History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 80

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 80

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The Utica Cement Manufacturing Company is capitalized at one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. It is a separate corporation though un- der the same management, and was organized in 1882 in Connecticut under the laws of that

SIMON SMITH.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

state. The present management took possession in 1897. The officers are practically the same as those of the Utica Hydraulic Cement Company and the plant is located two miles west of Utica, the employes numbering from seventy to eighty- five men.

The Utica Hydraulic Cement Company owns some sixteen hundred acres and the Utica Ce- ment Manufacturing Company has some four hundred acres, making a total of two thousand acres supplied with natural cement rock-a prac- tically inexhaustible supply, as the rock has been quarried and shipped since 1837, the business be- ing carried on extensively since 1845. The prod- uct began to be used when the canal was com- pleted in 1838. Mr. Cary devotes his entire at- tention to its extensive business. The company has a general sales agency at Chicago under the management of the Meacham & Wright Com- pany, with offices in the Chamber of Commerce Building, this company acting as sales agent for practically the entire output and being thus iden- tified for over thirty years. This is the princi- pal, and by far the largest, natural cement plant in the state. The general offices of the company are at Utica.

James Clark was, in 1838, the founder and or- ganizer of the business and remained president of the company up to the time of his death, which occurred July 2, 1888. The business, however, had been incorporated in 1883. Mr. Clark had come to La Salle county in 1834 and made his home at Utica from that time until his demise, devoting his entire attention for many years to the cement business. Mr. Cary has been identi- fied with its interests since 1872, and was in Chi- cago from that year until 1879. On the 22d of May of the latter year he came to Utica and has since devoted his entire attention to the de- velopment of the cement trade, which is now of vast importance, the business having reached mammoth proportions. The output is now large and the enterprise is therefore profitable and Mr. Cary as general manager is controlling interests which are of the utmost value to the county at large as well as to the individual stockholders.

LAWRENCE MORRISSEY.

Lawrence Morrissey, superintendent of the La Salle county asylum, in which capacity he has served for the past three years, has filled a num- ber of positions of local honor and trust and at all times his administration of public office has been characterized by promptness and fidelity. A resident of La Salle county since 1853, he

lived for a timc at Rockwell with his parents, James and Mary (Cadogan) Morrissey, both of whom are now deceased. The father was a farmer, who followed that occupation throughout his entire life in order to provide for his family. The son was born in Ireland in 1845 and was only a year old when brought by his parents to the United States, the family first settling in Vermont, where they remained until the removal to Illinois.

Mr. Morrissey of this review attended school at Rockwell, La Salle and Waltham townships, where he acquainted himself with the common branches of learning. He was but seventeen years of age when he entered the army, his patriotic spirit aroused by the attempt of the south to overthrow the Union. He therefore en- listed in August, 1862, in the Ninetieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served throughout the war, being mustered out as sergeant of Com- pany H. He did active duty under the com- mand of General Grant and of General Sherman and took part in the march to the sea, also the campaign through the Carolinas, later partici- pating in the grand review in Washington. He carried the colors of his regiment at the review. He was wounded in the side at Mission Ridge, but during the greater part of his connection with the army was at the front, faithfully performing every duty that devolved upon him whether it led him on to the firing line or stationed him on the lonely picket line. When the war was over Mr. Morrissey returned from the army and re- sumed farming. He was also in other lines of business until 1886, when he was elected sheriff of La Salle county. He served for twelve years in connection with that office. After acting as sheriff for four years he was chosen deputy sheriff and filled that position for two terms. During the past three years he has been super- intendent of the La Salle county asylum, the grounds of which cover two hundred acres. There is a separate building for the men and women, with a capacity for four hundred in- mates, and there are now about two hundred. There are quite a large number of employes, in- cluding three lady attendants, a lady nurse, a cook for the cottage, assistant superintendent, farmer and driver. The board is well pleased with Mr. Morrissey's administration, for he has greatly reduced the running expenses of the in- stitution, which he conducts upon an economical basis to the best interests of the county and yet with due consideration for the welfare and com- fort of the inmates. He brings to his office the high business qualities which have characterized his control of his private interests and thus he is proving a most capable official.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

Mr. Morrissey was married to Miss Maria McGuire, of La Salle county, where she has re- sided since her childhood days. In their family are five children: Mrs. Joseph Pierce and Mrs. H. M. Kelley, both of whom are residents of Ottawa; Katherine, Laura and Gertie, all at home.

In his political views Mr. Morrissey is an earnest republican and has filled a number of local township offices in addition to the county positions to which he has been called and in which he has made a most creditable record. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp and to the Grand Army of the Republic and is a communicant of the Catholic church. Over the record of his official career, his military service and his private life there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil.

AMMON S. JOHNSON.

Ammon S. Johnson, whose life was devoted to general farming and stock-raising for twenty years with the result that he achieved a large measure of success that now enables him to live retired, yet makes his home in Otter Creek town- ship upon his farm, which comprises six hundred acres of very valuable land. He is, moreover, the owner of two sections in North Dakota and his property interests are the visible evi- dence of a life of well directed thrift and energy. He was born in Otter Creek township, October 6, 1861, his parents being Ole and Martha ( Hill) Johnson. The father was born, reared and educated in Norway and thinking to enjoy better business opportunities in the new world came to the United States in 1844. The first land which he ever owned was situated near Fort Dodge, Iowa, and subsequently he traded his Iowa property for eighty acres in Otter Creek township. He lived in Ottawa until after his marriage, which was celebrated in 1855, the lady of his choice being Miss Martha Hill, a woman possessing both education and refinement and, like himself, a native of Norway. They then removed to the farm, where for many years Mr. Johnson carried on general agricultural pur- suits. He passed away in October, 1896, at the age of seventy-four years, while his wife died in 1904, at the age of sixty-nine years. They were the parents of three children, the daugh- ters being : Serena, the wife of William Harris, of South Dakota; and Bertha, the wife of Neal J. Horn, of this township. Both parents were members of the Lutheran church, to which they displayed marked devotion and loyalty.

Ammon S. Johnson supplemented his early education, acquired in the common schools, by study in the State Normal school, and in his youth received practical training at farm labor, to which he afterward gave his time and energies as a life occupation. For twenty years he en- gaged in farming and stock-raising at his present place of residence, locating thereon in 1886. At this writing, in 1906, however, he is practically living retired, leaving the more active work of the fields and the further development of the farm to others, although he still gives to it his supervision. He owns altogether six hundred acres of rich, productive and valuable land in La Salle county and his home is situated on sec- tion 4, Otter Creek township, where he has a beautiful modern residence. They are also large barns, a granary, well kept fences and highly cultivated fields and everything about the place is an indication of the enterprise and progressive spirit of the owner, who has kept thoroughly in touch with modern progress in his efforts for agricultural development.

On the 14th of February, 1884, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Frances Horn, whose birth occurred in Otter Creek township, May 10, 1863, her parents being John and Frances Horn. Her father was a native of Ohio and came to La Salle county at an early period in its development, casting in his lot with its pioneer settlers. Here for many years he carried on farming and made judicious investments in property from time to time until he was the owner of six hundred and forty acres of fine land. He was also a breeder and feeder of cattle, carrying on that business on an extensive scale and throughout this part of the state he was widely known as a leading and successful agri- culturist and stockman. He gave his political support to the republican party and fraternally was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His death occurred when he was sixty-nine years of age and his widow is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Johnson, at the age of seventy-five years. In their family were eight children, three sons and five daughters: William, a resident of Missouri; Mrs. Johnson ; George, of Missouri; Mary, living in Streator ; Lizzie, a resident of Grand Rapids, Illinois ; Kate, who is located in Otter Creek township; Sarah, living in Missouri. One child has passed away.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had but one child, Willie, who died September 10, 1905, at the age of sixteen years, his death coming as an almost insufferable blow to his parents. In community affairs Mr. Johnson has been very active and helpful. He is now serving as township assessor,

a. S. Johnson

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

which position he has filled for the past two years, and for seven years he was township clerk. For a period of eighteen years he served as a member of the school board and the cause of education found in him a stalwart champion of improvement and progress in the line of public instruction. He votes with the republican party and is unfaltering in his advocacy of its princi- ples. Fraternally he is associated with Finley lodge, No. 182, K. P., of Streator, and with the Modern Woodmen camp at Ransom. He is manifesting in his life many sterling traits of character, including a genial, cordial manner which has gained him many friends, an up- rightness and integrity in business that has won him trust and confidence, and a devotion to the public welfare that has made him a valued and progressive citizen. In his business life he has prospered and is today one of the large land- holders of the county. The most envious cannot grudge him his success, so well has it been won and so worthily used.

SAMUEL P. HALL.

Samuel P. Hall, at one time judge of the pro- bate court and now a practitioner at the La Salle county bar, his home being in the city of La Salle, was born in De Kalb county, Illinois, May 16, 1851. He is a son of Russel R. Hall, who was born in Jefferson county, New York, and now makes his home in La Salle. He followed farming in the Empire state in early manhood and in 1845 settled in De Kalb county, Illinois, where he purchased and improved government land, following farming there until 1881, when he re- tired from agricultural pursuits and came to live in La Salle, where he is now making his home at the venerable age of eighty-eight years. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Ruth A. Sim- mons, was born in Jefferson county, New York, and died in De Kalb county, Illinois, at the early age of thirty-three years. In the family were three children: Emeline M., the wife of C. C. Duffy, of Ottawa; Samuel P .; and Frank, also living in Ottawa.

Samuel P. Hall is a graduate of Jennings Sem- inary, at Aurora, Illinois, of the class of 1871. He studied law with William Barge at Dixon, Illinois, and was admitted to practice at Ottawa in 1879. He opened an office in Plano, Kendall county, Illinois, where he remained for one and a half years and in 1881 removed to La Salle, where he entered upon the active practice of his profession under the firm name of Hall & Train- or, afterward succeeded by Hall & Haskins and

subsequently by the firm of Hall, Haight & Pan- neck. At the present time the firm is Hall & Haight. Mr. Hall has charge of the office in La Salle, while his partner, Mr. Haight, supervises the business of the firm in Ottawa. Mr. Hall is well informed on the principles of jurispru- dence and as a general practitioner has won va- rious notable cases. He is strong in argument, logical in his deductions and clear and concise in his presentation of a cause, while his devotion to his clients' interests is proverbial. In the line of his profession he has been called to office, serving as city attorney of La Salle and in 1890 he was elected probate judge, which position he filled for four years, or until 1894, when, enter- ing upon the duties of the position he removed to Ottawa, where he continued to reside until 1900, when he returned to La Salle, where he has since practiced.

In 1881, in La Salle, Mr. Hall was married to Miss Carrie Henry, of Dixon, Illinois, and their children, five in number, are: Samuel P., Bruce and Ruth, who were born in La Salle; and Blanche and Esther, who were born in Ottawa. The family attend the Methodist church and Mr. Hall is a member of the Masonic lodge in La Salle. He votes with the democracy and en- dorses its principles and his opinions have to some extent been a decisive factor in the local councils of his party. He has served on the school board for eight years and during four or five years of the time was its president. His public-spirited citizenship is manifest in his sup- port of all that tends to promote the material, in- tellectual and moral progress of the community and uphold his legal and political staus.

OAKLEY GRIGGS.

Oakley Griggs, well known in commercial cir- cles in Streator as the head of the Oakley Griggs Drug Company, the family name having figured in connection with the drug trade in this county since 1853, was born in Ottawa, July 14, 1854, and is a representative of one of the old New England families, being descended from Dr. Wil- liam Griggs, of Salem, Massachusettts, who died in 1698. His will, approved on the 18th day of July of that year, mentions a son Jacob, who re- sided in Salem and in Beverly, Massachusetts. Among the children of Jacob Griggs' family was Isaac, who was born on the 27th of June, 1699, and died in New Haven, Connecticut. January 27, 1768. His son, Solomon, who resided in Wa- terbury, Connecticut, married Elizabeth Gridley on the 19th of February. 1778. He served as a

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soldier in the colonial wars, and at Waterbury, Connecticut, enlisted for service in the Revolu- tion, loyally aiding in the cause of independence until the English power in the colonies was over- thrown. One of his children was Ebenezer Griggs, who was born September 26, 1789, and resided in Waterbury and Southington, Connecti- cut. He married Hepzibah Bartholomew in 18II, and died July 4, 1823, at Cincinnati, Ohio. He was the grandfather of our subject. His wife was descended from William Bartholomew, who was born in Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1640, and died in 1697, leaving a son Andrew, whose birth occurred on the IIth of December, 1670, and who died at Wallingford, Connecticut, in 1752. The last named was the father of Wil- liam Bartholomew, who was born February 2, 1699, was married in New Haven, Connecticut, on the 25th of January, 1721, and died in North- ford, Connecticut. His son, Seth Bartholomew, was born on the 6th of March, 1729, and died in Waterbury, Connecticut. One of his children was Osea Bartholomew, whose birth occurred on the 7th of November, 1755, and was married in Waterbury, Connecticut, November 16, 1778, and his daughter, Hepzibah, was the mother of Edward Young Griggs. She was born on the 6th of September, 1798, and died in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the summer of 1823.

Edward Young Griggs, father of Oakley Griggs, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on the 24th of October, 1818, and was married August 5, 1847, to Mary Philbene Barnett, whose birth occurred in Louisville, Kentucky, on the 9th of May, 1827. The ancestry of the Barnett family can be traced back to John Barnett, who was born near Londonderry, Ireland, in 1678 and emigrated with his family to Pennsylvania prior to 1730, making a location in Lancaster, now Hanover county. He died in September. 1734, and among his children was John Barnett, who was born in County Derry, Ireland, in 1705, and with his father came to America, his death occurring in Hanover in 1738. His son Joseph was born in County Derry in 1727, and died in Hanover in 1788, leaving among other children a son James, whose birth occurred in 1756, and whose death occurred in 1805. The last named was the father of Allen Barnett, who was born in 1796 and was married February 9, 1826, to Elizabeth Shaffer. His death occurred Septem- ber 19. 1879, and his wife passed away on the 20th of December, 1841. Among the children who survived them was Mrs. E. Y. Griggs. For about two years after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Edward Y. Griggs remained residents of Springfield, Ohio, and then started for Illinois, landing at Ottawa from the canal boat on Sun-

day morning after traveling for five days. Mr. Griggs became connected with business interests of this city as a salesman in the employ of J. G. Nattinger, with whom he remained until Sep- tember, 1850, when he opened one of the pioneer business houses of the city, dealing in drugs and books. In 1853 he established another drug store and for many years has figured as a prominent representative of commercial interests here.

Oakley Griggs spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his parents' home and acquired a public-school education, which he completed in the high school of Ottawa. He entered upon his business career at the age of seventeen years as a clerk in his father's drug store, where he re- mained until 1873. He then pursued a two- years' course in the department of pharmacy at the Michigan State University and was graduated as pharmaceutical chemist in 1875. He then re- entered his father's store, where he remained until 1878, when he came to Streator and was employed in the drug store of Griggs & Company, his father being the senior member of the firm. In 1880 he purchased the store from his father, who at that time was sole proprietor and has since remained at the head of the Oakley Griggs Drug Company, which is one of the strong com- mercial concerns of the city. The house is well stocked with a large and carefully selected line of drugs and sundry goods and the trade is extensive, whereby the business has become profitable.

On the 12th of October. 1880, Mr. Griggs was married to Miss Julia C. Mattocks, daughter of Frederick W. Mattocks, who is represented on another page of this work, and they have be- come the parents of a son and daughter. The former, Edward Mattocks, is a graduate of the Beloit (Wisconsin) College and is an attorney in Streator. The daughter is a student in Wellesley College in Massachusetts. Mr. Griggs is deeply interested in everything pertaining to public progress and improvement and his wise counsel and co-operation have been valued and important factors in advancing the general wel- fare. Mr. Griggs was a member of the school board for four years and is a stalwart champion of public education. He belongs to Streator lodge, No. 607, A. F. & A. M .; Streator chapter, No. 301, R. A. M. ; and Streator commandery, No. 70, K. T. He is also a demitted member of Streator lodge, No. 602, I. O. O. F. His wife is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Chapter Amor Patriae, her number in the National Chapter being 2723I. She has acted for a number of years as historian and two years as register of the local chapter since becoming a member in I899. She

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is also a charter member of the E Re Nata, a literary club, and was vice president in 1896 of the State Federation of Woman's Clubs. She is very prominent in club and social circles not only in Streator but throughout the state, and both Mr. and Mrs. Griggs are deeply interested in those questions which have bearing upon the social and economic conditions of the country. He is a representative of a family whose name has ever been synonymous with activity and integ- rity in business circles and he has fully sustained the family reputation in this regard.

FREDERICK W. MATTOCKS.

Frederick W. Mattocks, identified with the early progress as well as the later development of this section of Illinois, was born in Vernon, Ohio, July 23, 1826, his parents being Daniel J. and Lucy (Cone) Mattocks. The father, a na- tive of Hartland, Connecticut, died in Vernon, Ohio, in the ninety-second year of his age. He was a merchant for many years, or until the last fifteen years of his life, which he spent in hon- orable retirement from further business cares. His wife, who was born in Ohio, died in Vernon, that state, in 1850, at the age of forty-six years. In their family were seven children but only three are now living: Frederick W .; Dudley W., who is an editor at Fremont, Nebraska ; and Josephine, who is the widow of H. V. Wadsworth and is living in Cleveland, Ohio.

In the year 1851, Frederick W. Mattocks came to Illinois, being at the time a young man of twenty-five years. He arrived at Peru on the 4th of June, making his way from Cleveland, Ohio, by steamer to Chicago and thence down the canal to his destination. He was appointed postmaster in 1852, at which time all mail was carried to Peru by canal and was sent out from that point by stage and post boys on horses. He handled as high as from six to eight tons of mail a day. In 1854 he turned his attention to mer- chandising in connection with C. H. Huntoon and they were in business for five years, at the end of which time Mr. Mattocks purchased the interest of his brother's partner in a livery busi- ness and was associated with his brother in the conduct of that enterprise until 1865. About this time he was elected deputy provost marshal under Abe Longworth, serving for a term of three years and at the same time was county su- pervisor, representing Peru on the county board. His position in public regard is indicated by the fact that he was elected to the office without op- position. Mr. Mattocks afterward spent twenty-

one years on the road as traveling representative for the Heath & Milligan Manufacturing Com- pany of Chicago, and for five years traveled for the firm of Coffin, Devoe & Company. He after- ward went with the Mound City Paint Company of St. Louis, Missouri, which he represented for three years. He is now living retired, making his home in Streator, and has attained the ven- erable age of four score years.

On the IIth of March, 1851, Mr. Mattocks was united in marriage to Miss Julia A. Smith, who was born at Vernon, Ohio, May 1, 1830, a daughter of Havilah and Hannah (Clark) Smith. Her father was born in Trumbull, Ohio, January 1, 1800, and was extensively engaged in farming and stock-dealing. His father was gen- eral surveyor of the Western Reserve and served as lieutenant in the Revolutionary war. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Havilah Smith were born seven children, but only three are now living: Mrs. E. A. Reed, whose husband is a member of the state senate of Ohio; Charles H .; and Hannah, who is the wife of Matt Davis and lives in Ver- non, Ohio. Mrs. Mattocks after traveling life's journey happily with her husband for forty-one years passed away April 27, 1892. They were the parents of two daughters and a son: Lil- lian L. ; Julia C., the wife of Oakley Griggs ; and Frederick S., who died June 21, 1904.

Mr. Mattocks is a member of Mokena lodge, No. 41, I. O. O. F., at Peru, in which he has passed through all the chairs and has been noble grand three different times. He is a demitted member of Streator lodge, A. F. & A. M., and of Streator chapter, R. A. M. His early political allegiance was given to the whig party and since the organization of the republican party he has been one of its stanch advocates. His life his- tory is inseparably interwoven with early events in the county and his mind bears the impress of its historic annals, forming a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 80

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