Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 38

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1014

USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 38

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

R EV. JACOB S. CHAMBERLAIN, A.B., of "Robin's Nest Farm" and Rector of Christ's Church, Jubilee, is an old settler of the connty, and is widely known and honored as one of the early missionaries of the West, who has been a potent influence in elevating the religious status of this part of the country. His life has been a busy one, and he has had a remarkable and varied experience. He has ever been ready to re- spond to any call for his services, and has traveled far and wide in the interests of both religion and education. He and his wife are looked upon with reverence and affection, and hold important places in this community.

Our subjeet was born in Buffalo, N. Y., January 16, 1820, a son of Sylvester Chamberlain, a native of Columbia County, N. Y., whose father, Jonathan Chamberlain, was born of English parentage near Springfield, Mass., and was an early settler of Co- lumbia County. The grandfather engaged in farm- ing in Austerlitz, on the Green River, where he reared his family. His ancestry were noted for their integrity, simplicity and deep religious principles, and these he inherited to a large degree.

The father of our subject was reared on a farm, but while young learned the trade of a blacksmith. He enlisted in the militia and served in the War of 1812, on the Niagara frontier, under Gen. Seott. He was well pleased with the country there, and soon after his discharge returned home and made arrangements for moving to Western New York, and located in Buffalo. He established himself as a blacksmith there, and worked at the forge until

he had to retire on account of an injury he had received. He then engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages, was one of the first manu- facturers of vehicles in that city, and was also among the largest in his day. His homestead was on the corner of Pearl and Mohawk Streets. He was quite a local politieian, was a Whig in his views and worked towards Republicanism. The maiden name of his wife was Hannah Miller, and she was born in Franklin, N. Y. She was a Pres- byterian in religion, and died in Buffalo. Her father was a farmer. Her mother's maiden name was Sherrill.

The parents of our subject had nine children, of whom the following is recorded: Hunting S., a manufacturer, died in Buffalo; Theresa died in Chicago; William H. H., a manufacturer, died in Milwaukee; Horace, who was Captain of a Texas company in the Texas Rebellion, under Gen. Hous- ton, died in Texas a few years after from the effects of a sword wound in the eye; Jonathan is a retired manufacturer of Buffalo; the next in order is our subject, Jacob Sherrill; Maria, residing in Washington, is the widow of Mr. Rucker; Samuel Miller, who was an attorney and a member of the editorial profession, was editor of the New York Times one year, and editor of the Buffalo Morning Express for twenty-five or thirty years, and died in that eity ; Edward O., a mechanic of Buffalo, served in the late war.

The Rev. Mr. Chamberlain, of this sketeli, was reared in his native county, and received good school advantages for that day. When he was fourteen years old he entered Fredonia Academy. in Chautauqua County, and studied there three years to prepare himself for college, but on account of his father's failure in business, he had to give up the idea of entering college, and he then began the study of law in Buffalo under Stevens & Wing, and later with Judge Rodgers. In 1839, when nineteen years old, he went to Chicago, and in that then small village finished his legal studies under the tuition of Butterfield & Collins, and was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1840. He first es- tablished himself as a practitioner of the law in Chicago in partnership with Col. Hamilton, and later continued in practice by himself until 1845. In

353

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

the meantime he had united with the Protestant Episcopal Church, and with religious zeal had de- termined to enter the ministry, and came to Jubilee College to prepare himself. He entered the college and seminary in the spring of 1845, and was grad- uated in the spring of 1847 with the degree of A.B. He was immediately ordained and became a mission- ary for this region, and traveled in Woodford, Tazewell and Peoria Counties in pursuit of his call- ing,organizing congregations and building churches. In 1849 he located in Peoria, secured the present site of the St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal Church, and built the first St. Paul's Church, and for three years acted in the double capacity of pastor for its congregation and a missionary. At the expiration of that time, after the parish had been well organized and the church had been built, he went to Pekin and other places in Woodford, Tazewell and other counties, and did missionary work, while he left his family in Peoria. At that time he received little or no salary and had to support himself, and in order to do so engaged in teaching a select school. He started at that time a girls' school in the old Moss mansion, on the bluff, under the name of "St. Mary's School."

In 1852 our subject went to Minnesota, and bc- gan missionary work there. His mission was known as "St. Anthony's Falls Church Mission," in which he was actively engaged for eleven years, and during that time he traveled in the interests of his mission many miles, his circuit extending over one hun- dred miles, from Chaska, on the Minnesota, to Sauk Rapids, on the Mississippi. For several years he traveled on foot, and then by vehicles. He built thirteen Episcopal Churches within the one hundred miles, and remained in Minnesota until the spring of 1864, when he came back to Jubilee Township. He had then just recovered from a siege of the smallpox. He had left his family at the "Robin's Nest," and as soon as he was well enough he went to Washington, D. C., where he was employed by the Government in the Treasury De- partment until the winter of 1864. He was ac- quainted with Abraham Lincoln, and attended many of his receptions, and heard him tell many of his famous stories, which he has remembered and treasured up for years.

In the winter of 1864, Mr. Chamberlain received the appointment from President Lincoln as Chaplain of Nelson general hospital, Camp Nelson, Ky. He proceeded to that place, reported for duty. received his commission and went to work with a will. He was mustered out in July, 1865, at Louisville, Ky., and returned to Jubilee by the way of Chicago. He resumed his old work as missionary in the Illinois diocese, and was thus engaged in Knox, Mercer and Rock Island Counties. He was the founder of St. Mary's School, in Knoxville, he procuring the site and property and securing the services of Dr. Leffengwell as its head, going to Winconsin to per- suade the doctor to undertake the charge, and con- tracting with him to teach the first five years. The school progressed well, was a success from the start, and is to-day a fine institution. In 1882 Mr. Chamberlain received a call from Wichita, Kan., and was pastor of the church there for two years. At the expiration of that time he was ap- pointed Superintendent of Christ Hospital, at To- peka, and he directed its organization and was very busily engaged in that for more than three years.

In September, 1887, our subject retired from the duties of that onerous position on account of ill- health, and for a year lived retired in Jubilee. Ile then accepted the position of Rector of Jubilee Chapel, his predecessor having resigned at the beginning of 1889, and is devoting his energies to carrying on its work. Ile is also Missionary Rec- tor of Grace Church, Mercer County, which he es- tablished years ago. He has led a very active life, and has seldom had less than five or six con- gregations under his charge, and has built twenty churches, and organized a still larger number and has otherwise greatly advanced the cause of relig- ion in various places. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons lodge at Cambridge, and in his political views is a stanchi Republican.

Our subject has been twice married. In 1848 he was united to Sarah E. Hyde, who was born at Darien, Genesee County, N. Y. She died after thirteen months of married life. Our subject's mar- riage with Miss Mary Chase, only daughter of Bishop Philander Chase, D.D., was solemnized April 14, 1847. To them have been born six chil- dren, of whom the following is recorded: Sherrill,

354

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

a well-to do farmer in Harper County, Kan., at- tended Racine College two years ; Philander C., who attended Hobart College for three years, is now staff correspondent and distributor of the Topeka Daily Capital, having been engaged on that paper for over eleven years, since it started, he taking the first in- pression of the paper from the press; Ernest, who is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on the home farm, is the naturalist of the family, and has the finest and largest collection of Illinois birds' eggs in the State; Ruth, a graduate of St. Mary's, of Knoxville. is the wife of John C. Lewis, a farmer of Warren County; Grace, who resides with her father. was for three years ward matron of Christ Hospital, Topeka; Mary C. is the wife of Mr. Clark, of Champaign, Ill., where he is taking a mechanical engineer's course at the State University.

Mrs. Chamberlain was educated at Jubilee Col. lege in the same classes with her husband. She has devoted herself to teaching some in the vicinity and some in Peoria, and as a lady of culture and marked ability has been a great help to her husband in his work. Her father, Bishop Chase, was one of the fore- most educators and ministers of his day in the West. He was a native of Cornish, N. H., and was graduated from Dartmouth College in the class of 1796. Hc studied theology under the Episcopal Church Rec- tor at Albany, N. Y., and became a Doctor of Divinity. He was a Missionary in that State until he was chosen Rector of Christ's Church in Hart- ford, Conn., which position he occupied a long time. Hle then acted as Rector of Christ's Church at New Orleans, La., for some years. After that he came North to Worthington, Ohio, where lie was elected Bishop of the Diocese of that State. He was the founder of Kenyon College, at Gambier, Ohio, and was at its liead, until he resigued to go to Michigan. Going to Michigan he bought a large tract of land in Gilead, Branch County, where he farmed and did missionary work. In 1835 he was elected Bishop of the Diocese of Itlinois, and in 1836 he came to Jubilce. He had received funds from the friends of the Protestant Episcopal Church in England and America from which to found an institution of learning, and he selected a site on section 25, in this township, and as soon as possible laid the foundation of the school, laying the corner

stone of the chapel of the institution which he called Jubilee College (from which the township afterward received its name) April 3, 1839. IIe also selected a site for his own home and private property, located on north-half of section 36, where he built the "Robin's Nest." afterward erecting a brick residence, which still bears the name. This property now contains one hundred and ninety acres of land. located on the Kickapoo, and is a fine farm, containing all the necessary conveniences. It is located in a picturesque and beautiful spot, and is a lovely place. The Bishop in his "Reminiscences" called it the "Robin's Nest" because it was then ": rude dwelling built of mud and sticks and filled with young ones." This beautiful property was in- herited by the wife of our subject, and they make it their home. By his personal influence the Bishop secured the establishment of a post-office here, which was named "Robin's Nest," and retained that name until some two years ago, when it was changed to its present title of Jubilee, and he was appointed first Postmaster.

By his energy and good management Bishop Chase established a college in the wilderness, which was at that time one of the foremost institutions of learning in the West, as to the number of students in attendance and in regard to its endowments and future prospects. At the time of his death the buildings had been erected, and he had secured over twelve hundred acres of land, in Jubilee Township. free from incumbrance and one-half under the plow. The institution was planned to be largely supported by the rents of its agricult- ural lands, occupied by an Episcopal colony. The trustces of Jubilee College were. appointed by Bishop Chase's will, according to the conditions of the charter which he had procured from the Legis- lature of the State. After the Bishop's death, the administration fell into the hands of Dr. Samuel Chase, great nephew of the Bishop, and Vice- President. Dr. Chase kept the college open for a time, but during the war, like many other institu- tions of the kind at that time, it failed to receive sufficient support, many of the pupils enlisting in the army, and in the second year it was closed, as the Vice-President was appointed Chaplain of the Twelfth Illinois Regiment. The Bishop had estab-

- 1

355

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

lished a printing office at Jubilee, and did all the printing in connection with the institution, and the publishing of a monthly paper, "The Motto of Jubilee College." Ile had everything in fine order and the institution established on a solid financial basis, when he met his death accidentally while out driving, on September 20, 1852, in his seventy-sixth year. Peoria County then lost one of its most learned and most respected citizens.

Mrs. Chamberlain's mother's maiden name was Sophia May Ingraham, and she was born at Ams. terdam, Holland, where her parents were visiting. Her mother was a Greenleaf, of Boston, a very prominent family, and the Ingrahams were also of the best people. She was a remarkable and noble character, was well educated and was of great assistance to the Bishop in his work. "She was a perfect woman," said one who knew her well. She was loved by all, and her death in the fall of 186 { of paralysis. at the "Robin's Nest," was greatly mourned. The Bishop had been twice married. But one is living of the three children born of his first marriage, the Rev. Dudley Chase, who is now retired Past Chaplain of the United States Army, living in Philadelphia, Pa. There were three chil- dren of the second union, namely: Henry I., a resident of Riverside, Chicago, and inventor of the "Chase Elevator;" Mary, wife of our subject, and the Rev. Philander Chase, Jr., who died in Stark County, this State.

ATIIAN GILES is held in honor as a pio- neer of Peoria County, who has taken an active part in its development, and has done good service in the past as a valuable public official. He is one of the old settlers of North Peoria, he having come to his present location on Knoxville Avenue, one and one half miles north of the court-house, in 184 1.

Thomas Giles, the father of our subject, was born in Wales, and early took up the life of a sol- dier, and when a young man was sent to St. Hele- na's Island by the British Government as one of Bonaparte's guards. Ile there married Miss Ann

Pickin, and on that island three of their children were born. After coming to this country, Mr. Giles occupied himself as a stonemason in New York, and in 1836 emigrated from that State to this, and bought the property now owned by our subject. It comprised eighty aeres of land, which he purchased of William Hale for about 88 or 810 an acre. He entered upon its improvement, but his useful carcer was cut short by his death in 1838. He was in every way worthy of respect, and, of the Baptist faith in religion, was promi- nient in the church. His wife survived him until 1855, when she too passed away. They had the following children - Thomas, Joseph, William, Alice (wife of James Peters), Nathan, George and Sarah. Sarah, who was the third child in order of birth, was killed by lightning in Utica, N. Y., in 1837.

Our subject was born while his parents were liv- ing in Oneida County, N. Y., November 15. 1827, being the date of his birth. The family subse- quently removed to Oswego County, N. Y., and remained there eight years, coming to this State in June, 1836. Nathan, however, remained at Rich land, N. Y., until the spring of 1843, when he turned his face Westward, and coming to Wiscon- sin, was engaged in the lead mines near Galena for ten months. The following spring he crossed the State line and came to this county, where he rested from his wauderings until the spring of 1849. At that time the people hereabouts, as in all parts of the country, were much excited over the discovery of gold in California, and our subject, eatching the fever, determined to join the many men who were crossing the plains and mountains in search of the precous metal. He and his brother William, and their friend, Paul Keim, joined a company, twelve or fourteen trains going out from Peoria with ox- teams. The first night out, they found shelter in a house, which was the last roof that covered their heads until they left the mines in 1853. The company went by the way of St. Joseph, covering the old route through Brownsville, Ft. Kearney, by the way of the North Platte, etc. They took a boat and rope with them, and ferried themselves across every stream except the Missouri River, finally selling their boat and rope at Green River,

356

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

Utah, for $200. They passed Ft. Hall, and went by the northern trail from Mary's River, and reached the Sacramento River at Goose Lake, and then followed the stream down to Lawson's Ranche, going through the valley proper of the Sacramento. They first struck the mining regions at Readding's Springs, and after three months went to Sacramento City to stock up. They returned to the mines at Rose's Bar, on the north fork of the Yuba, and there spent the ensuing winter, finding a fair amount of gold. They next went to Deer Creek, and six months later passed over the north fork of the Yuba, farther up the stream, and in the fall William Giles returned home, coming by the way of Mexico and New Orleans. Our subject leaving that part of the mines, went down into the valley with a view of entering the cattle business. Not satis- fied with the prospcets there, he soon returned to Readding's Springs, and in the following February accompanied a party, comprising Moses Y. Dusen berry, Milton Ilasbrook (both known in Peoria), John Rodham, George Wells and Henry Bowman, to Shasta Valley, which was then perfectly nuknown and had never been prospected by white men, they doing the first mining that was ever done on the Shasta River, which afterward proved to be a very rich mineral country. The following May Mr. Giles went down the Klamouth River, and crossing the divide to Clear Creek, discovered gold in the extreme northwestern part of California on that creek and its tributaries. They worked there until leaving for home, and during the time our subject visited Oregon three times, going to Portland and Oregon City. After leaving Clear Creek our sub- ject and his friends went to Crescent City, Cal., and there took steamer for San Francisco, where they stopped twenty days. Mr. Giles then started for home via Panama and New York, arriving in Peo- ria December 22 or 23, 1853, after an absence of four and one-half years. He at once entered into business, opening a brickyard on the land he now occupies. Ile continued to mannfacture brick for ten years, and then turned his attention to farming in Richwood Township, and was there actively engaged in tilling the farm and stock-raising for ten years. At the expiration of that time he traded for more of the original eighty with his brother,

and now owns eighteen acres of it, having sold off the remainder at a good price. In 1885 he erected his present commodious and conveniently arranged residence, and here has one of the most cozy and comfortable homes, in which he lives retired from active life, simply attending to his few acres of land.

December 18, 1856, our subject married Cather- ine Clausen, and in her has found all that a good wife should be. To them have come five children, all of whom were reared to maturity-Margaret Ann married Arthur Kerthley, of this city; Louise Anna C., who married Frank Corrington, is now deceased; Olive married J. E. Sherwood, of Bea- trice, Neb .; Alice is at home; Andrew, in business in the city, makes his home with his parents.

Mr. Giles is widely and favorably known in this county, whose interests he has been instrumental in advancing during his many years residence here, where he has won the friendship of many by his helpfulness, constant kindness and other personal qualities. Ile has mingled in the public life of the county, and in his capacity of Supervisor of Rich- wood Township, which position he held for eleven years, his wise counsels and zealous devotion to the interests of the public made him a valuable official. During his incumbency of that office the county court house was erected, and he was one of the building committee. He can say truthfully, that not another court-house ean compare with it for beauty, utility and ventilation. He has also been Trustee of the village of North Peoria, but since then has refused the office. Ile has taken an active part in politics, was a Democrat until 1861, when he joined the Republican party, and bas since then seen no reason for change in his political views.

RANK C. MAHLER. Few, if any, of the young business men of Peoria have brighter prospects for the future than the gentleman above named, who as junior member of an old es- tablished firm has already become quite promi- nently known in business circles. The business in which he is engaged is that of general brass foun-

- --

John Handler

Mas C. I. Hamlin

361

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.

drying and manufacturing of brass goods and cop- persmithing, especial attention being given to steam fittings and the copper work used in distilleries. The ware rooms and office are located at No. 400 South Adams Street with the machine shop in the rear, and furnish employment to a force of forty men. The Business was established in 1850, by S. A. Kinsey and John C. Mahler, the latter the fa- ther of our subject, and the first change made in the firm was in 1882 when the business was incor- porated. S. A. Kinsey then became President, War- ren Kinsey Secretary, and F. C. Mahler Treasurer, the capital stock of the company being $50,000.

Our subject is of German ancestry, his father having been born in the Fatherland, whence he emigrated to St. Louis, Mo., when a young man. There he married Miss Catherine Bittner, removing to Peoria and organizing the firm which has grown to its present proportions. He was a practical cop- persmith. Ile breathed his last in 1873. His son, our subject, was born in this city April 17, 1868, and educated in its schools. During the last five years, since completing his education, he has given his time and attention to the business, although his interest extends over a much greater period.

Mr. Mahler is a young gentleman whose informa- tion on various topics is quite extensive and whose financial ability is commended by all with whom he has dealings. In his own circle of acquaintances he has many friends who speak higlily of his social qualities and kindly nature.

ON. JOHN HAMLIN. For many years the late John Hamlin was a leading spirit in Peoria County. He was in many res- pects a remarkable man. and seemed es- pecially qualified by nature for frontier life, having the intrepid spirit, coolness in time of danger and faculty of arriving quickly at a decision, which are necessary to those who take their place in the van- guard of civilization. With these traits he com- bined the keen observation, quick perceptions and accurate judgment which made him a power in the community as the population increased, and led to

his being selected to represent the people in the House of Representatives and the State Senate.

Mr. Hamlin was a native of Wilbraham, Mass., born there October 25, 1800, and in early manhood became a trader at Ft. Clark, now Peoria, Ill. Ile went on trading expeditions northward and west- ward, visiting many localities which are now the centers of advanced civilization, but which in those early days were but rude hamlets, simple trading posts, or a wilderness trodden only by the feet of savages and an occasional white man. Ilis treat- ment of the red men uniformly secured their good- will, and his house was always open to them, a lock or key being unknown to his cabin. Many a night Indians slept in the kitchen, one of the number keeping watch while the others slumbered.

Upon one occasion while en route to Wisconsin Mr. Hamlin was importuned, being a Justice of the Peace, to marry a couple at Ft. Dearborn, now Chicago. IIe said that he di.l not know the mar- riage ceremony, but the prospective bridegroom, Dr. Wolcott, being prepared for such an emergency, offered to teach him. This was done, and upon his return trip Mr. Hamlin performed the rites which made Dr. Alexander Wolcott and Miss Kinzie man and wife, this being the first marriage ceremony ever performed in what is now Chicago. It occurred some time in the '20s, prior to the mar- riage of Mr. Hamlin.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 38

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1014

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1014