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. 2 > Part 14
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Dr. Haskell is a member of the Congregational Church. In politics he has always been identi- fied with the Republican party, and in early life took an active part in political affairs. He was a delegate to the first Free Soil convention, held at Worcester, Massachusetts.
Dr. Haskell was married in 1848 to Miss Sarah
E. Wason, of Chelsea, Massachusetts. They have had six children, daughters, four of whom are living, viz., Annie Nutt, the wife of W. T. Barr, of Hinsdale, Illinois; Isabelle, the wife of J. B. Parsons, living at Dwight, Illinois; Lizzie N., the wife of Rev. W. J. Clark, Clinton, Wis., and Ella P., unmarried, and resides at home.
HENRY CORWITH,
CHICAGO, ILL.
S OON after a settlement had been made by a few white men on the Bean River, at a point six miles above its junction with the Mississippi, there arrived from New York a young man, twenty years of age, full of life, energy and genius, who was destined to become one of the most prom- inent factors in the development of western com- merce and one of the pioneer financiers of the West.
In 1833 Henry Corwith arrived in Galena to take charge of a general merchandising establish- ment in the new town which was the first settle- ment in the State of Illinois, in which any indus- try of consequence other than agriculture was developed, and which became the most prosperous and probably the most populous town in the State.
Henry Corwith was born at Bridgehampton, L. I., June 13, 1813. His parents were Gurdon Corwith, who was of Welsh descent, and Susan (White) Corwith, who was of an old New York family. Henry spent his boyhood on his father's farm and received a good common-school educa- tion. When about nineteen years of age he went into the employ of Mr. Rogers, a New York gen- eral merchant. His business habits and ability must have been strongly impressed on his em- ployer, who selected him to take charge of the establishment he had decided to start in the West. Young Corwith accepted the position ; and com- menced his work with characteristic energy, and after a slow journey by the tedious methods in vogue in those early days, he arrived at his desti- nation and commenced business without delay. The first year he worked on a salary, the second year his employer divided with him the profits, and the third year he became a full partner in the business. His business foresight soon discovered
that large profits could be realized by purchasing the products of the Galena lead mines and shipping them to New York. The first shipments were made by way of the Mississippi River and New Orleans to New York, but later shipments were made largely by Chicago. This trade was con- tinued successfully for many years, and the house of Rogers & Corwith handled and sent to the market three-fourths of the lead of the Galena mines.
" New York Exchange" was then in great de- mand in the West, and the proceeds of sales were allowed to accumulate in New York, to be drawn against by the western traders. This soon led the firm into a regular banking business, which was established in 1842. The lead and banking busi- ness increasing each year, the firm gave up mer- chandising in 1847, and devoted their whole at- tention to the two former interests. In 1853, in company with his brother, Nathan, Mr. Corwith established the Bank of Galena, which became one of the best financial institutions of the West, and which even during the disastrous panic of 1857 did not suspend specie payment. The bank con- tinued to operate under the State laws until 1865, when it was reorganized under the National bank- ing laws; but when its first charter as a National bank expired Mr. Corwith severed his connection with it. The bank is still doing business as the Galena National Bank.
Mr. Corwith became the owner of some valuable tracts of pine lands in southern Wisconsin, and was well known among the lumbermen of that district, who relied upon him largely for the means to operate and develop the lumber industry of the district. While living at Galena he made large investments in Chicago and in St. Louis.
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The destruction of many of his buildings by the Chicago fire brought him to this city in 1873. From that date he did not engage actively in busi- ness, but confined himself to the management of his own large private interests. He died in Chi- cago in 1888. His wife (Miss Isabella Soulard, before her marriage) is still a resident of Chicago, as are also his three sons and four daughters.
Mr. Corwith was a man of great business ability and foresight, who saw the vast resources and pos- sibilities of the West, where he was for fifty years a prominent figure, and who in his own business
ventures, and in the assistance and the advice which he gave to others, helped more than any other man of his time to open up and to encourage western trade and commerce.
He was a genial gentleman of the old school, wise in counsel, faithful in friendship and gen- erous in help, honorable in all his dealings, unas- suming in manner, liberal and kind in his estimate of others. He has passed away after a busy and useful life, leaving not only a large fortune, but an honored name and a spotless reputation, as an in- heritance to his children.
JAMES J. HOCH,
CHICAGO, ILL
AMES J. HOCH was born in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, August 11, 1854, and is the son of William Hoch, who was a prosperous farmer in that county. He attended the public school in Milwaukee, and in 1868 studied in St. Francis College, near that city. In 1870 he en- tered St. Vincent's College, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and graduated therefrom in 1873. Having determined to enter the legal profession, he removed to Chicago immediately after graduating, and entered the office of James Ennis, and began the study of law. He was
admitted to practice January 4, 1878 and since that time has been actively engaged in practice with good success.
In politics Mr. Hoch is a Republican, although he takes no active part in political affairs, being too closely allied to his business, and finding his professional work his chief pleasure.
Mr. Hoch married in 1882, and has quite an interesting family. He is of German extraction, and exceptionally popular in Chicago and vicinity, owing to his amiability and close attention to business.
COL. H. A. WHEELER,
CHICAGO, ILL.
H ARRIS ANSEL WHEELER, the only son of John Douglas and Sarah (Jones) Wheeler, was born at Orrington, Maine, July 30, 1850. He attended the public schools until in his seventeenth year, when he entered the em- ployment of F. M. Sabine, of Bangor, Maine, in the wholesale and retail dry goods business, as book-keeper. In 1869, he went to Detroit, Michi- gan, and was employed by Allan Shelden and Company, wholesale dry goods, until 1871, when he returned to Maine, having especially in view a desire to obtain an appointment in the United States army, and feeling that it could be accom- plished more readily from his native State. He
received an appointment as second lieutenant, March 4, 1872. During the interval after his re- turn from Detroit he was employed as a clerk in the First National Bank of Bangor. He resigned from the army, January 1, 1874, and returned to his former position in the bank at Bangor, where he remained until January of 1878, at which time he assumed the financial management of the Michigan Military Academy, at Orchard Lake, Michigan, representing the interests of Governor John J. Bagley, of Detroit. In 1880, when Gov- ernor Bagley retired from his connection with the school, Mr. Wheeler went to Chicago, and became private secretary to N. K. Fairbank, a position
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he now holds. During the period of his service with Mr. Fairbank, he found opportunity to inter- est himself in outside business, and did so by associating himself with several manufacturing concerns, and is, at the present time, president of the Northwestern Expanded Metal Company, which has a large factory at Twenty-sixth street and Stewart avenue, also of the Abbott Machine Company, factory on South Canal street, and manufactures, besides, the well-known Wheeler railroad reclining coach and car seats, factory on Clinton street, and also at Dayton, Ohio.
In July, 1881, he was appointed aid-de-camp on the staff of Governor Cullom, of Illinois, with the rank of Colonel, subsequently aid-de-camp, with the same rank, on the staff of Governor Hamilton, who succeeded Governor Cullom, and on July 1, 1884, was elected Colonel of the Sec- ond Regiment Infantry, Illinois National Guard, which position he held until February 1, 1890, declining a re-election.
Of his Masonic connections : he was made a Master Mason at Bangor, in 1876, and took the
degrees of the Chapter and Commandery of Knights Templar during that and the following year. In 1880, he dimitted from St. John's Com- mandery, Bangor, to Detroit Commandery, No. I, of Michigan, and in 1881 to Apollo Commandery, No. I, of Chicago, of which he was elected Cap- tain General in 1884, Generalissimo in 1885, and Eminent Commander in 1886 and 1887, and was made a Thirty-second degree Mason in Oriental Consistory, S. P. R. S., Chicago, in July, 1882.
Mr. Wheeler was reared in the Protestant relig- ion, his parents being members of the Congrega- tional Church-which church he has always re- garded as more especially his home. He has always been a Republican, and has entered, more or less, actively into various political campaigns.
He was married June 3, 1884, to Miss Anna M. Ayer, of Chicago (formerly of Bangor, Maine), only daughter of Captain John and Lydia B. Ayer, her father was killed in the battle of Fredericksburg when she was but an infant. Their only child, a son, Malcolm Locke Wheeler, was born July 2, 1885.
LUDWIG WOLFF,
CHICAGO, ILL.
A MONG those citizens of Chicago who have . become prominent through their own ex- ertions, Ludwig Wolff may justly be classed. He is a self-made man in the best sense of that often misused term.
Mecklenburg-Schwerin has produced many men who have, either at home or abroad, reached a position of prominence. There Ludwig, the eldest child of John and Christina (Sievert) Wolff, was born March 11, 1836. There also his early boyhood days were spent in the public schools.
At the age of fourteen he became apprenticed to a coppersmith, with whom he remained four years, during which time he attended the mechanical night school in the evenings.
In 1854 the family immigrated to the United States. They embarked at Hamburg and sailed to Hull, England, and thence to New York. Dur- ing this voyage Asiatic cholera attacked the pas- sengers, and four hundred of them died.
While still in quarantine, at Staten Island, his
mother and two of her sons were stricken with the disease and died. John Wolff and his other children, with heavy hearts, wended their way to Chicago, where he and another of his sons died a few days later. Ludwig faced these terrible calami- ties with great fortitude. He was now the head of the family, with himself and four younger children to feed and clothe. Although a mere lad of eighteen he never lost heart, but manfully went to work, obtaining employment at his trade at a compensation of nine shillings per day, with which sum he supported himself and his brothers and sisters. He afterwards found homes for the children, in which they remained until they were grown. He then spent a year as journeyman at his trade. The first winter that he spent in the United States, business in his line was so dull that he accepted a position on the farm of Mr. James Anderson, in Macoupin county, Illinois, where he remaind three months, at a salary of two dollars per month and board.
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In the spring of 1855 he returned to Chicago, and worked at his trade for three months, at the end of which time he formed a copartnership with Terrence Maguire and commenced a general plumbing and coppersmith business. Their place of business was in the rear of No. 75 Lake street, where they remained eleven years. The first few years of the copartnership were only moderately successful, but during the civil war there was increased activity in the distilling and brewing lines of trade, which gave them considerable work making copper vessels, from which they realized a handsome profit.
In 1866 they removed to 109 and III West Lake street, where they had purchased the prop- erty, and erected a four-story building, ninety fect deep. Here Mr. Wolff purchased his partner's interest, and began the manufacture of brass and copper plumbers' supplies ; to this he gradually added marble supplies, and later started a foundry, which he gradually enlarged until he could manu- facture a full line of all the materials used by plumbers. This was the beginning of the L. Wolff Manufacturing Company, one of the most exten- sive manufacturing plants of Chicago. The plant at West Lake and Jefferson streets covers almost an entire block, while that, including the iron foundry and boiler, enameling and galvanizing
shops on Carroll and Hoyne avenues, covers 250×475 feet of ground.
Mr. Wolff is sole owner of the stock of this cor- poration, whose annual sales amount to more than a million dollars. He is president of the company ; his eldest son, John F., is vice- president, and the second son, Christian J., is manager of the Carroll avenue works.
Mr. Wolff is a Mason of prominence, and of more than thirty years' standing. He was in- itiated in the William B. Warren Lodge, No. 209, A. F. and A. M., about 1860. He is a charter mem- ber of York Chapter, R. A. M., and a life member, of Apollo Commandery, No. I. He is also a member of the Oriental Consistory, and Mystic Shrine of the Medina Temple.
He is a director of the Illinois Masonic Orphans' Home, in which he takes the deepest interest, contributing liberally to its support. He is also a generous supporter of other worthy charities.
In social circles he is well and favorably known, and he is an esteemed member of the Acacia and Menoken clubs.
Ludwig Wolff owes his present high position to his own exertions ; and what can give a man a prouder satisfaction than to review his life, and feel that what he possesses he acquired by his own work ?
WILLIAM M. STEARNS, M.D.
CHICAGO, ILL.
A MONG the younger specialists practicing medicine and surgery in Chicago, but few have risen to the position occupied by him whosc name heads this sketch. His practice is limited to the ear, nosc and throat. He was born June 20, 1856, in the little town of Dale, New York. His parents, who were unpretentious people, were G. W. Stearns and H. N. Stearns, nèe Chaffee. The father was a native of the State of New York, though his earlier ancestors were from Vermont. The mother was a native of the grand old com- monwealth of Massachusetts. His paternal grand- father and great-grandfather were soldiers in the war of 1812, and his grandmother receives a pen- sion from the United States in recognition of the services rendered by her husband in that struggle.
William received his early education in the common and high schools of Will county, Illinois, where his parents settled at an early day. He taught school three years to secure means to en- able him to acquire a medical education, and im- proved his spare time in reading and study, and when twenty-one years of age he matriculated at the Chicago Homœopathic Medical College and was graduated in 1880, being one of the first graduates after the founding of that institution. Following his graduation, he was appointed house physician in the State penitentiary, at Joliet, Illinois, and served three years. In 1883 he went to Europe, and spent one year in Berlin and one year in Vienna, studying his chosen specialties. On returning to Chicago in 1885 he was appointed
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clinical assistant on the eye and ear in his alma mater, and in 1890 he was elected by the same institution adjunct professor of rhinology and laryngology. Dr. Stearns is not only popular with the homeopathic physicians of Chicago, but he is highly spoken of by those who differ from him on principles of theory and practice. He is a member of the State Homeopathic Medical Society and American Institute of Homeopathy, and has been secretary of the College Alumni Association for six years.
Although but thirty-six years of age he has had all the higher degrees of Masonry conferred upon him, except the thirty-third, a distinction which comparatively few of the Craft achieve. He was made a Master Mason in Mt. Joliet Lodge, at Joliet, Illinois, in 1881 ; was exalted to the Royal Arch degree in Joliet Chapter, R. A. M., in 1882, and in the same year was created a Knight Templar in Joliet Commandery. More
recently he has transferred his membership from the Joliet Commandery to the famous Apollo Commandery of Chicago. In 1887 the thirty- second degree of Scottish Rite, as well as the de- grees of the Order of the Mystic Shrine, were conferred upon him. He has been thoroughly devoted to his profession; a man of exemplary character, genial and generous, his practice has grown to large proportions.
In politics he casts his ballot for the man who he believes will best subserve the interests of the people, regardless of party. He is like- wise liberal in his religious belief. He attends the Union Church of Kenwood.
In 1887 Dr. Stearns married Miss Fannie Foote, daughter of William S. Foote, Esq., a prominent dentist of Belvidere, Illinois. Mrs. Stearns is devoted to her domestic life, but finds time as well for art and literary studies. She excels as an amateur painter.
LAZARUS SILVERMAN,
CHICAGO, ILL.
I
AZARUS SILVERMAN, the subject of this , sketch, is an old resident of Chicago, a successful and honorable business man, thor- oughly identified with the prosperity and growth of that city and this country.
He was born in the village of Oberschwarzag, in Bavaria, Germany, the 28th day of February, 1830, receiving there an ordinary school edu- cation till he was of the age of nineteen, when he emigrated to America, making his first settle- ment and business venture in Sumter county, in the State of Alabama, where he remained three and one-half years, engaged in the mercantile business. In April, 1853, properly appreciating the prospects and future growth of Chicago, he settled in that city, where he has resided and done business ever since.
He began in 1854 the business of note-broker and banking, sagaciously dividing his accumulation and means equally between real-estate investments in and near Chicago, and his banking business, continuing such course and system of business from that date to the present time, and thereby has successfully accumulated a large fortune, and
is at present considered one of the most prosperous and successful business men of Chicago.
As early as 1857, so firmly had his business become established and so carefully was it con- ducted upon strict and legitimate business prin- ciples that it was a sound financial institution, and during an absence of about three months in that year in Europe, upon his return to Chicago and his business, he found the same prosperous in every particular, notwithstanding the severe financial catastrophe of 1857, which is a part of the history of this country.
This country, although his only by adoption, has become his country in the broadest, most patriotic and unselfish sense. He is thoroughly and completely an American, and this spirit was manifest in him at the first breaking out of the war of the rebellion. Having confidence in the perpetuity of its institutions, at the outbreak of the war, when the country was financially em- barrassed, he readily and quickly advanced large sums of money for the equipment of cavalry regi- ments, purchasing saddles, bridles and outfits for the officers, and in other and numerous ways
Janly yours
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assisted and rendered aid to and used his voice in favor of the federal cause.
He has been frequently connected with large financial operations, and his judgment and advice is readily listened to by financiers and statesmen in different parts of the country ; and those who may recall the condition of the gold market of the United States, and the bonds of the government, in 1873, and especially those who are familiar with the press of the large cities of the country at that time, will readily remember the scheme or plan and advice of Mr. Silverman in reference to the resumption of specie payment and the issue of Government bonds. When in Washington, in 1873, he had a conference with General Logan, Hon. John Sherman and other prominent poli- ticians and statesmen, and imparted to them valuable suggestions which were embraced in the plan subsequently put into operation for the resumption of specie payment.
In 1871, when the great fire of Chicago produced such disastrous and appalling effects, causing an enormous loss to Mr. Silverman, and the destruction of many and valuable buildings and other property belonging to him, he was instrumental in assisting and helping many poor and deserving people,
filling his own home on Calumet avenue near Twenty-second street, with the destitute and homeless, and erecting for others temporary structures for their protection and comfort ; also purchasing at that time large amounts of flour and other food products, gratuitously distributing the same among the needy and homeless.
Mr. Silverman has been a thorough and com- pletely successful business man, establishing a bank many years ago, which has become known not only throughout the large commercial centers of the United States, but in Europe, and "Silver- man's Bank " is a financial institution of Chicago of which every citizen may well be proud, and is a just and proper monument, made by himself, to his energy, perseverance and honest dealing.
He was married in Louisville, Kentucky, April 12, 1859, to Miss Hannah Sachs, daughter of Benjamin Sachs, merchant of that place, and they have had born to them four children, of whom only one is living, namely, Shalah, a daughter, born in 1877.
Notwithstanding an active and unabsorbingly busy life, in the quiet and peace of a pleasant domestic circle, Mr. Silverman is the loving hus- band and father, and always the kind friend.
BENJAMIN REYNOLDS DE YOUNG,
CHICAGO, ILL.
M AJOR B. R. DE YOUNG, who is one of the substantial citizens of Chicago, belongs to the vast army of intelligent, persevering and courageous people, who have come from the East to build up new industrial empires on the broad plains of the West. He is naturally public spir- ited, and all movements of a public character, tending to promote the welfare of the city of his adoption, have universally received his counte- nance and assistance. He is self-made, and his record is one of which any man might well be proud.
Mr. De Young was born in New York city, August 18, 1843, and is the son of Benjamin and Emilie (Warwick) De Young.
When about a year old the family moved to Philadelphia, where Mr. De Young received a common-school education, and when old enough,
learned the printing business, at which he worked until the war broke out. Though only eighteen years old, he became inspired with the patriotic spirit, and enlisted in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers. He proved himself a good soldier, and was soon promoted to a captaincy. At the battle of Chancellorsville, he went into the fight with seven hundred and fifty men and came out with one hundred and fifty ; and at Gettysburg he led four hundred men into the fray, but only cighty-one came out with him. He participated in many other battles, re- maining in the service until the close of the war. In 1865 Mr. De Young came to Chicago, and re- mained until 1870, when he was appointed quar- termaster in the United States army, and assumed the important duties of that office at Pembina, Dakota, where he remained one year. He then
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1
returned to Chicago, and for a number of years was connected with various insurance companies- life, fire and accident. In 1879 he entered the real-estate business, in which he is still engaged, representing large eastern capital, and enjoying the confidence and respect of the entire business community. He is a prominent member of the Real-Estate Board, and one whose judgment is re- garded as authority on values in this great city. In 1877 Mr. De Young was instrumental in the organization of what is known as the Sixth Regiment of National Guards, raised the first company of the regiment that participated in the memorable riots of 1877; was elected its captain, and afterwards elected major of the regiment.
During the first organization of the World's Columbian Exposition, Mr. De Young was se- lected as a member of the Finance Committee, and for a time rendered invaluable services on
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