USA > Illinois > The biographical encyclopedia of Illinois of the nineteenth century > Part 88
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118
55
394
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPÆDIA.
eventually compelled his removal to a fine establishment | and Will counties, Illinois, in the latter of which he pur- at Nos. 39 and 41 on the same thoroughfare. This great trade very soon came under his own control, and he gave it his exclusive attention, until its expanding proportions made this a too taxing labor; and after some years he took into partnership E. L. Jansen, D. B. Cook, A. C. . McClurg, and F. B. Smith. In this prosperous business Mr. Griggs found a compensation for the loss of the advantages of a complete collegiate course; and his matured literary taste and culture fixed their indicia upon . the works which were placed upon the shelves of his establishment. IIe soon secured the well-merited position as the leading book merchant in the Northwest. During his European tour he formed the acquaintance of many of the leading publishers of England, France, and Ger- many, principal among them being IIenry G. Bohn, the veteran John Murray, Mr. Rutledge, and Messrs. Black- wood & Sons. The American Literary Gazette and Pub- lishers' Circular said of him: " ITis intelligence, enter- prise, integrity, and many estimable qualities, have acquired for him a popularity not derived from any factitious cir- cumstances, but a permanent and spontaneous tribute to his merit." He is a gentleman of liberal impulses, public- spirited as a eitizen, and conscientious as a churchman, and has won the lasting respect of the community for his blameless business and social life.
chased a farm. Returning to Bristol, he re-engaged in his trade until 1857, when he removed to Loekport, Illinois, and continued it there. He was employed on the Illinois & Michigan Canal, then in process of completion, in the capacity of bridge builder; and in the fall of 1857 he was placed in charge of the repair shop of the canal, located in Lockport. Here he remained in the discharge of his duties, which were most acceptably rendered, until 1862, when he was appointed Assistant Superintendent of the West Division of the Canal, the head-quarters of which were at Ottawa, Illinois. He filled this responsible station with so much satisfaction to the management, that on December Ist, IS71, he was promoted to the office of General Superintendent of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and holds that position at the present time, his office being at Lockport. For many years he has been a contractor and bridge builder on a large scale, and has achieved an honorable distinction as an engineer. The construction of the short eanal around the rapids of Rock river, at Camden, Illinois, in 1871, was under his entire supervision. This new eut connected the coal fields of Coal Valley directly with the Mississippi river, affording a short and easy outlet for the products of the mines. IIe is, in addi- tion, one of the Directors of the La Salle County Savings, Loan, and Trust Company of Ottawa, and ably participatcs in the management of that substantial institution. IIc has, through his own industry, his large exccutive ability as a supervising engineer, his fine capacity as mechanician, and his unflagging perseverance, without any adventitious aids, worked himself, in the direct line of his original trade, to a position of great importance and responsibility. He has secured the general esteem of the people with whom he has been brought in contact, not alone by his skill and integrity, but through the influence of the most pleasing of social traits
IIOMAS, WILLIAM, Canal Superintendent, was born in Bristol, Ontario county, New York, February 20th, 1821; being the son of Silas Thomas, a well-known millwright. IIe com- menced quite early to attend the common schools of his native place, and when quite young the care of his mother's family devolved largely upon him. Ile began upon mechanical work in his father's business when twelve years of age; and when fifteen, removed with the household to Grass Lakc, Jackson county, Michigan, ATES, GEORGE C., Lawyer, was born in Canan- daigua, New York, in 1814. He commenced the study of law in the office of Hon. John C. Spencer, under whose instructions he remained during the ensuing three years. In 1834 he removed to Detroit, and was there admitted to the bar. Ile speedily secured. an extensive collecting practice, comprising a large portion of Indiana and North- ern Illinois. In 1841 he was appointed United States District Attorney by General Harrison, but at the death of the latter resigned his office. IIe was reappointed to the same position by Taylor, and held the office until 1852, when he resigned and went to California, filling there the position of assistant counsel in government cases. Five where he largely aided in clearing a new farm in a wild region of country which showed few signs of civilization. When this work was completed, and the tract of land was in a condition to be profitably cultivated, he returned East to York, Livingston county, New York, where, in IS40, he was apprenticed to a carpenter. IIe was then nineteen years of age, and he served at this trade two years in York, and one year in Bristol. During this time he improved his intellectual condition by close and meditative reading, acquiring a substantial and practical education, especially in that line of study which he deemed would be most advantageous to his calling in after life. On February 22d, 1844, he was married to Phobe D. Wildie, of Bristol, a lady of many accomplishments. He followed his trade | years later he returned to Detroit, having accumulated a as carpenter for fourteen years in Bristol, New York, and large fortune during his residence in California. In 1861 in 1354 came West, spending considerable time in Cook he moved to Chicago, and since has resided permanently
395
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.
in this city, occupied constantly by professional duties. He | during the past seven years, his practice embracing the was admitted to the bar contemporaneously with Hon. Thomas Hoyne and the late Judge Manierre, of Chicago, and is one of the oldest members of the bar in the West. While his line of practice is general, he has been con- nected considerably with revenue and admiralty matters.
EWETT, JOHN N., Lawyer, was born in Maine, and is now about forty-five years of age. While very young he removed to Wisconsin; subse- quently returned to the East, however, and gradu- ated at Bowdoin College. . He afterward came West again, and studied law at Galena, Illinois. Ile removed to Chicago in 1857, and there formed a part- nership with Scates & McAllister. As a lawyer, he is a general practitioner, able in every department. He pos- sesses unusual powers of analysis, is often pungent, severe, and sarcastic in his arguments, and is gifted with apparently exhaustless resources in the conduct of a case. At the present time he is Attorney for the Illinois Central Rail- way, and has served as a member of the State Senate.
VES, SIMEON P., M. D., was born in the State of New York, November 10th, 1818. His parents, natives of Vermont, settled in New York in the early part of this century. His father was Almon Ives, his mother Nancy Ives. Simeon was cducated at the Douglass College, in Gran- ville, Illinois. After leaving school, entertaining the pur- pose to become a minister, he commenced the study of theology under the direction of Rev. J. M. Talman, of Pavilion, with whom he remained for a period of two years. Upon being called to the ministry, he supplied the Plainfield Baptist Church for six years, and the Blooming- ton Baptist Church for four years. While in Plainfield, an addition of sixty was made to the membership; while in Bloomington, the list was increased by seventy-five fresh members, those additions being attributable solely to the influence and tireless efforts of the pastor. While in the latter place, he began to carry into effect an intention which had always been in his mind, been, in fact, a settled pur- pose with him from an early day, namely, the practice of medicine. When his service came to a close at Blooming- ton, he entered accordingly upon a course of medical studies under the instructions of Dr. E. B. Roe; attending lectures subsequently at the St. Louis Medical College, from which institution he graduated. While pursuing his studies, he engaged in the practice of his profession at St. Louis, where he resided for six years. He then moved to Auna, Illinois, where he has permanently resided
major portion of the community. Also, while here, he has officiated at the Jonesboro' Baptist Church for two years, but eventually, owing to the pressure of professional duties, was obliged to sever his connection with the church. A main feature of his practice here has been his success in treating cases of cerebro-spinal-meningitis, which, at one time, had become almost an epidemic. ITis mode of treatment differcd so materially from that followed by other physicians, and his success was so great, that his reputation was at once established, and an extensive busi- ness secured. He has been twice elected Coroner of Union county, and twice appointed County Physician. He is also a Director of the Egyptian Paint Company, a mineral paint found in Union county. He was married March 25th, 1838, to Martha P. Ashley, of New York, and has had five children-three boys, one a practising physician, the other two being mechanics.
RADWELL, JAMES B., Lawyer, was born in England, in 1828, and was brought to the United States when but sixteen months old. In 1834 his family removed to Illinois, and since that time he has resided constantly in the West and South. He began the study of law in Memphis, and was admitted to the bar in Chicago in 1853. He served as Probate Judge for a period of eight years, and, while holding this position, collected a library of probate law that is second to but one or two in this country. In his knowledge of probate law, especially, he has no superior.
EKETE, ALEXANDER, M.D., was born at Buda-Pesth, Hungary, December 2d, 1827. He is the son of Joseph Fekete and Elizabeth Fekete, natives of Hungary. He attended the University of Vienna, where he received his literary educa- tion and began also the study of medicine. In 1848 the memorable Hungarian revolution took place, and in this he became an active participant. Leaving the uni- versity, he returned to his home and became a member of the army, holding the position of First Licutenant, primarily in the Vienna Legion, subsequently among the Riflemen. In 1849 he was taken prisoner by the Russian allies of Austria, and after remaining in confinement for a period of three months was turned over to the Austrians, from whom he finally escaped into Turkey. He afterward joined Kos- suth, and with him travelled through France and England. In advance of that famous officer he arrived in America, making New York city his home for two years, engaging there in the drug business. He then went west as far as St.
396
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPÆEDLA.
Louis, where he found employment as clerk in a drug store. He continued in the meantime the study of medicine, and ultimately graduated from the St. Louis Medical College. Later he removed to Illinois, and until the outbreak of the rebellion practised his profession in several counties of this State. He then entered the army as an Assistant Acting Surgeon in the 5th M. S. M. Cavalry, and was promoted to the rank of Surgeon, serving until the close of the war in 1865. He settled ultimately in East St. Louis, Illinois, and there engaged in the practice of medicine. For two years he filled the position of Assistant County Physician of St. Clair county for East St. Louis. Since his residence here he has succeeded in building up a large practice, while his reputation places him among the leading physicians of the county. He was married in 1855 to Kate Fisher, of Ken- tucky.
ICKEY, HUGH T., Lawyer, and Judge of the Seventh Judicial Circuit of Illinois, was born in New York city, May 30th, 1812, being the son of Robert Dickey, a merchant. His mother was a daughter of Dr. George Brown, an eminent physician of Baltimore, and an alumnus of Dublin College. He was educated in the common schools, and when eight years old became quite proficient in the various English branches, and commenced the study of the French and English languages. When fourteen he became a fresh- man in Columbia College, New York, and upon completing a four years' course, graduated with distinguished honors in a class of thirty. After his college career he commenced the study of law with Charles Graham, Esq., a distinguished member of the New York bar, and remained under the pre- ceptorship of this lawyer four years, when he was admitted to practice. He then became Mr. Graham's assistant, and filled that position until 1836, when he went West, arriving in Chicago during the summer of that year. Ile remained but a short time, however, returning again East, remaining in New York until the summer of 1838, when he came back to Chicago and determined to make that the place of his residence. He entered into partnership with Edward G. Ryan, a lawyer with whom he had been acquainted in New York, and this partnership continued until the spring of 1841, when Mr. Ryan established the Chicago Tribune, and the firm was dissolved. From this time Mr. Dickey con- tinued the practice of the law alone, having already achieved high reputation as a sound lawyer, and an able as well as a brilliant advocate. In 1842 Hon. Theophilus W. Smith, one of the Supreme Judges of the State, resigned his posi- tion on the bench, and Mr. Dickey was recommended by the Chicago bar and by a large meeting of citizens to the Legislature then in session, as a man suitable in all respects to fill the vacancy. The choice of the Legislature, however, was Hon. Richard N. Young, much to the disappointment of Mr. Dickey's numerous friends. In the years 1843-44 he
filled the position of Member of Common Council, being one of the Aldermen representing the first ward of Chicago, and while acting in this capacity served as Chairman on the Committee on Schools, and projected and carried out the present system of leasing the real estate belonging to the Chicago school fund for terms of years, especially the valu- able block lying between State and Dearborn, Madison and Monroe streets, which was at his suggestion subdivided and leased upon terms which rendered it far more profitable to the school fund than it had ever been beforc. His mature judgment was relied upon in all matters of municipal legis- lation during his incumbency of the office of Alderman. He kept up his practice until the spring of 1845, when he was presented to the Legislature of the State for election to the Judgeship of the Cook County Court, now the Superior Court of Chicago. This was a court created by the Legisla- ture at that session, having but one judge instead of three as at present, and possessing concurrent jurisdiction with the Circuit Court. He was unanimously clected for this office, and entered upon his judicial duties during the same spring, and soon gave public demonstration of his complete qualifi- cation for that responsible office. By act of Assembly he was made ex-officio Judge of the Jo Daviess County Court. His duties were arduous, but were performed by him with skill and fidelity and to the fullest acceptance of the people. From this position he was promoted to the Judgeship of the Seventh Judicial Circuit, composed then of eight countics, being nominated by the Democrats and being unanimously elected, the Whigs having made no opposition. He was chosen to this office at the first judicial election held under the present constitution, the people having pricr thereto no direct voice in the selection of the judiciary. During his incumbency the circuit was divided, all the counties save Cook and Lake being set off by themselves in consequence of the increase of legal business naturally resulting from the rapid growth of Chicago and the surrounding country. This was the last public office held by him, and he was compelled to resign its duties in the spring of 1853, before thic expira- tion of his term, owing to the pressure of his private busi- ness. He is an enterprising and public-spirited citizen of Chicago, and has at all times taken a decp interest in all that concerned the moral and material welfare of the city. He was married in ISgo to Fanny Russell De Koven, daughter of the late Henry L. De Koven, of Middleton, Connecticut, by whom he had three children. He is a Icad- ing member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and is liberal in his support of all charitable movements. During the summer of 1865 he and his family started on a tour of Great Britain and Continental Europe, where they remained two years. Judge Dickey earncd on the bench the reputa- tion of a jurist soundly learned in all branches of the law, and his decisions are all models not alone of concise inter- pretation and exhaustive legal research, but of perspicuous logic and unassailable conclusions. He is a gentleman who carries with him the respect of the entire community.
397
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.
ARTRIDGE, JASPER, Attorney-at-Law and Op- erator in Real Estate, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, March 29th, 1832. His father, David Partridge, a native of Vermont, moved with his parents first to the State of New York, and afterward to that of Ohio, which finally be- eame his home, and where he engaged in the prosecution of his trade, that of carpenter. His mother was a native of Ohio. He was cducated in the common schools located in the vicinity of his birthplacc. Upon relinquishing school life he worked at the trade of carpenter until he had attained his twentieth year. He then taught school at intervals during the ensuing three or four years, and in the meantime applied himself to the study of law. In Virginia, which State he made his home, he was admitted to the bar. IIc subsequently removed to Illinois, settling at Centralia, where he engaged in the practice of his profession. At the expiration of one year he moved to Mt. Vernon, and asso- ciated himself in partnership with Richard Nelson, a con- nection which continued until 1861. At this time he cn- tered the service of the United States as Captain of the 44th Regiment of Illinois Infantry, which was the first organized company in Jefferson county. He served through the war and was almost constantly engaged in active service. He was a participant at the battles of Pea Ridge, Arkansas ; Stone River, Tennessee; and took part in the many other actions in which the regiment was engaged, until the expira- tion of his term of service with this body. In September, 1864, he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the 152d Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, and acted in that capacity until September, 1865, when he was mustered out of the service. This regiment was engaged in Tennessee cxclu- sively (vide "History of the 44th," in the Adjutant-Gen- eral's report). At the close of the war he returned to Mt. Vernon, and resuming the practice of his profession, resided there until December, 1866. Ultimately he removed to Carmi, which has since been his home, and where he is occupied in conducting a large and laborious practice. In addition to his law business, he has been engaged exten- sively in real estate speculations, and is the owner of large tracts of lands. Ile was married in 1869 to Mary C. Fitz- gerald, of Fairfield, Illinois.
AWLEY, JAMES ANDREW, County Clerk of Dixon, Illinois, was born in Webster, Monroe county, New York, August 20th, 1830. He is the son of James Hawley and Sarah (Stratton) Ilawley. His education was obtained at the Monroe Academy, and at the Gencsee Wesleyan Seminary. On leaving school in 1848 he became engaged in teaching, an avocation which he pursued until 1851. In this year he went into the store of Wanzer, Beardsley & Co., publishers, as clerk, and continued with them in that
capacity until 1855. He then commenced to travel as Gen- eral Agent for the State of Illinois, for A. S. Barnes & Co., and Ivison, Phinney & Co., book publishers, both of New York city, for the introduction into that State of the school books of these firms. He was intrusted with the gencral management of the agency, and employed a large staff of canvassers, who were subject to his orders. In 1858 he settled in Dixon, Illinois, and opened here a book and sta- tionery store, but disposed of his interest in the establish- ment in 1861. From 1857 to 1859 he officiated as School Commissioner. In the fall of 1861 he was elected County Clerk of Dixon, and has since continued to fill this office, having been continuously re-elected. In 1863 he was elected a School Director, and served for a period of ten years ; also for several years he officiated as President of the Board. Hc is very prominent in the Masonic order, having been in 1871-72 Grand High Priest of the Royal Arch Chapter of State, while in 1873-74 he was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois, and in 1874 Grand Commander of Knights Templar for the same State. The holding of these three offices by one man is unusual and noteworthy.
DAMS, JOHN, Manufacturer, was born in 1813, at Washington county, Pennsylvania. His parents were Martin Adams and Margaret (Irvin) Adams. He was educated in the common school located in the neighborhood of his home, and at the com- pletion of an allotted course of studies, learned the trade of carpenter. In 1828 he returned to Cincinnati, where he remained until 1833. In 1834 he moved to New Orleans, and there for a short time worked at liis trade. In the same year he went to Boston, and was present at the burning, by a mob, of the nunncry at Charleston Heights, near Boston, in July, 1834. In the course of the succeeding ten or eleven years he was moving constantly from place to place, remaining permanently in none of the cities visited. From New York city he went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and thence in 1836 to Mobile. From this city he moved to St. Louis; thence to Pekin, Illinois river; and from there to Peoria, in the same State. In 1845 he visited Galena, and there obtained a situation with Isaac Evans, a plough manu- facturer. In 1847 he was admitted as a partner in the estab- lishment, the firm-style becoming Evans & Adams. Later in the same year he became the son-in-law of his associate. In 1865 Isaac Evans retired, leaving to him the entire busi- ness. The production averages about fifteen hundred ploughs per annum, but has reached as high a point as three thousand five hundred .. The principal markets are the Northwestern district and California, also Minnesota, Wis- consin, Iowa and Illinois. He is one of the largest manu- facturers in this section, and respected as an energetic and trustworthy business man. He was married in IS47 to a daughter of Isaac Evans.
328
BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.
LDRIDGE, GENERAL IIAMILTON N., Law- | the meantime in establishing and maintaining an extensive yer, was born in South Williamstown, Berkshire and remunerative legal business. During the war of the rebellion he was elected Major of the 127th Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, but was compelled, much against his wishes, to decline the commission. He has never been a partisan politician, and has always steadily refused all official patronage. He is in the general practice, making a specialty as yet of no particular branch of the law, unless it be commercial law and cases arising under insurance and bankrupt laws. In the Circuit Courts of the United States, in the Courts of Admiralty, in the various courts of the State and before a jury he is equally ready, efficient and pains . taking, and seldom fails to bring his cases to a satisfactory issue. In the management of the famous case of Craig vs. Sprague for breach of promise, which resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff of one hundred thousand dollars, he took an active and prominent part, and with his firm, Eldridge & Tourtellotte, achieved a result which, in the whole record of litigation, remains, in its kind, wholly unsur- passed and rarely equalled. county, Massachusetts, and is now about forty- one years of age. His father, engaged formerly in farming, served in the United States army during the war with Mexico, holding the rank of Colonel. Hamilton was fitted for college at East Hamp- ton, in Massachusetts, entered the Williams College in 1852 and graduated four years later, taking the first prize of his class for elocution. He began the study of law under the direction of Judge Ira Harris and his brother, Hamilton Harris, in Albany, New York, and graduated at the Law School in the same place in 1857. IIe came to Chicago in the course of the same year, and remained tem- porarily in the office of Baker & Hyatt, afterward com- mencing the practice of the law on his own account. In 1858 he formed a partnership with F. W. Tourtellotte, with whom he has been since constantly associated under the name of Eldridge & Tourtellotte. In 1862 lie entercd the volunteer service as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 127th Illinois Infantry, three weeks later took command of the regiment, and within the year was appointed to the Colonelcy. At the battle of Arkansas Post he and his force were the first to step inside the Confederate works, and at the battles before Vicksburg, in May, 1863, after all the color-guard had been shot down, he took the colors and led his regiment, an act of gallantry for which he was mide Brevet Brigadier-General. Since his retirement from military life he has devoted himself assiduously and successfully to the practice of the legal profession. Ilis practice and that of his firin is a general one, embracing every variety of cases. He has been engaged in many highly important cases, among which the most notorious one was the suit of Amanda J. Craig against Elisha C. Sprague for breach of promise, and in which his firm ob- tuined the largest verdict ever known in suits for damages- one hundred thousand dollars.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.