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 75
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Very Rev. John J. Kosinski, president of St. Stanislaus college, 140 West Division street, was born in the province of Posen, Prus- sian-Poland, on July 5, 1870, and is a son of James and Veronica (Kolpacki) Kosinski. He was brought to Chicago in 1871, and there the father still resides. For several years the father was fore- man of a factory in the city and at present occupies a political office under the Busse administration. The Kosinski family are of noble birth and were driven from Russia on account of their participation in an insurrection against the government. His great grandfather, had all his property confiscated on that account and was compelled to cross the frontier in a hurry in order to save his life. James Kosinski, his son and the father of Rev. John J., was left upon his own resources at the age of fifteen years. He enlisted in the Prussian army and took part in the Franco-Prussian war and held minor command in the Prussian Black Hussar cavalry. The subject of this sketch John J. is the only survivor born to the first marriage of his father James; the second wife of the latter was Victoria Kaczmarek, to whom he was married in 1876 and by whom he had nine children, six of whom are yet living; Felix, a veteran of the United States navy and late of the Asiatic squadron; Stanislaus, in business in Chicago; Frances, an organist and school teacher ; Martha, wife of John Kowalski, a prominent real estate dealer of Chicago ; Clara, a stenographer, and Eugenia, a student.
Very Rev. John J. Kosinski was reared in Chicago and was gradu- ated with distinction from St. Stanislaus parochial school in 1882. He
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took a classical course at St. Jerome's college, Berlin, Ontario, Can- ada, graduating therefrom in 1887. In the fall of the same year he went to Rome, Italy, to join the congregation of the Resurrection Fathers and attended the school of oratory at the Propaganda De Fide and in due time received his degree of Philosophy at the Gregorian university in Rome. On account of poor health he was thereafter transferred to Lemberg, Austria-Poland, to continue his theological studies. By this time he had exhibited such exceptional talent and aptitude for his life's duties that he was summoned to occupy the chair of literature and classics at St. Jerome's college, Ontario, Canada. There by a special dispensation of the Holy Father he was ordained to the Holy priesthood before reaching the age of twenty-three years, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Dowling, D. D., of Ham- ilton, Canada.
After having taught two years he was transferred by the author- ities to St. Mary's college, St. Mary's, Kentucky, and held the office of disciplinarian there for two years. He then served as vice-presi- dent of the college for the succeeding two years and in 1899 was summoned to his home city to take charge of the newly erected Polish college of Chicago, and here until very recently he served as president of this important educational institution. He devoted his talent, energy and heart to the cause of the people of his parish and can look with pride and gratification on the good that has been ac- complished. The college was first started as a high school in 1890 but its importance and usefulness have been immensely extended by Father Kosinski, who is recognized as one of the foremost educators in the United States. He is particularly distinguished for his rare powers of oratory and persuasive speech. He is a talented linguist and in addition to his native tongue, speaks English, German, French and Italian. On January 6, 1909, orders came from head- quarters of the Resurrectionist Fathers at Rome, Italy, appointing him superior and at the same time placing him in charge of St. John Cantius Parish, on Carpenter and Front streets, Chicago, Ill. Not- withstanding this change, he still is connected with the project of erecting new college buildings at Avondale for the education of the Polish American youth, he being secretary and treasurer of the new corporate body, "The Polish American Educational Institute." .
John Kreft, one of the prosperous and well known farmers of Palatine township, was born August 18, 1849, in Schaumburg town- ship, this county. Henry and Mary Dorothea Kreft, his parents, immigrated from Hanover, Germany, to America in 1846, and coming direct to Cook county, Illinois, entered land from the gov- ernment in Schaumburg township, erected a home thereon and began farming after the methods in vogue at that pioneer period. They there made their home until 1882, when the old home place was sold to a Mr. Winkelhake, and the family removed to a farm owned by Mrs. Harriet Comfort, which they later bought, and there the parents
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continued to reside the remainder of their days. The father died in 1885 and the mother in 1888. They were the parents of six chil- dren as follows: Henry, Dorothea, Carolina, Frederick, Anna and John. All these are dead except Carolina and John. Frederick served the Union cause during the Civil war, enlisting when only eighteen years old and being killed in battle two years later.
John Kreft is the youngest of the family. He received a limited education in the district schools owing to the fact that his services were required to help support the family and carry on the farm work. His life has been passed at hard work on the farm and he is now one of the substantial land owners of northern Cook county. October 28, 1869, he married Mary Mensching, and to them nine children have been born: Henry (died when nine years old) ; Minnie (died at the age of seven years) ; Louis (now and for the past twelve years an electrician in the employ of the Edison Electric company.) ; Emma (wife of Henry Schultze who is a representative of the Busch- Gertz Piano company of Chicago) ; William C. (married Clara Dierking, resides in Palatine and is in the employ of Marshall Field & Co.) ; Herman, Martin, John and Millie. In politics Mr. Kreft is a Republican and for several years served as commissioner of highways. He is a member of the Lutheran church of Palatine.
Anthony Krygowski, M. D., a prominent and successful prac- titioner of medicine at 2854 Racine avenue, Lake View, was born in the Province of Posen, German-Poland, on January 1, 1870, and is a son of John and Lucy (Furman) Krygowski. The parents im- migrated to the United States in 1870 and located in Chicago, where the father embarked in the retail grocery and butcher business which he made highly successful. He was distinguished for his excep- tional musical talent and generally for his high character. He died in 1884 at the age of thirty-five years, leaving his widow and one son, Anthony, named above. After his death his widow married Sebastian Noger, by whom she has one son, Dr. George J. Noger, now living. He is a prominent practicing physician and is physician of the Alexian Brothers' hospital.
Dr. Anthony Krygowski was reared in Chicago and was educated in the public schools of the city, at St. Jerome college, Berlin, On- tario, from which latter institution he was graduated with credit in 1884. In 1894 he was graduated from Chicago Homeopathic Med- ical college, and two years later from Harvey Medical college. Since the latter date he has been in the active and successful practice of his profession. Since commencing he has taken post graduate courses in the famous medical schools of Vienna, Berlin, London, Dublin, Bonne on the Rhine and Heidelberg. He is eminently fitted for the most difficult tasks of his profession. He has amassed con- siderable property, owning valuable real estate on which he has erected flat buildings and stores in Lake View and on the North and the South sides. He is a member of the Illinois Homeopathic Med-
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ical Society, Chicago Medical Society, Knights of Columbus, Cath- olic Order of Foresters and in politics is a Democrat. In 1899 he was candidate for alderman from the 24th ward, and in 1908 was a candidate for county commissioner.
Rev. Bartholomew Kvitek, pastor of St. Michael's Slovak Roman Catholic church, at 1950 West 48th street, was born in Bohemia, August 18, 1872. He received his classical education in the Gym- nasium of Taus, Bohemia, and upon coming to the United States took up his philosophical studies at St. Vincent's college, Latrobe, Penn. In 1897 he was graduated with honor in theology from St. John's university, Minnesota, and was duly ordained to the priest- hood in Chicago on November 14 of the same year. His first holy calling was as assistant pastor of St. Vitus Bohemian Catholic church of Chicago, in which capacity he served with high credit for six years and one year as pastor. In 1905 he was appointed to his present position. Since his connection with this parish Father Kvitek has purchased property worth $14,000 and has erected a combined church and school house at a cost of $67,000. The church property is now worth $100,000. When he took charge of the school there were but thirty pupils; now there are 320, all under the instruction of five sisters of the Benedictine Order. This is the first Slovak church in Chicago. It has a membership of 700 families or nearly 4,000 souls. Father Kvitek is a member of the St. Benedict Order. He has one assistant, Rev. Cyrill Zenisek.
Thomas D. Kyle, president of the Kyle Bottle Washing Machine company, was born in Ireland, on October 9, 1863, and is a son of John and Margaret (Mckeown) Kyle. Both parents were born in Ireland and were of Scotch-Irish descent. The father moved to County Antrim, Ireland, and engaged in the manufacture of linen. He died at Belymena, Ireland, in 1902, and the mother in 1873.
Thomas D. was educated in the public schools, and owing to the death of his mother when he was yet quite young, he was forced to assist in caring for his younger brothers and sister. At the age of thirteen years he was set at work in his father's linen mills, and so continued until his father remarried, when he came in 1881 to the United States and for two years worked in Wisconsin on a farm. He then came to Chicago and for about one year was engaged in railroading for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul company. Suc- ceeding this employment he secured a position in the city hall, Chi- cago, and was there engaged for about eleven years. He then ac- cepted a position as traveling salesman for Charles O. Sethness, dealer in extracts, essential oils, etc., and while thus engaged was forcibly impressed with the importance of an invention that would wash rapidly and thoroughly all makes of bottles. He began to study with this idea in view and soon invented the most complete machine of the kind in the world. Not only did he devise a perfect bottle washer, but accomplished the result of inventing a bottle soaker
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as well. The soaker was designed to attach to the washer, so that the whole machine soaks, washes, rinses and conveys the bottles to the filler where they are sterilized. Mr. Kyle spent four years in perfecting this machine which will wash from 10,000 to 100,000 bottles per day. He quit the road wholly in 1904 and devoted all his time and attention to the perfection of the machine. The cost of washing bottles is thus enormously reduced. Mr. Kyle is prominent in Republican circles and is now one of the judges of election in the 25th ward. He is a charter Mason, Union Park lodge, and Irving Park Chapter. In 1902 he married Bertha Wacht, of Chicago, and lives at 1511 Rosemont avenue, where he resides in his own home.
William H. Lake, senior partner of the firm of W. H. Lake & Company, commission merchants, is a successful board of trade broker and was born in Chicago in 1861. In 1877 he embarked in the commission business with Dwight & Gillette, but later accepted a position with Charles Counselman & Company and still later with Bartlett, Frazer & Company, and held the latter until 1901. In that year he established an independent business on his own account under the name of W. H. Lake & Company. They have done an immense business, and Mr. Lake is considered a representative commission leader of the middle West. He is a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, New York Produce Exchange, Baltimore Chamber of Commerce, St. Louis Merchants' Exchange and the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce. He is a life member of the Chicago Ath- letic Association. On September 8, 1885, he married Ida Church, who died April 27, 1892. One child was born to this union, Violet C. August 18, 1896, Mr. Lake remarried, and to him and wife, Mary Grace Wirt, one daughter, Mary, and one son, William .W., have been born. His parents were Marcus and Julia (Helmer) Lake, the father coming here from Conneaut, Ohio, in the early fifties. Wil- liam H. received a common school education and began the battle of life at the age of thirteen years. He is a Republican and lives at Kenesaw Terrace, Buena Park.
Adolph Lakemeyer, M. D., was born in Germany, June 14, 1872, and is a son of Charles and Augusta (Lindemann) Lakemeyer, both of whom were natives of the same country. The father was a farmer and also held real estate interests in that vicinity. He died in 1874 and his widow in 1882. Five of their children are yet residing in the fatherland.
Doctor Adolph was educated in the schools of Germany and served one year in the army. In 1897 he came to Chicago and entered Rush Medical college, took a full course and was duly graduated therefrom with the class of 1902. He began the practice at the corner of North avenue and Western avenue and is still located there, having secured a good practice and standing. He is a mem- ber of the American, Chicago and Illinois State Medical organiza- tions, and also of the Royal Arcanum. "He is independent in politics.
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On April 24, 1901, he married Clare Muehlhaus, of Chicago, and they have the following children: Adolph, Jr., Elsie and Irmgard. The family resides at 2353 North avenue.
Rev. Francis Lange, pastor of St. Josaphat Polish Roman Cath- olic church at 2311 Southport avenue, was born in German Poland, West Prussia, on December 13, 1857, and was reared to manhood in his native land. He received his primary education in the village schools of Domatowo and his classical education in the Gymnasium of the City of Neustadt. He came to the United States in 1884, landing at New York on November 1. Immediately thereafter he began the study of philosophy in St. Francis seminary near Milwau- kee, and in 1885 began the study of theology at St. Mary's, Balti- more. In 1888 he was ordained to the priesthood in Chicago in the cathedral of the Holy Name by the late Archbishop Feehan on Sep- tember 28 of the same year. His first duty was as assistant priest of the Church of St. Mary of Perpetual Help, of Chicago, where he remained for a period of ten months. On September 14, 1889, he was appointed pastor of St. Josaphat's Parish, an irremovable rec- torship. He built the present church, a fire-proof structure costing $140,000. The parish now has a membership of 850 families or a total of about 5,000 souls. The excellent school in connection with the church is conducted by fifteen sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and numbers 900 pupils. Connected with the church are ten beneficent societies and the Sodality of St. Joseph consisting of 95 members, all of whom have the name Joseph; one men's Tem- perance Sodality, 480 members; one married ladies' Sodality, 855 members, and one young ladies' Sodality, 405 members. The parish was organized in 1884. This year, i. e., 1909, they celebrated the 25th anniversary on November 14th, when Right Rev. Paul P. Rhode pontificated.
Henry Horace Latimer, M. D., was born at Metcalf, Ontario, on the 7th of February, 1854, and is the son of Henry and Mary Latimer. His father followed agricultural pursuits, and led a quiet, uneventful life, dying in 1904 at the age of 86 years. His mother attained the age of 78 years. Doctor Latimer was educated in the public and high schools of Metcalf, Ontario. In the early '70s he came to the United States and settled in Will county, Ill. In 1880 he took up the study of pharmacy and in 1883 began the study of medicine at Bennett Medical college in Chicago, and graduated in the class of 1885. Since then he has practiced in Chicago. For four years he was attending physician to Cook County hospital, and for same length of time was professor of dermatology at the Ameri- can Medical College (now the Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery). He is a member of the Chicago and State Medical societies ; at present he is head of the department of dermatology at Bennett Medical College.
In 1884 Doctor Latimer was married to Miss Ida B. Harris, of
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Decatur county, Ia., and to them were born three children: Bertha J., now the wife of J. Leonard Undem ; Doctor Milton J., and Olive Pearl, all of whom reside in Chicago. Doctor Latimer's residence is at 2728 Haddon avenue, and his office is at 1058 North California avenue.
Edward Baker Leigh, president of the Chicago Railway Equip- ment company, and for the past twenty-one years a resident of the city of Chicago, was born at Townsend, Mass., April 13, 1853, a son of Edwin and Suzan Leigh, his mother's maiden name being Scollay. Humphrey Chadbourn, one of his maternal ancestors, was of Scotch lineage; came to America in 1640 and settled in the vicinity of South Berwick, Me. Captain Thomas Leigh, his paternal great grandfather, immigrated to this country from England in 1773. During the earlier part of his life Edwin Leigh practiced medicine, subsequently engaging in literary work and becoming an author of note. He was the originator of the new phonetic system of teaching pupils how to spell, and also of a system of notation. He died in 1891, and his widow in 1894.
Edward Baker Leigh, the immediate subject of this sketch, was a student at the City university at St. Louis from 1862 to 1867, and from 1867 to 1868 attended Washington university, St. Louis. Owing to ill health he was compelled to forego his career at the latter institution, and in 1869 became a clerk in the Pennsylvania railroad offices where he continued until 1874. From that date until 1882 he was assistant secretary of the St. Louis Grain Elevator company and secretary of the East St. Louis Grain Elevator com- pany, and from then until 1887 was manager of the American Brake company. He came to Chicago in 1888, organized the National Hollow Brake Beam company, was elected its vice-president and manager and thus continued until January, 1903, when he organized the Chicago Railway Equipment company to succeed the National Hollow Brake Beam company. From the date of its organization until January, 1906, he was vice-president, treasurer and general manager of the Chicago Railway Equipment company, and since then has been its president and general manager.
Mr. Leigh belongs to the Union League, Hamilton and Press clubs, Chicago Athletic club, Illinois Athletic association, St. Louis club and Detroit club, and is a member of the Benevolent and Pro- gressive Order of Elks. He is a Republican in politics. November 15, 1876, he married Miss Clara Norton Furness, of Furnessville, Ind., by whom he is the father of three children : Edwin Furness, Paul and Louise Atherton, the last two named being dead. The family home is at 3838 Calumet avenue and the business location of Mr. Leigh is at Forty-sixth street and Winchester avenue.
David Rose Levy was born in Kansas City, Mo., April 27, 1867, and is a son of Zadig and Rose (Benjamin) Levy. He was edu- cated in the public and high schools of Springfield, Ill., and in 1885-6
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taught school in that city. From 1887 to 1893 he found employ- ment in the claim, engineering and transportation department of the Wabash Railroad company. In the meantime he studied law and in 1893 was admitted to the bar in Indiana and in Illinois in 1896. From 1893 to 1895 he was assistant secretary of the Illinois Rail- road and Warehouse commission and in 1895-6 was secretary to Governor John P. Altgeld. Since the latter year he has been in the active and successful practice of his profession, having made a specialty of corporation law. He has been connected with several very important cases, and served as assistant corporation counsel of Chicago for several years. He is a Democrat. He belongs to the Metropolitan, Iroquois, Illinois Athletic and Jefferson clubs. His office location is at 143 Dearborn street and his residence at 4621 Michigan avenue.
Willoughby Starr Lockwood was born in Annapolis, Nova Scotia, on January 29, 1864, and is a son of Edward of that Province. His mother was a Fullerton and both parents were well-to-do and re- spected citizens of Canada. The father owned and conducted a saw mill there, held public office with credit, and was distinguished for his interest and work in the broad field of religion. Both parents were of mixed English and Dutch descent.
Their son, Willoughby S., was reared with strong religious and moral surroundings and tendencies. He loved nature in the woods and under strong spiritual guidance early sought the truth and adopted honest business methods. In youth he secured a grammar school education and worked in part to obtain the same. He at- tended the village school in Nova Scotia and after coming here continued his studies at the old Moseley school at Twenty-fourth street and Michigan avenue. He also attended night school for about five years, thus greatly adding to his education. At the age of thirteen years he began business for himself as office boy and rose steadily in position until he became a man. In 1888 he became a member of the firm of Lockwood & Strickland, operators in mill work and interior trimming, and has continued a member of this organization ever since. The company was incorporated in 1894. Their business is large and lucrative and is located at Halsted and Forty-ninth streets. Mr. Lockwood is president of the company. Early in life he determined to be a merchant or a manufacturer, and his success has proved the soundness of his boyhood judgment. He has served as secretary and treasurer in the Methodist church and as trustee in the Congregational church, of which latter he is a member. He is a Republican in politics. In April, 1886, he married Jennie Ebersole and they have five children, all of whom are living, as follows: Willoughby Chester, Edith Marie, Irene Jessie, Arthur Ebersole and Beatrice Anita.
In the year 1873, there came to Chicago a young man practically penniless, handicapped with an imperfect knowledge of the English
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tongue and with but slight familiarity with the American customs. This young man was destined to make his mark in the commercial and political history of Chicago. Born at Domazlice, Bohemia, January 1, 1857, William Loeffler finished his education at a Latin school at Prague, in 1872. At the age of 16 years he left the land of his nativity and came to America. From the date of his landing in New York city his career was one of romance, often verging on tragedy. His ambition was to get ahead in the world and win an honored recognition in the land of his adoption. Any honorable employment that presented itself, no matter how humble, was gladly accepted. Many times practically penniless his early career was one of hardship and self-denial.
The fall of the year succeeding his arrival in New York, he came to Chicago and for a time was employed selling bread for Joseph Tachett. In partnership with a Mr. Sunfeld he subsequently started in the bakery business. This venture proved disastrous and every penny of his savings was swept away. After this for six months he worked for $5 a week for S. Klein as clerk. This period was one of the darkest in his career and to one of less determination would have completed his ruin. So complete was his downfall that it very often was a problem to provide means whereby the next meal was to be secured. Eventually he secured employment selling sausages for A. Bondy. About a year later he started a butcher shop which he conducted with varying fortune for about three years, then failed, every dollar in his possession having been lost in the venture. The privations and hardships previously experienced were again en- countered, and what added to his anxieties and perplexities was the fact that he had a young wife and one young boy to support. In- stead of breaking, this perhaps, was the ultimate cause of his suc- cess. He next, in a small way, began buying meats from Underwood and subsequently from wholesale houses and this he retailed to the public, reinvesting his profits, expanding his business, adding a team and wagon now and then and in this way laying the foundation of a permanent success. At one time he had eighteen wagons em- ployed and was doing a business second to none in that line, finally devoting his energies along this branch of business to the whole- saling of pork.
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