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 22
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ELLIOTT ANTHONY.
Judge Anthony of the Superior Court became best known to Chicagoans as Corporation Counsel. He filled this position twice. He is of Quaker extraction, and was born June 10, 1827. He assumed the judgeship in 1880.
JOSEPH E. GARY.
One of the most affable judges on the bench, Joseph E Gary, was born in Potsdam, N. Y., July 9, 1821. He is a thoroughly self-made man, having acquired his legal experience unaided by any tutor save an occasional author-
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ity in the shape of a book or communicative lawyer he might happen on struggling through his early life. He came to Chicago in 1856, and as far back as that he is remembered in connection with our courts. He was a prominent member of the profession in 1863. He sen- tenced the Anarchists.
M. F. TULEY.
M. F. Tuley, one of the oldest members of the Circuit judiciary, was born in Louisville, Kentucky, March 4, 1827. He entered a store as clerk when thirteen, and studied law during his leisure hours. In 1847 he came to Chicago, and was admitted to the bar. When the Mexican war broke out he enlisted in the Fifth Illinois and fought with that gallant regiment throughout the war. Soon after the close of the war he settled in Sante Fe, New Mexico. For two years he was Attorney General of the ter- ritory and from 1853 to 1854 he was in the legislature. In 1854 he came to Chicago and commenced the practice of law in partnership with Joseph E. Gary. In 1869 he was appointed Corporation Counsel. In 1879 he was elected to the circuit bench.
JULIUS S. GRINNELL.
The States Attorney for Cook county was born in Mas- sena, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., in 1842, and is the son of Dr. A. H. Grinnell, of New Haven, Vermont, a member of the family after whom the town of Grinelle in France was christened. Of French-Welch nationality, the family came to this country from Wales and settled in New York, Connecticut and Vermont. From this last named branch the subject of this sketch is descended. Prepared for college in Potsdam Academy, St. Lawrence county, N. Y., he entered Middlebury, Vermont college in 1862 and graduated in the fall of 1866 with brilliant honors. He now entered the office of Hon. William C.
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Brown in Ogdensburg, and was admitted to practice in 1868. After practicing two years he became the Professor of the Ogdensburg Academy and won many laurels. In 1870 he came to Chicago, and was pushing a most promis- ing practice in 1879, when he was elected, although a Dem- ocrat, City Attorney for a Republican city. In 1881 he was renominated and reelected by a very large majority, running but a few votes behind Mayor Harrison.
In the fall of 1884 he was elected States Attorney, re- ceiving a most remarkable vote. He was the only Demo- crat elected in the county. His career up to date has been a brilliant one, being indorsed by press and public. Upon his advent into office he immediately appointed the rising young lawyer Frank Walker his first assistant, and retained George Baker, the indefatigable presentor of cases to the grand jury. George was formerly a reporter for the Chi- cago press, and did invaluable service under States Attorney Mills, Mr. Grinnell's predecessor and gifted orator.
JOHN J. HEALY.
The Clerk of the Appellate Court, John J. Healy, is a veteran public servant, and is probably one of the best versed politicians in the Republican ranks. He stands very high in their councils. Mr. Healy was born in Ireland July 3, 1843, and since 1849 has been a resident of Chicago. He was a student at Notre Dame, Indiana, and his first busi- ness was at the lumber trade. When the war broke out he joined the Twenty-third Illinois Volunteers. He fought with his regiment at the battles of Lexington, Kenton, Bunker Hill and Winchester. At the latter battle Mr. Healy was severely wounded the day on which the gallant Colonel Mulligan lost his life. At the close of the war he was Adjutant-general of the draft rendezvous of this state.
Mr. Healy was in the Recorder's office under "Jim " Stewart and in 1875 was elected clerk of the Superior
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Court. In 1884 he was elected Clerk of the Appellate Court.
PATRICK M'GRATH.
The clerk of the Superior Court of Cook county was born in Ballynahinch, County Down, Ireland, May 13, 1839 and came to America in 1847. Having attended a commercial school at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he joined the Seventh Wisconsin Infantry in the fall of 1861 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. He engaged in all the battles in which his regiment participated, among which may be mentioned the battles of Corinth, Farrington, the expedition to Purdy, Tennessee, and in fact every engage- ment through the central Mississippi. He was detailed to preserve communications with Col. Murphy when the latter surrendered to General Van Dorn, thereby frustrat- ing Grant's original plan of the capture of Vicksburg. At Lake Providence he was promoted First Lieutenant for gal- lantry, and subsequently was detailed in command of a select corps of sharp-shooters, which he comnianded in front of Ransom's brigade during the memorable siege on the works of Vicksburg. July 12 his brigade captured Natches after a gallant fight, and here he was assigned to command Company E as mounted infantry. He made several raids and excursions through the Mississippi and Louisiana, cap- turing Fort Beauregard. His regiment joined Sherman in April and accompanied him during his march to the sea. He was mustered out January 15, 1865, and came to Chi- cago in May, 1865. After working at the old Galena depot and for the Board of Public works, he was appointed County Agent. In the fall of 1884 he was elected Clerk of the Superior Court.
THOMAS W. SENNOTT.
The clerk of the Probate Court of Cook county was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is about thirty-three years of
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age. His parents hail from Wexford County, Ireland. He is a carriage maker by trade. In 1879 he occupied a re- sponsible position with the North-Western Nail Company, and resigned when appointed a Deputy Sheriff under Hoff- man. He subsequently resigned under General Mann to run in 1882 for his present position. He ran very far ahead of his ticket.
HENRY BEST.
This gentleman is the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook county. He was born in the "Patch ", foot of Thir- teenth street, in Chicago, December 22, 1848, and is the son of Mathias Best, the first brewer in Chicago, and who now stands at the head of the brewing fraternity. His first experience in business was as a grocer. Gradually, how- ever, he drifted into politics. He served two terms as a constable under Justice Haines. Sheriff Hoffman appointed him a deputy and he was reappointed under Sheriff Han- chett. He was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court in the fall of 1884.
JOHN STEPHENS.
The Clerk of the Criminal Court was born in Albany, New York, in 1839, and is of German decent. He has been repeatedly, elected by extraordinary majorities. His family settled in Chicago as early as 1844. Mr. Stephens was first employed in the furniture store of Thomas Manahan, 205 Lake street, and subsequently became a property man in one of the old time theaters. The sock and buskin en- gross his leisure hours today. At the out break of the war sham battles lost their interest for Mr. Stephens and join- ing the Nineteenth Illinois, the blank cartridges of the stage were forgotten when two grape shots carried away his left foot in the battle of Chickamauga, and he was made a prisoner for fifteen days. While a sergeant he yet com- manded Company K at Stone River. He was in the Regis- try department of the postoffice when elected coroner.
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Principal Deputy, James M. Doyle; Chief Clerk, Chris- topher Mamer; Court Record Writer, James G. Hamilton; General Record Writer, George R. Rockfeller; Fee and Process Clerk, Henry F. Stephens; Court Clerk, Jethro W. Getman; Platter and Office Clerk, Felix V. Buschick; Cashier and Quasi-Criminal Record Writer, William S. Powell; Office Clerks, Robert Mitchell, Joseph W. Sexton, Harry S. Ryce.
CHRISTOPHER MAMER.
Christopher Mamer, Record-writer in the office of the Clerk of the Criminal Court was in the State Senate of Illinois while only twenty-nine. In the very first session: he reached a prominence vouchsafed to but few of his associates. He was born in Siebenborn, in the county of Kapele, Luxembourg, in 1852, and in 1854 the family made Chicago its home. Up to the age of twelve he at- tended a public school, and was subsequently placed in the college of St. Mary's of the Lake, where he graduated with high honor in 1864. Two years experience in the. Illinois School of Trade completed his scholastic ordeal. He then served his apprenticeship to the jewelry trade for- five years. After the great fire of 1871 he became a dis- tributor of alms to the worthy poor for the Relief and Aid Society. After a few months he retired to become. custodian of funds sent to Chicago by his uncle in Wis -- consin to help rebuild the cremated city of Chicago. In May, 1880, he entered the office of Clerk of the. Criminal. Court as a record-writer.
Senator Mamer's first experience in politics was in 1874, when his activity as a Republican in the very in- most recesses of the Democratic stronghold at once estab- lished him in the good graces of his party. In a very brief time he was rewarded with the position of Secretary of the Cook County Republican Central Committee. He. held this for four years. In November, 1880, his party,
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elected him a State Senator. Among other measures he has distinguished himself in the railroad and warehouse investigation in the effort to reduce the Pullman sleeping car rates, and in the discussion on the bill to define the right of may of railroads the passage of which Mr. Mamer claimed would obtain a revenue sufficient to run the whole city government.
M. L. COFFEEN.
The Chief Clerk of the Superior Court is Milo Lester Coffeen. He was born in Antwerp, Jefferson county, N. Y., Dec. 20, 1850. In 1860 the family came to Chi- cago. In 1871 Mr. Coffeen entered the Superior Court, and by his industry and strict attention to business secured his present responsible position.
HENRY C. STEWART.
One of the nimblest clerks in the Superior Court, and one of the best looking, is Henry C. Stewart, better known around the county building as "Hank." He is a brother of poor "Jim " Stewart, now dead, who was at one time Recorder of Cook county. Poor "Jim " was generous to a fault, and no man's misery ever escaped him unheeded. He lifted a burden from many a sore heart in his day.
Henry Stewart was born in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1848, and came to Chicago with his parents in 1850. Schooled in Rockford, Ill., he had just learned the baker business when he received an appointment in the postoffice. In 1872 he entered the office of his brother, the Recorder. In 1876 he was placed in his present position. On Feb. 7, 1877, he married Miss Mary E. Harris, the daughter of Ex-County Commissioner Harris.
JAMES J. HEALY.
This gentleman is one of the Deputy Clerks of the Su- perior Court and is recognized at once by his military car- riage. He was born March 6, 1848, in county Kerry, Ire-
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land, whence after his father's deatlı and when our sub- ject was twelve years of age, the family came to America. He was educated in St. Mary's of the Lake under the guardianship of Dr. McMullen, and subsequently attended Notre Dame. He was working for his uncle doing busi- ness under the firm name of Colin & O'Brien when the war commenced. His passion for military life made him a soldier at the age of fifteen. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-second Volunteer Infantry in Com- pany G. He served one year and three months in the regiment when he was mustered out, October 17, 1864, having participated with high honor at Shiloh and other notable battles. He immediately reënlisted in the regular army in the Thirty-second United States In- fantry, and was promoted to the rank of first Sergeant. He was mustered out at Camp Verde, Arizona Territory, under general order No. 31, paragraph H., dated San Francisco, May 12, 1869. He returned to Chicago, and his military experience ob- tained him the position under Mark Sheridan as drill- master of the police force. He served for two years and then entered the postoffice in the registry department. When his brother was elected Clerk of the Superior Court he was appointed to his present office. Mr. Healy has always been a consistent Republican, and has done much to aid that party.
WILEY S. SCRIBNER.
Wiley Smith Scribner, Recorder for Cook County, better known as Colonel Scribner, was born in Jacksonville, Ill., in 1840. When a year old his father died, and when eight years old his mother remarried and removed to Jamestown, Grant County, Wis., where Wiley was placed in the dis- trict school. 1859 he went, with others, to Colorado, where up to 1860 he was engaged in mining. In this year
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he connected himself with a variety firm in Boscobel, Wis. When the war broke out, in company with a lawyer named Merrick, in Grant county, he started a company for the three months' service, under the call for 75,000 men but the quota of the state had been previously filled. Dis- banding, he entered Company I, of the Sixteenth Wiscon- sin Infantry in 1861, and participated in the hard fought battles of the West, receiving three wounds. He fought at Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Vicksburg, the campaign and capture of Atlanta, the march to the sea, and was mus- tered out in 1865. He served on Gen. Charles Ewing's staff in the march to the sea, retiring as First Lieutenant. . He then reentered the grocery and dry goods business in Grant County. Here he was also Postmaster and Town Clerk, and in 1866 and '67 was a member of the Legisla- ture. In 1867 he went to Montana, and was business man- ager and city editor of the Helena Herald. In 1869 he was appointed Secretary of the Territory, and acted for two years. In 1870 he married the daughter of Gen. T. Reynolds. In 1870, with a Mr. McCormick, le estab- ished the Pioneer in Missoula, Montana, and alone treated in Jocko Valley and at the head of the Flathead River trading posts, with the "Flatheads," "Kootenas," and " Penderilles." In 1872 he returned to Wisconsin. In 1873 he came to Chicago and entered the law office of Isham & Lincoln, son of the martyred President and ex- Secretary of War, having been admitted to practice in Wisconsin in 1866. Subsequently he filled the position of a clerk in the Superior Court. He then accepted the posi- tion af Deputy Clerk in the Probate Court. In the fall of 1884 he was elected Recorder. Colonel Scribner is con- nected with numerous organizations, civic and military, among which may be mentioned the Chicago Union Vete- eran Club, Veteran Union League, Loyal League of
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America, Grand Army of the Republic, and the First Brigade of the Illinois National Guards.
The following is the roster of the Recorder's office : Recorder, Wiley S. Scribner; Deputy Recorder, James Stroud ; Recording Clerk, L. C. Hommes ; Superinten- dent Folio Department, Fred. C. Kile ; Clerks, Horace E. Smith, Jacob S. Curtis, James Thomas, H. R. Green, Robert G. Reed, Samuel E. Erickson, S. Daniels, W. E. Day, P. H. Schmitz, Frank W. Teeple, E. S. Bullock, C. Duffield, Frank N. Coffin, George E. Woodwell, C. E. Southard. W. W. Manzy, S. J. Williamson, W. C. Phillips, A. C. Arentz, James A. Price ; Map Clerk, E. Ruleshau- ser; Clerk, William Ludewing, A. J. Le Brun, F. A. Brokoski.
Abstract Department .- Order Clerk, W. S. Kaufman; Abstract Makers, N. Buschwork, George R. Cannon; Assistant Abstract Makers, T. H. Reynolds, L. H. Weil; Clerks, Samuel Kerr, Edwin Plowman, A. S. Reeves, James J. McGrath ; Abstract Writers, Oscar D. Howes, Theo. Stomming, E. J. Burkert; Clerks, S. W. `Reder- burg, John F. Stinson, R. M. Burke.
JAMES STROUD.
The Deputy Recorder of Cook county, was born De- cember 28, 1844, in Dorsetshirc, England. Apprenticed to the dry goods business in London in 1858, he pursucd that business up to his entering politics. He came to Chi- cago in 1870, and assumed the management of a depart- ment in the store of Ross & Gossage. He subsequently became connected with the immense dry goods firm of Field, Leiter & Co., Clapp, Young & Co., and Clapp & Davies. In 1882 he was appointed Record Writer in the Probate Court, under Col. W. S. Scribner, who, on being elected Recorder, appointed him Chief Deputy. The peo- ple indorse Mr. Scribner's selection.
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FRED C. KILE.
The able and courteous Superintendent of the Folio Department of the Recorder's office, was born in Chicago, January, 1843. When quite young he left the high school with credit, and completed his studies in the normal school. Having graduated, he entered the wood and coal business for himself, in the town of Blue Island, and sub- sequently became connected with the engineering depart- ment of the Western railroad. Mr. Kile became Superin- tendent of Folio in February, 1882, a most responsible position indeed.
FRANK B. LANE.
The Chief Clerk of the Probate Court is Frank B. Lane, who, a son of old James Lane, one of the most prom- inent pioneers in Chicago's history, was born on February 4, 1850. Having graduated with distinction at St. Mary's of the Lake. At the age of fifteen he enlisted in Mulli- gan's famous brigade, and participated in its heroic exploits at the front. Mustered out he embarked in mercantile pursuits, where his ability was recognized in 1873 by his appointment as First Assistant Grain Inspector of the Board of Trade. Subsequently he was appointed First Lieutenant under " Sandy " Shay, captain of the rattling " No. 13," and now Assistant Fire Marshal. Resigning this position, fraught with so much peril, Mr. Lane com- menced a political career. In 1875 he entered the Superi- or Court as a clerk, and his competency while there gained for him his present position. He is an indefatigable work- er, and under his guidance no hitch seems possible in the paraphernalia of the Probate Court of Cook county.
CHARLES BRADLEY.
The Chief Deputy in the office of the Circuit Court of Cook county, was born April 28, 1856, in Chicago, on Madison street, near Franklin. He is the son of Cyrus P.
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Bradley, who was Chief of Police and of the Fire Depart- ment, and a nephew of " Tim " Bradley, who was Sheriff of Cook county. Educated in the public schools, Charles was first employed by Losack & Morris, dealers in hats, caps, and furs. He then entered the service of D. W. Irwin & Co., on the Board of Trade. In 1867 he entered the Sheriff's office under Fischer, continued under "Tim " Bradley, and went out a short time after Agnew was elected. He served one year in the Recorder's office under " Jim" Stewart, and when J. J. Healey was elected Clerk of the Superior Court and stayed there during his entire term. He received his present position in December, 1884. He married Hattie E. Shumway November 13, 1867, and his son, Charles Morris Bradley, aged seventeen, is Assistant Book-keeper in the wholesale glove depart- ment at Marshall Field's.
DANIEL D. HEALY.
Dan Healy, connected with the Circuit Court, pre- sided over by Judge Collins, was born in Ireland February 11, 1847, and came to America in 1852. He studied at St. Mary's of the Lake and at the Jesuit College.
While he served as an engineer during the war he be- came generally known in connection with the Chicago Fire Department. As a mechanic he had no superior, and as a gentleman he had few equals. He was twelve years on the Fire Department. When Sheriff Hanchett took possession Mr. Healy was appointed one of his deputies. Among the organizations to which Mr. Healy belongs may be men- tioned the Fireman's Benevolent Association, of which he is the Financial Secretary ; the United Order of Workmen, and the Policeman's and Fireman's State Association.
DELOS E. HALL.
The Deputy Clerk of the Circuit Court was born May 14, 1840, at Salisbury, Herkimer county, N. Y., and re-
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mained in his native place until 1861. In this year he en- listed in the Ninety-seventh New York Volunteers and served until the close of the war. He fought in about thirty engagements, including the Second Bull Run, South Mountain, the first and second battles of Fredericks- burg and Antietam, Gettysburg, battles of the Wilderness, and was present at Lee's surrender. He has been con- nected with the Circuit Court as a deputy since December 1, 1872, and has a fine record.
JAMES H. BURKE.
James H. Burke, Deputy Sheriff, was born in Hart- ford, Conn., September 10, 1848. In 1850 the family came to Chicago, and built upon the corner of Van Buren and Jefferson streets the first habitation on the prairie west, where now such imposing edifices as the Jesuit Church and St. Ignatius College stand. The subject of this sketch herded cattle when he was not supplying boats on the river with milk. He attended school at O'Connor's the first school on the West Side. It stood in the rear of old St. Patrick's Church, corner of Randolph and Des- plaines streets. As a porter Mr. Burke worked five years for J. V. Farwell & Co., at No. 42 and 44 Wabash ave- nue, and was thereafter elevated to the superintendency of the domestic department. He then established on his own account a gents furnishing business at No. 76 West Madison street, but failed in 1873 with liabilities of about $1,500. This debt the plucky deputy wiped away by his savings while acting as a sidewalk inspector, a collector for the Board of Public Works, and a Deputy Sheriff. He was appointed under Hoffman, and continued under him.
JOHN BRENNAN.
Deputy Sheriff Brennan was born in Galway, March 24, 1844. In April, 1855, he came to New York and com- menced active life as a cabin-boy on the City of Washing-
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ton. In 1857 he entered the grocery trade in Cincinnati, but after two years engaged with a wholesale boot and shoe house. In 1861 he joined Company F, Second Ohio, and subsequently shared in the vicissitudes of the rebell- ion. He became a boot and shoe salesman at the close of the war. In 1868 he established a hat and cap business at No. 171 South Clark street. After the great fire he estab- lished a wine and spirit trade and conducted the same with profit up to his well-earned appointment as Deputy Sheriff, first under Major Hoffman, and them under Gen- eral Mann, and finally under Seth Hanchett.
THEODORE E. STACY.
Theodore Edwin Stacy, Deputy Sheriff, was born in Carlisle, Mass., February 3, 1837. Hisfather was an Unita- rian minister, and Theodore was a mere infant when he was carried into the bosom of the Hopedale community in Mit- ford. Having acquired a knowledge of printing in his father's office, Theodore, at the age of nineteen, connected himself as an express messenger with the Boston & Worcester (now Boston & Albany) Railroad. It was a very respon- sible position for a young man, large amounts of money continually resting in his custody. In the spring of 1861 he came to Chicago, and obtained employment in the United States Express Company. After a year he became chief clerk for C. H. Bissell, proprietor of the Matteson House, who evinced unbounded confidence in him, and afterward assisted Robert Hill. He was first a deputy under Sheriff Fischer, then under Ben Cleaves, and served two terms with Bradley. When Agnew was elected, Mr. Stacy resigned by reason of a difference in politics, and en- gaged in the collection and auction business. When Hoff- man was elected he was reestablished a deputy, and when Sheriff Mann was elected he was reappointed. Mr. Stacy has been married three times. His first wife died six
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months after marriage, and his second in nine days. His present wife is Clara D. Stevens, one of the most noted songstresses.
HENRY L. HERTZ.
Henry Lamartine Hertz, the Cook County Coroner, was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, November 19, 1847. He attended the Metropolitan school, and at twenty graduated from the University of Copenhagen. His first business experience in Chicago, the city of his adoption, was as teller in a Scandinavian bank. He was subsequently con- nected with the Commercial Loan Company. In 1872 he entered the Recorder's office, where he in 1873 was elevated to the grantor of index clerk. In 1876 he was elected West Town Clerk. Mr. Hertz is very prominent in Scandinavian circles especially. He has been president of the Freja Scandinavian Singing Society, and of the Dania So- ciety. He represents the fourteenth ward in the Repub- lican City Central Committee.
GEORGE ROCKAFELLER.
George R. Rockafeller, Deputy in the Criminal Court, was born in the city of New York, March 23, 1838, at- tended the public school up to 1855, and thence to 1858 taught school. From 1856 to 1863 he was Cashier of the Freight Department of the North-Western. He then joined the army as Chief Clerk of the Quartermaster's Depart- ment in the Mississippi River Brigade, and ram fleet. The Quartermaster, becoming Disbursing Officer of Lou- isiana and Texas, in the Department of the Gulf with headquarters in New Orleans, where the volunteer service was relieved by General Sheridan in 1865, he was ap- pointed Secretary of the Board of Aldermen and Assistant Alderman of New Orleans. In 1868 he was made the As- sessor of the principal business district. Experience in brokerage followed up to 1873. In this year he accepted
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