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 31
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In the fall of 1869 he completed the construc- tion of one of the most elegant residences in his native county. He now had every reason to feel that he was settled for life. He had built up a large, and, for that place, lucrative general law practice, giving special attention to corporation law. In the summer of 1870, although having previously traveled extensively, he for the first time visited the State of Kansas, stopping in Topeka. While there he became so favorably impressed with the prospective greatness of the State that he formed a desire to remove there. In the spring of 1871 he again visited Kansas, this time accompanied by his family. He stopped in Topeka, as before, and while there finally decided to remove to that place. On his return home he at once commenced to close up his business, preparatory to locating in Topeka.
On June 29, 1871, Mr. Ennis, accompanied by his family, left Martinsville, Indiana, his former home, to take up his residence in Topeka. When starting, and while on the platform of the railroad depot, he was visited by his brother lawyers of the place, who, after bidding him adieu, as a further token of their high respect and esteem for him formally presented him with engrossed preambles and resolutions which had been adopted at a bar meeting held in his absence and without his knowledge ; and were to the effect that, as their brother, with whom they had been so long and pleasantly associated, was about to leave them for another field of use- fulness, they deemed it fitting to express their unfeigned sorrow and regret at parting with him ; and that they cheerfully commended him to the courts, to the members of the bar, and to the people generally, "as an honest, industrious and able lawyer, a faithful friend, a valuable citizen and a Christian gentleman." Hon. William R. Harrison, whose name was signed to the pre- ambles and resolutions as president, was the oldest lawyer in the place, having been in act- ive practice about thirty years, and was also one of the most talented lawyers in the State. Hon. P. S. Parks, whose name was signed to the same as secretary, was the oldest son of Mr. Ennis' former employer, a lawyer by profession, and at one time a resident of the State of Kansas, where he was a member of the constitutional con- vention of that State held at Wyandotte in 1859, at which the constitution of Kansas was adopted, and was a man of noted ability. As a still further evidence of the high respect and esteem with which Mr. Ennis was regarded in the place of his nativity, he carried with him letters of the highest commendation from many leading citizens, all the officers of the county, all the officers of the State, and the judges of the courts in his part of the State.
Mr. Ennis and his family arrived in Topeka on July 1, 1871. He soon thereafter opened an office, and was immediately favored with large retainers by corporations and others; his busi- ness soon increased to a large and lucrative prac- tice. In the fall of 1871 his mother and two brothers moved to Topeka, where his elder brother engaged in successful mercantile pur- suits until his death on January 12, 1874. Mr.
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Ennis applied himself strictly to the practice of his profession while in Kansas, giving almost ex- clusive attention to business in the Federal courts of some six or eight States, and especially to that branch of litigation growing out of the default of payment of municipal and other corporate se- curities in the Western States, and to railroad and corporation law generally. Ilis success was com- plete. He had an extensive acquaintance, and as a consequence his clientage was not alone confined to this country, but extended to England. Ilis business was large and profitable, and probably second to that of no law firm in the West.
In the summer of 1880, Mr. Ennis, accompanied by his family, visited California. He carried with him numerous letters of introduction and com- mendation from prominent persons, among which was the following from the Hon. Albert 11. Hor- ton, then and now Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Kansas, addressed to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of California :
STATE OF KANSAS, SUPREME COURT, TOPEKA, June 18, 188o. TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF CALIFORNIA :
Sir: Pardon my addressing you without acquaintance, but as our townsman, llon. Alfred Ennis, is about to visit your State, I desire to commend him to your confidence and atten- tion. Mr. Ennis is one of the ablest lawyers in Kansas, is a gentleman of high character, and greatly esteemed by all acquainted with him. He has won distinction, especially in the litigation of railroad and other securities, and has an ex- tensive practice in this and in the adjoining States.
Respectfully, ALBERT H HORTON.
Also equally complimentary letters from the Hon. John F. Dillon, late United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit, addressed to the Hon. S. J. Field, then and now one of the Jus- tices of the United States Supreme Court, and the Hon. Lorenzo Sawyer, Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the Ninth Circuit : from the Hon. Cassius G. Foster, then and now United States District Judge for the District of Kansas, addressed to the Hon. Ogden Hoffman and the Hon. Mathew P. Deady, United States District Judges, the former for the District of California and the latter for the District of Ore- gon ; and from the officials of the Missouri Pacific and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Railway companies, addressed to the officials of the Central Pacific and the Southern Pacific Railway com- panics.
In the summer of 1882, Mr. Ennis, accompanied by his family, took up his temporary residence in Boston, where he attended to business inter- ests and law practice that had made it necessary for him to go there, and where, meantime, his children received the educational advantages of that city. In the fall of 1883 it became necessary for him to be in New York City for some time ; hence, accompanied by his family, he went there, where he remained until the spring of 1884, when, by previous arrangement he came to Chicago, and took charge of the legal department of Pull- man's Palace Car Company as general counsel of the company. He carried with him to Chicago many highly complimentary letters from men of high standing in Boston, in New York and in other cities, among which letters was one from the lon. Archibald L. Williams, of Topeka, Kan- sas, ex-Attorney General of Kansas, and then and now counsel for the Union Pacific Railway Company, an able lawyer, and from whose letter the following quotation is made: " llon. Alfred Ennis is a first-class lawyer, and as counsel for corporations is invaluable. I have frequently been associated with, and still more frequently opposed to, him in large corporation cases, and I know few men more valuable as an associate or more formidable as an adversary."
Mr. Ennis removed his family to Chicago, where they have since resided. His family consisted of his wife, an only son, Walter B., and three daugh- ters, Lilie A., Luna May and Alma Viola.
Mr. Ennis, as general counsel, conducted the large business of the legal department of the Pullman Company for about five years, achieving the greatest success. During the time named the business in his charge aggregated many million dollars, and included many thousand miscellane- ous and contested matters. and many hundred law- suits throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, on account of all of which under his management the company had to pay less than two-thirds of one per cent. upon the amounts in- volved. About the close of the year 1888 Mr. Ennis resigned from the position of general coun- sel of the Pullman Company, retaining the highest respect and esteem of the officers and all others connected with the company.
In pursuance of previous plans, on May 1, 1889, he opened offices in " The Rookery," in Chicago,
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for the practice of law, and especially with the view of associating with himself as a partner in the practice his son, Walter B., who was studying law, and, although in delicate health, was thor- oughly educated and a young man of sterling qualities and of great promise, and to whom Mr. Ennis and his family looked forward with the brightest hopes ; but before he regained his health, and before he was able to enter upon the duties of his chosen profession, he died, on March 31, 1890. Since the death of his son Mr. Ennis has endeavored to confine his practice to corpo- ration law.
He occasionally, upon special requests, pre- pares and delivers an address upon subjects of current interest. He read before the Illinois State Bar Association, at its twelfth annual meet- ing, an exhaustive paper upon the subject of "Commerce: Intra-State and Inter-State; Its Regulation and Taxation." He also read, on the occasion of the banquet at the twelfth annual
meeting of the American Bar Association, a complimentary sentiment upon the subject of " The American Bar Association."
Mr. Ennis' daughters are highly educated and accomplished young ladies, having been graduated at Dearborn Seminary in Chicago, and at Miss Brown's, in New York, besides having received special instruction in special branches of study.
His mother resides in Chicago and his brother in New York.
Mr. Ennis has been for many years a Mason of the higher degrees-Royal Arch, Knights Tem- lar and Scottish Rite. He is a member of the City, State, American and National bar asso- ciations.
In politics he has always been a Democrat. While of positive political opinions, he favors strict economy and practical reform in the man- agement of public affairs, municipal, state and national. His efforts have been blessed. He has a large business and a most desirable clientage.
JAMES SAGER NORTON,
CHICAGO, ILL.
T HE professional man who has the advantage of an early and liberal education, an exten- sive and varied course of reading, and whose well- developed mind has been enlarged by considera- ble travel, possesses many advantages over his less fortunate associates. By study he has culti- vated his intelligence, and by intercourse with others he has gained experience.
James Sager Norton, gifted with more than ordinary ability, afforded early opportunity for study, and who finished his academic course with foreign travel, is to-day amongst the most promi- nent professional men of this city. He was born December 6, 1844, at Lockport, Ill. His parents were Hiram Norton and Elizabeth, née Sager, both of whom were descended from highly re- spected families. His father was a grain mer- chant at Lockport, and the proprietor of the Norton Mills. Young Norton received his ele- mentary education at the public school, and later at a select school in his native town. He was afterwards entered at Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio, where he proved himself to be an earnest
and careful student. His progress was such that his parents determined to send him to Yale, where he graduated with honor in the class of 1865. A docile student, a cheerful companion and a careful and accurate reader, his training and culture reflect credit on his professors.
Being twenty-one years of age, he resolved on making the law his future profession, and, after a year of travel in Europe entered himself as a student in the Columbia Law School, New York City, where he made considerable progress in the study of the theory of law.
When Mr. Norton completed his course at the law school, he chose Chicago as his residence, and entered the law office of Scammon, McCagg and Fuller. Here he gave evidence of the ability which he has since developed. He was admitted to practice in 1868, his first association being with Benjamin D. Magruder, then Master in Chancery, and now Judge of the Supreme Court of this State. He was afterwards associated for many years with John N. Jewett, under the firm name of Jewett & Norton. The present firm of Nor-
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ton, Burley & Howell (Clarence A. Burley and J. W. Howell), was formed January 1, 1888. The firm has a large and lucrative practice, principally in real estate and corporation law. As a lawyer he is careful, conscientious and painstaking, pos- sessed of a high degree of honor, and in all his transactions a man of uncompromising integrity. In his statement of a case he is clear, concise and accurate ; in his argument brief, logical and convincing. He seldom attempts any rhetorical display, but when he does, his style is florid, pleasing and attractive. He has the art of using his extensive reading to adorn and illustrate with- out revealing the art or labor of rhetoric.
In politics, Mr. Norton is independent. He be- lieves in casting his ballot for the most deserving candidate, whatever his politics. His extensive travels through this country have shown him that party affiliations, strictly followed, are not always for the people's benefit.
He is a member of many social and literary clubs, amongst them the Chicago, the Union, the University and the Literary. He has been presi- dent of the Literary Club, and is now president of the Civil Service Reform Club. In literary and political circles Mr. Norton has a high repu- tation. Ile is averse to controversy, but is a powerful adversary and an able exponent. In social circles and in post-prandial efforts, he is very happy. His wit and humor, graceful diction and felicitous allusions sparkle in every sentence.
In October, 1873, Mr. Norton married Miss Frances Rumsey, daughter of George F. Rumsey, Esq., of this city. They have two daughters liv- ing. Besides his residence here he has also a summer residence at Lake Geneva, where he en- joys, after his professional duties, the company of his accomplished wife and daughters, whom it is his greatest pleasure to surround with every com- fort and luxury.
EDWARD B. BUTLER,
CHICAGO, ILL.
F DWARD B. BUTLER, one of the direct- ors of the World's Columbian Exposition, is a native of the Pine Tree State, and was born at Lewiston, December 16, 1853. When he was five years old his family removed to Boston, where he received such education as was afforded by the grammar and high schools of that city. He was brought up to work, and between school hours assisted his father, who was engaged in the retail grocery business. This may be said to be his first mercantile experience, but at the age of sixteen he left school and engaged with a whole- sale dry goods and notion house, where, filling successively the usual positions of bundle-boy, packer, entry clerk and shipper, he became a traveling salesman for the house at the carly age of eighteen. The next five years, engaged as a commercial traveler, first through New England and Canada, and afterward in the Western States, are regarded by Mr. Butler as among the most important of his life, because of the practical knowledge of business and merchants thus gained, and which it seems impossible to acquire in any other way.
In 1877 he returned to Boston, and with his brother, George 11. Butler, started in business under the firm name of Butler Brothers, their brother, Charles H., joining them a year later. The coming together of these three brothers meant certain ultimate success, but a history of the marvelous and extremely rapid growth of this house would read almost like a fairy tale. At first the firm dealt only in notions and small wares, and except that its members were unusu- ally alert and active, its business was not materi- ally different from that of a dozen other firms then engaged in a similar line of trade.
In January, 1878, however, a decided and rad- ical change was made, an innovation so abrupt and original in the methods of doing business as to place this firm prominently before the mercan- tile world as the creators of a new line of trade so peculiarly its own as to necessitate for it a new classification in the business directory of that day. They inaugurated among the retailers of America the " five-cent counter plan," a method which in itself seemed so trifling as to appear but a passing "bright idea"-a mere incident in mer-
In, " myBEM &Sms2. Infi AT SONY
Millard Sotto
Banker, Naperville, III. Settled at Gross Point. Cook to. in 1826.
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chandising-yet which has proven the foundation of the wonderfully successful "department stores " of the present day. The business increased with great strides to marvelous proportions, since merchants everywhere, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, were practically dependent upon this one house for their. " department store " goods. The idea of supplying thousands of articles which could be retailed at a uniform price was hardly more novel than the radical departure from exist- ing business methods which the firm of Butler Brothers made in its manner of soliciting trade. Instead of sending out a great number of travel- ing men, they issued a comprehensive catalogue, styled by them " Our Drummer," which, growing with the business, is to-day without doubt the most original and effective publication of its kind in the world. Mr. Butler is now president of the corporation-still retaining the name of Butler Brothers-which he, with his brothers, now dead, founded; with two houses, one in New York and the other in Chicago, employing more than three hundred men, and doing a yearly business of more than five million dollars. In order to give some idea of the magnitude of the adver- tising features of this house, we will state that last year upward of forty thousand dollars were paid for postage stamps for mailing the cata- logue from their Chicago house alone. To origi- nate, establish and carry to a successful issue such a scheme requires peculiar endowments in the man who has so succeeded. Mr. Butler is the pos- sessor of the qualifications needed. He is cool and deliberate in his judgment, a good judge of men, far-sighted and clear in his views of men and events. He is a man of courage, combined with that energy and perseverance that will overcome difficulties. To these qualities he adds a sa-
gacity and self-possession which enables him to employ his powers to the best advantage in all the affairs of life. The world owes much to such men. He is one of those who will behave with moderation under both good fortune and bad ; who will know how to be exalted and how to be abased; neither excessively elated with suc- cess, nor cast down by failure. He is graceful and dignified in person and manner, and culti- vated in his tastes, which of course he can gratify. He takes a special interest in all matters pertain- ing to moral progress, and contributes liberally of his money to the support of every worthy cause, having lately erected a building containing a picture gallery, a reading-room and branch of the Public Library, and donated .it to the Hull House settlement, which is located in the midst of Chicago's poor, in the southwestern portion of the city. The supervision of the immense busi- ness, as well as several private enterprises, and as director in a bank and trustee in four public institutions, together with his duties as vice-chair- man of the Ways and Means Committee of the World's Columbian Exposition, combine to make Mr. Butler one of the extremely busy men of Chicago. He is, however, always accessible to visitors, and receives all with cordial and un- feigned courtesy. He is a lover of the fine arts, and has a gallery at his residence, in which are hung many fine paintings. He is known to be an open-handed giver, particularly to objects which aim to help the poor to help themselves, and im- prove the mental and moral condition of men.
Mr. Butler was married in 1880 to Miss Jennie Holley, of Norwalk, Connecticut, a lady of rare attainments, added to much beauty of person and character, and who is greatly admired by a wide circle of friends.
CHARLES FRANCIS DAVIES,
CHICAGO, ILL.
T HE subject of this biography is one of the most substantial young lawyers practicing at the Chicago bar. He is well versed in all the elementary principles of the law, as well as the technicalities and subtleties of his profession, and in corporation law, to which he has given special
attention, there are few lawyers who are better posted than he.
He was born February 20, 1865, at Urbana, Illinois, and is the son of Benjamin M. and Eliza- beth (Cook) Davies. His father is a wealthy re- tired lumberman. Charles Francis commenced
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his education in the public schools. He spent four years in Washburn College, at Topeka. Kan- sas, and was graduated from that institution in 1884. During the last two years he was in col- lege he not only kept up his classical and scien- tific studies, but also found considerable time to devote to the study of the law in the office of an attorney at Topeka. He afterwards attended the Yale Law College two years, and was graduated therefrom in 1886. He was then admitted to the bar, and immediately settled in Chicago, where he has practiced law alone ever since with excel- lent success. He now has a large clientage
among the wealthy citizens and large corpora- tions of Chicago, occupying an elegant suite of offices in the Rookery building, and enjoying a luxurious home on Prairie avenue agreeably envi- roned. lle is now reaping the reward of his years of hard study and early industry. Mr. Davies is a member of the Union League Club, the Carle- ton Club, and the Union Veteran League Club.
He was married in 1886 to Miss Lena Tipton, of Jacksonville, Illinois, a highly educated lady, finely accomplished in music, painting and draw- ing. They have two children : BenAlla Francis and Lu Beth Margurite.
CHARLES FREDERICK GUNTHER,
CHICAGO, IL.L.
A MONG the men who have visited most quarters of the globe and made use of the artistic, scientific and practical knowledge that they had thus obtained, for the benefit of their fellow-men, none is more favorably known, nor has made better use of their advantages, thus ob- tained, for the city of Chicago and its inhabitants, than has the subject of this biography. He was born in Wildberg, a beautiful town located in the celebrated " Black Forest" district of Würtem- berg, South Germany, on March 6, 1837. When a lad of five years, his parents immigrated to the United States, the ocean voyage occupying fifty-two days between Havre and New York. They finally settled at Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In 1848, the family moved to the mountain district in Somerset county, and it was here and in the place of their previous residence that Charles obtained his ele- mentary education, by attending private schools. Our subject carly in life showed those traits of in- dependence and love of adventure and travel that have characterized his later life, and when but a mere child he made daily journeys over the mountains, carrying the United States mail. His daily trip was twenty miles and return. For this service he received twenty-five cents per diem.
In the spring of 1850 the family removed to Peru, Illinois, journeying by the Pennsylvania canal to Pittsburg, thence by the rivers to St. Louis, and thence up to the headwaters of the
Illinois river. Here young Gunther attended pri- vate and public schools, and at an early age be- gan his business career in a general store, which he soon left to accept a position in a drug store. He became a competent drug clerk, and also studied the rudiments of medical science. His next po- sition was in the post office at Peru, where he be- came manager of the office. Following that he became an employé in the bank of Alexander Cruickshank, who represented the famous banking house of George Smith and Co. of Chicago. He remained with this firm five years, and after three years in their employ, was made cashier of the bank. In those days Peru was a great ice pack- ing depot, whence large quantities of this com- modity were shipped to southern cities. Young Gunther, through his business relations, became intimately acquainted with prominent business men of the South, which at that time offered great opportunities to an ambitious young man. Resigned his position in the early fall of 1860, he went thither, and after visiting all of the leading cities of the Southern states, settled in Memphis, accepting a position with Messrs. Bohlen, Wilson and Co., the leading ice firm in the South. The opening of the war of the Rebellion about this time, paralyzed mercantile business in the South. After the firing upon Fort Sumter and the proclamation by President Lincoln, closing the ports of all Southern cities, a majority of the population of the South enlisted in the Confeder-
yours truly O. J. Gunther VinTher
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ate Army, and many of the " Sons of the North " fled from the southern territory. Not so with Mr. Gunther; he believed, with many others in the South, that the trouble would be short lived, and remained faithfully at his post. When the block- ade became effective and all mercantile pursuits practically dead, he accepted a position on the Arkansas River steamer, "Rose Douglas," in the service of the Confederate Government, as pur- chasing steward and subsequently as purser. He navigated all of the southern rivers tributary to the Mississippi, transporting troops, conscripts and supplies. By the capture of Memphis and New Orleans, this steamer, while up the Arkansas river was blockaded, and afterward was captured and burned at Van Buren, Arkansas, by Gen. Blunt's army, consisting principally of Kansas troops. Mr. Gunther, upon being liberated, was courteously entertained at the headquarters of the commanding general, and also at the head- quarters of his successor, Gen. Scofield. He next journeyed northward to Fort Scott and thence to Fort Leavenworth, traveling partly on horse- back and partly on a captured coach, there being then no railroads in that part of Missouri and Kansas. Returning to his old home in Peru, he remained there three days and then accepted a position, for a short time, in a bank at Peoria, made vacant by the temporary illness of an em- ployé.
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