USA > Illinois > DuPage County > Hinsdale > Village on the county line ; a history of Hinsdale, Illinois > Part 12
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Mr. E. E. Gray, who lived in Hinsdale during the early 1900's, and who raised trotting horses near the Highlands, was Elisha Gray's son. E. E. Gray's son Ted married Winnie Blackman of this village.
* The original purpose of this section of Chapter VII was that of pointing to a few examples of old Hinsdale houses. Although items of information concerning those who lived in them have been added, this is not intended as a directory of early residents. Such a compilation, if complete, would require much more space.
HON
On Memorial Day the G. A. R. met at Mr. Allen's house.
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THE ELEGANT ERA
JESSE BARTON. 626 N. Washington. A former Barton house stood on the same site. Mr. Barton was General Counsel for the Illinois Central Railroad. At other times he had been employed by the Great Western and the B. & O.
O. P. BASSETT first occupied the house on Woodside Drive that was later known as the Murray place, and which burned some years ago. About 1900 he built the house on the northwest corner of Sixth and Oak.
C. G. BECKWITH. The Beckwith home, as mentioned elsewhere, stood on land now occupied by the Hinsdale Sanitarium. Judge Beckwith was General Counsel of the Chicago and Alton Railroad. The house was built by Mr. John W. Reed.
W. L. BLACKMAN came to Hinsdale in the 1880's while engaging in the grain business in Chicago. He purchased "Oaklawn" from the Sanders family. This residence had been built by the H. L. Storeys, immediately south of the Highlands station. There the Blackmans entertained their many friends at large lawn parties and other gatherings. The house burned in 1914. Mr. Willis L. Blackman, a son, lives on south Washington Street.
A. H. BLODGETT. 319 N. Lincoln. Before they came to Hinsdale, Mr. and Mrs. Blodgett had lived for a while at Fort Dearborn before it was dismantled, and elsewhere in Chicago. Their daughter Georgia had a remarkable career as teacher of the first grade at the Maple Street school for more than forty years, and as head of the Infant Department of the Congregational Church for almost as long. There was another daughter Laura, and a son Silas. "Si" Blodgett, a grandson, played on the town football team.
JAMES A. BLOOD. S. E. corner of Washington and Walnut, was a brother-in-law of the eligible village bachelor Harry Maydwell. Mr. Blood was a village trustee in 1893 and was mentioned often in items of news about the town.
H. BOERGER, 223 S. Quincy. This house is a period piece, one of the best remaining examples of local architecture of the 1870's. It was built by Mr. O. J. Stough, occupied by the Boerger family and others. (Note the tower, and the window "caps.")
JOHN G. BOHLANDER, 27 S. Garfield. Hinsdale's early hardware, coal and grain merchant, whose son John, Jr. still resides at this address, came to Hinsdale in 1871 after having been reared on his father's farm near York Center, Du Page County. John, Jr. has spent his entire life in the village, carrying on the business started by his father.
EDWIN BOWLES, built and lived in the frame house immediately south of the First National Bank, in fact the Bank was built on land that used to be the Bowles' side yard. Mr. Bowles was a deacon of the Congregational Church.
JOHN BRADLEY, 119 N. Lincoln, was an official of the American Express Company and a leader in that business. This distinguished family moved from here to Milwaukee, and later to New York. Ralph Bradley, a son, now lives in Chicago.
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VILLAGE ON THE COUNTY LINE
LAFAYETTE BRIGGS lived at 127 E. Fifth. He was in a branch of the transportation industry, and was one of the first villagers to discard his horse in favor of an automobile.
WALTER BUFFINGTON came to Hinsdale as a child, with his mother who chose the house at the S. E. corner of Hickory and Park. Mr. Buffington started as office boy with the C. D. Peacock Company, and became its vice president.
FRANK O. BUTLER, 230 E. First Street. See page 119.
JULIUS W. BUTLER, Northwest corner, First Street and Orchard Place. See page 119.
F. S. CABLE, manufacturer of the Cable piano, made exploratory sojourns to Hinsdale in the 1890's and finally settled at 222 E. Third, a house still occupied by his daughter Gladys. Other daughters are Anne Cable Powell, Rachel Cable Hench, and Dorothy Cable.
JUDGE J. W. CAREY built the house at 205 E. Sixth, later the home of J. C. Davis, vice president of operations, American Steel Foundries.
ROBERT A. CHILDS. His house stood on the site of 118 E. Third where his son Lester C. now lives. Some years later he built and occupied the dwelling at 318 S. Garfield. After four years of combat in the Civil War and serving as principal of public schools at Amboy, Illinois, Mr. Childs was admitted to the bar in Chicago about 1873 and made his home in Hinsdale thereafter. He displayed a keen interest in government and became a member of Congress from this district during the Cleveland administration. Other chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Childs are Robert, Kent, George, and John.
ROBERT W. CLARKE. While living in Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Clarke were attracted to Hinsdale, and for the summer of 1886 they rented Mr. G. W. Hinckley's house at the southwest corner of First and Park. In 1887 a lot was purchased on the northwest corner of First and Elm. The house they built there, and which is still standing, was occupied the following year. Three children, Robert Jr., Nellie (the late Mrs. William B. McKeand) and Norman came with them to Hinsdale. Philip R. Clarke was born in the new home. Railroads, mining, the Board of Trade, and the Hinsdale Presbyterian Church, which he founded, were among Mr. Clarke's interests, and he also initiated the program of local municipal improvements that went forward between 1895 and 1905.
WILLIAM COFFEEN built the house where Mrs. Samuel Dean lives, at 306 S. Garfield, after having lived in Hinsdale for some years. His mother helped organize the Fresh Air Association.
SYDNEY T. COLLINS came to Hinsdale from Montreal about 1875 and built the house at 513 S. Garfield, where his son Arthur F. Collins and his family now live. Mr. Collins was long identified with the Commercial Union Insurance Company. In Hinsdale, horses, then golf and gardening were his hobbies. An older son, Sydney T. Jr., lives in Chicago.
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THE ELEGANT ERA
L. P. CONOVER built the house at 307 S. Lincoln. A Chicago lawyer, and served as Village Attorney. The Conover children are Polly, Harvey, and Richard.
W. P. CORTIS, 114 E. 5th. Settled here in 1890. His son Fred married Dorothy Davis. The other children were Marjorie, Edith and Robert.
D. A. COURTER, who lived in the house on the northwest corner of First and Blaine, was well-known in the early village. He was one-time Postmaster, also Justice of the Peace. He had come to Hinsdale following a strenuous industrial career in various parts of the country.
DEACON JAMES CRAIGMILE, who resided at the N. W. corner of Grant and Second, was often mentioned in the early news items. There were five Craigmile brothers who lived out on the Plainfield Road in the 1850's, relatives of Deacon James.
D. J. CROCKER, attorney. The house stood on the site of the P. R. Clarke property at 419 S. Oak.
WILLIAM D. CROOKE. This family built the house at the N. E. corner of First and Park, where the A. C. Bryans lived for so long, and which now is occupied by Dr. August H. Lueders. Mrs. Lydia Hedgecock, a niece of Mrs. Crooke, recently moved from Hinsdale to Arizona.
E. C. CROSBY. Built various Hinsdale houses following a career in education. He lived longest in the house now occupied by Mrs. Hazel Ballou. Francis Crosby, a son, now is a resident of San Francisco.
CHARLES H. CROSSETTE, a member of the firm of Cutter & Crossette, shirt manu- facturers, became a resident of Hinsdale in 1885, and lived in the house numbered 33 E. Fifth street. At one time Mr. Crossette was president of the Hinsdale Club. There were sons Charles, Murray, and Robert, and a daughter, Aurelia.
CHARLES H. CUSHING, 16 W. Fifth street. President of the Cushing Printing Co. in Chicago, and also publisher of The Hinsdale Beacon, newspaper of the 1880's and 90's.
OTIS CUSHING came to Hinsdale in 1886 and built the house at 135 E. Fifth in which his son Otis R. now lives. Mr. Cushing was sales manager of Cutter & Crossette, manufacturers of men's wear. Other children were Lucretia (Mrs. W. P. Cortis) , George, Charlotte, Almira, Florence, and Irene.
J. J. DANFORTH. This family lived in the old David Roth homestead at 222 E. Chicago Ave. Many Hinsdaleans remember the Danforth daughters, Winne- fred and Alice. Mr. Danforth was a vice president of the Chicago Title & Trust Co.
THOMAS DAWSON arrived in Hinsdale about 1882 and became a building con- tractor. The Presbyterian Church was among the buildings he erected. His son Alex Dawson is likewise a builder. The Thomas Dawson house is on the northeast corner of Elm and Hickory.
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VILLAGE ON THE COUNTY LINE
HARVEY S. DEAN, 327 E. Third. The Harvey Deans arrived in Hinsdale in the middle 80's. Mr. Dean was in the insurance business in Chicago, on the School Board in Hinsdale, and an active member of the Congregational Church. The children: Olive, Louella (Mrs. E. D. Holmes) and Hazen S. Dean.
ROBERT H. DEAN, 337 E. Third, brother of Mr. Harvey S. Dean, moved to the village in the same year. He was on the Board of Trade in Chicago. The Robert Dean children are Earl, Robert, Grace (Mrs. F. C. Bebb) and Edward.
GEORGE P. DERRICKSON took an active interest in the schools of Hinsdale. He lived in, and probably built, the house on the N. E. corner of Hickory and Washington, where the C. A. Allens lived later.
E. H. DITZLER. Came to Hinsdale in 1889. He had served in the Civil War. Mr. Ditzler joined Mr. T. H. Linsley in purchasing the Fox Brothers' store. The firm of Ditzler and Linsley remained active until the business was bought by R. M. Clubb, in 1909.
MICHAEL A. DONOHUE, owner of a printing and publishing concern in Chicago, lived in the first house north of Chicago Ave. on the west side of Lincoln. Mr. Donohue was Village President for three years, starting in 1875. His publish- ing company is still in business.
WILLIAM DUNCAN, 424 S. Washington. He served as a Village Trustee for seven years, and was a pioneer amateur photographer.
JOHN EARLE. N. E. corner of Walnut and Elm. The original Earle home has since been divided into two houses. The Earles came from England. They had several children.
W. P. EDWARDS. 315 S. Washington. A court reporter. Father of Bert Edwards, Mable and Will. Will married Helen McCurdy.
ANDREAUS ELMERS was a contractor. He built his house at 115 E. Fourth street, and a number of others in town.
WILLIAM EVERNDEN. 212 S. Washington street. According to one source, "the last of the deer hunts was still in the future when Bill Evernden decided to settle here" after working for a while for the County's Road Surveyor. He operated one of the first drug stores and became a friend and counselor of many a village youth.
FARREL, JAMES, is remembered as the occupant of the little frame house at 914 York, and possibly he built it. It is antedated by few buildings of the Brush Hill era.
CHARLES Fox, S. W. corner of Ogden and Lincoln. With his brother Heman he operated a widely patronized grocery in Fullersburg, and later in Hinsdale.
HEMAN Fox, N. W. corner of Washington and Walnut. Formerly he occupied his father's house at the southeast corner of Ogden and Lincoln, which was later used by the Fresh Air Association.
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W. H. FREEMAN, built the house at 123 N. Park in 1892, when Park was called Pine Street, and had not been extended that far north. Mr. Freeman was a wool merchant and an ardent golfer. His sons are Courtney, Charles, and Philip.
LEMUEL H. FREER, 505 S. County Line Road. As a young man Mr. Freer went from Chicago to ranching in Colorado, in 1870. He returned to enter the real estate business in Chicago during that period when city land values were still expanding. In 1897 he bought an extensive tract of land on the east side of County Line Road and built a spacious brick house near the intersection of Sixth Street. To the original tract additions were made, and Mr. Freer spent much of his time in the landscaping and improvement of these prop- erties. The Freer children are Mrs. Mabel Dyas, Mrs. Margaret Grulee, Ray, Norman, and William. Norman B. Freer still lives in Hinsdale, at 645 Dale- wood Lane. The original Freer homestead, formerly a very large dwelling, has been remodelled within recent years. It is now the home of the C. D. Duncan family.
ADOLPH FROSHER was the contractor who erected The Hinsdale Club and other buildings. He built and lived in the house numbered 314 S. Washington, and was the father of John Frosher. His daughter married R. M. Clubb.
BENJAMIN FULLER, 948 York street. This house is said to have been Benjamin Fuller's residence from the time he built it during the latter 1830's, until he died in 1868.
MORELL FULLER, 108 E. Ogden Avenue. The west or main section of the house is the original building. Its antiquity is evident on the inside especially, with its low ceilings and hand-formed woodwork. At the rear of the house, during the 1840's, the Fullers operated a brick yard which produced the bricks for Graue's mill.
H. A. FULTON was one of the organizers of the Hinsdale Golf Club. The Fulton home is on the southwest corner of Washington and Ogden. There were two sons and two daughters.
HENRY A. GARDNER. The old Gardner homestead, a massive frame structure with out-buildings and an enclosed wind-mill tower, stood at the northwest corner of Maple and Madison. Mr. Gardner, a lawyer, arrived in Hinsdale in the 1880's. He was a staunch member of the Unitarian Church. Their children were Robert, Sarah, Henry, Mary and Grace.
WILLIAM P. GATES was president of the American Terra Cotta Company. He built and lived in the terra cotta house at the southwest corner of Walnut and Lincoln. There were five or six Gates children.
F. H. HANNAH was one of the first purchasers of land in Hinsdale. The home he built, and which is now numbered 23 S. Vine St., later became known as the Beidler place. Mr. A. F. Beidler married Mary Hannah, and they occupied this house until well into the present century. Francis Beidler, a son, is now a rancher in the Southwest. This well-remembered residence now is a Rest Home.
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DR. L. P. HASKELL, 121 E. Fifth Street, was for years a leading dentist in Chicago, known for his ability both in the practice of his profession and in dental research. He was also active in Hinsdale affairs; social, church, and civic.
WILLIAM S. HEINEMAN first located in Fullersburg, in 1875, but later came to Hinsdale and erected the Heineman Building on the northeast corner of First and Washington (see page 117) where he conducted a store. The Heine- man residence, which had been built by Harry Maydwell, still stands, at 214 E. Walnut. Mr. A. T. Hall, a pioneer resident, was the first to build on this lot. His house burned. Mrs. Heineman was a daughter of Barto Van Velzer, of early Fullersburg.
JOHN HEMSHELL's stone house on the north side of Ogden, on the western edge of Fullersburg, is interesting because of the circumstances under which it was built during the 1860's. According to Mr. T. E. Clark, his son-in-law, "Stone for the house was hauled from quarries at Lemont, and this required four winters with a team and sleigh. The lumber, window frames, and doors were hauled from Chicago. When ready to build, he brought water from Salt Creek in barrels to mix the mortar. The house was nearly completed in 1871, the year of Chicago's big fire. At night when he saw Chicago burning, he climbed up on the unfinished roof to watch it." Mr. Hemshell sent to England for many of the shrubs that are still growing on the place. Recently the house has undergone some major alterations.
DR. JOHN B. HENCH, Hinsdale's widely beloved family physician, arrived here before 1890 and served in the village for thirty odd years. His "sterling traits of character made him well-liked as a citizen." Children of the Henches are Jay L. Hench, of 324 E. Seventh street, Horace B. Hench, 612 S. Garfield, and Helen, Mrs. Frank Schaefer of Virginia. Mrs. John B. Hench still resides at the old homestead at 118 S. Lincoln.
L. K. HILDEBRAND built the house at 316 S. Oak Street. The Hildebrands moved to Hinsdale in 1885 from Chicago. Mr. Hildebrand had formerly lived at Sycamore, Illinois. Mrs. Hildebrand could remember that, when she was a child, her parents' home was situated on land that later became the site of the Palmer House, in Chicago. Their daughter Louise is Mrs. Philip R. Clarke.
WILLIAM S. HINCKLEY. Mr. and Mrs. Hinckley, with their son William and daughter Bessie came here from Galesburg, Illinois in 1880. One of their early dwellings was on the site of the late Geo. H. Bell's home at Park and Third. Miss Bessie Hinckley, who now resides at King-Bruwaert House, taught at the Garfield School in the late nineties, and can name many middle- aged citizens as having been among her students.
WILLIAM B. HINCKLEY, son of William S. lived for a while at 316 E. First, the house that has since been owned by the Wade Fetzers. William B. was the father of Brewster, Harold, Ned, and Jessie Hinckley.
GEORGE W. HINCKLEY, a brother of William S., arrived in Hinsdale in about the same year, and built his dwelling on the southwest corner of First and Park. He also built the house on the southeast corner of First and Oak, where the M. A. Meyers family lived for so long a time.
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THE ELEGANT ERA
E. P. HINDS. The house of this well-known early resident was on the site of the high school. It was moved and, is now (remodeled) the J. S. Lord house, at 217 S. Washington.
W. H. HOLCOMB. President of the village Board of Education in 1897. The Holcombs occupied the house on the southwest corner of Third and Elm. They are survived by a son Herbert.
HENRY HOLVERSCHEID, a coal merchant, came here from Canada and lived at 319 E. Third. His son Harry married Lucy Burton.
MRS. MARY IRISH. Built the house at the N. W. corner of Third and Lincoln. Among other favorable impressions, Mrs. Irish is remembered for her three daughters, Mrs. Van Inwagen, Mrs. Krohn, and Mary Irish.
HORACE JACKSON. Mr. Jackson was the builder, and he and his family the first to occupy the house at 321 S. County Line Rd. The Van Inwagens lived there for many years, and the house now is owned by the Foorman Mueller family. When the Jacksons lived there the place was called "Royal Oaks."
BENJAMIN F. JONES. His house, which formerly stood at Garfield and Second, was later moved to 29 S. Park. Mr. Jones was a prisoner of the Confederates at Andersonville during the Civil War. "Jones hill," (the S. Garfield St. hill) was a favorite for coasting in the winter, a pastime that is now hindered by the density of traffic. Following Benjamin Jones, the H. W. Cowles family lived here.
CHARLES B. KIMBELL built the house at 224 N. Elm Street, and the family lived there for many years. Mr. Kimbell served in the Civil War, and was later identified with the stone and brick industry in Chicago. After coming to Hinsdale in 1893 he served as trustee and manager of several large estates, and as a member of the village board. The Misses Virginia and Mildred Kimbell, granddaughters, reside on north Park Ave .; Charles, a grandson, in Phila- delphia. The former Kimbell dwelling now is owned by Mr. E. B. Johnson.
SHERMAN KING. Judging from the reported activities of this individual, he was a most useful citizen of early Brush Hill. He built his house on the east side of York Road just south of the creek. The original foundation is still there but the building has been modernized.
WILLIAM H. KNIGHT. Mrs. Knight was Belle Robbins, daughter of William Robbins. Mr. and Mrs. Knight and their daughter Glendora lived at 333 S. Park Ave. Glendora married Mr. Courtney D. Freeman of Hinsdale.
HARRY C. KNISLEY, manufacturer, built and lived at 234 E. Third. Mr. and Mrs. Knisley were married in Hinsdale in 1889 and lived here from then on. Their daughters are Mrs. Margaret Abbott and Mrs. Sarah Drehr.
W. F. KROHN came here about 1890. He started out as a delivery boy and became secretary of the Central Commercial Company in Chicago. His son Willard still lives here.
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VILLAGE ON THE COUNTY LINE
CHAUNCEY T. LAMB arrived in Hinsdale in the 90's while with the Curtiss Publishing Company, and married Mabel Warren. They lived at 121 S. County Line Road. He was active in Boy Scouts and the Hinsdale Club. Their sons are Richard and David. A daughter, Mrs. Winfield Foster, lives on South Oak Street.
DR. THOMAS LAWTON graduated from the Chicago Homeopathic Medical Col- lege and came to Hinsdale in 1890. Listed as "one of the physicians and sur- geons who has become eminent in Du Page County," Dr. Lawton and his family had a wide circle of friends in Hinsdale, where they were always active in local affairs. Two of the children, Mrs. Gertrude Ketcham, and Mrs. E. B. Greek still live in Hinsdale.
A. A. LINCOLN. This family, which has been so well spoken of by its neighbors, lived at 321 S. Garfield until about 1920. Formerly there was a private green- house behind the dwelling. Mr. Lincoln was president of the David B. Crocket Company, paint and varnish manufacturers.
T. H. LINSLEY arrived in Hinsdale in 1889, and formed a partnership with E. H. Ditzler in the grocery business. The Linsleys lived at 323 S. Washington. Robert Linsley, a son, has moved to Traverse City, Michigan.
WILLIAM McCREDIE, dwelt at the S. E. corner of Walnut and Park, in one of the first houses to be built on the north side. Mr. McCredie was father of Mrs. Jeane Matile who still lives in the house. He was a signer of the petition for incorporation of the village.
DR. J. C. MERRICK is remembered as Hinsdale's first physician and first druggist. At one time he lived over his office and store on the east side of the Washing- ton Street business district, and later at 323 S. Washington, before the Linsleys moved there.
JOHN C. F. MERRILL whose house still stands at the southwest corner of Sixth and Elm, was President of the Chicago Board of Trade and President of the village for several terms, starting in 1894. Many municipal improvements were made during his terms of office. His children were Charlotte and Ralph.
GEORGE H. MITCHELL, identified with the building stone industry in Chicago, built the house on the southwest corner of First and Elm in the 90's. The Mitchells had two daughters, Marion and Louise. The house is now owned by Mrs. Perry Phelps.
J. P. MOHR was one of the many owners of the old cross-roads store, at the north- east corner of Ogden and York, that served Fullersburg through the cracker- barrel era, and well into the twenties. Mr. Mohr was a Civil War veteran. His later years were spent in Hinsdale. The site of his store, at present, is a used car lot.
L. C. NEWELL erected the house at 526 N. Washington in 1894. He, A. H. Fulton and a few other neighbors began playing golf on a crude home-made course west of Burns field in that year. This group was the nucleus of the Hinsdale Golf Club.
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THE ELEGANT ERA
Walnut Street before it was paved, looking west from the sanitarium.
GEORGE W. NOBLE 232 N. Lincoln. After trying the state of Texas, Mr. Noble returned north and settled in Hinsdale, in the year 1889. He was General Manager of A. C. McClurg & Co., in Chicago, and had a strong leaning toward baseball. The Noble children: Jansen, George Jr., Howard, Sadie, Ray, and Herbert.
WILLIAM OSTRUM. 544 N. Washington. Mr. Ostrum arrived in Fullersburg from Germany in 1869. A mason contractor, he built this house and various other Hinsdale dwellings and commercial buildings. The Ostrums had four daugh- ters: Emma, Selma, Martha, Clara, and Minna, and a son George.
P. P. PASCALL built the house at 106 E. Eighth street, later occupied by his niece C. Gertrude Pulver. The present owner is Mr. Walter M. Sheldon.
ALFRED PAYNE lived in Hinsdale from 1874 to 1900. His house was situated east of Oak Street, between seventh and eighth. After it burned, Mr. Payne moved to the old Marvin Fox house at Ogden and Lincoln. Mr. Payne was a portrait painter.
A. L. PEARSALL. 120 E. Fifth. In 1863 Mr. William Robbins erected this house as his temporary residence. Mr. Pearsall was in the real estate business and was Hinsdale's sixth Postmaster.
D. K. PEARSONS, 122 N. Grant. See page 141.
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VILLAGE ON THE COUNTY LINE
D. L. PERRY. 138 E. Maple. He was Village President in 1882, and a signer of the petition for incorporation. The Perrys moved several times within the village. The Perrys were gracious hosts to various newcomers who temporarily resided with them while looking for homes of their own.
D. H. PRESTON lived on the northeast corner of Third and Park, where the family resided for such a long time, and where Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Brinkman now live. Mr. Preston helped to organize the Public Library and was identified with a number of village activities, including the presidency of the Hinsdale State Bank.
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