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 46
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In 1884 Dr. Buffum went abroad, and spent some time in the hospitals of London and Paris, and on his return embodied his experience in arti- cles and addresses of great scientific value. He is a prolific writer, and is the author of a work on ophthalmology, which is used in many of the col- leges of this country, and which is one of the best productions extant on that subject. Among the most valuable of Dr. Buffum's contributions to medical literature are the following mono- graphs : " Dislocations of the Knee," " Electricity as an Adjunct in the Treatment of Spinal Dis- cases," "Two Cases of Transfusion of Blood," "Contribution to the Pathology of the Eye," " Electrolysis in the Treatment of Lachrymal Stricture," " Duboisnie" (a new drug), "Diph- thintic Conjunctivitis," "Colton Drumhead," " Dieleties," "The Galvanic Cautery in Surgery," " Tinnitis Aurium," " Clinical History of Sciatica," " Treatment of Some Eye Diseases by Means of
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Electricity," " Eye Headaches," "Eye Reflexes," "Tumors and Malformations of the Lids," "The Pupil in Health and Disease," "Ocular Neo- plasms," "The Ophthalmic and Aural Complica- tions of Scarlet Fever," and "Cataract Extrac- tion."
Prominent in the Masonic Order, he is a mem- ber of the following organizations : Cleveland Lodge, A. F. A. M .; Washington Chapter, R. A. M .; Apollo Commandery, Oriental Consistory and Medinah Temple.
In 1876 Dr. Buffum married Miss Evelyn Bar-
rett Sprague, a lady of high social standing in Jamestown, New York, and a granddaughter of the noted Abolitionist, William H. Tew. Two children have been born to them-Howard E. and Natalie S.
Dr. Buffum is a man of powerful mentality and iron will, strongly attached to his profession. Yet, with all the student's love for books, keenly appreciative of art, with the cosmic views of a traveler in many lands, he ranks to-day not only as one of the foremost professional men of this country, but also as a polished man of the world.
COL. W. THOMAS BLOCK,
CHICAGO, ILL.
C HICAGO has many young men who by various causes have risen to eminence and distinction ; men who have not yet reached the meridian of life, but who have already shown marked ability and great executive capacity, and among that number is the subject of this sketch, Col. W. T. Block, secretary of the great Grant Locomotive Works Company.
Col. Block comes of distinguished ancestry, and is of French and German descent. He is a native of Pennsylvania, being born at Marietta, Lancaster county, on January 6th, 1853. He is the son of A. B. Block, merchant, a native of France, who died in 1853, and of Barbara A. Brobst, his wife, a descendant of Philip Brobst, who emigrated from Saxony and settled in Berks county, Pa., in 1694, and daughter of Solomon Brobst, one of the contractors in building the Pennsylvania canals and various bridges over the Susquehanna river, and grand-daughter of Chris- tian Brobst, born 1767 and died 1849, who was an ensign in First Company, Second Battalion, Lt .- Col. Henry Spyker, in the Revolutionary War, and who settled in 1790 in Catawissa, Columbia county, Pa. He built the first flouring-mill in that county. He was one of the projectors of various internal improvements in the State, and was actually the first promoter of the railroads in the United States.
From the history of Columbia county, Pa., we find the following :
"The canal system was of inestimable value to
the commonwealth, and infused new vigor in the various communities located on its route, but there were regions inaccessible to this mode of transportation, the mineral wealth of which de- manded equal facilities for shipment. It was out of this demand that the first railroad grew, and Pennsylvania shares with Massachusetts the honors of inaugurating a system to which the nation so largely owes its phenomenal develop- ment.
" The first railroad in Pennsylvania was com- pleted in 1827, from Mauch Chunk to Summit Hill, but Christian Brobst, of Catawissa, had five years earlier taken a broader view of the useful- ness of the railroads. He was a man of limited school training, but nature had endowed him with rare foresight and reasoning power of high order. It is said that the number of rafts floating down the river first attracted his attention, and anxious to build up the place of his residence, he began to reckon the advantage which would accrue if all this traffic could be made to pass through Catawissa to its final destination. He took actual account of the river traffic and compiled statistics and arguments which commanded the attention of capitalists. His energy did not cease with this, however. Once assured of the advantage of a railroad he proceeded to demonstrate its practicability. He was not a civil engineer, but with some knowledge of the method employed, gained by observation, by his own ingenuity he equipped himself for the work, and ran out a
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practical line for the proposed road. Mr. Brobst possessed a 'Jacob's Staff.' He had a tin tube of proper dimensions made, into the upper side of which he made small holes at either end. In these he inserted small glass vials "puttied " fast, which, when half filled with water, enabled him to level his instrument. With this crude instrument he located and leveled a line which was considered by engineers subsequently em- ployed a marvel of accuracy. His engineering skill did not enable him to get a practical route over the mountains, and the apparent necessity for an expensive tunnel balked his plans for a time. The projected road extended from Cata- wissa to Tamaqua. In 1825 he got certain capitalists to view the proposed route, which made such a favorable impression on them that, in 1831, a company for the construction of the road was chartered. In the mean time he had enlisted the co-operation of Joseph Paxton, who was better fitted to deal with monied men, and in 1854, after overcoming great difficulties and discouragements, the first passenger train was greeted at Catawissa. It is now operated by the Philadelphia and Read- ing Company.
"Christain Brobst, afterwards, was one of the promoters together with Stephen Girard of the Little Schuylkill Railroad, now part of the Read- ing railroad system.
" In 1826, whilst a member of the State Legis- lature, he took an interest in the scheme to intro- duce steamboats on the Susquehanna River, and was on the fatal boat 'Codrous' that was de- stroyed by the boiler exploding when near Ber- wick, Pa. Mr. Brobst was badly injured at this time, but lived for some years a useful citizen, and well respected, leaving a large family and a large fortune."
Mrs. Block, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was also a grand-daughter of Peter Mel- lick, who emigrated from New Jersey in 1774, and located in Columbia county, Pa. Peter Mellick was in the campaigns of 1776 and 1777 at Valley Forge. In 1778 he was with Lieut. Moses Van Campen, in the defense at Wheeler's Fort, in the great Indian massacre in the beautiful Wyoming Valley. He was a man well thought of and left a large family and considerable means. Some of his descendants were well-known public men, among them being the eminent physicians, Philip
Leidy and Joseph Leidy, late of the University of Pennsylvania, the latter of whom being re- garded the greatest demonstrator of anatomy that ever lived, and who also had the honor and dis- tinction of being the discoverer of trichina in the hog.
Young Block received a very limited schooling; he attended the public and high schools at Colum- bia, Pa., until fourteen years of age ; but being of a very studious nature, he managed to acquire a very good rudimentary knowledge before leaving school at that early age, the age when most boys just begin to acquire knowledge.
In August, 1867, young Block entered the serv- icc of the Reading Railroad and remained with that company in various capacities, receiving pro- motion after promotion, until 1878, when he was engaged by the Hannibal and St. Joseph Rail- road, where he remained until 1882, when he entered the service of the Wisconsin, lowa and Nebraska Railway, now known as the Chicago, St. Paul and Kansas City Railway, remaining until December, 1888, filling the positions suc- cessively of auditor, treasurer, traffic manager and superintendent.
In 1885, Col. Block was appointed aide-de-camp on the staff of Governor Larrabee, of lowa, for two years, with the title of Lieut .- Col., and in 1887 was reappointed for another term of two years.
Col. Block is a man of business and of vast and various enterprises, as is indicated by the numer- ous concerns in which he is actively engaged, and most of which he has been the originator.
He was the promoter of the Chicago, Fort Madison and Des Moines Railway Company, now (1892) being built in Iowa, and is at present vice- president of the company. He was the promoter and president of the Chicago and Southwestern Railroad in Cicero, Cook county, Illinois, now owned by the Chicago and Northern Pacific Railroad.
He was also one of the promoters of the Grant Locomotive Works Company, of which he is a director and also secretary ; also secretary and treasurer of the Grant Land Association ; vice- president of the Harrisburgh and Cornwall Turn- pike Company in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania ; is vice-president and director in the Columbian Pyrotechnical Company.
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Col. Block is charitably inclined, as is shown by the fact that he is a director and also vice- president of the Chicago Charity Hospital. He is also an associate member of the Real Estate Board of Chicago. He is vice-president of the Illinois Society of the Sons of American Revolu- tion.
In 1880 Col. Block was married to Miss Anna E. Scott, daughter of William P. Scott, of Iowa, a brother of the late railway magnate, Col. Thomas A. Scott, of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Block is a great grand-daughter of Col. John Piper of revolutionary fame, who was a member of the conventions in Philadelphia in 1775, 1776 and 1778, and a member of the two Constitutional conventions of 1778, and filled many public offices in Pennsylvania. He was of Scotch-Irish descent.
In politics Col. Block is an ardent Republican,
though not a politician ; his many interests claim- ing his undivided attention. He is interested in church matters, and is a member of the Episco- palian church.
Socially, Col. Block is much esteemed. He is a member of the Union League and Sunset Clubs.
Col. Block is of medium size, genial in nature, broad and liberal in his views. In his railroad career he has passed through all the various grades. He is active and pushing, is a hard worker, and withal is a student still and bears the imprint of culture.
From boyhood up, Col. Block's life has been marked by strict integrity, independent action and close attention to business. Conscientious, benevolent and warm in his affections, he has endeared himself to a large circle of friends, and presents an example of self-culture well worthy of emulation.
ADOLPH PLUEMER,
CINCINNATI, OHIO.
A DOLPH PLUEMER is a native of Cassel, Germany. He was born July 9, 1851, the son of Wilhelm and Wilhelmina Pluemer. He was educated in his native land, and before attain- ing his majority immigrated to the United States and settled at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he has ever since made his home. He turned his attention to mercantile pursuits immediately upon his arrival there, and step by step has worked his way until he has become identified with many of the ma- terial interests of that flourishing city. At the present time (1892) he is a member of the firm of Hosford & Pluemer, dealers in pig-iron, and is also secretary and treasurer of the Virgina State Granite Company, whose quarries are located near Richmond, Virginia.
In political affairs Mr. Pluemer has taken com- mendable interest ; he is a staunch Republican, and a life-member and director of the Lincoln Club, and also a director in the Young Men's Blaine Club and the North Cincinnati Republican Club of his city. His name has been frequently mentioned in connection with official positions, both State and National, but he has never sought political honors, and with the exception of having
served several years on the board of school trus- tees he has held no public office. He is promi- nent and influential in German society, and is also one of the leading members of the Order of Cincinnatus, which has been so largely instru- mental in spreading the fame of and popularizing his adopted city. He was also one of the found- ers of the Cincinnati School of Technology. He is a life-member of the American Institute of Mining Engineers and a member of the Charcoal Iron Workers of the United States. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Nova Cæsarea Harmony Lodge, No. 2, F. and A. M., a thirty-second degree Mason of the Scottish Rite, a member of Syrian Temple, N. M. S., and a member of Trinity Commandery, Knights Templar. He is also a member of the North Cincinnati Turner Society.
In all his business dealings and social relations Mr. Pluemer has maintained a manliness and no- bility of character that has won for him universal confidence and esteem. With his admirable exec- utive ability he combines courteous manners and a pleasing address, and his selection as alternate
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commissioner from Ohio to the World's Colum- bian Exposition, to be held at Chicago, in 1893, was in every way a commendable one. On April
19, 1879, Mr. Pluemer married Miss Henrietta Fischer, of Cincinnati, by whom he has four children-Meta, Gisela, Herbert and Blanche.
HENRY R. SYMONDS,
CHICAGO, ILL.
H ENRY ROBERTS SYMONDS, one of the leading bankers and representative men of Chicago, was born on January 11, 1840, at Niagara Falls, New York, and attended school there until he was fifteen years of age. He then commenced his career in the banking business, which he followed uninterruptedly through life, in all its departments, with marked success and acknowledged ability. The carly years that others devote to study, he spent in the acquirement of practical knowledge, and was all his life a student.
Mr. Symonds settled in Chicago in 1859 and took a position as teller in the Aiken & Norton Bank. The senior partner of this firm was the founder of the First National Bank of Chicago.
After two years he accepted a position as cashier in the banking-house of C. B. Blair, which afterwards became the Merchants' National Bank. His next position was as assistant cashier, in the First National Bank, at the time Mr. Lyman J. Gage was cashier. He was afterwards made cashier, and in 1891 was elected first vice-presi- dent, in which position he labored unsparingly in the discharge of its arduous and responsible du- ties, and did so, even when prostrated by sickness.
As a financier, Mr. Symonds was an acknowl- edged authority, having a thorough knowledge of every feature and detail, both as a student and as a practical banking-man.
Mr. Symonds was a man of a happy disposition, deeply attached to his family, his home and his library. Although a member of the Union League and Illinois clubs, he cared nothing for society ; his family, music and literature fully occupied the hours he could spare from business.
In January, 1892, Mr. Symonds first felt the effects of the illness, which proved afterwards to be so serious and disastrous. He struggled against its effects for some time, and during the illness of Mr. Lyman Gage he attended business for a few hours daily, contrary to the desire of
his family and the advice of his physician ; the result of this overtaxing his strength was to ultimately prostrate him by an acute nervous attack. Even then, while confined to his room, his indomitable energy prompted him to transact, by telephone, important business.
His physicians advised him to go to Florida, and in accordance with their instructions he left Chicago on the 26th of January for Jacksonville, accompanied by his wife and children. Soon after reaching Florida, his illness, which had been serious, became alarming. During his illness his wife was constantly by his side, and night and day devoted herself to his recovery, but her lov- ing ministrations were unavailing. His strength exhausted, and his constitution weakened by sickness and overwork, he was unable to with- stand the strain of a complication of ailments.
At seven o'clock on the evening of the 26th of March, 1892, he breathed his last, a martyr to devotion to duty. By his death, Chicago lost one of her most prominent business-men, and the First National Bank one of its ablest directors. Mr. E. F. Lawrence, director of the First National Bank, who had known Mr. Symonds for many years, summed up his worth in the sentence: " A better man never breathed the air of life. He was a true man.'
Mr. Symonds was married twice; first when very young to Miss Julia Ackley, and afterwards in 1876 to Miss Charlotte L. McKay, of this city. Three children of the first marriage survive, viz .: Mrs. F. K. Morrill, Charles H. and Florence. By the second marriage there are four children-Paul, Edith, Edward Lawrence, and Henry Roberts, the eldest being fourteen years, and the youngest nine months of age.
In the companionship of his devoted wife, and in the sunshine and smiles of his affectionate children, Mr. Symonds passed the happiest hours of his life. His constant endeavor was to sur-
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round them with every comfort and luxury, and his greatest pleasure was to make them happy.
The following testimonial from the officers of the First National Bank speaks volumes for the record of the twenty-five years that he was con- nected with that institution :
In the death of Henry R. Symonds, late vice-president of this bank, this Board has occasion to mourn the loss of one who through nearly twenty-five years of faithful service has closely identified himself with the history of the institution. His clear comprehension of the great trust imposed upon him; his earnest application to duty; his scrupulous regard for the interests he represented; his prudence, fortitude and
courage, made his official life most effective and valuable. We desire to record our appreciation of these qualities as illustrated in him, and to express to his bereaved family our sincere sympathy in their affliction. Therefore
Resolved, That this memorial be spread upon the records of this Board, and an engrossed copy thereof be prepared and sent to Mrs. Symonds. L. J. GAGE, President.
R. J. STREET, Secretary.
Prof. David Swing, in his brief remarks at the home thus fittingly spoke of his life's career: " He was honorable ; he was industrious ; he was faith- ful, but he was mortal. The time comes when each heart must go away from its earthly shrine."
WILLARD ADELBERT SMITH,
CHICAGO, ILL.
TN the organization preparatory to the World's Fair, which is to be held in Chicago, many important departments are necessary. On the foresight, experience and ability of the heads of the departments depend the success of this vast undertaking. One of the greatest difficulties of Director-General Davis and the Board of Control has been in selecting the proper man to direct each department. The work of each department is like the Exposition itself, vast in its area, impor- tant in its results and world-wide in its influences.
" The bureau of transportation exhibits: rail- ways, vessels and vehicles," is an entirely new department in the history of world's fairs. The exhibits of this department have, in former ex- positions, been distributed through other depart- ments. The World's Columbian Exposition has wisely determined to give this great subject the attention which its importance deserves. It is intended that the exhibits shall fully cover and illustrate the entire subject of transportation in all its forms, the development of roads and high- ways, vehicles of all kinds from the earliest times to the present day, and the crudest methods used by savage tribes to the latest and most improved machinery used upon railways or upon the sea.
Willard A. Smith, the subject of this sketch, has been appointed and has accepted the position of chief of this department. He was born Sep- tember 20, 1849, at Kenosha, Wisconsin. His father was W. H. Smith, whose ancestors settled in New England about 1640, and his mother,
Hetty, née Allen, was from New York State. Willard Adelbert was the third son in a family of four. He received his elementary education in his native town. When twelve years old his par- ents removed to Rockford, Illinois, where he con- tinued his public school education and graduated in the High School class of that city in 1865. He was immediately entered for a full course at Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, Illinois, where he graduated four years afterward, taking second honors in his class. Being now in his twentieth year and having completed his college course, he entered the law department of Washington Uni- versity, where after a careful reading of law he was admitted to the bar. In his law examination he took first honors in his class, and was conceded the place of facile princeps. He then spent a year in the law school, after which he commenced the practice of his profession. As a lawyer, Mr. Smith proved, by taking the highest place in his class at the university, that he had not only a thorough knowledge of law, but a facility in its application. As a student he was diligent, meth- odical and successful. His application and ability gained for him the esteem of his professors, and his high sense of honor, kindly nature and scrupu- lous integrity rendered him very popular with his class fellows. Generous in spirit, studious in habit and agreeable in disposition, Mr. Smith has made many friends.
While diligently applying himself to his studies at college he found time to edit and publish a
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college paper. Journalism was evidently his forte. In it, even as a student, he achieved success. Not long after his school days Mr. Smith entered the new field of railroad special journalism. In 1872 he established the St. Louis Railway Register, and finding the work attractive and the track un- beaten, he moved to Chicago as a great railroad center and has made it his home ever since. The Railway Review had been established in 1868, but had only made small progress. Mr. Smith pur- chased it in 1874 and has since devoted himself to its publication. It is now one of the largest and most influential railroad organs in the country. Ile is also the owner and publisher of a monthly journal, The Railway Master Mechanic, and an annual publication, The Official Railway List.
Mr. Smith's long experience, special study and familiar acquaintance with railroad work and rail- road men eminently fit him for his present posi- tion of Chief of the Bureau of Transportation Exhibits. Director-General Davis also thinks so, and such is also the opinion of the Board of Directors and the Board of Control, who have unanimously confirmed the selection. The ap- pointment was made July 10, 1891, and was formally accepted July 27, 1891, when the work of organization was commenced.
Mr. Smith is well informed on the nature of his
duties, the importance of the interests represented and the large field which his department covers. The department is a new one and offers a rare opportunity to its chief to awaken inquiry and stimulate improvement. It is certainly one of the largest and most important branches of the exposition, and is capable of being made one of the most interesting. To trace the means of transportation from the earliest time down to the present date from the rude Indian ox carts to the latest achievements of steam and electricity - is an educational feature of this exposition of great interest and benefit to the public. There is every reason to believe that Mr. Smith, now in the prime of life, with excellent training and enjoying the confidence of the directorate, will make his department one of the most successful.
Mr. Smith is a member of the Union League Club and is president of the Chicago Baptist Social Union. He is also a member of the Western Society of Engineers and a number of other technical organizations.
In May, 1873, Mr. Smith married Miss Maria Dickinson, of St. Louis, Missouri. He resides on the South Side, and in the company of his accomplished wife and three loving children, whom he delights to surround with every comfort, he finds his greatest pleasure.
LEMUEL CONANT GROSVENOR, M.D.
CHICAGO, ILL.
A S his name indicates, the subject of this biography is descended from two noted colonial families-the Grosvenors and Conants- whose prominence in medicine, in the ministry, and as anti-slavery workers, is a matter of history. He was born at Paxton, in Central Massachusetts, in 1833, the eldest child of Deacon Silas N. Gros- venor and Mary A. (Conant) Grosvenor. His father was a leading business man of Paxton. The mother was a daughter of the Rev. Gaius Conant, who for twenty-five years was pastor of the Paxton Congregational Church. She was a woman of rare piety and strength of character, who spared no pains in training her children in ways of right and virtue. It was her especial de- sire that this eldest son should follow in the steps
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