Timothy Blackstone
Timothy Blackstone | |
---|---|
Mayor of La Salle, Illinois | |
In office 1854โ1855 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Branford, Connecticut | March 28, 1829
Died | May 26, 1900 Chicago, Illinois | (aged 71)
Spouse |
Isabella Farnsworth Norton
(m. 1868) |
Residence(s) | Chicago, Illinois |
Signature | |
Timothy Beach Blackstone (March 28, 1829 โ May 26, 1900) was an American railroad executive, businessman, philanthropist, and politician. He is descended from William Blaxton, an early settler of New England. He worked in the railroad industry for most of his life after dropping out of school. At the time of his death, his estate was worth US$6 million ($219.7 million today).
Blackstone served as president of the
Early life
Blackstone was born in
Health issues caused Blackstone to drop out of school in 1847, and he began working for
Career and life
Blackstone was elected
Although Blackstone had refused a salary from the railroad, he was an investor in it. In 1899, a competing group of investors headed by E. H. Harriman wanted to purchase the Alton Railroad but Blackstone disapproved of the sale. After many months of wrangling, Blackstone transferred all of his stock in the company to the United States Trust Company and resigned as president, effective April 1, 1899. This action allowed the Harriman-led group to assume control of the line.[10]
In 1868, Blackstone married Isabella Farnsworth Norton, the daughter of a successful businessman from Norwich, Connecticut.[11] Blackstone died of pneumonia on May 26, 1900, in Chicago, Illinois. His funeral was held at the Second Presbyterian Church and was then transported to Norwich, Connecticut for burial.[8]
Blackstone Mansion
Blackstone built a 19th-century
Bequests
Blackstone donated a library of 5,000 books and a building to the city of Branford, Connecticut with the only stipulation that it be named in honor of his father. A charter was devised for the library by the Connecticut State Legislature vesting control of the library in a self-perpetuating board of trustees consisting of six residents of Branford and the librarian of Yale University.[14] The building was designed by Chicago architect Solon Spencer Beman.[14] The library was constructed from 1893–96.[14]
In 1904, Isabella Blackstone donated the T.B. Blackstone Memorial Branch Library to the city of Chicago. Located at the intersection of Blackstone Avenue, Lake Park Avenue, and Forty-Ninth Street, the library is modeled after the James Blackstone Library in Branford, Connecticut. Blackstone Avenue running along the 1436 east block from 4900 south (starting behind Blackstone Library) to 10350 south is named after him.[6]
Also, the Blackstone's funded Blackstone Hall in the Art Institute of Chicago Building. The two-story ground level gallery was added next to the east wall of the original building for display of architectural and sculptural casts.[2]
References
- ^ "Blackstone: About this Library". Chicago Public Library. Archived from the original on March 18, 2009. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
- ^ ISBN 0-226-02813-5
- ^ a b c d e f Ida Hinman. "Biography of Timothy B. Blackstone Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine." Methodist Book Concern Press, 1917.
- ^ Borgemeister, Peter. "Branford's James Blackstone Memorial Library". Town of Branford. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
- ^ Hinman, Ida (1917). Biography of Timothy B. Blackstone. Methodist Book Concern Press. pp. 15โ17.
- ^ ISBN 0-8294-0597-6. Retrieved April 14, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ ISBN 0-929387-76-7. Retrieved April 14, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ a b c "T. B. Blackstone. Former Alton President. T. B. Blackstone Is Dead". Chicago Daily Tribune. May 27, 1900. p. 8. Retrieved April 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Peggy Sullivan, "Naming the Branches," Journal of the Caxton Club, June 2006, p. 1.
- ^ "Blackstone Gives It Up". Chicago Daily Tribune. March 31, 1899. p. 3. Retrieved April 14, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hill, Everett Gleason (1918). A modern history of New Haven and eastern New Haven County. S.J. Clarke. p. 720.
- ^ "About the John Crerar Library". June 24, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- ISBN 0962063541. Retrieved April 14, 2024 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ a b c "History of the James Blackstone Memorial Library". James Blackstone Memorial Library. Retrieved February 16, 2007.
- ^ "Will Of Timothy B. Blackstone; Chicago Railway Magnate Bequeathed $250,000 to Public Institutions" (PDF). The New York Times. July 19, 1900. p. 9. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
External links