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 80
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The latter was reared in Chicago after the age of five years. He was educated in the public and high schools and took a six months' course in the Bryant & Stratton Business college. At the age of twelve years he began his business career as an office boy with Frank Kirchman, real estate dealer, and ever since has been occupied in the same business. He really grew up in the business and under- stands all its features in this great city. Since 1901 he has been in this occupation on his own account. In 1904, in partnership with Joseph Polak and Joseph Kopecky, he embarked in the banking business on West 22d street, and this firm was the pioneer concern to engage in banking west of Blue Island avenue. They have the strongest banking institution in this part of the city. Mr. Salat is a popular and progressive citizen and is highly esteemed by all who know him. He is a member of the Columbian Knights, and in poli-
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tics is a Republican. On May 7, 1901, he was united in marriage with Rose A., daughter of Joseph and Anna Fischer, pioneer Bo- hemians of the city, and they have one daughter-Adelaide.
Alfred Sandig was born in Gotha, Germany, July 12, 1876. In youth he attended public, high and technical schools and college, receiving a liberal education at Dresden and Braunschweig. In 1897 he left his native land and went to Manchester, England, but two years later crossed the Atlantic and located in Philadelphia, where he lived until December, 1900, when he came to Chicago. Since July, 1901, he has been the Chicago manager of the Berlin Aniline Works of Berlin, Germany, manufacturers of aniline colors, pho- tographic chemicals, dyestuffs, etc., and has been highly successful. He is a Lutheran and a member of the following clubs: South Side, Germania, Turner, Milwaukee and Deutscher of Milwaukee. His office is at 12 West Kinzie street and his residence at 521 Surf street. He married Mary T., daughter of Rudolph and Ida Kramer, and they have two children : Alfred R. and Edward M.
Jobe H. Sayers was born in Will county, Illinois, August 18, 1846, his parents being John and Harriet (Goddard) Sayers, both natives of Sussex county, England. The parents immigrated to the United States in 1845, and after a short time in the East, came to Chicago, but soon afterward located in Will county. In 1853 they came to Cook county and lived in Orland township until their respective deaths. They were the parents of ten children, as follows: John, James and Mary, all of whom died in infancy; Jobe H., Sarah J., Benjamin F., Emily (also deceased), Ellen, Florence and Stephen L.
Jobe H. was reared as a farmer and has thus far through life pur- sued that occupation. On December 11, 1872, he married Ellen Agate, a native of Sussex county, England, and is the daughter of William and Mary (Holden) Agate. Her parents came to the United States in 1856, first settled in Will county, but later moved to Cook county. Their children were: George, Abraham, Ellen, Amos and Reuben, who were twins, the latter dying in infancy. Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Sayers settled where he now resides. He and wife are the parents of the following children : William E., born 1873, married Josephine Volck; Clara M., born 1876, married Peter Sinclair; Lillian M., born 1878, died 1898; George, born 1880, died same year; Fannie E., born 1881, un- married; Walter J., born 1885, also unmarried. The family is well known and highly esteemed.
The city of Chicago has become noted for many things : Notably her wonderful growth and development from an Indian trading post to a city of over 2,000,000 inhabitants within eighty years; her wonderful shipping facilities ; her great grain, lumber and live stock markets ; her unrivaled financial standing ; her wonderful educational establishments and her magnificent parks, boulevards, palatial homes, libraries and public institutions. Cosmopolitan in her make up,
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Chicago's greatness is derived from her citizenship. The foreign born as well as the "native son" had equal opportunities extended to them and each vied with the other in contributing to the supremacy of the city. In the galaxy of names that have shed lustre upon Chi- cago, the foreign names are unusually prominent and are found in all the avenues of human endeavor. This particularly applies to the medical profession, the names of Dr. Christian Fenger and Dr. Nicholas Senn being especially prominent among those who achieved renown before passing into the Great Beyond.
Among those living today who have achieved deserved distinction under adverse conditions is Dr. Henry Schmitz. Born December 26, 1871, at Kaiserswerth, Germany, he is a son of Matthew and Gertrude (Pollander) Schmitz, and was primarily educated at Real- schule. He subsequently attended the technical university at Karlsruhe, succeeding which he came to America and located in Chi- cago. He here completed his medical schooling, having been grad- uated from the Bennett Medical college in 1897, and from the Chi- cago College of Medicine and Surgery in 1906. Dr. Schmitz has become one of Chicago's foremost physicians and surgeons within twelve years. Undoubtedly natural aptitude has had much to do with his success, but without his exhaustive study, close application and keen discernment, such success could never have been attained. Since 1898 he has been established at 484 West Chicago avenue. From March 3, 1897, to December, 1898, he was an interne of the Cook County hospital where so many men eminent in the medical profession received their early start in the practice of that line. He is now the professor of gynecology in the Chicago College of Med- icine and Surgery, department of the University of Valparaiso, Ind., and is surgeon to St. Mary's of Nazareth hospital. He is a member of the American and Chicago Medical Associations, the Chicago branch of the Union of Former German Students, the Northwest club, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Knights of the Macca- bees and various other minor organizations. November 17, 1897, Dr. Schmitz was united in marriage with Miss Meta Elizabeth Lenzen, daughter of August Lenzen, a pioneer German of Chicago. Two children, Henry L. and Herbert E., have blessed this union.
Conrad H. Schroeder, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Elk Grove township, Cook county, Illinois, on November 2, 18 -. He is a son of Henry and Engle Schroeder, both natives of Germany, the father coming to America when sixteen years old and first locat- ing at Desplaines. He subsequently went to Columbia, S. C., then returned to Germany, and finally after the close of the Civil war, returned to Cook county and engaged in farming in Elk Grove township. Conrad H. Schroeder was brought up on his father's farm in Palatine, Cook county, and secured his education in the district schools and at the high school at Palatine. He began farm- ing for himself in 1895 on the farm where he now resides, and this
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farm, consisting of 111 acres, he purchased two years later. In politics Mr. Schroeder has always been a considerate Republican, and for fifteen years has served his district as school director. He has been twice married, first to Lena Derermann, who died, leaving him four children, named Mamie, Henry, Elsie and Alwin. His sec- ond wife, who was formerly Louise Schoenbarm, has borne him two children-Alma and Elnora. Mr. Schroeder is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran church of Palatine, and he is known as one of the progressive, enterprising farmers of his section.
Edward H. Seneff, one of the well known attorneys of Chicago and the general attorney for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois rail- road, was born at Mt. Eaton, Ohio, September 25, 1867, a son of Philip and Adaline (Sleighbaugh) Seneff, both of whom were mainly of German descent. The father, born February 8, 1839, in Wayne county, Ohio, was one of the successful and well known con- tractors and builders of those days.
His son, Edward H., received his early education in the common and high schools of his native state, subsequently taking a course at the Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind. Later he entered the law department of the Lake Forest university, from which institu- tion he was graduated in 1895 with credit and the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He began teaching school at the age of eighteen years and his education after that time was obtained through his own efforts. His determination to become a lawyer was reached through his liking for the profession and his belief that he could make it suc- cessful. Time has proved the correctness of his conclusion. He was formerly a Democrat but changed his political views to Republi- canism during the silver craze of the nineties. On September 25, 1890, he was united in marriage with Lyda Lawson, and to them were born four children, two of whom, George and Thomas, are living.
Henry C. Senne, of Des Plaines, well known throughout Cook county as a member of the old board of supervisors, a member of the state legislature and later president of the board of county commis- sioners, was born October 26, 1826, in Hesse Schoenenberg, Ger- many, as were also his parents, Henry N. and Mariah (Mueller) Senne. After receiving a fair education in the schools of his native land, he came to America in 1845, located in Chicago, and learned the tailor's trade of Benedict Schubert, on East Lake street. For several years he worked on the Illinois & Michigan canal summers at fifty cents a day, and during the winter months stuck to his trade.
In 1849 he removed to Elk Grove where for the next fifteen years he was engaged in farming and merchandising. While here he served as constable, justice of the peace and commissioner of high- ways. In 1861 he moved to Des Plaines, which place has since been his home. From 1862 to 1878 (sixteen years), he was justice of the peace, and from 1866 to 1870 was a member of the board of county
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supervisors. In the latter year he was elected to the lower house of the State legislature, and in 1872 was reelected to this position. For nine years, beginning in 1876, he served as a member of the board of county commissioners, the last two years as presiding officer. In August, 1887, he was one of seven to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of seven commissioners who were sent to the penitentiary at Joliet. In the following November he was the first president of the county board elected by the people of the county and was re- elected in 1888. He was unanimously renominated by his party in 1889, but was defeated with his ticket at the polls. Aside from the foregoing Mr. Senne has served in various other local positions of honor and trust. As a legislator he accomplished with the aid of the late Judge Bradwell, much needed legislation in regard to the bridges at Des Plaines. Perhaps the greatest public good accomplished by him was when a member of the county board, and particularly while acting as its presiding officer. It is but just to Mr. Senne, in view of the many convictions and charges of graft by public officials, to state that his career is unblemished by taint or stain, and has been characterized by lofty acts for the public good and by ability of a high order. His life has been an open book wherein is read nothing but that of a creditable nature. Beginning life a poor boy, and in a strange land amidst new environments, he has won success from a financial standpoint and what to him is more valuable, an honored name. He is a member of the German Lutheran club, a Republican in politics and a director of the Des Plaines State bank. In 1848 he married Dorothea Linneman, who was born December 31, 1829, in Lippe Schoenenberg, and eight children have been born to this union : Henry W. (deceased), William H., Mary, Louise, George, Minnie and Sophie and another deceased.
Within the recollection of the early pioneers of Chicago who are still living is the old firm of J. H. Reed & Company, wholesale and retail druggists and dealers in surgical instruments, established in the year 1844. J. Perine Sharp came to Chicago in 1852 and be- came a clerk in this establishment. Associated with him as clerk was S. S. Bliss. These two young men grew up in the business and eventually became the proprietors of the establishment under the firm name of Bliss & Sharp. Shortly after the great fire in 1871, Harry D. Smith purchased the interest of Mr. Bliss and since then the firm name of Sharp & Smith has continued unchanged. A short time prior to the death of J. Perine Sharp, which occurred June 25, 1904, the firm was incorporated, and it is today one of the leading, substantial and conservative business houses of Chicago.
William Nye Sharp, the present president of the corporation, is one of the three children born to J. Perine and Sarah E. (Nye) Sharp. He was born in Chicago, September 25, 1861, and after attending the public schools in boyhood, began at the age of fifteen years as a clerk in his father's establishment. His whole life has
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been passed in the city of his birth, and his mature years have been devoted to commercial pursuits. He resides at Oak Park with his mother who is seventy-four years of age. Mr. Sharp is a member of the Illinois Athletic, the Chicago Athletic and the Chicago Press clubs. As a Mason, he belongs to Oak Park Lodge, No. 540, A. F. & A. M .; Cicero Chapter, No. 180, R. A. M .; Siloam Commandery, No. 54, K. T., and Medinah Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Royal League, Royal Arcanum, Knights of the Maccabees and the Columbian Knights.
Wladimir J. Sieminowicz, M. D., who is located at 1956 Armitage avenue, was born in Galicia, Austria, on January 4, 1859, and is a son of Leon and Domicela (Turkiewicz) Sieminowicz, Ruthenian, or Little Russian. He was reared to manhood in his native country and was educated in the common schools, the high school (gym- nasium) of Lemberg, capital of Galicia, and at Francis Joseph uni- versity of the same city. After finishing his literary education, he began the study of law, in which profession he was duly graduated in 1884. Three years later he came to the United States and located first in Schuylkill county, Shenandoah, Penn., where for three years he edited the Ruthenian paper called "America." About this time he made up his mind to study medicine. He thereupon entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, from which insti- tution he was duly graduated with credit in 1892. He practiced one year in Shenandoah and Shamokin, Penn., but in 1894 came to Chicago, and having entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, was graduated therefrom in 1895. Since that date he has been in the active and successful practice of his profession in this city except during about two and a half years, when he took post graduate courses in Prague, Bohemia, one year ; Berlin, two months; Vienna, Austria, seven months : Cracow, several months ; Leipsic, one month, and Paris, three months. He then returned to Chicago, and with excellent success has made obstetrics a specialty. The doctor is a member of the Chicago Medical Society, the Polish Medical Society, and an honorary member of the Cracow Medical Society and comity member of the International Slavonic Medical Society. In 1905 till 1907 he was professor of obstetrics in National Medical university, Chicago, Il1. In 1891 he married Mrs. K. H. Heil, of New York, N. Y., and by her has one son, LeRoy. In politics the doctor is inde- pendent and active.
Rev. Anton Sojar, pastor of Stephen's Slovenian Roman Catholic church, the only church of that nationality in this city, was born in Ljubljana, Carniola, Austria, on December 20, 1881, and is a son of Anton and Ivana (Koman) Sojar. He was reared to manhood in his native country and attended elementary school for four years, gymnasium eight years, was a student of theology four years, and finally came to the United States in 1903 and here finished his theo- logical studies at St. Paul seminary, St. Paul, Minn. He was or-
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dained to the priesthood in Chicago by Archbishop Quigley in June, 1904. Soon afterward he was appointed assistant pastor of St. Joseph Slovenian Roman Catholic church, of Joliet, Ill., where he remained until November 1, 1905, when he took charge of his present parislı. Under his able ministration the congregation has grown and flourished. The present membership of the parish consists of about 200 families. Father Sojar has one sister, Fannie, wife of John Cemazar, of Chicago.
John W. Stafford was born October 7, 1869, on the West side, Chicago, and is a son of William and Mary (Johnson) Stafford, natives of Wexford, Ireland. The father, who was a farmer, came to Chicago in 1854, but after his arrival here followed the smithing trade and spent a number of years in the shops of the Panhandle Railway company. He died January 19, 1892, and his wife in August, 1882. They had six children, three of whom are now living: Thomas, John W. and Fannie, now the wife of Joseph Dowling.
John W. was educated in the public and parochial schools and at the age of eleven years began work with Mandel Brothers as errand boy. Later he was a telephone boy and finally was promoted to the auditing department and at the same time attended night school. From 1888 to 1892 he served as one of the cashiers, but at the latter date resigned and accepted the position of cashier with Klee Brothers & Company at Milwaukee avenue and Division street. In 1895 he became manager of their West side store and in 1901 opened that company's new store at Belmont and Lincoln avenues and became manager of the same. He has the largest store of the kind devoted wholly to clothing outside of the "loop." Mr. Stafford is inde- pendent in politics and is a member of the Lakeview club, Business Men's association, Columbian Knights, National Union and the North American Union. On July 12, 1899, he married Margaret C. Coles, of London, Canada, and they have the following children: Mary, Coles, William and Anthony (deceased). The family resides at 3541 North Marshfield avenue.
James Howard Stansfield was born at Bridgeport, Illinois, Octo- ber 25, 1866, and is a son of George W. and Mary (Irish) Stans- field. His father was a native of this country and a successful and prosperous farmer and stockman, and his paternal grandfather served under the Duke of Wellington at the battle of Waterloo.
James H. Stansfield received his primary education during winter terms in the country schools. Later he attended Mt. Carmel and Shelbyville high schools. He began the active duties of life at the age of thirteen years on the farm, then taught school three years. Upon first coming to Chicago in 1891 he studied shorthand and was employed as a stenographer until admitted to the bar. His legal education was obtained in the law department of the Lake Forest university, from which he was graduated June 13, 1894. He was ad-
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mitted to the Illinois bar the same year. In 1896 he began a general practice on his own account and has made a specialty of chancery, probate and real estate litigation. In 1897 he was admitted to prac- tice in the United States circuit courts. In June, 1891, he enlisted as a private in the Second Regiment, Illinois National Guard, and served with this organization till June 1, 1909. He is now adjutant- general, first brigade. In the strike in 1893 on the drainage canal he served as second lieutenant, and saw the same service during the stock yards strike in 1894. Later he became first lieutenant, captain and major. He served as captain of Company F, Second Illinois Regiment during the Spanish-American war. He is a member of the Spanish .War Veterans and the Naval Military Order of the Spanish war. He is a Republican and a Presbyterian, and resides in Oak Park. On March 13, 1901, he married Inez Snyder, and to them was born one child who died in infancy.
John J. Stary, president and manager of the Stephen Bilek com- pany, manufacturers of embossed moldings, panels and drop carv- ings, at 2117 to 2127 South Troy street, was born in this city on August 1, 1883, and is a son of Michael and Kate Stary, natives of Bohemia, who immigrated to the United States about the year 1882 and settled in Chicago, where they still reside. To them was born a family of eight children, as follows: Anna, wife of John Pouzar; John J., Josephine, Emil, Emily, James, George and Lillian.
John J. was educated in St. Pius Roman Catholic parochial school and began his business career as water boy for the Edward Hines Lumber company at the age of twelve years. After working there for one year he was engaged at various occupations, and later for ten years was employed as clerk in a gentlemen's furnishing store. In 1907 he became connected with the Stephen Bilek company, and in January of the following year was elected its president and man- ager, a position he still retains. This fact speaks volumes for his ability, energy, experience, honesty and high character. He is a member of Blaney Lodge, No. 261, A. F. & A. M., and Liberty Lodge, No. 83, Columbian Knights. In politics he is a Republican. On November 26, 1907, he wedded Marie R., daughter of Stephen and Rose Bilek, pioneer Bohemians of the city, and they have one daughter-Florence.
Dr. Charles F. Stotz was born December 9, 1872, and is a son of Frederick and Marie (Jud) Stotz, the parents being natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, where the father was engaged in the manu- facture of brushes. In 1866 the family came to the United States and the father remained with a brush manufacturing concern in Philadelphia until 1872. They then returned to Germany, locating at Baden, where they continued in the same line of business, manu- facturing the brushes used by the government in the Franco-Prussian war. In 1881 they again came to the United States, settling in Chicago, where the father established the firm of F. Stotz & Com-
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pany, at 24 West Randolph street, and where he continued business up to the time of his death, October 22, 1901. Mr. Stotz was the inventor of a brush machine for the washing of bottles. To him and wife were born three children: Herman A., a director of the Y. M. C. A. since 1905; Dr. Charles F. (subject), and Pauline, now Mrs. Gustave Knapp.
Dr. Charles F. Stotz received part of his early education in Ger- many, but when eleven years of age, came with the family to Amer- ica and Chicago, where he continued his studies in the public schools. In 1892-3 he studied pharmacy in the Chicago School of Pharmacy, later entering the College of Physicians and Surgeons, from which he was graduated in the class of 1898. He immediately began the practice of his profession, locating for a short time at 247 West Madison street, then at Morgan Park and since 1900 at 1954 Mil- waukee avenue. Dr. Stotz has acted as physician at St. Mary's hos- pital since 1900, and is identified with the Chicago and State Medi- cal Societies. He is a Mason, a member of Oriental Consistory, a member of the Shrine and of the Royal League. In politics he is a Republican. On August 18, 1908, he married Bertha Mueller, of Chicago, and to this union has been born one daughter, Helen Marie, born in 1909.
Henry Knox Stratford, M. D., Austin, Ill., has practiced in Cook county longer than any other physician now living in Chi- cago. He was born at Oxford, Mass., August 6, 1821, a son of Charles James and Lucinda (Olney) Stratford. Samuel Bailey Stratford, his grandfather, a native of Stratford-on-Avon, Eng- land, was a wood carver by trade. His aunt, a Roman Catholic, freed him from his apprentice bonds and sent him to France to study for the priesthood, but he renounced such an intention and came to America and soon was employed making elaborate carv- ings for a Catholic church in Boston. He was influenced by the preaching of Rev. Dr. Channing to become a Protestant, in conse- quence of which he was disinherited by his aunt, who left him $500, and the Catholic church seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds. Eventually he married Miss Lucy Wallcot, of an old Puritan fam- ily, and lived out his days in Boston. His children were Charles James, Henry Bailey, Daniel Kent and Esther Stratford. Charles James was born in Boston, gained a public school education, and was the first merchant tailor in that city. He married Miss Lu- cinda Olney, daughter of Judge Richard and Abigail (Wilson) Olney, of Rhode Island.
Judge Olney was a merchant who aided to introduce the manu- facture of cotton cloth into America. Charles James Stratford passed his active life at Boston, Mass., and at Brooklyn, N. Y., and died at Trempealeau, Wis., aged nearly 90 years. He had eight children, the eldest of whom is Doctor Stratford.
Dr. Henry Knox Stratford was educated at the public schools
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