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 8
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Prior to his fourteenth year, young Dexter attended the public schools, and also a Latin school at Mapleton, in Middlesex county, Ontario, and later was for a number of years a student of the eminent Canadian educator, Edmund Shep- herd. His tastes led him naturally into scientific and philosophical researches, and under direction of Professor Shepherd he not only acquired a knowledge of Latin and Greek, but also pursued an exhaustive scientific course, and became pro- ficient in chemistry, physiology, anatomy, and kindred sciences, often devoting the greater portion of the night to the study of the most eminent scientific works. Wishing to acquaint himself with the United States, the home of
his ancestors, he removed thither in 1847. Being dependent upon his own resources, he now found opportunity to make good use of the knowledge which his application in earlier years had given him. Traveling from place to place he engaged in school teaching, and as a druggist clerk, never failing to receive the requisite certificate of quali- fication. During this time he taught and studied Latin, Greek, chemistry, physiology and the various branches of mathematics, and thus pre- pared himself for college, entering the University of Michigan ; he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1862. Dr. Dexter began the practice of his profession at Berrien Springs, Michigan, but soon afterwards removed to Elkhart, Indiana ; while there, he was for two and a half years surgeon in the employ of the Lake Shore. and Michigan Southern Railroad Company. In 1865, he removed to Chicago, which was his home till the time of his death, April 2, 1891, and where he has made his well earned reputation. In 1871, Dr. Dexter was invited to deliver a course of lectures on comparative anatomy before the students of the University of Chicago, and the following year was called to the chair of zoology, comparative and human anatomy and physiology in the same institution. He was eminently successful as a teacher; was held in high esteem by his associate professors, and possessed the happy faculty of gaining and holding the interest of his pupils, by winning their respect and love. He continued his connection with the University for twelve years, until the demands of his practice necessitated his giving it up; and although he was repeatedly solicited to connect himself with
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various educational institutions, his literary work and professional duties made it necessary for him to decline. Throughout his professional career, Dr. Dexter was a close and conscientious student, as well as a careful practitioner. Keeping pace with the advance of medical science, he became widely known by his contributions to medical and scientific literature. One of the works which brought him prominently before the public, was his book 'entitled "The Kingdom of Nature," in which the author demonstrated the "following of matter and force into vitality, vitality into organization and organization into the various types of being, culminating in man." In this work Dr. Dexter accounted for the existence of all organic life by methods differing greatly from the older schools of theology, and occupies a position midway between Huxley and Agassiz. One chapter which treats of the "Facial angle" was first read before the Chicago Academy of Sciences, and afterwards published by request in the Popular Science Monthly, has been pronounced by leading scientific and medical journals both in this country and Europe "the ablest and most intelligent exposition of the subject" ever made. In this work the author succeeded where so many scientific writers failed, viz: in making his treatise a popular library and reference book, attractive to the ordinary intelligent readers, by divesting it of verbiage and technical terms, while at the same time it has been pronounced by able judges "critically accurate." Dr. Dexter wrote upon scientific, rather than strictly medical questions, because it has afforded him mental recreation, resting and at the same time strengthening the mind. With his habit of patient and painstaking researches, aided by his years of careful obser- vation and his scholarly attainments, he carried his investigations into a wider field than the ordinary practitioner, and bringing to the aid of his pro- fession his acquaintance with other sciences, he had placed himself among the leaders in his pro- fession, known for their profound thinking and breadth of attainment. But a sketch of Dr. Dexter would be incomplete without a reference to the State Board of Health, and his connection with its establishment. His influence in causing the enactment, by the legislature of Illinois, of the statutory laws regulating the practice of medicine in that State was very great, and may
justly be claimed as one of his greatest achieve- ments. The leading physicians of the State, and especially of Chicago, realizing the necessity of stringent laws ' to protect the people against incompetent and unscrupulous quacks, caused a proper bill to be introduced into the legislature, and while some were present at the Capitol urg- ing the passage of the bill, others were effectually molding public sentiment at home. While the bill was under consideration there appeared in the Chicago Tribune a series of articles which un- doubtedly influenced the legislature more than any other one agency, and led to the enactment of those statutes which have brought such good results. In these articles, which attracted attention far and wide, both in Illinois and in other States, the writer in a clear, concise and forcible manner portrayed the suffering resulting from the knavery of conscienceless quacks, calling themselves doctors of medicine, and presented an array of facts and figures that was appalling. He called attention to the fact, that while the passage of the pending measure would benefit the com- petent practitioners, a far greater benefit would result to the suffering public who were furnishing the unhappy victims of malpractice. The identity of the author was at the time unknown to those upon whom his words had had such a marked effect, but later it developed that he was none other than Dr. Ransom Dexter. Prior to this time, Dr. Dexter had built up a comfortable prac- tice, and was known as a modest, unassuming gentleman of cultivated tastes and rich scholar- ship. Now, however, he came into prominence both in the medical fraternity and among the readers of scientific literature, by his contributions to medical and scientific periodicals, and rapidly rose to a leading position among the scientists of the country, and the successful physicians of Chicago; they freely admitting that he had no superior in general practice. Since 1889 he devoted himself to a general office practice, and seldom visited patients at their homes, except when called in for consultation. In this capacity he was frequently called to other cities, both east and west.
In religious sentiment, Dr. Dexter was thorough- ly liberal and independent, doing his own think- ing and holding his own views, and granting to others the same freedom that he claimed for him- self. In politics he was a Republican.
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He was an honored member of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, of the State Microscopical Society, of the Chicago Medical Society, of the American Medical Association; he was also a member of the Chicago Medical Historical Society and of the Chicago Philosophical Society. He was attending physician to various Masonic As-
sociations, and a member of Apollo Commandery, Knights Templar.
Dr. Dexter was married in 1859 to Miss Lucinda Webster. They have one child-a daughter, Lydia A., who graduated with honor from the classical department of the University of Chicago in the class of 1884.
HORACE G. CHASE,
CHICAGO, ILL.
H ORACE G. CHASE is a native of Hopkin- ton, Merrimack county, New Hampshire, and was born July 9, 1827, to the Hon. Horace and Betsy (Blanchard) Chase, the former a native of Unity, New Hampshire, and the latter of Med- ford, Massachusetts.
His father was graduated from Dartmouth College ; he was a lawyer by profession and for many years Judge of Probate for Merrimack county, New Hampshire. He was appointed postmaster under the administration of President Andrew Jackson ; but, on account of his profes- sional and judicial duties, could give to the office but little personal attention and installed our sub- ject, who was then twelve years old, as deputy postmaster, he being sworn to faithfully discharge his duties and support the Constitution of the United States. Judge Chase was a prominent Mason, greatly honored and known throughout New England in the Masonic fraternity as "Father Chase." Until his decease, which occurred in 1875, he was recognized as authority on the laws and customs of that Order.
Horace was educated at Hopkinton Academy, arranging his hours of recitation so as not to inter- fere with his duties in the post-office. It had been his father's purpose to send him to Dartmouth College ; but his plan was frustrated by financial reverses and a strong desire on the boy's part to go into business away from home. At the age of sixteen he became an apprentice in the mathe- matical and nautical instrument store of Samuel Thaxter & Son, Boston, and remained there until his health failed, when he returned home, and in 1852 followed his two brothers to Chicago. He at once took a position in the office of Mr. James H. Rees, a real-estate dealer, who with Mr. Edward
A. Rucker originated the present system of examining real-estate titles with the help of indices, the compiling of which had already been commenced. Samuel B. Chase, a brother of our subject, was associated with Mr. Rees and had charge of the abstract department in their business, and had already begun the search of titles while the indices were preparing. In 1855 our subject became a partner in the firm of Rees, Chase and Company, consisting of Mr. James H. Rees, Mr. S. B. Chase and himself. A few years later, the two brothers bought the interest of Mr. Rees, and the business was continued till the time of the great fire in 1871, when the firm name was Chase Brothers and Company, comprising S. B. Chase, C. C. Chase, George H. Bailey and our subject. At the time of the fire, which destroyed every vestige of the county and court records, three firms were engaged in examining titles, viz: Chase Brothers and Company, Shortall and Hoard, and Jones and Sellers. Each of the firms named lost a portion of their books in the fire ; but together they saved enough to form a complete set of indices to all the records of Cook county, and also duplicates of some of their books and many very valuable letter-press copies of abstracts, but neither of these firms could furnish a complete abstract of title to any piece of real-estate in Cook county. Mr. Chase soon learned the condition of affairs and decided that a consolidation of the three firms was indis- pensable as a matter of public interest, as well as for the benefit of the firms themselves, and through his efforts a consolidation was effected. With the announcement of this result, the business of furnishing abstracts was resumed, confidence in Cook county real-estate fully restored, and the rebuilding of Chicago commenced. The prime
American, Bang! Fris Co Chicas
yours Truly Horace &Chase.
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object of this consolidation being misunderstood by the public, great injustice was done the several abstract firms, both by the press and by individuals, who in newspaper articles charged that the com- bination was for the sole purpose of creating a monopoly in the abstract business. So general was this feeling that the Illinois Legislature passed a law limiting the fees for title searches. For- tunately for the public, these unjust charges were groundless and against men of well-known in- tegrity, whose honesty, ability and accuracy had never been questioned and could not now be successfully attacked. They stood true to their trust and loyal to Chicago, and refused to sell their books at any price to a syndicate, which, had a sale been made, would have withdrawn them from their legitimate uses and made them solely a source of personal profit. The result can be imagined when it is remembered that these books contained the only evidences of title to real-estate worth more than seven hundred mill- ion dollars.
Mr. Chase has taken an active interest in Ma- sonic affairs and is held high in the estimation of that Order. When he settled in Chicago in 1852, there were but two Masonic lodges in the
city, viz., the La Fayette and Oriental. He was secretary of Oriental Lodge ten years, and held the same office in La Fayette Chapter two years.
He is an Episcopalian in religious faith ; he was an earnest participant in the Reformed Episcopal movement and is an active member of Christ Church congregation, under the care of Bishop Charles Edward Cheney.
He became a Republican in 1856, when General John C. Fremont was nominated for the presi- dency upon the organization of that party, and has been a staunch advocate of the principles of the party ever since.
On June 14, 1860, he married Miss Ellen Marian Sherwin, of Chicago; she is a niece of the late William Rickcords, Esq., who was well known in Chicago in the "forties " as the popular landlord of the old Lake House, and later for a number of years, as proprietor of the old Sherman House. They have four children, viz., Samuel M., Bessie L. B., Lucy B. and Horace Stanley.
Mr. Chase has been closely identified with the history and growth of Chicago for the past forty years, and with unlimited faith in its future, has improved his opportunities and been very success- ful as a business man.
WILLIAM VAUGHAN JACOBS,
CHICAGO, ILL.
W E probably could not find a finer type of the Chicago business man than we have in the subject of this sketch. Coming to this city when only twenty years of age, William Vaughan Jacobs has worked himself gradually forward to the front rank of energetic public-spirited men. He is the original founder of the villages of Brookline and Burnside; vice-president of the Calumet Electric Street Railroad Company, and a man of enterprise, ability and success.
During eighteen years no young man has con- tributed more to the phenomenal growth of this city than Mr. Jacobs. He was born June 19, 1853, at West Chester, Pennsylvania, and was the third son of a family of three sons and three daughters. His brothers were C. Hamilton Jacobs, a member of the Seventy-second Illinois Infantry, who died before Vicksburg in 1863; and Colonel J. E.
Jacobs, now of Baltimore. His parents were Thomas B. Jacobs, and Mary (Elliott) Jacobs, daughter of Commodore Jesse Duncan Elliott, of the United States Navy.
William Vaughan was educated at the Military Academy of West Chester, where he distinguished himself by his application to study and his love of field sports. Having completed his course in his seventeenth year, he was sent to the banking house of Messrs. Kirk, MacVeagh & Co., where he was initiated into business life and methods. In April, 1873, he came to Chicago and took a position in the banking house of Lunt, Preston & Kean, and subsequently was offered and accepted the position of private secretary to Mr. Paul Cornell, the founder of the largest village in the world-Hyde Park.
In 1876, Mr. Jacobs went into the real estate
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business, and immediately gave proof of his busi. ness capacity and foresight by investing his means where he foresaw that there would be a constantly increasing value. In 1883, he laid out a tract of land in the neighborhood of Cottage Grove avenue and Seventy-second street. Here he built the pretty and flourishing village of Brookline. The location being healthy, easy of access and at that time outside the city, became quite popular with business men and of the numerous residences built there only a few are now in Mr. Jacobs' pos- session. Having been so successful with the vil- lage of Brookline, he built Burnside, a rapidly improving suburb on Cottage Grove avenue and Ninety-fifth street, and about one mile north of Pullman, on the Illinois Central Railroad. Both these suburbs, Brookline and Burnside, are now inside the limits of the city of Chicago. At the latter, the Illinois Central Railroad Company have purchased ground and are locating their car shops there on an extensive scale. Amongst the resi- dents of these suburbs Mr. Jacobs has the reputa- tion of being a man of thoroughly upright and honorable character, and one who delights to do a kindness to those around him. Together with directing the large interests he has in real estate,
he is vice-president and general manager of the Calumet Electric Street Railroad Company on the South side. This company was organized in May, 1890, and built the first electric road in Chicago, and is now building a system, which will, when completed, connect more closely the popu- lation of South Chicago, Grand Crossing, Pull- man, Kensington, Burnside, and Dauphin Park with each other, and with the city and Jackson Park, by a direct connection with the cable and elevated roads at Brookline. The system as now contemplated will be about twenty miles in length. In 1884, Mr. Jacobs was treasurer of the Union League Club, and in 1885, was Lieutenant- Colonel commanding First Cavalry Illinois Na- tional Guard.
He was married November 19, 1890, to Mary Whipple, eldest daughter of William Jay Whip- ple, Esq., of Winona, Minn., proprietor and editor of the Winona Herald, and postmaster of the city under President Cleveland.
As a business man Mr. Jacobs is competent and conscientious, possessed of a high degree of honor. In all his transactions he has shown him- self to be a man of uncompromising integrity. To such a man Chicago promises a brilliant future.
CHARLES PORTER JOHNSON,
CHICAGO, ILL.
C HARLES PORTER JOHNSON began his career a comparatively poor boy, and has by his unaided efforts risen to an honorable position at the Chicago bar, and in social life. He was born August 15, 1865, at State Line City, Ver- milion county, Illinois, and is the second son of Joseph Simpson and Marilda M. (Kemper) John- son. His father is an Indianian. He studied law and was just admitted to the bar in the State of Indiana, when the war broke out. He was deputy sheriff of Boone county, Indiana, for two years. Afterward he became a general merchant, and also served for eighteen consecutive years as justice of the peace in State Line City.
It was while listening to the cases tried in his father's court that young Johnson was fired with the ambition to become a lawyer. His mother is a cousin of Joseph Kemper, ex-Governor of Virginia.
Mr. Johnson's early education was obtained in the public schools of his native city. When he was about fifteen years of age, young Johnson was thrown upon his own resources. He went to Coles county, Illinois, and secured employment on a farm, with the privilege of attending school during the winter. He worked hard and studied diligently, but his ambition was to gain a higher education than that afforded in the public schools, and he attended school at Lee's Academy, at Loxa, Illi- nois.
He was a close and apt student, a convincing debater, a practical thinker, and an orator of su- perior merit. He graduated from the academy in 1885.
He then went to Terre Haute, Indiana; and studied law in the office of Mr. William A. Young. He passed an examination before the Supreme
Otorta Johnson
woon.
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Court, and was admitted to the bar April 15, 1886, being one of the youngest men ever admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Indiana.
Part of his ambition was realized-he was now a full-fledged lawyer, with youth, but without money or clients. Back to Terre Haute he went ; there had been a murder committed, and Bishop, the prisoner, had no attorney. Judge Mack, of the Circuit Court of Vigo county, appointed young Johnson to defend the prisoner.
Mr. Johnson worked with a will, and saved his client from the gallows, the verdict of the jury be- ing nine years in the penitentiary. It was admit- ted to be a great success, and especially so for a young man scarcely twenty-one and his first case.
This case brought him a fee of fifty dollars and an offer, from his preceptor, Mr. Young, of a co- partnership. They moved to Danville, Illinois, but sickness overtook Mr. Johnson ; his hard work had told on him, and his life was despaired of. In the meantime his parents had removed to Chicago, and, being notified of his condition, had him brought thither. After an illness of many months he recovered. The struggle of life had to be com- menced anew. He was without funds. Then be- gan the weary search for employment, and only those who have had the experience can realize the situation. Law office after law office was visited, but they did not need his help. He turned his efforts in other directions, and finally-secured work in a commission house on South Water street at a salary of three dollars per week. While working for this house he became acquainted with Judge Booth, and made arrangements to continue his studies at the Union College of Law. He studied in the early morning and at night, and worked in the commission store during the day. After fin- ishing his law studies he was introduced to Mr. C. H. Willett, a prominent lawyer, and secured a position in his office at five dollars per week. This was in 1887.
He was at once given cases to try and so well did he succeed that, at the end of eight months, Mr. Willett admitted him to a partnership.
Since Mr. Johnson's advent at the bar of Chi- cago, he has been engaged in the trial of several murder cases, and none of his clients have ever been convicted.
He was attorney for the town of Lake in 1890, and was the youngest attorney the town ever had.
He was married August 21, 1889, to Miss Derrele West, daughter of Mr. Pleasant West, a leading merchant of Georgetown, Illinois. Mrs. Johnson is a lady of high intellectual endowments, but of retiring habits. She graduated from the Chicago Female College in the class of 1887. Her chief enjoyment is in her home, where she presides gracefully, and with dignity.
Mr. Johnson is a thirty-second degree Mason, and at the time of taking this degree w s one of the youngest thirty-second degree Masons in the country. He is a member of Dearborn Lodge, No. 310, A. F. and A. M., Lafayette Chapter, No. 2, R. A. M., Palestine Council, No. 66, R. and S. M., Chavelier Bayard, K. T., No. 52, Orien- tal Consistory, S. P. R. S., 32 degree, Medina Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.
He is also an Odd-fellow, and a member of the Royal Arcanum.
In politics Mr. Johnson is a strong and consis- tent Democrat, and is in great demand by his party during political campaigns. He has stumped the States of Iowa, Illinois and Indiana, in the interest of his party.
He is a member of the Iroquois, the White- chapel Club, the Wannetons and the Cook Coun- ty Democratic clubs. In 1890, when the State of Iowa was inaugurating Governor Boies, its first Democratic governor for years, the Cook County Democratic Club attended the ceremonies in a body, and to Mr. Johnson was given the honor of responding on behalf of the club, which he did with eloquence.
Mr. Johnson is attorney for several large cor- porations, his energy and abilities being devoted mainly to corporation and real-estate law.
What success Mr. Johnson has already attained is undoubtedly due to his forensic ability, indomit- able energy, integrity and clear understanding of the law. He is one of the recognized orators at the Chicago bar. He is a natural born lawyer, and can present a point of law to the courts, or argue the facts of a case to the jury with clear- ness and force. He seems to have intuitive knowledge of the law, and is master of its most subtle principles.
It is not often that a man finds himself at the age of twenty-six in a commanding position in the world, attained by his own unaided efforts, and when this has been achieved in a hand-to-hand
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struggle before the bar, it is success indeed. Such has been the achievement of Charles Porter John- son.
Mr. Johnson is of medium height, has a kind, generous and social nature, is a good counselor and true friend. Possessed of a vigorous and versa-
tile mind, the future is indeed promising to him ; and standing prominently among the younger members of the Chicago bar, by reason of his oratorical abilities, sound logic, and knowledge of the law, there is none more worthy of a place in this work of representative men.
JOHN H. LESLIE,
CHICAGO, ILL.
J OHN HAMPTON LESLIE was born in Montrose, Scotland, November 4, 1851. George Leslie and Jean (Hampton) Leslie left Scotland in early married life to build their fortunes in the then Arcadia of the world, America. Leaving a fair business and worthy social connections in the old country, it de- manded sterling qualities of character to sup- port and raise a large family midst the disad- vantages of strangers in a strange land. But the qualities necessary were not lacking in either parent, and by persevering and worthy effort their object was accomplished. During all these years of toil the high literary tastes and talents of the father found various out- flowing channels, and the mother held together in a happy home the children as they grew from infancy to man's estate. The fourth child born to them was John H.
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