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 49
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
Young Revell was then but thirteen years of age. He had been a steady attendant up to this time at the old Jones school, on the corner of Clark and Harrison streets. A new and greater problem now confronted the boy. He had not
only an education to acquire but a living to make. From the wreck of his father's fortune there remained a horse and wagon. With these and his American "grit" for capital he attacked the hard problem cheerfully. Night schools gave him the opportunity to win an education; the day was his fighting time for bread and butter. For a while he earned money by delivering trunks from the Rock Island depot. This was not very productive work, however, and the young lad then showed that keen appreciation of the oppor- tunities at hand which has characterized his whole life. The streets of the city were filled with clouds of gritty, sharp dust from the cinders of the great fire, which was exceedingly annoying. He started to sell goggles, and for a time did a thriving business. He also distributed hand-bills on the street; later he was to be found in a lamp-factory polishing lanterns. He was saving money all this time, and next started a little grocery-store, shortly after a flour and feed-store, and finally a small furniture-storc.
In 1874, the "hard times" year, the young storekeeper, still alive to the signs of the times, sold out his little business and started out with his horse and wagon again. His work was chiefly delivering goods to and from the various auction- houses. He took a deep interest in the goods he was hauling for other people; soon he be- came a purchaser on his own account and deliv- ered his own goods. All was fish that came to his net; he invested in coffee, in books, in hard- ware, furniture, soap, hats, caps, in any merchan- dise that offered him a profit. A story of thesc early days is illustrative. Not long before Christ- mas he stumbled across a large lot of castile soap in an auction-house, brought in from a bankrupt concern. He bought six boxes at three cents a
489
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
pound and started out to find a customer. In a short time he was successful, selling to a grocery firm these six boxes at six cents a pound. With this money he returned to the auction-house and got an option on the whole stock. With a few samples he started out again to find a buyer. He walked into a big wholesale grocery house on Lake street and showed his samples. The mer- chant tested the soap, asked a few questions, and, surprised at the youthfulness of his customer, requested him to wait while he went out and looked it up. Young Revell waited a half an hour, but when the merchant returned made his ยท sale at seven cents a pound, netting three hun- dred and seventy-five dollars by the transaction. Part of this money made what might have been a dull Christmas very bright and cheerful for his family, and part went to join other savings in the State Savings Institution. A short time after- wards this bank failed, and young Revell had but his bank-book left-every cent was swept away ; but he had more years and more experience and his "grit " was still with him.
Swallowing down all useless sighs he began to seek employment in some business-house. Among others, he applied to A. T. Stewart & Co., who had just opened a western branch in Chicago. He was offered seven dollars a week to work in the carpet department, but having fixed eight dollars as his minimum he refused the offer. Finally he secured employment in a furniture store on Fifth avenue. By hard, steady work he saved in two years three hundred dollars. His self-reliance found that capital enough, and with a fellow- clerk, J. E. Geohegan, since deceased, he opened, in 1878, an unpretentious little store at No. 77 Fifth avenue. Young Revell was then but twenty years of age, it is to be remembered. The little business was well managed and prospered accord- ingly. In one year the partners moved into ampler quarters in one of the stores now a part of the mammoth establishment of A. H. Revell & Co. 'This same year he bought out his part- ner's interest. From that time the business has grown to the present vast building with its forty departments, its army of clerks and salesmen and its enormous and varied stock. Besides the great retail establishment that bears his name, he is also president of the A. H. Revell Manufacturing Co., which occupies a huge building on the corner of
Polk street and Fifth avenue, and gives employ- ment to over two hundred men.
Parallel with his financial winnings have been his social and educational conquests. The race for money did not blind him to the necessity for brain wealth. Mr. Revell is a director in sev- eral educational, benevolent and social organi- zations. The Marquette Club, of which he was president in 1889-90, owes its position in the front rank of Chicago clubs very largely to his excellent judgment and tireless energy. He is a member of the Chicago Board of Education, and also, as one of the directors and member of the executive committee of the World's Columbian Exposition, he is untiring in his efforts for the success of that great enterprise.
He has traveled extensively in the four quar- ters of the globe. He is thoroughly American and thoroughly alive to the interests of his native city.
In politics Mr. Revell is a Republican, and in- terests himself actively in all elections, municipal, State or national.
Such is his public history. Personally he is a genial, frank gentleman, with a cordial, cheery voice, a pleasant smile and a decided firm grasp of the hand for his friends. All are indicative of the man. He is anything but an autocrat; a curt command never leaves his lips, but in either of his great establishments, or wherever he makes a request, he finds instant and willing obedience. No man knows better than he the trials of the workingman's life, and that knowledge stands him in good stead. His successes have not been too great for him. He set out to succeed, kept his aim steadily in view and reached it.
He has a beautiful home-life. His mother is yet living to see and enjoy the creditability and successes of her boy. Three years ago he mar- ried Miss Maude B. Richardson, daughter of Samuel H. Richardson, a well-known Chicagoan. They have one child, a daughter.
Such is the history of his early manhood, in- deed of his boyhood. Before him stretches out a long series of years. Judging from the record of the past, from the knowledge of the present, it is safe to say that other and greater honors and triumphs await him in these coming years. How- ever that may be, there is a great value in the history of his life for young men.
490
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
Alexander HI. Revell has to trace his successes primarily to the excellent and specially American trait or characteristic summed up in the word " backbone." Under adversity, failures, setbacks,
obstacles, he stood upright, and with honest per- severance and manhood fought steadily until he had conquered every obstacle to the success he, from the first, determined to attain.
JOSEPH SIDNEY MITCHELL, M.D.
CHICAGO, ILL.
T HE subject of our sketch was born Decem- mann Medical College. In 1867 he became ber 9, 1839, in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Professor of Physiology in the same institution ; and in 1870 was given the chair of Theory and Practice of Medicine. He was one of the young- est men ever called to fill so important a chair. His family is one of the finest of that grand old State and has, through all its history, been noted for its achievements. His father, llon. Joseph Mitchell, was for many years prominent in Massa- In 1876 Dr. Mitchell withdrew from Hahne- mann College to engage in the organization of the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, of which he is the head. For seven years he was secretary of Illinois State Homeopathic Medical Association, during which time the active mem- bership doubled. He was also president of the above-mentioned society. He is physician-in- charge of the medical department of the Chicago Homeopathic Hospital, late attending physician Cook County Hospital, Dean of Chicago Home- opathic Medical College, and honorary member of the Massachusetts, Indiana and Kentucky State Medical associations. In 1881, when the International Medical Congress met in London, Dr. Mitchell was chosen by his brother physicians as one of the American delegates. His practice in this city is very extensive, and no small part of his time is given to consultations in this and other States. chusetts politics. Of this family were William Mitchell, the eminent scientist, and one of the early overseers of Harvard College, Miss Maric Mitchell, the celebrated astronomer, and Rev. Arthur Mitchell, D. D., secretary American Board Commissioners, Foreign Missions. His mother was a Folger, that English family which set- tled here in 1660, and to which belonged the mother of Benjamin Franklin (the late Secre- tary Folger was a member of this family). Dr. Mitchell's summer residence in Nantucket has been in the Folger family since 1707, a period of one hundred and eighty-five years. Dr. Mitchell has had three brothers, all deceased, and two sisters, both women of distinguished ability. Miss Annie Mitchell is official stenographer of the United States Court at Chicago ; and Mrs. Ellen Mitchell, a very brilliant woman, well-known as a writer, was an ex-president of the Fortnightly Club, and was the first woman ever appointed on the Board of Education in this city.
Dr. Mitchell's early education was obtained in the schools of his native town and in the English High School of Boston. In 1859, when twenty years of age, he entered Williams College, from which he graduated with honor in 1863. Having now, in accordance with his natural inclination, chosen the medical profession, he began a course of study at Bellevue Medical College, and gradu- ated in 1865. He then came to Chicago and entered upon a career which from the first was marvelously successful. Before he had practiced a year he was appointed to the Lectureship of Surgical and Pathological Anatomy in Hahne-
As a lecturer Dr. Mitchell has the reputation of conveying to his hearers a very correct and vivid idea of the subject in hand, and as a writer, in the language of a prominent medical journal, "He expresses himself with clearness and an honesty and modesty which are exceptional and refresh- ing." Dr. Mitchell is very widely known to the medical profession of the whole civilized world as the originator of what is now termed the " Mitchell method " for the treatment of cancer, which receives favorable notice from medical journals. In a late issue of the New England Medical Gazette we find the following: "This method is constantly receiving fresh testimony to its efficacy. We expressed our cordial interest in
Truly yours
493
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
its possibilities when Dr. Mitchell first commended his method to the experimental attention of the profession, and we have with unabated interest followed its growth in professional favor; it seems a method of treatment as useful as it is gentle."
Dr. Mitchell has always been a Republican though non-partisan in spirit. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian, liberal and tolerant of the views of others. He attends the First Presbyte- rian church of this city.
A member of the Alpha Delta Phi Society and of the Nineteenth Century Club, he is a well- known figure in social and literary circles-truly one of America's aristocracy, who has won place by his benefits to mankind, and which he holds by force of intellect and graciousness of manner.
In 1864 Dr. Mitchell was married to Miss Helen S. Leeds, daughter of Joseph and Arethusa Leeds, of Philadelphia, and niece of Rev. Dr. George Leeds, rector of Grace Church, Baltimore. Mrs. Mitchell is a woman of superior social and intellectual qualities and her beautiful home is a center of refinement and culture. Her fath- er, Mr. Joseph Leeds, won a national reputa- tion through his efforts in behalf of the pres- ervation of the old South Church in Boston, and to secure a monument of memorials of the Revo- lution.
Dr. Mitchell has three children ; Miss Helen, the eldest, an accomplished vocalist, and a leader in society ; Sidney, aged fourteen, a promising young athlete, and Leeds, aged twelve, who is an amateur musician of rare talent.
PETER A. B. WIDENER,
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
PETER A. B. WIDENER is a native of Phila- delphia, Pa., where he was born November 13, 1834. He is a son of John and Sarah (Falmer) Widener, both of whom were natives of the "City of Brotherly Love." Our subject received his edu- cation in the public and high schools of his native city, and early in life acquired those habits of industry that have characterized his subsequent career. It was his habit when study hours were over to spend his spare time working in a print- ing-office. Upon attaining his majority Mr. Wid- ener turned his attention to the slaughtering and packing business on a moderate scale, it being a business which, at that time, seemed to offer the largest returns to one with a limited capital, an important consideration to one engag- ing in his first business venture. Ever on the alert, with a view to bettering himself and quick to discern a good business chance, he, in 1862, became interested in street railways, and so im- pressed was he with the opportunities which this business offered, with its wide and ever-growing field, that two years later, in 1864, he withdrew from the packing business, in which he had been very successful, and turned his attention to the development of this new enterprise. From that time until the present this business has engaged
his chief attention, and his interests have grown to enormous proportions, he being now largely interested in the entire street railway system of Philadelphia, the Broadway and other street railways of New York, the North Chicago and the West Chicago street railways, and the Balti- more Traction Company of Baltimore, Md., and he formerly, with others, owned the South Boston Street Railway, which was sold to the present owner, the West End Company. He has also been interested in various other enterprises and now owns a controlling interest in the Garden Brick Company, the largest plant of the kind in the country, noted far and wide for the fine quality and great variety of its products. Aside from his private affairs, Mr. Widener has taken an active part in many public enterprises connected with the welfare and growth of his city, and is known as a broad-minded, public-spirited citizen, ready to contribute without stint, of his time and energy and money, to every worthy cause. From 1867 to 1870 he served as a member of the Board of Edu- cation of Philadelphia. He was city and county treasurer from 1870 to 1877, and during the year (1890). he was appointed a member of the Park Commission for a term of five years, and is also one of the commissioners-at-large to the World's
494
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
Columbian Exposition. This appointment is es- pecially happy and one for which Mr. Widener's extensive travels, both in Europe and throughout various sections of his own country, peculiarly fit him; for, being a thorough business-man, a close observer and essentially a man of affairs, wide- awake, practical and progressive, he brings to
the councils of the body of which he has been honored with membership, the fruits of a busy, thoughtful life, and a rich and varied expe- rience. Mr. Widener is a Republican in his po- litical faith, and has been a firm adherent to the principles of that party since its organiza- tion in 1856.
CURTIS H. REMY,
CHICAGO, ILL.
C URTIS II. REMY is a native of Indiana, and was born April 29, 1852, near the town of Hope, in Bartholomew county, the son of Allison C. Remy, who is of French origin, and Sophia (Spaugh) Remy, of German ancestry. His father made his own way in the world from the time he was ten years old, and resides in Indianapolis, Indi- ana, a highly respected and influential citizen. Curtis received his preliminary education in the public schools, and at the age of thirteen was sent to Nazareth Hall School, the great Moravian school, in Pennsylvania, where he remained three years. Later he pursued a course of study in Transylvania College, at Lexington, Kentucky, graduating in 1871, and afterwards graduated from the law de- partment of the Northwestern University at In- dianapolis, Indiana, in 1872. While in the law school and after he had studied under the direc- tion of Judge Byron K. Elliott, now of the Su- preme bench of Indiana, and also with Gen. Thomas M. Brown, then United States District Attorney at Indianapolis, he practically made his own way, and throughout his years of prepar- atory study Mr. Remy was a careful and pains- taking student, conscientiously seeking to make the most and best use of his opportunities; and he brought to his profession a well-disciplined mind, a sturdy constitution, invincible energy, splendid judgment, indefatigable industry and indomi- table will.
Beginning the practice of his profession at In- dianapolis, in 1873, he continued there with mod- crate success untill 1876, when he removed to Chicago. During his first three years here he was in practice by himself, but in the fall of 1879 associated himself with J. C. Chumasero, who had recently come from Rochester, New York, under
the firm name of Remy & Chumasero. This re- lation continued until May, 1882, at which time the firm was dissolved and Mr. Remy organized the firm of Flower, Remy & Gregory, which after- ward ranked among the most widely-known law firms of Chicago, and he continued in this firm with- out change until the spring of 1889, when the firm was dissolved and Mr. Remy opened his present office in the Owings Building.
Though still a comparatively young man, Mr. Remy has attained to a leading place at the Chicago bar, and maintains the universal re- spect and esteem of his professional brethren here and elsewhere, and to his liberal clientage is known as a quick, reliable and conscientious counselor.
Aside from his profession, Mr. Remy has taken an active interest in public matters, and has been called to numerous positions of public trust. Hc was for several years president of the Board of Trustees of the village of Evanston, and so dis- charged the duties of his office as to receive the highest commendations of his fellow-citizens; but he has no taste for office and has declined many opportunities to fill public offices.
He is a man of cheerful, genial temperament, high-minded, energetic, painstaking in business, courteous and cordial. He is a member of the Evanston Blue Lodge, A. F. and A. M .; the Ev- anston Chapter, R. A. M., and the Evanston Commandery of Knights Templar. He is also a member of the Bar Association of Chicago, of the State Bar Association, and general coun- sel, for Illinois, of the American Bar Association, and belongs to the Union League Club, of Chi- cago, the Evanston Boat Club, and the Evanston Club of Evanston, and other clubs.
497
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
Mr. Remy is a staunch Republican and has always taken an active interest in political affairs, and is frequently heard from in conventions.
In his religious sentiment and affiliation he is a Methodist and a liberal patron of charities. He is a man of liberal culture, and has traveled ex- tensively.
He was married October 27, 1875, to Miss Fan- nie Wheeler, by whom he has one child, Victor. Mrs. Remy is a lady of rare womanly qualities, charming in manner, attractive in appearance, and withal accomplished and modest, and who, with dignity and grace presides over their home, always a happy center of friendly hospitality.
ROSWELL ZENAS HERRICK,
CHICAGO, ILL.
M ANY of the hardy sons of Maine, who have made Chicago their home, have become honored and respected citizens. Among those that have attained a high position in the business community, Roswell Z. Herrick is conspicuous .. He was born in East Corinth, Maine, on Decem- ber 28, 1846. His parents, Joshua M. and Betsey (Stinchfield) Herrick, were both descendants of old Colonial families. The paternal ancestor from whom the Herricks in the United States are descended, was Henry Herrick, who settled in Beverly, Massachusetts, about the year 1629. Henry Herrick, born in 1604, was the fifth son of Sir William Herrick, a celebrated goldsmith and money-lender of London; Sir William was born in 1557. He was a member of Parliament from 1601 to 1620, and was knighted by King James I in 1605. His son Henry, who was delegated to investigate his mercantile affairs in the Colony of Virginia, finally located permanently in Beverly, Massachusetts. Our subject is a descendant of Sir William in the tenth generation. The grand- father of Roswell settled in East Corinth, Maine, in 1807, being one of the pioneers of that place. Here Joshua M. Herrick, our subject's father, a hearty, healthy old gentleman of seventy-six, still resides. The Herricks are known as a family of prominence in England even now, and Beaumanor Park, Leicestershire, England, the abode of the English branch of the family, is an object of inter- est to all European tourists. The celebrated British poet, Herrick, was a nephew of Sir William Herrick. Our subject's maternal ancestors, the Stinchfields, were prominent residents of Cumber- land county, Maine, and they can also trace their descent to the Anglo-Saxon race.
Roswell obtained his earlier education in the
academy at East Corinth, Maine. His first ex- perience with the business world was in a minor position in the office of the Register of Deeds at Bangor, Maine, he entering the business as copy- ing clerk, and when he retired had charge of the office. In the winter of 1868 and 1869 he was en- gaged by the firm of Dwinel & Dennett, lumber- dealers at Bangor, for office work, but in May, 1869, he removed to Chicago, and has resided there ever since. Upon his arrival in Chicago he accepted a position as messenger in the Union Stock Yards National Bank, which had been organized in 1868, with Mr. S. M. Nickerson as president, and the late Mr. E. S. Stickney as cashier. He adapted himself to his new surround- ings, and soon became bookkeeper, and later paying-teller. He occupied the latter position for fourteen years, and then became general man around the bank, being able to fill any position in the institution. Upon the organization of the National Live Stock Bank, which succeeded the older institution on March 1, 1888, he became cashier, and in January, 1890, was elected a direc- tor of the bank ; he has filled both of his positions satisfactorily since. Mr. Herrick has interested himself but very little in matters outside of the bank, but was one of the organizers, and is presi- dent of the Drexel Building and Loan Association. He is a member and trustee of the Forty-first Street Presbyterian Church. He is a prominent Mason, having joined the Olive Branch Lodge, A. F. and A. M., of Charleston, Maine, in 1868. He has always taken a deep interest in Masonry, and is now a member of Home Lodge, 508, A. F. and A. M., Chicago Chapter, 127, R. A. M., and Chevalier Bayard Commandery, 52, K. T. In all of these bodies he has held the highest official
498
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
positions. He also takes the deepest interest in his home and family, and does not desire to ap- pear prominently in social life. However, he is a member of the Oakland Club, Bankers' Club and and one of the directors of "The Society of the Sons of Maine."
Politically Mr. Herrick is a Republican, and for two years, 1880 and 1881, he was treasurer of the village of Hyde Park. He was president of the Hyde Park Board of Education for two terms, when his office was discontinued on account of the annexation of the village of Hyde Park to the city of Chicago.
On October 28, 1873, he was married to Miss Martha E. Thurston, daughter of Mark Thurston, of Bangor, Maine. The Thurston family is one of the oldest and most respected in New Hampshire, where they have been prominent residents for
more than two hundred years. The couple are blessed with one child, a daughter, named Ger- trude T.
Mrs. Ilerrick is an esteemed lady of refinement ; she was educated in the High School of Bangor, Maine, and is possessed of those many charms that are natural to a happy wife and mother.
Such is a brief outline of his life. That he stands well in the community is evidenced by the fact that he is now cashier of one of the largest financial institutions of Chicago, and in which he has filled positions of trust for nearly a quarter of a century. He has always endeavored to treat others as he would have them treat him, and be- sides enjoying in a high degree the confidence and esteem of both stockholders and patrons of the bank, he is respected as an honorable, upright man by all who know him.
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.