USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Political history of Chicago (covering the period from 1837 to 1887) Local politics from the city's birth; Chicago's mayors, aldermen and other officials; county and federal officers; the fire and police departments; the Haymarket horror; miscellaneous > Part 15
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Captain Schaack was born in Luxembourg, Belgium, in April, 1844. He was very young when he came to America. In 1866 he was employed by a detective agency. In 1869 he went on the Chicago police force and traveled beat for
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one year. An experience for six years as a detective led to his promotion as a police sergeant. In 1879 he was ap- pointed lieutenant, and on August 17, 1885, he was created a captain. He made many arrests in connection with the Haymarket affair.
JOHN D. SHEA.
Lieutenant John D. Shea, Chief of Detectives in eon- junetion with Lieutenant Kipley, was born in Willow Springs, town of Palos, Cook county, Ill., February 7, 1848. He attended the district sehool, and up to the age of twenty-five spent his life on a farm. On August 1, 1873, he came to Chieago, and joined the poliee foree as a patrol- man, first doing duty in the Twelfth street distriet, under Simon O'Donnell, who was then a sergeant. When O'Don- nell was transferred to the Armory to succeed Captain Hiekey, Shea aecompanied him. He first saw deteetive duty under Captain Seavey, now dead; and first traveled with Ike Lansing, now a flourishing liquor merehant. He traveled next with Ed. Keating, now dead, whom Shea characterizes as the best poliee offieer he ever traveled with. When Captain O'Donnell was created Superintendent of Police, Shea was transferred to the Central Station. While here he was promoted to a lieutenaney and placed in charge of the Twenty-second street station. After a very sueeess- ful experience in this region he was appointed Chief of Detectives. Among the many exploits of the Chief it is asserted that he, with Keating, sent men to the peniten- tiary for terms aggregating 108 years.
JOSEPH KIPLEY.
Lieutenant Joseph Kipley, who with John D. Shea has command of the Chicago detective foree, has been con- nected with the Police Department about fifteen years, and during that time has served nearly ten years at detective work. The Lieutenant has been engaged in every import-
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ant case during the last ten years, and some of them are worthy of praise. The arrest and conviction of the trio of Italian murderers was a perfect piece of detective skill, and to Mr. Kipley is due a great deal of credit for the active part he took in the affair.
Desperate criminals have attempted to kill the Lieuten- ant on numerous occasions. He has exchanged shots numerous times with law-breakers, but has never received a scratch.
Mr. Kipley was born in Patterson, N. J., November 24, 1848. After attending school and working in the cotton mills at his native place, he came to Chicago, in 1865. He followed the carpentering trade for awhile, and on January 24, 1871, joined the police force, He first did service at the old West Madison street station, and after doing duty at Harrison street and Twelfth street, was placed in charge of the Central station.
In 1872 the Lieutenant married Miss Helen Wheeler, a St. Paul girl, and at present is the father of two children.
GEORGE W. HUBBARD.
The extremely popular and handsome Commander of the central detail, George W. Hubbard, was born at Cam- bridge, Md., February 22, 1850, and is regarded by every- body as just the man, of all men, peculiarly adapted to the position he holds. He was appropriately named Wash- ington, being born on the anniversary of the Father of his Country. In 1870 he came to Chicago and entered the employ of Dawson & Shields, confectioners, at 17 South Water street. In July, 1873, he went upon the Police Department. He was first stationed at the Armory; was made a station-keeper at Deering street; then at Madison and Union streets; had command of the first patrol in the service; was transferred to the Central, November, 1882, and was promoted to his present position April 21, 1884.
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He received a thorough basiness education at Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, and had it not been for the great fire of 1871, he would most likely have improved it. At all events, Mr. Hubbard was placed in a position where the business interests of Chicago certainly are in no danger of suffering.
EDWARD LAUGHLIN.
This fearless and popular officer was born in Castle Island, County Kerry, Ireland, September 8, 1843. His early days were spent upon his father's farm, and he went to school in his native place. In 1862 he came to America and located in Indiana, where he engaged in the employ of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railway company. He came to Chicago July 4, 1863, and at once went to work in the freight department of the Chicago, Milwaukec & St. Paul railroad. He went south for awhile and steamboated on the Mississippi. Returning, he was employed by Mer- ritt & Bacron, 86 and 88 South Water street, as a shipping and receiving clerk. Like others, he was scized with the gold fever and went to California, but came back as poor as he went, after having traveled considerably. Hc settled down at once and entered the employ of Ingraham, Cor- bin & May, wholesale merchants. On March 1, 1872, he joined the police force, and has since established a record he may well feel proud of. He is now Lieutenant at the Armory.
MADISON BEADELL.
The courteous gentleman who presides over the aristo- cratic Cottage Grove avenue district, was born September 19, 1844, in Ccouga county, New York. Receiving his early education in Utica, New York, he was bright enough at the age of twelve years to board the sloop-of-war Vin- cennes, and at the age of fifteen to accompany his brother Charles, who was a captain on the lake. The paternal home
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was on the Thousand Islands. When the war broke out his passion for military life induced him to leave his brother in the Welland canal, and enlist in Company D, of the Tenth Illinois Cavalry, at the age of seventeen. For four years and nine months he participated in the engagements fought by his regiment, including the battles of Pea Ridge, Little Rock, Marshfield, Benton and Prairie Grove, where he was severely wounded. During a skirmish near Rich- mond, La., he was taken prisoner, and suffered many se- vere hardships in the prison at Tyler, Texas.
In 1865 the Lieutenant, having served all through the war, was placed upon the Chicago police force; and was the first man to travel a beat in the Bridgeport district at the old Archer avenue station. Promotion rapidly followed.
JOHN REHM.
Lieutenant Rehm, of the Thirty-fifth station, was born in Baltimore, Md., October 13, 1848, and went to school there. In 1868 he entered the employ of the United States Government as a teamster, and served throughout the war. He then learned the trade of box-making in Chi- cago. In 1873 he joined the police force. He was sta- tioned at Hinman street, was made station-keeper in 1874, transferred to West Madison, and served up to 1878, when he was made a patrol sergeant. In this capacity he acted at Twelfth, West Lake and Twenty-second streets. We was appointed Lieutenant of Police, April 24, 1884, and assigned to duty at Thirty-fifth street station. Of German descent Lieutenant Rhem is a thorough American, very sensibly selecting for his bride Miss Louisa Barth, who is a native of Illinois.
EDWARD J. STEELE.
Edward J. Steele, the military-appearing Lieutenant at West Chicago avenue station, has served nearly fourteen years on the Chicago police force. During that time he
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has had many hair-breadth escapes; his finely proportioned physique having on numerous occasions been the target for desperate burglars and other criminals.
The Lieutenant was born in Lewis County, New York, August 14, 1839. When four years old his parents moved to Canda and then to Ontario. While there our subject was engaged in farming. In 1863 he came west and loca- ted in Minnesota. In the fall of the same year he came to Chicago and followed the carpentering trade. Subse- quently he joined Hamlin's merchant police, and after do- ing night duty for one year and a half he went on the Chi- cago Police Department, March 14, 1872. He first did duty at the old West Madison street station. Transferred to the squad he did service for one year, and then traveled as a detective at the Central for four or five years. Under the first part of Harrison's administration he was ap- pointed Lieutenant and placed in command of the de- tectives. From Chief of the Detectives he was transfer- red to West Lake street, and subsequently to West Chi- cago avenue.
JAMES P. STANTON.
The Lieutenant at the Lake street station, was born 1844, at Birmingham, England, and is of Irish descent. The family came to America in 1854, and young Stan- ton was here raised. Entering the navy he served with honor in many engagements, among which may be men- tioned the attack on Fort Fisher. In 1869 he went upon the police force. In 1881 he was created Lieutenant, and is a man respected highly. He was severely wounded at the Haymarket.
JOHN BYRNE.
Lieutenant John Byrne, the Commander of the Deer- ing street district, was born in Ireland, May 22, 1849. When fourteen years of age he came to America and loca-
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ted in New York. He stayed in the latter city for two years, when he came west as far as Ottawa, Illinois, where he was engaged in contracting and building for two years. In 1868 he came to Chicago. January 16, 1870, the Lieu- tenant joined the police force and was first assigned to duty at the old Armory. In October, 1874, he was promoted to Sergeant and transferred to the Madison street station. When Captain Buckley, Sam Ellis, Fitz- patrick and others were removed from the force, during Heath's administration, the Lieutenant was among the number. He only remained off the force two years, however; and in 1869 was appointed Lieutenant and stationed at the Armory. Subsequently he was transferred to his present district. The Lieutenant has been shot at on numerous occasions by criminals, and has had many a hard struggle with desperate men. He is very popular in his district both as to his subordinates and the residents.
RICHARD A. SHEPPARD.
Lieutenant Richard Alexander Sheppard was born in Ireland in 1849, and with his mother, two brothers and a sister came to America in 1860, settling in Cleveland, Oswego county, New York. In 1866 the family came to Chicago and Richard obtained employment as a conductor and driver of a street car on the North Division Railway. After the great fire he and his brother, W. H. Sheppard, went into business. On August 25, 1875, he joined the police force. In 1876 he married Miss Mary Green, of Waukegan. He was created a sergeant August 5, 1878, at Hinman street station, was transferred to Deering street in 1879, and watched the butcher's strike of that year. The Lieutenant has made many important arrests in the service, several times at the risk of his life. While making an arrest for robbery on February 1, 1880, he was shot severely. He belongs to the Policeman's Benevo-
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lent Association, Police State Association, Kilwinning Lodge of Masons, Order of the Red Cross, and the Chicago Council No. 4, Corinthian Chapter. He has always proved himself a fearless officer in the discharge of his duties. He is good-natured, but nevertheless a strict dis- ciplinarian, and was always respected by his subordinates.
JOHN CROAK.
Lieutenant Croak was born in Tipperary, Ireland, and came to New York in 1850. A carpenter by trade he was engaged for many years in church building in Brooklyn, Albany, Providence, and other eastern cities. In 1853 he came to Chicago and was employed by the Union Car Works until their buildings were burned down. He sub- sequently worked for the Terre Haute and Northwestern railroads at bridge building. In 1857 he returned to the East and married Miss Mary McLaughlin, an Albany girl. Shortly after his marriage he returned to Chicago and was immediately employed by Hall & French, sash, doors and blinds. In 1869 he was appointed on the police force and detailed to service at the old Armory. After the fire he was stationed at Harrison street, and subsequently trans- ferred to the Central on Mayor Heath's staff. Under Mayor Harrison he was created a sergeant, and in Novem- ber, 1882, was promoted to his present position. The Lieutenant has had many hair-breadth escapes; and barely escaped with his life when arresting a gang of burglars, who were ransacking a store on Clark street, near Jackson.
VICTOR SCHUMACHER.
Barring what clothes he had on his person Lieutenant Schumacher had but fifteen cents and a parcel of stuff in a red handerchief when he left Chicago in 1863 to try his luck in the Michigan pineries. The enterprising officer was born July 21, 1846 in Auderlach, Prussia, on the Rhine. His family located in Chicago in 1857. From
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1864 until 1869 he was a merchant policeman and traveled beat between Ontario and Chestnut streets. He then spent a year in travel, covering seventeen of the United States in his trip. Returning to Chicago he joined the police force Aug. 21, 1870. He went first to Huron street, then to Webster avenue, and in 1874 was transferred to the Lake street squad, now known as the Central detail. For five years he served at the crossing, corner of Randolph and Clark streets, and a little while at State and Madison streets. In 1879 he was made a lieutenant and was assigned to duty at East Chicago avenue. Mrs. Lieuten- ant Schumacher was Angeline Gebel, the daughter of Peter Gebel, who located in Chicago in 1833. The old settler is still alive.
WHEELER BARTRAM.
The Sergeant of the Central detail is Wheeler Bartram. He was born April 14, 1843, in Madison, Lake county, Ohio. When he was ten years old the family came to New York and located on a farm. Here our subject was raised. In 1861 he enlisted in the 29th Indiana, and was captured May 1, 1862, by Morgan's Guerrillas, but was exchanged in 1863. He enlisted at once, rose to the position of corporal and first sergeant, fought at Liberty Gap and Chickamauga, among other battles, and served to the end of the war. He went upon the police force Oct. 13, 1868, He traveled first from the old Huron street station and afterwards from Larrabee street and Webster avenue. He was subsequently roundsman and desk-sergeant. He was appointed Sergeant of the Central detail May 20, 1883.
JOHN E. FITZPATRICK.
The genial successor of Col. Welter, deceased, as drill- master of the Chicago police force, was born in Johnstown, Penn., in 1852. Here he was brought up and was em- ployed in the rolling mills. In 1878 he established a
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rolling mill in Carondelet, South St. Louis. In 1873 he was Assistant Superintendent of the new rolling mills at Springfield, Ill., but in a short time returned to the East St. Louis rolling mills, where his large experience secured for him the superintendency of the mills. In 1879 he came to Cl:icago and was employed at the Bridgeport wire works until they shut down in 1882. On January 13, 1883, he joined the police force and was assigned to duty at Harrison street. Transferred to the Central detail, Chief Ebersold appointed him drill-master in November, 1885.
Sergeant Fitzpatrick's military experience includes the organization of the Johnstown Zouaves, and of the Sher- man Guards at Springfield. Other young and active spirits cooperated. He is also a member of Battery "D" at Springfield. The sergeant was commended to promo- tion for bravery at the Haymarket.
ELISHA E. LLOYD.
Lieutenant Lloyd, located at the Webster avenue sta- tion, is a native American, and is the hero of many thrill- ing experiences in the war for the Union. His intense sufferings in Andersonville prison qualified him for many a hard siege on the police force or anywhere else. He joined the department in 1878, and was promoted October 31, 1882.
MICHAEL BISCHOFF.
Lieutenant Bischoff, the Commander of the West North avenue station, joined the force in 1868. After traveling a little over a year, he was promoted a sergeant and subse- quently a lieutenant.
JOHN BAUS.
Immensely popular among his compatriots, Lieutenant Baus is located at the Larrabee street station. There are very few national demonstrations where the Lieutenant is
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not easily recognized by his military bearing and his superb horsemanship. He joined the force September 20, 1865, and was promoted January 13, 1868.
AUGUST BLETTNER.
Lieutenant Blettner, of the West Twelfth street station, is of German birth, and is about forty years of age. He joined the police force July 10, 1867. He was promoted August 17, 1875. He is generally liked in his district.
FRANCIS PENZEN.
Lieutenant Penzen, of the Desplaines street station, is a German by birth, and is about forty years of age. He joined the police force August 6, 1869.
ANSON BACKUS.
From every indication Lieutenant Backus is a pains- taking officer, and would seem to have a bright future before him in the department. He was born September 17, 1855, in Gaines, Orleans County, N. Y. His father was a Methodist minister, who gave his son a first-class training in one of the best seminaries of that denomina- tion. The Lieutenant went on the Chicago police force in 1881, and was stationed at West Lake street. In 1882 he was made a desk-sergeant at the Armory. On October 29, 1885, he was promoted to patrol sergeant, subsequently to the present position
DANIEL HOGAN.
This very popular desk sergeant at the Armory station was born in Molbay, Ireland, January, 1842. After pursu- ing with marked success a liberal course of studies in the cities of Dublin and Waterford, our subject grasped the birch and wielded it well for years, not only in his native country, but in America. The youth of the towns of La- mont and Palos, in Illinois, remember school-master Dan
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when he made them smart and successful in their various pursuits, as they are today; and they respect him deeply for his ministrations. In 1873 Mr. Hogan joined the police force, and soon rose to the position of station-keeper. He was assigned to duty at Cottage Grove avenue station, and his general excellent conduct while here induced his trans- fer to the Armory.
Dan is in every sense an ideal desk-sergeant. He exer- cises the finest discrimination; is sympathetic to a fault, but not so susceptible to imposture; generous and cour- teous, and is one of the best penmen and writers of reports on this or any other police force.
GEORGE SANFORD.
Sergeant George E. Sanford was born December 15, 1845, near Leo, Allen county, Ind., on a farm. In 1846 he came to Illinois, remaining in Ogle county up to 1849, when he returned to Indiana. In 1851 he accompanied his father to California in the pursuit of wealth, but was there hardly three months when he lost him by death. In 1859 George came back to Illinois, and worked at his trade as harness-maker with varying success. He stuck to the bench up to 1872, when he joined the police force, travel- ing from Twenty-second street as patrolman. In 1876 he resigned. On November 5, 1878, he went back under Captain Johnson, of the West Chicago avenue station. Thence he went to the Hinman street station, and stayed but a short time, when he was transferred to headquarters as station-keeper. On February 22d, 1884, he was created Patrol Sergeant.
FRANK G. BEAUBIEN.
Sergeant Frank G. Beaubien, of the West Chicago ave- nue station, is the son of Mark Beaubein, who settled in Chicago in 1826, and a nephew of Jean Le Baptiste Beau- bien, who located in Chicago as a representative of the
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American Fur Company immediately after the war of 1812. Mark Beaubien was one of the earliest white settlers in the city of Chicago.
Our subject was born in Chicago in 1852. He spent his early life in Naperville and Kankakee, Ill., and at- tended St. Vialias College at Borbonies' Grove. On leaving school he went into the grocery business with his father in Chicago. But the grocery trade had no charms for Frank, and after one year and a half with his father he joined the Chicago Police Department September 4, 1873. He was first detailed at the old Madison street station under Captain Lull. In the fall of 1878. he was transferred to the day squad, and in August, 1883 was de- tailed to service on the first patrol wagon that left the Cen- tral station. Subsequently he was appointed sergeant, and stationed at West Chicago avenue with Captain Hathaway.
SYLVESTER KENNEDY.
Sylvester Kennedy, Desk-Sergent at West Twelfth street` police station, was born in Tipperary County, Ireland, January 28, 1844, came to America in 1865, land- ing in New York and came to Chicago in the same year. His first occupation in this city was as a railroad contractor, and he pursued the same with varying success up to 1880 when he joined the police department. He is a model desk-sergeant, his deportment under all circumstances be- ing gentlemanly.
ANTHON ODIN OYEN.
Sergeant Oyen was born in Throndhjem, Norway, Oc- tober 8, 1841. He attended the public school in his native place, and when ten years old was sent to a select school which he attended up to the age of fourteen. He was now appointed clerk in the Recorder's office in the city of his birth, and as such was required to attend the city court. When about fifteen years old he was apprenticed to the
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drug business at Bodoe, fifty miles north of the Arctic circle, and after a term of five years he graduated in pharmacy and chemistry. On August 3, 1861, the family came to Chicago, but settled in Shelby County, Ill., he remaining in Chicago. In October 8, 1861, Anthon enlisted in a Norwegian company organized in this city as a part of the Fifteenth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. This regiment was composed entirely of Scandinavians. He entered as a private but was soon made sergeant, and in the spring of 1862, by reason of his pharmaceutical experience was appointed hospital steward of the regiment in the field. He first smelled powder in the siege of Island No. 10, on the Mississippi river, from March 16 to April 8, 1862, his regiment being first to take possession of that stronghold; and in the capture of three generals and about 7,000 men achieved the first decisive victory for the Federal flag. Joining the division under O. O. Mitchell at Cor- inth, Miss., the regiment entered the Buell and Bragg campaign through Tennessee and Kentucky and reached Louisville, September 26, 1862. The battle of Perryville, Ky., soon followed, when the regiment captured a whole train of rebel supplies. At the battle of Stone River our sub- ject was wounded by a piece of shell and was captured, but was recaptured soon after by a squadron of the Fourth United States Cavalry and one of the Fourth Ohio Cavalry, in which Dominick Welter, past Secretary of Police, was a captain. In the battle of Chick- amauga, where the regiment was almost annihilated, our subject was taken prisoner. He was confined in Libby prison, in Pemberton, and afterward in Crew prison. Transported from Richmond to Danville, he was placed in prison No. 6, but was soon placed in charge of the small- pox hospital where he escaped with three others February 22, 1864. He was however, recaptured by the rebels near the Tennessee river in North Carolina, and sent to prison
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No. 5. Shortly after he was transferred to Andersonville prison. From April 19 to May 26, he was in the stockade, where he was placed in charge of the dispensary of the hospital. On March 18, 1865, he was sent homeward, arriving in Vicksburg, after walking barefooted from Jack- son to Big Black river, distance thirty-six miles. He was now paroled and sent to Camp Benton barracks, St. Louis, after eighteen months imprisonment. During his service he acted as Assistant Surgeon of the regiment for a time, and was afterward offered the position permanently but declined. He joined the police force of Chicago, January 20, 1868, and after two years service was promoted to the position of Desk-Sergeant. He was for two years Bailiff of the North Division Police Court, and again a Desk- Sergeant, and since February 25, 1883, occupies his present position.
CHARLES M. DAY.
The Desk-Sergeant at the Central station was born in Clinton, Lenawee County, Michigan, February 4, 1845. In 1855 he came to Chicago, and after leaving school en- gaged in a variety of pursuits up to the time of the war. He then enlisted in the Seventy-second Illinois, and fought at Vicksburg and Champion Hills, among other battles. On January 9, 1867, he joined the police force, doing duty first at Twenty-second street. He served as a station- keeper for eight years. He went to the Armory in 1877, and was subsequently transferred to the Central. Several years ago he was shot in the arm while making an arrest.
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