LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 
AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 

q977.3 331 h 1933 v.3 

I.H.S. 

Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 

http://archive.org/details/historicalen03bate 

[Comments added by David Chrimes:
This text file has been edited by David Chrimes to include only the introduction and the biography of John CHRIMES.
The complete digitised document is accessible at http://archive.org/stream/historicalen03bate/historicalen03bate_djvu.txt
]

HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS 
WITH COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHIES 

Compiled and Edited by WILLIAM P. MUNSELL 

VOLUME III 
ILLUSTRATED 

CHICAGO 1943 

PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. BY W. B. CONKEY COMPANY 

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT 

In this volume have been brought together by the late William P. Munsell accounts of persons without whose
outstanding contributions to business, public welfare and the essentials of truly fine living, Illinois
would not have held the place of rank it has held among the states of the Union. 

As indicated in his earlier publications, Mr. Munsell used as his criterion for the selection of the
individuals to be included "Worth of Character," for he firmly believed as he so often said, "without it
such other assets as knowledge, strength, health, power and wealth, are often misused to destroy. Worth of
Character determines the use which people make of all their other potential assets." 

Exerting himself to finish all of the biographies and make good his promise that this volume would be
published, he worked for months beyond the point when most persons would have given up active work.
On October 14, 1942 he was released from suffering which resulted from his service in the Air Corps during
World War I. 

In his field, and among his friends, he contributed as largely toward his ideals of character and
accomplishment as did those whom he chose for inclusion in his publications. We believe, as he firmly hoped,
that the accounts of lives here set forth form a distinctive contribution, not only to an interest in the
lives of people, but to an understanding of the social history of the period. 

Upon his passing, friends who worked with Mr. Munsell in the publication of his earlier volumes volunteered
to assist in putting the manuscripts which he had meticulously prepared into the publication which he had
planned. To these and all who have so whole-heartedly assisted in putting the work into print, the family
expresses profound gratitude. Should errors have slipped in, it can well be understood that circumstances
made impossible complete verification.


JOHN CHRIMES 

JOHN Chrimes was born in Warrington, England, April 22, 1823, a son of John and Ann (Johnson) Chrimes. 

The Chrimes family came to England from Holland with William, Prince of Orange. 
The coat of arms of the family of Chrimes is of German origin and dates back to 1603. 
The name was formerly spelt Ghrimes. The family settled in Warrington, England, halfway between Liverpool
and Manchester. Some of the family are still living in that locality. 

John Chrimes was left an orphan in early life, and his cousin, a London lawyer, took him in charge.
He went to Paris, France, to learn his trade and became a civil and military tailor. He came to the United
States in a sailing vessel, which took three months to cross the ocean, and landed at New Orleans.
About 1850 he settled in New Orleans, and then, for a time, located in Rochester, New York. In the spring
of 1856 he came to Chicago and established his home and his business connections here. 

For several years he worked for A. D. Titsworth, and he then went into business for himself under the name
of Waterbury & Chrimes, civil and military tailors. Their first location was at 146 Dearborn Street, but
this property was destroyed at the time of the Chicago fire. Waterbury & Chrimes next opened their store
at Twenty-second Street near Wabash Avenue, but within a short time moved to 102 Madison Street. 

In 1872 Mr. Chrimes purchased the home, then referred to as "Widow Clark's house," now located at 4526
Wabash Avenue. This house was built about 1836. Mrs. W. H. Walter, daughter of Mr. Chrimes, still lives
in this house, which is probably the earliest residence still standing in Chicago. 

John Chrimes was married in the fall of 1853 to Lydia Claghorn Richardson. Seven children were born to them:
David P. Chrimes (deceased) ; Lydia Chrimes; George H. Chrimes; Mary R. Chrimes; William P. Chrimes;
John Chrimes, and Robert L. Chrimes. 

Mr. Chrimes was an Episcopalian, and, in later years, a Unitarian. He belonged to the Masonic order
and was a charter member of Home Lodge. 

John Chrimes passed away April 16, 1876. 

He is still remembered as an outstanding pioneer tailor in Chicago and as a man of strong purpose,
high ideals and fine character. 

At the present time all of John Chrimes' family have passed on except one daughter, Mary R. Walter.
There are nine grand-children, (six are children of Mrs. Walter, and three of the late Robert L. Chrimes),
and twelve great grandchildren.