USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > The great revolution; a history of the rise and progress of the People's Party in the city of Chicago and county of Cook > Part 12
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In 1868, Col. Schaffner, always a staunch Republican, handled the North Side Tanners so well that every ward in the Division went Republican at the Presidential election. In 1869, he was defeated, but in 1870, he was elected to a seat in the Council by a handsome majority.
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242
THE GREAT REVOLUTION.
JACOB LENGACHER.
This gentleman was elected to represent the Seventeenth Ward in the Common Council. First time in 1871, on the Union People's ticket ; the second time in 1873, on the Peo- ple's ticket.
He was born in Berne, Switzerland, in 1833. One year and a half at school in Berne, and up to 1858, in the city of Deintigen, completed his educational course. He now came to Laporte, Indiana. He here entered into a contract for clearing land five miles or so distant from the city of .Laporte. He subsequently entered the brewing business. In August, 1861, with some fourteen friends, the Alderman proceeded to Indianapolis, and offered his services to Gen. Willich, commander of the 32d Indiana. Promotion soon succeeded. Corporalship, sergeantcy, lieutenantships, and captaincy fol- lowed. After the battle of Shiloh, he was compelled to take an orderly sergeantship. When the Captain of Com- pany D was killed, the Alderman, who belonged to Company I, was appointed to his position.
Coming to Chicago, he entered the Collector's office. Business growing dull, however, he went, at suggestion, into the insurance business, in which he is now engaged. He represents eight different companies.
243
COMMON COUNCIL.
THOMAS CANNON.
This gentleman represents the Eighteenth Ward in the Common Council. He was born in the townland of Cloon- coe, County Leitrim, Ireland, May 15, 1828, and came to this country in 1851, coming directly to Chicago. Up-hill work encountered the Alderman at once. He succeeded in obtaining employment, however, very soon, as a laborer, from which he rose to a position as forwarding freight agent for the old Galena Railroad. After six years of dilligent service here, Mr. Cannon was removed to make place for the pet of certain politicians. The Alderman had accumulated considerable money in the meantime, and this he invested in real estate. He had hardly done so, however, when the financial crash of '58 and '59 swept it away. Then followcd a checkered career. Firstly he speculated on the Board of Trade; had bad luck, after seven years, and went to team- ing; was then engaged as a Sidewalk Inspector, under the Board of Public Works; then as an United States Mail Agent. He now procured a position in the Custom House, whence he was discharged, with twenty others, for want of employment. But the Alderman had made friends. Gov- ernor Beveridge was one of them. At the demise of Owen Dougherty, Mr. Cannon was appointed by his Excellency to fill the vacancy as a Justice of the Peace, which position he now holds. His successful race for Alderman was his third : in the first heat being beaten by five hundred and seventy- four majority ; in the second, by twenty-seven ; and being successful in the last by a majority of five hundred and sixty-four. The Alderman prides himself upon having built the first house on the North Side after the great fire.
244
THE GREAT REVOLUTION.
DAVID MURPHY.
This gentleman represents the Eighteenth Ward in the Common Council, and was elected in 1873, on the People's ticket. He was born in the county of Wexford, Ireland ; and, leaving there twenty years ago, came directly to Chi- cago.
The experience of the Alderman in a business point of view-for he was never much in politics - deserves more than a passing notice. On his arrival in Chicago he went into partnership with his brother, Collector Murphy, in the grocery business, and has been ever since invariably success- ful.
In politics, Mr. Murphy, as before intimated, did but little. However, having been pressed upon by his friends, he accepted a candidacy, and won the Aldermanship of the Eighteenth Ward, by a majority of four hundred and one, three other candidates being in the field. He ran against Ex-Alderman Carney before, but was defeated.
In the Council Mr. Murphy is quite conservative; cater- ing to the senses of no other representative, but closely watching the interests of his ward. His constituents ap- preciate the fact.
245
COMMON COUNCIL.
MICHAEL BRAND.
Elected to represent the Nineteenth Ward in the Common Council, Mr. Brand took his seat as the result of the fall election, in 1873.
The gentleman established a brewing business at 30 Cedar street, he may well feel proud of, years ago, and in establish- ing the same has carefully eschewed politics.
246
THE GREAT REVOLUTION.
THOMAS LYNCH.
The colleague of Alderman Brand is Thomas Lynch, elected by a handsome majority to represent the district in which he lives.
The utmost confidence is reposed by his constituents in Alderman Lynch, and the prospects are that he will not betray it.
247
COMMON COUNCIL.
JOHN T. CORCORAN.
Mr. Corcoran was elected to represent the Twentieth Ward, in 1872, on the Greeley ticket, by a majority of about 900 ; two other candidates being in the field. One received 98 votes; the other 180. The Alderman was born in Killarney, and is 37 years of age. When but five weeks old, he was removed by his parents to the city of Ottawa, Ontario. Here the family stayed for about eight years. They now came to Chicago. In those days there were not so many hotels in Chicago as now. They were not so ornate, besides, what there were of them. The old St. Louis, how- ever, was about as respectable as any of them. This edifice Mr. Corcoran's father purchased, and succeeded in estab- lishing in a very brief time. The hotel stood on East Wash- ington street, near Franklin, and was subsequently burned. The father dying in 1854, a rather flourishing grocery business and the care of six young children devolved upon the Alder- man. He did not prosecute the business very long, as he saw something more lucrative in hotel life. He accordingly secured the old Continental, a building with 35 rooms. Here he laid the foundation of his subsequent success. This was about eleven years ago. Foreseeing even then the possi- bilities of trade, Mr. Corcoran advanced in close proximity to railroad travel, and purchased the Hatch House, located on the southeast corner of Fifth avenue and Kinzie street. From the outset the career of the house was brilliant; although street improvement took off considerable of the
248
THE GREAT REVOLUTION.
profit, the building of the Fifth avenue viaduct and the consequent elevation of the street costing the Alderman $22,400. The building had 118 rooms for guests at the time of the great fire. It was insured for $35,000, and of this the Alderman recovered perhaps 1812 per cent. The present building cost $17,000.
In the Council Alderman Corcoran, during the past year, has stood in the minority. He was bitterly opposed to the Mayor's bill as being tyrannical, and has the best hopes for the entire success of the People's party.
249
COMMON COUNCIL.
JULIUS JONAS.
Julius Jonas is the colleague of Alderman J. T. Cor- coran, in the administration of the affairs of the Twentieth Ward. He was elected to his position in 1873.
It is the impression of the residents of the Twentieth Ward that Alderman Jonas will fulfill the requirements of his office with entire satisfaction.
Mr. Jonas was born in Pleshen, Prussia, and is 37 years of age. At the age of 14, he came to New York. After a stay here of about five years he went to Quincy, Illinois. He then came to Chicago, and opened the hide business, over 231 S. Water street, and subsequently removed to 183 Michigan street. His annual business here, added to that of several branches, approximates $800,000.
Mr. Jonas has not paid much attention to politics; giving deep attention to his business. As a result, he has succeeded in building up a remarkable business.
PART III.
COUNTY
FFICERS.
253
COUNTY OFFICERS.
H. B. MILLER.
H. B. Miller is the County Treasurer, elected by the People's Party in the Fall of 1873 by a very large majority. When placed on the ticket, the opposition sought very hard to prove that he was not an American. Indeed, a large number of voters believed he was not, from his connec- tion with the interests of our German residents. A sketch of his history, however, will show that, if ever a man could be Americanized, Mr. Miller enjoys that sweet boon with a vengeance.
H. B. Miller was born in 1819, in the Lebanon Valley, in Pennsylvania, where his great grandfather settled about the year 1720. Both of his grandfathers were born in America, and fought under Washington's banner in the struggle for national independence.
At the age of 14, he entered a printing office, learned the trade, and pursued it for four years, or thereabouts. In 1839, fast acquiring a taste for journalism, Mr. Miller founded, in Niles, Michigan, an English paper, the Repub- lican, and edited it till 1844. In this year he founded the Telegraph, at Kalamazoo. Both of these journals- the latter advocating the principles of Henry Clay-he edited with much ability; and recognition of their political influ- ence was not slow in making itself apparent.
In 1845, he removed to Buffalo. In this city he followed up his journalistic aspirations, and founded a German pa- per, the Telegraph, which is still in existence. Subsequently.
254
THE GREAT REVOLUTION.
President Taylor appointed him Chief Inspector of the Lighthouses on the Lakes.
Severing his connection with the Press, Mr. Miller, after a time, became a contractor of Public Works. While so engaged, by order of the British-American Telegraph Com- pany he constructed a telegraph line from Quebec to Mon- treal. Subsequently, he built a mile of the enlargement of the Erie Canal, and a dock and landing on the Niagara River for the Buffalo and Lake Huron Railroad, which cost about $1,500,000. In 1858, Buffalo elected him a mem- ber of the State Legislature, and the next year re-elected him.
Removing to Chicago, Mr. Miller at once became identi- fied with her largest business interests. His record thus engaged brought him gradually to the political surface, and it was not long before he figured prominently before the people. He always took an active interest in public ques- tions, and was rarely guilty of misconstruing their im- port. It has invariably been his method to transact public affairs conservatively, on the same basis, in fact, as his private business. This trait in his character, doubtlessly, led to his election to the important position of County Treasurer. Among other positions of political preferment, he has served honorably as member of the County Commissioners, and acted at the time of his recent election as President of that body. He was also, in 1868, a member of the State Legis- lature.
255
COUNTY OFFICERS.
HERMANN LIEB.
The People's ticket, in the fall of 1873, elected Hermann Lieb Cook County Clerk, by a very handsome majority.
Mr. Lieb was born in the canton of Turgau, Switzerland, in 1826, and is of Swiss descent on the paternal side. His mother was a Dane. When 19 he left his native place and went to Paris, in France, where he entered a mercantile life- in company with his brother. So engaged he remained up to the revolution of 1848. He now entered the Garde Mobile. with which in February and June of 1848 he participated in all of the battles fought during that period in the streets of Paris.
In 1851 Mr. Lieb came to America. A tour through New York, Boston, and Cincinnati preceded his arrival in Illinois. in 1856. In this year he settled in Decatur, where he remained until the beginning of the war of the Rebellion. On this event he enlisted in the Eigth Illinois Infantry, under General Oglesby. With this regiment he participated in the battles of Fort McHenry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and the siege of Corinth. He was not long in the service - only three months - when he received a Captaincy in Com- pany B. He now accompanied Logan's Division to Vicks- burg, where he was placed in charge of the skirmishers. In fact, in the engagements immediately succeeding he per- formed the same hazardous service. When " The Bend " was attacked he received a painful wound in the left leg. This procured for him a leave of absence. Return-
256
THE GREAT REVOLUTION.
ing to duty after about a month, Mr. Lieb, under orders from General Grant, raised a colored regiment of heavy artillery, which gained the reputation of being one of the best drilled regiments in the service. Among other recognitions for meritorious service, he was appointed In- spector General of the Department of the Mississippi, and was breveted a Brigadier General.
Having been mustered out, Mr. Lieb went to Springfield and founded the Illinois Post, a German Republican paper. After two years he came to Chicago, and in company with Mr. Brentano, started the Abend Zeitung, which took an active part in the polical movement of 1869. A trip to Memphis followed, with a view to establishing a German colony. This movement was a failure, however, owing to the condition of the country. Returning thence, Mr. Lieb established the German American. Subsequently he founded The Union, a German paper with Democratic sym- pathies.
257
COUNTY OFFICERS.
M. R. M. WALLACE.
Martin R. M. Wallace, the popular Judge of the Cook County Court, was born in Urbana, Champaign county, Ohio, September 29, 1829, and is consequently in the vicinity of forty-four years of age.
In 1834 his father, John Wallace, removed to Illinois, and settled his family in LaSalle county. In 1839, entering Ogle county, Judge Wallace was placed at school, and, on his removal to Mount Morris, resumed his studies there. At this seat of the well known Rock River Seminary he pur- sued his academical course. In 1852 Judge Wallace left home, and went to Ottawa. Here he entered the law office of Dickey & Wallace, and remained up to 1856. In this year he came to Chicago, and entered the office of Dent & Black. He also practiced with Major Whitney and Colonel Reading, of Morris.
In 1861 Judge Wallace assisted in raising the Fourth Illi- nois cavalry, and proceeded to the front as a Major. Hav- ing participated, among other engagements, in the battles of Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing, and the movements around Vicksburg, he was mustered out, with the rank of Colonel, in 1864. From this date up to the assumption of his duties as Judge of the County Court, December 6, 1869, he exer- cised the charge of the United States Assessor's office for the First District of Illinois. In 1873 he was placed on both of the tickets, the "Law and Order." and the "People's," and was re-elected by a tremendous number of votes, Judge of the Cook County Court.
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258
THE GREAT REVOLUTION.
JAMES STEWART.
The Recorder of Cook County is James Stewart, a gen- tleman whose career through life has preëminently been a popular one; affiliating with a class of elements young and vigorous, which rarely fail to advance the interests of their champions.
Mr. Stewart was born in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, June 24, 1842, and is accordingly thirty-one years of age. Arriving in Chicago at the early age of five years, our sub- ject grew up surrounded by the best influences possible for local success. Educated in the public and High schools, he apprenticed himself to the plumbing business quite early in life, and learned the trade. He followed it up to about the breaking out of the war, when he joined the Nineteenth Illi- nois infantry, where he served three years and four months, and where he formed several boon companionships. Mr. Stewart took the Recorder's office, December 21, 1872. From the age of thirteen the Recorder has adopted the motto that "God helps him who helps himself," and has accordingly done so.
259
COUNTY OFFICERS.
AUSTIN J. DOYLE.
The subject of this sketch is Austin J. Doyle, who was elected Clerk of the Criminal Court in 1873, on the People's ticket, by the largest majority given, about 13,000.
Mr. Doyle was the youngest man on the ticket. He was born in Chicago, September 18, 1849, and is, consequently, but twenty-four years of age. His active life, it might be said, was spent amid the duties of the Court the people called upon him to manage. Retiring from school, the first he knew of the world he learned in the dry-goods house of W. M. Ross & Co., where he carried parcels, and was after- wards collector. He then, in 1865, procured a position as clerk in the Recorder's Court, under Hon. Daniel O'Hara, Clerk, and now City Treasurer of Chicago. In 1868, Mr. Doyle was appointed first deputy, vice Charles S. Loding who ran against Mr. O'Hara, and was defeated. In 1870, under the new constitution the Recorder's Court was made the Crim- inal Court of Cook county, Hon. Daniel O'Hara being still the Clerk, with Mr. Doyle, his principal deputy. This position our subject filled when called upon by the popular vote to the very important office he now holds. The secret of Mr. Doyle's success, it may well be said, has been his close attention to business, and his invariable urbanity to everybody.
A man who has prosecuted the duties devolving upon Mr. Doyle, necessarily knows volumes of criminal history. Such knowledge necessarily goes a good distance to make an ad- mirable character reader. This qualification is universally conceded to the subject of this sketch.
260
THE GREAT REVOLUTION.
JOHN STEPHENS.
The Coroner of Cook county is John Stephens, who has been twice elected by the very largest majorities on his ticket-the first time by about 7,661, and the second time by about 14,000.
Mr. Stephens was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1839, and is of German descent. The family removing to Chicago as early as 1844, or thereabouts, the future Coroner was neces- sarily placed in a most advantageous situation to grow up with Chicago enterprise and serve in time as one of its prominent exponents. Having spent the rudimental ex- perience of life in the public school and in one of the com- mercial colleges, Mr. Stephens became employed in the furniture store of Thomas Manahan, of No. 205 Lake street ; devoting, like many of his companions, considerable atten- tion to an observation of life as enacted upon the stage. An occasional glimpse in this direction after a time induced him to become an actor himself, in the capacity of property- man, for which his furniture experience peculiarly fitted him. When the war broke out, however, sham battles, in which the vanquished dropped before blank cartridges, lost all charms for Mr. Stephens, and he accordingly entered the 19th Illinois. With this regiment he participated in many hard - fought battles, including about 24 minor engage- ments. He was always in the front, and was wounded several times. At the battle of Chickamauga, he had his left foot carried away by two grape-shots, and was made a prisoner for fifteen days. While he was created a sergeant, Mr. Stephens yet commanded Company K, at Stone River, and for some time subsequently. When elected Coroner, he was engaged in the Registry Department of the Post-office in Chicago.
1
MISCELLANEOUS.
263
MISCELLANEOUS.
PATRICK O'BRIEN.
This gentleman was elected Supervisor for the South Town of Chicago, April 1, 1873, by a majority of over 1,000 - the result of some very active work in the cause of the people.
Mr. O'Brien was born about thirty miles west of the city of Cork, Ireland, January 1, 1830. In 1847 he left his native place, and went to Boston, Massachusetts. Up to 1856 he devoted himself to hotel life throughout various portions of Connecticut and Massachusetts. In this year he came to Chicago, and became identified with the Tremont House, where he remained up to 1860. At this period of his days Mr. O'Brien grew weary of the rush and crush of life in a hotel, and became a street car conductor. After four years of service, he put his accumulations into the liquor busi- ness, in which he is at present engaged.
Supervisor O'Brien has figured in the political arena in state, county and city, conspicuously for some time. The most gratifying movement in which he ever was engaged was when, in June, 1872, in company with Messrs. Michael Kelley and McAvoy, he assisted in organizing the Personal Liberty League for the purpose of opposing the obnoxious clause in the State Liquor Law. To this movement he gave all the support he could muster : a fact which is well recog- nized by the liquor interest everywhere.
264
THE GREAT REVOLUTION.
MILES KEHOE.
The City Weigher was born in Carlow county, Ireland, August 15, 1845, and arrived in Chicago in 1848, where he was educated in the public schools. Retired from school, Mr. Kehoe pursued general work wherever he could get it, improving himself in his leisure hours as best he could. The result was that, in 1872 he was elected to the Senate-the youngest member that ever sat there. . While there, among other bills he introduced the following: The Firemen's Pen- sion Bill; a Bill to Regulate the Election of County Commis- sioners ; and a Bill to Repeal the "Mayor's Bill." He also strenuously opposed the Park Bill, whose defeat saved the West Division the sum of about $700,000. His opposition, espe- cially, to the movement to abolish the Board of Police-being the only man in the Cook county delegation to defend the Board - secure'd him a great deal of popularity.
During the People's movement, Mr. Kehoe made no less than 38 speeches. He was one of the first to uphold the rights of liquor dealers. under the auspices of the Personal Liberty League.
265
MISCELLANEOUS.
JULIUS RODBERTUS.
Mr. Rodbertus took a quite active part in the movements preceding the success of the People's Party. He was born in Mecklenburg - Schwerin, Prussia, Sept. 4, 1843. At the age of 13 he left his native place and came directly to Chi- cago. After a time devoted to various occupations-spend- ing his leisure hours at school - Mr. Rodbertus, in 1859, entered the machine shop of N. S. Bouton, and here learned his trade. He subsequently worked in the shops of the Illi- nois Central, Galena, and Rock Island Railroads, and in Fuller & Ford's. Finding this employment unremunerative, he afterwards traveled for the Workingman's Advocate for two years. While in Bouton's, Mr. Rodbertus joined Com- pany C, of the 19th Illinois, but did not serve therein more than two months : by reason of a severe attack of typhoid fever. When the call was issued for roo days' troops, he enlisted in Company A, of the 134th Illinois, and served until mustered out.
Politically, Mr. Rodbertus' record dates back to the vicin- ity of 1863, about which time he was placed on the Third Ward Republican ticket. In 1870, he was elected State and County Assessor for the South Town of Chicago, by a ma- jority of about 25,000. At present he is Assistant Assessor to Edward Phillips, and is also employed in the office of the Collector of South Town. His forte lies in the assessment and collection of taxes.
W. J. ONAHAN,
REAL ESTATE
DEALER.
OFFICE, 112 AND 114 DEARBORN STREET.
The experience of Mr. Onahan as City Col- lector eminently justifies his knowledge of the value of Real Estate generally.
RAGOR'S
( )MNIBUS | INE.
OFFICE ON WEST TWELFTH ST.,
NEAR TURNER HALL.
This is one of the best lines in the city. It has been constructed after a fashion to meet the needs of the traveling public, and deserves success.
EVANS & HICKEY.
No. 205 EAST RANDOLPH STREET,
IMMEDIATELY UNDER THE
HEADQUARTERS OF THE PEOPLE'S PARTY.
One of the most extensive Wholesale Firms in
Wines, Liquors & Cigars
IN THE CITY.
H.V.COLEMAN
COLEMAN'S FIRE DEPARTMENT HEATER.
I
FOLEY'S
BALL & CUE PALACE,
NO. 87 SOUTH CLARK STREET.
AN EXCELLENT ASSORTMENT OF
Wines, Liquors and Cigars
ALWAYS ON HAND.
Mr. Foley's establishment challenges compi- tition the world over.
JOSEPH HOGAN,
PLUMBER & ( ASFITTER,
WHOLESALE AND
RETAIL. DEALER IN
GAS FIXTURES,
GLOBES, SHADES,
WROUGHT IRON PIPE AND FITTINGS.
Extended experience in the fitting up of prominent struc- tures, `public and private, has qualified Mr. Hogan for the performance of the more advanced necessities of the business.
SATISFACTION INVARIABLY GUARANTEED.
132 WEST MADISON STREET, CHICAGO.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below.
r
APR 1 4 1559
RECO
REC DID-URU
[D URL DEC 1 3 1976 DEG 1 8 1976
AUG
Form L9-10m-6,'52 (A1855) 444
3 1158 00113 0300
UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY AA 000 799 682 0
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