The Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Representative Men of Chicago, Milwaukee and the World's Columbian Exposition

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BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.,
Mr. Doud is a man of domestic tastes, and when not employed in his business, in which he takes a natural and just pride, he finds in no place such solid enjoyment as in his own beauti¬ ful home, at No. 3257 Michigan avenue. During the heated season of each year, he seeks re¬ cuperation and rest at the sea-shore, with his family.
Such is a brief outline of his biography: Pre¬ eminently a self-made man, he has attained to a position among Chicago's representative men of which he may justly be proud. He started in life with no capital save health, a persistent pur¬ pose and an honorable ambition, and, by perse¬ vering effort, uprightness and fidelity, has risen, step by step, to his present commanding position.
CHARLES T. YERKES,
CHICAGO,   ILL.
CHARLES TYSON YERKES, President of the North Chicago Street Railroad Company and the West Chicago Street Railroad Company, and Director of the World's Fair, was born in Philadelphia, June 25th, 1837. Up to the time of the settlement of his father's estate he added "junior" to his name, as the two were the same.
His mother was Elizabeth Link Broom, who came from an old Philadelphia family, descended from the Dutch. The name "Yerkes" is Welsh, the first settlers coming to this country from England a few years before the Penn colony of Quakers arrived. The subject of this biography is descended from these people, who assimilated with the followers of William Penn. The farthest the lineage can be traced being to their arrival in Philadelphia with that good man on board the ship "Welcome," in 1682.
Mr. Yerkes' parents were Quakers, and he was brought up in that faith ; but like many other members of that sect, the straight coat, broad brimmed hat and quiet manners were not adopted by the rising generation, and the mem¬ bership in his family will, in all probability, go out with him. He received his education at the Quaker school in Philadelphia, and afterwards graduated at the Central High School in that city.
In early life he was an active young man, always desiring to be at the head of all schemes, whether it was mischief at school or a money making project. An anecdote of the boy has found its way into print, showing his natural thrift. When about twelve years old, he was very fond of attending the auction sales which were held  on Saturdays, at an auction store, in
the vicinity of his home. One day, arriving early, he discovered a number of boxes of soap which bore the same brand that was being used by his family, which he had often been sent to purchase at the corner grocery. Twelve cents per pound was the retail price he had always paid. An. idea struck him and a plan was immediately formed.    He   went   at   once  to   the  grocer and
asked   what   soap   was  worth   by the  box.
The latter thinking the boy wished to purchase, told him, eleven cents per pound. The boy de¬ murred, saying it was too much. The grocer replied that very little profit was made on soap, and facetiously remarked he would pay nine cents per pound for any quantity. Young Yerkes seemed hardly satisfied and left the store, going immediately to the auction. Soon the lot of soap was reached and the auctioneer announced the soap would be sold, a box at a time. " What is bid per pound for the soap?" "Four cents," said one bidder; "Four and one-half cents," and so on up to five and one-half cents. While the auctioneer was clamoring for another bid, " Six cents," came from a shrill but sturdy yoice, and every one looked to see the new bidder. The box of soap was knocked down to young Yerkes at six cents per pound. "What is the name?" said the auctioneer as he leaned forward. "Charles T. Yerkes, Jr.," shouted the boy, and the man repeated, "Put it down to Charles T. Yerkes, Jr.," and every one but the boy laughed. Another box was put up and the youngster bid again six cents. No one else bid. They were all amused to watch the earnest boy. Again the auctioneer asked the name and received the same  reply.     It  was most amusing to  the by-