THE MAN WHO RENUMBERED CHICAGO - Edward Paul Brennan

Years ago, as people came together to live in communities they decided to name the streets around them created by the new community.  They used names like "First" Street and "Main" Street or the street named in the Bible "the street that is called Straight." (Acts 9:11)  As the communities got larger it became necessary to assign numbers to each building on a particular street.  Typically they started with #1, #2, etc.

As you know Chicago is made up of  many smaller communities that came together over time to form one big city.  There are currently 178 distinct neighborhoods in Chicago, and each one probably had their own numbering system in place that had no relation to the numbering of the surrounding neighborhoods.  It was said that because of rapid-fire annexations carried out in the late 1800s, the city's street system was no system at all, but a crazy quilt of names and numbers that confused residents and mystified visitors.

The fact that Chicago has an orderly arrangement of streets and street numbers today is due to a man named Edward Paul Brennan (1866-1942).  

Edward Paul Brennan

Brennan was not a famous civic leader, nor a politician, nor a noted cartographer - he was a bill collector for Lyon and Healy, a company that sold sheet music and musical instruments.

Before we get into the four-decade crusade that would change the face of Chicago, let's see what we can "dig up" about Edward Brennan.

Edward Paul Brennan was born January 30, 1866 in Chicago.  He was the firstborn of Matthew James Brennan (1835-1915) and Bridget Frances Kinsella (1843-1914).  Matthew and Bridget were both born in County Carlow, Ireland, but were married at St. John's Church in Chicago on February 26, 1865.  The groom was 29; the bride was 21.  Matthew came to the US from Ireland in 1848, Bridget came in 1850.  Matthew was a boot and shoe maker by trade. 

Matthew and Bridget were blessed with seven sons:  Edward Paul (1866-1942), Thomas P.F. (1868-1951), Ambrose Matthew (1871-1948), Louis J. (1873-1876), Martin Bernard (1877-1932), Francis Joseph (1879-1881), and Leo Marquette/Brother Louis, CSC (1882-1950).   

Edward Brennan makes his first appearance in the 1870 US Census.  The Brennan family was living in Chicago's 8th Ward.  The family consisted of Matthew Brennan (35 years old), Bridget (24), Edward (11), and Thomas (2).  There were also two "Domestic Servants" Eliza Purvis from Scotland and Ellen Kehoe from Ireland.  Matthew reported his occupation as "Boot and Shoe Maker."  He said that he owned Real Estate worth $12,000.00 ($289,000 in today's funds) and personalty of  $600.00 ($14,000 in today's funds). 

Of the seven Brennan brothers, five made it to adulthood.  Louis had died in 1876 and Francis in 1881.  Both are buried in the Brennan Family Plot in Calvary Cemetery in Evanston in Section O - Block 1, Lot 17.  Here is their tombstone:

The 1880 US Census finds the Brennan family living at 539 (now 1242) S. Canal Street in Chicago.  A FedEx Office Print & Ship Center occupies that plot today.  The family now consisted of  Matthew Brennan (45 years old),  wife Bridget (35), sons "Eddy Paul" (14),  Thomas (12), Ambrose (9), Martin (3) and Francis (6/12).  According to the Census all of the Brennans could read and write.  I think it's safe to say that Francis could not, and perhaps Martin.  None of them were "Sick," "Blind," "Deaf and Dumb," "Idiotic," "Insane," or "Disabled" all categories on the 1880 Census form.

The 1890 US Census for this area is lost.

The 1900 US Census finds the Brennans living at 4018 S. Vincennes Avenue in Chicago.  The plot is now occupied by Phase IV of the Paul G. Stewart Apartments.  The Brennan family consisted of Matthew (64 years old), Bridget (55), Edward (34), Thomas (32), Ambrose (29), Martin (23), and Leo (18).  Living with them was "Servant" Mary Murphy (26).  Matthew and Bridget said they had been married for thirty-five years.  Bridget said she had given birth to seven children; five were still living in 1900.  The dates that Matthew and Bridget immigrated and their Naturalization Status was "Unknown."  Matthew and Bridget did not report Occupations.  Edward was a "Collector (Music)," Thomas was "Superintendent of a Facing Company," Ambrose was a "Cashier," Martin was a "Clerk (Books)," and Leo was "At School." They could all read, write and speak English.

The Chicago Street Renumbering Project

The Standard Guide to Chicago from 1891 tried to outline the problems with the way Chicago was laid out:

Street nomenclature in Chicago is likely to confuse the visitor. It is not clear even to old residents. There is an entire absence of system in the naming of streets, and where a system has been attempted it has only served to increase the confusion. For instance, the streets running east and west, south of the Chicago river, are named South Water, Lake, Randolph, Washington, Madison, Monroe, etc. Now from Washington south it was the evident intention to name the streets after the presidents, but those which are so named are not in the proper order, and Jefferson and Lincoln sts. are on the West Side, running north and south, while Johnson is a little back street in the southwestern part of the city. Streets named after trees, such as Elm, Oak, Pine, etc., are on the North Side, and Walnut is on the West Side.

There is a Lake st. and a Lake ave., the latter miles away from the former. There is a Park ave. on the West Side and a South Park ave, miles away, on the South Side. We have a Garfield ave. on the North Side, Garfield Park on the West Side, and a Garfield blvd. on the South Side. We have a Washington St., Washington ave. and Washington blvd., each in a different district of the city. So also we have Madison st. and Madison ave. Again, we have Michigan st., Michigan ave. and Michigan blvd., Indiana St. and Indiana ave. etc., etc. There is at present a scheme before the authorities for correcting the nomenclature of streets, but it is so radical as to be unpopular. Practically there is no distinction between streets and avenues. Both run north and south, east and west, and diagonal.

By 1901 the situation was even worse:   In 1901, Chicago had 13 streets called Washington, 13 called Center and 14 called Park. It had nine Forest streets, nine Sheridan streets and 10 Oak streets. Seven were called 40th, and eight were named 42nd. There were even five named for former U.S. Vice President Schuyler Colfax.

Depending on the part of the city you were in, the street just west of Halsted was called Green Street, Lime Street, Dayton Street, Florence Avenue, Craft Street, Reta Avenue or Newberry Avenue. 

Frankly it's amazing that anyone was ever to get where they were going.  In the Summer of 1901 Edward Brennan went on a planned a trip to Paw Paw, Michigan with an armload of Chicago maps.  He came back with a set of proposals making the city’s street system rational. He wanted to change the way streets were named and numbered so that residents and tourists could find their way around easily. 

 

Edward Brennan from about the time when he proposed
 the standardization of Chicago streets and numbering 

After his Michigan vacation Brennan, wrote a letter to the Committee on Street Nomenclature and suggested that Chicago be ordered as a large grid with a uniform street numbering system, and proposed State and Madison Streets as the city’s primary north-south and east-west axis.  His letter contained five main proposals:

(1) Rename hundreds of streets. Over the next 23 years, that’s what the aldermen did, giving new names to more than 1,200. At least 130 of those names, and maybe as many as 300, were suggested by Brennan.

(2) Establish a numbering system that used State and Madison as baselines. The Council agreed, and, on Sept. 1, 1909 --- just two months after the publication of the Burnham Plan --- the intersection of those streets became the nexus of the street grid. All numbers north, south, east and west proceed from 0 at that corner.

(3) Use a numbering system that would indicate how far a house address was from the base lines. Because of this, a system was imposed under which each 800 in an address generally indicates a mile. Thus, a home in the 6400 block of North Paulina Street is roughly eight miles north of Madison while a store in the 2400 block of West Cermak Road about three miles west of State.

(4) Use odd and even numbers to indicate the side of a street on which a house is located. Ultimately, the Council established that odd numbers are on the east side of north-south streets, and even numbers on the west side. For east-west streets, odd numbers are on the south side, and even numbers on the north side.

(5) Use street names beginning with the same letter to designate north-south streets within the same mile as an indication of how far west they are of State Street. This resulted in the streets between Crawford Avenue (now Pulaski Road) and Cicero Avenue being rechristened with names beginning with K, such as Keeler and Karlov. Further west, there were the L streets, then the N streets, then the O streets, such as Oketo.

Don't think for a minute that Edward Brennan just walked in with his proposals, the aldermen looked them over and approved them as submitted.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  It was estimated that Brennan, during his quest, attended more than 600 City Hall meetings.  

Brennan knew that getting politicians to agree on anything was difficult at best, so he decided he needed backup for his proposal.  At the same time that he sent his proposal to the city's Committee on Street Nomenclature he also forwarded it to the Chicago Record-Herald newspaper, and most importantly gave a copy to his second cousin, Chicago alderman Charles Byrne.  He hoped that if there was pressure coming from all sides, the City would be unable to oppose the changes.  Over time he was able to get the support of the City Club of Chicago, as well as major Chicago businesses such as Marshall Field's.  

Although Brennan's suggestion pointed to his civic-mindedness, there was actually a more selfish reason for his proposals.  As a bill collector for Lyon and Healy, he had to travel all over Chicagoland in his attempts to collect delinquent accounts.  He had the customer's address, to be sure, but in actuality he had no idea where that address was located.  Finding an address in Chicago was a nightmare for all the reasons outlined above.  By getting all Chicago addresses standardized he was in effect making his job much easier.        

After literally years of debate, the Council approved Brennan's numbering system in 1908, and it went into effect in 1909, everywhere except the Loop.  It worked so well, though, that five years later the Loop addresses were reoriented to State and Madison. 

While all this was going on, Edward Brennan was also living his life and continuing to work for Lyon and Healy.  The 1910 US Census is the last one where Edward would be living with his parents.  The Brennans were still living at 4018 S. Vincennes Avenue in Chicago.  The family consisted of: Matthew J. (75 years old), wife Bridget (65), and sons Edward (43), Thomas (40), Matthew (37), Martin (28) and Leo (24).  Also living with them was "Servant" Margaret Sullivan (19).  Matthew and Bridget said they had been married for 45 years.  Bridget said she had given birth to seven children; five of whom were still alive in 1910.  Matthew said he had come to the US in 1848; Bridget said 1850, and they were Naturalized Citizens.  Matthew reported his occupation as "Own Income," Edward as "Manager of a Piano Company,"  Thomas as "Bookkeeper for the Stockyards," Andrew as "Bookkeeper for a Liquor House," Martin as a "Salesman in a Department Store," and Leo as an "Artist at College."  Matthew said that the owned their house free and clear.

On June 29, 1910 Edward Paul Brennan married Beatrice Angelica Jeffers (1884-1953) in Chicago.  The groom was forty-four years old; the bride was twenty-six.  

Beatrice Angelica Jeffers was born July 23, 1894 in Chicago to George J. Jeffers (1849-1890) and Julia A. Maher (1850-1891).  George and Julia had four children altogether:  Margaret Elizabeth/Mrs. John J. McCormick (1878-1961), Mary Aloysious/Mrs. John E. Butler (1879-1938), George Joseph Jr. (1883-1955) and Beatrice Angelica/Mrs. Edward Brennan (1884-1953)

Edward and Beatrice were blessed with three daughters:  Agnes Isabella (1912-1999), Mary Beatrice/Mrs. Leo McGraw (1911-2004), and Adelaide Frances/Sister Mary Beatrice, BVM (1914-2014).

Edward's parents, Bridget Kinsella Brennan and Matthew J. Brennan died within a few months of each other.  Bridget died April 3, 1914 and Matthew died on Christmas, 1915.  Here is Bridget's Death Notice from the Chicago Tribune of April 6, 1914:

Matthew Brennan rated both an Obituary and a Death Notice from the Tribune of December 26, 1915:

 

Both are buried in the Brennan Family Plot at Calvary Cemetery in Evanston:

 

The 1920 US Census shows Edward Brennan and his family living at 6446 N. Wayne Avenue in Chicago:

6446 N. Wayne Avenue, Chicago

The family consisted of:  Edward P. (55 years old), wife Beatrice (36), and daughters Mary (8), Agnes (7), and Adelaide (5).  In addition Beatrice's brother George Jeffers (38) and his wife Bessie (36) were living with them.  Edward said that he owned the building, and it had no mortgage.  The Brennans lived in one unit and rented the other out.  The only people who reported occupations were Edward "Manager of a Music Company," and George Jeffers "Clerk in a Shoe Company."  They all could read, write and speak English. 

The 1930 US Census finds the Brennans still living at 6446 N. Wayne Aenue in Chicago.  The family consisted of:  Edward P. (63 years old), wife Beatrice (55), daughters Mary (19), Agnes (17) and Adeline (sic) (15).  Edward said they owned the building, and it was worth $20,000 ($378.000 in today's funds).  Not surprisingly with three daughters in the house, the Brennans owned a radio.  Edward said he was 44 when he was married; Beatrice said she was 26.  Edward had been promoted at Lyon and Healy - he was now the Building Superintendent.  They rented the other unit in their two-flat to the Griffin family for $100.00/month.  ($1,900/month in today's funds.)

In 1933 there was a proposal put forth to change the name of Crawford Avenue to Pulaski Road after the noted Polish patriot Casimir Pulaski.  There were many people in favor of the name change, and many against.  One man firmly opposed to the change was Edward P. Brennan, as reported in the Tribune of November 14, 1933.  The article said, "Edward P. Brennan, chairman of the subcommittee on street names of the City Club protested against the proposed Crawford Avenue change on behalf of the Chicago Historical Society.  "We have no Bowling Green, as has New York, no Commons as does Boston; no Independence Hall, as does Philadelphia.  All of our landmarks were wiped out by the fire.  All we have left of historical significance is names, and the Historical Society is opposing the wiping out of the names of the families which helped build Chicago."  Any Chicagoan who has driven down Pulaski Road knows that this time Brennan was not successful.        

Apparently not all of the Chicago address problems had been fixed in 1908-1909.  The Chicago Tribune reported on November 9, 1935 reported that although the grid system had solved the address problems, there were still myriad problems with the names of the streets themselves:

Who did the City turn to for a solution to the "Muddled Street Names" issue?  Edward Brennan, of course. 

There was an article in the Tribune from January 6, 1935 about early settlers of Chicago who were Irish.  Edward P. Brennan is mentioned as a son of Matthew Brennan:

Apparently everything regarding street naming finally had been resolved as noted in the Chicago Eagle newspaper from April 20, 1937:

The 1940 US Census would be the last one for Edward Brennan.  The Brennans were still living at 6446 N. Wayne Avenue as they had been in 1935.  The family consisted of:  Edward P. (73 years old), wife Beatrice (55), daughters Mary (29), and Agnes (27).  In addition, two of Edward's brothers were living with them:  Thomas (71) and Ambrose (69).  Where was Edward's daughter Adelaide?  In 1937 she joined the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and took the name Sister Mary St. Beatrice, BVM.

One interesting part of the 1940 Census was the part that asked for the Highest Grade Completed in one's education.  Edward reported that he had one year of college.  The rest had four years of high school.  

Edward and Beatrice did not report any occupation.  Mary was a Stenographer for a Publishing Company," Agnes was a "Bookkeeper for a Finance Corp."  Ambrose Brennan reported that he was an "Accountant in Private Practice."

The Brennans reported that their building was now worth $5,000.00 as opposed to the $20,000.00 they reported in 1930.  $5,000.00 in 1940 would be worth approximately $113,000.00 in today's funds.  Their apartment was still rented to the Griffins but the rent had been reduced to $75.00/month as opposed to the $100.00/month in 1930.  $75.00 in 1940 would be worth approximately $1,691.00 in today's funds.  The Great Depression of the 1930s had been hard on everyone.   

Since he had now finally fixed all of the problems with Chicago's street names and addresses, Edward Brennan needed another crusade to occupy his free time.  In 1941 it was announced that Brennan wanted another star added to the flag of the City of Chicago.  this from the Chicago Tribune of February 27, 1941:

Pop Quiz for Chicagoans:  The Flag of the City of Chicago currently has four stars.  What do the stars represent/commemorate?  Every Chicago school student should know the answer to this question.

1.  The Founding of Fort Dearborn  

2.  The Great Chicago Fire of 1871

3.  The World's Columbian Exposition of 1892-1893

4.  The Century of Progress Exposition from 1933-1934  

There have been recent proposals for additional stars for:

Mayor Harold Washington

The Great Chicago Flood of 1992

The Dominance of the Chicago Bulls

The latest proposal was made by Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot who wanted a star added to commemorate the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

None of these was adopted; neither was Brennan's proposed star.

Edward P. Brennan died January 10, 1942.  He was 75 years old.  Here is his Death Notice from the Chicago Tribune of January 12, 1942:

He was buried in the family plot in Calvary Cemetery, Evanston:

In 1947, five years after his death, the Chicago City Council named a two-block street in a new subdivision Brennan Avenue.  It's between 96 and 98th streets at 2300 east.

In 2013, as a further acknowledgement of Brennan's contributions to Chicago, the corner of State Street and Madison Avenue was designated "Honorary Edward Brennan Way." 

Edward Brennan - he made it possible for Chicagoans to get where they were going.  May he rest in peace.  

A SAD TALE INDEED - Father Anthony Maksymowski

Fr. Anthony Maksymowski

Often when one attends a wake, you are given a memorial card containing birth and death information about the departed and a prayer.  Many times the card also contains burial information - the name of the cemetery and the location of the grave.  Since these cards contain valuable genealogical information, when I find one I add it to the appropriate Find a Grave page.

When Catholic priests are ordained, the custom was to hand out similar cards as a remembrance of the day.  When my friends find that I collect both of these kinds of remembrance cards, they often give me cards they have received through the years remembering family and friends.  

Recently a friend of mine gave me this card:

The card is in Polish and translates as follows:

A Priest Forever

Souvenir of

Priestly Ordination

and

First

Solemn High Mass

7-14 August 1927

Fr. Anthony Maksymowski

x

Jesus, be this day a proof of my gratitude: 

bless those who brought me to Thy Holy Altar.

On the other side is a drawing of Jesus knocking at the door.

Since I am always looking for interesting stories for this blog I thought I would look up Fr. Anthony Maksymowski.  I assumed he was dead, since he was ordained almost one hundred years ago but I thought it would be interesting to see how his life turned out.

Here's what I "dug up" about Fr. Maksymowski:

The Grand Rapids (MI) Press - 05 Jul 1928

Yikes!  Fr. Maksymowski drowned less than one year after his Ordination.  A sad tale indeed.  Let's see what else we can find out about Father Maksymowski.

Anthony Alexander Maksymowski was born June 7, 1901 (some sources say June 6) in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  His parents were Alexander Joseph Maksymowski (1879-1954) and Rosalia Milianowska (1876-1923).  Both had emigrated from Limanowa, Krakow, Poland.  Alexander had come to the US in 1899; Rosalia in 1883. They were married September 3, 1900 in St. Isidore's Church, Grand Rapids:

St. Isidore's Church, Grand Rapids. Michigan

Alexander worked in a Furniture Factory.  Anthony was their only child.

Anthony Maksymowski makes his first appearance in the 1910 US Census.  The Maksymowski family lived at #116 Emerald Avenue in Grand Rapids.  That number no longer exists.  The family consisted of  Alexander (29 years old), Rose (30), and Anthony (8).  All three were White.  It was the first marriage for Alexander and Rose; they had been married nine years.  Rose had given birth to one child who was still alive in 1910.  They both incorrectly stated that they had emigrated in 1900.  Their citizenship status was "Pa" meaning that Alexander had declared his intention to become an American citizen and had taken out his ‘‘first papers.’’

All three could read, write and speak English.  Alexander indicated that his occupation was "Polisher in a Furniture Factory".  Anthony attended school.  They lived in a house, and they owned it free and clear. 

On June 11, 1915 "Tony" Maksymowski graduated from the Plainfield Elementary School in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  He was fourteen years old.  

The 1920 US census finds the Maksymowski family living at #814 Lyon Street in Grand Rapids:

814 Lyon Street, Grand Rapids, Michigan

The family consisted of Alexander (42 years old), Rose (44), and Anthony (18).  It was ten years since the 1910 US Census - how come Alexander was thirteen years older and Rose fourteen?  It usually works the other way - people shave years off their age from census to census.  As I have said many times, the census data is notoriously unreliable because one could tell the enumerator anything without having to back it up.  At least Anthony's age is correct.

They owned their house free and clear.  Alexander said he came to the US in 1898 (it was really 1899).  His immigration status is still "Pa."  Although in the 1910 US census they said they could both read and write, for the 1920 Census Alexander and Rose said they could neither read nor write.  Alexander and Rose now said they were both born in Poland and that their native tongue was "Polish."  Alexander now reported his occupation as "Finisher in Furniture Factory."   

It is not known whether Anthony Maksymowski attended the local high school in Grand Rapids or not.  In those days, if a boy felt he had a vocation to be a priest, he often attended the minor seminary of the diocese where he studied both the general curriculum as well as beginning his studies for the priesthood.

We do know that Anthony Maksymowski entered the seminary in 1919 when he was eighteen years old.  He was sponsored by his home parish, St. Isidore, the same parish where his parents were married in 1900.  He began his seminary training at St. Joseph Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan:

He graduated as part of the Class of 1922:

Anthony's mother,  Rosalia Milianowska Maksymowski died on her birthday, June 24, 1923 at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Rapids:

St. Mary's Hospital, Grand Rapids, Michigan

The Cause of Death was Breast Cancer and Exhaustion.  She was forty-six years old.  Here is her Death Certificate:

She was buried in the Polish Catholic Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Holy Cross.  Here is her Death Notice:

The Grand Rapids Press, 27 Jun 1923

Here is her grave:

                                                                          Photo by Find a Grave Volunteer Angela Owens Jando 

Anthony continued his studies at the Seminary of Philosophy in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  He received the "Tonsure" the first step in the progression toward Holy Orders, on December 20, 1923 in Montreal, by Archbishop Gauthier:

Archbishop Georges Gauthier 

Anthony Maksymowski received Minor Orders on June 6, 1925, in Montreal, again by Archbishop Gauthier.  He studied Theology at the Grand Seminary in Montreal:

The Grand Seminary, Montreal

He was ordained a Deacon in Montreal on June 9, 1927, and ordained to the Sacred Priesthood on Saturday August 6, 1927 by Bishop Joseph G. Pinten:

Bishop Joseph G. Pinten

He was ordained in St. Andrew's Cathedral, Grand Rapids:

After Ordination, he celebrated his first Solemn High Mass on Sunday August 7, 1927 at his home parish, St. Isidore.  Then in the week following he said the three traditional "first Masses" of a newly ordained priest (Mass of the Holy Ghost, Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Mass for his deceased relatives) also at St. Isadore's.  

Father Anthony Maksymowski's first assignment was to be Assistant Pastor at St. Ann's, Cadillac, Michigan:

That brings us to Fr. Anthony Maksymowski's death by drowning in the afternoon of Monday, July 2, 1928.  He drowned in Sapphire Lake, between Cadillac and Lake City:

With Fr. Maksymowski when the accident occurred was Father Edward Neubecker (1895-1984).  Here is Fr. Maksymowski's Death Certificate:

 

He was twenty-seven years old.  

What caused the death of a healthy young man like Anthony Maksymowski?  You can see his photo at the beginning of this article.  He was a big, strapping, healthy man.  Obviously the primary Cause of Death was drowning, but what (if any) were the contributing factors.  If you look at the Death Certificate, the contributing factors section is blank.  Further, no autopsy was done.  What caused him to drown?  A cramp, a loss of consciousness caused by hitting his head, a heart attack, a stroke, or something else?  We will never know.  Obviously drowning was enough but it would be helpful knowing if there were other contributing factors that caused him to drown. 

The first Requiem Mass offered for Fr. Maksymowski was offered on July 4 at St. Ann's in Cadillac, Michigan by his friend who was with him when he drowned - Father Edward Neubecker.  His body was then transported to Grand Rapids.

A Pontifical Requiem High Mass was offered July 5, 1928 at St. Isidore's Church, Fr. Maksymowski's home parish.  The celebrant was Bishop Joseph G. Pinten, bishop of Grand Rapids, who had ordained Fr. Maksymowski less than one year before.  Most of the clergy of the diocese attended the Requiem.

After the Mass, Father Anthony Maksymowski was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery "The Polish Cemetery" in Grand Rapids - the same cemetery as his mother.  Here is his tombstone:

            Photo by Find a Grave Volunteer Angela Owens Jando

Thus ends the end of the story of Anthony Maksymowski - son, friend, and Catholic priest.  After years of study he was finally starting to live out his vocation only to see his life snatched away in a moment.  A sad tale indeed.  May he rest in peace.

The rest of the story:  Fr.  Maksymowski's father, Alexander Maksymowski married for the second time on April 21, 1926 to Apolonia Zoppa Golembiewski (1874-1934) at Sand Lake, Michigan.  Alexander died October 5, 1954 in Grand Rapids.  He was seventy-four years old.  He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery next to his first wife.   

BELOVED EVANSTON HISTORIAN - Frank Reed Grover

Frank Reed Grover

Very few of us know when we are going to die.  If we did know, would we take that as an opportunity to write a Farewell Letter to our family and friends?  One person who did was Frank Reed Grover (1858-1919).  He was a charter member of the Evanston Historical Society and a well known attorney and historian.  Grover left instructions that his "Farewell  Letter" was to be read at his funeral.  It was not read at his funeral because it was not found until after the funeral was over, so the Evanston News-Index published it in its entirety in their January 7, 1920 issue:

The years of my life have gone by almost like so many months.  There has been sorrow and care and a lot of hard work, but it has been a beautiful world just the same, which I have enjoyed (I hope not too selfishly) as I went along.  I have found many true friends, and in every one, when I have taken the pains to ascertain (I have found) something worthwhile. If I could speak a little farewell it would be a prayer of thankfulness for what my true friends have meant to me.  To my family there are no farewells to say, for in the sacred temple of the home there has been that love and understanding that needs no parting words.  And now - in the evening whatever may be the sunrise in the great plan of human destiny - I meet it ready and unafraid.

Let's see what we can "dig up" about this beloved Evanstonian.

Frank Reed Grover was born September 17, 1858 in Lyons, Illinois to Aldin J. Grover (1822-1902) and Eliza Diana Reed (1829-1871).  Aldin and Eliza were married March 23, 1856 and were blessed with seven children:  Frank Reed (1858-1949), Etta Margaret/Mrs. Dr. Charles H. Thayer (1860-1906), Katherine Susan (1863-1916), Caroline Ella/Mrs. Warren Rufus Smith (1867-1948),  Aldin Chester (1869-1869), Chester Aldin (1871-1957) and Louise Mary (1870-1950).  Frank's father Aldin Grover started out as a farmer and mechanic by trade but branched out into construction and real estate.  

Frank makes his first appearance in the 1860 US Census.  The Grover family was living in the Town of Wales, Erie County, New York.  The family consisted of:  Alden (sic) Grover (35 years old), wife Eliza D. (30), Frank R. (2), and Etta (2 mos.).  Aldin reported his occupation as "Farmer and Mechanic" and said he owned personalty worth $100.00 ($3,800.00 in today's funds).  

Aldin Grover moved his young family to Evanston in 1866.  He thought his children would receive a better education there because of the proximity of Northwestern University. 

The 1870 US Census finds the Grover family in Evanston.  The family had grown significantly and now consisted of:  Aldin (47 years old), Eliza (40), Frank (12), Etti (10), Susan (8), Carrie (6),  and Louise (1).  Living with the Grover family was Salina Ragren (18) a "Domestic Servant".  Aldin reported his occupation as "Carpenter", and reported Real Estate worth $20,000 ($481,000 in today's funds) and personalty worth $1,000 ($24,000 in today's funds).

Frank's mother, Eliza Reed Grover died October 31, 1871 in Evanston.  She was 49 years old.  This was less than two weeks after the birth of her son Chester who was born October 18th.  A cause of death was not revealed but it was probably Complications from Childbirth which killed so many women in those days.  She was buried in the Grover Family Plot at Rosehill:

Aldin Grover remarried in 1875 to Mrs. Mary Eliza Whelden Skinner (1834-1917).  She was the widow of Deacon Oliver Buell Skinner (1832-1873).

On June 23, 1877 Frank Grover graduated from the Evanston High School.  Classes were taught by public school superintendent Otis Erastus Haven in an upper room of the Benson Avenue School (Benson Avenue and Davis Street).  Grover was a member of the second graduating class of the high school.  The first class, consisting of two students, graduated in 1876.  The graduation exercises were held in the Lecture Room of the Methodist Church.  At his graduation, Grover presented an Oration entitled "Patriotism."  The high school building at Dempster and Elmwood did not open until 1883.  

The 1880 US Census shows Frank Grover still living with his father and family in Evanston.  The family consisted of:  Aldin (57), wife Mary (45), Frank R. (21), Etta (19), Susan (17), Carrie (15), Louisa (11) and Chester (8).  Also living with them was Eliza's son Mortimer Buel "Morty" Skinner (15).  Frank Grover said his occupation was "Commercial Agent."

After a course of study at the Union College of Law, part of the University of Chicago, Frank Grover passed his bar examinations and was admitted to practice law on March 14, 1882.  Thirty-one students were presented for the examinations; twenty-two passed including Grover.  Shortly thereafter, Frank Grover opened a law office at 156 Washington Street in downtown Chicago.

The Evanston City Directory for 1882 shows the Grover family to be living at 444 Sherman Avenue in Evanston.

On March 20, 1884, Frank R. Grover married Miss Ella F. Smith (1859-1956) in Pleasant Grove, Olmstead County, Minnesota.  The bride was twenty-four; the groom was twenty-five.  

Ella Florence Smith was born October 4, 1859 in Lyle, Mower County, Minnesota.  Her parents were William D. Smith (1825-1905) and Lydia Elmina "Abbie" Barber (1830-1905).  William Smith was a farmer by trade.  William Smith was first married to Betsey Maria Barber (1830-1853).  They had two children:  William Everett Smith (1850-1918) and Emily M. Smith (1853-1853).  Betsey Smith died August 22, 1853 in Java Village, New York.  She was twenty-three years old.  

William Everett Smith then married  Lydia Elmina "Abbie" Barber (1830-1905) in 1854.  William and Lydia had eight children:  Olive Jerusha/Mrs. Edward Toy (1855-1905), Ella Florence/Mrs. Frank Grover (1859-1956), Victor O. (1860-1862), Minnehaha E. (1863-1866), Cora Annette/Mrs. Scott Stuckman (1866-1949), Vernon Elijah (1868-1922), Eldred Joseph (1871-1958), and Merton Royal (1876-1960). 

Upon their return to Chicagoland, Mr. & Mrs. Frank R. Grover lived at 511 Grove Street at East Railroad Avenue.  In his law practice, Grover specialized in being a Trustee for the benefit of creditors in Bankruptcy cases.  

Note:  all Evanston addresses mentioned here prior to 1893 are using the "old" numbering system.  Chicago standardized its numbering system in 1909.  Evanston was ahead of the game here - Evanston standardized its numbering system in 1893.   

In 1885 Frank Grover was elected Justice of the Peace in Evanston after having been nominated by the Republican Party.  In this regard, he opened an additional office, at 418 Davis Street.  

In 1886, Frank and Ella Grover moved to 608 Grove in Evanston and in 1890 got a telephone!  Their telephone number was "55".  The Grovers were blessed with a son on August 24, 1886: Mortimer Curry Grover (1886-1962).  He was their only child.

Frank Grover also moved his law office in 1886 - to 115 Dearborn, where he remained until 1894.

The 1890 US Census for this area is of course, lost.

In May of 1891, Frank R. Grover was chosen to become the Village Attorney for the Village of Evanston.  You might think this was not a controversial decision, but the opposite was true as reported by the Chicago Tribune on May 27, 1891:

Frank Grover retained his position as attorney when the Village of Evanston became the City of Evanston in 1892.

As mentioned above, Evanston standardized its numbering system late in 1893.  So when the Evanston Directory of 1893 reported that the Grovers were living at 428 Sherman Avenue in Evanston and the 1894 Directory reported that the Grovers were living at 1508 Sherman Avenue in Evanston, they were talking about the same property.  1508 Sherman Avenue is now occupied by a building with commercial tenants on the first floor with apartments upstairs.

In 1894 Grover moved his Chicago law office to the sixteen story Unity Building, located at 79 N. Dearborn Street where he remained in Suite 1331 until 1909.

Frank Grover took out a Personal ad in the Tribune of January 21, 1894 concerning a robbery at his home:

The Tribune printed a follow-up article the next day, January 22, 1894:

Further information was revealed a week later, January 29, 1894:

I couldn't find any further information about this, so I don't know if  Grover ever got his materials back or not.

There was a movement afoot in 1894 by Chicago to annex Evanston.  Frank Grover came out firmly against annexation as did Evanston mayor Dr. Oscar Mann.  At the same time there was a similar movement for Wilmette to become part of Evanston.  Both efforts ultimately failed. 

An alarming piece of news was in the Chicago Inter Ocean of September 26, 1895:

I am pleased to report that Mortimer Grover did recover and died in 1962 at the age of 75.

Frank Grover always had a great interest in history.  He wrote a Letter to the Editor of the Evanston Index Newspaper which was published on May 1, 1897:

In 1898 he joined the newly founded Evanston Historical Society as one of its founding directors.  Shortly after he was elected Vice President, a post he held until 1917. 

The 1900 US Census finds the Grover family still living at 1508 Sherman Avenue in Evanston.  The family consisted of:  Frank R. (41 years old); wife Ella (40), son Mortimer C. (13).  Also living there was servant Flora Munn (19) and Frank's sister Louise Grover (30).  Frank and Ella reported they had been married for sixteen years; Ella said she had given birth to one child who was still living in 1900; they said the lived in a house and that it had a mortgage.  Frank reported his occupation as "Attorney."

On November 2, 1901 Frank Grover took his interest in history to the public for the first time.  He read a paper to the Evanston Historical Society entitled:  Our Indian Predecessors - The First Evanstonians.  With this offering Grover combined two of his major interests, Native Americans and Evanston history.  The paper was so well received Grover decided to publish it.  It was published by The Index Press of Evanston, the same printer and publisher of the Evanston Index newspaper.

On November 6, 1901 the Chicago Tribune reported that Frank Grover was moving his household to Greenleaf and Hinman along with moving his house:

His new address would be 1100 Hinman Avenue.  The house is still standing today:

1100 Hinman Avenue, Evanston

After the move, Grover listed his Sherman Avenue plot for sale:

Chicago Tribune - July 12, 1902

Frank Grover's father, Aldin Grover died April 6, 1902 in Evanston.  He was seventy-nine years old.  Here is his obituary from the Chicago Inter Ocean from April 7, 1902:

Aldin J. Grover 1822-1902

He was buried in the family plot at Rosehill Cemetery:

Frank Grover was a man of many interests.  In 1904 with Alexander Clark he conceived and launched the project for building an electric railroad along the lakeshore between Waukegan, Illinois and Kenosha, Wisconsin.  It was Mr. Grover, acting as attorney, who purchased the right-of-way the company owned between these two cities.  It was a 100 foot right-of-way and those who promoted the company held the property in hopes it would bring a big price sometime when it was wanted.  

Work on the electric railroad started on April 5, 1904.  There was even talk at some point to add on to the electric railroad from Kenosha to Lake Geneva.  I don't believe the leg to Lake Geneva was ever completed.  The leg to Kenosha however was completed in November of 1905.  Here is an ad for the Chicago & Milwaukee Electric Railroad from 1908:

In 1905 Frank Grover published his second book:  Some Indian Land Marks of the North Shore - an address read before the Chicago Historical Society at a special meeting held February 21, 1905:

In 1906 the Evanston Index Newspaper ran a series of illustrations of Evanston notables that had appeared in the newspaper's "Hall of Fame" series.  At least 17 of these Hall of Fame cartoons appeared on the front page of the Index during 1905 and 1906.  Frank Grover was featured in the January 6, 1906 issue:

In 1907 Frank Grover published his third book:  Father Pierre François Pinet, S. J., and his Mission of the Guardian Angel of Chicago (L'Ange gardien) 1696-1699 - a paper read Before a Joint Meeting of the Chicago Historical Society and the Evanston Historical Society in the Chicago Historical Society Building November 27, 1906:

The Mission of the Guardian Angel was a 17th-century Jesuit mission in the vicinity of what is now Chicago, Illinois. It was established in 1696 by Father François Pinet, a French Jesuit priest. The mission was abandoned by 1700; its exact location was thought to be unknown.  It was Grover's contention that the Mission was located at what became the Village of Grosse Pointe at approximately the location of St. Joseph's Church at Lake Avenue and Ridge Road in today's Wilmette.

In addition to his research, Grover spent most of this time buying, selling and leasing commercial real estate. 

In 1908 Grover published his next book:  Antoine Ouilmette : a resident of Chicago A.D. 1790-1826. The first settler of Evanston and Wilmette (1826-1838) with a brief history of his family and the Ouilmette reservation.

Grover started his book with these comments:

In 1909 the movement to have Chicago annex Evanston was resurrected.  Frank Grover came out firmly against the annexation as he had in 1894.  Here is an article from the Chicago Inter Ocean from March 29, 1909:

Frank Grover also spent a lot of time in 1908 and 1909 traveling between Evanston and Lincoln, Nebraska.  He had been retained to represent the holder of the mortgage and the defaulted bonds of the Citizens' Gas Company of Lincoln.  Here is an article outlining the default from the Nebraska City News Press of January 28, 1908:

The property, franchise, and everything belonging to the Citizens' Gas Company was sold at auction in April of 1909.  After the sale, Frank Grover was involved as an owner and  member of the Board of Directors of the reorganized company which was called The Nebraska City Gas & Electric Light Company:

The Crete (NB) Democrat - September 29, 1909

The 1910 US census shows the Grover family living at 1100 Hinman Avenue in Evanston.  The family consisted of:  Frank (51 years old), Ella F.  (49), Mortimer C. (23), plus nephew Nathaniel Thayer (17), niece Marion A. Thayer (11), and servant Alvina Rasmussen (22).  Frank and Ella said they had only been married one time, and that they were both 26 when they were married.  Ella said she had given birth to one child, and that child was still living in 1910.  Frank listed his occupation as "Lawyer - General Practice."  They reported they owned their home free and clear of any mortgages.  

Having been successful with the acquisition of the Nebraska utility, Frank Grover decided to do it again - this time in December of 1910 with the Madison Lighting Company of Madison, Indiana, and the Seymour Public Service Company of Seymour, Indiana in January of 1911.   

Frank Grover published his next book in 1911:  A Brief History of Les Cheneaux Islands, Some New Chapters of Mackinac History:

A Brief History of Les Cheneaux Islands: Some New Chapters of Mackinac History provides a comprehensive account of the history of the Les Cheneaux Islands. The book covers the period from the early 1600s to the early 1900s and explores the various events, people, and places that have shaped the islands' history. The Les Cheneaux Islands are located in the northern part of Lake Huron, near the Straits of Mackinac. The islands have a rich history, with Native American tribes, French explorers, and British and American settlers all playing a significant role in shaping the islands' development. The book is divided into several chapters, each of which covers a different aspect of the islands' history. 

Between the years 1911-1915 Grover spent most of his time helping bondholders reorganize the electric and gas utilities they purchased out of foreclosure.

On Friday May 14, 1915 Frank Grover presented a paper:  Indian Treaties Affecting Lands in the Present State of Illinois: a paper read before the Illinois State Historical Society on Friday May 14, 1915.  The paper was published in the Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society in their October, 1915 issue.  

In 1917 Frank Grover was elected president of the Evanston Historical Society, succeeding his friend J. Seymour Currey (1844-1928) who had been president of the Society since 1906.

Frank Reed Grover died December 10, 1919 at his home in Evanston.  While the actual Cause of Death was listed as "Pneumonia," he had been complaining of stomach troubles for several years.  He was sixty-one years old.  Since he had been so active in so many endeavors for such a long time, the obituaries were many and comprehensive.  This is from the Chicago Tribune of December 11, 1919:

This is from the Kenosha (WI) News from December 11, 1919:

This is from the Waukegan (IL) News-Sun also from December 11, 1919:

 

Frank Grover's funeral took place on December 13, 1919 in his home at 1100 Hinman Avenue.  The officiant was the Rev. David Hugh Jones, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church.  The pallbearers were Carl Pendleton, Benjamin March, Arthur Curry, Mortimer B. Skinner, Albert Childs and Carl Latham.  Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie, Illinois - Section B - Lot 12:

On the Tuesday following Grover's funeral, one hundred of his friends and colleagues  gathered at the Evanston Historical Society to remember him. as reported in the Evanston News-Index of  January 6, 1920:   

Frank Reid Grover - the original historical society man of Evanston - may he rest in peace.

The Rest of the Story:

Frank's widow, Ella Smith Grover married Robert H. Forster (1858-1932) in Minnesota sometime prior to 1930.  Forster died in 1932 and Ella died January 2, 1956 in Chatfield, Minnesota.  She is buried next to Frank Grover in Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie, Illinois.

Frank's son, Mortimer Currey Grover originally followed his father into the practice of law.  But over the years he changed careers several times.  The 1930 census shows him as a Salesman for Fidelity Investments; the 1940 Census shows him as a Hearing Officer for the Illinois Department of Revenue.  In 1953 he retired to Ashville, North Carolina where he died March 10, 1962.  His obituary says he was cremated but no mention was made of the final disposition of his cremains.  His wife Lela Ulrich Grover (1888-1961) was a Christian Science Practitioner and both she and Mortimer were members of the Mother Church of Christian Science in Boston.

All of Frank Grover's books are available to be read in their entirety on the internet at no cost:

Our Indian Predecessors:  

https://archive.org/details/ourindianpredec00illgoog

Some Indian Land Marks of the North Shore:  

https://archive.org/details/someindianlandm00grovgoog/page/n42/mode/2up

Father Pierre François Pinet, S. J., and his Mission of the Guardian Angel of Chicago (L'Ange gardien) 1696-1699:

https://archive.org/details/fatherpierrefra00grovgoog/page/n4/mode/2up

Antoine Ouilmette : a resident of Chicago A.D. 1790-1826. The first settler of Evanston and Wilmette (1826-1838) with a brief history of his family and the Ouilmette reservation.

https://archive.org/details/antoineouilmette00grov/mode/2up

A Brief History of Les Cheneaux Islands, Some New Chapters of Mackinac History.

https://archive.org/details/ABriefHistoryOfLesCheneauxIslands

Indian treaties affecting lands in the present State of Illinois

https://archive.org/details/jstor-40193804/page/n23/mode/2up