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 64
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in 1873. The failure of Jay Cooke and the stop- page of work on the Northern Pacific Railway, precipitated a financial and commercial panic over the country. It operated very disastrously in Minneapolis, which had been the supply base for this gigantic undertaking, and the prosperity of the city was temporarily blighted like a late- sown field of wheat by an August frost. Real estate went begging. Property within the busi- ness center did not decrease in value, but there was no demand for it for improvement, and out- side or residence property became a drug in the market.
Mr. Lowry was peculiarly constituted by nature, as well as education, to weather the storm in such a disastrous period. Possessed of infinite patience and good nature, perfect bodily health and powers of physical endurance that were absolutely tireless, he met every reverse with the courage of a philosopher, and with the faith of the martyrs of old. The depression continued unabated during the years 1874-5-6 and 7. But during this period other citizens had brought into life another enterprise-small in its beginning, and not at all promising in the infan- tile stage of its existence. This was the street railway. Possessing a large amount of suburban realty, Mr. Lowry's attention was attracted to the horse railroad as a means of bringing the out- lying district within easy distance of the business portion of the city. He was induced to take an interest in the new company-and here was laid the foundation of his immense fortune. What he had at first looked upon as a mere instrument to develop and increase the value of his realty pos- sessions, soon came to be regarded as the enter- prise to which he was destined to give the entire energies of his life. In 1879 commenced that period of phenomenal business activity and unex- ampled growth of the city of Minneapolis which electrified the country, and has never been dupli- cated in the history of city building on this conti- nent. Mr. Lowry continued his real-estate trans- actions, but these had now come to be of second- ary importance to his street railway interests. In extending, improving and rebuilding these lines he was brought into intimate relations with the great financial institutions of the country. His intimate acquaintance with the financial mag- nates of the eastern and European money cen-
ters has made him one of the most prominent agents in bringing to the notice of the world the importance of Minneapolis as a trade and manu- facturing center, and the manifest destiny of its future greatness. Probably no man in the entire west has a more extended knowledge of the great money centers than Mr. Lowry. He has been a borrower to the extent of millions in developing his widely extended interests, and has been one of the chief agents in bringing foreign capital to the northwest for investment.
Mr. Lowry is one of the most approachable of men. Springing directly from the ranks of the people, no man of wealth in the entire nation has oftener shown his sympathy with the laboring classes than he. In the employ of the various corporations with which he is connected, there is an army of skilled and unskilled workmen. To every one of these, and to all men, in fact, he is accessible at all times; and every complaint of injustice or hardship meets with a prompt exami- nation into the facts and a radical remedy where remedy is called for.
The rectitude of his life ; his tireless energy in advancing the interests of the state and city of his home; his genial, kindly and generous per- sonal attributes, need not be further dwelt upon. He is still with us, in the pride of a vigorous manhood, actively engaged in the business and social duties that make up the sum of life for men like him. Those who have known him long- est and most intimately are the ones who are readiest to bear testimony to the splendid quali- ties of his heart and head; and these, too, com- pose the army of his fellows who sincerely wish that he may long be spared to encourage and build up enterprises that will redound to the rapid and substantial development of the great northwest.
Mr. Lowry at this time is president of the entire system of electric and street railways of the city of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He is also president of the St. Paul, Minneapolis & Sault St. Marie Railway, and the efficient financial manager of both systems. But this does not give a correct idea of the multitudious duties and responsibili- ties of his active business life. Where the inter- ests of the city or state are at stake, he seems to be omnipresent. No new industry seeks to find an abiding place in Minneapolis that does not
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first strive to secure the co-operation of Mr. Thomas Lowry, and no legitimate enterprise ever goes begging for encouragement from him. He is the typical representative of the city of his home in every good sense.
Since the foregoing sketch was written Mr. Lowry has been the recipient of a tribute of which any man may justly be proud. It was a reception and banquet by his fellow-citizens of Minneapolis and St. Paul, in recognition of his services in furnishing the unequaled systems of electric rapid transit in the twin cities, and con- necting the two. It was held at the West Hotel in Minneapolis. The Governor of the State of Minnesota presided and several hundred of the most prominent representatives of the business and enterprises of the cities were in attendance. The elegant hotel was profusely decorated with
the choicest floral productions, and the tables were spread with the rarest viands which the skill of the caterers could produce. Speeches were made by Archbishop Ireland of the diocese of St. Paul, by the Governor of the State, and may- ors of the two cities, and by many of the leading representative men of the cities. The burden of all was the perfection of the electric system of urban and interurban transit, and the boldness and enterprise of Mr. Lowry in pushing it to completion. His reply, though evincing a pal- pable embarrassment from the profusion of eulogy, was frank and modest, and expressed a feeling appreciation of the unwonted compliment, with an unabated interest in the common work of upbuilding the institutions of the cities destined to be one great metropolis on the basis of solid and enduring prosperity.
CHARLES COUNSELMAN,
CHICAGO, ILL.
PROMINENT among the business men of the northwest stands the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, a native of Baltimore, Mary- land, and was born December 25, 1849, the son of Jacob Counselman.' His mother, before marriage, was Miss Mary Wigart. The family traces back its ancestry four generations in the State of Mary- land. Both of Mr. Counselman's grandfathers were soldiers in the war of 1812.
Our subject obtained a good business educa- tion in the public schools, and he studied law at Ellicott City, Maryland, in the office of Judge Edward Hammond. His health failing him at the end of three years he abandoned it, and accepted a position in the office of George R. Blanchard, general freight agent of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, where he remained one year. In 1869 he came to Chicago and secured employment with Eli Johnson and Company. The salary was small, but he faithfully performed all that was required of him in this position. But, like many other brainy young men who came to Chicago in early days, he did not wait for a specially brilliant opening. After a short term of service with Mr. Johnson he engaged in the business of selling oil on commission for Chase, Hanford and Company.
In 1871 he commenced for himself in the com- mission business, and about this time he became a member of the Board of Trade, and has been exceedingly prosperous. By means of his strict integrity and well balanced judgment he gained unlimited confidence, and his conservatism was also apparent; and his enjoyment of public con- fidence brought him such lucrative patronage that, through times of general prosperity and gen- eral adversity alike, he has witnessed a steady in- crease in his business. His firm is at this time one of the largest and most prosperous of any in its line in Chicago. It has been his good fortune, in consequence of possessing a clear head and a sterling character, to see the bright sides of many questions which to others would seem dark, and to overcome obstacles which to others might seem insurmountable.
He deals in stocks and grain, and has a branch office in New York city. To facilitate his im- mense transactions he has in his office private telegraph wires connecting with New York, Bos- ton, Rochester, Buffalo, Cleveland, Providence, and other eastern cities, and also Baltimore, Wash- ington, Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia. In 1879 he erected a large warehouse at the Union
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Stock Yards, in Chicago. As a member of the board of managers of real estate, he was influen- tial and efficient in the erection of the new Board of Trade Building in Chicago.
He is an extensive owner of real estate. In 1883 he commenced the erection of the Counsel- man Building, and it was completed in 1884, owned wholly by Mr. Counselman, and it is an elegant and substantial building.
Mr. Counselman has a large interest in the Rock Island Elevators of Chicago. They have a capacity of about two million bushels. He has about one hundred and fifty stations throughout Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, for buying grain to supply his markets. Mr. Counselman has just completed an immense elevator at South Chicago, of which he is the sole owner.
Mr. Counselman is an unostentatious, unas- suming gentleman, and modestly wears his lau- rels. He has a broad and comprehensive philoso- phy, is a friend to young men, and has always been ready to lend a helping hand to laudable enterprises. He is a public-spirited, generous, whole-souled gentleman, a patron of the arts and sciences, a citizen of whom Chicago is justly proud ; a man of unexceptionable habits, devoted to his family and keenly alive to the demands of humanity. He is a member of the Union League Club, the Chicago Club, Washington Park Club and the New York Club.
Mr. Counselman was married in 1875 to Miss Jennie E. Otis, daughter of Judge L. B. Otis, of Chicago. They have two children, one son and one daughter.
GREGOR MENZEL,
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.
T HERE are few studies more elevating, more encouraging, or more interesting than the study of the lives and characters of men who have risen from the ranks. When we trace the career of those whom the world acknowledges as success- ful men, and who stand highest in public esteem, we find almost invariably that they are those who have risen gradually, overcome severe opposition, and in the face of the most bitter trials and seem- ingly insurmountable difficulties, have at length, by much self-reliance, great energy, perseverance and honesty, overcome every obstacle and won that success for which they had so long and earnestly striven.
Gregor Menzel was born in Bielendorf, in the Province of Silesia, Prussia, August 21, 1826. His father died before Gregor's birth, but his last request was, if his offspring was a boy and lived, he should learn a trade. When five years of age his life come very near being lost in a flood, which swept away their little home and nearly all the property his mother possessed. At the age of ten years he crossed the mountains on foot to Friedeburg, Austria, to live with an uncle and fulfill his father's last wish. Here he learned the locksmith trade, which was accomplished July 26, 1842. He recrossed the mountains on foot into
Prussia, and went to work in Lindheim's machine shop, near Glatz, to learn the machinist trade. After this he considered it necessary to travel and work in different places in order to perfect his knowledge as a mechanic. He walked to Breslau, Frankfort, Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen, being employed in different shops. While work- ing in Blumenthal, near the latter city, he mar- ried Henrietta Dorothea Roesner. They started, February 13, 1847, for this country, stopping for a short time in London, arriving in New York April 7, 1847, on the sailing vessel Northumber- land, which made the trip in twenty-eight days. He at once commenced work with James Bo- gardus, the celebrated inventor (see Vol. II, page 780, American Encyclopedia), whom he assisted in constructing his factory of five stories, entirely of cast-iron, it being the first complete cast-iron building in the world, and was the first to be rep- resented in the Illustrated London News. He re- mained with Mr. Bogardus until August, 1850, when he concluded to go west, choosing Milwau- kee as his destination.
He was made foreman in the machinery depart- ment of the Menominee Locomotive Manufactur- ing Company, holding this position until Decem- ber 1, 1854, when he went into partnership with
Gregor Menzel
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L. Keuck, and carried on steam-engine building, under the firm name of Menzel & Keuck. In 1855 M. and M. Stone bought Mr. Keuck's inter- est, and the new firm of Menzel, Stone & Co. were also extensively engaged in manufacturing thresh- ing machines, and in 1855 built the first threshing engine used in the west.
The following year he took an active part in politics, helped organize the Republican party, was president of the Young Men's Fremont Club, and was the presidential elector from the First District of Wisconsin, casting his vote in the electoral college for John C. Fremont and Will- iam L. Dayton, February 1, 1857. The concern was consolidated with the Badger Iron Works, and business carried on under the name of Men- zel, Cummings & Goodrich. The same year the first elevator was built in Milwaukee by Angus, Smith & Co., for which he manufactured all the machinery and iron works, including the en- gine and boiler. He also built the first mash machine driven by power in the city, for V. Blatz's brewery. But after years of prosperity came also reverses, and in the financial crisis of 1857, which swept the whole country, the firm went under and he lost all of his hard earnings, including his homestead. He then for a time de- voted himself to inventions. On April 5, 1859, he obtained a patent on a steam boiler (see Patent Office Report of 1859, and for cut see Scientific American of October 1, 1859); also on a fire and burglar proof safe, April 24, 1860 (see Patent Office Report of 1860), one of his large safes being now in possession of Cataract Lodge, No. 2, A. F. and A. M., of Minneapolis.
On the 24th of May, 1860, he left for Colorado, taking an eight-stamp steam quartz mill to Colo- rado for W. S. Candee, of Milwaukee. At that time a journey to Colorado meant a great deal more than it does now. There were no railroads west of the Missouri River, and two months were required to haul freight from St. Joseph, Mis- souri, to Denver. The quartz mills that Mr. Menzel had in charge were hauled by oxen and mules. He did not tarry with the train, how- ever, but taking two of the best mules and a light wagon, he and three companions moved on ahead of the train and arrived in Denver July 4. The country at that time was almost a wilder- ness, and the red man roamed and hunted
undisturbed by civilization. Travelers were in constant danger of their lives, and death by the savages was predicted for Mr. Menzel and his companions, who were considered ex- tremely reckless to travel as they did unpro- . tected. After putting the mill in operation in Colorado, Mr. Menzel returned to St. Joseph by the "Overland Stage," which made the jour- ney in the remarkably quick time of a week. From St. Joseph- he returned to Milwaukee, arriv- ing on February 22, 1861. He then intended to build another quartz mill to work the claims he secured in Colorado, but the Rebellion broke out and his plans were frustrated.
October 29, 1861, he took charge of the elevator engines of Angus Smith & Company, remaining with them until June, II, 1864, when he accepted the position of superintendent of the Bay State Iron Manufacturing Company, at that time the largest concern of the kind in Milwaukee. His first work there was to build a five hundred horse- power low-pressure beam engine for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway's new Elevator A, it being the first of that kind of engine built in that city. He also built the first steam passenger elevator constructed in Milwaukee, and placed it in the Plankinton Hotel of that city. In 1866 the steam engines, boilers, etc., were built under his supervision for J. Dean & Company's Pacific mill, and August 14 he came to Minneapolis to superintend putting the machinery in position. His work was completed October 12, and was so well appreciated that the firm presented him with one hundred dollars. He liked this city so well that he determined to make it his home in time.
July 1, 1868, he bought an interest in the Cream City Iron Works of Milwaukee, and the business was carried on under the firm name of Menzel, Stowell & Company until November, 1870, when he withdrew from the firm to accept the position tendered him as superintendent of the North Star Iron Works of Minneapolis. While in this position he designed and constructed the engine and machinery for the celebrated W. D. Washburn Company sawmill at Anoka, Isaac Staples' mill at Stillwater, engine and machinery in the city hall, including passenger and freight elevator, the first in the city. The building was occupied at that time by the Tribune Company; and many other important machinery outfits
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were designed by him and constructed under his direction. April 1, 1874, he formed a partnership with his son, Charles G. Menzel, and D. C. How- ard, and established the Northwestern Foundry, in its present location, corner Third street, Ninth and Tenth avenues south. The first grey iron castings were made July 13, and the first car wheels, first in the city, were cast October 12, 1874.
September 1, 1874, L. V. N. Blakeman bought out the interest of C. G. Menzel and D. C. How- ard, and the business was continued under the firm name of G. Menzel & Co. On the Ist day of September, 1882, S. T. Ferguson bought Mr. Blakeman's interest, and the business has since been carried on under the name of Menzel & Fer- guson. April 9, 1881, he was appointed by the Hon. Mayor A. C. Rand as water works commis- sioner for a term of four years, but he found that his ideas about water works were too far in ad- vance to harmonize with the other members of the board, he being decidedly in favor of changing from the direct pressure to the reservoir and stand-pipe system, so he resigned October 11, 1881.
Owing to impaired health, Mr. Menzel has of late years been obliged to travel considerably, crossing the ocean nine times. These visits abroad restored to him his good health. Accom- panied by. his daughters he has visited most places of interest on the Continent of Europe. All the great art galleries have been visited by them, and their treasures admired and retained in memory. The refining beauties of the great musical centers were not overlooked, and they attended some of the great operatic productions of Vienna, where the grand soul-inspiring har- mony of Wagner was interpreted as they had never before conceived it possible.
Mr. Menzel is domestic in his tastes and habits.
His home circle is certainly crowned with happi- ness, and in the society of his daughters, sur- rounded by a well selected collection of books and art treasures, he passes his hours of rest most contentedly and happily. His home has twice been the scene of sorrowful earthly partings. On the 24th day of January, 1872, the family was called upon to mourn the death of his eldest daughter, Maggie H., the first person buried in Lakewood Cemetery. January 22, 1891, another severe trial was undergone. On that date his wife, Henrietta Dorothea, who had been his help- mate and companion through all the years of his manhood, who had been his friend, counselor and adviser in hours of darkest need, passed away from earth. His family now consists of Carrie M., Charles G., Minnie A., wife of A. Z. Lever- ing, and Emma D. Refined hospitality and good cheer make a stranger feel welcome to his home.
At one time Mr. Menzel was very active fra- ternal societies. He is now a member of Khurum Lodge, No. 112, F. and A. M., of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is also Past Grand of Excelsior Lodge, No. 20, Odd Fellows, of Milwaukee, Wis- consin, and Past High Priest of Wisconsin En- campment, No. 2, and was an active member of the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of the State of Wisconsin in 1863.
Such is the biography of one of the representa- tive men of the northwest, who owes the position he now occupies in the community entirely to his own unaided efforts, his firmness of purpose, strength of character and unswerving integrity. He is honored and respected not only by those who know him personally, but by the entire com- munity, and his biography will be handed down to posterity, citing him as a most illustrious pro- totype of the self-made man.
SAM DEARING,
ST. PAUL, MINN.
T `HE subject of this sketch was born at Con- way, New Hampshire, on October 1, 1834, and is the son of. Samuel Dearing, Sr., and Rebecca (White) Dearing. Through both parents he is descended from very worthy and distin- guished ancestry. The Dearing (or Deering)
families of America are descended from James Dearing, and his nephews, William and Clement Dearing, who came to Canada with the English army, under General Wolfe, during the French and Indian War in 1758, and took part in the storming and capture of Quebec, September 13,
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1759. After the war ended and their discharge from the British army, they went to New Eng- land.
James Dearing settled in what is now the State of Maine; while his nephew, Clement, located first where Kittery, Maine, now stands, but subse- quently crossed the Piscataqua river into New Hampshire, and became one of the first settlers of New Durham, the first organized town in the colony. He was prominent in the affairs of the colony, and especially so in its defense against numerous Indian incursions and encroachments. His brother, William, removed to Virginia, and became the founder of the southern branch of the family.
From Clement, Jr., born in 1770, descended Samuel Dearing, Sr., who was also a native of New Durham, and born about 1800. In the war of 1812, both Clement and Samuel Dearing, Sr., although the latter was but a mere boy, took an active part. In after life Samuel Dearing, Sr., became a prosperous and well-known farmer of eastern New Hampshire. The mother of Sam was Rebecca White, a lineal descendant of John White, who came to America in the Mayflower, and who was the father of Peter White, the first Anglo-Saxon child born in New England.
Young Dearing was reared on the family home- stead in the old Granite State. He received an academic education and was also trained to the pursuit of farming and stock-raising as understood and practiced by the shrewd and thrifty agricul- turists of that section, whose general success has become proverbial. He himself became a suc- cessful farmer and agriculturist, and in 1865, see- ing in the far west more fertile fields and richer soil, as well as a larger future, he removed with his family to Minnesota, determined to make it his permanent home. For two years following he resided near Brooklyn, Hennepin county, and en- gaged in farming, but in 1867, he removed to West St. Paul, bringing hither all his worldly pos- sessions in a wagon drawn by four oxen, and purchased the well-known tract of land, often yet called by his name, and on a part of which he still resides. At that time this tract of seventy- five acres had been regularly platted as a part of West St. Paul, but the greater part of it was virgin soil and partly covered with a considerable growth of timber. Mr. Dearing set to work and
in a comparatively short time had cleared off and grubbed his land in regular pioneer fashion, thereby converting it into an excellent farm. In time, this tract reached a high state of cultivation, and was looked upon as " a little farm well tilled." It won the admiration of all who visited and inspected it, and received many favorable com- ments in the public journals, both at home and abroad. Mr. Finley Dun, regular correspondent of the London Times, once visited it, and in a communication to his paper, described it as pro- ducing "more stuff to the acre" than any other farm he had seen.
Here Mr. Dearing established a dairy, which he conducted so successfully for about seventeen years, marketing his products mainly in the city of St. Paul, that he attained considerable promi- nence in his vocation. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of the State Dairy- men's Association ; a frequent contributor to the agricultural journals, and became a recognized authority on dairy matters. He also engaged as a dealer in and breeder of short-horn cattle, owning some very valuable representatives of the best and most noted families in the country. For two successive seasons his herd took sweepstake premiums at the Minnesota State Fair, and in the main he has managed his stock affairs skillfully, with liberal profits and general success.
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