History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 37

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

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His efforts in behalf of public progress along lines of reform, improvement and educational and moral development have been widely and benefi- cially felt. He is today a member of the board of trustees of Hamilton College at Clinton, New York, of which he is an alumnus and he yet re- tains membership in the Sigma Phi, a college fraternity, with which he became connected in his student days. A benevolent spirit and gener- ous disposition have led to his co-operation with many movements for the amelioration of the hard conditions of life and in this connection he is yet president of the board of trustees of Ryburn Memorial Hospital. He belongs to the First Congregational church, in which he has served for many years as deacon, and he is one of the

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corporate members of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, of Boston, and a trustee of the Children's Home and Aid Society of Chicago. He was a member of the first board of trustees of the Ottawa public library, and at the annual meeting of the Bankers Association of the State of Illinois, held in Bloom- ington in September, 1905, he was elected presi- dent of the association. His political allegiance supports the men and measures of the republican party and he has been city alderman and a mem- ber of the school board of Ottawa. In his efforts for the benefit of the city along charitable lines he combines the practical with the ideal, finding that happy medium which produces results of direct and immediate serviceableness.

Happy in his home life, Mr. Catlin was mar- ried in 1866 to Miss Helen C. Plant, a resident of of Utica, New York, representing a distinguished family of that state. That she is descended from ancestors who fought in the revolution is indicated by the fact that she holds membership with the Daughters of the Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Catlin have but one son, James Plant Catlin. Mr. Catlin is pre-eminently a man of affairs, one who has wielded a wide influence and yet his accomplishments but represent the fit util- ization of the innate talent which was his. He has directed his efforts along lines where dis- crimination and rare judgment have led the way and has maintained in the midst of an active and useful career an unassailable reputation for business integrity nor has he allowed the accumu- lation of wealth to dwarf the finer sensibilities of his nature, recognizing the obligation of man to his brother man. He has therefore grown rich not only in the accumulation of material things but in that friendship and respect which every normal character recognizes as an enviable possession.

GEORGE DANA LADD.

The death of George Dana Ladd, of Peru, came as a personal bereavement to the vast ma- jority of people who knew him, not merely be- cause of the part which he had taken in the busi- ness life of the city or in its political affairs as chief executive, but by reason of those traits of character which endear man to his fellowmen- his justice, his consideration for others and his loyalty to truth and uprightness under all con- siderations. A native of Vermont, he was born in Peacham, Caledonia county, on the 15th of June, 1833, a son of Edward and Sophia Ladd. He represented one of the old New England

families that, according to the records, was founded in America by Daniel Ladd, who sailed from England on the 24th of March, 1633, while in the archives of Ipswich, Massachusetts, made be seen a deed executed to him, entitling him to six acres of ground. Subsequently he became one of the founders of Salisbury and of Haver- hill, Massachusetts, his death occurring in the latter place on the 27th of July, 1693. He had eight children, and his sixth child, Nathaniel Ladd, had seven children, the eldest being Na- thaniel II, whose third son was Edward Ladd. The last named married Catherine Thing. This worthy couple had a son Edward and a son who received his mother's maiden name, Thing. Thing Ladd was the father of fourteen children, of whom Edward, the ninth, married Sophia Gookin, and George Dana Ladd was their fourth child.

The father, Edward Ladd, was an enterpris- ing agriculturist, highly respected in the com- munity because of his activity and honesty in business affairs. His wife received superior educational advantages and was a woman of ex- ceptional ability. She died November 26, 1849, and soon afterward George Dana Ladd left home.

Going to Cincinnati, Ohio, he there joined his brother Leonard and they both clerked in a book store, but within a month the brother became ill with cholera and as soon as he had sufficiently recovered the two concluded to return to the old Vermont homestead that his health might be fully restored. Of a somewhat delicate consti- tution, George D. Ladd was not well fitted for the arduous labors of the farm. He manifested a love of study and special aptitude in mastering the lessons which he undertook and he followed his district-school education by study in the academy at Danville, Vermont, during the win- ter seasons. He was afterward successfully en- gaged in teaching for several terms but regarded this merely as an initial step to other profession- al labor and entered upon the study of law. After thorough preliminary reading he was admitted to the bar in Vermont, in 1855, and with the belief that the west would furnish better oppor- tunities for a young man in a professional ca- reer he started for the Mississippi valley. For a time he resided in Racine, Wisconsin, where he formed the acquaintance of Judge Blanchard, now of Ottawa, and whose influence was a de- cisive factor in causing him to locate in Peru.

Mr. Ladd arrived in the latter city in 1856, opened an office and at once entered upon the practice of his profession, where his comprehen- sive knowledge of all questions arising and log-

GEORGE D. LADD.

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ical arguments won him success. Naturally he was not fond of legal wars and litigation, which were contrary to the peace-loving side of his na- ture and as the years passed his friends were not surprised that he gradually dropped out of practice and more and more turned his atten- tion to his various financial investments and out- side interests. He was one of the prime movers in the corporation of the Illinois Valley & North- ern Railroad, now a part of the Burlington sys- tem, and in its subsequent construction. Many important commercial and industrial enterprises of Peru felt the stimulus of his co-operation and benefited by his wise counsel. In fact his life history is an important chapter in the business development of the city. He possessed keen discrimination, was seldom at error in matters of business judgment and possessed the strong and determined character that enabled him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. During his later years he was con- nected with the Peru Elevator Stock Company and was active in the organization of the Peru Waterworks & Electric Light Company, the Peru Water & Gas Pipe Company and the Illi- nois & Wisconsin Live Stock Company, beside others of lesser note. The character of his business interests will show that he was closely associated with those movements which indicate general progress that keeps a city abreast of the times.

In early manhood Mr. Ladd was married to Miss Lorinda Laird, of Danville, Vermont, and they had two daughters: Kate, the wife of Thomas F. Bitner, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin ; and Lora, who died at the age of six years. Some time subsequent to the death of his first wife Mr. Ladd was united in marriage to Mrs. Louise Banks and they had no children. His second wife having passed away, he was married, Oc- tober 27, 1875, to Miss Christina Murray, who still survives her husband. She is a native of Peru and a daughter of Andrew and Bessie Belle (Buchanan) Murray, who were natives of Scot- land. Her father was one of the pioneer set- tlers of Illinois in the dry-goods business, locat- ing in Peru before Chicago had been incorpor- ated as a city. His birth occurred in Perth, Scotland, and he came to America prior to his marriage. He was quite successful in his busi- ness life and on leaving Illinois removed to St. Louis, Missouri, where he spent his last days, his death occurring in 1902, when he was seventy years of age. He and his brother Robert con- stituted the firm of R. & A. D. Murray and in their day conducted the largest dry-goods enter- prise in Peru. Mrs. Murray still resides in St. Louis. In their family were twelve children,

of whom eight are now living, Mrs. Ladd being the eldest and the only one now residing in this county. By her marriage she became the moth- er of the following named : George Dana, who is now employed in the ore department of the Illinois Zinc Company and stationed at Joplin, Missouri; Frank Fenton, who is in business at Riverside, Iowa; Andrew Murray and Lester L., both at home.

The death of Mr. Ladd occurred in Peru, June 27, 1897, when he was sixty-five years of age and was the occasion of deep and uniform regret throughout the city in which he made his home and the county where he had become so widely known. His political allegiance was usually given to the democracy but he voted for Harrison and McKinley believing that the issues before the people as represented by the repub- lican party were of a most important nature and best conserved the general welfare. He was a student of political questions and conditions and gave careful thought and consideration to the issues, so that he was able to uphold his political position by intelligent argument and give a rea- son for the faith that was in him. He did not desire public office and yet his fellow citizens recognizing his worth and ability wished him to serve in places of public trust and at their earn- est solicitation he accepted the mayoralty in 1886, giving a public-spirited and progressive ad- ministration, but at the end of the two years' term he declined a re-election. He became a member of the Masonic fraternity in early life and also joined the Presbyterian church but in Peru became a member of the Congregational church, from which he afterward withdrew, however, owing to the fact that a political ser- mon was delivered from the pulpit-a thing that offended all of his principles of good taste. This was to him a matter of regret afterward and yet it showed the strength of his character and his upholding of his firm belief that church and state should be entirely separate, each performn- ing its mission in its proper place. His position upon any question was never an equivocal one, as he was fearless in defense of his honest con- victions, and yet he was never bitterly aggres- sive, according to others the right which he re- served to himself, that of forming unbiased opin- ions. His nature was kindly, his disposition generous and charitable and he was particularly helpful to the working men. At all times, how- ever, he was entirely unostentatious in his gifts and assistance. He recognized the duty of man toward his fellowmen and was never neglectful of any task that devolved upon him in all life's relations and at all times his course was charac- terized by a fidelity to those principles which

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work for higher citizenship and for more honor- able manhood.

GEORGE T. CRAWFORD.

George T. Crawford, now living retired from active business at a pleasant home in Ottawa, was born in Farm Ridge township, La Salle county, March 6, 1852, his parents being John and Jane (McVitty) Crawford, who have passed away, the former thirty-five years ago and the latter about eleven years ago. The father was a native of North Ireland and in 1851 brought his family to La Salle county, Illinois, settling in Farm Ridge township. The land on which they located is still owned by the family and there Mr. Crawford continuously engaged in general agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred shortly after the close of the Civil war. He was a great admirer of Presi- dent Lincoln and was in hearty sympathy with the Union cause. He was essentially a farmer, both by preference and ability, and was quite successful in his agricultural pursuits. His political allegiance was given to the republican party. When he came to La Salle county he was accompanied by his brother, James Craw- ford, and his family. They met a Mr. Murray in New York city who owned considerable land in La Salle county and who gave them a letter of introduction to his manager in Ottawa. Thus they came on to La Salle county and invested in farms here. Mr. Crawford prospered in his un- dertakings and at the time of his death owned three hundred and sixty acres of valtı- able land in Farm Ridge township. His wife, long surviving him, passed away upon the old homestead about 1895. Their children were as follows: Anna, who is now the wife of John Stephenson and resides in Brooklyn, New York: Sarah, who died about 1863: William, who died the same year of diphtheria : Mary Jane, who likewise passed away in the same year, the deaths of these three occurring within about three weeks: John, who is now retired from business and resides in Grand Ridge : and Mrs. Lyda Williams, residing in Grand Ridge.

George T. Crawford was reared in Farm Ridge township, where he made his home until about seven years ago. For many years he was actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits and he placed his farm of two hundred acres under a high state of cultivation, thus adding to its productiveness and carefully carrying on his business affairs until in possession of a com-

fortable competence he is now living retired. Removing to Ottawa, he built his present home at No. 403 First avenue and he also owns some other city residence property.

Mr. Crawford was married in Farm Ridge township to Miss Nettie E. Essick, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eli Essick, who came to this county from Pennsylvania in 1855. Both are now deceased, the father having passed away in September, 1898, while his wife, Mrs. Sarah Essick, died in August, 1901. Their son, J. T. Essick, resides at Clarion, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have four daughters who are living, while one son, Ernest, died at the age of three years. The daughters are: Myrtle I., who is a graduate from both the teachers and commer- cial departments of Luther College; Vesta J .; Ruby; and Alma E., who is a graduate of the high school of Ottawa.

In politics Mr. Crawford is a republican and when twenty-two years of age he became a mem- ber of the Episcopal church but is now identi- fied with the Presbyterian church. His life for many years was a very busy and useful one and his activities proved the source of a gratify- ing income which he now enjoys and which enables him to live retired:

CAPTAIN CHARLES L. GAPEN.

Charles L. Gapen. a druggist of Ottawa, is perhaps equally well known in connection with the Illinois National Guard, of which he has for a number of years been a prominent mem- ber. He came to Ottawa in 1886 from Mar- shall county. Illinois, which was the place of his birth. He is a son of Timothy E. Gapen, who is his partner in business, and under the parental roof the days of his boyhood and youth were passed, his education being acquired in the public schools, after which he prepared for his chosen field of labor by a course in pharmacy at the Chicago College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated in the class of 1886 with the degree of Ph. G. He then joined his father in business and under the firm style of T. E. Gapen & Son they have conducted one of the leading drug stores of Ottawa. the father hav- ing devoted his entire life to that mercantile line. They have a well appointed store in Ot- tawa, which in its neat and tasteful arrangement and by reason of its reliable business methods proves attractive to the general public and com- mands a liberal share of the public patronage. They are also conducting a store at Sparland,

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Marshall county. Mr. Gapen has the agency for the Eastman kodaks and kodak supplies and has taken special pains with this department, building up an extensive business, furnishing supplies to both professional and amateur photographers.

Mr. Gapen has been closely connected with the military service of the state for many years, be- coming identified with the Illinois National Guard in 1889. With the rank of captain he is now acting as inspector of rifle practice of the Third Illinois Infantry, filling the position since July 17, 1901. He enlisted as a private on the 15th of January, 1889, was promoted to the rank of corporal March 6, 1890, became sergeant No- vember 5. 1891 : second lieutenant March 29, 1892; and first lieutenant June 12, 1899, fol- lowed by his promotion to the rank of captain of the Third Infantry on the 17th of July, 1901. He enlisted in the government service at the time of the Spanish-American war and became second lieutenant of Company C, Third Illinois Infantry, on the 7th of May, 1898. He thus served until January 19, 1899, and did active duty with his command in Porto Rico.

Captain Gapen was married at Bradford, Illi- nois, on the Ist of October. 1890, to Miss I. G. Bower, who was born in Henry, this state, and is a daughter of the Rev. Aaron Bower, a Methodist Episcopal minister of the Central Illi- nois conference, who for years was thus iden- tified with the church work. He was afterward in superannuated relations with the ministry and died in Dwight, Illinois, in the spring of 1905. In early life he had been a circuit rider in Virginia, thus preaching the gospel in pioneer times, and during the Civil war he had an ap- pointment from Abraham Lincoln. His widow still survives and is yet residing in Dwight. Mr. and Mrs. Gapen have two children, Helen and Marian, both born in Ottawa, and the family residence is at No. 726 Clinton street.

In his political views Captain Gapen is an earnest republican, has served as a member of the city central committee and is recognized as a most active worker in the ranks of the party. He was appointed by Governor Deneen dis- tributor of antitoxin vaccine and serums, repre- senting the state board of health for Ottawa, this appointment being made in compliance with an amendment to the law enforced July 1, 1877, being known as section 20, whereby all physi- cians are directed to obtain said serums from the said agent paid for by the individuals or by the county. Physicans of La Salle county are thus privileged to obtain containers for the trans- mission of specimens of sputum and other germs. Mr. Gapen is thus required to keep a record of

all containers and supplies furnished upon the order of the different physicians. His appoint- ment has been in effect since the Ist of October, 1905.

While not a member of any church, Captain Gapen favors the Methodist denomination. So- cially he is a Master Mason, belonging to Occi- dental lodge of Ottawa, and he likewise belongs to the Illinois commandery of the Naval and Military Order of the Spanish-American War, which consists of officers who served in that struggle, the headquarters of the organization being now in Chicago. He is a trustee of the Ottawa Armory Company, which organization was instrumental in securing the present armory building, which is a credit to the city and county. Genial and cordial in manner, Captain Gapen is a popular man not only in Ottawa but in the ranks of the National Guard and has a wide and favorable acquaintance throughout this part of the state. He is public spirited in an emi- nent degree and does all in his power to propa- gate a feeling of loyalty to American institu- tions, while in community affairs he co-operates with varied measures and movements instituted for the public good.

WILLIAM D. DUNCAN.

William D. Duncan, proprietor of a well equipped drug store at No. 717 La Salle street, Ottawa, began business here in 1892 and as the years have passed has gained a foremost place among the representative merchants of the city. He is one of La Salle county's native sons, hav- ing been born within its borders in 1859. His father, James Duncan, is yet a resident of La Salle, while his brother, John H. Duncan, is a shoe merchant of that city. The father has been a resident of the county for a half century or more and is one of the representative pioneer residents of this part of the state, who has stood for improvement and progress in all lines relating to the general welfare.

William D. Duncan left school at the early age of nine years and began earning his own livelihood in the employ of Dr. Francis Bry, of La Salle. He afterward took up the study of medicine under the Doctor's direction, giving his evenings to the mastery of the principles of the science and also acquiring under that tutelage a thorough knowledge of the drug business. Subsequently he entered the drug store of Leo Loefler and afterward was employed by W. B. Hummer, thus gaining broad practical experi- ence in the trade. He began business on his

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own account as a member of the firm of Hummer & Duncan, a relation that was maintained for three years. He afterward accepted a clerkship in the drug store of C. M. Forbes at the corner of where the new bank building is now located and as before stated, he began business on his own account on La Salle street in 1892 as a member of the firm of Duncan & Perkins. This relation was continued until September, 1900, when Mr. Perkins died and since January, 1901, Mr. Duncan has been sole proprietor of the business. He furnishes employment to six men and gives personal supervision to the trade, car- rying a large line of drugs and sundry goods. He has not only sold to the trade but has also done quite an extensive wholesale business in late years, supplying many outside druggists and making a specialty of physicians' supplies. He is a practical pharmacist, having passed every examination before the state board and he ex- amines for La Salle county all applicants for apprentices and forwards the examination papers to Springfield. It was at his suggestion that this method was adopted and it is now in general use throughout the state. Mr. Duncan also handles the various antitoxin supplies of the highest grades. Since becoming sole proprietor of the business he has increased his stock, which is now valued at about fifteen thousand dollars, his being the most extensive establishment in his line in the county. He employs an expert truss fitter and carries a most complete line of trusses, thus being prepared to supply patrons with the modern appliances of this character. Many patients are sent to him by physicians in this section of the state and he has a room especially devoted to that part of the business. Many preparations and medicines are made up at his store and the utmost care is used in the selection of absolutely pure ingredients. His trade comes from the entire country and he has a most extensive transient trade. His pre- scription department is also an important one and in fact his business in all of its lines is prosperous, returning to him an excellent in- come. He prepares a remedy known as Dun- can's 32 Calibre for colds, neuralgia, headache and la grippe. This remedy is well known throughout the county and has become a house- hold word. It is manufactured exclusively by Mr. Duncan, who receives orders also from other states and for other supplies and reme- dies. His daughter, Jennie, is an assistant pharmacist.

Mr. Duncan was married in Peru, Illinois, to Miss Maggie Schulte, of that town. Her father, Fred Schulte, was an early resident of Peru and was engaged in the hotel business there when

it was a small place. Their daughter, Jennie, attended the Northwestern College of Pharmacy in order to perfect herself in a work with which she had already become familiar and she has passed the registered examination.

In politics Mr. Duncan is a republican. So- cially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity and has taken the degrees of the lodge, chapter and commandery. He likewise belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge and other fraternal organizations and is a member of the Boat Club. Mr. Duncan deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. Starting out in life on his own account when but nine years of age he has since been dependent entirely upon his own resources and as the years have gone by has worked his way upward, gaining success be- cause his equipment was unusually good and because he has worked persistently, energetic- ally and honorably.

CHARLES FREDERICK GUNTHER.

Chicago, the city marvelous, is continually at tracting men of marked business ability to find in its broad and varied fields of activity scope for their growing powers. The age of small undertakings, especially in cities, seems to have passed and an era of gigantic enterprises is upon us. In control of large concerns are men of master minds, of almost limitless ability to guide, of sound judgment and keen discrimination, who have worthily won and well deserve the title "captains of industry." Their progressiveness must not only reach the bounds that others have gained but must even pass beyond into new and broader fields of operation. Thus continually growing, a business takes leadership in its special line and the men who are at its head are deservedly eminent in the business world, occupying a posi- tion that commands the respect while it excites the admiration of all. It is these qualities which have made the name of C. F. Gunther synony- mous with the confectionery trade of Chicago and the middle west, while his reputation is not limited by the boundaries of his own land, his name being known in foreign countries as well. He does not possess, however, the nature that confines its attention alone to moneyed affairs, for his interests have wide scope until his history is interwoven with political, material, intellectual and esthetic culture and progress. He has found time and opportunity to cultivate some graces subtler than those of adventure and commercial-

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 37

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