The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 84

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

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pal offices. For several terms he was a member of the Town Council, and in the fall of 1873 was elected Judge of the County Court. He was married in 1845 to Laura Beall, whose decease occurred in the same year. He was again married in 1857 to Mary B. Hughes, of Louisville, Ken- tucky, who died in the spring of 1870. He was married a third time, October 9th, 1872, to Edononia Berry, of Henry county, Kentucky.

ERFOOT, SAMUEL H., Real Estate Dealer, was born of Irish parentage, in Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania, December 18th, 1823, and was educated at St. Paul's College, near the city of New York. Upon leaving this institution he was engaged under his brother, Bishop Kerfoot, of the Protes- tant Episcopal diocese of Pittsburgh, in founding and build- ing St. James' College, of Maryland. His natural talent, developed by a careful collegiate training, gave him rare capacity for active and systematic business. He early moved to Chicago, and for two or three years was variously employed. Ile then turned his attention to the development of real estate, and entered under the most flattering auspices a calling which has given him not only a fine reputation, but has sccured to his use and benefit a large fortune. He fore- saw the urgent necessity, in setting out in this business voca- tion, of a systematic arrangement of records which must be invaluable within a very short time, and planned an arrange- ment, since faithfully carried out in every detail, which has proved of the highest importance to him and his patrons. IIe projected and compiled an elaborate atlas of Chicago in two large volumes, perfect in its topography of the city, and the arrangement of the area into subdivisions, with a perfect outline of the highways. For many years he managed the large landed interests of the estate of D. Lee, of New York, and by his intelligent co-operation with the counsel employed by that estate brought to a successful issue the well-known action of Chickering et al. vs. Faile, executor, etc. For many years he has had charge of Ridgeley's addition to Chicago, and was chiefly instrumental in vindicating the genuineness of its title when attacked in court. He profit- ably conducted the management of the valuable property of Messrs. Macalester & Gilpin, and from this estate procured the donation to Chicago of Vernon Park, on the west side. He has become thoroughly conversant with the law concern- ing real estate transactions of whatsoever nature, and there is no man perhaps in that city who has a better knowledge of titles than he. Upon the organization of the Board of Real Estate Brokers in 1853, he was chosen as Secretary and Manager. The crisis of 1857 paralyzed the real estate branch as it did other branches of trade, and there were few operators who maintained their ground. Mr. Kerfoot was among the successful ones. The board was for a time much disorganized, but ,with the revival of business it became an

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active and important association, and he was chosen as its | Senate; owing to his opposition to Horace Greelcy for President, a position which for many years he has occupied President, however, he failed to secure an election. He had heretofore avoided rather than sought office, and the nomination referred to was made while he was absent from his home. He was married in 1851 to Marictta Black, of the State of Ohio. with distinction. He has one of the finest residences in the suburbs of the city, whose splendid grounds and horticul- tural adornment are in exemplification of his taste for land- scape gardening. He is an enterprising citizen and has been engaged in many private and public improvements for the benefit of the city. Some years ago he obtained from the Illinois Legislature a law for the location of a park in the town of Lakeview, and he was appointed one of the Commissioners to carry out this project. Ile is a gentleman of literary culture, and has contributed many articles to the press embodying important statements and opinions relative to the material growth of his adopted city. His pamphlet entitled " Chicago, the Commercial and Financial Centre of the Northwest," was extensively published and warmly in- dorsed. He is a prominent member of the Protestant Epis- copal church, and was chiefly instrumental in procuring the call of Rev. Mr. Clarkson, now Bishop of Nebraska, to St. James' Church, of Chicago. His familiarity with diocesan matters is displayed in his able pamphlet on " Bishop White- house and the Diocese of Illinois." IIe takes an active in- terest in educational movements, and is himself a ripe scholar. His library and art treasures are among the finest in the Northwest, and his home is the resort of the leading amateur musicians of the city. Generous by nature, zealous in all good works, unblemished in integrity, he finds him- self prominent in a large social circle, and in the possession of the esteem of the entire community.

HITE, HORACE, Editor, was born in Colebrook, Coos county, New Hampshire, August 10th, 1834, being the son of a prominent physician in that section, who in the winter of 1836-7 journeyed from New Hampshire to the Territory of Wis- consin, for the purpose of selecting a site for a colony of New England settlers. This difficult journey was performed in one season by means of a horse and sleigh, and the distance, to that then remote western point and return, of more than three thousand miles, while it was filled with many vicissitudes, was accomplished without any accidents. He selected the location of the present city of Beloit as the site for the colony, and in the following summer with his family removed thither, and took up his residence in a log structure, the only one in the vicinity which was built strong enough to afford a secure defence against the Indians. He died in 1843, leaving a widow and four small children, of whom Horace was the eldest. Three years after, Mrs. White married Deacon Samuel Heriman, of Prairieville, now Waukesha, Wisconsin, a man of the most exemplary character, to whose farm the family imme- diately removed, remaining there until 1849. In this year their residence was changed to Beloit, which afforded better educational facilities, and in the same year Horace entered Beloit College, from which he graduated in 1853 with dis- tinction. In the following year, being then but nineteen years of age, he went to Chicago and found his first employ- ment in journalism as " local," and subsequently as assistant editor of the Evening Journal, little thinking that he would ever arrive at the eminence he afterwards attained as a manager and editorial writer. Chicago had at that time four papers : the Tribune, conducted by Thomas A. Stewart ; the Democrat, by John Wentworth ; the Democratic Press, by John L. Scripps and William Bross, and the Journal, by R. L. & C. L. Wilson. In 1855 Mr. White was appointed agent of the Associated Press and resigned his position on the fournal, and in the following year he was chosen Assistant Secretary of the National Kansas Committee, whose head-quarters had been fixed at Chicago. In 1857, upon the dissolution of that committee, he entered the office of the Tribune, then published by Ray, Medill & Co., as an editorial writer, and from that date until 1874 was uninter- ruptedly connected with that paper. A considerable por- tion of this time was spent in Washington in the capacity of correspondent. In 1864 he purchased an interest in the establishment, and in the following year became its editor-

AGY, JOHN B., Attorney-at-Law, was born in Seneca county, Ohio, June 9th, 1830. His parents were natives of Virginia, who moved to Ohio, where they made their home in Seneca county on land cleared for that purpose, and which they still occupy. His father has attained his seventy- eighth year, while his mother is over seventy-four years of age. Until John had reached the age of eighteen years he lived on his father's farm, and attended subsequently the Seneca County Academy, where he completed his education. At the termination of his allotted course of studies he returned to farming, and continued at this avocation until IS59. Abandoning agricultural life in that year, he com- menced the practice of law, having qualified himself to enter the legal profession while occupied in farming, and been admitted to the bar in 1856. Removing to Salem, Illinois, he rapidly secured an extensive and remunerative clientage. IIe is probably the ablest criminal lawyer at the Salem bar, and one of the most powerful orators in this section of Illinois. At the present time he is a law partner of Judge Bryan, and his firm conducts a very large business. In politics he has always adhered to the Democratic party, and in 1872 was the Democratic candidate for the State in-chief, a position which he held until his retirement

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recently. He then paid a lengthened visit to Europe. He is a man of scholarly tastes and keen penetration, whose well-informed and logical mind gives a power and elegance to his literary productions which few other writers can equal. His journalistic management was characterized by enterprise and rare energy, and in it he rose to a position of great influence in the world of politics, of business, and of letters.

GARDNER, DANIEL, Banker, was born December 18th, 1816, in Hartford county, Connecticut, being the son of Daniel and Prudence (Whipple) Gardner. His father, who was a cooper by trade, removed with his family to Licking county, Ohio, in 1830. He himself early set out in this busi- ness under his father's supervision, and engaged in it until he had reached his twenty-fourth year, when he turned his attention to farming and stock raising in Ohio. IIe soon obtained a very large and general acquaintance with the people of his section of the State, and being a person of ex- cellent judgment, a ready speaker, and a constant worker for the interests of the community in which he resided, he soon attained the position of a representative man. In 1855 he was elected on the Know Nothing ticket to the Ohio Senate, from Licking and Delamater counties, and served with honor. For six years he held the position of County Commissioner for Licking county, and filled the office acceptably to the people. In the fall of 1859 he left Ohio for Champaign county, Illinois, in which he had some time previously taken up two thousand acres. This large tract was put under cultivation, and within a short time it was increased by the addition of a thousand acres. By careful though liberal management this has become one of the finest produce and stock farms in Illinois. In 1862 Mr. Gardner was called upon to settle up the affairs of the old Cattle Bank of Champaign county, which had failed the year before. This section of the State was by its suspen- sion rendered destitute of a banking institution of any kind, and its people, who were engaged largely in transactions which required the facilities of a bank, keenly felt its loss. Sensible of the popular need, Mr. Gardner organized a private banking-house, under the firm-name of D. Gardner & Co., at Champaign. This still exists and is engaged in a flourishing business. In 1873, after closing the affairs of the banking firm of Ermentrout, Harvey & Co., at Urbana, Mr. Gardner established a branch of his banking-house at that place, under the firm-name of Gardner, Curtiss & Ber- pee, which enjoys a very large patronage. He has been a member of the Chicago Board of Trade for many years, and deals extensively in grain. He is a gentleman of rare busi- ness qualifications, and his judgment is accepted almost as an authority in the decision of grave questions growing out of the complications incident to trade and finance. He is public spirited and takes a great interest in municipal im- provements, and is esteemed none the less for the courtesy

with which hc greets all who, in business or social life, come in contact with him. He was married in 1840 to Mary J. Hodges, of Worcester county, Massachusetts, who still lives. He has two sons and three daughters.

UECHLER, KARL FERDINAND, M. D., was born in Lanchstædt, near Halle, Germany, June 17th, 1822. He received his first instruction in homœopathy in the city of Berlin, Prussia, where, while a student, in 1844, he became acquainted with Professor J. Pantillon, first homoeopathic physician of that city, who, in consequence of a remarkable cure effected in the case of a daughter of the celebrated Bettina Von Arnim, was by special decree of the king per- mitted to practise and dispense his own medicine-a privi- lege never before granted to any physician. In November, 1845, Dr. Küechler left Berlin for Bremerhaven, and the same month embarked for America in the ill-fated ship " Pacific." When three days out the ship was wrecked, and Dr. Küechler, having lost everything but the dressing- gown and slippers which he wore, returned to Bremerhaven, and there commenced the practice of medicine. It was there he first met Constantine Hering, who, with his bride, was returning to America. In July, 1846, he again sailed for America, and arrived safely in New York after a stormy voyage of forty-six days. Nine months afterward he re- moved to Springfield, and was at that time the only homœ- opathic physician between Chicago and St. Louis; and but one person in Springfield knew anything of homœopathy. Yct in one month's time his practice became so large that he was compelled to seek an associate, and he invited Dr. Bernhard Cyriax, now at Cleveland, to become his partner. In 1848 he married Meta Fischer, of Bremen. In 1866, worn by the cares incident to an extensive practice, and burdened with grief for the loss of a favorite daughter, the doctor sought relief in change of labor and of scene, and for a few weeks returned to the fatherland. During this visit, while at Cœthen, he was introduced by Dr. Arthur Lutze to Fräulein Hahnemann, the only surviving daughter of the great homœopath. He is very enthusiastic in all pertaining to his profession. When a poor man in Bremer- haven he spent his last dollar for the privilege of passing à few hours with Jenichen, of Wismar, the famous advocate of high potencies. He is a consistent member of the Bap- tist Church, and a citizen of much quiet usefulness.

EWELL, HOLLIS, Merchant and Capitalist, was born at St. Alban's, Franklin co inty, Vermont, December 25th, 1813. His parents were Hollis Jewell and Elizabeth (Goddard) Jewell. His education was derived from the public schools, supplemented by after study and observation. In IS31, when eighteen years of age, he left his home and

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went to Albion, New York, where he learned the trade of | Detroit, and was assigned a position in the office at that a carpenter, remaining there during the succeeding three years. In 1335 he removed to Cleveland, Ohio, and for a year pursued his trade there. In 1837 he went to Chilli- cothe, Ohio, and was engaged in the building of the aque- duct over Fiint creek for the State canal. From this place he proceeded to Columbus, where he worked at his trade until he left for the purpose of visiting New Orleans, Louis- iana. Finally, in 1340, he settled in Freeport, Illinois, where he has since permanently resided. Ile established himself in business here as a wagon and buggy builder, an occupation in which he was engaged for ten years. In 1350, in consequence of bad health, he retired from active business life, and for several years was compelled to travel continuously in order to regain his forces. In 1357, his health being improved, he turned his attention to real estate operations, the loaning of money, etc. IIe has devoted much, both of his time and means, to the support of the Methodist Church in Freeport, of which he is a zealous and an active member. Two of the Methodist churches in the city owe their existence and prosperity mainly to him; while in the case of one of these-the Embury Methodist Episcopal Church-his services were so highly appreciated that it was deemed by the managers a fitting measure to inscribe his name on the church bell. Though unable, on account of feeble health, to take a very prominent part in public affairs, he is yet a valued and indefatigable ally in all measures destined to serve a useful end, or add to the welfare, spiritual or physical, of his fellow3. In politics he is a Republican.

point, and upon the return of the latter to Buffalo, the former was left in partial charge and superintendence of affairs at Detroit. Within a short time, however, he was invested with complete control of the business at that point, origin- ally as Local Agent, and afterwards as Superintendent of the company's business in Michigan, which grew rapidly in value and character by the completion of the two great trunk lines through that State. In Jannary, 1855, Mr. Fargo moved to Chicago, being assigned control of the office in that city of the American Express Company, which was the organization which grew out of the merging of the old pioneer companies, in 1850. Subsequently he was pro- moted to the Superintendency of the business of the North !- western Division of the company's lines, bringing to the discharge of his duties fidelity and a rare degree of exccu- tive ability, which won the confidence of the mercantile and commercial communities, as well as of the public. In Jan- uary, 1367, he was invited to New York to take the respon- sible position of General Manager of the American Express Company, and of Director in the Banking, Express & Stage Company of the Pacific States, which has business com- munications with all sections of the world. In all these important positions he has characterized his management with care and energy, with the aim of retaining that un- diminished confidence which from the first was reposed by the publie in the rapid despatch and safety of goods trans- mitted to its charge ; and while he has built up the fame of this organization, he has necessarily secured to himself a reputation such as few business men are honored with. On December 15th, IS53, he was married to Fannie P., daughter of Colonel John Stuart, of Battle Creek, Michigan. In the winter of 1857 he connected himself with Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church, Chicago, and soon after be- came a Vestryman and Junior Warden, offices which he retained until his removal to New York, in 1867, to fill the important positions which had been tendered to him.

ARGO, JAMES C., General Manager American Express Company, was born in Watervale, Onon- daga county, New York, May 5th, 1829, being the seventh child of William C. Fargo, who was of Irish descent, and whose wife was a native of Massachusetts. When fifteen years old he went to Buffalo, where he entered the office of his brother, Wil- liam G. Fargo, then associated with a few other gentlemen in running an express line between Buffalo and Albany, RAWFORD, MONROE CARROLL, Lawyer, Judge of the Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit, Jones- boro', Illinois, was born in Franklin county, Illinois, May 26th, 1835. His father, John Crawford, was born in Maryland and reared in Virginia. IIis mother, Elizabeth (Randolph:) Crawford, was a native of Tennessee. Monroe attended the common schools of his native State, and during one term was a student at the McKendree College, Lebanon, Illinois. On leaving school he began the study of the law with Hon. W. K. Parish, at Benton, remaining under his tutorship for a period of two years. He was subsequently, in November, IS53, admitted to the bar, and established under the name of Livingston, Wells & Pomeroy, and an- other between Buffalo and Detroit, under the name of Wells & Co. Here he was employed as errand and utility boy, until promoted to the position of deliverer of money pack- ages about the city. The progress of the express business becomes marvellous by contrast. To-day it is one of the vast and invaluable enterprises of the day. Then it amounted to a single carpet-bag and a dozen articles a day between Buffalo and Albany, and about the same quantity between Buffalo and Detroit twice a week. Railroad eom- munication had just at that time been opened from the East to Buffalo, which was then the western terminus. Early in 1847 Mr. Fargo accompanied his brother William G. to ! his office in Benton. In IS54 he tock the degree of Bach-

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elor of Laws at the University of Kentucky. While in | zines and periodicals, and to the preparation of a full and Benton, in 1856, he was elected State's Attorney of the interesting biography of Senator Douglas, which the Harpers, of New York, published in 1860. In July of that year he sold out the Times establishment to Mr. McCormick, and in the following December, with the able assistants he had gathered about him on that paper, started the Post, which in April, 1865, he disposed of to the Republican company. Ile remained in an editorial position on this journal during the administration of Mr. Dana, and upon the retirement of that gentleman accepted an editorial position on the Chicago Tribune, which he fills with rare tact and ability. He is a forcible and graceful writer, possessing a versatile capacity which qualifies him for every phase of editorial and literary work. Third Judicial Circuit, then consisting of ten counties, and in IS60 was re-elected Judge of the same circuit. In IS59 he moved to Jonesboro', where he has since permanently resided. In 1862 he entered the army as Lieutenant- Colonel of the 110th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. While acting in a military capacity he was a participant at the battle of Perryville, Stone's river, and remained in the service until May, 1863. On returning to his native State he settled at Duquoin, and there engaged in the civil prac- tice of his profession, making that place his home until 1867. Eventually he removed to Jonesboro', Illinois, and in June, 1867, was elected Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, serving six years. Under the new reorganization, in 1873, he was elected, for the same period, Judge of the Twenty-fifth Judicial Circuit. He has always been attached to the Democratic party, but has never been a candidate of any party, and never elected as a party candidate. He was married in Franklin county, Illinois, November Ist, 1858, to Sarah J. Willbanks, daughter of Colonel Robert A. D. Willbanks, of Jefferson county.

HEAHAN, JAMES W., Journalist, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, February 22d, 1824, from Irish parentage. He was educated at the Jesuit School in Frederick, in the same State, and in IS45 was admitted to the practice of law in the Federal Courts of the District of Columbia. His taste, how- ever, did not incline towards the legal profession, and he com- menced the study of reporting, in which he soon became very expert. For a number of years after he reported the pro- ceedings of Congress for the press of the District and for the Associated Press of New York, laying in this vocation the basis of his future journalistic success. He moved to Chicago in 1854, and in August of that year established the Chicago Times, making it a paper of great local popularity and influence, and the organ of the Northwestern Democracy. He had a number of powerful and wealthy rivals in the journalistic field, but by gathering about him men full of enterprise and energy he raised his paper into a position of commanding eminence in its influence in politics and civil affairs. It became an able advocate of the Democratic cause, and gave its influential support to Judge Douglas at a time when party lines were very closely drawn, and party feeling ran very high. From 1854 to 1860 Mr. Sheahan, as the manager of this sheet, was prominently concerned in all Democratic movements, and there was no canvass or caucus which did not show some indication of his personal influence in moulding final action. During his excessive journalistic labors he yet found time to engage in a great dcal of miscellaneous literary work, in the shape of ad- dresses to literary societies, in contributions to the maga-

"DGAR, WILLIAM H., Lawyer and Journalist, was born at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, September Ioth, 1839. Ile graduated at the Illinois College, Jacksonville, in June, 1861, and immediately . thereafter enlisted as a private in the army, to serve three years, in Company E, 33d Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, Captain C. E. Lippincott, command- ing. He was afterward promoted to the Second Lieu- tenancy, and served in the 32d Illinois Regiment. In 1865 he read law in the office of Judge B. F. Parks, at Aurora, Illinois, and in 1867 was admitted to the bar. In IS69 he took editorial charge of the Jerseyville Republican, and after several years contest with strong adverse political opinions succeeded in placing the paper on a paying basis. At the present time he is the sole owner and controller of that organ. He is a man of thorough scholarly attainments, and varied general information, and is widely recognized as a journalist of unusual powers, while his opinions, as trans- mitted to the public in general through the medium of his paper, exercise a marked influence in this section of Illinois.

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The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century, Part 84

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