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 II > Part 73
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Realizing that the United States offered his inventive and business genius a far wider scope than his native country, Mr. Stromberg came to this country in the spring of 1884, his first employment be- ing with the Chicago Telephone company. During his connection with this corporation he invented some very valuable improvements in the Bell telephone, some of which are still in standard use. In 1890 he constructed the burglar and fire alarm system of the Chi- cago Electric Protective company and operated the system until 1894. In this year he reentered the telephone field as an independent tele- phone manufacturer, taking in Mr. A. Carlson as partner, and found- ing the Stromberg-Carlson Telephone Manufacturing company in the year 1896. He capitalized this company 'for $50,000 and so rapid was its growth that in the year 1901 it showed an earning of $600,- 000 per year and turned out telephones at the rate of a telephone a minute. The spring of 1902 the company was reorganized and the capital increased to $3,000,000, the plant being moved to Rochester, N. Y., where the factory occupies a floor space of eight acres and gives employment to 3,000 employes. The capitalization of the com- pany has since been raised to $6,000,000. In 1905 Mr. Stromberg sold out his entire interest in the company and has since devoted his whole time to the promotion of numerous enterprises. Included among these is the Stromberg Motor Devices company, which has now in process of erection a large steel construction factory on Twenty-fifth street near Michigan avenue in Chicago. This com- pany is at present turning out carburetors which are bought and 11sed by all the important automobile manufacturing companies both in this country and Europe. These carburetors are also used by all the best motor boat companies and air ship constructors. This new car-
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buretor factory will have a capacity of more than one carburetor a minute. Mr. Stromberg is also president of the Stromberg Electric Chronograph company which furnishes the chronographs for the United States navy and other government institutions. These chron- ographs are for cost keeping in factories, timing-in-and-out office reg- istrations and other purposes. He is also vice-president of the Willis Electric Meter company which produced the first meter offered which the public can read. Mr. Stromberg is a Knight Templar Mason, a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, a member of the Union League club and many other organizations. One who has enjoyed a long, intimate business acquaintance with Mr. Stromberg has this to say of him :
"In some respects Mr. Stromberg is the most remarkable man I have ever known. Of humble origin he has, by native ability coupled by persistent effort, risen to his present position in the business world. His quick perception enables him to grasp a situation at once and to master every detail of the proposition involved. His life is wrapped up in his various business affairs into which he has put his energies to such an extent that only those who have been intimately associated with him can appreciate. A capable man at the outset, he has con- stantly developed with the growth of his business interests. From working mechanic with a daily wage of $2 to a man of large affairs and wealth in the short space of a dozen years is a record of which few can boast; but with Mr. Stromberg it has had no effect in . changing the plain, simple, honest and direct manner of his life. To his friends, his business associates and with the world generally he is the same unassuming man as when struggling for a livelihood at the outset of his career. Many have been financially benefited by their association with them. He enjoys the confidence and respect of his fellowmen."
In 1885 Mr. Stromberg married Miss Ellen Johnson, of Chicago, and they are the parents of four children : Minnie, Alice, Emil and Eva. Their home is at 5442 Sheridan Road.
Thomas Alexander Lemmon, a successful and well known coal op- erator, was born in New Albany, Ind., April 16, 1841, and is a son of Michael and Martha (Griffin) Lemmon. He was educated in the common and high schools of New Albany, continuing therein until 1857. He then began business, but in 1861 enlisted in the Fifth Ohio cavalry regiment and served with credit until 1865 when he was hon- orably discharged. He participated in the first day's bloody fight at Shiloh, his regiment being the only cavalry command thus engaged. He served in many other battles and campaigns, and his military ca- reer was stirring and vastly to his honor and credit. On April 27, 1865, he married Sarah C. Berry at New Albany, Ind., and they had the following children : Mrs. Florence R. McDonald, Chandler Fon- taine and Albert Berry. Upon his return from the army, he was for fourteen months engaged in the clothing business at Louisville, Ky. In July, 1866, he arrived in Chicago and became bookkeeper for E.
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D. Taylor & Son, coal dealers, and later was with Taylor & Thomas for a year. In 1871 he began business for himself in the partnership known as Lemmon & Cornish, but was soon burned out in the big fire. In 1872 he became bookkeeper for the Chicago, Wilmington & Ver- million Coal company, of which he has been secretary and treasurer since 1887. He is also at present treasurer of the Eureka Coal & Dock company. He is a republican and a member of Columbia Post G. A. R. He is also a Mason and a member of the Illinois Athletic and Traffic clubs. His office is in the Old Colony building and his residence at 2802 Washington boulevard.
Edward S. Keely, a prominent and active railway official of this city, was born in Peru, Ill., November 11, 1858, and is a son of John and Mary Keely. He received a good common school education, and entered the railway service in 1874 and has continued thus occupied down to the present time. One of his first important positions was that of division freight agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway company, at Milwaukee, where he continued until 1891, then receiving a well-deserved promotion to assistant general freight agent. He thus served acceptably until 1900 when he was still fur- ther honored by advancement to the responsible position of general freight agent of the same road. On January 1, 1907, he was ad- vanced to the position of freight traffic manager and in April, 1909, to vice-president. He is one of the most practical and experienced railway men of this city. His offices are in the Railway Exchange building. He is a member of the Chicago, Union League, Chicago Athletic and Exmoor clubs.
Oscar F. Bell, traffic manager of the Crane company, has had a successful business and social career. His grandfather, five genera- tions removed, Capt. John Bell, was a Scotchman, master and owner of a ship which sailed between Glasgow and the American colonies. After a shipwreck by which his vessel was lost, he located near Balti- more about 1650. On his mother's side Oscar F. is descended from Lieutenant Robert Coles, who came to the colonies in 1635 as a member of Governor Winthrop's expedition. Oscar F. received his education at the grammar and high school of Dayton, Ohio, where he was born and where he began his business career in 1869. After working at various occupations he entered the railway service in 1878 as an employe under H. C. Wicker in the general freight of- fices of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway company. Later he was placed in control of the pool accounts and settlements of that company with the title of "pool secretary," in which capacity he was serving when the interstate commerce law became effective in 1887. He also saw service as chief clerk in the office of the traffic manager and for six months under W. H. Newman, third vice-president of the Northwestern road. Then for two years, 1890 to 1892, he was en- gaged in the Black Hills as secretary of the Harney Peak Tin Min- ing company with headquarters at Hill City, S. D. In 1892 he was
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purchasing agent for that company and had charge of their freight traffic. In October, 1892, he accepted the position of traffic mana- ger with the Crane company and ever since has satisfactorily occu- pied that position. From 1902 to 1905 he was a member of the traf- fic committee of the Illinois Manufacturers' association and was chairman of the committee in 1907 and 1908. He was one of the organizers of the National Industrial Traffic League and is at pres- ent a member of the executive committee and the board of directors of that organization. He is also president of the Traffic club of Chi- cago, of which he is a charter member. He took an active interest and part in the negotiations which resulted in the adoption of the uni- form bill of lading in 1907. Hc is interested in educational matters and is a member of the board of education of the Deerfield Township high school in Highland Park. He married Wilhelmina Elizabeth Mayer and they have ten children. He resides at 127 North avenue, Highland Park, Ill.
Henry G. Zander, one of Chicago's prominent real estate dealers and loan brokers, was born in Rendsburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Ger- many, October 4, 1869, and is the son of Claudius C. and Margot (Van Staeding) Zander. His early education was acquired in the gymnasium at Rendsburg, Germany, and in the North Division high school, Chicago, from which latter institution he was graduated with the class of 1886. He subsequently was graduated as a civil engineer from Grant's school, and from the John Marshall Law school with the degree of L.L. B. Mr. Zander was married in 1895 to Charlotte M. Keitel, of Chicago, and to their union have been born two sons, Henry G., Jr., and Karl M. On October 5, 1886, he entered the real estate offices of Martin Van Allen, and in May, 1892, formed his present partnership with George F. Koester, under the firm name of Koester & Zander, doing a general real estate business. In his political views Mr. Zander is a Democrat, he affiliates with the Luth- eran church, is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Union League, Irving Park, Country and Ridgemoor Golf clubs. His offices are at 69 Dearborn street and he resides in Irving Park.
Robert E. Sackett, vice-president of the National Life Insurance company, traces his genealogy in an unbroken line to Simon Sackett, who came from England to America in 1630 on board the ship "Lyon," which also carried those pioneers, Roger Williams, John Throckmorton and Nicholas Bailey. Simon Sackett (1), helped to found Newtown (now Cambridge), Mass. From him to the subject of this.sketch the heads of the different familics are as follows: John (2), the first white child born at Newtown: John (3), of Weathers- field ; Daniel (4), of Westfield, served in colonial wars, member of Captain A. Dewey's troop of horse, also the one commanded by Cap- tain H. Noble, and was on duty guarding Westfield under Captain John Ashley : Captain Daniel (5), of Westfield and Pittsfield, served
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in colonial wars and that of the revolution, in the latter as a member of Captain Horton's company of Colonel Worthington's regiment, commissioned captain of the seventh company of Colonel Moseley's Hampshire county regiment April 26, 1776, mustered out November 29, 1777, reentered service soon thereafter but finally resigned in No- vember, 1799, also credited with commanding a company in Shay's rebellion ; Lemuel (6), of Westfield; Daniel (7), of Pittsfield; Rob- ert (8), of Pittsford, N. Y., married Laura Jane Smith and became the father of six children of which Robert E. (9) is the third in the order of birth.
Robert E. Sackett was born November 11, 1852, at Pittsford, N. Y. He was reared on a farm and in early youth attended the dis- trict schools, subsequently taking a course in Olivet college, at Oli- vet, Mich. Upon his father's death in 1873, he took charge of the home farm in Eckford, Mich., which he conducted about eighteen months, then embarked in the grocery business at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In 1875 he became a clerk and later a bookkeeper and pay- master of the Sioux City & Pacific Railway company and here ac- quired the foundation of the knowledge which subsequently was of such material assistance to him in business. In the year 1881 he went to Denison, Iowa, to accept the office of assistant cashier in the First National bank of that city, but two years later resigned that position to take charge of the land sales of the Sioux City & Pacific Railway company, with headquarters at Sioux City. While occupy- ing this position he was nominated and elected, in 1887, to the of- fice of the clerk of the district court of Woodbury county, and after serving one term of four years was reelected to this position, occu- pying the office eight years in all. In 1894 he became secretary of the Iowa Life Insurance company, and in 1895 came to Chicago with that company. In 1900, when the National Life Insurance Company of the United States of America absorbed that company he was elected secretary of the National, which position he held until the year 1906, when he was elected vice-president of the latter company, which position he still retains. Mr. Sackett is a Republican in poli- tics; a member of the Prostestant Episcopal church and of the Grand Lodge of the Knights of Pythias of Iowa, the Union League and Hawkeye Fellowship clubs. He was married August 31, 1886, to Miss Juliet H. Richfield, of Marshall, Mich. They reside at 5318 East End avenue, Chicago, Ill. Mr. Sackett is the owner of one of the fine farms near Rockford, Ill., a locality noted for its splendid homes and magnificent development.
Henry W. Forward, general freight agent of the Erie railroad company, 536 Railway Exchange building, Chicago, was born Aug- ust 8, 1859, in Somerset, Penn., his parents being Ross and Char- lotte (Ogle) Forward. He was educated in the grammar and high schools of Cincinnati, and in 1876 began his railroad career as mes- senger in the office of the general freight agent of what was then
-
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the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad company. Since that time his progress in railroad work has been a steady advancement coupled with hard and conscientious work. From 1884 to 1890 he was chief clerk in the general freight office of the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad company at Cleveland, and from the latter year to 1896, was division freight agent of the Chicago & Erie road with headquarters at Huntington, Ind. Succeeding this he was the assist- ant general freight agent of the same corporation at Chicago until September 1, 1898, when he was made the assistant general freight agent of the Erie system. Ten years later (September 1, 1908,) he was promoted to his present position of general freight agent. Ross Forward, the father of Henry W., was a lawyer by profession and a man of prominence in Pennsylvania. He held many local positions of honor and trust. For thirty years he represented the Aetna Life Insurance company, and being of an inventive turn of mind invented and had patented a number of devices of merit. Henry W. For- ward is a Republican in politics and a member of the Edgewater Golf and Chicago Traffic clubs. He married Miss Florence A. Grover on September 13, 1891, and he and wife are members of the Christian church. Their home is at 1158 Farwell avenue, Rogers Park.
Frederick H. Harwood, vice-president and general manager of the New Kentucky Coal company, 1709 Fisher building, has passed the greater part of his life in railroad work. He was born January 15, 1863, in Chicago, a son of Theron D. and Elizabeth (Keller) Harwood, who were among the early settlers of Cook county. He received his education in the public schools, and in 1879 began life for himself as an office assistant for Field, Leiter & Company, sub- sequently serving in a similar capacity with Schlessinger, Mayer & Company and with Montgomery Ward & Company. He began his railroad career in 1887 under the resident engineer on the construc- tion of the Chicago, Kansas & Nebraska railroad, but one year later, and until 1890, was in the service of the Illinois Central Railroad company in the various capacities of bill clerk, rate clerk and con- tracting freight agent. From 1890 to June, 1893, he was rate clerk in the general freight department of the same road and from that time to March, 1894, was contracting freight agent ; subsequently. until June 1, 1896, he was traveling freight agent and commercial agent with headquarters at Pittsburg. The succeeding three and one-half years he was stationed at Cincinnati as commercial agent. On December 20, 1899, he became assistant general freight agent of the road at Evansville, Ind., and on June 4, 1894, the coal traffic manager at Chicago. This latter position he held until 1909, when he embarked in his present business. Mr. Harwood is a Re- publican in politics, a member of the Edgewater Presbyterian church and the Edgewater Country club. His marriage with Miss Jennie Herring was solemnized July 23, 1884, and their home is at 1260 Bryn Mawr avenue.
Vol. II-43.
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Robert Letson Van Arsdale, a prominent and successful insurance broker, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., September 26, 1876, and is a son of Robert Letson (deceased ) and Emeline ( Bristol) Van Ars- dale. He came to Chicago in 1885 when only nine years old and was principally educated in the public schools here, graduating finally from the Brown public school. Soon after his graduation he secured employment with Thorson, Cassidy & Co., dealers in sporting goods, and there remained from 1890 to 1892. In the latter year he en- tered the offices of Charles E. and W. F. Peck, insurance brokers, and is now a member of the firm of Willcox, Peck & Hughes, who succeeded Charles E. and W. F. Peck. At the present time he is manager of their Chicago office. Mr. Van Arsdale is a Republican, and although not an applicant for office takes much interest in poli- tics and all other worthy affairs. He is a Presbyterian. He resides at 6502 Monroe avenue. He is a member of the Calumet Country. club, Wanderers' Cricket and Athletic club and the Illinois Athletic club.
Alfred Brand is a son of Rudolph Brand, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. He is a native of Cook county and was born in Chicago, July 20, 1884. He was educated in the grammar schools and the University school of Chicago, graduating from the latter in 1902. He then entered Yale college, pursued a full course of study and was graduated in 1906 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then returned to Chicago and studied the art of painting at the Chi- cago Art Institute, and in the fall of 1907 accepted the position of managing editor of the Real Estate News. In April, 1908, he went abroad and for five months visited many parts of Europe. He then returned to Chicago and accepted a position with his father in the offices of the United States Brewing company and was there engaged until 1909. He then became connected with the Brand Brewing company and is thus occupied at the present time. He is a member of the Chicago Yale club and among the enterprising, art-loving and public-spirited citizens of the city.
Peter Czaja, druggist, 1490 West Twenty-second street, was born in Chicago, December 10, 1876, the son of John and Jennie ( Bar- todziej) Czaja. The parents were natives of Austria Poland and immigrated to the United States and Chicago in 1869, where the father engaged in merchandizing for many years, retiring in 1908 at an advanced age from a long and successful business career. To" him and wife were born four children: Adam (deceased), Frank, Peter and Julius.
In the public and parochial schools of his native city Peter Czaja received his primary education, subsequently taking a course at the school of pharmacy of the University of Illinois, from which he was graduated in 1901. In 1902 he entered business for himself, open- ing a drug store at 809 South Ashland avenue where he remained for a year and a half. In 1904 he located at his present place of business
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on West Twenty-second street and has ever since been thus success- fully engaged. On November 25, 1903, Mr. Czaja married Lottie, daughter of John and Jennie Cenalewski, of Chicago, and to their union has been born two sons, Vladimir and Zenon. He is a member of St. Casimir's Polish Roman Catholic church, Polish Turners' Unity No. 9, St. Casimir's Society Z. P. R. K., and the National Re- tail Druggists' association. In politics he is a Republican.
John A. Rybcinski, a prominent real estate dealer with office at room 670, 160 Washington street and residence at 668 Holy avenue, was born in this city July 2, 1877, and is the son of Anthony and Mariana (Gordon) Rybcinski. The father was a native of Russian Poland and the mother of German Poland. They came to Chicago previous to 1871 and here they have since resided. The father was one of the first Polish carpenters in the city, and assisted to build the first church structure for St. Stanislaus parish. This is now probably the largest parish of that nationality in the United States. The father for many years was engaged in contracting and building but retired from active business in 1893. He and wife were the par- ents of twelve children, five of whom survive: John A., Julius, Louise, wife of Walter Stancewski; Pauline, wife of Frank Janis- zeski, and Mary. John A. of this family was educated in St. Stan- islaus parochial school, in the public schools, in the Jesuit college and later took up commercial law in Bryant & Stratton Business college. From 1900 to 1905 he was employed in the sheriff's and county clerk's offices in Cook county, but then engaged in the real estate and fire insurance business and in managing estates in the probate court. He is thus occupied at the present time. On October 3, 1905, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Ciesielski, of Chicago, and they have two children, Virginia and Alice. Mr. Rybcinski is a member of St. Stanislaus Polish Roman Catholic church, Catholic Order of Foresters, Knights of Columbus, Modern Woodmen, Po- lish National Alliance of America; Kosciusko club, Northwestern Business Men's association and politically is a Republican. He has taken an active interest in the success of his party and is a member of the Sixteenth Ward Republican club.
Bruno F. Kowalewski, mortgage banker, real estate dealer and loan insurance operator, at 1359 West Fifty-first street, was born in Posen, German Poland, on January 25, 1874, and is a son of Andrew and Mary (Teichert) Kowalewski. The parents immigrated to the United States in July, 1881, and settled in Chicago where the father worked at his trade as carpenter until his death in 1891 at the age of 51 years. He left a widow and five children as follows : Bruno F., Roman J., Rev. Edward A., pastor of St. Stanislaus Polish Roman Catholic church, Kankakee, Ill. ; Mary, now "Sister Zygmen- ta" of the Felician Sisters, and Gertrude, deceased.
Bruno F. was reared in Chicago after the age of seven years, and received his education in St. Adalbert's parochial school and the even-
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ing public schools of the city. At the age of eleven years he was put at work sandpapering wall brackets and was thus engaged for about two years. Six months later he was placed in the canning de- partment of Armour & Company, with which concern he remained for a period of eighteen years, rising steadily to the responsible posi- tion of foreman. During this period he put in all his spare time learning the real estate and insurance business. Since 1906 he has devoted his whole time to that pursuit, gradually adding mortgage banking. He built his present handsome and commodious quarters in 1907. His business is prosperous and he has won prominence as a successful business man and a useful citizen. He is a member of St. John of God Polish Roman Catholic church, Knights of Columbus, Foresters, Polish National Alliance, Polish Turners and Polish Rom- an Catholic union. He affiliates with the Republicans. On July. 23, 1899, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob and Della (Kas- przykowski) Kiepura, of Chicago, and has two living children: Eulalia and Edward.
Rev. Francis J. Karabasz, pastor of St. John of God Roman Cath- olic church at 5129 Throop street, was born in Lemont, Ill., on Janu- ary 19, 1881, and is a son of Martin and Michaeline Karabasz, both of whom were natives of German Poland. They immigrated to the United States about the year 1872 and settled in Lemont, Ill., where they still reside. They reared to maturity a family of five children, as follows: Frances, now a member of the Felician Sisterhood; Veronica, Francis J., Joseph and Stanislaus.
Francis J. attended the Polish parochial school at Lemont until he attained the age of thirteen years, when he was sent to St. Mary's Polish college, Detroit, Mich., from which institution he was duly graduated in 1898. He then took up his theological studies at St. Mary's seminary, Baltimore, and was there graduated in 1904. On June 10 of that year he was ordained to the priesthood by Arch- bishop Quigley at the Cathedral of the Holy Name, Chicago. His first appointment was as assistant pastor of St. Joseph Polish Cath- olic church, of Chicago, where he served for seven months. He was then transferred to a like position in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, South Chicago, where he remained about three and a half years. He was appointed to his present parish on June 30, 1908. This parish consists of about 750 families or about 4,000 members. The school connected with the church has a membership of 430 pupils under the instruction of six sisters of the Felician Or- der. Connected with the church are fifteen beneficent societies. Under Father Karabasz is one assistant, Rev. Stanislaus Doberstein. The church building was erected in 1907 by Father Jendrzejek at a cost of $75,000. Connected with the property are thirty-six lots which cost the parish $18,000.
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