USA > Illinois > The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century > Part 11
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Chicago, who was then a prominent champion of Free Soil. IIe also was the author of a charter for a railroad from Aurora to Turner Junction, to connect with the Chicago and Galena line, now the Chicago and Northwestern Rail- way. He afterwards assisted to complete and equip the line. In the autumn of 1848 he removed to Aurora, and became engaged with Hon. E. R. Allen, first in the mer- cantile and subsequently in the warehouse business, under the firm name of Brady & Allen : in the former branch he was interested until within a few years past. In 1862 he was a member of the firm of Brady, Hawkins & Allen, who commenced a banking business, which was merged, during the ensuing year, into the First National Bank of Aurora, which he also assisted to establish. A few years later the Aurora Fire Insurance Company was established, and its office located in the " Empire Block," which he had erected in 1858. He was elected President of this company, and held that position until October, 1871, when, owing to the losses incurred by the great fire of Chicago, it ceased to exist. It was at his suggestion that the first free schools, outside of Chicago, were established by law in Aurora, and the " Brady School " was so named for the interest he has manifested in public education. He has no taste for public office, though he has had some experience in that direction ; but is deeply interested in any and all enterprises which promise to advance the interests of the city in which he has so long resided. He is in the enjoyment of a competence, and proposes to devote his future years to the society of his friends, and to the enjoyment derived from study and the literature of the day. He was married in 1836 to Susanne B. Fowler, who died in 1844. In the following year he was united in marriage to Caroline Kennon, of Plattsburg, New York, and has one son and four daughters living.
RADY, L. D., Merchant and Banker, was born January 19th, 1810, in Westchester county, State of New York, of American parentage; his an- cestry being traced to the first settlement of the colony, and the first residents of that section. cDOWELL, WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON, Soldier and Lawyer, was born March 6th, 1840, in Montgomery county, Indiana, during the mem- orable "hard cider" campaign, when General Harrison was elected President. IIe is the son of John and Elizabeth (Price) McDowell, the former a Kentuckian by birth, and the latter a native of Ohio. His ancestry is Scotch-Irish, and his paternal grandfather was born in the north of Ireland. and emigrated at an early day to Virginia. His father and mother removed to Indiana about 1830, and settled in Montgomery county, where the former died in 1842. His early support and training were under the immediate supervision of his mother and eldest brother, Isaac P. McDowell. During his early boyhood he worked on the farm in the summer, and attended the dis- trict school in the winter months. In the fall of 1850 his mother, with her family, removed to Livingstone county, Illinois, where he repeated his former life, laboring during In 1822 he went to New York city with his father, who had met with reverses in fortune, obliging the son to leave school and earn his livelihood, For six years he was a grocer's clerk, and at the age of eighteen com- menced business, in a small way, on his own account. He steadily pursued his avocation until 1837, when he removed to Big Rock, Kane county, Illinois, where he opened a farm, cultivated it for two years, and then proceeded to Little Rock in the same county, where he engaged in a mercantile busi - ness for a period of seven years. In 1848 he was elected a member of the Legislature. At that time one of the questions agitating the country was the acquisition of addi- tional slave territory, to which he was determinedly opposed. Daring his term of service in that body an election was held for United States Senator, and he had the pleasure and honor of recording the first and only vote cast in the Legislature of Illinois involving that question, by giving his vote for the Free Soil candidate, Hon. William B. Ogden, of .the summer, and studying during the inclement seasons of
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the year, until the autumn of 1857, when, being desirous of obtaining better educational advantages than were afforded by that section, he returned to Indiana, and entered the Thorntown Academy, Boone county, where he pursued the higher branches of education until the fall of 1860, when he returned to Illinois and taught in the dis- trict school of Livingston county during the winter of IS60-1. In March, 1861, he again went to Thorntown Academy with the view of completing his studies, and graduating. He had been in college but three days when the Rebellion broke out. At the first call of President Lincoln for troops he enlisted as a private in the 17th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and went into camp at Indian- apolis, whence, July 3d, 1861, they were transferred to Western Virginia, to Cheat Mountain via Parkersburg. Owing to failing health he was sent to the hospital, and during the following winter was discharged from the ser- vice. He returned to Illinois, where he remained inactive for some six months, when, having regained his health, and another quota of troops being called for, he commenced recruiting and drilling a company, which afterwards became a portion of the 129th Illinois Volunteers. He was made Sergeant-Major of the regiment, which was ordered to Louisville, and thence through Kentucky via Frankfort, Crab-Orchard-after Bragg-and thence back to Perryville, where a heavy battle was fought. During the summer of 1863 the regiment was stationed at Gallatin, Tennessec, and in the February preceding he had been promoted to a lieutenancy, and was appointed to the command of a battalion of mounted picked men, one hundred in number, whose duties were to scour the country for a circuit of fifty miles and disperse the armed bands of guerillas who were wounding and capturing Unionists. It was in this neigh- borhood that the noted guerilla chief, Captain Burton, was successfully captured by Lieutenant McDowell, assisted by fifteen picked men, who crossed the Cumberland river in canoes, and, guided by a faithful negro, effected the impor- tant object of the secret expedition, surprising Burton at a house in the immediate vicinity of his camp. For this brave act, so successfully accomplished, he received the warmest commendation from Brigadier-General Sweet, commander of the post. During the winter of 1863-4, while his regiment was quartered at Nashville, hc was sent to Springfield, Illinois, on a recruiting expedition, and rejoined his command in April, 1864, at Chattanooga, when he took part in the campaign against Atlanta, and was in all the prominent engagements during the siege. After the fall of Atlanta he was detailed at hcad-quarters of the Ist Brigade, 3d Division, 20th Army Corps, as an Aide-de- camp to the Brigadier-General commanding, and this posi- tion he held until mustercd out of service, Junc, 1865, at Washington, D. C. Ile was with Sherman on his famous " March to the Sea," participating in all the skirmishes and engagements which resulted in the capture of Savannah, thence through the Carolinas to Rolla, and was present at
the surrender of the rebel army under Johnson. On his return to Illinois he took up his residence at Fairbury, where he engaged in merchandising, and at the same time was studying law. Being admitted to the bar in 1869, he disposed of his store and commenced the practice of his profession. In 1872 he removed to Pontiac, where he still resides, and has quite a lucrative and successful practice. He has ever taken an active interest in politics, having warmly espoused at an early day the Republican cause, and advocated it by pen and mouth. He is a fluent writer, a logical reasoner, and a good speaker, and in this latter capacity he is largely depended upon during political cam- paigns. He is warmly interested also in religious instruc- tion and takes an active part in Sunday-school work. He was married, January Ist, 1866, to Emma C., eldest daugh- ter of Professor Gilbert Thayer, of Jacksonville, Illinois.
UBBARD, WILLIAM G., Merchant, was born December Ist, 1804, in Providence, Rhode Island, and is a son of Stephen and Zeruiah (Grosvenor) Hubbard. When two years old his parents re- moved to Pomfret, Connecticut, and four years later to Rome, Oneida county, New York. His cducation was obtained in a private school, erected in part by his father, who with other gentlemen employed a teacher for their children. When fifteen years old he left school to enter a store, where he served for six years as merchant's clerk. Having attained his majority, and by strict economy saved enough to enable him to embark in business, he established himself at Booneville, in the same county, where he carried on a successful mercantile enterprise for ten years. In the spring of 1835 he went to Illinois, remaining a short time in Chicago, and then located with his brother in Livingston county, and together engaged in farming for four ycars. He then returned to Chicago, where he re- mained nearly two years, and in 1843 removed to Elgin, where he again engaged in selling goods. The town was then in its infancy, and it required all his energy and perse- verance to battle his way successfully through the many difficulties which presented themselves in different shapes, the most important being the scarcity of money. The limited facility for transportation was also another barrier to success, and when the building of the Chicago & Galena Railroad was projected he became at once deeply interested in the matter, and was appointed an agent of the company to solicit subscriptions of stock; and labored long and ardently to accomplish this result. He remained in the mercantile business until 1861, when he retired from active pursuits to enjoy the fruits of his energy and industry in earlier life. Since his residence in Elgin he has been greatly interested in the political welfare of the State and country ; but has always firmly refused and shunned all attempts to place himself in a political office. He has ever
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been an enthusiastic and consistent advocate of anti-slavery | operation, which had for its object the preparing and train- principles and of temperance, and by his personal example has shown himself able to practice as well as to instruct. Hle is a member of the Executive Committee of the State Temperance Society. He is interested in the growth and adornment of the city, and in 1874 erected a large block on the corner of Chicago street and Douglas avenue. ITis residence also is one of the handsomest buildings in Elgin, and is situated in the northeastern part of the city. In private life he is highly esteemed, and is wholly free from ostentation. His manners are those of the genuine Western man-frank, genial, and kindly-and his success in life has in no way changed him. Although on the shady side of life, he is still active in attending to personal affairs. He is one of the Trustees of the Elgin Academy, in which in- stitution he takes a great interest. He was united in mar- riage to his first wife-Mary, daughter of Captain Peter Schuyler, of Boonville, Oneida county, New York-in IS28; and after her deccasc, in 1839, to Charlotte Wright, of Kendall county, Illinois. He has a family of two children.
BERT, ALBERT E., Pharmacist, was born, December 23d, 1840, near Kissingen, Bavaria, and is a son of George Francis and Anna B. (Spahn) Ebert, formerly of that country, but who emigrated to the United States in 1842, and located in Chicago. His father was a horticul- turist and landscape gardener. Albert acquired his educa- tion in the public schools of Chicago, and when fifteen years of age he entered the drug store of F. Scammon & Co. in Chicago, where he served an apprenticeship of three years. Hc next engaged with Ilenry Bronold, a pharmacist of Chicago, in order to familiarize himself with the techni- cality of German pharmacy. He remained in this estab- lishment for two years, and in 1859 returned to the old house, which in the meantime had changed its proprietors and was then conducted by Sargent & Ilsley. He here assumed charge of the retail department of the house, which had been largely extended by the senior partner ; and in that capacity he remained until 1861. The Chicago College of Pharmacy was organized in IS59, and he be- came an attendant on the course of lectures delivered in that institution, until its suspension in 1861. In the last- mentioned year he entered the employ of F. Mahla, a dis- tinguished Chicago chemist, with whom he remained for two years. Then being determined to still further prose- cute the study of the profession he had adopted, he repaircd to Philadelphia and commenced a course in the College of Pharmacy in that city, graduating thercfrom in 1864 at the head of his class. During this time he also became a student in the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania. He furthermore was associated with Pro- fessor Edward Parrish in his School of Pharmacy, then in
ing of young men who were applicants to the medical departments of the army and navy, as well as of students who were preparing for examination in medical colleges. In this school he became an assistant to Professor Parrish, and thus, while he was yet a student, he at the same time became a teacher. His duties, while connected with Pro- fessor Parrish, consisted of the practical laboratory work, and also lecturing on pharmacy, chemistry, and materia medica. In the autumn of 1864 he returned West, pausing on his way at Cincinnati, where he attended the meeting of the American Pharmaceutical Association, and was then elected a member of that body. On his arrival in Chicago he assumed charge of the business of his former employer, E. H. Sargent. In the following year, through the efforts of the latter and others, including himself, the Chicago College of Pharmacy was reorganized, of which he became the Corresponding Secretary, which position he retaincd until 1875, when he tendered his resignation. In the fall of 1867 he determined to go abroad in order to still further extend his knowledge of his profession. Ile was chosen a delegate from the United States to the International Con- gress of Pharmacists, which convened at Paris in July, 1867; and after attending the sessions of this celebrated body, he repaired to Dundee, Scotland, to participate at the annual meeting of the British Pharmaceutical Conference, as a delegate from the American Pharmaceutical Associa- tion, and was named by this body as one of its honorary members. While in Europe he visited the various univer- sities, botanical gardens, and numerous places of a kindred interest with his profession, and completed his researches in this direction by entering the University of Munich as a student, and becoming a pupil of the celebrated Liebig and Wittstein, enjoying for a time the advantages of their laboratory. In the autumn of 1868 he returned to Chicago, where he commenced the drug business on his own account, and which he has successfully conducted since. The pub- lication known as the " Pharmacist " was commenced during this same ycar, 1868, and on his return he became connected with it, contributing many valuable articles to its pages. In the ycar following, when the journal was changed from a quarterly to a monthly, he became its editor, and assumed the sole charge of its publication, which position he relinquishcd in 1870, upon his election to the Professorship of Pharmacy in the Chicago College of Phar- macy. He was succceded by N. Gray Bartlett as chief editor, but he retained his connection with the publication as associate editor until 1873, when he resumed its managc- ment, and has so continucd to the present time. In the proceedings of the American Pharmaceutical Association he has ever taken the deepest interest, and has been one of its most active members. He has acted as chairman of many of its most important standing committees, and was chosen in 186S one of the Vice-Presidents of that body. In 1872, at its meeting in Cleveland, he was elected the
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presiding officer of the association for the ensuing year. To | perfect himself in the profession he had chosen, and in the its proceedings he has contributed many valuable papers summer of 1844 emigrated to Illinois prepared to begin practice. During the subsequent winter he made the acquaintance of a young widow lady, relict of Judge John J. Davison, who had been left with two almost infant daughters and an estate, the settlement and nianagement of which required no little attention. This lady he married in the spring of 1845, satisfactorily performed the duties of administrator of the estate, and, jointly with his wife, those of guardian of her infant daughters. He lived on a farm four miles from Joliet, in the township of Lenox, Will county, till in the spring of 1861 he built a residence in Joliet City, which, with his family, he has since occupied, and where he now (1875) resides. He has never been in the accepted sense of the term an office-seeker ; and though he has had, during the course of his life in the West, office of some sort thrust upon him by his friends and admirers, still in almost every instance these offices have been such as Town Clerk, Supervisor, School Inspector, County School Superintendent, etc., more onerous than remunera- tive. Ilis present pursuits are those of a country gentle- man, looking after his tenants, attending meetings of the Directors of Will County National Bank, gratifying his tastes for floriculture, and during his leisure hours compos- ing articles in prose and verse, which, through the channel of the local press, have contributed not a little to the amusement and instruction of his fellow-citizens. In politics he was born and raised a Democrat, although now identified with the Independent Anti-Monopoly organiza- tion, of which, in 1873, he was chosen chairman of the committee appointed to draft its platform in Will county, and this draft was unanimously and without alteration adopted in convention. Dr. Allen is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in an essential degree is entitled to the respect which his blameless character has gained for him. ITis salient points, integrity and honor, give him great influence, which he exerts for good in every phase, more especially in the cause of temperance ; being its consistent advocate, besides having acted as president of various organizations for its furtherance. and reports, and has endeavored at all times to awaken in others a like spirit. To achieve this result more effectually, on his retirement from the presidential chair, in 1873, he donated the sum of $500, to be invested by the Executive Committee, and the interest accruing therefrom to be annually awarded as prizes to those who should contribute to the association valuable essays on original matter per- taining to the profession. In 1870 he was complimented by the Cincinnati, Ontario, and California Colleges of Pharmacy with honorary membership. In this year, also, he became the delegate from the Chicago College of Phar- macy to the National Convention held for the revision of the United States Pharmacopoeia (being the fifth decennial revision), and was appointed by this convention one of a committee of fifteen for the final revision of the work. The Botanical Gardens of Chicago were inaugurated, November 28th, 1874, by the South Park Commissioners, who selected him as a member of the Board of Managers. IIis contribu- tions to the literature of the profession, together with his original investigations, form a conspicuous characteristic of his untiring efforts to disseminate a useful and comprehen- sive knowledge of pharmacy to those less favored by loca- tion and opportunities. IIis well-known and sometimes fierce opposition to quackery, in whatever form it has appeared, has at times caused him to be the target for un- scrupulous attack. In no position, however, has the energy and mental vigor of the man been more successful than in his conflicts with empiricism. As a member of the Chicago Academy of Science, and other kindred associa- tions, he has been found ever in the ranks of the progres- sive men. IIis carecr is a very excellent commentary on what may be accomplished by a young man seriously in earnest, even with ordinary advantages of early education, and affords a salutary example to American youth who aim to make the best use of whatever advantages they possess ; showing that a faithful discharge of duty and a proper use of energy are not unrewarded even in these days of traffic and the selfish pursuit of riches.
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LLEN, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Physician and HETLAIN, JOHN LOUIS, Farmer and Pionecr Settler, was born, 1797, in Berne, Switzerland, and cmigrated to America in 1820, locating at 0 the British settlement, afterwards named Selkirk, at the Red river of the North, Lord Selkirk being the founder of the colony. He remained in that region about two years, and then, in company with eleven others, crossed the country to the Mississippi river, which he descended to St. Louis, then a small town. Ile remained in that place about two years, and thence pro- ceeded, in 1826, to the vicinity of Galena, where he com- Landowner, was born of New England parentage, in Watertown, Jefferson county, New York, on December 12th, 1815. His early life was spent upon a farm located on the banks of the beautiful river St. Lawrence, with only the advantages of a common school education ; but after attaining his major- ity he returned to his native place, and for five or six years was a student at Black River Literary and Religious Insti- tute, besides pursuing his medical studies under the direc tion of Dr. Hannibal S. Dickerson. In 1841-42 he attended courses of lectures at Geneva Medical College, to menced mining lead, and followed that occupation for two
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years with very indifferent sueeess. He afterwards became | which settled the matter satisfactorily to all concerned ; an 1 a teamster, hauling lead and " mineral " for the miners and smelters to and from the Gratiot Furnace and Galena. In 1833 here moved to the town, now eity, of Galena, which was then termed " Fever river settlement," being a corrup- tion of Feve or La Fievre : the river is now generally regarded as a bayou of the Mississippi. He here rented a farm, where he remained about two years. In 1835 he purchased Maple Grove farm, on the Galena road, at two miles distance from the present city, in a northwest diree- tion. The property was then of two hundred acres in extent, which was increased in 1870 by the purchase of a contiguous traet of forty aeres. He died there, August 17th, 1872, in his seventy-sixth year. He had a family of ten children, four of whom were sons, one of whom died young. Two of his sons, Frederick and IIenry B., still manage the farm, and the third is General Augustus Louis Chetlain, who, on the outbreak of the rebellion, enlisted in the 95th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, and served with distinction throughout the war. He is now President of the Home National Bank of Chicago.
OSWORTH, INCREASE C., Merchant, was born, April 2d, IS12, in Greenfield, Saratoga county, New York, and is a son of Alfred and Olive (Child) Bosworth. IIe was educated in the common schools of the town, and being an apt scholar, when he had completed his studies was employed by the town as teacher during two succeeding winters ; while during the summer he labored on the farm. In October, 1836, he went to Chicago and became a elerk in the store of Edwards & Bosworth, his brother-in-law and brother composing the firm. They dissolved in 1838, and his brother-in-law and himself removed to Dundee, Kane county, where they opened a general country store. They carried on this business very successfully for fourteen years, at the expiration of which period they divided their prop- erty and business. I. C. Bosworth remained at the old stand and associated his nephew, F. S. Bosworth, in part- nership with him, who together operated the eoneern for fourteen years longer. In 1867 the firm was dissolved and the senior partner removed to Elgin, where he ereeted a large and handsome block of buildings, opened a dry-goods store and carried it on successfully until 1873, when he left the business to his sons and retired from active pursuits. During his residence both at Dundee and Elgin he has occupied several positions of trust, and has aeted as super- visor of both places. At the time that the government sur- veyed the lands in Dundec mueh difficulty ensued con- cerning the boundary lines of farms in that town, the sur- veys changing them so much as to render it impossible for the farmers to retain the land that they had claimed and improved. Appreciating the situation he devised a plan
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