Chicago Illinois

Biography of Rev. Father Paul M. Ponziglione

Rev. Father Paul M. Ponziglione, one of the most famous Catholic missionaries of Southern Kansas and what was, in his time, Indian Territory –particularly among the Osage Indians of the Southwest–was born in Piedmont, Italy, February 11, 1818. He was of noble descent on both sides of the house, but, as he was wont to express it, his greatest pride was that he belonged to “the noble family of Adam,” His education was obtained in several Jesuit institutions of Italy, the College of Nobles at Turin conferring upon him the degree of Bachelor of Arts. But the pomp of the … Read more

Biography of Harry Herrick

Harry Herrick. The invention of the automobile not only brought a new element into business and social life, but in its subsequent development and improvement opened up other industries that have now become as essential to progress as the vehicle itself. The business of dealing in ‘automobile supplies engages the attention of many wide awake business men all over the country. Champaign, with its wealth, culture, business enterprise and close contiguity to a rich agricultural section has, perhaps, a larger purchasing class interested in automobiles than many cities of equal size, and all these car owners are, to some extent, … Read more

Biography of Robert A. Maxwell

ROBERT A. MAXWELL THE HON. Robert A. Maxwell, superintendent of the insurance department, was born in Washington county, N. Y. , in 1838. He is a son of Alexander Maxwell, of Jackson, a prominent citizen of the town, and an intelligent and wealthy farmer. Robert was given the advantages of a liberal education by his father. After receiving a thorough instruction at the common schools in his neighborhood, he was sent to the normal school at Albany, where he finished his education at the age of eighteen. His rare qualities as an educator were unfolded while attending this excellent institution, … Read more

Biography of Charles E. Schaff

Charles E. Schaff, receiver for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad Company, was born on a farm in Licking county, Ohio. February 4, 1856. He is a son of the late Isaac M. Schaff, who was also born in the Buckeye state and represented one of the old families there of Dutch descent. In early life the father engaged in agricultural pursuits and later turned his attention to railroading, becoming connected with the train service of various roads. He passed away in Carroll county, Missouri, in 1888, aged fifty-seven years, having become a resident of Missouri four years before. He … Read more

Biography of Robert Paris Harrison

Robert Paris Harrison, city manager of Muskogee, was born June 6, 1867, at Oakwood, Illinois, and is a son of W. C. and Nancy (Graybill) Harrison, who were farming people of that state. He acquired his education in the public schools of his native town and in the district schools near Ladoga, Indiana, and starting out in life on his own account, he became identified, with newspaper interests as a reporter on the Lebanon (Ind.) Pioneer. He was afterward associated with the Michigan City (Ind.) Dispatch and in time became city editor of the Chicago Daily Globe. At a later … Read more

Biography of Dumont D. Howell, M. D.

For sixteen years Dr. Dumont D. Howell was numbered among the capable, prominent and successful physicians of Nowata, where he passed away on the 6th of December, 1919. He was born in Murphy, North Carolina, January 14,1874, and was a son of D. M. and Margaret (Sudderth) Howell. The Howell family was long connected with the history of North Carolina and of Georgia and the Sudderths were also of an old family of the former state. In the acquirement of his education Dumont D. Howell supplemented his public school course by study at the Young Harris College of Georgia and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. H. Hancock

W. H. Hancock, who is one of the most successful broom-corn brokers and business men of Tuscola, was born in Chicago, March 29, 1864, and is a son of W. S. and Sarah (Bell) Hancock. His father was born in Oxford, Ohio, and his mother in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania. His father is now living a retired life in Chicago. W. H. Hancock was raised to manhood in Chicago and educated in the Cook County normal school. His first position of any importance was that of conductor on the Pullman car lines, and he continued as such for seven years, running over … Read more

Biography of Jesse L. Conant, M. D.

The subject of this sketch is a worthy example of the large class of well read, careful and honorable physicians who are dear to their fellow townsmen wherever their lot may be cast. They are near to the people in sickness and trouble and grow very near to them in all relations of life, and become, many of them, the most influential men in their communities. Doctor Jesse Lyman Conant, mayor and prominent physician and druggist of Genesee, Idaho, was born in Birmingham, Essex County, New York, May 31, 1831, and is descended from an old Norman family which went … Read more

Biography of Miss Myrtle E. Dade

By her work as beneficiary recorder of the Royal Neighbors of America, the woman’s auxiliary to the Modern Woodmen of America, the largest fraternal insurance society in the world, Miss Myrtle E. Dade has shown herself a woman of rare business and executive ability. A quality no less rare, she has demonstrated her ability to efficiently supervise a considerable body of women without friction and in a manner which has accomplished wonderful results. So systematically has the work in her offices been handled that other similar societies have paid her the compliment of adopting many of the devices which she … Read more

Biography of A. M. Brookes

A. M. BROOKES. – A portrait of Mr. Brookes is placed in this work. The present efficient postmaster of the “Queen City” (Seattle) was born in Galena, Illinois, September 2, 1843, and is the son of Samuel M. and Julia B. (Jones) Brookes. His father was one of the early pioneers of Milwaukee. When our subject was but an infant his parents moved to Chicago, and two years later moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where A.M. was educated at the Milwaukee Academy, and where he resided until August, 1862. When, on the call by President Lincoln for three hundred thousand men, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Washington Schaffer

The subject of this sketch, George Washington Schaffer, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, July 4, 1847. His parents removed, during his boyhood, to Galesburg, Illinois, where they resided several years. Returning to St. Louis, Mr. Schaffer engaged in the butcher business, and continued there until the fall of 1868. His next field of operation was Kansas City, where he followed his trade for some time. From Kansas City he went to St. Joseph, where he remained until 1874, and then returned to St. Louis. He lived in St. Louis one year, during which time he had a rib broken while … Read more

Atkinson, Claude – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Mr. Claude Allan “Todd” Atkinson a former Baker City resident, passed away Jan. 7, 2005 at Pacific Palisades, Calif. A private graveside service and celebration of his life was held at Mount Hope cemetery on Jan. 21, 2005, with the Rev. Lennie Spooner officiating. Todd was laid to rest near his father who died when he was just a young boy. Todd was born on Nov. 20, 1917, to Florence Goodman Atkinson and Claude Monroe Atkinson in Cutbank, Mont. The family moved to Baker shortly thereafter. After his father’s death his mother married Jesse Sutherland … Read more

Biography of A. D. S. Alkire

A. D. S. Alkire is the well-known and popular City Clerk and Assessor of Riverside, a position he ably fills with credit to himself and honor to that enterprising city. Mr. Alkire is a native of Pickaway County, Ohio, born at Mount Sterling in 1837. His father, William A. Alkire, was a native of Kentucky and a descendant of an old colonial family of Virginia. He was a carpenter by trade, but was engaged also in farming. Mr. Alkire’s mother, Hannah (Osborne) Alkire, was a native of Ohio, and died when the subject of this sketch was but four years … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Willis Scott Edson

Edson, Willis Scott; publisher and mfgr.; born, Chicago, Ill., May 17, 1868; son of John Milton and Elizabeth Maria Swales Edson; educated, Chicago public schools and University of Chicago Academy; married. Chicago, III., Oct. 9, 1894, Gertrude Eugenia Haight; six children. Margaret J., age 18; Willis S., Jr., age 12; Gilbert H., age 5; Francis S., age 16, Gertrude K, age 9, and Harvey O., age 2; early training and career in editorial work, serving successively as department editor, telegraph news editor, and special feature writer; became managing editor of the trade journals, The Western Publisher, and The Publishers’ Auxiliary, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Walter Irving Lewis

Lewis, Walter Irving; business maps and real estate; born, Chicago, Oct. 23, 1878; son of Wallace F. and Ella C. Slosson Lewis; educated, public and high schools, Armour Institute of Technology, Chicago, B. S. M. E., 1901; married, Cleveland, Feb. 18, 1897, Marion D. Raymond; sales mgr. Rand Drill Co., New York, 1901-1902; sales mgr. Cleveland Chocolate & Cocoa Co., 1902-1906; advertising mgr. The Raymond Co., 1908-1910; pres. and treas. City Improvement Co.; sec’y Sincere Realty Co.; sec’y and treas. The Raymond Co.; director The Euclid Point Co.; member Cleveland Chamber of Commerce, and Real Estate Board, Athletic Club.

Biographical Sketch of Mayo Fesler

Fesler, Mayo; sec’y Civic League of Cleveland; born, Indiana, 1871; son of Peter and Emma Collett Fesler; education, public and high school, Indiana; University of Chicago, Ph. B., 1896; post-grad. University of Chicago; three years fellow in History and Political Science; married, Chicago, June, 1901, Gertrude Fails; one child; sec’y Civic League of St. Louis, 1902-1910; sec’y Civic League of Cleveland since 1910; sec’y City Club of Cleveland, Ohio Municipal League and Cleveland Charter Commission; member City Club.

Biography of Judge Napoleon B. Maxey

Judge N. B. Maxey has the distinction of holding the oldest license to practice law in the Oklahoma courts. Notwithstanding the fact he is still active in the profession, maintaining his once in Muskogee but frequently called to other sections of the state in connection with his specialty of insurance and surety law. He was born in Smith County, Tennessee, July 15, 1853, and the fact that his father, Thomas J. Maxey, was of French extraction probably accounts for the name given to the future Muskogee lawyer, Napoleon Bonaparte Maxey. Whether the name carries with it any qualifications that to … Read more

Biography of Harry C. Bohrer, M. D.

Dr. Harry C. Bohrer, a St. Louis surgeon, who though among the younger representatives of the profession, has attained a prominence that many an older physician might well envy, was born in Macon, Missouri, October 8, 1890. His father, the late George W. Bohrer, was also a native of this state and a representative of an old Pennsylvania family that was established in Missouri in pioneer times. The grandfather was David Bohrer, who came to Missouri long prior to the Civil war and devoted his life to agricultural pursuits here. George W. Bohrer was reared and educated in Kansas and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Per Lee Alvin Lieghley

Lieghley, Per Lee Alvin; lawyer; born, Navarre, Ohio, March 9, 1872; son of Frank B. and Barbara R. Lonas Lieghley; educated, district school, Marshalls Business College, Delaware, Ohio; special course of study in Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, law course in Cincinnati Law School, and Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois, graduating from there in 1896, LL. B.; married, Marysville, Ohio, Jan. 17, 1895, Clara Marie Alexander; issue, two children, Helen and Phyllis; practiced law in Chicago for three years; health failed, returned to Ohio, and accepted principalship of the Strasburg, Ohio schools for three years, doing some law practice … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. K. Turner

Turner, J. K.; editor; born, Chicago, 1863; son of J. K. and Ellen Brady Turner; educated, common schools, three years; married, Milwaukee, Wis., 1896, May Grace Schiffman; issue, three children; pres. The Manufacturers’ Information Bureau Co.; editor The Mediator Magazine; owner The Mediator Printery; member Chamber of Commerce, Geauga County Farm Improvement Ass’n, Cleveland Humane Society; member the following: The Square Deal Club, The American Academy of Political and Social Science, The American Civic Association, American Geographical Ass’n, National Society for the Promotion of Industrial Education, National Educational Ass’n; member Colonial, Tippecanoe, and Automobile Clubs.