USA > Illinois > Cook County > Chicago > Who's who in Chicago; the book of Chicagoans, a biographical dictionary of leading living men and women of the city of Chicago and environs, 1905 > Part 15
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BENEDICT, Harry, live stock; b. Bureau Co., Ill., 1856; s. Julius and Henrietta Cleve- land Benedict; ed. public and high schools; m. Princeton, Ill., 1880, Belle Kyle; 2 children. Engaged in live stock commission business at Union Stock Yards, 1890, in firm of Lee & Benedict; since 1894 firm has been Benedict, Murray & McDowell. Club: Chicago Athletic. Office: Exchange Bldg., Union Stock Yards. Residence: 3967 Drexel Boul.
BENHAM, John; b. Western Star, O., May 3, 1846; s. John and Melissa (Brown) Benham; academic education; m. Bloomington, III., 1869, Adaline H. Richardson. Began business career, 1867, as a mem. of the firm of Keith, Benham & Aiken; mem. of firm of Benham & Brown, wholesale cotton goods, 1868-70; C. H. Fargo & Co., wholesale shoes, 1871-82; Keith, Ben- ham & Dezendorf, wholesale hardware, 1883-8; supt. public service, Cook Co., 1888-90; vice- pres. and treas., St. Lawrence Marble Co., 1891-6; vice-pres. and general mgr. the Con- sumers' Co .. 1896-1903; since Aug., 1903, vice- pres. the International Register Co .; treas. the Kennicott Water Softener Co. Republican. R. E. Church. Clubs: Union League, Kenwood Country, Automobile. Office: 124 W. Jackson Boul. Residence: 2415 Michigan Av.
BENJAMIN, Frederic, attorney in patent law; b. Cincinnati, O., Mar. 16, 1860; s. Orson A. and Abia A. (Hartwell) Benjamin; moved to Washington, D. C., in childhood and there educated in public and private schools; grad. National Univ. (Washington, D. C.), LL.B., 1881; m. Washington, D. C., Nov. 17, 1886,
Lena M. Bouton; children: Hartwell, Charles Bouton, John Allen, Martha Marion, Frederic H. Has been engaged in practice of patent law before U. S. Patent Office and U. S. Courts since 1881, residing and doing business in Washington, D. C., until 1889; since then in Chicago. Republican. Congregationalist. Mem. Kensington Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Office: Mar- quette Bldg. Residence: Oak Park, III.
BENJAMIN, Louis, iron merchant and man- ufacturer; b. St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 13, 1850; s. Jacob and Jennette (Lehman) Benjamin; ed. New Orleans public school; m. New Orleans, La., Oct. 18, 1882, Julia Kottwitz; children: Sadie L., Blanche J., Jack A. Left school at 15 (but took course of studies nights at Dol- ber's College); worked in iron business in New Orleans from age of 15 until 1880, when opened an office there, representing Block & Pollak, of Cincinnati, in iron and steel; in 1884 removed to Chicago and became mem. of firm of Block & Pollak, of Cincinnati and Chicago, and became sec. of the Block-Pollak Iron Co., upon its incorporation, 1891, which position still holds, the company having a large plant at Carthage, O., near Cincinnati, as manufactur- ers of car axles and all kinds of forgings; also wholesale dealers in iron and steel; have yards and warehouse on Wallace St., Chicago. Jewish in religion. Republican. Clubs: Hamil- ton, Standard. Office: 1st Nat. Bank Bldg. Resi- dence: 4111 Grand Boul.
BENN, Alonzo Newton, general mgr. Omaha Packing Co .; b. Washington, Ia., Nov. 25, 1866; s. John Robert and Nancy Ann (Looney) Benn; ed. public schools of Woodburn, Ia .; unmarried. Began business career as telegra- pher with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R. R., Burlington & Missouri River R. R., and Western Union Telegraph Co., 1882-6; telegrapher, stenographer and general office work with Nebraska City Packing Co., 1886- 1890; went with Omaha Packing Co., South Omaha, Neb., as telegrapher and stenographer, 1890, and rapidly advanced to chief clerk, pur- chasing agent and asst. mgr., assuming man- agement of the company's plant at St. Joseph, Mo., in 1893; supt. of the Chicago plant, 1897, mgr. of the South Omaha plant in 1901, and general mgr. of their several plants in 1902; also director of the company, director and general mgr. Hutchinson Packing Co., vice- pres. and director German-Am. Provision Co. Mem. Chicago Board of Trade. K. T., Shriner. Clubs: Calumet, Colonial (Chicago) ; also Oma- ha Club (Omaha), and Benton Club, St. Jo- sept, Mo. Office: Hammond Packing Co., Union Stock Yards. Residence: Calumet Club.
BENNETT, Frank Ira, lawyer, alderman; b. Galva, Henry Co., Ill., Oct. 17, 1858; s. John I. and Maria (Reynolds) Bennett; ed. public schools of Chicago; attended Union College of Law, 1879; m. Chicago, June, 1884, Anna H. Cortright; two sons: Lewis C., Ira F. Admit- ted to bar, 1880; in 1884 became mem. of law firm of Bennett & Higgins; became actively engaged in real estate business, with a spe- cialty in subdividing and building operations. Mem. Chicago Bar Assn. since 1887. Republi- can. Elected assessor of Town of Hyde Park, 1888; now alderman from Seventh Ward; re- elected, 1905, for fifth term. Presbyterian. Of- fice: Chamber of Commerce. Residence: 5807 Washington Av.
BENNETT, Horace Corbett, lawyer; b. Che- shire Co., N. H., Oct. 24, 1841; s. Lyman and Lucinda (Wellington) Bennett; ed. public school and 2 years at Appleton Acad., New Ipswich, N. H .; enlisted Sept., 1861, in First New Hampshire Battery, serving 3 years and taking part in the battles of Gettysburg, sec- ond battle of Bull Run, Rappahannock Sta- tion, Antietam, South Mountain, Fredericks- burg, Chancellorsville, the Wilderness (where he was wounded) and all the battles of the Army of the Potomac except Gen. Mcclellan's
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Peninsular campaign; studied law in office of Hon. Amasa Norcross, of Fitchburg, Mass., and later represented Ivison, Blakeman, Taylor & Co., of New York, publishers of school and college text books, in the New England States until 1870; meanwhile being admitted to the Massachusetts bar in 1869; m. 1870, Charlotte E., daughter of Dr. Freeland, of Fitchburg, Mass. Removed to Chicago, 1870; was burned out in fire of 1871; has been since then engaged in a general law business, making a specialty of commercial law. Republican. Office: 134 Clark St. Residence: 339 Warren Av.
BENNETT, James Ewing, grain commis- sion; b. St. Louis, Mo., Apr. 3, 1871; s. Thomas and Jennie (Ewing) Bennett; attended public schools; grad. Chicago Manual Training School in class of 1890; m. Chicago, Apr. 8, 1902, Bertha Bogue. First business experience was with the W. Seattle St. Ry., of Seattle, Wash., 1891-3; after that was employed in the offices of Bennett & Johnson, brass foundry, and in 1894 became associated with Thomas Bennett & Co., grain and provisions, of which he is now the sole proprietor. Mem. of the Chicago Board of Trade. Republican. Clubs: Chicago Athletic, Kenwood, Chicago Yacht, Chicago Automobile. Office: Board of Trade Bldg. Residence: 105 E. 47th St.
BENNETT, James O'Donnell, dramatic critic; b. Jackson, Mich., May 1. 1870; s. Charles Henry and Mary (O'Donnell) Bennett; ed. Univ. of Michigan; m. Erie, Pa., June 5, 1901, Susan North Hayward. Has been en- gaged as a newspaper writer since 1892, chiefly on the press of Chicago; served as correspond- ent for the Chicago Journal during the Span- ish-Am. War, and was afterward editorially connected with that paper; joined the staff of the Chicago Record-Herald. of which he is now the dramatic editor. Protestant Episco- palian. Republican. Office: Chicago Record- Herald. Residence: 308 N. State St.
BENNETT, Rawson, journalist; b. Franklin, Ind., Dec. 5, 1863; s. James Clinton and Flora (Rawson) Bennett; ed. public schools of Louis- iana and Kansas; grad. from Emporia (Kan.) High School; studied languages under Dr. Lewis DeLew, Wichita, Kan .; student Univ. of Kansas, 1881-4; Univ. of Michigan, 1885 (no degree) ; m. Milwaukee, Wis., June 29, 1903, Cora Anita Jones, Riverside, Calif. Beginning as reporter Chicago Daily News, in May, 1886, served on various papers in Chicago, Kansas City and Milwaukee until Jan., 1896, when be- came telegraph copy-reader and foreign news editor Chicago Inter Ocean to Nov., 1899; since then editorial writer Chicago Inter Ocean; also director and sec. The Inter Ocean News- paper Co. Republican. Was private and ser- geant Co. G, 5th Regt., Michigan N. G., 1890-5. Mason (Myrtle Lodge, Irving Park Chapter, Siloam Council, Oriental Consistory); also mem. Modern Maccabees, National Union, Modern Woodmen, Royal League. Unitarian. Life mem. Shakespeare Soc. of New York. Of- fice: The Inter Ocean. Residence: 1389 W. Montrose Av.
BENNETT, Robert John, wholesale grocer; h. Pulaski, Oswego Co., N. Y., Feb. 9, 1839; s. Reuben J. and Alta (Haskins) Bennett; ed. Lake Co. schools, finishing at Waukegan, Ill., and Racine, Wis .. 1856-7; m. Chicago, Apr. 9, 1862, Electa M. Hoyt; children: Arthur Grant, Maud B. (now Mrs. Vail). William Hoyt. School teacher in Lake Co., Ill., 1856-63; mem. firm since 1865 and now vice-pres. and director of the W. M. Hoyt Co., wholesale grocers. Was director of the Atlas National Bank, and later vice-pres. and director of the Western State Bank: mem. firm of Glenn R. Powers & Co., general merchants, Belgrade, Mont. Was alder- man and for a time mayor of Lake Forest, Ill., 1872-4. Republican. Congregationalist: connected with City Missionary Soc .: trustee Wheaton College. Club: Congregational. Office:
1-11 Michigan Av. Residence: 2449 N. Paulina Street.
BENNETT, Willis Henry, merchant; b. Erie, Pa., Aug. 24, 1851; s. Henry D. and Sarah Ann (Bryant) Bennett; ed. Erie ward school and Erie High School up to 1867; m. Davenport, Ia., Dec. 24, 1883, Estella P. Johnston; chil- dren: Willis Henry Johnston, Allie Johnston, June Johnston, Bryant Johnston, Dorothea Johnston. Clerk in grocery store, Belvidere, Ill., 1868-71; early in 1872 became clerk for H. B. Cragin & Co., Chicago, and, 1873-5, was commercial traveler for same firm; with Chi- cago Stamping Co., 1875-83; then with L. C. Dessanet Sons, hardware jobbers, Davenport, Ia., as commercial traveler; in 1886 became salesman and subsequently Western mgr. for the Reading Hardware Co. (a position he still occupies) ; the company have at Reading, Pa., one of the most complete plants in the country for manufacturing fine builders' hardware. Also sec .- treas. Lawson Manufacturing Co., of Racine, Wis., pres. Cotton Belt Lumber Co., of Webb, Miss .; a State director of First State Pawners' Co. Republican. Mason; Belvi- dere Lodge, Kiswaukee Chapter (Belvidere, III.), Siloam Commandery, K. T., Oak Park, Ill., Kaaba Temple (Shrine), Davenport, Ia. Dele- gate to National Republican Convention, 1896; alternate, 1904. Club: Hamilton. Office: 105 Lake St. Residence: 309 S. Fifty-third Av. (Austin).
BENSINGER, Benjamin Edward, president of the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company; b. Louisville, Ky., Jan. 4, 1868; son of Moses and Eleanor (Brunswick) Bensinger; ed. Moseley (public) School, South Division High School, and Bryant & Stratton Business College; m. Chicago, Jan. 20, 1896, Rose Frank; one son: Robert Frank. From 1885 to 1888 was connect- ed with the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co .; from 1888 to 1890 sec. of the Bensinger Self Adding Cash Register Co., which concern has retired from business; since 1890 with the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., of which, in 1903, he became first vice-pres .; on the death of his father succeeded to the presidency: company are manufacturers of billiard and pool tables and supplies, bank, office and har fixtures, refrigerators, bowling alleys. etc. Re- publican. Jewish religion. Clubs: Hamilton, Standard (dir.). Office: 263-265 Wabash Av. Residence: Lakota Hotel.
BENSON, Christian Ludwig, wholesale fish merchant; b. Hadersley. Denmark. Apr. 22, 1856; s. J. and Anna M. (Paulsen) Benson; ed. Denmark; came to United States, 1870; m. Chi- cago, Aug., 1879, Chatrine Lund; children: Alfred J., Anna. Since 1876 importer of Nor- wegian, Swedish and Holland products, main- ly fish and cheese. Republican. Lutheran. Mason. Park Commissioner. North Shore Park District, 1900-4. Office: 274-6 S. Water St. Residence: 1023 Pratt Av.
BENT, George Payne, piano and organ manufacturer; b. Dundee, Ill., June 16, 1854: s. Rev. George (Congregational minister) and Mary P. (Payne) Bent: early education in public schools of Iowa, finishing at Wheaton (Ill.) College; m. Burr Oak, Ia .. Apr. 26. 1876, Clara A. Wingate; children: Clara Wingate, George Henry, Charity Mary. Muriel, Dorothy Amelia, Charles Matchett. Barbara. Came to Chicago, 1870: worked for David C. Cook (now publisher of Elgin, Ill., but then a jobber of sewing machines and sewing machine sup- plies) ; bought out Mr. Cook's business, 1878, conducted it until 1880, when he began the manufacture of the "Crown" pianos and organs: his extensive manufacturing plant is located at 245 Washington Boul. Independent
in politics. Club: Union League. Office: 211-13 Wabash Av. Residence: 5139 Washington Av.
BENTLEY, Charles S., commission mer- chant. soldier: h. Schoharie, N. Y .: s. E. E. and N. M. Bentley; ed. Charlotteville (N. Y.)
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Conf. Seminary; m. Vicksburg, Miss., 1864, & Co. Mason. Clubs: Jewelers, Standard. Of- M. E. Duncan; 3 children. Entered and served fice: State and Washington Sts. Residence: La- kota Hotel. in Second Wisconsin Cavalry through the Civil War and was mustered out at its close. Holds rank of brig .- gen. After war settled in Iowa; came to Chicago in 1885; in 1894 established in the grain commission business, senior mem. of the Bentley-Jones Commission Co., until 1904; since then in same business alone. Mem. of the Chicago Board of Trade, Was chief marshal of the Memorial Day parade in Chicago in 1901, 1902 and 1904, and of the Dewey parade in 1900. Mem. of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion and of Hiram Mcclintock Post, G. A. R. (command- er). Presbyterian. Trustee Presbyterian Church of La Grange. Office: Board of Trade. Residence: 211 S. Fifth Av., La Grange.
BENTLEY, Cyrus, lawyer; senior mem. law firm of Bentley & Burling; dir. International Harvester Co. Mem. Chicago Bar Assn., etc. Clubs: Chicago, University, Chicago Golf, On- wentsia. Office: 215 Dearborn St. Residence: 157 Rush St .; summer, Elmhurst, Ill.
BENTLEY, Frank Taggart, traffic mgr. Illi- nois Steel Co .; b. Charlestown, Ind., May 2, 1864; s. Francis W. and Catherine (Taylor) Bentley; ed. Charlestown (Ind.) public schools, Charlestown Acad. (private), Davenport (Ia.) Business College; m. Chautauqua Lake, N. Y., Aug. 11, 1889, Catherine L. Brownell. After several years spent in roughing it in the west, entered accounting dept. of Monon Route, Feb., 1885; changed to operating dept., Chicago & Northwestern Ry., July, 1886, and to traffic dept. of Chicago Great Western Ry., Apr., 1889; local freight agent of same, Chicago, 1892-3; general freight agent for Consolidated Steel & Wire Co., June, 1894; for Am. Steel & Wire Co. from its formation until Mar., 1899; since then traffic mgr. of the Illinois Steel Co. Chairman traffic committee of the Illinois Manufacturers Assn. since 1900. Inde- pendent Republican. Presbyterian. Clubs: Ex- moor, Ouilmette, Chicago Yacht. Office: The Rookery. Residence: Hotel Lakota.
BENTLEY, Wilber Gorton, retired lawyer and underwriter; b. Watertown, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1835; s. Gorton and Alancy (Clark) Bent- ley; ed. common school and Wyoming Acad., Wyoming, N. Y .; studied law with Hon. Har- low L. Comstock, Warsaw, N. Y., 1858-61; m. Lena, Ill., June 25, 1860, Mary A. Bailey; children, Marshall G., Mrs. Alice Bentley Gar- diner, William J. (died, aged 4), Cora M. Served as capt., maj. and lieut .- col. Ninth N. Y. Volunteer Cavalry from Oct. 14, 1861, par- ticipating in nearly 100 engagements; severe- ly wounded at White House Landing, Va., June 21, 1864, resulting in loss of left leg; mustered out of service Oct., 1864; admitted to bar at Buffalo, N. Y., Dec., 1864; moved to Des Moines, Ia., and, in 1865, elected probate and county judge; resigned because of ill health, 1867; moved to St. Louis, Mo., and worked life and fire insurance for ten years; attorney and superintendent of agencies Con- tinental Fire Ins. Co. of New York, 1877-85; general northwestern mgr. for same, 1885-91; in banking business, 1891-3; since then re- tired. Mem. Loyal Legion, Western Soc. Army of the Potomac. Former mem. Bankers, Mar- quette and Union League Clubs. Baptist. Office: New Federal Bldg. Residence: 474 Elm St.
BERG, Morris Henry, jeweler; b. New York City, Feb. 2, 1853; s. Henry and Henrietta (Hyman) Berg; removed with parents to Chi- cago in infancy; ed. public schools and in Dyrenforth's School of Trade. Chicago; m. Chicago, Mar. 4, 1877, Rose Weil; children: Mrs. Agnes Berg Landauer, Herbert Morris. In 1868 entered the jewelry house of Wendell & Hyman as an errand boy, and continued with the house until he advanced to a partner- ship in the firm now known as Hyman, Berg
BERLIN, Robert Carl, architect; b. Gran- ville, Putnam Co., Ill., Feb. 11, 1853; s. Au- gustus and Helene (Brennemann) Berlin; ed. Granville public school; grad., receiving diploma as architect, from Eidgenæssisches Polytechnikum, Zürich, Switzerland, 1877; m. Chicago, May 10, 1883, Agnes Augusta Dodge; children: Lillian Agnes, Marie Valentine, Har- old Robert. In practice of architecture in Chi- cago since 1877; designer and has superin- tended erection of many fine residences, apart- ment buildings, factories, business buildings, churches, schools, etc., in Chicago, and also at other points in Illinois and other states. Fellow of Am. Institute of Architects, and of Illinois Chapter of same. Republican. Clubs: Marquette, Ravenswood. Office: Tacoma Bldg. Residence: 2589 N. Ashland Av., Ravenswood.
BERMINGHAM, Thomas C., wholesale pa- per merchant; b. on farm in Washington Co., Wisconsin, May 21, 1850; s. Thomas and Ann (Costello) Bermingham; ed. common schools, Beloit, Wis., 1857-65; m. Des Moines, Ia., Oct. 6, 1880, Belle Daugherty. Began business life in 1868 as office boy with Davis, Lawrence & Davis, paper manufacturers, Beloit, Wis .; traveling salesman for same firm, 1870-2; for J. W. Butler Paper Co., 1872-82; in range cat- tle business in Arapahoe Co., Colo., 1882-92; lost all his money in the business and re- turned to Chicago, 1892, and worked for sev- eral firms in wholesale paper business, 1892-9; secured interest in wholesale paper business of F. K. Moody & Co., 1899; reorganized as Moody & Bermingham Co., 1902, becoming its pres., Mr. Moody retiring from firm same year; changed name of company, 1904, to Ber- mingham & Seaman Co., of which is pres. Office: Tribune Bldg. Residence: 1013 Demp- ster St., Evanston.
BERRY, Franklin James, commission mer- chant in horses; b. Limington, Me., Sept. 26, 1837; s. William and Catherine (Berry) Berry; ed. public schools of Limington, Me .; m. Lim- ington, Me., Oct. 25, 1858, Sarah W. Weeman; 1 daughter: Ella May (Mrs. B. P. Riding, of New York). Was reared on farm in Maine, and was engaged in the horse business at Portland, Me., 1856 to 1873; since then in business in Chicago as sale and commission dealer in all kinds of horses, as head of firm of F. J. Berry & Co. Republican; active in poli- tics, and stumped Illinois for Mckinley in 1896 and 1900, and for Roosevelt in 1904. Clubs: Hamilton, Waubansia. Office: 3 Dexter Park Av. Residence: 145 Oakwood Boul.
BERRY, Joseph John, dealer in molasses, syrup, sugar, etc .; b. on farm near St. Louis, Mo., May 23, 1862; s. Jacob and Frances (Franel) Berry; ed. common schools of St. Louis and later in Christian Brothers College, St. Louis; m. Galena, Ill., May 18, 1886, Julia M. Maybrun; children: Heribert J., Loretta, Eleanore. Began business career at 21 in St. Louis, June, 1883, as dealer in groceries and feed, and continued at that business until 1889, when sold it out, came to Chicago, and entered the business now conducted by the Berry-Maybrun Co., dealers in molasses, syrup, sugar, etc., of which he is pres. Office: 59-65 Larrabee St. Residence: 521 Ridge Av., Evanston.
BERSBACH, Alfred, treas. and general mgr. The J. Manz Engraving Co .; b. Chicago, Nov. 5, 1856; s. John and Magdaline (Zanner) Bers- bach; ed. Chicago public schools; m. Dec. 25, 1878, Helena Malcolm; children: Lillian, Clara, Amy A. F., Frank John. Began as boy, in 1872. his connection with the engraving house of J. Manz & Co. Was admitted to partnership in 1880, and upon incorporation of the business in 1890 he became sec. and treas., and is now treas. and general mgr. 33º Mason; K. T .;
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Shriner. Club: Chicago Athletic. Office: 197 S. ham and Sarah Bettman; grad. Cincinnati Canal St. Residence: 2568 N. Hermitage Av.
BERSBACH, EMIL, sec. the Tablet & Ticket Co .; b. Chicago, Nov. 2, 1861; s. John and
Magdaline Bersbach; ed. Chicago public school; m. Chicago, Oct. 6, 1889, Nora Jean- ette Abbott; 1 son, Emil. First business expe- rience was as errand boy for Vergo, Ruhling & Co., 1872; then with Boston Store (firm of C. W. & E. Pardridge); with Wade Abbott, lawyer; then 6 years with A. T. Stewart & Co., 2 years with John V. Farwell & Co., 112 years at Evanston, Wyo., with Blythe & Fargo; since 1886 with the Tablet & Ticket Co .; mgr. of the company's branch at New York, 1889-99; since 1899 sec. of the company and located at Chicago, Republican. Office: 87-9 Franklin St. Residence: 2495 N. Ashland Av. BESLEY, Frederick Atwood, physician; b. Waukegan, Ill., Apr. 19, 1868; s. William and Sylvia (Jocelyn) Besley; ed. public and high schools of Waukegan, Chicago Manual Train- ing School and Northwestern Univ. Med. School, M.D., 1894; unmarried, Since 1894 has been engaged in the practice of medicine in Chicago, and since 1900 has been a mem. of the Chicago Board of Health. Prof. of surgery in the Post-Graduate Med. School. Attending surgeon Cook Co. Hosp .; attending surgeon Woman's Hosp. and Chicago Charity Hosp. Mem. Am. Med. Assn., Chicago Surgical Soc., Chicago Med. Soc., Mississippi Valley Med. Soc. Club: Chicago Athletic. Office: Columbus Memorial Bldg. Residence: 6027 Prairie Av.
BEST, William, manufacturer; b. Canter- bury, Eng., 1841; s. William and Mary Ann (Whitehead) Best; family came to U. S. 1852; ed. Canterbury and Chicago public schools; m. Aug., 1865, Louise C., daughter of Isaac B. Sterling, of Chicago; children: William, Flor- ence G., Grace L. (died, aged 13). First em- ployment on leaving school in 1857 was as office boy in wholesale tobacco house of John C. Partridge & Co., in which, after a few years, he became partner, and on death of Mr. Partridge, 1876, became head of the house and organized the firm of Best, Russell & Co., wholesale tobacconists and cigar manufac- turers; on incorporation as Best & Russell Co., 1891, became pres. South Town collector, 1883; South Park Commissioner since 1886 (pres. of Board, 1887-91; auditor of Board, 1905). Mason (32º), K. T. Trustee Sixth Pres- byterian Church. Clubs: Mid-Day, Washington Park, Calumet, Iroquois, Illinois Athletic. Office: 42 Randolph St. Residence: 4331 Drexel Boul.
BETHEA, Solomon Hicks, lawyer; b. Lee Co., Ill .; s. William T. and Emilv (Green) Bethea; ed. public schools, Dixon, Ill .; high school, Ann Arbor. Mich .; literary dept., Univ. of Michigan; studied law in offices of Eustace, Barge & Dixon. Dixon, Ill .; admitted to bar and became partner of Hon. John V. Eustace. Mem. of Illinois Legislature, 1882-3; mayor of Dixon 1 term: U. S. district atty., Northern district of Illinois, 1899-1905; U. S. district judge, Illinois, since Mar., 1905. Office: Fed- eral Bldg.
BETSCHE, Charles William, furniture manu- facturer; h. Baden, Germany, Aug. 11, 1848; s. Jacob and Christina (Branch) Betsche; ed. schools in Germany; m. Chicago, 1872, Kate Fischer; children: Emma, Lydia, Oscar, Wil- liam, Arthur, Clara. Came from Germany in 1865 to Chicago; learned the trade of uphol- sterer here, and worked at trade until 1879, when established business for self. Later joined by Henry Ricke and organized the Betsche & Ricke Manufacturing Co., of which was sec. and mgr. In 1886 organized present firm of Charles W. Betsche & Co., of which is still at head. Office: 69 North Av. Residence: 388 Dayton St.
High School, 1874; Miami Med. College, M.D., 1877; served as asst. to Dr. Williams, oculist, Cincinnati, and later for 112 years with Prof. Knapp, oculist, of New York, and also asst. to Dr. Frank Bosworth, Bellevue Med. Hosp .; went abroad, 1879; studied 6 months at Univ. of Vienna; then, after a period of travel in Europe, became first asst. to Prof. Becker in eye dept. of Univ. of Heidelberg, until May, 1881; visited hosps. and attended clinics in Paris for about 6 months, attended the Inter- national Med. Congress in London; returned to New York, Sept., 1881, and in Nov., 1881, came to Chicago; m. Chicago, 1888, Clara Snydacker; children: Ralph, Louise. Engaged contin- uously in practice in Chicago as specialist in eye and ear diseases; was prof. of the eye and ear dept. and treas. College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago,; one of surgeons of Illi- nois Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary, and physician in charge of indoor eye and ear dept. of Michael Reese Hosp., and German and Cook Co. Hosps. Oculist and aurist, and treas. of Post-Graduate Med. School. Founder of Jew- ish Dispensary. Mem. and ex-sec. Chicago Soc. of Ophthalmology and Otology; mem. Chi- cago Med. Soc., Illinois Microscopical Soc., Illinois State Med. Soc., Am. Med. Assn. Pres. of State Board of Charities; asst. surgeon of 2d Regt. I. N. G. Mem. of the German Escula- pia Soc .; also editor of Eye dept. of Post- Graduate Med. Journal. Clubs: Union League, Quadrangle, German Press. Residence: 4753 Lake Av.
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