Cook County IL

Biography of William E. Durant

William E. Durant. Few citizens of Clay County are better known than William E. Durant, who is clerk of the District Court, a veteran of the Civil war, and a representative and bearer of a name that had been honorably known in this state for over a half century. He was born in Will County, Illinois, April 25, 1843. His parents were Edward T. and Sally Ann (Whallon) Durant, and his paternal grandparents were Edward and Lucina (Willey) Durant, natives of New York. The Durant ancestors went from France to England and in colonial days came to the United States … Read more

Biography of William Christopher, Hanson D.D.

William Christopher Hanson, D. D. For a quarter of a century steadily engaged in the work of the ministry in Kansas, Doctor Hanson had filled many important posts of responsibility with the Methodist Episcopal Church and is now superintendent of the Kansas City District of the Kansas Conference. He is a native of Chicago, where he was born October 18, 1866, a son of Louis Christopher and Carolina Christiana (Johnson) Hanson. His father was a Norwegian and his mother a native of Sweden. Both are now deceased and for many years they conducted a successful hotel business at Scandia, Kansas. … 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

Biographical Sketch of George Neil Stewart

Stewart, George Neil; university prof.; born, London, Can., April 18, 1860; son of James Innes and Catherine (Sutherland) Stewart; A. M., University of Edinburgh, 1883, B. S., 1886, D. Sc., 1887, M. B. and C. M., 1889, M. D. 1891; D. P. H., University of Cambridge, Eng., 1890; married; demonstrator of physiology, Owens College, Manchester, Eng., 1887-1889; George Henry Lewes student, University of Cambridge, 1889-1893; examiner in physiology, University of Aberdeen, 1891-1894; instructor Harvard Medical School, 1893-1894; prof. physiology and histology, Western Reserve University, 1894-1903; prof. physiology, University of Chicago, 1903-1907; prof. experimental medicine, Western Reserve University since 1907; member … Read more

Biography of Robert Milligan Mountcastle

Robert Milligan Mountcastle, a member of the Oklahoma bar since June, 1912, and now filling the office of United States commissioner, to which he was appointed in 1919, comes to this state from Tennessee, his birth having occurred March 17, 1888, in Jefferson City, Jefferson county. His parents were W. H. and Maude C. (Milligan) Mountcastle and while spending his youthful days in their home he was accorded liberal educational privileges, becoming a student in the Carson Newman College, from which he was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1908. During his college days he took a most … Read more

Biography of Dr. Isaac R. Goodspeed

For fifty-six years-more than half a century, Dr. Isaac R. Goodspeed has been one of the foremost citizens of San Mateo County; coming here when a young doctor with the ink on his diploma hardly dry, he remained in the county ever since. During this time he has been identified with many successful business enterprises and has faithfully filled the various offices he has held for both San Mateo City and County. Dr. Goodspeed was born in China. Maine, on May 30, 1831. In 1854 he graduated from Bowdoin Medical College, one of a class of nineteen. Today he is … Read more

Biography of Herman Bartels

Herman Bartels, the pioneer lumber merchant and president of the Bank of Inman, had been identified with McPherson County for over forty years. He is a veteran German soldier and fought with the armies of the empire in the Franco-Prussian war. He had a thorough technical and professional training in German schools, and was educated as an architect, but after coming to Kansas he applied his energies first to farming and later to constructive business affairs in Inman, and had been the chief business man of that town for many years. Mr. Bartels was born October 24, 1846, in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry A. Becker

Becker, Henry A.; surgeon; born, Chicago, Ill., March 3, 1870; son of August Becker; educated, West High School; Adelbert, 1891; W. R. U., medicine, 1894; University of Vienna and Berlin, 1896-97; same universities 6 months, 1912; married, Detroit, Mich., Sept. 18, 1901, Miss Laura E. Ferguson; one son, William Nevison Becker, age 9; visiting surgeon in chief to German Hospital; associate in surgery at Lakeside Hospital; assistant professor of surgery in medical dept. of Western Reserve University; fellow of American College of Surgery, State and American Medical Ass’n; member Sigma Nu Sigma Medical Fraternity; member University, Clifton, Keswick Golf and … Read more

Black Hawk’s War – Indian Wars

Black Hawk

We have now to record the events of a war “which brought one of the noblest of Indians to the notice and admiration of the people of the United States. Black Hawk was an able and patriotic chief. With the intelligence and power to plan a great project, and to execute it, he united the lofty spirit which secures the respect and confidence of a people. He was born about the year 1767, on Rock river, Illinois. At the age of fifteen he took a scalp from the enemy, and was in consequence promoted by his tribe to the rank of a brave.

Biography of Joseph K. Shields

Joseph K. Shields, of Riverside, was born in Cook County, Illinois, in 1853. His parents were James and Honore (Ward) Shields. His father was a native of Indiana and his mother of New York. In 1855 his father came with his family to California and located in Sierra County. He was a civil engineer by occupation and engaged in mining enterprises. At a later day he moved to Yuba County, where he engaged in farming, and in 1861 settled at Marysville. Mr. Shields was reared and schooled in that city, graduating at the high school. After graduating he engaged in … Read more

Biography of Isaac Newton Hoag

Isaac Newton Hoag, a prominent citizen of Redlands, was born in Macedon, Wayne County, New York, March 3, 1822. His paternal ancestors belonged to the Society of Friends for generations back, and had uniformly been farmers. He lived and worked on a farm until he was eighteen years of age and had the advantages of a very primitive common school education. His father died when he was eighteen years of age, and one year later the Macedon Academy was organized, and Isaac was one of the first students at this institution. From this time until 1849 he taught school winters … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Rev. Gerard Heinz O. S. B.,

Rev. Gerard Heinz, O. S. B., pastor of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church at Atchison, had for almost forty years been connected with the Catholic institutions of this city as student, teacher, director and, pastor. Father Heinz was born in Chicago, Illinois, July 11, 1864. a son of Nicholas Heinz, who died in that city in 1876, at the age of fifty. Father Heinz lived in Chicago during the time of the great fire in 1871. While there he attended paroehial schools, but in 1877, at the age of thirteen, entered St. Benedict’s College at Atchison. He pursued the classical, philosophical and theological … Read more

Biography of Adam Hance

Adam Hance was born in Coblin, a French province of Alsace, and, as usual with the people of that country, spoke both German and English. He came to America and settled near Germantown, Pa., in 1722, where he married a German lady, and raised a large family. His younger son, also named Adam, married a Miss Stoebuck, of Pennsylvania, in 1768, and settled in Montgomery County, Va. When the revolutionary war began, fired by the prevailing patriotic feelings of the day, he joined the American army under Washington, and served during the entire war. He was in the battles of … Read more

Biography of Robert Drakely Rood, M. D., D. S.

Dr. Robert Drakeley Rood enjoys the distinction of bringing in the first large oil well in what was then Indian Territory and since the fall of 1903 has made his home in Bartlesville, while through the intervening period he has operated extensively in connection with the development of the oil industry in the south-west. His labors have constituted a most effective and important factor in the up-building and progress of this section of the country, nor has he ever been remiss in duties of citizenship or in recognition and utilization of the chances for contributing to the development and welfare … Read more

Driscoll, John Allen “Jack” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon John Allen “Jack” Driscoll, 77, of Baker City, died June 2, 2004, at his home. His memorial service at sea will be on July 11, 2004, off Dana Point, Calif. Mr. Driscoll was born on March 31, 1927, at Chicago to John Clifford and Bessie Allen Driscoll. He worked as an electronic technician in aviation and was retired from the Air Force. He had lived at Baker City since 1991. Survivors include his wife, Sandra; seven children and stepchildren; two sisters; two brothers; 16 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews, all living out of state. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. R. Patton, M. D.

W. R. Patton, M. D., physician, and surgeon, Charleston; is a native of Illinois; he was born in Palestine, Crawford Co., Oct. 14, 1836; he is a son of Dr. E. L. Patton, a prominent physician of Palestine, who came from Washington Co., East Tenn., to Crawford Co., about the year 1833, and practiced medicine there until his death, which occurred in December, 1864. Dr. Patton was educated in the public schools, and at Hanover College, Ind., and, in 1858, began the study of medicine in his father’s office. In 1860, he entered Rush Medical College, Chicago; graduating in the … Read more

Biography of William E. Ginther

William E. Ginther, dealer in hardware and farm machinery, and general insurance agent, Charleston; was born in the province of Saxony, Prussia, May 2, 1834; his father was a wagon and carriage manufacturer, and he attended school and worked in his father’s shop till he was 16 years old, when he came to this country, landing in New York on the 4th of July, 1850; coming to Chicago, he worked on a farm and on the old Galena & Chicago R. R. for awhile; afterward engaged in farming for himself; in 1861, he engaged as a traveling salesman for H. … Read more

Biography of Theron H. Palmer

Theron H. Palmer, architect and builder, and a worthy representative of the business men of Southern California, was born February 14, 1849, in Joliet, Illinois, to which place his parents emigrated from New York State several years previous. In his early childhood they removed to the young city of Chicago, where young Palmer attended school, and upon entering his teens started in to learn the drug business. Soon after the war of the Rebellion broke out, though considerably under the required age, fired by youthful patriotism, he attempted to enter the army, and was twice thwarted in his purposes by … Read more

Biography of Gen. John E. Ross

GEN. JOHN E. ROSS. – No view of our state would be complete without the figure of General Ross, who was so prominent as Indian fighter and legislator in the early days. he was born in Ohio in 1818, and after a residence in Indiana and Illinois, being married at Chicago to the daughter of Alexander Robinson of that city, whose loss by death he suffered eight years later, he came to the Pacific coast, arriving in Oregon in 1847. He was captain of a company that crossed the plains, and soon after reaching the Grande Ronde came upon some … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Burt M. Gardner

Gardner, Burt M.; salesman; born, Cleveland, Jan. 16, 1867; son of George W. and Rosaline L. Oviatt Gardner; public school education; married, St. Paul, Minn., Sept. 12, 1895, Marian P. Hall; one son; 1892-1901, associate editor The Iron Trade Review, located at Chicago, Ill.; 1895-1898, sec’y The Western Foundrymens’ Ass’n; 1901-1906, iron and steel broker in Chicago, Ill.; 1909, sales agt. Ansonia Brass & Copper Co., New York; 1912, district sales agt. for Ohio for Worth Bros. Co., of Coatville, Pa.; and Michigan Copper & Brass Co. of Detroit, Mich.; pres. The Standard Iron & Steel Co.; treas. Ventwell Stove … Read more