The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 79

Author: Robson, Charles, ed
Publication date: 1875
Publisher: Philadelphia, Galaxy
Number of Pages: 770

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among the most influential in their respective denominations | self for the ministry. He supplementcd this limited allow- in the Northwest. Churches from his designs have been erected in many other cities of Illinois, and in the States of Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. Among the hotels planned and erected by him in Chicago are the Sherman House and the Massasoit House; in Milwaukie, Wisconsin, the Newhall House; and in Freeport, Illinois, the Brewster House. He designed the University of Chicago at Cottage Grove, together with the Observatory, the Female Seminary at Hyde Park, the Female Seminary and Convent of the Sisters of Mercy on Wabash Avenue, the High School at Des Moines, Iowa, the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet, which was constructed principally under his charge, the buildings and the tower of the Chicago Water Works, the State Arsenal at Des Moines, the Union Depot of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, and Michigan Southern, and Northern Indiana Railroad Companies, Crosby's Opera House and Art Building, Young Men's Christian Associa- tion Building, Masonic Hall, and many other public edifices which cannot be detailed here. The most prominent business blocks and commercial stores are from his designs, and there is scarcely a street in Chicago, and scarcely a city of any note in Illinois, which has not some improvement bearing the stamp of his architectural genius. During the past fifteen years twenty millions of dollars have been in- trusted to him in Chicago alone for building purposes. Ile married, at the age of twenty-one, on December 20th, 1839, Eunice B., daughter of Jacob Miller, of Springfield, Massa- chusetts. On December 20th, 1864, the pair celebrated their silver wedding, in company with their nine children, another having died at an carly age. Personally Mr. Boyington is very popular, and enjoys to a very high degree the esteem of all who know him or know of him.

'VERTS, WILLIAM W., Clergyman, was born on March 13th, 1814, in Granville, Washington county, New York. IIe was twelve years old when his father, Samuel Everts, dicd suddenly and left a large family of children dependent for support upon the efforts of their faithful, resolute mother. The family then went to Clarkson, Monroc county, New York, which place had formerly been their home, and several of the boys, including William, went out to work at what they could find to do. William worked hard on a farm all summer, and went to school in the winter. He had already made a public profession of religion, had united himself with the Baptist Church, and decided upon becoming a minister of the gospel. After some time, by the advice of his clergyman, Rev. Henry Davis, and with the approbation of the church, he departed, with ten dollars in his pocket, for the Hamilton (New York) Literary and Theological Institution. Reaching there he had just three dollars left with which to. bear the expenses of fitting him-

ance of money with a very liberal allowance of pluck and perseverance, and faltered at no toil, however forbidding, that would help him through his course of study. He gathered the ashes from the stoves of his fellow-students and sold them; on Saturdays he chopped down trees, hauled them to the college, sawed and split them into fire- wood, which he sold to the students, and practised many such methods to enable him to meet his tuition bills, and he met them. In the meantime the brave efforts of the boy attracted the attention of a gentleman in the neighborhood, who gave him a home during vacation and in other ways manifested his friendship. After a few years the young student began to preach as he had opportunity, and so gained more money to help him through. By preaching he learned to preach, and before he had graduated from the institution he had been ordained as a minister and had become pastor of the Baptist Church at Earlville, in the Chenango valley, New York, six miles from the Hamilton institution. He graduated from that institution (now known as Madison University) in August, 1839, and on the Ioth of October, in the same year, he was married to a daughter of Rev. C. P. Wycoff. Immediately after his marriage he removed to New York city, where he had been called to take pastoral charge of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, at that time a new church, he being its first pastor. He remained here three ycars, during which time five hun- dred persons were added to the church. At the end of that time, by his advice, a church edifice in St. John's Park was purchased from another denomination, the money with which to make the purchase being raised by his exertions. To this other church he went with a little group of seventy people, in 1842, and there he preached for eight years, in which time his church attained a membership of four hundred. IIe did not confine himself to merely pastoral labors, but took part in various denominational enterpriscs as well as in work in which Christians of all denominations participated. During his pastoratc here hc published the " Pastor's IIand-Book," the "Scriptural School Reader" and the " Life and Thoughts of Foster," besides assisting to put forth a series of " Tracts for Cities." All this work broke down even his vigorous constitution. His health gave way, and he was obliged to accept the year's leave of absence tendered him by his church. Hc spent most of the ycar in Europe, and returned, partially restored, in Junc, 1849; and not fccling physically able to take up his work again in the great city he began anew in the little village of Wheatland, in western New York. He almost immedi- ately began the work of church extension among the neighboring villagers, and in the course of two years he had succeeded in erecting three village chapels and settling congregations in all of them. Early in 1853 he accepted a call to take charge of the Walnut Street Baptist Church, in Louisville, Kentucky, and there he remained seven years. In August, 1859, hc accepted the call of the First Baptist

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Church of Chicago, and there he has remained. His | great grain elevators there, being a pioncer in that di- coming gave a fresh impetus not only to his own church, but to all the Baptist churches in Chicago, and even throughout the Northwest. He has worked hard and he has worked successfully, not confining himself to mere pas- toral duties, but searching constantly for additional work, finding it and doing it most effectually. Among other enterprises in which he has participated were the founding of the University of Chicago and the Baptist Theological Seminary. In bchalf of these he used his singular and marvellous talent for " raising money " most successfully.

rection. In 1843 he entered into a partnership with Elihu Granger, in the iron foundry and machine business. In IS45 his wife died, and his own health being broken down, the leading builders of Chicago urged him to devote his time and efforts exclusively to architecture, pledging him their support. He accordingly opened an office on Clark street. His receipts for the first year were $500, and he did all the business which there was to be done in the city. His business increased, however, as may be judged from the fact that for three years, ending with 1859, his net profits were $32,000. His name is identified with the architectural progress and history of Chicago, and hundreds of large and fine buildings are of his designing. Ile married, for his second wife, Martha McClelland, of Kendall county, Illinois. He has no children.

AN OSDEL, JOHN M., Architect, was born in Baltimore, July 31st, 1811. His father, James H. Van Osdel, was a master builder, and in his boyhood John was his almost constant companion, and early acquired great " handiness" at his father's trade. In the spring of IS25, when the ARRERE, GRANVILLE, Lawyer and ex-Mem- ber of Congress, was born in Hillsboro', Ohio, in IS31. He is the son of John M. Barrere and Margaret (Morrow) Barrere. Ilis father was a farmer, and filled several public positions of trust. He was educated in the public schools of Ohio, and subsequently at the college in Marietta, Ohio. In 1852 he commenced the study of law with his uncle, Nelson Barrere, at Hillsboro', in the same Statc. He was admitted to the bar in Ohio in 1855, and in March, 1856, located himself in Canton, Illinois, where he has since re- sided and followed his profession with success. In the fall of 1873 he was elected to Congress, representing the Ninth Congressional District, composed of the counties of Fulton, Peoria, Knox and Stark. With that body he served one term. He was elected on the Republican ticket, and in his capacity as legislator fostered carefully the interests of his constituency. He served on the follow- ing committees : on Coinage, Weights and Measures, and on Private Land Claims; evincing while thus occupied talents of a sound and useful character. He was married in 1856 to Ellen Kennedy, a former resident of Staunton, Virginia. boy was fourteen years of age, his father met with a severe and disabling accident, and the burden of supporting the large family fell upon the mother. John undertook to relieve her of the duty. He bought a pine board on credit, made it up into benches and other small articles, and sold them around among the neighbors. He made moncy enough to pay for the board and buy two more, which he used up in the same way, and in this manner he supported the family for four months, until his father recovered. The family then removed to New York, and he began to work regularly with his father at his trade, read everything he could get hold of regarding architecture, became a pro- ficient in the art of drawing, and when he was ninetcen turned his accomplishment to account by giving evening instructions in it. In the meantime his mother had died, when he was seventeen years old, and the family was, in consequence, broken up, and at the age of eighteen he began to support himself and his sister. He returned to Baltimore and established himself as an architect and builder. In 1832 he married Catherine Gailes, of Hudson, New York, and during the following year he commenced the publication of the "Carpenter's Own Book." His principal agent proved dishonest, however, and the publi . cation was soon discontinued. In 1836, having returned to New York, he there made the acquaintance of William B. Ogden, of Chicago, and this acquaintance led to his re- URPLE, HON. NORMAN H., Lawyer and Judge, was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut. His parents moved to New York State, near the line of Pennsylvania, where hc resided until he had attained his majority. He then commenced the study of law in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, and was there admitted to the bar. In 1836 he removed to Illinois, settling in Peoria, and in 1837 was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for the Ninth Judicial District, which moval to that city. Here he designed and built a residence for Mr. Ogden on Ontario street, which was for several years the best in the city. He obtained plenty of business and prospered, but in 1840, on account of the declining health of his wife, he returned to New York, where he was for a time Associate Editor on the American Mechanic, now the Scientific American. Editorial work did not agree with his health, and he returned to Chicago, where he has since remained. In 1841 he erected some of the | at that time included the greater portion of the State north-

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east of Peoria to the State line. On August 8th, 1845, he | Eighth Congressional District, and in 1874 was re-elected was appointed, by Governor Ford, Judge of the district to the same position, which he still holds. He was mar- ried, May 25th, 1857, to Clara E. Boal, of Lacon. which embraced all the counties west of Peoria; his resi- dence was thus, while occupying the office, established at Quincy. Ilis opinions, delivered from the bench, were characterized by profound legal learning, admirable clear- ness and deep research. The Supreme bench of the State at this time was composed of all the Circuit Judges, in ac- cordance with the intent of the constitution. He continued on the bench until the adoption of the new constitution, which went into effect in April, 1848. He then returned to Peoria and resumed the practice of his profession. In 1848 he compiled the real estate statutes of Illinois, and in 1857 the general statutes, known as and denominated the " Purple Statutes." Also at the time of his death he was engaged in compiling and arranging the general statutes which had been passed since 1857, including the measures of the legislative sessions of 1861-'62-'63. He was a prominent member of the Constitutional Convention of 1860. During the last ten years of his life he was promi- nent also at terms of the United States Circuit Court at Chicago. He was a true patriot and a warm supporter of the administration. He died in Chicago, August 9th, 1863, mourned by all.

ORT, HON. GREENBERRY L., Lawyer and Member of Congress, was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, October 17th, 1825. IIe is the son of Benjamin Fort, of New Jersey, and Mary (Dever) Fort, of Virginia, who, after their removal to Illinois, settled in the vicinity of Lacon, Marshall county, in 1834. He was there reared on a farm, his edu- cation having been acquired at the Rock River Seminary, Mount Morris, Illinois. He subsequently, in the same year, entered the law office of Silas Ramsey, under whom he pursued a course of legal studies, and in 1851 was ad- mitted to the bar. He has always practised in Lacon, the county-seat of Marshall county. In 1850 he was elected Sheriff of the county, serving one term. In 1852 he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, an office which he filled during the following four years. In 1857 he was elected County Judge for four years. In 1861, at the outbreak of the civil war, he entered the service of the United States as Captain of Company I, IIth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served for about one year under General Wallace. IIe was then transferred to the staff of General John A. Logan, with whom he served until the close of the war, ranking as Lieutenant-Colonel. He then returned to Lacon and resumed the practice of his profession. In the fall of 1866 he was elected to the State Senate, on the Re- publican ticket, to represent Marshall, Peoria, Putnam and Stark counties, the Sixteenth Senatorial District. In 1872 he was elected to Congress on the same ticket, from the formerly a resident of Montgomery county, Ohio.

¿ALE, HON. JACOB, Lawyer, was born in Salis- bury, New Hampshire, February 22d, 1814. His parents were Benjamin Gale and Achsah (Bailey) Gale. In 1829 he entered the Dart- mouth College, and graduated from that institu- tion in 1833. In the spring of 1834 he emigrated to Illinois, and engaged for a short time in the hardware business. In the fall of 1835 he commenced the study of law with Cyrus Leland, and was admitted to the bar of Vandalia, then the capital of the State, in the spring of 1837. Upon beginning practice in Peoria he associated himself with Horace Johnson, the firm-name of Johnson & Gale being adopted, an association which continued for about one year. IIe then became associated with IIon. Onslow Peters, in 1838, and in 1844 was appointed, by Judge Caton, Clerk of the Circuit Court, an office which he filled until April, 1856. He was then elected Judge of the same court, succeeding Onslow Peters, who had died. This position he occupied for but one year, at the expira- tion of which period he resigned the office. For many years he has been identified with the most important in- terests of Peoria, and twice acted as Mayor of the city. He was married, June 7th, 1838, to Charlotte P. Bartlett, a native of Salisbury, who died in Peoria, November 28th, 1863.

ARTIN, HUGH, M. D., was born in Frederick county, Virginia, in 1802. He is the son of Hugh Martin and Rebecca (Baldwin) Martin. His education, acquired primarily in his native State, was completed at the Oxford University, in But- ler county, Ohio. He commenced the study of medicine in 1826 with Dr. Jesse Palmer, at Eaton, Ohio, and matriculated at the Ohio Medical School, in Cincin- nati. In 1831 he entered upon the practice of his profes- sion in Montgomery county, Ohio, where he remained for about nine years. He then removed to Clinton county, Indiana, where he resided during the ensuing three years. In 1843 he removed to Canton, Fulton county, Illinois, where he has since been constantly engaged in attending to his professional duties. In 1853 he graduated from the St. Louis Medical University. He is a member of the American Medical Association, and a member also of the Illinois State Medical Society. He follows a general prac- tice, but for the past ten years has given special attention to obstetrics. He was married in 1832 to Elizabeth Hipple,

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HITMIRE, JAMES SMITH, Physician, was born in Sidney, Shelby county, Ohio, December 13th, 1821, being the son of John and Elizabeth (Rob- inson) Whitmire, the former a well-known tanner and furrier. He received a common school edu- cation and was early placed at a shoemaker's trade. In 1843 he entered the office of Dr. J. B. Coyle, of Macomb, Illinois, to study medicine, and made rapid pro- gress. After graduating from the medical department of the Illinois University at Jacksonville in the spring of 1847, he located at Metamora, and has since been in practice there. Early in 1850 he took an ad eundem degree at the Rush Medical College of Chicago, and in the spring of 1856 received the same degree from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. In 1861 he entered the United States ser- vice as Surgeon of the 56th Illinois Infantry, serving in that capacity until August, 1863, after the siege of Vicksburg, when he resigned and returned to his practice in Metamora. In 1850 he contributed an article to the medical press relative to the use of the tincture of iodine for the bite of the rattlesnake, calling this remedy to public attention for the first time. Since then he has written many treatises for the professional journals, which have been characterized by originality of research and treatment, and rarc literary merit. He has been a member of the State Medical Association ever since its organization, and has always taken an active interest in all its proceedings. He was chosen as the first Vice-President of the association. He is a member of the Woodford County Medical Society, having acted as its President ; and was one of the organizers and the first Presi- dent of the North Central Illinois Medical Society. Hc has a finc reputation as a physician and surgeon, and is generally estecmed. He was married in 1846 to Sidnah Robinson, of Morgan county, Illinois.

ARTON, PHILIP H., M. D., was born in Wash- ington, Indiana, November 21st, 1837, being the son of Dr. Gaylord G. and Ann (Murphy) Barton, the former a well-known practitioner of that place and still active in the profession. He was edu- cated at the State University of Indiana, and in 1859 commenced the study of medicine with his father. In the winter of 1861-2 he matriculated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York, and graduated from that institution in 1864. In April of the same year he was appointed to the position of Assistant-Surgeon in the navy, and was attached to the North Atlantic squadron, serving until 1865. Upon his retirement from this office he located in Danville, Illinois, in May, 1866, having for some time prior to his arrival in that place practised with his father. He has closely followed his professional duties in Danville ever since, excepting six months from October, 1870, to March, 1871, which he spent in Bellevue Hospital, New . the capture of that stronghold, he was wounded. He con-

York. He is the Surgeon for the Toledo, Wabash & West- ern, and the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes Railroad Com- panies, and is a member of the American Medical Associa- tion, and of the Æsculapian Society of Wabash Valley. In 1859 he taught the English branches in St. Joseph's College at Natchitoches, Louisiana. He is a skilful physician and surgcon, thoroughly versed in all the branches of the medi- cal science, and has steadily risen to a leading position in the profession. He is a gentleman of scholastic tastes and acquirements, and is highly respected by the community in which he lives.

AGBY, JOIIN C., Lawyer and Member of Con- gress, was born in Glasgow, Barren county, Ken- tucky, January 24th, 1819, being the son of Sylvanus M. and Frances S. (Court) Bagby, the former being a prominent Baptist minister. He was educated in Kentucky, and commenced the study of law while teaching school, and by careful and in- telligent application thoroughly qualified himself as an attorney, and was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1845. Moving to Rushville, Illinois, the county-seat of Schuyler county, he entered upon the practice of his new profession, and has since followed it with distinction, winning by the display of commanding talent the position of leader of the bar. In 1874 he was elected on the Independent and Dem- ocratie tickets to Congress to represent the Tenth Illinois District, comprising the counties of Schuyler, McDonough, Warren, Hancock, Henderson and Mercer. IIc is an encr- getic representative, a far-sighted and impressive debater, and stands high in public esteem as a jurist and public- spirited citizen. He was married in October, 1850, to Mary A. Scripps, of Rushville.

RIGIIT, GEORGE W., M. D., was born in Low- istown, Fulton county, Illinois, August 12th, 1832. He is the son of William Wright and Amelia (Hull) Wright. His earlier education was acquired in the schools located in the neigh- borhood of his home. In 1855 hc commenced the study of medicine at Cuba, Illinois, under the instruc- tion of Dr. Hull, and after matriculating at the University of Iowa, located himself at Keokuk in the winter of 1857- 1858, and finished his course in 1859-1860. He then en- tered upon the practice of his profession at Fairview, where he remained until 1861, when he entered the scrvicc of the United States, enlisting as a private in the 17th Regiment of Illinois Infantry. He was soon after detailed to act as Assistant Surgeon, and served in this capacity for about five months. He was subsequently elected Captain of Company C of that regiment, and while holding this position served actively in the campaign against Fort Donelson, where, at

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tinued to participate actively in the movements of the Union forces until the battle of Shiloh occurred, when, on account of sickness and attendant enfeeblement of health, he retired from the service and returned to Lewistown, where in com- pany with W. R. Hassan he purchased a drug-store. In the fall of 1862, upon the call for additional volunteers, he disposed of his interest in the drug business, and assisted in raising the Fulton county regiment, known as the 103d Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. At the organization of the regiment, and before it had entered the United States ser- vice, he was elected its Major. The force was encamped at Peoria, and upon him while there devolved the task of discipline and instruction. October 2d, 1862, the regiment entered the service of the United States, and he became Lieutenant-Colonel, receiving eventually his commission from the usual sources. In this capacity he served during the siege of Vicksburg and the Mississippi campaign; also during the winter season of 1863-1864. While in winter quarters at Scotsburg, Alabama, he was appointed Assistant Inspector General of the 4th Division, 15th Army Corps, and officiated in that position until the death of the Colonel of the 17th Illinois regiment occurred, when he was placed in command of this body, May 27th, 1864, receiving his commission shortly after from Governor Yates. He con- tinued thus in command until the close of the war, receiving prior to the cessation of hostilities a wound at Kenesaw Mountain. At the termination of the conflict he established himself in Canton, Illinois, and commenced the practice of medicine, conducting at the same time the business of a drug store. In the winter of 1868-1869 he attended a course of lectures at the Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, and from this institution received a degree. In the winter of 1873-1874 he received a degree also from the Missouri Medical College, at St. Louis, Missouri. At the present time he is engaged in a general practice, but devotes especial attention to surgery, and in the conduct of peculiar and aggravated cases demanding surgical treatment of the most careful and skilful kind he has met with notable suc- cess. He is a member of the State Medical Society, and is widely recognized as an able practitioner. He was married in 1864 to Laura Randolph, of McDonough county, Illinois.

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The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 79

Author: Robson, Charles, ed Publication date: 1875 Publisher: Philadelphia, Galaxy Number of Pages: 770

Author: Robson, Charles, ed
Publication date: 1875
Publisher: Philadelphia, Galaxy
Number of Pages: 770