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 52
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 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68
936
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
quartered was between the hostile lines three days, and was literally pitted with musket balls. His cousin, Hon. Thomas N. Stillwell, was then United States minister to Venezuela, but even his flag over the building did not serve to protect it from the shots. Mr. Murray obtained an award in favor of his clients, but this judgment was afterwards repudiated by a subsequent adminis- tration of the little republic, that had installed itself in power by vi et armis, and these Venezuela claims are still a subject of controversy between the governments.
Mr. Murray takes a prominent part in the pro- ceedings of the Chamber of Commerce, and has long been one of its strongest and most influential members. He is president of the Old Settlers' Association, a member of the State Historical Society, and has been several years one of the trustees of the Central Park Methodist Episcopal Church.
He is strong, active and vigorous, and busily employed every day. It may be said he is still at work for his adopted city, in whose service he has spent his best years, and for whose interest he has fought a hundred battles. He has en- deared himself to his fellow-citizens by his honor- able conduct, his frank and genial manners, and his myriads of generous, disinterested and noble deeds.
Mr. Murray married in April, 1853, Miss Carrie Conwell, of Laurel, Indiana. Mrs. Murray is known to a large circle of friends as a most estimable lady, a worthy member of the best society, a model wife and mother, and a devoted Christian. They have had eight children, three of whom, two sons and a daughter, attained to years of maturity. Those living are Neel C. Murray, Winnie C., now the wife of Richard Deming, and Fenton C., who is still with his parents.
JOHN DUDLEY,
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.
A MONG the energetic, far-seeing and . perse- vering business men of Minneapolis, none have had a more varied experience, seen more of the remarkable advances of civilization in the northwest, or rendered greater assistance in the development of this city than the subject of our sketch.
John Dudley was born in the then very sparsely settled county of Penobscot, Maine, on June 29, 1814, and is the second son of Samuel and Anna (Ballard) Dudley. His father moved into the State of Maine from Warwick, Massachusetts, when twelve years of age, and was early identified with the development of Penobscot county. On the sides of both parents he is related to two of the oldest families in Massachusetts, but the Dud- ley family has been especially identified with the settlement and growth of grand New England, the home of culture, refinement and sterling worth. Our subject traces his lineage back to l'lymouth Rock, and can refer with pride to his descent in direct line from Hon. Thomas Dudley and Hon. Joseph Dudley, who were respectively the second and third governors of Massachusetts.
John Dudley is a representative of the seventh generation of the illustrious Dudley family in America, which has also had a remarkable his- tory beyond the sea, were it necessary to trace it in this narrative. His father became a prominent and successful lumberman in Penobscot county, and acquired a competence. Young Dudley ob- tained very little schooling, but acquired most of his education in the school of experience. He began to earn his living by driving team and hauling logs from the lumber camps ; and, strange as it may seem, at that time, 1828, there was no settlement of any size in that section of the county. At the age of twenty-one he started out for himself, and engaged in a general merchandise and lumber business at Milford, Maine, about fifteen miles from Bangor. In 1842 he formed a partnership under the firm name of Huckins & Dudley, carrying on the same business in both Milford and Bangor, Maine, until 1848. The firm then dissolved, and Mr. Dudley engaged in the cutting of logs and lumbering exclusively. In the spring of 1852 he started westward and jour- neyed to Prescott, Wisconsin, on a visit to his
-
-
4
John Duelley
937
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
brother, who had settled there, and to see the country, at the same time visiting St. Anthony. The journey from Chicago to Prescott and St. Anthony at that time was made by rail to Rock- ford, Illinois, stage to Galena, on Galena river, then by boat up the Mississippi. He returned home in the fall, and for almost another year con- tinued lumbering in the Pine Tree State.
But John Dudley saw a greater future for him amid the great unclaimed lands of the northwest, so he bade farewell to the waters of the Penob- scot, and with his little family undertook the long and tedious journey westward in the fall of 1853. For two years he resided in Port Huron, Mich- igan, engaged in the lumber business, and was quite successful. But he was not content, for more promising prospects were ever urging him farther westward. So in 1855 he came to St. Anthony, and moved his family here the follow- ing year and occupied the house where he now resides. From the time of his settlement here until the present, John Dudley, as much, if not more than any other resident of this city of Min- neapolis, has been identified with its lumber inter- ests. Lumbering has been the chief pursuit of his life, and he is still actively engaged in that industry, having lumber yards at Appleton, St. Paul Park, Montevideo and Hastings, in Minne- sota, and at Prescott, mills and lumber yards in Wisconsin.
But John Dudley has not been content to rest here, for in later years he has purchased and now owns a fine farm of one thousand acres at Monte- video. He is also identified with the great mill- ing and banking interests of the northwest, own- ing stock in the Northwestern Consolidated Mill- ing Company, and being a stockholder and a director of the First National Bank of Minneapo- lis, one of the strongest banks in the city.
In politics he was a Whig until the organization of the Republican party, and since then he has been a pronounced adherent of that great organi- zation, exercising his franchise, but holding no offices.
He has been a member of the Masonic order for fifty years, having been initiated in the State of Maine, and has taken the several degrees up to Knight Templar. At present he is a' member of Cataract Lodge, No. 2, A. F. and A. M., and also of Darius Commandery, No. 7, K. T.
In religious matters he has adhered to the creed of the Universalist Church, and some years ago aided largely in the erection of a house of worship for its membership in Minneapolis. In his domestic life he has been very for- tunate, for on August 26, 1838, he was married to Hannah Babbidge, of the State of Maine, and she still lives to be his worthy help- meet. One child, Helen Mar Dudley, was born June 29, 1839, to them. She grew to womanhood, married W. G. Bradford, of New Orleans, in 1863, and died there in the year 1864. A niece, Helen Mar Weeks, also a member of the family, married Eugene W. Trask, but died in 1886, leaving four children, Grace Eugenia, Clara Avery, Harriet Heminp and Helen Weeks. These children, left without a mother's tender care and guidance, have been legally adopted by Mr. Dudley, and to-day bring additional sunshine and happiness to his home in his declining years.
Truly " labor is its own reward," to use an old quotation, and it is verified in this sketch. For although John Dudley's business experience has not been exempt from reverses and misfortunes now and then, yet his successes have been more and greater than they, and he stands to-day in the evening of life among the successful men of Min- neapolis.
WILLIAM H. CAINE, M. D.
STILLWATER, MINN.
A MONG the representative men of Minne- sota who have won their way to distinction by their tireless energy and determination, Dr. William H. Caine holds a prominent place. Born in Ravenna, Portage county, Ohio, May 10, 1854,
he became a resident of Minnesota four years later. His father, whose name he bears, was the first or second homœopathic physician that set- tled in St Paul, where he became prominent, and where he died. Our subject's . mother, whose
938
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
maiden name was Mary M. Harris, was a daugh- ter of Brigadier-General Samuel D. Harris, who served in the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch attended the common and high schools of St. Paul, and was graduated in 1871.
He became a student of medicine soon after his graduation, at Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, where he pursued the prescribed course of instruction, and graduated in the spring of 1877. The branch of study that most interested him during his course was anatomy. For this he found a peculiar liking, and possessed great apti- tude for it.
Upon graduating he settled at Stillwater, Min- nesota, and devoted himself especially to the study and practice of surgery, for which his previ- ous studies had given him superior qualifications. Stimulated by his own ambition, hostile criticism and difficulties, he determined to succeed, and has made for himself a name, and became an orna- ment to his profession. Surgical operations, rarely or never before attempted, were success- fully performed by him.
Dr. Caine has nearly all his life been identified with the militia of the state. In 1871 he became a member of Company A of the Governor's Guards, under Captain C. S. Bunker, now briga- dier and inspector-general of Minnesota. He served with his company at Brainerd when the place was threatened by hostile Chippeways. Upon settling at Stillwater, he joined Company
K of the First Regiment, and was elected cor- poral, promoted to sergeant, and, upon the elec- tion of Governor McGill, was appointed assistant surgeon-general, with the rank of lieutenant-colo- nel. After the retirement of Governor McGill, he was elected surgeon of the First Battalion of Mounted Troops of Minnesota National Guard, with the rank of lieutenant. In this capacity he served three years.
In 1881 Dr. Caine was elected county physician, and served one term and declined re-election.
He has a high standing in various fraternities. He is captain-general of Knights Templar, mem- ber of the Order of the Mystic Shrine, a Royal Arch Mason, exalted ruler of Elks, past chancel- lor of Knights of Pythias, a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and past master of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
In politics Dr. Caine has always been a Repub- lican.
On October 28, 1873, he married Miss Mary H. Ten Eyck, by whom he has three children.
Though young in years, Dr. Caine has achieved an enviable prominence in his profession. As a citizen he has the esteem of the people, and is personally a gentleman with much force of char- acter. He is prepossessing in appearance, and has a marked personality, and his qualities of heart and mind are such as to attract the confi- dence and respect of all who come within the range of his influence.
...
HENRY HILL,
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.
F OR over a half century he whose name heads
this biographical sketch has resided on the banks of the Father of Waters, and during all these years he has so conducted his affairs as to win the confidence and respect of the people at large. This brief sketch of his life will undoubt- edly give an interesting picture of the early days of the great west.
Henry Hill was born in the village of Stoke- clemson, Devonshire county, England, on May 19, 1828. His mother's family name was Brown- ing. She was born in Exeter. His father was born on a farm located twelve miles from Stoke-
clemson. This farm was owned by the grand- father of our subject, which fact is worthy of note, for it is unusual for farmers in that section to own their land. The father of our subject was known by his neighbors as John, the honest car- penter, and he is remembered by that name now, although sixty years have passed since he left his Devonshire home. In 1832, instigated by his wife, John Hill determined to remove to America, and accompanied by his wife and six sons and one daughter he crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel, which required eight weeks to make the trip. After some time spent in New York the family
-
my Shell
939
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
journeyed to Philadelphia. From there they went west by canal, and railroad operated by horses on level grades and by stationary engines to pull the cars up the Allegheny mountains, and also to lower them on the other side. The winter of 1833-4 was spent in Frankfort near Pittsburgh.
In the spring of 1834 John Hill joined an or- ganization composed of gentlemen of Philadel- phia and Pittsburgh, headed by Drs. Ely and Mulligan, which was to build a great city on the Mississippi river ten miles below Quincy, Illinois, on the Missouri side, called Marion City. John Hill was employed as the architect and master mechanic. The company built several blocks of buildings, erected two saw-mills and construced a brick machine the first year. In the fall of 1835 Mrs. Hill, with her family of eight children, her seventh successive son having been born while she was in Pennsylvania, followed her husband to his new home. To the early teachings of his be- loved mother, Mr. Hill attributes much of the good that has been accomplished by himself and broth- ers. She it was that not only instilled honesty and kindred virtues into their minds, but filled their hearts with patriotic love for the country of their choice-grand, free America. In the winter of 1835 the family moved to Warsaw, Illinois. In the summer of 1836 an overflow of the Missis- sippi drove the citizens of Marion City from their homes. This discouraged the promoters of the enterprise, who had displayed bad judgment, for they had built a city, if not on the sand, upon a watery foundation. The site of the city now lies in the channel of the river, and there is not a mark to denote the spot where so much was anticipated.
In 1836 the Hill family moved onto a farm ten miles from Warsaw. The father was employed by the State of Illinois on the public works, build- ing bridges, etc., on the railroad across the state from Warsaw to Springfield. The great panic of 1837 nearly bankrupted the state and stopped the work. In the summer of 1836-7 the family occupied a one-room log house, preparatory to their building a house on their own land, which they had purchased from the school commission- ers, and in the fall of 1837 Mr. Gilbert, his wife and son, abandoned their possessions in Marion City and spent several weeks visiting the family. While there Mr. Gilbert spent some time in hunt- ing, and one day shot three head of deer and
tried to drag them home by main strength, he being a very powerful man, but the over-exertion threw him into a fever, which caused his death while with the family. This left his family de- pendent upon the Hills, and including them there were thirteen people residing in a one-room log house. After the failure of the state public works his father was employed by Daniel S. Witter and Company, of St. Louis, as their master mechanic, and constructed what was then called the big stone flour mill, at that time the only mill of note north of St. Louis. This mill had a capac- ity of forty barrels of flour per day. In 1844 the company failed, and the mill was rented for a term of years to Mr. Hill's father and William Black. From 1837 to 1840 the family of seven sons and two daughters were busy in opening up the farm under the supervision of the mother. About this time the family erected a four-room frame house, which was the wonder of the people. Times were hard subsequent to the panic of 1837, and John Hill, who was most noble and generous- hearted, filled his house every winter with poor families, and would keep them all winter without charge. At times he had three families beside his own large family in the house.
In 1842, although but fourteen, Henry was given the charge of the farm, while his father and elder brothers were engaged elsewhere in building and operating a mill. At this early age, having observed that good habits as well as industry were essential to success in life, he resolved never to use tobacco nor intoxicating drinks, and with characteristic tenacity of purpose he has kept the resolution to the present time. He also success- fully instilled his ideas of sobriety into the minds of his brothers. In 1844 he joined his father, working in the "big stone mill," and the next year was placed in charge of the machinery of the Spencer mill, the largest flour mill in War- saw. At that time the principal markets were St. Louis and New Orleans, and many a thousand barrels were shipped to the latter point, thirteen hundred miles distant, and sold for two dollars and twenty-five cents to two dol- lars and fifty cents per barrel of the best brands, and the bran was given away to the farmers. They purchased many a load of wheat, hauled, in many cases, from fifty to one hundred miles with ox teams, at twenty-five cents per bushel.
·
940
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
In 1846 young Hill entered the employ of J. H. Wood, a blacksmith of great renown in his trade, but better known as a man of utmost rec- titude, of broad and liberal views, and a deep thinker. There, amid the flying sparks, under the tuition of this admirable man, the boy learned much, not only of his trade, but of his duty to himself and fellow-men. From his shop this fa- mous blacksmith, with the aid of his sturdy apprentice, turned out the first diamond plow that would scour itself in the rich prairie soil, the precurser of the modern plow. While Mr. Wood was away on a visit to his eastern home the young apprentice, then but eighteen years of age, made all the wrought-iron work for a saw-mill which his father erected in Lower Warsaw. Soon he joined two of his brothers who were employed as engin- eers on the Prairie Bird, a Mississippi river steam- boat, engaged in carrying passengers between St. Louis and Chicago by way of La Salle, Illinois, where they were transferred into canal boats. At that time the population of Chicago was but four- teen thousand, while St. Louis numbered sixty thousand. In the winter of 1848-9, being at home and 'unemployed, Henry attended school for two months.
At the age of twenty-one Henry took charge of the mill which his father was obliged to give up through failing health. He acquired the in- terest of his father's partner in the property, and thenceforward conducted the mill under the firm name of John Hill and Sons. In the same year he married the daughter of Dr. William Smith, a prominent physician of that section. Mrs. Hill, like her husband, had experienced the privations of frontier life, and living with him for forty-three years, with like experiences and sympathies, she has made an admirable helpmate. The following year the business was enlarged by the addition of a grist-mill. An incident occurred about this time which shows the quickness of perception and tenacity of will which characterized the man. He used a fine team of horses about his business, one of which fell sick. He was advised to ad- minister a decoction of a quart of green coffee. The horse died, and a farmer customer, learning the remedy which had been used, informed him that the dose was enough to kill half a dozen horses. Mr. Hill reasoned that if a dose of coffee would kill a horse, it could not be a healthful
beverage for man, and he then and there resolved never again to use coffee, and he never has, nor has he partaken of tea.
From 1850 to 1856 the flouring and saw mills were managed successfully. For the purpose of procuring logs for the saw-mill Mr. Hill, in com- pany with the present Judge Orendorf, of Balti- more, visited the Falls of St. Anthony in 1852, and although impressed with the natural advan- tages of the site, little did he dream of residing on that spot some forty years later, in the heart of the great metropolis of the northwest. Quick to observe the need and to provide the facilities for commercial intercourse, Mr. Hill, in 1854, with his brothers and several associates, organized the Northern Line Packet Company, whose steam- boats plied between St. Louis and St. Paul, form- ing the sole line of communication throughout the valley of the upper river. Two of his broth- ers were in the management of the company, and one of them for many years captain of some of the boats. J. J. Hill, the well-known railway magnate, was one of the company's clerks in St. Paul. His career illustrates what a man of brains and push can accomplish in the great northwest.
One of Mr. Hill's friends, J. F. Death, who was engaged in the distilling business, became embar- rassed and appealed to him for assistance. In 1854 he undertook to purchase for his friend about forty thousand bushels of corn, then in store in Missouri. Crossing the Mississippi river on the ice on the 4th day of April, he had negoti- ated the purchase of the corn and was ready to return on the 8th, when he found that the ice had become thin and honeycombed, and gave every indication of breaking up and sinking. Anxious to return and relieve the anxiety of his family and friends, and against the remonstrance of his Alexandria friends who had accompanied him to the river, he decided to undertake the crossing. With a long pole in his hand he started, but found that the ice would not support his weight. Throwing himself prostrate he worked himself by slow degrees over the dangerous places, and was received by a crowd, that had watched his prog- ress on the Illinois side, with cheers. This inci- dent gave him a wide reputation for business sagacity, perseverance and personal daring. Through his assistance Mr. Death pulled through his tight place and became successful and pros-
94I
BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
perous, so much so that in 1855 he built a new distillery, one of the best in the United States, at a cost of more than one hundred thousand dollars. He then proposed to form a copartnership with Mr. Hill, and all the ar- rangements to that end were perfected when it was broken up by the objection of Mr. Death's sons and son-in-law. Mr. Hill, therefore, deter- mined to withdraw the aid which he had extended for several years, and to embark in the business on his own account.
Accordingly, with his two brothers and J. W. and George S. Knox, a partnership was formed under the name of Hill, Knox and Company, to build and operate a distillery on a large scale. In the winter of 1855-6 the business was successfully commenced with one of the largest distilleries in the United States, with a capacity of twelve hun- dred bushels grain per day. As many as five thousand hogs or one thousand head of cattle were fattened in the pens at a time. When the disastrous panic of 1857 spread through the coun- try all competitors of the firm went into bank- ruptcy. In September, 1858, an incident occurred that tested Mr. Hill's integrity, and in its out- come illustrates the adage that "honesty is the best policy." Credit had become contracted, specie was hoarded, bank-notes were depreciated, there was little sale for their products, and their indebtedness, some two hundred thousand dol- lars, was large for the times. Under all these difficulties the firm of Hill, Knox and Company continued their business, which was very large, consisting of dry goods, lumber, flour and distil- lery. Their creditors, however, became impor- tunate and insisted upon payment, they having loaned without security. Mr. Hill explained their condition to their creditors fully, and also stated that they would, under no circumstances, give security on their property, nor would they take advantage of them because they were not secured. They replied that ." talk was all right " but that they needed money, and learning that the creditors were about to force payment, Mr. Hill and Mr. Knox consulted J. M. True, of Warsaw, and Judge Sibley, of Quincy, two leading attorneys, to see if there was not some honorable way by which they could protect their interests, against unreasonable haste by legal proceedings. Their counsel advised them to make a sale to one
of Mr. Hill's brothers, who was not interested in the business, and leasing of him, continue their business, to defeat the creditors. No sooner was this advice given tlian Henry Hill resented it in the most indignant and forcible language. Swear- ing, as he says, "like a trooper," and stating that no matter what would occur, he would not be dishonest and would not take any dishonorable advantage of his creditors, even though he and his became beggers. Soon a committee of the creditors came up from St. Louis to institute pro- ceedings against the firm. They applied to the same counsel who had advised the firm, and learn- ing what had occurred, they were so impressed with Mr. Hill's honesty and pluck that they re- turned without taking proceedings, and when they made their report it was determined not only not to press for payment but to make the firm a further advance of ten thousand dollars without security. This was done, and the result justified the unusual proceedings, for Hill, Knox and Company soon paid all their indebtedness, and thereafter transacted a very large and profit- able business, J. F. Death & Sons becoming in- solvent.
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.