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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
Historical and Biographical Record
of
Douglas Co., Illinois
Compiled by John Gresham, U. S. A.
June, 1900
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JOHN T. TODD, who is one of the most
active and successful business men of Tuscola and who has been with
the exception of two years, agent for the I. D. & W. Railway Company
from the time the road was built to the present, having first
entered its service as agent at Marshall, Indiana, on Aug. 1, 1879
was born in Edgar county, Illinois, June 8, 1862. He was
reared in Edgar and Champaign counties and received his education in
the public schools at Newman. In 1866 his parents removed to
Douglas county and settled on a farm near Newman. He is a son
of David and Mariah (Wilson) Todd who were natives of Ireland
,and who were both Episcopalians in their religious belief.
David Todd was a bookbinder by trade and in about 1844 emigrated
to this country, first settling in New York City, where he worked at
his trade until 1855, when he emigrated west and located on a farm
in Edgar county. The grandfathers of Mr. Todd were
James Todd and William Wilson, both born in Ireland.
In 1883 Mr. Todd was united in marriage to
Miss Laura, a daughter of L. J. Cash, of Newman. He
is the founder of the Douglas Telephone Company, now a sub-licensee
of the American Bell Telephone Company, the change being made in
order to get the use of the instruments and the long-distance
connections of the Bell Company. Mr. Todd is still the
president and business manager of the company, with J. W.
Hamilton as secretary. In 1892 he removed to Chicago,
where he was engaged for two years in perfecting and developing an
invention known as the "thermograph," of which Mr. Todd is
the patentee and inventor. This instrument is for
automatically recording the variations of temperature of
refrigerator cars while in transit, also of the several rooms of
cold storage plants, hot houses, etc., where it is desirable that a
uniform temperature he maintained. With Mr. Todd's
invention it is possible to have a printed record made on a narrow
strip of paper ribbon showing the variations of temperature at such
intervals of time as may be desired, from the time a car of meat
leaves Chicago until it arrives in San Francisco, from which record
any neglect in re-icing car enroute may be located, and as the
record shows the time of day and date of every variation, it is an
easy matter to place the responsibility for any neglect by the
several railway companies handlig the car.
John T. Todd is a member of the Masonic
fraternity, and his standing as a man, especially in railroad
circles, is second to none. During his residence in Tuscola he
has borne an important part in the progress of the city, and his
courteous manner and his integrity and ability have won him a high
place in the esteem of his fellow citizens.
Source: Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas Co.,
Illinois - Compiled by John Gresham, U. S. A. June, 1900 - Page 212 |
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JOHN T. TODD, who is one of the most
active and successful business men of Tuscola and who has been with
the exception of two near Belfast, Ireland. He was a fine
musician, playing both organ and violin with great proficiency.
His father died in 1855. His mother, who was, before she was
married. Margaret Carr, was a native of county Down,
Ireland, and was reared near Belfast. His great-grandfather,
John Hayward, was an exceedingly wealthy man, and because his
sons were of dissolute habits he bequeathed his wealth to charity,
and it is known to the day as the Hayward charity fund, so much of
which is given out each year by the parish of Cranbrook to the poor
of the parish. His maternal grandfather, Edward Carr,
was born in Scotland.
A. Hayward came to this country in 1870, and
after spending three months in Syracuse came direct to Tuscola,
where he followed the painter's trade and remained here six years.
He soon afterward learned the telegraph business and located in
Camargo.
In 1880 our subject was wedded to Miss Julia O'Connor, a
step daughter of Martin Cogley. They have one daughter,
Mary Elizabeth who is nineteen years of age. He is a
member of the Court of Honor and at present holds the office of
chancellor. Mr. Hayward owns a pleasant home in Camargo,
besides eighty acres of land in Murdock township. He has been
town clerk of Camargo for six years and was secretary of the Douglas
county fair for ten years. He was also assistant general
superintendent of the state far in 1897-98, and served as a delegate
to the Court of Honor for Douglas county, which met in Springfield
in 1899. He has made his own way in the business world and at
present occupies an enviable position in the affairs of Douglas
county.
Source: Historical and Biographical
Record of Douglas Co., Illinois - Compiled by John Gresham, U. S. A.
June, 1900 - Page 210 |
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