USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > The biographical dictionary and portrait gallery of representative men of Chicago, Minnesota cities and the World's Columbian exposition : with illustrations on steel. V. 1 > Part 30
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51
was chosen one of the two executives of the World's Sunday-school Committee. He has been for the last twelve years the leader of the Far- well Hall Saturday noon teachers' meeting in Chicago, which has now an attendance of five hun- dred active Sunday-school workers. His duties as chairman of the International Sunday-School Executive Committee have taken him into most of the States and territories, and the Canadian Provinces.
He has been honored by his own denomination, having been president of the Chicago Baptist Social Union in 1887-8, and chairman of the Illi- nois Baptist Sunday-School Commission since 1888.
Into his public speaking Mr. Jacobs puts the same earnestness that is characteristic of all that he does. Whether it be in a talk before a group of friends, in his weekly unfolding of the Sunday- school lesson, in an illustrated lecture descriptive of life across the sea, or in an address before listen- ing thousands in a great convention, there will be found that kind of direct, telling appeal to the heart as well as the mind which moves men. There is about his public addresses the "ac- tion," which is the test of true oratory, while every now and then some humorous phrase or epigrammatic sentence will provoke a smile or bring a burst of applause. A tender allusion or a pathetic anecdote is likely to follow and turn the smiles to tears.
Mr. Jacobs was married April 16, 1854, to Miss Frances M. Eddy, daughter of Dr. John M. Eddy, of Naperville, Illinois, formerly a lead- ing physician of Rochester, New York. Her mother was the daughter of Judge Benjamin Wiley, formerly of Rome, New York. Mrs. Jacobs is a lady of much ability and fine culture, a true helpmeet in every sense of the word.
Well-known for his ability and enterprise in the management of real estate, highly respected by all who know him, and possessing a large circle of friends, B. F. Jacobs is a representative business man, and a typical Chicago citizen. We cannot do better in closing this sketch of a man who has commanded success in whatever he has attempted, than to use the words of the brilliant woman from whose tribute to her friend quotation has been made. She says: "It has become trite to say that Illinois gave Lincoln and Grant to the
294
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
Union; but we may well remind the Republic, and the rest of mankind, that here Dwight L. Moody served his apprenticeship, here Philip P. Bliss began to sing his deathless songs, here Major Whittle's name first attained celebrity, here Mary A. Livermore became known as a philanthropist, and here B. F. Jacobs was set for the advance of
such world-wide and popular study of the Bible as had never before been dreamed of. He is a true Chicagoan, with the push and pluck and the daring that go with such a make-up, but all these qualities would not avail except that his heart has become gentle as that of a child, and his spirit most tender and brotherly."
WILLIAM BEST,
CHICAGO, ILL.
W ILLIAM BEST was born in the ancient city of Canterbury, England, in 1841, and is the son of William and Mary Ann (Whitehead) Best. Canterbury was his fathers native city, while his mother came originally from Sussex, England. Ariving in this country when but ten years of age (in 1852), our subject came almost directly to Chicago, and completed his education in the public schools, gaining a good commercial and thoroughly practical education. In 1857 he entered the employ of Messrs. John C. Partridge & Co., wholesale tobacconists, as an office boy, at a salary of five dollars per week. At the end of one year he was promoted, and such was his abil- ity and value to the firm that he finally became a partner in the business. Mr. John C. Partridge dying in 1876, Mr. Best became head of the house, and shortly afterward organized the firm of Best, Russell & Co., which succeeded to the business of John C. Partridge & Co. On May Ist, 1891, the concern of Best, Russell & Co. was incorporated under the State laws, under the name of Best & Russell Company, Mr. Best being elected presi- dent of the same.
In 1883 Mr. Best was elected collector of taxes of the town of South Chicago, being nominated without his knowledge or consent. He reluct- antly accepted the nomination at the carnest so- licitations of his friends, and at the election which followed he ran far ahead of his ticket, and that, too, without any canvassing or solicitation on his part. The bond which he furnished amounted to the immense sum of seven million two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and the seventeen men who signed it represented twenty-four million dol- lars. It was undoubtedly the largest bond ever given in the West, and worthily evidenced the
great confidence and trust reposed in Mr. Best's honesty and integrity. For his bond it must be remembered was signed by business men, and not, as is usually the case, by banks, whose recom- pense it is to have control of all surplus collec- tions. Mr. Best filled his office until 1884, with great ability and satisfaction to the tax-payers, and to his credit be it said, he refused to retain the two per cent. usually retained by occupants of this position.
He was married in August. 1865, to Miss Louise C. Sterling, daughter of Isaac B. Sterling, of Chi- cago. Mr. Best has two children living-William and Florence G. Another daughter, Grace L., died at the age of thirteen years. He was appointed in March, 1886, South Park commis- sioner as successor to Mr. Bernard Callaghan. The position came to him unsolicited, and he con- sented to accept it only upon the urgent demands of those who recognized his fitness and ability. The proposition to extend Michigan avenue boul- evard south of Thirty-fifth street was at that time a much discussed topic. Interested parties were greatly at variance in their opinions, and Mr. Best, though asked to make his views public, with that energy and honesty which are so characteristic of him, refused to state his views or how he would vote if he became a member of the board until he was thoroughly informed and understood the mat- ter in all its bearings ; and, to use his own words, " Until I have so informed myself, I will not put myself on record as holding to any opinion or pledge myself to vote either way-not for all the offices in the county." This reply was straight- forward ; it was the reply of a man accustomed to weigh well his motives, and who never promises what he does not intend to perform. His reply
yours Very July William Bech
29"
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
pleased the judges, and he was recommended by them as a thoroughly reliable and competent man -- and he was elected, giving a bond (as is usual) of fifty thousand dollars. In 1887 Mr. Best was elected president of the board, and held that posi- tion until the expiration of his term, in 1891. He was the unanimous choice of the Circuit Court judges to succeed himself as commissioner, an action which reflected high honor upon Mr. Best and has resulted in great benefit to Chicago's park system.
In September, 1886, he was nominated for the shrievalty of Cook county. His nomination was substantially by acclamation, and was the result of the high esteem in which he is held by the com- munity wherein his active life has been spent. When his name was mentioned for a more desira- ble place than the sheriff's office-one that would make smaller demand upon the personal attention -Mr. Best was emphatic in his refusal to be con- sidered a candidate. His nomination for the sheriff's office was an expression of the popular wish, and Mr. Best at first made an effort to accede to the popular wish, but on further consideration was forced to withdraw his name. The demands of his extensive business already engrossed so much of his time and attention that to accept this office, and still attend to his business affairs, must have resulted in great injustice to one of these interests. His retirement was marked with the kindliest feeling of his party.
Politically a Democrat, he is one of the party's staunchest supporters, but his business interests
are so great and his time so fully occupied that he is unable to devote to party organization that attention which he would otherwise be glad to devote.
Socially, he is connected with some of our best clubs, such as the Washington Park, Calumet, Douglas, Iroquois, etc. He is a Mason of the thirty-second degree and a member of Apollo Commandery, Knights Templar.
In religious faith he is a Presbyterian. He is an attendant at the Sixth Presbyterian Church, and for many years has been a member of its Board of Trustees. He was chairman of the Building Committee at the time the present church build- ing was erected at the corner of Vincennes and Oak avenues, and laid the corner-stone of same on Tuesday, July 8, 1879, and has always been prom- inent in all its affairs. Mr. Best is a stockholder in the World's Columbian Exposition, and was official proxy holder of shares subscribed for same for the purpose of electing directors thereof, and had sufficient proxies which with his own shares would have elected him a director, but being president of the South Park Board of Commis- sioners, and knowing that the "site " question would come up between the two bodies, he chose to cast his votes for others than himself.
As a representative of one of Chicago's great commercial enterprises, and as a citizen of more than ordinary prominence, William Best is well deserving a place in a work which contains the biographies and the history of Chicago's most eminent citizens and representative business men.
ORLANDO H. CHENEY,
CHICAGO, ILL.
T HE subject of this sketch was born at Ash- tabula, Ohio, on Nov. 1, 1839. His parents, born in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and de- scended on both sides from old New England stock, moved to Ohio and were among the pio- neers in that State. His elementary education was attained in such schools as the times afforded. The school-house he attended, however, has be- come an object of historical interest, it having been the scene of the early labors of the martyred president, James A. Garfield.
After mastering the rudiments, he entered the Grand River Institute, where he completed his school education and was graduated. His incli- nation and education fitted him for the profession of civil engineering, and as the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad was then being con- structed, he accepted a position on its surveying force, and thus put his knowledge to a practical use.
At the opening of the War of the Rebellion in 1861, he, as his father had done in the war of
298
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
1812, did not permit the first call for volunteers to pass unheeded, but responded to the call for seventy-five thousand ninety-days men, and en- listed on April 16, 1861, in the Nineteenth Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteers, infantry.
After his term of enlistment had expired, he re-enlisted in the Eleventh New York Battery, and although severely wounded on July 3, 1863, in the battle of Gettysburg, he did not lay down his arms until the surrender of Lec.
In 1866 he settled in Chicago, and has held official positions ever since, maintaining through all an unspotted record and a character above re- proach. The positions he has held have been :
Assistant County Surveyor, 1866 to 1875; Assis- tant Engineer of the Street Department, 1875 to 1880. In ISSo he was appointed Superintendent of Sewers, and is still (1892) holding that position.
In 1875 he joined the Masonic Fraternity, and has held all chairs from the Blue Lodge to Chapter and Commandery.
On December 21, 1871, he was married to Miss Laura McMahon, and has a family of four chil- dren.
Mr. Cheney has a well-developed physique, a pleasing address and a commanding presence, and a man whose very manner marks him as a man of prominence.
HON. ALFRED ENNIS,
CHICAGO, ILL.
T' "IIE subject of this sketch is a profound lawyer, argumentative and diplomatic, schol- arly, dignified and accomplished, careful, pains- taking, studious and unassuming. He has attained eminence in his profession and an honorable place among his fellow men. He has a well-balanced judgment, and possesses strong analytical and logical reasoning power. He delves deep into legal science in the endeavor to bring to light new facts and principles. He is a recognized authority on corporation law. He is broad, com- prehensive and liberal in his views. He has trav- eled extensively and is well informed. He is genial and makes many warm friends.
Alfred Ennis was born June 24, 1837, in Mor- gan county, Indiana. He was the oldest of three brothers-his brothers being named Gainford Forrest and James Paris. His father, Mitchell Ennis, was a native of Kentucky, and his mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Trent, was a native of Virginia. They were among the carly settlers in Central Indiana. They owned and resided upon a farm; were members of the Methodist Church, exemplary citizens and highly esteemed. Alfred lived upon the farm with his parents. He was ambitious and progressive and a great favorite with his associates and acquaint- ances. At the age of eighteen his educational advantages had been only such as resulted from his own efforts in studying at home, evenings
and Sundays, and in attending a country school during the winter seasons.
In the fall of 1855, having carned and saved a small sum of money, he was enabled to attend Franklin College, Indiana. While there he was compelled to avoid the slightest unnecessary ex- pense, which proved good training. He was a faithful and laborious student. When his money was exhausted, he returned home and taught school in the district where he was raised. In at- tendance at this school were many of his former associates and acquaintances, some of whom were much older and larger than himself. The school was a success. At its close, with the money earned, he was enabled to resume his attendance at college, and applied himself to study with more than his usual zeal. At the close of his college course he returned home and devoted his spare time to study, teaching school during the winter seasons. At the age of twenty-one he had become a leader in his community.
In the summer of 1858 he was offered the posi- tion, which he accepted, of salesman in the dry goods house of Messrs. Parks and Hite (Perminter M. Parks and Milton Hite), the largest and wealth- iest mercantile firm at Martinsville, the county seat. He gave entire satisfaction to his employ- ers, whose implicit confidence he gained, and who were ever afterward his most intimate personal and business friends.
mis
30I
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
In March, 1859, Mr. Ennis' father died, leaving his mother and two brothers alone upon the farm. He at once withdrew from his engagement with Messrs. Parks and Hite, and returned home, where he, with his two brothers, took charge of and cultivated the farm that season. He was ap- pointed administrator of his father's estate, which necessitated his obtaining and reading the statutes of the State, and this resulted in his forming a desire to study law. He obtained Blackstone's Commentaries and read them during the summer of that year. When the greater part of farm work was done for that season, he taught a sub- scription school in his home district, from which he realized sufficient money to enable him to at- tend law school.
In the fall of 1859, having successfully settled up his father's estate, leaving his mother and two brothers upon the farm, he, in company with a young neighboring friend, James M. Dill (now Judge Dill, of Bellville, Illinois), attended a law school in Indianapolis, Indiana, conducted by the Hons. Jonathan W. Gordon, Napoleon B. Taylor and John Coburn. At the close of this school he attended the law school of the Northwestern Christian University, in the same city, where the Hon. Samuel E. Perkins, then one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Indiana, was the profes- sor. At this school he entered the senior class, and in the spring of 1860 was graduated. He again returned home, where his counsel was soon sought by his friends and acquaintances. He was soon employed to commence suits and con- duct trials. His first case was of a novel charac- ter and without a precedent. A man named Hall seeing a swarm of bees passing in the air, pursued them some distance, when he succeeded in set- tling them on a small tree on the land of a man named Hess. Hall returned home for a hive. While gone, Hess, who lived near by, discovered the bees, felled the tree, put the bees into a hive, and carried them away. Hall claimed the bees. Hess refused to give them up. Hall applied to Mr. Ennis for counsel, who advised the com- mencement of an action of replevin. The action was commenced. On the day of the trial. Mr. Ennis appeared for Hall. He recognized the fact that this was more than an ordinary event in his life, perhaps a turning point. He took the position that bees, though fera nature,
might be subdued and reclaimed, when they would become the subject of qualified property and ownership; that the pursuing and settling the bees by Hall was such a subduing and re- claiming as to give him a qualified property in them. His reasoning had its desired effect-a decision was rendered in favor of Hall. This vic- tory was followed by others. Thus encouraged, Mr. Ennis applied himself to the study of his pro- fession with renewed hope, energy and persever- ance.
In the fall of 1860 he opened an office at Martinsville, Indiana, the county seat of his native county. He soon gained the reputation of being the most studious and industrious law- yer, and of keeping the neatest and best arranged office, in the place. He was determined to suc- ceed, consequently gave his undivided attention to business, and was in almost constant attend- ance at his office or in court. About this time Mr. Ennis formed a partnership with the Hon. Samuel H. Buskirk, subsequently one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Indiana, a lawyer of experience and ability, who then resided at Bloomington, Indiana, but attended the courts at Martinsville.
On November 29, 1860, Mr. Ennis was married, at Manchester, Indiana, to Miss Almarinda Bald- ridge, a young lady of high culture and refine- ment, whose acquaintance he had formed while attending law school. Miss Baldridge was a daughter of the late Rev. Daniel Baldridge, a pioneer minister of renown in the Christian Church of Ohio. She was a faithful and devoted member of the church, and, like her husband, in- dustrious, economical, energetic and persevering.
From this time forward Mr. Ennis applied him- self to the duties of his profession with all the power he could command. His fidelity to clients, honesty of purpose, and upright deportment as a man, commanded universal respect. He suc- ceeded in his profession far beyond his most sanguine expectations. He was in his office early and late ; would often rise in the morning before daylight, and, while his wife prepared breakfast, saw and split a supply of wood for the day ; then eat his breakfast and go to his office and com- mence the day's work while it was yet too dark to read without the aid of a lamp. In the summer of 1863 the partnership existing between Mr. Ennis
302
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
and Mr. Buskirk was dissolved by mutual consent, the strongest ties of friendship and personal regard for each other ever afterward existing.
At the beginning of the year 1864, Mr. Ennis formed a partnership with Hon. Cyrus F. Mc- Nutt, a man of the same age, a classmate both at college and at law school, and subsequently professor of law in the State University of Indi- ana, and now judge of the Superior Court at Terre Haute, Indiana. This partnership was a success.
In the summer of 1866, Mr. Ennis joined the Christian Church, and has since lived a worthy. consistent and exemplary member thereof.
At the beginning of the year 1867 the partner- ship existing between Mr. Ennis and Mr. McNutt was dissolved by mutual consent, their friendship continuing.
In the spring of 1867, Mr. Parks, one of Mr. Ennis' former employers, then the wealthiest as well as the most prominent and influential man in the county, died. By the terms of his will, which had not been previously made known to Mr. Ennis, his estate, consisting of large banking, mercantile and farming interests, aggregating more than a quarter of a million dollars, was placed under the exclusive control and manage- ment of his executors for a period of over nine years. So much confidence had Mr. Parks in Mr. Ennis' integrity and ability that in his will he named him as his principal executor- there being two, one of Mr. Parks' sons, much younger than Mr. Ennis, being named as the other. The tenure of this trust being so great, Mr. Ennis, who had determined to devote his entire time strictly to the duties of his profession, and not to engage in any other business pursuits, voluntarily declined to accept it.
In the fall of 1867, Mr. Ennis, who has always been the embodiment of order, system and regu- larity in business, and who has a critically artistic taste, refitted and refurnished his offices in the most attractive manner, at the same time adding a great number of new volumes to his then large law library. He now had the best arranged law offices and the largest law library in the place. At this time his mother and two brothers moved to the county scat, where his elder brother, who had received a good education, en- gaged in mercantile pursuits, his younger brother
attending school and subsequently commencing the study of law in Mr. Ennis' office.
In the spring of 1869, Mr. Ennis was em- ployed to go abroad in the interest of clients. Before starting he was presented with many kind letters of introduction and commendation ad- dressed to prominent men both in this country and in England. Among such letters was the following from the Hon. Thomas A. Hendricks, late Vice-President of the United States, now de- ceased :
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., May 21, 1869 HON. JOHN E. RISLEY, Washington, D) C.
Dear Friend: Allow me to introduce Alfred Ennis, Esq , a prominent lawyer and most worthy gentleman of Morgan county in this State. He visits Washington on his way to Europe, and will make a short stay. If you can make it pleasant for him, in any way, or aid him in any prepara- tions for his journey, I shall be gratified
I am very truly yours,
T. A HENDRICKS
Mr. Ennis first stopped in the city of Liver- pool, where he saw many objects of general in- terest. Hle then visited the city of Chester, the oldest inhabited place in the United Kingdom, where he saw many objects of great antiquity, some of which dated back more than two thousand years. Hle then visited the city of London, where he remained about one month. While there he attended sessions of all the courts, and saw their practical working under the old common law and equity forms of procedure. He was present at the trial, before the House of Lords, of the noted suit of William Patrick Ralston Shedden and his daughter, Miss Annabella Jean Shedden, of Scotland, appellants, against Patrick and the Attorney General, respondents. The suit involved, among other things, the questions of whether or not William Patrick Ralston Shed- den, the father, was a legitimate or illegitimate son, and whether or not he was an alien or a British subject. The arguments for the appel- lants were made by themselves in person, the father speaking two days and the daughter, Miss Shedden, speaking twenty-three days. While there he visited many places of general interest, including the Houses of Parliament, the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon's religious temple, where he heard that celebrated divine. He also made many acquaintances while there. He visited George Peabody and Judah P. Benjamin, the distin-
303
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
guished Americans, then there. Through the courtesy of the Hon. Benjamin Moran, at that time the American Secretary of Legation in Lon- don, he was granted the privileges while there of the reading-room of the British Museum. The following was Mr. Moran's letter of request :
UNITED STATES LEGATION, LONDON, June 14, 1869.
My Dear Sir: The bearer, Alfred Ennis, Esq., is an American gentleman who has come highly recommended to me. He desires a card of admission to the reading-room of the British Museum, and you will much oblige me by grant- ing this favor to him.
Very truly yours, BENJAMIN MORAN.
J. WINTER JONES, EsQ., Principal Librarian British Museum.
Mr. Ennis visited France, first stopping in the city of Paris. While there he attended sessions of all the courts, and saw the practical adminis- tration of justice under the civil law. He then visited the city of Versailles, and saw the cele- brated palace at that place, and inspected its im- mense art galleries and historical museums. He then visited Malmaison, and saw the old residence of Napoleon I-the home of the Empress Jose- phine when living. He visited Scotland, stopping in the cities of Edinburg and Glasgow, where he saw much that was interesting. He visited Ireland, stopping in the cities of Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Queenstown. From Queenstown he sailed for home, experiencing four days and nights of severe storm in mid-ocean.
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.