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 81
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Aside from his splendid work as a successful physician, there is another side to Dr. McHugh's character. During his leisure moments he has written a number of poems which have been repub- lished around the English-speaking world. He has also written a number of popular songs, the music of several of which is his own. If he were not a successful man, professionally, Dr. McHugh in- evitably would rise to eminence as a literateur and artist. Happily married, in possession of a pleasant home, surrounded by books, flowers, pictures and music, his life is an ideal one and his advance to distinction practically assured. All who know him esteem him highly, and stand ready to affirm that he deserves all good things that time may bring to him.
Rev. Francis Gordon, C. R., pastor of St. Mary's of the Angels church and manager of the Polish Daily News, was born in Prussian Poland in 1860. At the required age he attended the district school
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and after graduating from there took up the higher studies in the local high school. In 1881 he came to Chicago and almost immedi- ately joined the Congregation of the Resurrection, located in this city. The superior seeing that the young man's vocation was for the priesthood, sent him to one of the colleges of the order-to St. Mary's college, Marion county, Ky. There he completed his classi- cal course. For the philosophical and the theological courses he was sent to the Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained priest, April 20, 1889.
The Congregation of the Resurrection, of which Father Gordon was a member, had charge of the St. Stanislaus church in Chicago, reputed to be the largest parish in the United States. To this parish Father Gordon was assigned as one of the assistants. He remained here until December, 1892. In addition to the parochial work he was appointed manager of the Polish Publishing company, publish- ers of Catholic books and periodicals. The fathers of the Congrega- tion of the Resurrection were interested in this company. Father Gordon suggested the idea of starting a Polish daily paper, which would give its readers the news of the day, and treat the various questions that come within the range of a live, up-to-date newspaper, in a quiet, conservative and dignified manner. The religious ques- tions were to be treated from the Roman Catholic point of view.
The idea was put into action. The Polish Daily News became a reality December 15, 1890. It has been published daily, except Sun- days and holidays of obligation, ever since.
The latter part of December, 1892, Father Gordon was called to Rome and from there transferred to Adrianople, in Turkey, to be- come professor in one of the colleges in charge of the Fathers of the Congregation of the Resurrection .- On account of ill health he was called back to Rome, where he soon became acting-procurator general of the congregation.
In 1896 Father Gordon returned to Chicago where he again be- came assistant at the St. Stanislaus church and manager of the Polish Daily News. The latter position he holds to the present time. In 1897 he founded the Macierz Polska, a benevolent organization with the insurance feature in it. The organization has grown very rapidly until now it numbers several thousand members of both sexes in various parts of the United States. Father Gordon became its first moderator which position he holds today, having been reelected at the expiration of each term. In 1899 he organized St. Mary's of the Angels Parish at Hermitage avenue and Clybourn Place and be- came its first pastor. Seven years later he was transferred to become pastor of St. Stanislaus church. During his three years stay, the new St. Stanislaus school, hall and Sisters' home were built. They belong to the finest and most up-to-date buildings of their kind in this country. In 1909, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Congregation of the Resurrection regarding the transfer of
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pastors every three years, he was again assigned to the pastorship of St. Mary's of the Angels church, which position he now holds.
Father Gordon is also general manager of the Polish-Bohemian cemetery of St. Adalbert in Norwood Park, Ill. In the Chicago Examiner popularity contest, including a trip to the Holy Land, Father Gordon won first place by 138,354 plurality, receiving in all 1,132,534 votes.
Fred M. Pease is a native of Rockland, Maine, as were also his parents, Alonzo C. and Emma (Furbish) Pease. The father was the owner of several large granite quarries near Rockland which he op- erated the greater part of his life and from which, in 1873, he fur- nished all the granite entering into the construction of the East River bridge at New York. In 1873 he came to Chicago and here lived a retired life until his death on October 17, 1907, aged seventy-three years. His widow survives him and resides with the subject of this sketch.
Fred M. Pease was born May 25, 1865, and received his education in the public and high schools of Rockland, Maine. He came to Chicago with his parents in 1873, but returned to Rockland to com- plete his schooling. He then traveled extensively throughout the west identified with various business enterprises, and during the early '80s and until 1887, was associated with interests identified with the old Alton Railroad company in the operation of lime quarries at Auxvasse, Mo. He established a plant for the manufacture of plas- ter at Blue Rapids, Kan., it being the first of its kind in the West, and also one for the manufacture of cement at Kansas City, Mo. In 1887 he sold out his interests and embarked in the buying and sell- ing of live stock in Kansas and shipping hogs to Mexico. In 1889 he came to Chicago and engaged in the railway supply business at 155 Washington street, also acting as the western agent for the Murray Dougal & Company, of Milton, Penn., pioneer tank car builders. In 1893 he moved to 355 Dearborn street where he lias since maintained his office. Mr. Pease erected the F. M. Pease Lo- comotive works at Hegewisch, Cook county, Ill., where he made a specialty of rebuilding cars and locomotives, this being the first com- plete works of this character. During the well-remembered activities in the oil fields of Texas he alone was able to supply hundreds of tank cars to various railway lines, and the promptness of supplying orders enabled his company to reach very substantial profits. The factory was enlarged until, when completed, it covered over twenty- six acres, employed over 800 hands and operated over three miles of switches. Mr. Pease was the first to embark in the field of rebuild- ing of old railroad rolling stock, to which he added the buying and selling of private railroads. During the '90s he bought and sold the Washburn, Bayfield & Iron River railroad, the Baltimore & Lehigh railroad, the Danville & Western railroad, the Ashland, Siskiwit & Iron River railroad, and other important railroads of that time. Mr.
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Pease is the owner of 1,200 acres of land in Missouri, near Jefferson City, and is also largely interested in Chicago real estate, in the management of which he devotes his time.
Dr. W. C. Abbott, Ravenswood, Chicago, president of the Abbott Alkaloidal company and Clinic Publishing company, was born on a farm in Woodstock, Vt., 1857, and was educated in the schools of the time. He later graduated at the Randolph State Normal school and the St. Johnsbury Academy preparatory to entering college, teaching as a stepping stone. He took his first courses in medicine at Dartmouth and his degree at the Michigan University in 1885, be- ing self-supporting all the way through. For a few months he then practiced medicine in Ruthland, Vt., after which he came to Chicago, locating in Ravenswood in 1886. He then continuously and widely pursued his profession as a general practitioner for twelve years, dur- ing the later part of which period he established the Abbott Alka- loidal company and the Clinic Publishing company, teaching and promoting active-principle therapeutics. To this work he had given and is now giving the major portion of his time, and is doing only consultation work professionally. He has built up a big business and is one of the widest and most favorably known shapers of medi- cal thought in America, his work being favorably received in foreign . countries as well. He was early married to Clara Ingraham, likewise of Vermont, and has one child.
Dr. William M. Stearns, a specialist who has attained distinction in the practice of special medicine and surgery, is a son of George W. and Harriet N. (Chaffee) Stearns. His ancestors settled in New England about the year 1630, and his paternal grandfather and great grandfather were soldiers in the War of 1812. Shortly after the birth of Dr. Stearns in western New York, on June 20, 1856, his parents moved to Will county, Illinois, and there he re- ceived the foundation of his education in the common and high schools. When nineteen years old he began teaching geometry, Lat- in and physiology, but having decided to become a physician he took up the study of that profession in 1878 and in 1880 was graduated from the Chicago Homeopathic Medical college. For nearly three years succeeding this he served by appointment as house physician and surgeon of the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet, then resigned and in order to better equip himself in his profession, continued his studies for two years in the best clinics and hospitals of Germany and Austria. Late in 1885 he returned to Chicago and was appointed assistant professor of Otology and Ophthalmology in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical college; and in 1890 he was elected adjunct professor of Rhinology and Laryngology and soon thereafter was elected to a full professorship, a position he retained until the college was consolidated with the Hahnemann Medical college in 1904, in which he has been senior professor of the same branches till the pres- ent time. He was also one of the board of directors and secretary, and
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from 1901 to 1904 dean of the faculty of the Chicago Homeopathic Medical college. Dr. Stearns is a member of various medical and be- nevolent societies and besides his native tongue is well versed in the German and French languages. For many years he has confined his practice to diseases of the ear, nose and throat and as such is recog- nized as an authority. He was raised a Master Mason in 1881 ; ex- alted a Royal Arch Mason in 1882; Knighted in 1882, and became a member of Apollo Commandery No. 1, in 1885. In 1887 he was made a thirty-second degree Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Mason of Oriental Consistory, and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine of Medinah Temple. During his early Masonic career Dr. Stearns held many important offices within the gift of the craft. His home in one of culture and comfort where, surrounded by his family, a large general library and other distinguishing social influences, he most enjoys life. On June 1, 1887, he married Miss Fannie Foote, daughter of Dr. William S. Foote, of Belvidere, Ill., who was the eighth son in lineal descent of Nathaniel Foote, the progenitor of that family in America in 1620. To Doctor and. Mrs. Stearns have been born five children, three of whom, Helen Frances, Eugene Marion and Clar- ence Foote, are still living.
Frank Wengierski, who is engaged in business at 574 North Ash- land avenue, was born at Zempelburg, West Prussia, Germany, on August 3, 1858, and is a son of Joseph and Tekla (Szlezerski) Wen- gierski. The father was a carpenter by trade and first came to the United States in 1866. He engaged in business and found it neces- sary to cross the ocean fourteen different times. In all he spent about thirty-five years of his life in America, but finally died in Zempelburg, Germany, in the year 1900. His life was full of inci- dents and exertions. On March 17, 1828, he was born in German and at his death was seventy-two years old. His widow died in 1907 at the age of seventy-three years. Their four children now reside in Chicago. They are Frank, John, Felix J. and Theodore.
Frank is at present engaged in insurance, real estate, loaning, etc., and has an agency for several steamship lines. He was educated in the public and private schools of Germany and in June, 1877, came to the United States on the vessel Braunschweig, landing at Balti- more and from there proceeded directly to Chicago where he se- cured employment in a picture frame factory where he continued for a year. He then clerked in a grocery store for six years, but in 1884 passed the civil service examination and secured a position as a let- ter carrier in which capacity he served four years under the adminis- tration of Postmasters Palmer and Judd. He then resigned and en- gaged in his present business which he has successfully conducted. He resides in the Sixteenth ward where he owns property. On April 15, 1882, he married Magdalena, daughter of Frederick and Mar- garet Billmayer, of Chicago. They have four children: Julius F., a graduate of the law department of Northwestern University; Al-
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phonso S., Tekla, wife of Max Thies, and Frances. The oldest son is located near Rockford where he at present holds the position of sup- erintendent of the Winnebago Farm school for delinquent boys, which position he has held since 1907.
Frank, the subject of this review, while yet a boy, was employed for two years as record writer in the courthouse at Zempelburg, Germany. He took private lessons in foreign languages evenings while thus engaged. He is a member of the Polish National Alli- ance, Catholic Order of Foresters, Royal Arcanum, St. Stanislaus Polish Roman Catholic church, and is a member of the choir of this church. Politically he is a Republican. He speaks and writes Polish, German and English. He takes a warm interest in the progress and advancement of Chicago and hopes to see it the first city in the world.
Joseph Beifeld, manufacturer and merchant, was born August 22, 1853, in Hungary. Having relatives in America he came to this country in 1867, and for one year succeeding his arrival attended the Chicago public schools. In 1869 he entered the employ of Field, Leiter & Company, and in the wholesale establishment of this firm occupied the positions of entry clerk and bookkeeper until 1878. In company with his brother, Morris, he then embarked in the whole- sale manufacture of cloaks at which he continued until 1902, when, associated with Nelson Monroe, he bought the Sherman House. Three months later he purchased the interest of Mr. Monroe and thereafter conducted the hotel until it was razed, in 1909, to make way for the new structure now in process of construction. On ac- quiring possession of the Sherman House property in 1902, the lease was for twenty years, but in 1906, the original lease was abrogated and a new one executed for ninety-nine years. In 1903 he origi- nated and established the College Inn, a restaurant that has since be- come famous, and in 1905, encouraged by his previous succsses, he financed and promoted the White City, the pioneer of that kind of public resorts in the west. " Mr. Beifeld was president of the White City until January 1, 1910, although still retaining his large stock interest. His brother, Morris, succeeded him as presiding officer. Perhaps one of the greatest undertakings in which Mr. Beifield has thus far engaged is the erection of the new Hotel Sherman. When completed it will have 757 rooms, each bedroom having a bathroom, and will be equipped in the most substantial and modern manner as applied to hotel construction. The entire second floor will be de- voted to public gatherings and banquets, and the building will be ready for occupancy in December, 1910.
On May 25, 1876, Mr. Beifeld married Miss Fannie Grossman, of Chicago. The three children born to them are, Dr. Albert H., now finishing his education in Europe; Eugene V. and Ernest L., the last named being associated with his father in business. Mr. Beifeld is a member of the Standard and Hamilton clubs, and in politics has
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been a life-long Republican. On October 17, 1900, he delivered an address, "The Present Campaign from the Standpoint of a Business Man." It was of such merit and so applicable to the questions of the day that it was published in booklet form under the auspices of The Business Men's Sound Money Association.
Jesse Spalding, whose name is indelibly imprinted on the history of lumbering in Chicago and the northwest, was a man of unusual force and high character. He came to Chicago in the year 1860, at a time when lumbering was yet in its crude stages and full of possibilities. Here he made his home during the remainder of his days and became prominent in commercial and political life and in all ways that contributed to good citizenship. Born April 15, 1837, in Bradford county, Penn., he was a son of John Spalding, a de- scendant of English ancestry, the progenitor of the family being Joseph Spalding who settled in Braintree, Mass., sometime between the years 1630 and 1633. The early years of Jesse Spalding were passed on his father's farm and in attending the public schools and the academy at Athens. About the time of attaining his majority he found employment in rafting lumber on the Susquehanna river and tributary streams, subsequently becoming purchasing agent for his employers. When twenty-three years old he began buying, ship- ping and selling for himself. In 1860, impressed with the wonderful opportunities and advantages of the west, he came to Chicago with the belief that this city was destined to become a great metropolis and commercial center. Subsequent events proved his judgment to have been well founded. His first venture was the purchase of a saw mill at Menekaunee, Wis., at the mouth of the Menominee river. He subsequently purchased a mill at the mouth of Cedar river some thirty miles north of Menominee. During this time he maintained a lumber yard at the corner of Lumber and Twelfth streets, Chicago, and was afterwards one of the first to take a location in the "new" district at Twenty-second street. Associated with others, he estab- lished the first planing mill in this district at the corner of Fisk and Twenty-second streets. In connection with William B. Ogden, N. Ludington and H. B. Gardner, Mr. Spalding, in 1880, organized the Sturgeon Bay & Lake Michigan Ship Canal & Harbor company. This corporation dug a canal across the peninsula from Sturgeon Bay to Lake Michigan, thereby saving 150 miles of dangerous navi- gation on a round trip. A harbor of refuge was built at the Lake Michigan end of the canal where third order coast and range lights, steam fog signal and a life-saving station were established. To aid in this enterprise the government made a grant of 200,000 acres of land. In 1892 congress made an appropriation for purchasing the canal, and in 1893 it was made free to the shipping interests of the country. For eight years Mr. Spalding served as president of the canal company. When Civil War was declared between the states Mr. Spalding' was employed by the adjutant-general of Illinois to
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build Camp Douglas, accepting as remuneration for lumber and labor warrants issued by the state auditor, which later were re- deemed by national currency of the government. As a Republican in politics he occupied a prominent position in the councils of his party. By appointment of President Arthur he was collector of cus- toms of the port of Chicago in 1883, and in 1889 was appointed one of the government commissioners in its relation with the Union Pa- cific railroad. For three years he was a member of the city council of Chicago under Mayor Colvin, where as chairman of the commit- tee on finance, his sound judgment and practical experience proved of great value. He became prominently identified with banking and other financial concerns of Chicago. To the marriage of Mr. Spald- ing with Adelphia Moody, of Athens, Bradford county, Pennsylva- nia, three sons and three daughters were born.
Charles F. Spalding, a son of Jesse Spalding, appropriate mention of whom immediately precedes this, was born October 5, 1865, in Chicago. After receiving his education in the Harvard school, Chi- cago, and the Exeter Academy, N. H., he began his business career with his father. He was first stationed in the mill of the Spalding Lumber company at the mouth of Cedar river, where he thoroughly mastered the intricacies of felling trees, transporting logs to the mill, converting the same into lumber and marketing the product. Upon the death of his father he was elected to succeed him as presi- dent of the company. He was one of the substantial business men of Chicago, a city famed the world over for its many successful men in all avenues and walks of life. He was a director of the Hibernian bank, resident vice-president of the American Surety company, direc- tor of the First National bank (Marinette, Wis. ), of the Menominee River Lumber company, Commercial National bank (Chicago), Commercial bank (Iron Mountain, Mich.), vice-president of the Tennessee Central Railroad, vice-president of the Waccamaw Lum- ber company, located in Wilmington, N C., and president of the Holcomb-Hayes company, which manufactures railway ties.
On February 1, 1888, Mr. Spalding married Miss Elizabeth Clarke, daughter of John V. Clarke, of Chicago, and the children born to them have been as follows: Jesse, Jr .; Lillian, Bertrande and John Vaughn Clarke. In his religious faith Mr. Spalding was an Episcopalian ; was a Republican in politics, and identified with the Chicago, Union League, St. Louis, Chicago, Athletic, Germania, Forty, Glen View, Exmoor, Saddle and Cycle, Edgewater Golf and Mid Day clubs. He died in 1909.
Harry Stillson Hart is one of the younger present generation of Chicago business men who has achieved success in his chosen pro- fession. Born at Clinton, Iowa, September 2, 1870, he is a son of Eli S. and Olive Miriam (Williams) Hart. In youth he attended the public schools and was graduated from the Clinton high school in 1889. Having a desire to secure a technical education, he entered
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the Rose Polytechnic Institute at Terre Haute, Ind., from which, after completing the mechanical and electrical engineering courses, he received the degree of B. S. in 1893. For six months succeeding his graudation he was employed as electrical constructing engineer for the well-known firm of Siemans & Halske Electric company, and from 1889 to 1894, was the eastern manager in New York for the Crouse-Tremaine Carbon company. In April of the latter year he was elected secretary of the Rodger Ballast Car company, and Janu- ary 1, 1902, was elected vice-president and general manager of the same concern. From this position he was elected president of the company, a position he has since occupied with signal ability and satisfaction. Aside from his business interests Mr. Hart devotes considerable of his time to his books, special studies and in fellowship with his neighbors. He is a member of the Union League club, the University club, the South Shore Country club and the Chicago Ath- letic Association. January 29, 1905, he was united in marriage with Miss Zalome Sherman and they are the parents of one daughter, Miriam, two years old. Mr. Hart's home life is divided between his country residence at Barrington,. Ill., which he occupies about nine months of the year, and his Chicago residence at 2922 Prairie ave- nue. His business location is in the Railway Exchange building.
Norman D. Fraser, president of the Chicago Portland Cement company, was born in this city February 25, 1857, and is a son of David R. and Lydia H. (Scoville) Fraser. He was educated in the Chicago public schools and upon leaving school in 1874 he became connected with the firm of Fraser & Chalmers, manufacturers of mining machinery, etc. He remained actively connected with this firm for a period of seventeen years-1876 to 1893. Then for two years he was out of business but in 1895 became president of his present company. They are manufacturers of Portland Cement and have a large and profitable trade. Mr. Fraser is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Western Society of Engineers. He is a Republican and a member of the following clubs: Union League and Illinois. His office is at 108 La Salle street and his residence at 2928 Washington boulevard.
Col. James Donovan was born April 2, 1847, in a log cabin built by his father one mile from North Adams, Hillsdale county, Mich., and is of Irish ancestry on his paternal side. Michael Donovan, his father, came from the North of Ireland to Syracuse, N. Y., in 1813, later moving to Toledo, Ohio, where in 1832, he married Rhoda Chambers. James Chambers, her uncle, who died in Birmingham, England, in 1864, and after whom our subject was named, was of royal family and left a large estate, which now, after many years, is about to be divided among the heirs. Two brothers, Josiah and Joseph, and four sisters, Sarah, Ellen, Caroline and Ann, located in Toledo, Ohio, in 1830. Originally they were from Hampton, England. Josiah was a miller and brought with him a grist mill -...
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