History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 36

Author: Hoffman, U. J. (Urias John), b. 1855
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > History of La Salle County, Illinois > Part 36

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Spending his boyhood and youth in Hartford, Ralph Plumb mastered the branches of English learning in the common schools, which he at- tended to the age of fourteen years, when the

RALPH PLUMB

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limited financial resources of the family rendered his employment a necessity to him and he began earning his own living. He was first employed by a gardener at the small wage of eighteen and three-fourths cents per day. His diligence, en- terprise and trustworthiness, however, soon won the attention and trust of his employer, Seth Hayes, and he was granted a position in his store, which was conducted under the firm name of Richard Hayes & Company. Further proof of his fidelity is indicated in the fact that he remained continuously in that employ until he had attained his majority and was then admitted to a partnership by his employer under the firm style of Hayes & Plumb. In the meantime he had early embraced every opportunity that was offered for the improvement of his education, giving much of his leisure time to reading and study, while in the school of experience he learned many and valued lessons. At the time of his admission to a partnership, the business had become quite extensive owing, in no small degree, to the efforts and capability of Mr. Plumb, and they further extended the field of their operations by establishing branch stores, Mr. Plumb personally superintending three of these in most successful manner. He thus steadily progressed toward the goal of prosperity and his business record was so honorable and straightforward and his ability so manifest that his fellow townsmen called him to positions of public trust. In 1854 he was chosen to repre- sent his district in the Ohio legislature, where he served for three sessions, leaving the impress of his individuality for good upon various meas- ures which were enacted during that period.

From Hartford Mr. Plumb removed to Oberlin in order to provide better educational facilities for his children. He had been married in 1838 to Miss Marrilla E. Borden, the friend- ship of their early days having ripened into love and had been consummated in marriage. Mrs. Plumb was in her girlhood a resident of Hart- ford, Ohio, and a daughter of Philo Borden, who was a native of New England and was of Puritan descent. By occupation he was a farmer. He filled some public offices, however, serving as captain in the state militia, while at one time he was postmaster of Hartford. His daughter, Mrs. Plumb, was there born September 16, 1818.

Following his removal to Oberlin Mr. Plumb became a factor in the business life of that city to the betterment of his own financial resources and also the general prosperity of the city. He was stirred to the depths of his nature by the events which were then transpiring and which were destined to shape one of the most important epochs in our national history. He was a student

of the signs of the times and noted with interest the attitude of the south on the slavery question and the abuses to which the power of the slave holder was put. He became a strong opponent of the system and in 1858 was an active factor in an episode that has become historical and that clearly proved his position in regard to the slavery question. A contemporary biographer has given the following account of this. "A fugitive slave, Jolin Price by name, had gone to Oberlin and secured work. His master, learning of his whereabouts, sent a slave- catcher to capture him and take him back to Wellington, a place nine miles away, where an officer with papers for his arrest awaited him. Fearing that Price might recognize the slave- catcher, two strange men were sent and told him that a gentleman wished to hire him. With the trusting disposition of the negro, fearing no treachery, Price accompanied the men. Oberlin then became the scene of wild excitement, the anti-slavery people being greatly aroused by the injustice of the methods that had been pursued. Five hundred strong, they rescued the slave and sent him off to Canada. Although Mr. Plumb was not among the number he, with thirty-six of the party, was arrested and thrown into jail. For eighty-four days they were incarcerated, during which time Mr. Plumb, with the assist- ance of two of his fellow prisoners, established and edited The Rescuer, an anti-slavery paper, even printing the same in the jail, where one of the party, owning a press and being a printer, did the work. This paper had a wide circulation and the arrest and imprisonment of those thirty- seven men caused the wildest excitement in the county and state. They were anxious for and demanded a trial. The town, county, state and even the federal government did not know what to do with them; they were a veritable white elephant on the hands of the authorities. During the legislative career of Mr. Plumb he helped to secure the passage of a bill defining the crime of kidnaping, and of this the citizens of Oberlin took advantage at this time and had the two men who inveigled the slave into the hands of the officers arrested for kidnaping him. This was like a thunder-clap out of a clear sky to the authorities and brought them to time; and they opened negotiations with the prisoners for their release, being secretly glad to get rid of them. They were released in consideration of the kid- napers not being prosecuted. During these eighty-four days of incarceration the thirty- seven prisoners were the heroes of the hour. Their imprisonment was a continuous reception, people coming from all parts of the country by the thousands to visit them and encourage them

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in the stand they had taken against oppression and injustice. At last the prison doors were opened with eclat and the prisoners welcomed with a band of music and the salute of one hun- dred guns.'

Mr. Plumb continued a firm advocate of anti- slavery principles ; and, being a strong advocate of the Union cause at the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, he received the appoint- ment of assistant quartermaster of a division, with a rank of captain. He was quartermaster on the staff of James A. Garfield, and was one of the General's closest friends and warmest admirers and served with him until the General became chief of staff for General Rosecrans. During the latter part of the great struggle he was quartermaster of Camp Dennison, and was brevetted colonel for meritorious service. Dur- ing his service as quartermaster he handled im- mense sums of money without the loss of a dollar to the government, and at the close of the war he returned to Oberlin with a most honorable record.

Shortly after the close of the war, in 1866, Colonel Plumb became a resident of Illinois. He was selected in that year by a large syndi- cate of capitalists as resident manager to go to Streator, Illinois, and purchase four thousand acres of coal lands. He did so, developed the mines, built four hundred miles of railroad to handle the coal output and thus his labor proved of immense benefit to the state as well as a source of large profit to the syndicate and him- self. When he arrived he found a territory in which the work of development had been scarcely begun, its great natural resources had not yet been transformed into marketable commodities but awaited the enterprise of a man who could plan and co-ordinate forces and produce results. Not only did he establish and control a business of large volume but also became at once a direct and valued factor in the growth and progress of Streator. There had been a village of prac- tically no commercial or industrial importance in this locality, but Colonel Plumb was the real founder of the city of Streator, which he laid out, giving to it its present name in honor of Dr. Streator, who was president of the syndicate of which Colonel Plumb was manager. More- over he personally named every street and be- came the first mayor, holding office for two terms. He was the unanimous choice of his fellow townsmen for the position, having no opposition, and he gave a public-spirited admin- istration, recognizing and utilizing the possibili- ties for growth and improvement and looking beyond the exigencies of the moment to the

future, so that not only the hour at hand but the oncoming years profited by his labors.

To a man of his strong anti-slavery tendencies it was the logical sequence that he should become identified with the republican party when it was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery. He never sought or filled office with the desire for public honor but only as a means to an end. When he felt that he might best dis- charge his duties of citizenship in this manner he accepted positions of political preferment. Had he directed his energies toward the field of political action and sought office he could un- doubtedly have attained national distinction. As it was, his fellow townsmen sought him as their representative in congress and he was elected in 1884 and again in 1886, gladly retiring to private life at the close of his second term, although his great interest in the questions and issues of the day continued to the closing years of his life.

Colonel Plumb was at all times awake and alert to the interests of Streator and co-operated in many of the measures for material growth and development here. Evidence of his efforts is found in the Plumb Opera House and at his own expense he built one of the finest high- school buildings in this portion of the state, furnished it with all modern conveniences for educational purposes and presented it to the city. It is a model of its kind. No movement for the benefit of the city sought his aid in vain and in fact he was the promoter of the great majority of interests which have been of direct benefit to Streator and are matters of civic pride. In his later years he engaged in no active business save the supervision of his investments.

The home life of Colonel and Mrs. Plumb was largely ideal. Their three daughters were spared to them to years of maturity but all have now passed away, Geraldine having departed this life July 1, 1875, Harriet Eliza on the 24th of January, 1861, and Francenia M. on the IIth of February, 1872. On the 15th of October, 1898, Mr. and Mrs. Plumb celebrated the sixtieth an- niversary of their marriage, years not without their sorrows yet fraught with much happiness, in which love and confidence continually in- creased. Mrs. Plumb was the associate and co- worker of her honored husband in all of his be- nevolent and philanthropic enterprises. She was a patron of the Ladies' Library at Streator and for more than two decades furnished a home rent free to it in the Plumb Opera House block. She was also deeply interested in the colored race and its advancement, making frequent and gener- ous contributions to southern colleges, including the Freed Men's College and the Fisk Univer-

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sity at Nashville, Tennessee, besides other in- stitutions of learning for the negro. Hers was one of the natures that shed around it much of the sunshine of life and in her labor among the poor she sought not only to alleviate immediate suffering and needs but to give happiness and pleasure that life may seem brighter and more worth living to those whom she came in contact. Mr. and Mrs. Plumb were also numbered among the donors of large gifts to Oberlin College, where their daughters were educated, and to Goodwill church of Streator. Too broad in nature to be hampered by dogma or creed, both Mr. and Mrs. Plumb nevertheless displayed the true spirit of Christianity and exemplified the teachings of Him who came not to be ministered unto but to minister. Freely they received and freely they gave and not only in charitable be- quests but also in their hospitality they were most generous, to the great delight of their host of warm friends. Frank and open hearted, straight- forward in business, public-spirited in citizenship and loyal in friendship, the best traits of charac- ter in Ralph Plumb, however, were reserved for his own home. It was his greatest delight to provide his wife with those things which add to aesthetic culture and enjoyment and promote real happiness. His name, however, is inter- woven inseparably with the city's history. What- ever was a matter of civic pride and civic virtue was of interest to him and he left the impress of his individuality upon the elements of prog- ress, upbuilding and improvement that have given Streator the prominent position which she now occupies today as one of the leading cities of northern Illinois. He had the breadth of mind that recognized the liability to failure as well as the chances for success in business, the strength of purpose and of spirit which enabled him to courageously uphold his position in re- gard to any line of public thought or action ; and, added to those qualities, his life manifested a gentleness of spirit that

"Nature might stand up And say to all the world, 'This was a man.'"

CHARLES E. HOOK.

Charles E. Hook, cashier of the First National Bank of Ottawa, to which position he has at- tained through consecutive promotions since en- tering the institution as messenger on the 7th of January, 1880, was born June 25, 1862, in the city which is still his home. His parents were

Charles H. and Anna (Schermerhorn) Hook. The maternal grandparents were Dr. Peter and Sarah (Ryder) Schermerhorn, the former from Schodack Landing on the Hudson and the latter from Sing Sing, New York. Dr. Scher- merhorn came to Illinois in 1832 and settled at Channahon, Will county, in 1834. He brought his family to this state in 1837 and devoted his attention to the practice of medicine and sur- gery, becoming a leading citizen in the thriving settlement in which he took up his abode. In 184I he removed to Ottawa, where he prac- ticed his profession successfully until his death in 1848. He was one of the pioneer physicians of this city, his name being closely associated with the early history of the county. His widow survived him for a number of years and made her home with her daughter Anna, who became the wife of Charles H. Hook. Mr. Hook was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in February, 1834, and Mrs. Hook was born in Ottawa in August, 1843. They were married in this city in 1861, Mr. Hook having come to Ottawa in 1857. He was first employed as clerk of the circuit court and also occupied a clerical posi- tion in the office of the county recorder. In

1868 he was elected county recorder and in 1872 was elected clerk of the circuit court, filling the position continuously until 1876. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he was a recognized leader in its ranks. He ex- erted considerable influence in public thought and opinion and aided in molding the policy of his party in this locality. He died in June, 1884, and his widow is now living with her son. Charles E. Hook, in Ottawa. They were the parents of four children : Virginia, who is the wife of Charles Newbert, a resident of Kittan- ning, Pennsylvania ; Arthur S., who is living at Oak Park, Illinois, and is secretary of the Inland Steel Company; Lee H., who is mayor of Chi- cago Heights and is assistant treasurer of the In- land Steel Company ; and Charles E., of this re- view.

In taking up the personal history of Charles E. Hook we present to our readers the life rec- ord of one whose position in financial circles is a prominent one. He was educated in the pub- lic schools, pursuing the high-school course, and when fifteen years of age he accepted a clerkship in the employ of M. B. Mitchell, with whom he remained for ten months. On the 7th of Jan- uary, 1880, he became messenger in the First National Bank of Ottawa and in February, 1881, was appointed bookkeeper, serving in that ca- pacity until the Ist of July, 1887, when he was made assistant cashier. His promotion to his present position came to him on the Ist of Jan-

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uary, 1901, since which time he has served as cashier with ability that has made him a valued and popular official of the bank. He is also one of its directors and is thoroughly familiar with the banking business in every department, ow- ing to his long and varied service in the in- stitution.

Mr. Hook has always been deeply interested in politics since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and is a stalwart advocate of repub- lican principles. In 1885 he was elected city treasurer without opposition for a term of two years, was again chosen to the office in 1893 and in April, 1897, was unanimously nominated for the mayoralty on the republican ticket and was elected by a large majority. In 1903 and 1905 he was re-elected without opposition and is the chief executive of the city. The fact that the democracy put no opposing candidate in the field is incontrovertible evidence of his stand- ing in public regard and also of his capable serv- ice during his first term in office. Opposed to anything like misrule in public affairs, he has given to the city a businesslike and progressive administration marked by needed reforms and improvements and his public policy has won him high encomiums.

Mr. Hook has moreover manifested an active interest in military affairs and in March, 1879, joined Company D of the Twelfth Illinois Bat- talion of the Illinois National Guard. Short- ly afterward he was appointed sergeant and on the 2Ist of December, 1882, was made second lieutenant. He was promoted first lieuten- ant January 18, 1886, re-elected January 18, 1889, and in January, 1892, was re-elected to that office, but declined the third commission. He was a model officer and excellent disciplinarian and was popular with the entire command.

On the 16th of April, 1890, Mr. Hook was married to Louie A. Copp, of Plainwell, Mich- igan, who was born in Portville, New York, March 27, 1866, and was a daughter of Dr. J. M. and Marie Antoinette (Howe) Copp. The fa- ther was born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire, and was a graduate of Dartmouth College. In his family were five children, of whom four are now living : Carl E., who resides at Port Hope, Michigan ; Dr. George H. Copp, living in Plain- well, Michigan; Harriet, the wife of Fred E. Heath, also of Plainwell ; and Mrs. Hook. Mr. and Mrs. Hook are people of social prominence and he is a valued representative of Occidental lodge, No. 40, A. F. & A. M., the Modern Woodman camp and the Tribe of Ben Hur in Ottawa. He is likewise one of the directors of the Ottawa Building, Homestead & Savings Association and is a member of the Ottawa

Boat Club, while his wife is connected with the Daughters of the American Revolution and Amateur Musical Club. Highly esteemed in social circles for his genial and courteous man- ner in business life, for his capability, considera- tion and high character, he stands today as one of the representative men of his native city.

THOMAS DEAN CATLIN.

Thomas Dean Catlin, president of the Na- tional City Bank of Ottawa, has been the pro- moter of various business enterprises which have had direct and important bearing upon the devel- opment and progress of his adopted city and state and the consensus of public opinion is un- divided concerning his business capacity, force and enterprise. His life work has been so closely interwoven with the commercial and financial de- velopment and with the intellectual, moral and political progress of the city as to entitle him to be styled, without invidious distinction, one of the foremost men of Ottawa.

His life record began in Clinton, Oneida coun- ty, New York, his natal day being March 12, 1838. He is descended from English ancestry in the paternal line. His father, Marcus Catlin, who for a number of years was professor of mathematics at Hamilton College at Clinton, New York, died in 1849. His mother, Philena (Dean) Catlin, was a representative of an old New York family that established the town of Deansville. Early records of the family cite the fact that John Dean, a member of the Society of Friends or Quakers, went to that place as a missionary to the Brotherton Indians, there re- siding, about 1795. His original home there was a log cabin that is still in existence as a part of one of the residences of Deansville. John Dean devoted his remaining days to his missionary la- bors among the Indians and passed to his reward in 1820, at the extreme old age of eighty-eight years. The notable example of the father finds exemplification in the life of his son, Thomas Dean, who continued with zeal and energy the missionary labors among the red men. A con- temporary biographer has said: "He was a man of herculean proportions and of great ability and sound judgment." He was not only the Indian agent but was also a counselor, spiritual guide and general law-giver and was largely instru- mental in transferring the Brotherton Indians from New York to a reservation at Green Bay, Wisconsin. He secured the appropriation of sixty-four thousand acres from the government and also was instrumental in passing a law through the New York legislature which enabled

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the Indians to sell their lands at full value. From 1830 until 1840 his time was entirely taken up with locating his dusky friends in their new home and in adjusting business matters for them. Wearied by his great toil death came to end his arduous service in June, 1842, when he had reached the age of sixty-three years. He was scrupulously honest and his career both pub- lic and private, was above reproach in every particular. He had the love and rev- erence of the Indians and the confidence and highest regard of all with whom he came in contact. At the time when a petition was circulated for the establishment of a postoffice at another place in the vicinity he went to Wash- ington and secured the postoffice for Deansville instead. He became its first postmaster and the office and village were named in his honor. He had five children.

Thomas Dean Catlin, grandson of Thomas Dean, supplemented his preliminary educational advantages by study in Hamilton College at Clin- ton, New York, of which he is an alumnus of the class of 1857. He completed his course there when nineteen years of age and in the following year came to the west, making his way to Ottawa, Illinois, where he was to meet by appointment his uncle, A. H. Redfield, of Detroit, who was acting as an Indian agent and was stationed at the headwaters of the Missouri river. Mr. Catlin had planned to make his way to that locality but owing to an unavoidable detention of his uncle and the necessity of immediate employment, he entered the services of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company in the ca- pacity of freight clerk. His ready adaptability and unfaltering energy, however, won recogni- tion in promotion from time to time and for five years he represented the railroad company as agent. His connection with railroad interests led him by natural sequence into the field of telegraphic operation. With keen sagacity he foresaw the value of telegraphic communication and became a pioneer in its promotion in the middle west. In 1863 he was chosen secretary of the Illinois & Mississippi Telegraph Company, which had been established in 1849, owning and controlling one of the first lines in this part of the country and also owning telegraph patents for several of the western states. It built vari- outs lines throughout the west and in 1867 leased its lines to the Western Union Telegraph Com- pany, thus forming a connecting link between the Atlantic and Pacific.

In a country as it merges from pioneer con- ditions there is almost limitless opportunities for business enterprise and the establishment of suc- cessful ventures and Mr. Catlin became closely associated with various commercial, industrial and financial movements that have proven of

material benefit to his adopted city and state as well as a source of gratifying income to himself. His wise counsel has been a valued factor in the control of many prosperous business concerns and as a banker is well known in Illinois, being at the head of one of the sound financial enterprises of the state-the National City Bank of Ottawa. He

became connected with this institution in 1884 as its vice president and so continued until June, 1890, when, upon the death of the former presi- dent, E. C. Allen, he was chosen his successor and has remained at the head of the institution to the present time. A safe, conservative policy was instituted, in which there has been no waver- ing and the business of the house has constantly increased. The bank has a capital of one hun- dred thousand dollars with large surplus and undivided profits, so that its working capital is now more than three hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. Mr. Catlin is also president of the State Bank of Seneca, and the First National Bank of Grand Ridge. He was like- wise associated with one of the old productive enterprises of Ottawa, for in 1867 he organized the Ottawa Glass Company, an enterprise of that character being scarcely known west of Pittsburg at that time. He became secretary and treasurer of the new concern and business was carried on under the original name until 1889, when the plant was sold to the United Glass Company, of New York, of which Mr. Catlin was the president and treasurer for eight years after its organization, filling the position with marked ability. This corporation was capitalized for one million five hundred dollars and owned factories in various places. An important chapter in the business rec- ord of Mr. Catlin is the fact that he has insti- tuted and carried forward many business inter- ests which have not only been a source of indi- vidual profit but have also furnished employment and a means of livelihood to a large number of workmen.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 36

Author: Hoffman, U. J. (Urias John), b. 1855 Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Hoffman, U. J. (Urias John), b. 1855
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286