded the firm of Eckhart & Swan, which later became the Eckhart & Swan Milling company and of which he is now president. They have the largest flour mills in the state and one of the largest concerns of the kind in the country. He has been very active and prominent in business. From 1888 to 1891 he was a director of the Chicago board of trade. In 1902 he was elected the first president of the Millers' National Federation, and was re- elected in 1903. He was director of the Illinois Manufacturers' association from December, 1900 to 1905, and was its vice-president in 1902, and its president in 1903. In 1908 he served as vice- president of the National Council of Commerce. He is a director of the Continental National bank, Harris Trust & Savings bank, and Chicago Title & Trust company. He is a member of the Chicago, Union League, Commercial, Merchants, Illinois and Onwentsia clubs.
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