Commercial progress and prosperity are conserved through the efforts of such enterprising and reliable business men as Harry Bates, who occupies a creditable position in the business circles of Peoria as a manufacturer of office, store and bank fixtures, his establishment being located at Nos. 612 to 618 Monroe street, inclusive. He has been connected with this line of business for twenty-six years and for twenty-two years has been owner of his present concern. Twenty-eight years' residence in Peoria has brought him a wide acquaintance, and the wise use which he has made of his time and opportunities during this period has gained for him the favorable regard of all with whom he has come in contact.
Mr. Bates is a native of the neighboring state of Indiana, his birth having occurred in the town of Attica, August 16, 1859. His father, Albert Bates, was a blacksmith, who removed from Indiana to Illinois, settling with his family in the eastern part of this state just after the close of the Civil war. Harry Bates was therefore reared in Illinois and is indebted to its public-school system for the educational privileges which were accorded him. He began learning the trade of manufacturing office and store fixtures in 1877 but afterward worked at the trade in Chicago, in Denver, Colorado, and in other cities. Eventually he came to Peoria, where he has now made his home for twenty-eight years. He entered the employ of the Tucker Furniture Company of this city in the capacity of cabinet-maker and afterward was connected with the firm of Castle & Son, manufacturers of and dealers in office, store and bank fixtures. About twenty-two years ago he started in business on his own account, opening his factory at 213 Main street, where he remained until he removed to the corner of Fulton and Madison streets, remaining there until he removed to his present location about 1896, in which year he erected the building he now occupies. This is a two-story brick structure with basement, well equipped for the manufacture of office, store and bank fixtures. It is supplied with the latest improved machinery and he employs about fifteen workmen in the manufacture of all classes of store, bank and office furniture. The business had steadily grown and has reached gratifying proportions, the high-grade work and moderate prices bringing a good trade.
Mr. Bates was married in Peoria, in 1894, to Miss Alice Thompson, who was born and reared in this city and is a daughter of Joseph Thompson, now deceased, who was one of Peoria's early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Bates have a daughter, Ruth. Mr. Bates belongs to the Illinois Valley Yacht Club, which indicates something of the nature of his recreation. His interests are wide and varied, covering those activities which relate to the city's welfare as well as to individual enterprise and social affairs. Laudable ambition has brought him to his present position in manufacturing circles and his success proves what may be accomplished when determination and energy are unremittingly employed to overcome obstacles and difficulties and to meet competition.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
The name of Bourland has been a synonym for over a half century in Peoria for all that is honorable and worthy in business life and all that is charming in social circles in this city. The family is now represented by B. L. T. Bourland, the first of the name to settle in this city, who is eighty-seven years old and is still prominent and active in commercial circles, and by his son, R. R. Bourland, who has been identified with the firm of Bourland & Bailey, dealers in real estate and investments, for over thirty years. B. L. T. Bourland is the father of the subject of this sketch and senior member of the firm of which R. R. Bourland is now manager. There is no more active or public-spirited citizen in Peoria today than the elder Mr. Bourland and the qualities of energy, sound business judgment and keen discrimination which were the foundations of his success he has handed down as a heritage to his son.
R. R. Bourland was born in Peoria, March 12, 1856, and received his early education in the public schools of this city. At the age of fifteen he left Peoria to enter the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, New York, where he remained one year and then entered the University of Illinois at Champaign, where he continued his civil engineering course. He followed the profession of engineering for about five years or until, in 1879, he entered into the employ of the real-estate firm of Bourland & Bailey, and is now occupying the position of manager of that concern.
In 1879, Mr. Bourland married Miss Ida V. Bailey, of Plainville, Michigan, a sister of Oliver J. Bailey. They have three children: Morrison B., now a prominent printer of Peoria; Julia Preston, who married Arthur G. Clark; and Fred B., and engineer and farmer of southern California. Mr. Bourland belongs to the Creve Coeur Club and is also actively identified with the Royal League. During the entire course of his business life R. R. Bourland has manifested the honorable traits of high-minded business dealing and strict integrity which distinguished his father for so many years, and has gained a position in the business and social circles of this city not unworthy of his name.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
Benjamin D. Brewster is vice president of the Brewster-Evens Coal Company, producers and wholesalers of coal, with offices at 1028 Jefferson building, Peoria. Mr. Brewster was born in Peru, Illinois, November 24, 1864. His father, Theron D. Brewster, went to Peru in 1835 and in 1836-7 laid out the site of that city. The Brewsters still own considerable property in Peru and vicinity. After a long and successful business life Theron D. Brewster died in 1897, after which even Benjamin D. Brewster took up the work where it had been laid down. The senior Brewster was one of the first directors of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company and also a prominent banker in his day.
Benjamin D. Brewster was reared in Peru, where he received his early education, but while yet only a boy he became identified with the Chicago Board of Trade. His experience as a coal dealer and operator covers a period of about fifteen years. For many years during his early business career he paid a great deal of attention to locating and selling coal mines. In 1909 Mr. Brewster became the senior member of the coal firm of Brewster & Evans, which was conducted and continued in Peoria until February, 1911, when was incorporated the Brewster-Evans Coal Company. The base of the supplies of this company is principally near South Bartonville, Peoria county, Wallace C. Evans being president of the corporation. Their mine and coal are named the "Walben." Messrs. Brewster and Evans were interested in the Crescent Coal Company about one year. Previous to his locating in Peoria, Mr. Brewster had been in the coal business many years. He is a business man of sterling integrity, with a large circle of associates and friends. He is vice president and chairman of the board of directors of the Peru Plow & Wheel Company of Peru, Illinois, a concern doing an extensive business and requiring considerable attention at the hands of Mr. Brewster.
As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Brewster chose Miss Anna Detweiller, of Peoria, daughter of John and Louisa Detweiller. One son was born to them, Benjamin D., Jr. The family reside at No. 1015 North Jefferson avenue in Peoria.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
Among the many successful business men of Peoria who have won place and fortune as the direct result of their own untiring diligence and unfailing integrity, we find occupying a prominent position Chauncey G. Cole, sales manager and director of the Jobst-Bethard Company, the largest and best known wholesale grocery house in this city. Mr. Cole, who is one of Peoria's own sons, was born on the 13th of January, 1874, his parents being Johnson L. and Louisa A. Cole. The father is one of Peoria's most prominent and influential men. He is a pioneer banker and a thirty-third degree Mason and his name is a household word in this city. More extended mention is made of him on another page of this work.
Chauncey G. Cole was reared and educated in Peoria. He attended its public schools, where his diligence fitted him at the early age of fifteen years to acceptably fill a position with the great wholesale establishment with which he has been for twenty-three consecutive years actively connected. Beginning at the foot of the ladder, he worked himself up through the various subordinate departments until he became sales and pricing manager for this mammoth concern, which has in its employ more than a score of traveling salesmen, dispensing its output throughout the central west In addition to the management of his departments, his voice is heard as a director in all the affairs and details concerning the policy of the business. Having grown up in the atmosphere of the wholesale grocery trade, he is well qualified to give advice on every detail of its affairs, and his alertness to the needs of the trade, gained through his close connection with the travelers representing the company, renders his counsel invaluable along all lines. The concern of Jobst-Bethard Company owes to him in no small degree the large success which it is enjoying.
Mr. Cole chose for his life partner Miss Lillian C. Best of Peoria, a daughter of Herman Best. One child, Louisa A. Cole, has been born to them. Mr. Cole occupies a prominent place in the fraternal life of the city. He is a Knight Templar Mason, belongs to the Mystic Shrine and is at present eminent commander in the commandery. Long a member of the Travelers' Protective Association he is one of the state directors of that body and also chairman of the state board. The city of Peoria has few young men of greater promise and of more real value to its business, social, civic and fraternal life than Chauncey G. Cole.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
There are few, if any, residents of Peoria of Mr. Cole's age -- seventy-eight years -- who can claim as long a connection with the city and its development as he, for he was but two years of age when brought to the little frontier village that has now become the second city in size in Illinois. He has, therefore, witnessed the development of this district from the days of the primitive past to the progressive present when Peoria has every advantage and opportunity known to the older east. To its development and progress he has made valuable contributions through his identification in business affairs and in every relation he has commanded the unqualified regard of his fellow townsmen.
Mr. Cole was born in Cheshire, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, January 19, 1834. The ancestral line is traced back to Hugh Cole of English birth who became the father of the American branch of the family, settling at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1632, and in 1634 he wedded Mary Foxhall and from him the line of descent is traced down to Benjamin Cole, who was born in Swansea, Massachusetts, in 1678; Israel Cole in Swansea, in 1709; Israel Cole (II), born at Rehoboth in 1735; David Cole, born in Cheshire, in 1781; and Almiran S. Cole, born in Cheshire in 1805. The founder of the family in the new world was a man of prominence in his community, filling various important positions in connection with the colonial government such as deputy of the general court, selectman of his town, and others. In September, 1835, Almiran S. Cole left Lanesboro, Massachusetts, and after spending sixty days in traveling across the country reached Peoria. In the embryo city he established a store on Main street but after two years sold out to Gradner T. Barker who had been a clerk in his employ. Through the succeeding two years Mr. Cole ran the steamer "Frontier" as a passenger packet between La Salle and St. Louis. This was one of the first boats of its class on the Illinois river. Later Mr. Cole again embarked in merchandising, erecting a building in which to conduct his store. In 1844 he built the first distillery in Peoria, conducting it for two and one half years after which he sold out to Sylvanus Thompson. In 1847 he began the erection of a much larger establishment -- a four story structure which was built at a cost of thirty-eight thousand dollars and had a capacity of sixteen hundred bushels of grain per day. In a history published in 1851 this is spoken of as one of the largest buildings in the Mississippi valley. Mr. Cole had previously built the first warehouse in Peoria on the site of old Fort Clark. After disposing of his second distillery in 1868 he removed to a farm in East Peoria upon which he spent his remaining days in practical retirement save for his supervision of his large real-estate interests. He was married at Pownall, Vermont, January 18, 1833, to Chloe M. Brown of Cheshire, Massachusetts, who died February 19, 1882. In their family were nine children.
Johnson L. Cole, one of the two surviving of this family, was but two years of age at the time of the removal to Peoria which occurred four years after the Black Hawk war. He was one of the first pupils in the schools of this town, and in his youth he became assistant to his father who was then conducting a distillery. In that connection he worked his way upward and in 1860 became general manager, thus acquiring a wide acquaintance with practical business affairs. The distillery was sold in 1862 and Mr. Cole afterward became an accountant in the office of a provost marshal at Peoria which position he continued to fill until the close of the war. In 1865 he then accompanied Adjutant Norton to Jacksonville and assisted in closing up the affairs of the office at that point. About 1868 he became accountant in the wholesale grocery house of S. H. Thompson, with whom he remained until the business was closed out in 1881. He then became accountant in the banking house of Callender, Ayres & Company, predecessors of the Commercial National Bank and remained with the institution through all its various changes until 1908 when he resigned. He is still, however, a director in the bank but at the present time gives his attention to no active business duties. The rest that he is enjoying is well merited for through many years he continued a prominent factor in business circles of the city. Mr. Cole has been married twice. His first wife, Louisa A. Mason, was a daughter of William and Anne Mason of Peoria. The children of this marriage are: Lafayette, who spent seven years in Japan, but is now located at San Diego, California; Annie, who died in infancy; Elwood Andrew, cashier of the Commercial National Bank; William Edmund, cashier in the bank of Zell, Hotchkiss & Company; Alice Thompson, who died in infancy; Chauncey Guth, connected with the grocery house of the Jobst-Bethard Company; and Thaddeus Ely, who died in infancy. The wife and mother passed away June 4, 1876. Mr. Cole was later married to Mrs. Emma L. Harlow of Peoria, who by her former marriage had three daughters: Mrs. Mary Beckenhaupt, Jessie T. and Ruth M.
Mr. Cole is a prominent Mason, stalwart in his support of the principles and purpose of the fraternity. He belongs to Peoria Lodge, F. & A. M.; also the chapter, council and commandery of which he is a past eminent commander. In the consistory he has attained the thirty-second degree and he belongs to Mohammed Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and to St. Helena Conclave of the Knights of Constantine in Peoria. On September 7, 1907, at Boston, Massachusetts, the thirty-third degree in Masonry was conferred upon Mr. Cole. He is most loyal to the teachings of the craft and has held office in many of its branches. His entire life has been spent in harmony with its basic principles for he has ever recognized the brotherhood of man and has labored untiringly to secure their adoption.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
In the history of William H. Coleman is found an example that stands in direct contradiction to the often expressed opinion that the eminently successful business man cannot be a thoroughly honest man. In all of his life Mr. Coleman has never been known to take advantage of another in a trade transaction. On the contrary, he has held to the highest standards of justice and fairness with the result that his business has grown to large proportions, but no matter what demands are made upon his time and energies as a contractor and builder he has always found opportunity to aid in church work and promote the moral progress of his community. He was born in Ireland, July 6, 1852, and was sixteen years of age when he came alone to the new world. Favorable reports had reached him concerning the opportunities on this side of the Atlantic. He had a brother and sister who were then living in Haverstraw, New York, and he made his way direct to that place, residing there for about four years. During that period he learned the carpenter's trade, which he mastered in principle and detail, becoming an expert workman. Thinking that still better opportunities were to be secured in the Mississippi valley, he made his way to Bloomington, Illinois, in 1872, and during the year there passed, also followed carpentering. In the later part of 1873 he returned to Haverstraw where resided the lady whom he wished to make his wife. In that state he wedded Miss Elizabeth Kattyle, a native of the north of Ireland, who was residing, however, in New York city at the time of her marriage. The young couple began their domestic life in Haverstraw, where Mr. Coleman worked at carpentering until 1876, when he removed westward with his family with Peoria as his destination. After following his trade in the employ of others for a year he began contracting and building on his own account. The first contract ever accorded him was for the erection of a building on First street, the lower floor to be used for business purposes and the second floor as a dwelling. He has never had a partner, but in time his ability and trustworthiness gained recognition and his patronage has steadily increased. He has done much important contract work in the city, employing a number of workmen, and his success is further indicated in the fact that he erected his own business building at Nos. 800-802 Main street, a two-story frame structure, in 1890, and also residence property on Green street. In addition he owns his own home on East Armstrong street, a residence on Munson avenue, another on St. James avenue, still another on Indiana and one on Behrends streets. He has thus engaged in speculative building and from his properties he derives a good annual rental which constitutes a valuable addition to his income. His work has always been characterized by thoroughness and reliability. He was the contractor for the Kingman Plow Works, also the new automobile factory for the Bartholomew Company, and the warehouse on South Washington street for the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company. These and many other important structures stand as monuments to his progressiveness, his business ability and his straightforward dealing. He takes contracts for the erection of buildings from the ground up, including the plastering, plumbing, etc., and makes a specialty of heavy buildings. More and more largely year by year he has come into public favor as a contractor until his patronage is now extensive and he is one of the foremost representatives of building interests in the city.
Mr. and Mrs. Coleman have gained a large circle of friends during their residence in Peoria and here they have reared their family of two sons: William H., who is sales agent for the Standard Oil Company; and John R., who is assistant manager at Peoria for the same company. The family are members of the First Congregational church and have long been most active, earnest and effective workers in behalf of the denomination. Mr. Coleman previously served as pastor of the South Peoria Congregational church and is now pastor of the Peoria Heights Congregational church. No matter how extensive or how important have been his business affairs he has never allowed material things to interfere with his religious duties and in fact he feels that he has been the more prospered as he has labored the more earnestly for the benefit of the church. He has organized seven different missions and Sunday schools in and near Peoria in the last thirty years, and who can measure the influence that has thus been exerted for good. He has been continuously in missionary work since coming to Peoria and in all of his efforts to advance the cause of Christianity he is ably assisted and encouraged by his wife, who has been a teacher in the Sunday school and an active helper in all lines of church work until ill health has forced her to in a measure put aside her efforts in that direction. Mr. Coleman's example is often quoted not only in Peoria but in Cleveland and in other centers as one who has found that it was possible to lead a consistent Christian life and at the same time win success. He has felt that he has been all the more prospered when his devotion to the church has been the greatest. His life demonstrates the fact that it is perfectly possible to conduct a good business and at the same time give much assistance to the more important effort of Christianizing the world. He never believes in choosing the second best but always in seeking that which is the highest; he has never compromised with evil or with wrong-doing in the slightest degree, but has held firmly to the standards of right, justice and truth and today enjoys that untarnished name which is to be chosen in preference to great riches.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
The science of homeopathy has made remarkable strides in the past half century, and is rapidly gaining in the medical field the place which was for a long time denied it. The extraordinary results which have been obtained by its followers, and its now unquestioned efficiency have raised homeopathy to a recognized science. A prominent physician of this branch of medicine in Peoria is Dr. Franklin S. Davis, who has his offices at 712 Hamilton boulevard. Dr. Davis has attained a reputation in Peoria for his skill in the treatment of the diseases of little children.
He was born in Lacon, Illinois, June 12, 1869, the son of Dr. George and Emily (Sheaff) Davis of that city. His father was a practicing physician in Lacon for many years but came to Peoria for a wider field in 1872 and remained in active practice here up to the time of his death in 1873, when his son was only four years old. Dr. Davis, the subject of this sketch, received his early education in the grammar grades of Lacon, and was graduated from the high school of that city in 1887. He spent the following year teaching school and in 1888 entered the Urbana University of Urbana, Ohio, where he remained for one year, coming to Peoria in 1889 to read upon the subject of medicine. He entered the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College soon after, and was graduated from this institution in 1893. He returned immediately to Peoria, and opened his office, and his practice has increased in a gratifying manner year by year. Dr. Davis is well known in this city, and his remarkable success in the treatment of the ailments of small children has gained for him a local reputation which is well deserved. He does a general medical practice, but takes a great interest in the subject of obstetrics and pediatrics, in which field he has been very successful.
Dr. Davis was married in 1894 to Miss Maude Alexander of Sterling, Illinois, a daughter of Hon. J. W. Alexander, a prominent attorney of that place. Fraternally Dr. Davis is a Mason, and is prominent in the Modern Woodmen of America and the North American Union. He is very active in medical circles in this city, and his ability and success have been recognized by the profession as well as the citizens of Peoria county. Since 1901 he has been attending physician for the Home of the Friendless of this city, is on the staff of the Deaconess Hospital and is attending physician for the Crittenton Home. Dr. Davis takes a great interest in the affairs of his profession, keeps his knowledge up to date and his methods modern, and is in every respect an able and worthy physician. He served as city medical inspector of schools for the last two years, and is a member of the Peoria City Medical Society. Mrs. Davis is secretary of the Peoria Women's Club of which she has been a member for many years.
During all the years of his practice in Peoria Dr. Davis has kept his ideas untarnished and his professional conscience clear. He keeps abreast of the times and is thoroughly acquainted with the most modern professional discoveries. The life of any doctor who is enterprising and scrupulous in the various relations of his life is not an easy one, but Dr. Davis' has always been an honor to the city he has made his home.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
William T. Dowdall, M. D., B. A.
Occupying a conspicuous place in the professional galaxy of Peoria stands Dr. William T. Dowdall, a physician and surgeon whose natural ability, education and training have secured for him not only a fine general practice but also numerous appointments of trust and honor by various life insurance companies and fraternal orders and by one of the greatest railroad corporations in this state. The Doctor has practiced in Peoria since 1905. He is a native of this city, born August 18, 1872, a son of William T. and Delle (Mason) Dowdall. His father for twenty-five years was a newspaper man in Illinois. During his professional career he published two papers in Peoria -- The Peoria Daily National Democrat (succeeded later by the Herald) and the Evening Review. He likewise published the Pekin (Ill.) Times, the Virginia Enquirer and the Jacksonville Daily Courier. William T. Dowdall was also the first postmaster to occupy the present fine postoffice building of this city, serving four years during President Cleveland's first term of office. He is now living retired in Memphis, Tennessee, with another son, Paul Mason Dowdall, an attorney.
William T. Dowdall, Jr., whose name introduces this review, received his early education in the common and high schools of the city of his nativity. He became the first special delivery messenger in Peoria. Wishing to augment his knowledge, he entered the Illinois College at Jacksonville, there taking the preparatory course, and afterward attended the Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Indiana, from which he was graduated in 1895 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In the fall of that year he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Chicago, being graduated with honors from that institution in 1898. Subsequently he had over one year's experience as interne at the West Side Hospital in Chicago and then secured a civil service appointment placing him on the board of health in that city, a position which he held from 1899 until 1903. During that time he was on the smallpox staff and also was commissioned to the care of scarlet fever and diphtheria cases. After the valuable professional experience thus secure in Chicago, Dr. Dowdall, with his brother, Dr. Guy Dowdall, now chief surgeon of the Illinois Central Railroad went to Clinton, Illinois, in 1903, there practicing in partnership with his brother until 1905, when he came to Peoria. During the period of their residence in Clinton the brothers were division surgeons for the Illinois Central. On coming to Peoria, Dr. William T. Dowdall opened offices at No. 105 South Jefferson street and later removed to suite 232, Woolner building, where he is now located , In addition to discharging the duties devolving him by reason of his large general practice, Dr. Dowdall acts as local surgeon for the Illinois Central Railroad, examiner for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, the Central Union Life Insurance Company, and Hartford Life Insurance Company, the Modern Woodmen of America, Independent Order of Foresters, Mystic Workers of the World and Fraternal Reserves. He is a member of the National Railroad Surgeons Association, the American Medical Association and the Peoria City and Illinois State Medical Societies.
Dr. Dowdall was united in marriage, in 1901, to Miss Anna Connole of Carrollton, Illinois, and to them has been born one child, Annadelle Mason Dowdall. Mrs. Dowdall is a leader in musical circles of the city and with her rich soprano of a peculiarly soft timbre and sweetness, of remarkable power of expression, and precision and clearness of tone, even in the upper registers, often delights enraptured audiences with her renditions. The Doctor is a prominent member of the Creve Coeur and Kickapoo Golf Clubs.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
Among those who are active in managing city affairs in official capacities is numbered John H. Dunlap, who is now serving as alderman from the Fourth ward. At the same time he is carrying on a successful business as a contractor and builder, and in this connection has secured an extensive and growing patronage. He has resided in Peoria continuously since 1894 and since 1897 has been identified with its building interests. He was born at Chenoa, Illinois, on the 17th of February, 1869. His father, John Dunlap, was also a carpenter and contractor, who for a long period was engaged in building in Chenoa, where John H. Dunlap spent his boyhood and youth and acquired his education as a public-school student. He afterward learned the carpenter's trade under the direction of his father, with whom he worked until his removal to Chicago, Illinois, where he resided for eight years, later coming to Peoria. His training was thorough and practical and he came to this city well qualified to win advancement. His work has ever commended him to the public patronage, for he is straightforward and reliable in his dealings. After two or three years spent in this city in the employ of others he started in business on his own account and is today well known as a general contractor, evidences of whose handiwork are seen in some of the fine structures of the city. He erected the residences of Charles Ulrich, A. C. Pffeifer, W. J. Balzer and a number of others, and also remodeled the Lyceum Theater and Onken's Laundry. During the busy season he has employed as many as fifty carpenters. He gives to all of the work his general supervision and sees to it that the labor is thoroughly done, that the buildings are constructed in a substantial manner and at the same time close attention is paid to comfort and convenience.
In 1903, in Peoria, Mr. Dunlap was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Williamson, and they have become the parents of an interesting little daughter, Ruth. Mr. Dunlap is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In the former organization he has taken the degrees of the chapter and council and has filled all of the chairs in the different Masonic organizations with which he has been identified. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, which, recognizing his fitness for office, made him its nominee for the position of the city councilman in the spring of 1908. He was elected on that occasion and after two years' service received indorsement of his course in office in reelection. In 1912 he again was elected to the office, so that he is now service for a third term. He does everything in his power in this connection to further the best interests of the city and his practical and beneficial ideas concerning good government are recognized by his associates in the council and the general public.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
Dr. T. W. Gillespie, physician and surgeon of Peoria, is engaged in general practice yet his tendency is toward specialization in the treatment of genito-urinary diseases. He is one of the younger, tough successful, members of the profession here, having practiced in this city only since December, 1907. Rush Medical College numbers him among its alumni of the class of 1896. He is a native of Sauk county, Wisconsin, his birth having occurred September 10, 1869, upon a farm just across the river from Kilbourn, Wisconsin, not far from that beautiful scenic district known as The Dells. His parents were Thomas and Martha (Simpson) Gillespie, who gave to their son such advantages as they could afford and instilled into his mind lessons that have since borne good fruit in high and honorable manhood. He attended the rural schools and afterward continued his studies in the high school at Kilbourn. Later he pursued a two years' course in Lawrence University and afterward took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for a year in Clark county, Wisconsin. He regarded this, however, merely as an initial step to further professional labor, for it was his desire to become a physician, and with this purpose in view, in the fall of 1893 he entered Rush Medical College, at Chicago, and completed a three years' course, being graduated in 1896. He then accepted a salaried position with Dr. A. C. Cotten, who was at that time city physician of Chicago. For a year Dr. Gillespie had charge of the emergency and surgical work at practically all of the police stations of Chicago. After a year devoted to that work he located at Lostant, La Salle county, Illinois, where he engaged in general practice until the fall of 1907, when he came to Peoria. Since then he has acted as assistant to Dr. C. U. Collin in his surgical work. He displays considerable skill in surgical work and is greatly interested in genito-urinary surgery and his studies and researches along that line incline him to special practice in that field.
Dr. Gillespie is a member of the Peoria City Medical Society and also belongs to the Illinois State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. His fraternal relations are with the Masons. He is now serving on the staff of St. Francis Hospital and in addition is accorded a good private practice which is indicative of the confidence which the general public repose in his professional skill.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
A country has but one ruler, be he emperor, president or king. Few, therefore, have the opportunity of attaining to the highest administrative position and the prizes in military life, too, are comparatively few. The field of business, however, is limitless and its prizes are many; they may be won by earnest, persistent and intelligently directed effort and as one passes beyond the starting point of his career he finds that competition is less and his chances more certain. Eberhard Godel is numbered among those whose prosperity had its root in determined, persistent effort and sound business judgment. Moreover, his dealings were at all times in conformity with the high standard of commercial ethics and thus when death called him he left to his family the priceless heritage of an untarnished name as well as a most substantial competence. He was one of the worthy citizens Germany furnished Peoria, his birth having occurred in Feuerbach, Wurtemberg, Germany, May 25, 1836. He was a youth of fourteen years when he came with his mother and younger sister to America. He served a four years' apprenticeship to the hatters' trade in Hoboken, New Jersey, and in 1854 came with his mother and sister to Peoria where he became connected with the butchers' trade. For two years he was associated in that business with Charles Breier and then removed to Burlington, Iowa, where he engaged in the business of slaughtering and of selling meat. In 1857 he became a resident of Monmouth, Illinois, where he conducted a similar business and in May, 1858, he returned to Peoria. For nine years thereafter, he devoted his attention to buying and selling stock and won a measure of success in that business that enabled him to start out along another line. In 1867 he bought an interest in the firm of Ullman & Gebhardt at which time the firm style of Godel & Gebhardt was assumed. This relation continued for ten years and in 1877 Mr. Godel purchased his partner's interest and bent his energies to the conduct of his business which he continually enlarged in scope and volume. He began pork packing in addition to slaughtering and selling meats and his patronage steadily increased. In 1882 his son, George G., joined him in a partnership under the firm name of E. Godel & Son and in 1885 Frank G. Godel joined them under the firm style of E. Godel & Sons, the firm being incorporated in 1888. Mr. Godel was successful in his chosen business and became the leading slaughterer and vendor of meats in the city of Peoria, and so continued for many years. He was fairly successful in his business and accumulated a fair fortune, which, with his good name, he left to his family as their inheritance. In 1882 he erected a brick business block on North Adams street, where he conducted the office and retail departments of the business.
On the 8th of June, 1857, in Burlington, Iowa, occurred the marriage of Mr. Godel and Miss Elizabeth Renz, who was born September 15, 1832, in Liverpool, Perry county, Pennsylvania. Her father, John Renz, was born in Schoendorf, Wurtemberg, Germany, June 9, 1782, and died the year of his arrival in Peoria -- 1858. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Elizabeth Smith, was born in Liverpool, Perry county, Pennsylvania, September 12, 1804, and in 1858 came to Peoria where she passed away in 1880. Seven children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Godel: George C., deceased; Frank G.; Henry, who has departed this life; Henry E.; Albert, also deceased; Theodore A.; and Louisa. Mr. Godel met death in the great railroad wreck at Chatsworth on the 10th of August, 1887. He was spoken of as a "man of quiet, unostentatious manners, diligent in business, a faithful, devoted friend and honorable and upright in all the relations of life." His political allegiance was given to the Republican party and while he never sought office he was always loyal in citizenship and devoted to the best interests of the community in which he lived. He held membership in the Methodist church, was an advocate of temperance and a supporter of all those projects and measures which he deemed essential to honorable, upright manhood. Peoria recognized that in his death she had lost one of her representative and valued citizens and many of his friends in this city still cherish his memory.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
Frank G. Godel is president of the Behrends Ice & Fuel Company of Peoria, his place of business being at the corner of Apple and South Washington streets. His identification with the company covers three years, during two years of which period he has served as president and as active manager has so directed its interests and growth as to win substantial success. He has always followed constructive methods in his business, never taking advantage of the necessities of another but in the legitimate lines of trade winning his prosperity.
Mr. Godel was born in Peoria on the 7th of May, 1863, his father being Eberhard Godel, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and for many years a prominent influential and honored resident of this city. He came to Peoria in 1855 and after residing here for two years removed to Burlington, Iowa. After a brief period, however, he returned to this city in 1867 and became the founder of the large Godel Packing Company, one of the important manufacturing interests of the city. For many years he occupied a prominent position in business circles here and on the 10th of August, 1887, passed to the life beyond. His wife, who was a native of Pennsylvania, survived him for many years, her death occurring in July, 1910, at the age of seventy-seven years.
Frank G. Godel was reared in Peoria and attended the local schools, thus acquiring a fair English education which fitted him for life's practical and responsible duties. He then entered his father's packing house of which his eldest brother, George Godel, was the first president after the business was incorporated. Upon the death of his brother Frank G. Godel succeeded to the presidency and for fifteen years remained at the head of that business, his capable direction of its affairs proving a substantial and gratifying source of success. He mastered the business in principle and detail, acquainting himself with every feature of the trade, and in the course of years developed a business that reached extensive and gratifying proportions. At length, however, he turned his attention to the ice and fuel business, becoming interested in the Behrends Ice & Fuel Company in 1908. A year later he was elected to the presidency and has since bent his energies to administrative direction and executive control. His son Walter is vice president of the company with J. W. Wickler, secretary and treasurer. They handle both natural and artificial ice, having erected their plant for the manufacture of ice in 1911. They also handle every kind of fuel and conduct a cold storage warehouse. The business in its various departments is meeting with substantial success, the energy and enterprise of the owners constituting a feature of growth that makes this one of the important manufacturing and commercial interests of Peoria.
Mr. Godel was united in marriage to Miss Emily Thiene, of this city, a daughter of John Thiene, and unto them have been born five children, namely: Edna, the wife of Herman Stanhope, of Peoria; and Irma, Walter, Alma and Olga, all yet at home. Mr. Godel belongs to the Masonic fraternity in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite. He is likewise a member of the Mystic Shrine and also holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Creve Coeur Club. His life has been one of continuous activity in which he has been accorded due recognition of labor and today he is numbered among the substantial citizens of his county. His interests are thoroughly identified with those of Peoria, his native city, in which his entire life has been passed, and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and cooperation to any movement calculated to benefit this section of the country or advance its wonderful development.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
Guy C. Goodfellow is general agent at Peoria for the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company and in this connection has jurisdiction over several counties in central Illinois. Since entering business circles his attention has been given exclusively to insurance and few men have wider knowledge concerning its possibilities or the scope of the business. Laboring earnestly and indefatigably in the interests of the company which he has represented he has gradually worked his way upward and now occupies a position of large responsibility.
He was born on plantation at Courtland, Alabama, on the 30th of August, 1867, his parents being Thomas Miles and Elizabeth (Milton) Goodfellow. The father was a native of Pennsylvania and in ante-bellum days established his home in the south. He was a minister of the gospel and at the time of the Civil war enlisted for service as a chaplain in the northern army. Because of his sympathy with and support of the Union cause he was driven out of the south by the Ku Klux Klan, establishing his home in Chicago when his son Guy was but a year and a half old.
Near that city the boy was reared, acquiring his education in the public schools and entering business life in connection with insurance interests. He was first employed by the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York and has continuously been connected with the insurance business since 1883, or for a period of more than twenty-eight years. He made it his purpose to thoroughly acquaint himself with every phase of the business and his close application, study and energy were the features which gained him advancement. He came to Peoria in 1880 as a representative of the company with which he was then connected, and ten years later, or in 1899, he entered the employ of the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company, which he represented in the capacity of agent until June, 1910, when he was advanced to the position of general agent, having under his direction the work of the company in six counties -- Peoria, Knox, Fulton, Tazewell, Mason and Woodford. In this connection he directs the labors of a number of sub-agents and has thoroughly and carefully systematized the work of his district so that the best possible results are being obtained.
Mr. Goodfellow was married in 1893 in Peoria to Miss Ella Chuse, a daughter of Marion X. Chuse. They have become the parents of four children, Marion, Thomas, Sarah and Ferdinand. Mr. Goodfellow is well known socially in this city, being accounted a valued member of a number of leading clubs and fraternities. He is now the secretary of the Illinois Valley Yacht Club, a member of the Peoria Country Club and of the Creve Coeur Club. He has also taken various degrees in Masonry, become a Knight Templar and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He possesses a genial nature, is appreciative of the value of friendship and his unfeigned cordiality has won for him many friends.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
Thomas Atherton Grier needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for his long connection with the grain trade of Peoria has made him well known and his efforts have ever been of a character which have contributed to public progress and prosperity as well as to individual success. He has done much to give Peoria its present standing as one of the leading grain markets of the great Mississippi valley and in all his business affairs has followed constructive methods, never seeking success at the cost of another's failure but winning advancement through fair competition and straightforward dealing. He was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, March 1, 1850, and the following year his parents, John C. and Elizabeth (Perkins) Grier, left the Keystone state and made their way westward to Illinois, settling in Peoria. The father was a son of the Rev. Isaac Grier, a Presbyterian clergyman who at one time was president of the Northumberland College in eastern Pennsylvania, where he died in 1814. John C. Grier was born in Northumberland, Pennsylvania, in 1808, and in 1819 went to Danville, that state, where he entered a mercantile house. With knowledge thus acquired and as his capital permitted he entered that line of business on his own account, continuing in active connection with the mercantile interests in Danville until 1846, when he removed to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, remaining there until 1851. In the latter year he removed westward, settling in Peoria, where he engaged in pork packing and in the lumber trade. From the time of his location in this city he took an active part in its upbuilding and improvement. He was also prominent in advancing its moral and financial interests and manifested an extraordinary earnestness and zeal in whatever he undertook. He served the city for two terms as a member of the county board of supervisors, actuated only by his public spirit and with no desire for public prominence. He was a thorough Christian gentleman and practiced his religion seven days in the week. He is a devoted member of the Presbyterian church and with his family took a keen interest and active part in its work. He served as one of the original directors of the Northwestern Theological Seminary, now the McCormick Theological Seminary of Chicago, Illinois, and for years was a member of its board. He married Elizabeth Perkins, of Pennsylvania, and they became the parents of five sons and six daughters.
In the local schools of Peoria Thomas Atherton Grier pursued his education to the age of sixteen years, when he put aside his text-books that he might become a factor in the business world. He secured a clerical position in the Mechanic's National Bank, and six years later he left that institution to enter the employ of his brothers, Robert C. and David P., grain merchants. The name of Grier has been inseparably interwoven with the history of the grain trade in Peoria and with the development of the local board of trade. The brothers erected the first elevator here. It was a small concern but constituted the nucleus of the immense grain business which has been developed in this city, making Peoria one of the prominent grain markets of the United States. Entering the employ of his brothers, Thomas A. Grier became a factor in developing the vast business which eventually crowned their labors. He continued with the firm for ten years, spending a part of the time in Boston, looking after the eastern interests of the business. He made a close study of the grain trade in every possible relation, acquainted himself with the markets of the east and the west and eventually embarked in business on his own account, in 1886 organizing the present firm of T. A. Grier & Company, for the conduct of a grain trade, commission, shipping and elevator business. From the outset the new undertaking prospered and has grown steadily year by year until it is now the largest of the kind of Peoria. In this connection the name of Thomas A. Grier has become known throughout the country. He is also the president of the Burlington Elevator Company, which owns and operates one of Peoria's largest grain elevators. He is likewise the vice president of the Peoria Railway Terminal Company, which owns and conducts the traction line running between Peoria, South Bartonville and Pekin, Illinois. Whatever he undertakes is carried forward to successful completion.
He carefully considers his plans and then executes them with determination. He seems to realize the possibilities of any undertaking and to use his advantages in the best manner. Moreover, his name is recognized as a synonym for reliable dealing as well as for mammoth operations and in the past few decades he has done much to establish the grain trade of the state.
On the 6th of January, 1876, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Grier and Miss Ella Bancroft Clarke, and unto them have been born five children, of whom four are living, Caroline King, Isabel Hooker, Thomas Perkins and Samuel Clarke. The elder daughter was graduated from Smith College with the class of 1900 and in October, 1901, was celebrated her marriage to Herbert B. Jamison, of Peoria. The second daughter, Isabel, was married in February, 1910, to William A. Jack of this city. The family is very prominent socially and at their home are held many of the most attractive social functions of the city. Mr. Grier has been honored with the presidency of the Creve Coeur Club, acting as its chief officer in 1899-1900, and also of the Country Club. His aid is always counted upon where the public interest and welfare are involved. He cooperates heartily, willingly and liberally in various projects for the general good and his efforts have been a tangible element in the city's improvement and adornment in many ways. He was the president of the Corn Exposition in 1900 and he has been very prominent in promoting a taste for and love of music in this city, being widely recognized as a patron of that art. His own love of music is inherent. He holds to the religious faith of his ancestors who for generations have been loyal members of the Presbyterian church, to which Mr. Grier also belongs. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he was appointed by Governor Yates as commissioner from Illinois to the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo in 1901, and by Governor Deneed as one of the board of three trustees of the State Hospital for the Insane at South Bartonville in which capacity he served until the state institutions were all placed under a board of control. Political honors and offices, however, have had no attraction for him, as he has preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs and in their development he has shown himself to be capable of managing mammoth interests which are alike of benefit to the city and to the individual.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
Michael R. Halligan is the sole proprietor of the business conducted under the name of the People's Transfer & Baggage Company, with offices at No. 115 Depot street, Peoria. Since embarking upon this line of activity he has met with notable success, his capable management and unfaltering enterprise developing a business of large proportions. He was born in Peoria, August 30, 1887 a son of Michael and Julia Halligan. His grandfather, Stephen Halligan, came from Ireland to America about 1830 and served as a soldier in the Civil war. His son, Michael Halligan Sr., father of our subject, was a boiler manufacturer, operating for many years in Peoria. He was also commissioner of public works in this city for some time, and in politics was a stanch democrat. His death occurred in 1894, at the age of forty-seven years, and he was buried at St. Mary's cemetery, Peoria. His wife is still living and now makes her home in this city.
Michael R. Halligan, whose name introduces this review, was reared in Peoria, here attending the public schools until his graduation from Spalding Institute in 1903. He then entered the employ of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad Company, having worked his way up in the business world from the position of office boy to an assistant cashiership. After holding that position for one year he purchased a small baggage and bus business from W. F. Saurer and from that small beginning built up the business to its present proportions, it being one of the largest of its kind in Peoria at the present time. The business was established only three years ago, at which time he used but two teams. It is now the second largest transfer business in the city, using twenty teams and transferring freight for one hundred and fifty business houses, while handling more personal trunks than any firm in the city. Mr. Halligan, who is the president and manager of the concern, is contemplating a material increased in the equipment of the business, and what he has already accomplished argues well for future growth and success. His slogan has been "two men to every trunk," thus avoiding all scratching of stairways or walls, and the excellent service which he has rendered has been the prominent feature in his success, winning for him a constantly increasing patronage.
Politically Mr. Halligan is independent, preferring to vote for those candidates for political office who seem to him best fitted for the place to which they aspire. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the Knights of Columbus and also of the Elite Club. He makes his home with his mother at 4oo Third avenue. In building up the large and successful business which he now enjoys he attributes his success principally to energy and ambition. The public character of his business has made him well acquainted throughout Peoria and the careful attention which he gives to all business entrusted to him has served in a very large degree to build up the undertaking to its present proportions.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
Dr. Peter F. James, whose residence and office are at No. 2106 South Adams street in Peoria, has been a general practitioner of medicine here since June, 1910. On coming to this city he established himself in the Jefferson building, there maintaining an office until February, 1911, when he removed to his present location, having taken over the practice of the late Dr. Norval, who had for over thirty-three years practiced in this block on South Adams street. Dr. James was born near Louisville, Kentucky, January 8, 1882, a son of John and Mary M. James. He was reared in Chicago and in the public schools he received a common and high school education. He then attended the Valparaiso (Ind.) University, from which he was graduated in 1905, having taken the scientific course. Subsequently he entered the Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery, which institution conferred upon him the degree of M. D. in 1910. During the last year of his studies in Chicago he acted as interne at the West Side Hospital, leaving for Peoria upon his graduation. Dr. James is a member of the Peoria County and Illinois State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. He is building up a very satisfactory practice and indications are that he will attain a prominent place among the professional men of the city of his adoption.
Dr. James was married in 1909 to Miss Alice Ryan, of Chicago, and to them one child, Frances, has been born. Fraternally he is identified with the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen of America.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
One who bears the name of Jobst needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for the name has figured prominently and honorably in connection with building interests here and is a synonym for all that is most progressive in that field of labor. Under the firm name of Val Jobst & Sons a contracting business is conducted that is second to none in Illinois. In addition to his connection with this firm, George J. Jobst is a director in the Dime Savings Bank, figuring in financial circles of Peoria in this capacity since 1909.
He was born in this city in September, 1875, and pursued his education in the public schools. His business training came to him from his father, Valentine Jobst, Sr., after he had graduated from the Peoria high school and also from the University of Illinois, in which he pursued a course as a civil and architectural engineer. The broad scientific training thus received has been a feature in the success of the firm, for after leaving school he at once joined his father and brothers in the conduct of a business of great magnitude. Their efforts extend beyond the limits of Peoria and their reputation places them in a foremost position as leading contractors of central Illinois.
George J. Jobst was united in marriage to Miss Laura E. Nelson, of Champaign, Illinois, and in the social circles of Peoria they occupy a prominent place. Mr. Jobst belongs to the Delta Tau Delta, a college fraternity, also to the Creve Coeur Club and the Country Club of Peoria and to the University Club of Chicago. He is a typical young business man of the present age -- wide-awake, energetic and resourceful, finding his opportunities in prevailing conditions, which he wisely utilizes in the upbuilding of his own fortunes and in the improvement of the city of his nativity.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
Frank P. Kinsey, superintendent and director of the Avery Company of Peoria, has been actively connected with it since 1882. When the Avery Company, which has grown so wonderfully in the twenty years which have since elapsed, first located in Peoria in the big shop, Mr. Kinsey came with them as foreman of the machine shop. All during the years of his connection with the great implement firm, his work has been of a high order, showing a thorough knowledge of the details of the machinist trade, and expert workmanship.
Mr. Kinsey was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the son of Thomas P. and Ellen Kinsey. The family early removed to Reading, where Frank Kinsey received his education, and where he served his time as a machinist apprentice in the general shop of Millert & Kinsey of which his father was at that time a partner. The elder Kinsey was an expert mechanical engineer, and brought his son up to an appreciation of the value of honest and expert workmanship, and to a knowledge of what the qualities of hard work and intelligent industry will gain for a man in the world of business. Frank Kinsey subsequently worked in Iowa shops, the last place being the Reading Iron Works. He came to Peoria in October, 1882, to take the position as foreman of the machine shop of the Avery Company. His promotion was rapid and well deserved. In 1894 he was appointed assistant superintendent, and was made a director in the company in 1904, rising to his present position of superintendent two years later in 1906.
Mr. Kinsey is a prominent man in Peoria today. He is a member of the Creve Coeur Club, and actively interested in the Association of Commerce. His position of responsibility in a firm employing over thirteen hundred men, and doing an immense amount of business in farm implements of all kinds, and whose market comprises the whole civilized world, is not a sinecure. Mr. Kinsey has a constant call upon his business initiative and his ability in the management of men, and the call never goes unanswered.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
The medical profession has many worthy representatives in Peoria county -- men who have been well trained for the onerous and responsible duties which now devolve upon them and who are most conscientious in their performance. To this class belongs Dr. Harry B. Magee, who is one of the best known and most successful among the younger physicians of the city. He has practiced here only since October 3, 1910, coming to this city after a year's private practice in Pennsylvania and a year's service as interne in the Williamsport (Pennsylvania) Hospital. He is a native son of the Keystone state, his birth having occurred in Clarion county, April 28, 1884, his parents being John A. and Anna Eliza (Sloan) Magee. The father died in 1900. He was a prominent hardware merchant of Clarion and his enterprise and energy were important factors in promoting the business activity of that place.
Dr. Magee was reared in his native town and at the usual age entered the Clarion public schools, wherein he pursued his studies until graduated from the high school with the class of 1901. He was ambitious, however, to acquire a broader knowledge and in Bucknell University, of Pennsylvania, he pursued a special course in biology and chemistry, thus preparing himself to enter upon the study of medicine, which he pursued in the University of Pennsylvania, completing a four years' course at his graduation from the medical department of that institution in the spring of 1908. His standing won him appointment to the position of interne in the Williamsport Hospital of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where he remained for a year, after which he returned to his native town, where he opened an office and continued in practice for a year. On the 3d of October, 1910, however, he arrived in Peoria and has since engaged in general practice here. His patronage has steadily increased and the demands upon his time and skill are now many.
In 1910 Dr. Magee was married to Miss Core Estelle Moore, of Clarion, Pennsylvania, and during the period of their residence in this city they have made many friends. Dr. Magee, however, is closely concentrating his energies and attention upon his profession. He belongs to the Peoria City Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, and the John B. Deaver Surgical Society, which is connected with the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the Sigma Chi, a college fraternity, and is a Mason. He finds ample opportunity to exemplify the spirit of the craft in his practice and again and again in a professional connection extends a helping hand to the poor and needy, thus recognizing the fundamental principles upon which Masonry is founded -- the brotherhood of mankind.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
Since 1906 Dr. William Major has practiced in Peoria, maintaining his office at No. 3028 South Adams street. He was born on the farm of his father in Woodford county, Illinois, December 17, 1873, his parents being Joseph and Mary F. (Jones) Major. He was reared on the home farm and received a common-school education at the country schoolhouse, after which he entered Eureka College, from which he was graduated in 1896. Subsequently he entered the Chicago College of Physicians and Surgeons, winning the degree of M. D. in 1901. He commenced the practice of medicine in Mexico, where he went as surgeon for the American Smelting & Refining Company, now the American Products & Refining Company. This position he held with distinction to himself and satisfaction to his employers until 1906, after which he removed to Peoria, entering upon a general practice. The Doctor is enjoying an extensive and lucrative patronage, particularly in South Peoria, which is growing year by year as his professional skill is coming to be more generally recognized and as his acquaintance is being extended. He served for the two years of 1909 and 1910 as assistant county physician, a position which he filled with much credit.
On October 7, 1903, Dr. Major married Miss Maud Meacham, of Eureka, Illinois, and they reside at 2416 South Adams street. Fraternally he is a Mason, exemplifying in his life the beneficent teachings of the craft. Dr. Major is well and favorably known among the members of the medical fraternity here and in his practice has ever conformed to the highest professional ethics.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
Emmet C. May, attorney at law and the vice president of the Peoria Life Insurance Company, has in both connections established himself in a creditable position as a representative business man of the city of Peoria and one whose life record is worthy of more than passing notice. His birth occurred in Salyersville, Kentucky, October 5, 1875, his parents being Dr. William A. and Fannie E. (Holderby) May. The father has been a life-long physician and is still engaged in the practice of medicine in Kentucky. In his native town the son was reared and the usual experiences of lads of that locality and age were his. He attended the public schools to his graduation from the high school at Salyersville, then in further pursuit of his education entered the Northern Indiana University, at Valparaiso, where he devoted two years to the scientific course. He then took the study of law which he finished in the same institution and was admitted to the bar in March, 1896.
The following September Mr. May located for practice in Peoria, where he has since remained. He became junior partner of the law firm of Wolfenberger and May, his partner coming to this city with him. They have since been closely connected in their professional interests, conducting a general law practice, and their standing is indicated in the importance of the litigated interests which they have safeguarded in the courts. Mr. May is a deep thinker and logical reasoner and is seldom if ever at fault in the application of legal principle or precedent to the point involved in his case. He has always prepared his cases with great thoroughness and care and his clear and forceful presentation has been the means of gaining many favorable verdicts for his clients. Moreover, he is general counsel for the Peoria Life Insurance Company and its active vice president, having been connected with this company since its organization.
In 1898 Mr. May was united in marriage to Miss Nellie O'Hara, of Chenoa, Illinois, and they now have one child, Walter E. Mr. May is a member of the Creve Coeur Club. He is an excellent type of the southern gentleman and at the same time possesses the progressive spirit so characteristic of the present age. He ever keeps before him a high standard of professional service and at the same time is ever mindful of his duties and obligations of citizenship and of his responsibilities as a man among his fellowmen.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
No history of Peoria's industrial and commercial progress would be complete and satisfactory were their failure to make reference to the enterprise long conducted under the name of Joseph Miller & Sons. This firm manufactures and handles lumber and building materials, its plant being at South Washington, Walnut and South Water streets. The yards extend from South Washington to South Water at the corner of Walnut and the office is at No. 530 South Washington. This business was established in 1848 by Joseph Miller, one of the pioneer lumbermen of the city. Later his two sons, Joseph and Frank J., joined him in a partnership under the firm style of Joseph Miller & Sons, but all three are now deceased, the business being conducted as a part of the estates of Joseph and Frank J. Miller. It is in active charge of Joseph Miller, a son of Joseph Miller II, and Frank J. and Frederick C. Miller, who are sons of Frank J. Miller, Sr. All three are grandsons of Joseph Miller, the founder of the business, which stands as a monument to the enterprise and progressive spirit of the promoter.
Joseph Miller was a native of Baden-Baden, Germany, and came to America in the '40s. He resided for a short time in Cincinnati, Ohio, and about 1846 came to Peoria, where two years later he established a lumberyard and also entered upon the contracting business. His elder son, Joseph Miller, was born in Cincinnati and the younger son, Frank J. Miller, in Peoria. They were reared and educated here and on attaining manhood entered the lumber and contracting business with their father, forming the firm of Joseph Miller & Sons. Joseph Miller, Jr., became very prominent in industrial and banking circles and was a director of the Commercial German National Bank of Peoria at the time of his death, which occurred October 4, 1905. Frank J. Miller was also a leading figure in business circles here and passed away January 24, 1904. Both are mentioned at length elsewhere in this volume.
The three grandsons of the original proprietor, who are now active in the management of the business, are also well known as leading factors in trade circles of Peoria. Of these Joseph Miller married Theresa K. McDermott, of Elmwood, Illinois, and they have two children, Joseph and Helen E. Joseph Miller III is a member of the Creve Coeur Club, of the Illinois Valley Yacht Club and also a prominent member of the Knights of Columbus. Frank J. Miller II married Anna R. Prenger and his brother, Frederick C. Miller, wedded Alice Yingst. Like their cousin, they are members of the Knights of Columbus and all three hold membership in the Roman Catholic church. They are all active, enterprising, energetic young business men, who were born and reared in this city and who have made for themselves a substantial and creditable position in its lumberyards of central Illinois, the volume of their trade having reached a large figure annually. They possess the same stable and creditable business characteristics which characterized their grandfather and their fathers, and in the further development of their business are proving their right to rank with the leading young men of the city.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
Not all days in the business career of Thornton G. Murphy were equally bright. At times storm clouds threatened disaster, but with persistent purpose and unfaltering energy he made the best use of his opportunities and in time rose to a position among the prominent representatives of insurance interests in the middle west, becoming the founder and promoter of several insurance companies of Peoria. He was born in Adams county, Illinois, April 26, 1858, and died August 27, 1911. His education was acquired in the district schools near Quincy and in early life he studied medicine for a year in Chicago, thinking then to engage in practice some day. A year's preparation, however, convinced him that he did not wish to enter upon the profession as a life work and he turned from that line of study to a commercial course. He afterward went to Kansas City, where he invested heavily in real estate and also engaged in the nursery business. The city was then enjoying a boom but in time there was a reaction in realty values and Mr. Murphy suffered heavy losses through his real-estate investments. Gathering together what he could of his wrecked fortunes, he came to Peoria in 1890 and sought to again upbuild his business. Here he began dealing in nursery stock and for seven years devoted his time to that line of activity. Success attended his efforts and in 1897 he sold out to embark in still another line. He entered the field of life insurance and again his business ability and enterprise proved adequate to the situation. He organized and developed the Peoria Life Insurance Company, making it a profitable undertaking. He worked with untiring effort and personally secured all the charter members necessary to make the concern a success. From the beginning its business and patronage grew, Mr. Murphy continuing to serve as secretary until 1904, when he resigned. He afterward organized the Corn Belt Life Insurance Company, which was later merged into the La Salle Life Insurance Company of Chicago. He was a man of exceptionally strong business ability and was recognized as one of the most successful life insurance organizers in this part of the county. As a salesman he had no superior and his thorough understanding of every feature of the business and the real value of life insurance made him very successful in founding and promoting such an undertaking.
On the 22d of October, 1890, Mr. Murphy was united in marriage to Miss Iva L. Tarr, a daughter of James F. and Elizabeth (Hughes) Tarr, of Mendon, Adams county, Illinois, where they were pioneer settlers, the father there devoting his attention to farming. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Murphy were born five children: Charles T., who was born September 17, 1891, and died in September, 1894; Leo D., born July 14, 1894; James F., who was born on the 11th of January, 1897, and passed away in September, 1897; and Helen and Harold, twins, born December 23, 1901.
In his political views Mr. Murphy was an earnest democrat but never an office seeker. He held membership with the Modern Woodmen of America and also in the Christian Science church. He was well read, keeping in touch with the world's though and progress and becoming also conversant with the best writings of past ages. He had a wide acquaintance in various sections of the state and was honored and respected wherever known and most of all where he was best known. Firm and determined in his convictions, he never faltered in his allegiance to what he believed to be right and the course and policies which he pursued gained him the trust, confidence and good-will of his fellowmen.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
Prominent among the energetic, far-sighted and successful business men of Peoria is S. L. Nelson, whose well formulated plans, executive ability and initiative spirit have carried him into important relations and brought him to a position of leadership in connection with business affairs of this city. He is today vice president of the Peoria Railway Company and also a director of the Dime Savings & Trust, Title & Trust, and the Merchants' National Banks. His identification with the Peoria Railway Company dates from 1906, but for thirty-five years he has been connected with railway and lighting interests. He was born upon a farm near Fort Wayne, Indiana, June 23, 1859, and there resided until fourteen years of age, attending the country schools and meeting the usual experiences of farm life. At that early period he started out to make his own way in the world and his first position was that of water boy, carrying water to the men working on the construction of the Chicago division of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad along the boundary line between the states of Indiana and Ohio. Subsequently he engaged in driving a team and also in building fences in connection with the construction of the same road, but he was ambitious, energetic and industrious and gradually worked his way upward, at length becoming telegraph operator on the Chicago division of the road. For ten years he handled the key and also became interested in the telephone business to which he later directed his entire attention. He constructed one of the first telephone exchanges in Illinois, outside of Chicago (Champaign-URbana) and promoted many of the early long-distance lines. In April, 1885, he became identified with W. B. McKinley, now president of the Illinois Traction system, and similar interests, whose residence is in Champaign, Illinois. Mr. McKinley was at that time largely interested in banking, real-estate and mortgage brokerage enterprises and also purchased the electric light, street railway and water works at Champaign, Illinois, of which Mr. Nelson became manager and treasurer. The interests of the company were continuously extended into Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Kansas and about 1905 they purchased the Peoria Street Railway. Until 1909 Mr. Nelson was in full charge of the business but in that year retired from the active management, continuing as vice president. He removed to Peoria in 1906 and under his guidance the street railway system of this city was greatly improved, making it thoroughly modern and up-to-date in its equipment and in its operation. As previously stated, he is one of the directors of the Merchants' National Bank of Peoria and he was until January 1, 1812, president of the Atchison (Kansas) Light & Power Company. He is also a director of the Trade-Mark Title Company of New York and Fort Wayne, an institution having representatives in every important city in the world. Gradually since starting out in life on his own account, he has worked his way upward and the circumstances and conditions of his business career have called forth strong purpose, have developed his powers and made him one of the forceful factors in the control of interests which have had most important bearing upon the city and its progress.
Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Lupton, of Champaign, Illinois, and unto them have been born six children: Elgie, now the wife of K. M. Cressler, of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Jeannette; William O., a lieutenant of cadets at the Culver Military Academy; Grace; Elizabeth; and Charlotte. Mr. Nelson is identified with several fraternal organizations and is a prominent Mason, holding membership in Fort Wayne Consistory, and also in Mizpah Temple of the Mystic Shine. He is likewise connected with the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America, and is ever loyal to these different organizations. He is likewise one of the directors of the Illinois Valley Yacht Club and a member of the Creve Coeur Club, and of the Peoria Country Club. These associations indicate something of the nature of his interests and recreation and also place his social standing which, like his business position, is of the highest.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
To characterize Charles J. Off in a single sentence would be impossible, for so many and varied are his activities and so important has been his work that extended mention is necessary to give an adequate account of what he has accomplished. It is an acknowledged fact, however, that public spirit with him constitutes an even balance to individual ambition, and in the attainment of notable success he has found time and opportunity to cooperate in many projects for the general welfare. He is perhaps best known to the citizens of Peoria as a wholesale merchant, having for many decades been connected with that line of trade, although in 1911 he retired from that field; throughout the state he is perhaps more widely known because of his extensive real-estate operations, for he is today one of the largest land owners of Illinois and his attention is now largely given to the supervision of his property.
Charles J. Off has been a resident of Peoria county since the 11th of May, 1855, and of this city since the spring of 1856. He was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, October 24, 1843, and is the son of John Jacob and Christina (Straesser) Off. He was eleven years of age when in 1855, he accompanied his parents on their emmigration from the fatherland to the new world. They went by rail to Havre, France, from there by sailing ship to New Orleans and from there by boat to Peoria. They settled near the present site of the Insane Asylum at Bartonville, but the following year took up their abode in the city. The father was a stone mason and a builder and continued to work at his trade here for a number of years. He maintained his residence in Peoria until the time of his death.
Charles J. Off began his education in the schools of his native country and mastered the English language as a pupil in the schools of Peoria. He started in business as a clerk in a grocery store here and was continuously connected with that branch of trade from the 12th of September, 1859, until the 11th of February, 1911, so that his name is synonymous with the history of the grocery business of this city. He was employed first as a clerk in a wholesale and retail grocery house until the 1st of January, 1873, within which period he steadily advanced, his capability, industry and reliable methods winning him promotion from time to time with a proportionate increase in salary. At length he determined to engage in business on his own account and on the 1st of January, 1873, entered into partnership with Henry, Oakford & Fahnestock, a well established wholesale grocery firm of the city. For five years he continued in that connection and then retired from the first and in 1877 erected the building where the Charles J. Off Company wholesale grocery house is now located. The following year he occupied that building with a large stock of groceries and continued in the wholesale trade as the head of that concern until 1911. The business grew year by year, its ramifying trade interests covering a constantly broadening territory and the house taking rank with the leading wholesale establishments of the state and for fifteen consecutive years Mr. Off served as president of the Wholesale Grocers Association of Illinois.
As Mr. Off prospered -- and his success increased year by year -- he extended his efforts into other fields of business and placed not a little of his earnings in the safest of all investments -- real estate. He became a large owner of city property, and farm lands in Macon, Tazewell, Knox, Wayne and Peoria counties. He now owns about thirty-five hundred acres of valuable farm land of which a noted lecturer on the natural resources of the country has said: "There is no better investment in all America." This property is divided into several farms including on very extensive farm of eighteen hundred acres in Macon county. He also has five hundred and fifty acres in two farms in Tazewell county and ninety-six acres of Richwoods township, Peoria county. Upon his large farm in Macon county he conducts an extensive canning business for the canning of corn, and this as all other undertakings, in which he has engaged, is proving a profitable enterprise. He is a director of the First National Bank of East Peoria, is the owner of a large coal mine known as the Phoenix upon his farm in Tazewell county and has other business which are profitable sources of revenue. The first land which he ever owned was a tract in Nebraska which he purchased of the government. He became owner of that property soon after the war but traded it afterward for land in Macon county, Illinois. While few men are so extensively connected with farming interests in this state as Mr. Off, he has always maintained his residence in this city, having for fifty-seven years made his home in Peoria.
On the 28th of October, 1879, Mr. Off was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Fey of this city, a daughter of David and Barbara Fey. They have five children: Charles David, who married Miss Elsie Wrenn of Washington, and has one child, Charles J. II.; Robert F.; Walter, who married Matilda Huverstuhl, and has a daughter, Margaret; Clifford, who wedded Helen C. Willock, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Clarence, now at school. Four of his sons are now associated with him in business.
Mr. Off is a Knight Templar and thirty-second degree consistory Mason, and has crossed the Sands of Desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a Red Cross Knight of Constantine. He is prominent in Episcopal church circles and has always taken a keen interest in his church. His religion is unassuming, kindly, very charitable, and charged with a keen realization of the universal brotherhood of man. He is a member of St. Paul's church in Peoria. Mr. Off's political allegiance is given to the republican party and in early manhood he served as supervisor for one year and has been alderman from the third ward. In more recent years, because of the rapid growth and extent of his business, he has not taken an active part in politics, yet is never remiss in the duties of citizenship, his aid and influence being given in support of worthy projects for the benefit of the city and state. He has, indeed, been an important factor in business life and his prosperity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabating energy and industry that never flags.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
(transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
Robert Scholes
Robert Scholes, serving for the second term as state's attorney, has made a most creditable record in defense of the interests of Peoria county before the bar. He holds to the highest standards of professional service and has never deviated from the course which he believes to be right. Peoria is therefore proud to number him among her native sons and accords him rank with her representative and honored citizens. He was born here in 1866, the son of Richard and Anna Scholes, and has always resided in Peoria, save for a brief period of a few years which the family spent in Pekin during his boyhood days. He attended the grammar schools of that city and upon his return to Peoria entered the high school, where he pursued the Latin course and was graduated with honors. A liberal literary education thus constituted the foundation for his professional knowledge. In preparation for the bar he became a student in the law office of Kellogg & Cameron and was admitted to practice on the 21st of November, 1889. He had displayed great thoroughness in the mastery of the principles of jurisprudence and thus took up his professional duties well equipped for the work which has since claimed his time and energies. It was soon manifest that his ideals of professional service were very high. From the beginning of his practice he declared that he would never take a disreputable case or descent to trickery or chicanery and to this rule he has always strictly adhered throughout his active career. He believes in the honesty and fair dealing of the lawyer just as thoroughly as he believes in that of the business man, and it soon became evident that the word of Robert Scholes was to be relied upon. Moreover, he gave to his clients the benefit of well developed talents and of unwearied industry, yet never has forgotten that he owes a still higher allegiance to the majesty of the law. Success came to him because his preparation of his cause before the court was strong, logical and forceful.
It was not long before Mr. Scholes was entrusted with much litigation in which the city was interested. He served as municipal attorney for three terms in the villages of South Peoria, Peoria Heights and Bartonville, being called to the last named on the organization of the village. Still higher political honors awaited him, involving work of even greater importance, for in 1904 he was elected by a large majority to the position of state's attorney for Peoria county. His record won the confidence and gained for him the honor and respect of representatives of every political faith and at the close of his tern there was practically no other candidate in the field against him. On his reelection he received the unqualified indorsement of a majority of the voters of the county. During his first term the emoluments of the office were on the fee basis but by an act of the legislature at its recent session the position has been given a fixed salary.
Mr. Scholes' success in his profession affords the best evidence of his capabilities in this line. He is a strong advocate with the jury and concise in his appeals before the court. His seems to be a natural discrimination as to legal ethics and he is so thoroughly well read in the minutia of the law that he is able to base his arguments upon a thorough knowledge of and familiarity with precedents and to present a case upon its merits, never failing to recognize the main point at issue and never neglecting to give a thorough preparation. His pleas have been characterized by a terse and decisive logic and a lucid presentation rather than by flights of oratory, and his power is the greater before the court or jury from the fact that it is recognized that his aim is ever to secure justice and not to enshroud the cause in a sentimental garb of illusion which will thwart the principles of right and equity involved. A strong mentality, an invincible courage, a most determined individuality have so entered into his makeup as to render him a natural leader of men and a director of public opinion.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
(transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
Henry Sandmeyer, Sr.
Henry Sandmeyer, Sr., is numbered among Peoria's builders and promoters. He has been identified with the city's interests along commercial, industrial and financial lines since 1849 and his activity and enterprise have brought him to a most prominent position in connection with those projects and movements which have constituted important factors in the city's growth. Moreover, the integrity of his business methods has commended him to the confidence and respect of all and he is today one of Peoria's most honored and valued residents. He was born in Germany, July 16, 1829, and has therefore passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey.
His youthful days were spent upon a small farm in the fatherland and at the age of twenty years he crossed the Atlantic to America, attracted by the favorable reports which he had heard concerning the business conditions and opportunities in the new world. He did not tarry on the Atlantic seaboard but made his way at once to Peoria, arriving here sixty-three years ago. His financial conditions rendered it imperative that he secure immediate employment and he began working in a hardware store conducted by Moore & Cooper. That he was a diligent and faithful employe is indicated in the fact that he remained in that establishment in the capacity of assistant for several years and then purchased the interest of Mr. Moore, becoming a partner of Mr. Cooper. A number of years passed in that connection, after which he entered into business with the firm of Culter & Proctor, hardware merchants. Still later he established an independent business under the firm name of H. Sandmeyer & Company, the location of the store being on South Adams street. Their establishment became one of Peoria’s noted commercial enterprises, enjoying a large and profitable trade for many years. The business methods of the house were such as commended them to the confidence and respect of the public. Straightforward dealing, careful management and a progressive spirit were the salient features in the business, resulting in the development of a large and gratifying trade. A disastrous fire overtook the firm in 1905, since which time Mr. Sandmeyer has not reentered the trade but has concentrated his energies and efforts upon the management of his invested interests. In 1906 Mr. Sandmeyer, in connection with his son, Henry Sandmeyer, Jr., erected the Sandmeyer apartments, the largest and most exclusive of the kind in the city, located at the corner of Monroe and Fayette streets. All of the attractive features of the modern apartment house have been introduced and the interior finishing view with the pleasing style of architecture which has been employed in the construction of the building. Mr. Sandmeyer is at present connected with the building interests of the city as president of The Peoria Stone & Marble Company and he also occupies an important place in financial circles, filling the position of vice president of the Merchants National Bank.
In 1855 Mr. Sandmeyer was united in marriage to Miss Mary Deitwig, also of German lineage, and for a long period they traveled life's journey together but were separated by the death of the wife in 1896. Of their four children, George, the third, is now deceased, the others being Elizabeth, Mary and Henry.
Mr. Sandmeyer has given his political allegiance to the republican party and while he has not been active as an office seeker he has always been deeply interested in whatever has pertained to the welfare and progress of his adopted city, cooperating heartily in various movements for the general good. He is one of the oldest Masons of Peoria and his life has been an exemplification of the beneficent spirit of the craft. While his success has been such as to place him upon a plane far above the majority of his fellowmen, he is thoroughly democratic in spirit and has never allowed the accumulation of wealth to in any way affect his relations toward those less fortunate. Indeed, he is a broad, liberal-minded man, generous in thought, considerate in spirit and kindly in action, and Peoria honors him as one of her representative and valued pioneer citizens.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
(transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
Harold R. Wetherell
Gradually working his way upward, undeterred by obstacles and difficulties in his path, Harold R. Wetherell is now superintendent of the steam-heating department of the Peoria Gas & Electric Company, with which he has been connected for nine years, having charge of the heating system for about six years. Peoria claims him as a native son, his birth having here occurred on the 29th of July, 1884. His parents are E. and Caroline Wetherell, both of whom are still living. The father was engaged in the electrical business, also conducting an awning and gear works, and is a practical mechanic. For half a century he has been a resident of this city and has become known as a leading representative of mechanical pursuits.
Harold R. Wetherell was reared in Peoria and attended the public schools until he entered Bradley Polytechnic Institute, from which he was in due time graduated. He afterward worked for the Acme Harvester Company for seven months as draughtsman and also spent several months with the McAleenan Boiler Works in the same capacity. He next entered the employ of what is now the Peoria Gas & Electric Company and has since continued with this corporation. He was with the old General Electric Company as draughtsman and later had charge of construction work, steam work, etc. He continued with the Peoria Gas & Electric Company when it took over all of the business of the General Electric Company, his ability being recognized by the new management. In the summer months he has at times from fifty to 100 men under his supervision, but in the winter seasons only ten or fifteen men are employed. He is thoroughly acquainted with the great scientific principles which underly his branch of the work which, added to his practical experience, has made him particularly well qualified to discharge the duties that now devolve upon him. He does a great deal of steam heating work and engineering on the outside and it was he who made the plans for the heating system in the new Jefferson Hotel. He also made the plans for the separate plant to heat the building for the Bradley Polytechnic Institute.
On the 7th of November, 1911, Mr. Wetherell was united in marriage to Miss Jean Barnhardt, of this city, a daughter of Samuel Barnhardt. In his leisure hours Mr. Wetherell enjoys manly outdoor and athletic sports and is a member of the Peoria Canoe Club. He stands as a splendid type of the progressive young business man who at the outset of his career recognizes the fact that there is no royal road to wealth. He felt that his advancement must depend upon individual efforts and ability and he has concentrated his labors along the lines that have been the most resultant. He is thoroughly conversant with the various lines of work that come under his direction and his long practical experience well enables him to direct the labors of his subordinates.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
(transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
Harry J. True
Among the young men of Peoria who undeniably exercise a perceptible influence in the business world of the city, is Harry J. True. Without detracting from the merits of thousands of other young men, who have gained honorable distinction and enduring names for themselves in the paths of honest industry in this city, we may safely say that few men of his years have interwoven their names with as many projects and enterprises as has Mr. True. He belongs to Peoria, whose citizens claim him as their own, and who delight in honoring his intelligence and business energy on any possible occasion.
Mr. True, a young business man of ability and sterling integrity, was born on the home farm in Saratoga township, Marshall county, Illinois, January 25, 1884, and his father, Albert True, is now living retired in Henry, this state. Harry J. True was reared under the parental roof, and began his education in the common schools, taking later on a high-school course in Marshall county, and then attended the Illinois Normal School of Dixon and completed his education in Brown's Business College of Peoria. At the age of eighteen he left the home farm and came to Peoria, here becoming identified with the implement trade. In 1908 he secured a half interest in the old established implement, transfer and storage business of the Kircher Company, a concern founded twenty-five or thirty years ago by Henry C. Kircher, now deceased. The company handles carriages, buggies, implements, horse supplies and accessories, and does a large business in those lines. The transfer and storage of household goods is an equally important part of their business, to which they give careful attention with the result that they do a very satisfactory business in those lines. Harry J. True was the very efficient manager of this concern until January 1, 1912, and not a little of their success was due to his careful management and capable business ability. On the first of January, 1912, he sold his interest in the above company, to take up the duties of office manager of the Domestic Vacuum Sweeper Company. This sweeper was invented by Dr. Quist of Worcester, Massachusetts, who sold the right to patent and manufacture the same to the present owners. On February 1, 1911, was organized the Domestic Vacuum Sweeper Company with headquarters at Peoria, Illinois, and factories at Worcester, Massachusetts. The business was grown wonderfully. The output which at first was about thirty per day has now reached six hundred, and the factories are being rebuilt to increase the output to over one thousand per day. The product is sold throughout America and Europe and many salesmen are employed. The sweeper is designed especially for cleaning carpets and rugs. However, it can be used most successfully for cleaning walls, draperies, upholstered furniture, bedding, etc., by use of special attachments. There is nothing to get out of order, and nothing to wear out -- shortly, it is an article that is almost indispensable to the housewife. This industry is bound to prove one of the greatest in the middle west. The officers of the company are, Silas Ropp, president; B. C. Koch, secretary and treasurer; J. E. Gerber, vice president and general manager; Harry J. True, office manager.
During Mr. True's ten years' residence in this city he has demonstrated that he not only has good business qualifications but also social qualities which indicate that he will achieve a prominent place in our business and social circles. In business transactions, he exhibits a quick appreciation and prompt decision which are are necessary to the successful merchant as the successful general, but tempered with a courtesy which wins the esteem of all who come into contact with him. In private life, his amiable and generous disposition have endeared him to numbers of friends. Mr. True has the rare gift of imbuing his followers with an enthusiasm that never wearies nor is mercenary. Especially do the young men take service under him and do an incredible amount of work inspired by that dynamic force of their leader. Add to these qualities, an unabating energy, a perfect grasp of detail, an intensity of purpose that never takes anything for granted, and a boldness in planning, and a rapidity of execution that leaves between the flash and the report scarcely the interval of a second, and you have Mr. True in an almost perfect light.
As a life companion, Mr. True chose Miss Josephine Cline, of Canton, Illinois, their union occurring November 18, 1909, and to them has been born a daughter, Marie Catherine, on November 28, 1911. Social diversions Mr. True finds as a member of the Creve Coeur Club, and he is affiliated with the Travelers' Protection Association. Mr. True's thorough business qualifications and his well-known executive ability have always been in great demand in the commercial activities of Peoria, and his strict probity in all his relations, have met with that return of warm personal regard and financial success which such distinguishing qualities richly merit.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
(transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
William H. Willis, M. D.
Dr. William H. Willis is a very successful general medical practitioner of Peoria, where he has followed his profession since the 1st of April, 1898. His ability is displayed in the liberal patronage accorded him, for the worth of the physician is at once manifest in the results which attend his labors. Added to broad scientific knowledge he has a sympathetic manner and a spirit of humanitarianism that constitute features of his growing and well deserved success. He has been a representative of the profession in Illinois since 1881, although a resident of Peoria only since 1898. He was born at Ipava, Fulton county, Illinois, January 20, 1860, a son of Dr. Amos Q. Willis, who practiced medicine at Ipava until his death, which occurred when his son William was but thirteen months old. The boy was reared in Fulton county and there attended the public schools until he entered upon the study of medicine, pursuing a course in the Missouri Medical College, at St. Louis, from which he was graduated in the class of 1881. Immediately afterward he opened an office in Eureka, Illinois, where he remained for five years, removing in 1886 to Marshall county, Illinois, where he continued in active practice for eleven years. Desirous of promoting his knowledge and skill he then entered the New York Polyclinic, where he pursued his studies in 1897 and 1898, being in due time graduated therefrom. With this added equipment he resolved to seek the broader opportunities offered in the city and came to Peoria. He has a large general practice but also specializes to a considerable extent in surgery and displays rare training and ability in that line. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the anatomy and the component parts of the human body and possesses that cool and quiet nerve necessary in emergency cases. He has served on the staff of Proctor Hospital and is a member of the Peoria City and Illinois State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association.
At Eureka, Illinois, in 1884, Dr. Willis was united in marriage to Miss Dycia Van Dyke, of that city, and they have become the parents of three children: Ethel, who is the wife of E. A. Brown, a resident of Elmwood, Illinois; and Hazel and Harold, twins, the former the wife of Charles E. Wmith, of Elmwood, and the latter now managing the farming interests of his father, in southeastern Missouri.
Aside from his professional interests, Dr. Willis in connected with agriculture in Illinois, and is the owner of valuable farm property which returns him a substantial and gratifying annual income. He is also meeting with a large measure of success in his practice and his position as a representative of the medical fraternity of Peoria is most creditable. Several years ago, prior to his removal to this city, he was a member of the Illinois National Guard and was accounted one of the best marksmen of the state, at which time Colonel Rice was inspector for the state. Dr. Willis belongs to the Creve Coeur Club and has many friends among its members. He is also widely and favorably known in other connections, possessing the social, genial qualities which everywhere gain friendship and win confidence.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
(transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
Llewelyn Owen
Llewelyn Owen is superintendent of the electrical department of the Peoria Gas & Electric Company, with which he has been connected since its reorganization. In 1899 he became assistant superintendent of the Peoples Gas & Electric Company, which in 1900 was merged with the General Electric Company under the name of the Peoria Gas & Electric Company. Mr. Owen became assistant superintendent of the new company and acted in that capacity for several years, when he was given the position of superintendent. He is well qualified by thorough collegiate training for the responsibilities and onerous duties which devolve upon him in this connection, and in the management of the office he displays most careful systematization, together with keen sagacity in the control of affairs.
Mr. Owen is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His boyhood and youth were spent in that city and he attended the public schools, after which he entered the University of Wisconsin, wherein he pursued the electrical engineering course, which he completed with the class of 1897. He has since been engaged in the electrical business and practical experience has constantly promoted his skill and ability. He came to Peoria in 1899 and has since made this city his home. He is, therefore, well known as a representative of electrical interests here, acting as assistant superintendent of the Peoples Gas & Electric Company and continuing in the position after the merger with the General Electric Company. He is thoroughly acquainted with every phase of the electrical engineering and is yet an interested student of that literature of the profession, keeping in touch with the rapid strides that are being made in the electrical field.
Mr. Owen was united in marriage, in 1905, to Miss Abigail Blair, of Peoria, a daughter of Richard M. Blair, of this city, and they now have two children, David Blair and Robert Llewelyn. Mr. Owen belongs to the Delta Upsilon, a college fraternity. Something of his social standing is indicated in the fact that he is a valued and popular member of the Creve Coeur Club. He also belongs to the Peoria Association of Commerce and is in hearty sympathy with its projects and purposes for the benefit of Peoria and the development of its growth along progressive and substantial lines.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
(transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
William Fremont Wolfner
No matter in how much fantastic theorizing one may indulge as to the causation of success the conclusion must eventually be reached that unabating energy, straightforward dealing and industry that never flags are the indispensable concomitants in attaining prosperity. These have figured largely in the life of William Fremont Wolfner, a prominent representative of the distillery interests of Peoria and the first vice president of the National Cooperage & Woodenware Company, which is undoubtedly one of the largest concerns of its kind in the world. As these connections indicate, Mr. Wolfner has attained to a position among the foremost representatives of trade and manufacturing interests in the city and at the same time he has figured prominently in charitable work, few men realizing more fully than he the obligations and responsibilities of wealth.
Mr. Wolfner was born on the 10th of March, 1862. His parents were Isaac and Josephine (Saxel) Wolfner, who were natives of Bohemia, Austria, which was also the birthplace of his grandparents, Carl and Bertha Wolfner, and Joseph H. and Francesca Saxel. In his life record William F. Wolfner has displayed many of the sterling characteristics of an ancestry noted for industry and enterprise.
He acquired his education in the public schools of Chicago and St. Louis, and in 1881, when a youth of nineteen years, came to Peoria. Even then his business ability and capacity had been recognized, for he became assistant secretary of the Great Western Distilling Company and also the local representative of the cattle interests of Nelson Morris, the well known Chicago packer. As the years passed by he increased in his business capacity and knowledge of the trade and in 1887 was made manager of the Great Western Distillery, which position he continued to fill for ten years, or until July, 1897, when he purchased an interest in the Mound City Distilling Company of St. Louis. A year later, or in July, 1898, he became associated in the same capacity with the Standard Distilling & Distributing Company of Peoria and has since been recognized as a foremost factor in connection with the distillery interests of this city, which are a chief source of revenue here. Into other fields, however, he has extended his efforts and as vice president of the National Cooperage & Woodenware Company he is the second executive officer in what is one of the largest concerns of its kind in the world, its output being represented by mammoth figures. Mr. Wolfner is also financially interested in other business concerns and corporations and his sound judgment has proved a valuable asset in their successful management. He is a director of the Commercial Germany National Bank of Peoria, the largest bank in the state outside Chicago. He readily recognizes the opportunities of a situation and never passes an opportunity by in a heedless manner. He has concentrated his energies upon his business affairs in such a way as to insure success and gradually has advanced in his trade and financial connections until he stands as one of the foremost residents of his adopted city.
On the 26th of January, 1887, Mr. Wolfner (was) married to Miss Sophia Woolner, of Peoria, and unto them have been born three children, Ira W., Rose and Josephine. Mr. Wolfner rejoices in his success because of what it enables him to do in behalf of his family and also because of the opportunity it gives him to aid his fellowmen. He has been most generous of his means in assisting others and both his individual and his public charities are large. He gives most freely and generously where it is needed and something of his activity in this relation is indicated by the fact that for many years he has held the position of president of the Hebrew Relief Association of Peoria. He is also president of the Anshai Amuth congregation. His beneficence and his benevolence are entirely free from ostentation or display and he never limits his charity to people of his own nationality and religious faith. He holds to the belief of his fathers, yet is liberal and tolerant of the opinions of others and never regards religious faith when aid is needed. In politics he is a republican and keeps thoroughly informed concerning the vital and significant questions of the day. With him patriotism is above partisanship and the general welfare before personal aggrandizement. He is indeed a man of broad sympathies and interests as well as of marked business capacity and with him commercial activity finds an even balance in his broad humanitarianism.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
(transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
George H. Weber, M. D.
In the days of Peoria's early development the name of Weber was closely associated with pioneer industrial interests for the grandfather was proprietor of a flour mill here. Today the name is synonymous with skill and ability in the medical profession for Dr. George H. Weber has attained a prominent position as a physician and surgeon, having been an active practitioner of this city since 1900. He is one of Peoria's native sons, his birth having here occurred on the 2d of November, 1876. As indicated the family home was established here at a very early day and the grandfather proved a valued factor in business circles in the conduct of a flour mill at the foot of South street. His son, George F. Weber, the father of Dr. Weber, died in Peoria in 1901 but the mother, who bore the maiden name of Kate Herschberger, is still living.
In the attainment of his education Dr. Weber attended the public schools, completing a high-school course by graduation with the class of 1896. In the meantime he had determined to make the practice of medicine his life work and immediately afterward entered upon preparation for the profession, becoming a student of Louisville Medical College, from which he was graduated with the class of March, 1900. He put his theoretical knowledge to the practical test as interne of the Louisville City Hospital, where he remained for a year, gaining the broad experience which comes only in the varied work of hospital practice. In 1901 he returned to his native city where he opened an office. For several years he has been associated with Dr. C. U. Collins in the practice of surgery and now devotes his attention exclusively to that branch of the profession. He is serving on the staff of the St. Francis Hospital and in addition he has an extensive private practice, which is of an important character and establishes his position as one of the leading surgeons of the city. He belongs to the Peoria Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and the proceedings of those bodies keep him thoroughly informed concerning the most advanced work being done in the country.
In 1901 Dr. Weber was united in marriage to Miss Edna Comegys, of Peoria, a daughter of Samuel C. Comegys. They are well known in this city where the Doctor has spent his entire life and where his sterling worth has gained for him a large circle of friends. He has attained high rank in Masonry, being now a member of the consistory and of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan. He is loyal to the teachings of these fraternities which he exemplifies in his life and in matters of citizenship he manifests a progressive and public-spirited interest, yet he devotes the greater part of his attention to his professional duties which are constantly growing in volume and importance.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
(transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
Joseph A. Weil
Twenty years' connection with the Peoria bar has well established Joseph A. Weil's position as a capable lawyer. He has gained distinction, especially in the field of criminal law in the middle west, and is perhaps without a peer in this branch of the profession in Peoria, his native city. He was born May 30, 1870, and is a son of I. A. and Barbetta (Herold) Weil. His youthful days were here passed without any event of special importance. Like most boys, his youth was largely devoted to the acquirement of an education and in mastering the branches of learning in the various grades he won promotion until he entered the Peoria high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1886. In the meantime he had resolved to enter upon the practice of law as a life work and with this end in view he began reading in the office and under the direction of Michael O'Shaughnessy. He afterward became a student in the law office of I. C. Edwards and, following his admission to the bar, in 1891, joined Mr. Edwards in a partnership, becoming junior member of the law firm of Edwards & Weil. That connection was continued for about three years, or until March 1, 1894, when Mr. Weil withdrew and has since practiced independently.
His success in a professional way affords the best evidence of his capabilities in this line. He is a strong advocate with the jury and clear and concise in his appeals before the court. In no calling is there a career more open to talent than in that of the law and in no field of endeavor is there demanded a more careful preparation, a more thorough appreciation of the absolute ethics of life or of the underlying principles which form the basis of human rights and privileges. Unflagging application and intuitive wisdom together with a determination to fully utilize the means at hand are the concomitants which insure personal success and prestige in this great profession which stands as the stern conservator of justice. Possessing all the requisite qualities of the able lawyer, Mr. Weil has made continuous advancement since entering upon practice and is today the strongest criminal lawyer of Peoria, nor is his reputation limited by this city. He is called to try criminal cases throughout the United States and seldom fails to win the verdict desired. He is strong and forceful in argument, impassioned and eloquent in his pleading and logical in his deductions.
The marriage of Mr. Weil to Miss Maud Schwabacher, a member of one of the wealthiest and most prominent families of Peoria, was celebrated in 1898 and they have become the parents of two children, Albert and Josephine. Mr. Weil is a prominent Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree of the consistory in the Scottish Rite and also becoming a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise a past master of Victor Lodge, No. 370, K. P. He is regarded as one of the leading members of the Creve Coeur Club and for years served on its board of directors, but finally resigned. The nature of his recreation is further indicated in the fact that he belongs to the Illinois Valley Yacht Club. In politics he is an influential factor and is now representing this district on the democratic state central committee and is serving on its executive board. All these, however, are merely side issues in a life that is largely devoted to his personal activities and duties. He throws himself easily and naturally into the argument in the trial of a case, showing a self-possession and a deliberation with no straining after effect. On the contrary there is a precision and clearness in his statement, an acuteness and strength in his argument which speak a mind trained in the severest school of investigation and to which the closest reasoning has become habitual.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
(transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
Jacob Wachenheimer
One of the more prominent business men of Peoria is Jacob Wachenheimer, who was born in New York city. At an early age Mr. Wachenheimer removed from the American metropolis to Peoria, Illinois, where he received his education and initial business training. He started as a clerk, when quite a young man, with the insurance firm of Robinson & Callender and his services were so efficient and so much appreciated by his employers that after a few years' time he was called to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by the general manager of the Franklin Fire Insurance Company of that city, where he served in the home office of that company for six years as assistant to the general manager -- a position which he filled very creditably. Upon the death of Mr. Robinson, Mr. Wachenheimer returned to Peoria, where he became associated with Eliot Callender. Although the business of Mr. Callender before Mr. Wachenheimer became associated with him was very gratifying, it has expanded by leaps and bounds since the formation of the firm of Callender & Company, which is now by far the largest concern of its kind in Peoria and the largest in Illinois outside of Chicago, and is doing a constantly increasing insurance business. Mr. Wachenheimer is the managing partner of his firm, his executive ability as well as grasp of detail being among his strong business qualifications. He was for two years president of the Illinois Association of Fire Insurance Agents, a fact which clearly indicates the esteem and confidence placed in him by his fellows. He is one of the directors of the Commercial German National Bank of Peoria, is president of the Peoria Livery Company and vice president of the Burlington Elevator Company and a stockholder in a number of other local business concerns.
Mr. Wachenheimer was married in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Miss Susie E. Hood, daughter of John and Mary A. Hood. Mrs. Wachenheimer comes of a very old and highly respected family of Philadelphia, which at one time owned all the property between that city and Chester, Pennsylvania.
In his political views and activities Mr. Wachenheimer is a republican. He has been a trustee of the Peoria park board, intimating very clearly not only his public spirit but his consideration for the needs of his fellow citizens along lines of recreation and also his eye for the beautiful as well as for the useful in city life. His standing among the business men of Peoria is evidence by the fact that he was for some time president of the Board of Trade, a position in which he was very active, filling the place with credit to himself and much satisfaction to his business associates and friends. He is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue lodge, the chapter, the consistory and the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Country Club of Peoria, and was its president and governor for eleven years. The Creve Coeur Club is fortunate in numbering among its members Mr. Wachenheimer, who served as its president and on its board of directors for several terms. He likewise belongs to the Illinois Valley Yacht Club. The business and fraternal activities of Mr. Wachenheimer in Peoria have made him one of the best known and most highly respected residents of this city. His sterling integrity is a quality known and appreciated, while his genial manner has won for him a host of friends.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
(transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
W. Thomas Trewyn, M. D.
Dr. W. Thomas Trewyn, who since September, 1906, has engaged in the practice of medicine in Peoria, his office being located at No. 2522 South Adams street, came to the starting point of his professional career well equipped for the duties which have since devolved upon him. He was born upon a farm in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, January 16, 1877, his parents being Thomas T. and Margaret Chapman (Bryant) Trewyn, both of whom are now deceased. The father was a farmer by occupation and devoted his entire life to the work of tilling the soil.
It was upon the old home farm that Dr. Trewyn spent his boyhood and youth and when not attending the country schools in the acquirement of a general education he devoted his attention to the work of the fields, early assisting in the labors of plowing, planting and harvesting. He afterward had the benefit of instruction in the state Normal School at Whitewater, Wisconsin, and entered upon the profession of teaching, which he followed for ten years, spending four years of that time as an instructor in the State Reform School for Boys, in Wisconsin. He also engaged in teaching in the public schools of Whitewater and Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and proved an able educator imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge which he had acquired. He felt that there was comparatively little future, however, in that profession and, thinking to find the practice of medicine more congenial and hoping also to find it more profitable, he entered the Northwestern University as a student in the medical department, from which he was graduated with the class of 1905. He then served as interne in St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago for a year and during that period grained a broad and varied experience which only hospital practice can bring. The following year, or in September, 1906, he came to Peoria, where he has since remained. In a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit he has made continuous progress and is today accounted one of the leading physicians and surgeons of South Peoria, where he has built up a very large practice. He is now serving on the staff of St. Francis Hospital and he is a member of the Peoria City Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, which enables him to keep in close touch with what is being done by eminent members of the medical fraternity.
Dr. Trewyn is pleasantly situated in his home life. He married Gertrude Mary Cross of Marshalltown, Iowa, and they have one son, Victor Cross. In the six years of their residence in Peoria they have become widely known and have gained a large circle of warm friends. Dr. Trewyn holds to high professional standards and puts forth conscientious efforts to make his labors of the utmost value to his patients. That his work is attended by gratifying results is manifest in his constantly increasing patronage and that he holds to high professional ethics is evidenced in the fact that his fellow practitioners always speak of him in terms of high regard.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
(transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
Ezra Tobias
One of the leading insurance agencies of Peoria and eastern Illinois is that conducted under the firm style of Tobias & Company, in which Ezra Tobias is the senior partner. He has been continuously connected with insurance interests since 1896 and there are few who are more thoroughly and intimately acquainted with every department of insurance, its aims and its possibilities than he. He claims Ohio as his native state, his birth having occurred near Circleville on the 11th of October, 1847. His parents were James and Caroline (Hittell) Tobias, who removed with their family from the Buckeye state to Washington, Illinois, during the early boyhood of their son Ezra. There the father engaged in merchandising but did not confine his attention solely to commercial pursuits, for he also carried on farming. After a number of years he and his wife removed to Peoria, where the mother died, and the father subsequently went to Chicago, where his last days were passed.
Ezra Tobias acquired his education in the public schools of Washington, Illinois, and also spent a year as a student in Northwestern College then located at Plainfield, Illinois, but now at Naperville, this state. He had thus completed his college work when he came to Peoria, arriving here in 1865, when a youth of seventeen years. To provide for his own support he at once sought employment, which he obtained in the wholesale and retail dry-goods establishment of Day Brothers & Company. His position was that of stock boy, but he did not long continue in that humble capacity, for his industry and diligence won recognition that led to promotion. He remained with Day Brothers & Company for six years, acting for some time as clerk in the retail department. On the expiration of that period he removed to Gilman, Illinois, where he spent a few years on the farm with his parents. He then proceeded to Assumption, Illinois, where he engaged in merchandising for several years, after which he returned to Peoria. Here he was in the coal business for several years, and was also in the employ of Kingman & Company in one of their branch stores in Peoria. The firm dealt extensively in farm implements and Mr. Tobias acted as bookkeeper and cashier. He continued in that position for several years, after which he went upon the road as traveling salesman, representing an agriculture implement factory. While thus engaged he made his headquarters in Peoria and was for thirteen years on the road and at length entered the insurance field, with which he has been connected since 1896. He organized the present firm of Tobias & Company, handling all known kinds of insurance, including fire, tornado, plate glass, elevator, rent, accident, health, automobile, steam boiler, liability, burglary, fraternal and contract bonds. The first represents the leading companies not only of this country but of Europe and they have developed an extensive business, writing a large amount of insurance of various kinds each year.
Mr. Tobias has not only made a creditable position in business circles, but has also long been pleasantly situated in his home life. He married Miss Linda Bramble, a daughter of James Bramble, who for many years was a prominent contractor in this city, but is now deceased. Unto this marriage has been born a son, Walter W. Tobias, who is a special insurance agent for Indiana and Ohio, with headquarters at Indianapolis. He married Miss Anna McIlvaine, a daughter of Dr. Thomas W. McIlvaine, of Peoria, and they now have one children, Walter McIlvaine Tobias. Mr. and Mrs. Tobias reside at No. 901 Glen Oak avenue and the hospitality of their home is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. He has a very wide acquaintance not only in this city, but throughout the state in those regions which he visited as a traveling salesman. His geniality, social disposition and personal worth have made him popular wherever he has gone. He is always considerate of the opinions of others and without bigotry, sham or pretense he has gained respect which is the merited recognition of genuine personal worth.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
(transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
Colonel John E. Stout
Colonel John E. Stout needs no introduction to the readers of this volume and, indeed, is widely known throughout the country as one of the leading auctioneers. In this connection he has gained a reputation which extends almost from coast to coast and manifests ability that has given him preeminence in this field. For six years he had made his home in Peoria and is a native son of Tazewell county, Illinois, having been born and reared on a farm about three miles from Tremont, his natal day being May 19, 1857. His father was the Rev. Isaac Stout, one of the oldest settlers in this part of the state. At the time of his death in 1900 he had been a resident of Tazewell county for seventy-four years. He was born in Ohio but removed to Illinois in early manhood and took an active and helpful part in the work of reclaiming the wild region for the purposes of civilization. Much of the land in this district was still unclaimed and uncultivated at the time of his arrival and with its agricultural development he was closely associated. He was equally active and his labors were equally resultant in connection with the moral progress of the community. He became a pioneer preacher of the Christian church and his labors and teachings did much toward influencing many to choose the better path of life. He erected the Concord church, took subscriptions for its building and then utilized his own skill as a carpenter in the erection of the house of worship. There were, indeed, few things which the Rev. Stout could not do. He was a man of marked ingenuity and was the inventor of the first riding cultivator. Whatever he undertook he seemed to carry forward to successful completion and his life was, indeed, a serviceable one in the world's work. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Rebecca Smith, passed away in 1882, and, like her husband, she was held in high esteem because of her many sterling traits of character.
Colonel J. E. Stout was reared upon the home farm and in early manhood supplemented his public-school education by attending Eureka College at Eureka, Illinois, working his way through college for two years. He then entered the grain business at Mackinaw, Illinois, where he conducted an elevator for four years, after which he removed to Pekin, Illinois. While living in that locality he was appointed deputy sheriff of Tazewell county and served for four years. On the expiration of that period he was elected sheriff and continued in the office for a similar period, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. Again he was called to public office in his appointment by Governor Yates as live stock inspector, with headquarters at Peoria Stock Yards, which position he filled for a part of two years, making his home, however, during that period in Pekin. In early manhood he entered the auctioneering field and of late years has more and more largely concentrated his efforts upon this business. He became well known as a crier of land sales and has won a reputation as one of the best known auctioneers of the country. He is apt, ready, resourceful and the success that has attended his labors has placed him in a foremost position among the auctioneers of Illinois. He cried the Russell sale, which was the largest ever held in Illinois. He also made the record on that occasion for the best prices and shortest time, his sales amounting to twenty-two thousand, one hundred dollars in three hours and fourteen minutes. This was held in 1908. He has always made a specialty of farm sales and has auctioneered many farms, together with their equipments. His high standing in the profession is shown by the fact that he was elected the first secretary of the Auctioneers Association of the State of Illinois and was continued in that position for ten years. He also served as treasurer of the organization and was elected treasurer of the International Auctioneers Association of the World, filling that position for four years. Since 1906 he has been secretary and treasurer of the congressional committee of the International Auctioneers Association and it would be difficult to find one in his line of business who has a wider acquaintance throughout the country.
Colonel Stout was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Chapman, of Mackinaw, Illinois, and they became the parents of three children, Velde E., and Lola Ruth and Lela Clara, twins. Lola is now the wife of Harry Giblin, treasurer of the Orpheum Theater of Peoria. The son, Velde, has a wide reputation as a bowler, having made first record in the state bowling contest of 1908, while in 1910-1911 he was accorded first place as Peoria's best bowler. He is now a member of the Leisy League. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Stout has been again married, his second union being with Miss Nettie Brown, of Brimfield, Illinois, a daughter of Clark and Nancy Brown, of that place. Their wedding was celebrated in November, 1906.
Colonel Stout is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Court of Honor, being affiliated as a charter member with the local organization at Pekin. The title of "Colonel" which he bears is an honorary one, expressive of the high regard and good-will entertained for him by those with whom he comes in contact. On various occasions Colonel Stout has been called upon to render his services in political campaigns and he has given valuable assistance in the campaigns of such prominent men as Colonel Smith, Governor Deneen and Governor Yates when they were running for office. In this way as well as through his business relations he has naturally become one of the best known men in the state and wherever he is known he is highly esteemed and appreciated. He possesses a social, genial nature, has a faculty of placing any one at east in his presence, always has ready the apt word and the fitting answer and at the same time he possess a marked executive force and business ability that have enabled him to far outstrip many others in the race of life on the same road on which his course has been run.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
. (transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
Cyrus Minor Avery
In the city of Galesburg, where many years of his life were passed, Cyrus Minor Avery was widely known and his many attractive social qualities and admirable characteristics gained for him the friendship and kindly regard of all with whom he came in contact. He was one of Galesburg's native sons, his birth having here occurred on the 19th of June, 1846, when the city was but a small town and outlying districts of the state were largely undeveloped and unimproved. His parents were George and Saraphena Princess Mary (Phelps) Avery, both natives of the state of New York. The father was born in New Lebanon and was a representative in the seventh generation of a family that traces its ancestry back to Christopher Avery, the line coming down through James, Thomas, Abraham, Nathan and William Thomas to George. As a young man the last named came to the west, arriving in Galesburg in 1837. Here he built the second house in what was then known as Log City. Later the place of his abode, now on West Main street, came to be called the Avery farm. There he followed general agricultural pursuits at a time when the most foresighted could not have dreamed that his place would one day be near the very heart of the enterprising city. The lady whom he afterward made his wife came to the west with her brother and mother, settling in Knoxville, where they were married. For many years Mr. Avery continued to engage in general farming but at length retired and took up his abode within the limits of Galesburg, living on North Cherry street. There the fruits of his former toil supplied him with the necessities and comforts of life up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 1st of January, 1884. His wife also died at the Cherry street home. They were members of the First Congregational church, in the work of which they took active and helpful part, Mr. Avery serving as deacon for many years. His political indorsement was given to the republican party. In the family were six children: Robert H., who died September 13, 1892; Mary, the wife of W. R. Butcher, living at Roodhouse, Illinois; John T., who died August 11, 1905, at Galesburg; Cyrus M., Phoebe T., who is now living in Biloxi, Mississippi; and George, also of Biloxi.
Cyrus M. Avery was educated in the public schools of Galesburg and in Knox College, where he completed his course with the class of 1868. He worked with his father on the farm for a time and was early trained to habits of industry and diligence. He afterward engaged in the manufacturing business and made for himself a creditable position in trade circles in his native city. Early in the '70s he joined his brother, Robert Hanneman Avery, in the establishment of a plant for the manufacture of agricultural implements in Galesburg. The brother had been a soldier in the Civil War, was captured and was held as a prisoner at Andersonville, where he spend many otherwise idle hours in drawing in the sand of the prison yard designs of agricultural implements which he began to make soon after his release, the first being a stalk cutter and a corn planter. When the plans of the brothers were perfected for the conduct of an agricultural implement manufactory, they began business under the style of R. H. & C. M. Avery, operating their plant at Galesburg until 1882, when they went to Peoria and made arrangements for removing their factory to the latter city. There the enterprise was developed into a very large corporation known as the Avery Company. In 1883, after the removal of the business to Peoria, the Avery Planter Company was organized with the capital of two hundred thousand dollars. Ten years later the authorized capital was increased to three hundred thousand dollars, and in 1900 the name was changed to the Avery Manufacturing Company, at which time the capital stock was increased to one million dollars. The business continued to grow and is now capitalized for two million, five hundred thousand dollars. The plant is one of the most extensive and prominent productive industries of Peoria, with business connections that reach out to all parts of the world. C. M. Avery continued active in the management and control of the interests at Peoria until 1902, when he returned to his native city and erected here a large, comfortable and attractive modern residence. The remainder of his life was divided between the two cities of Galesburg and Peoria, although he regarded the former as his home.
It was here on the 4th of October, 1877, that Mr. Avery was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Evalena Bartholomew, who was born at Elmwood, Illinois, February 25, 1856, and is a daughter of Luzerne and Sarah Elvira (Payne) Bartholomew. They became the parents of five children: Elvira Princess, born September 25, 1878; George Luzerne, September 12, 1879; Grace Ophelia, October 8, 1883; Harriette, June 20, 1886; and Cyrus Minor, May 29, 1899. The first two were born in Galesburg, the last three in Peoria. George Luzerne Avery is still connected with the Avery Company as its secretary. The enterprise is now a business of mammoth proportions and includes the manufacture of agricultural implements, farm wagons, engines, threshers, engine gang plows, gas tractors and city and farm trucks. While the factory and main office are at Peoria, branch houses are maintained at Omaha, Nebraska; Des Moines, Iowa; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Fargo, North Dakota; Billings, Montana; Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; St. Louis, Missouri; Grand Forks, North Dakota; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Aberdeen, South Dakota.
The family circle was broken by death, when on the 15th of September, 1905, in Galesburg, Cyrus M. Avery passed away. His life has been a credit and honor to the city which had ever honored and respected him. His business career was notable by reason of its successful achievement and the extent of the concern which was developed through the enterprise and under the able direction of himself and brother. He seemed to possess a faculty for devising and executing the right thing at the right time and this was joined to every day common sense. He seemed easily to discriminate between the essential and the non-essential, to see the possibility for the coordination of forces and to use each opportunity to the best advantage. Method and system were ever features of the business, together with the employment of skilled and expert workmen. In matters of judgment Mr. Avery was seldom if ever at fault and what he accomplished represented the fit utilization of the innate powers and talents which were his. As prosperity came to him he continually reached out a helping hand to those less fortunate and his benevolence was manifest in generous support of many worthy public projects and charities. Something of his position in the city of his birth is indicated in the fact that at his demise the year book of Knox College for 1907 bore the following inscription:
"To the memory of
Cyrus Minor Avery,
honored alumnus, valued trustee, successful business man, up-
right and influential citizen; whose singular nobility of charater,
loyal friendship and warm-hearted, open handed generosity, his
Alma Mater holds in grateful and loving esteem,
This Book is Dedicated."
This pictured forth the feeling entertained for him not only in Galesburg and in Peoria but wherever he was known and no higher testimonial of his character could be given than the fact that hew as most honored where best known.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
(transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
Charles D. Clark
Charles D. Clark has occupied a central place on the stage of business activity in Peoria for a number of years. He is today widely known as the president of the Clark-Smith Hardware Company, the president of the Western Stoneware Company, as the vice president of the Clark Coal & Coke Company and vice president of the Horace Clark & Sons Company, dealers in grain, flour and feed. His identification with the hardware trade of this city dates from 1869 and his name is synonymous with the highest standards of commercial ethics. He was born upon a farm in Tazewell county, September 22, 1848, his parents being Horace and Mary E. (Kingsbury) Clark. Genealogical records of the two families are transferring in the paternal line. Charles D. Clark is descended from a certain captain of the Revolutionary war. The Kingsbury and the Clark record shows a lieutenant-colonel of the War for Independence. The children of Charles D. Clark on their mother's side are also descendants of Captain David Blakely, of Connecticut.
Horace and Mary E. (Kingsbury) Clark were farming people of Tazewell county, who, when their son was a youth of thirteen years left the old homestead in Tazewell county and removed to the city of Peoria, so that his preliminary education, which was acquired in the district schools, was supplemented by study in the grade and high schools of this city. The training thus received well qualified him for the practical and responsible duties which have devolved upon him in later life and gradually his broadening experiences have developed his powers and energies until he stands among the most resourceful, capable and representative business men of central Illinois. He crossed the threshold of the business world as bookkeeper for the firm of Ely, Clarke & Company, with whom he remained for several months and then entered the hardware trade in 1869, as partner in the firm of Clark, Quien & Chalmers. On the incorporation of the business in 1888 he entered the corporation under the style of Clark, Quien & Morse and was elected to the presidency of the company, which operated under that name until 1910, when a reorganization was affected under the style of Clark-Smith Hardware Company. In 1903 was erected their present large brick building on Commercial street, which is a four-story structure, one hundred and thirty-one by one hundred and fifty-five feet. There they carry an extensive line of hardware of every description, which they sell to the retail trade, employing 4 traveling salesmen and in connection they are engaged in the manufacturing of eave troughs and conductor pipes. The business in both branches has grown continuously, making theirs one of the leading mercantile and manufacturing establishments of the city. He has largely concentrated his energies along this single line and undoubtedly one of the strong factors of his success is the fact that he has continued in that department of business in which he embarked in early manhood. He has achieved success because he has labored indefatigably and because his energy and perseverance have enabled him to meet competition and overcome all the difficulties and obstacles in his path. Mr. Clark has recently been elected president of the Western Stoneware Company, the largest business of its kind in the world, and will have the full management of his firm.
In 1875 Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Emily Blakesly, of Peoria, a daughter of Joel and Amy Blakesley, and unto them have been born five children; Lucie B., wife of H. L. Parkhurst, of Brooklyn, New York; Marie V. and Richard F., who are living at home; and Horace and Charles, who have passed away. In 1910 Mr. Clark took his wife and children on a trip around the world, being passengers on the ship Cleveland, of the Hamburg-American line, which visited many ports and from these the party made their way to many points of interest in the interior of the countries. Mr. Clark wrote a series of most interesting articles concerning the trip to the Peoria Star. His letters display high literary merit and at the same time indicate a most keen observation and retentive memory. He seems not only to have seen those things which are pointed out to the traveler, but also to have noted many little incidents and customs which indicate something of the life of the people, their habits and trend of thought that does not usually appear in works of travel. From his letters it would appear that he forgets nothing that he has once seen, and he describes with equal clearness the great temples of the peculiar kinds of foods found in the markets of the Orient, the clothing of the people, or a distant mountain range with its lights, shadows and coloring. He was as interested in the mat weaving of Java as in the burials of India and he presents to the reader a vivid picture of each. Day by day brought something new and interesting, all of which he describes most graphically until the reader feels that he himself has looked upon the scene or witnessed the action told. It would be impossible in this connection to quote at length from Mr. Clark's description of the lands visited, but something of his style of writing is gathered from the closing words of one of his letters which read: 'The experiences of such a trip as this are manifold. No attempt has been made to enumerate the many little incidents that enlivened the trip and which will be cherished for years by those who participated. Yet no matter what sights were seen or what lands were visited, no sight could so thrill their hearts and cause the tears of joy to spring unbidden to their eyes as the sight of the dear old flag as it waved a glad welcome from the heights of Manila.
"Never will be forgotten the golden days and the balmy nights when the good ship went gliding smoothly over the tropic seas, where all around, for limitless miles stretched the vast ocean with its mysteries. Deep below the waves lie life and death together; The coral builders at work and women in their last sleep; living fishes and wrecks of ships; lofty mountains, deep valleys and wide deserts; sea mosses, shells and caverns; petrified forests and the mouths of dead volcanoes. Every ideal, every real, every hope, every faith; lessons of courage, heroism, sacrifice; these and a hundred other virtues and glories spring to the mind out of the everlasting fountains of the sea.
"Oh, boundless sweep of restless deep, what secrets dost thou hold
Locked safe within thy heart of hearts through ages manifold."
His powers of description and his ability in story telling, as well as other individual traits of character have made Mr. Clark a valued and well known member of the Creve Coeur and Country Clubs, with both of which he has been identified for some time. He is one of whom the word citizenship is no mere idle term. He has rendered full return for the privileges and opportunities that have been his and in compensation has given faithful and effective service in promoting public progress and advancing the general good in many lines. In whatever condition of life he has been found he has sought for all that is best in American manhood. He believes that every citizen should exercise the right of franchise and, moreover, that each should thoroughly inform himself concerning the political conditions and the significant problems of the age. His mature judgment has led him to support republican principles and while never an office seeker, he has served as chairman of the republican county central commitee. His fellow townsmen recognize his merit and ability and his business colleagues and contemporaries entertain the warmest admiration for his many good qualities.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
(transcribed and submitted by Ellen MacDonald)
Theodore H. Page, M. D.
Dr. Theodore H. Page is junior member of the firm of Kruse & Page, oculists and aurists of Peoria. He is numbered among the alumni of Rush Medical College of Chicago and has been a representative of the medical profession in Peoria since 1906. He was born in Jerseyville, Illinois, March 10, 1875, a son of J. M. and Sarah M. Page, the former well known in journalistic circles. His course was pursued, as previously stated, in Rush Medical College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1897. The following year was spent in special service in the Cook County Hospital and in the Presbyterian Hospital of Chicago, and his varied experiences there made him particularly well qualified for the onerous duties of private practice. He came into contact with the most eminent and capable physicians and surgeons of the city and acquainted himself with their methods. In 1899 he entered upon general practice, opening an office in St. Louis, where he remained until he came to Peoria in 1906. He holds to the highest standards of the profession and has taken post graduate work in some of the best colleges of the country. He is now devoting his time and attention exclusively to the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat and has been very successful as an oculist, aurist and laryngologist. His office is in the Herald-Transcript building and his practice is now very extensive. His suite of rooms is equipped with the latest appliances to further his work.
In 1904 Dr. Page was united in marriage to Miss Mathilda Heidrich, of Peoria, a daughter of Edward C. Heidrich, president of the Peoria Coardage Company, of this city, and they have two children, Frances and Theodore. Dr. Page has high social as well as professional standing and is a member of the Creve Coeur and the Country Clubs. He has passed through various degrees in Masonry to the thirty-second degree in the consistory and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Peoria City Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and is thoroughly conversant with the work of those organizations.
From "Peoria City and County, a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II", The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1912.
DR. L. M. ANDREWS
Dr. L. M. Andrews, a veteran of the Grand Army of the Republic, and one of Oregon City's reputable business men, is a native of Ohio, born in Kent, Portage county, October 16, 1824. His father, Rev. John Andrews, was a Presbyterian minister, born in Connecticut in 1801, and was of Scotch ancestry. Several generations of the family resided in New England. Grandfather Samuel Andrews was a farmer of Connecticut, who removed to Ohio in 1811, settling in the town of Brimfield, and was a pioneer of Ohio. Cleveland was a little village at that time, and was forty miles from them. It was the nearest market. The father of Dr. Andrews arrived in Ohio in his tenth year. He was reared, educated and married here, and latter event taking place when he wedded Miss Charlotte Moore, a native of Massachusetts. They had twelve children, of whom eight are yet living. The Doctor is the oldest of the survivors of the family, and was the second child. He was reared on the farm, and was educated at the public schools and in the Talmage Academy. He read medicine with Dr. Amos Wright, and then attended the medical department of the Western Reserve College, and graduated in the spring of 1852. He began the practice of his profession in Princeville, Peoria county, Illinois, where he practiced continually for twenty-three years, except while acting as Surgeon in the army during the war. He went into the service in the Department of the Tennessee, on the Mississippi river, and in December, 1862, he received his commission as Surgeon in the army, in the Forty-Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and he served with this regiment through all the company's engagements, including the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and all through Banks' Red river campaign, until the expiration of his service, which was in October, 1864, At this time his eyes failed him, and he was permitted to retire from the service. He returned to his home, and after his recovery resumed his practice. Later he removed from Illinois to the town of Lewis, Cass county, Iowa, where he practiced for seventeen years. In his practice he had the treatment of malignant diseases, such as scarlet fever and diptheria, and he contracted erysipelas; and exposure in the cold, while attending his patients night and day during the inclement winters of Iowa, told upon his health, so he came to California, looked that country over, and then came to Oregon, and selected Oregon City as his home. Having led an active existence all his life, he decided to open a drug store in a part of the town where one was needed, on Seventh street. He began business in 1891, and his now doing a successful prescription drug business.
Dr. Andrews was married, in June, 1853, to Miss Fannie G. Robinson, a native of New York, a pleasant little lady, who has made the whole journey of their wedded life a hopeful and happy one, and is still by his side, a faithful helpmate. They have had five children, three sons and two daughters. They lost their son, John K., in this twenty-fourth year, just as he had been admitted to the bar, a promising young lawyer; two of the sons, Forest C. and Edwin B., have pleasant homes of their own, and reside in Oregon City; the daughter, Fannie E., is the wife of Orin H. Wright, and resides in Oregon City; and the daughter Mary Louise, is single and at home with her parents.
The Doctor is a Past Master Mason, and is a member of Meade Post, No. 2, G. A. R. In politics, when a young man he was a Whig, but the great issues which confronted the country made him an ardent Union man and Republican, and his record in that direction is a source of pride to him. During his practice of medicine in Illinois and Iowa, he had a large practice, and did much hard riding night and day to alleviate the sufferings of rich and poor alike, and out of the kindness of his heart, he often treated poor people who had little ability to pay him. He also numbered among his patients many of the best people in the counties in which he practiced. He so conducted his life that he made hosts of warm friends. From all of these he had to break away to spend the remainder of his life in the mild climate of Oregon, in picturesque little Oregon City, where all who know him and his good wife, wish them much happiness.
from : "An illustrated history of the state of Oregon : containing a history of Oregon from the earliest period of its discovery to the present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future, illustrations and full-page portraits of some of its eminent men and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and prominent citizens of to-day" Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1893, p. 729-730.
from the Glasford (IL) Gazette, 1904
Contributed by Dick ParrTHOMAS MINOR BRANSON
The oldest person in the township was the son of Jacob and Polly Branson and was born in Ohio, Dec. 18, 1813 and came to Peoria County in 1841.
He moved with his parents to Indiana when about five years old. They settled in Delaware County where the parents both died. Two brothers, David and Levi, and two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary came to Illinois in the spring of 1841, and Thomas came in the fall of the same year, in company with three other men. They had two horses and the four men took turn about riding and walking. The other three soon after returned to Indiana.
They struck the Illinois River about Ottawa, where Branson took a boat and went to Havana where he expected to find his brothers and sisters. He walked about twelve miles up the river on the Mason County side to where they had taken a claim. About two months later they all came up to Kingston where an Uncle John Allen was running a ferry.Kingston then consisted of two parts called Palmyra and Kingston with a tract of six acres between, owned by Dr. Seeley. The buildings consisted of a saw mill and three houses. DuMell & Whitlow operated the saw mill. Mr. Branson stopped on the Tazewell side with his uncle. His brother and sisters soon after went back to Indiana. One brother had died since coming to Illinois. About the next year Mr. Allen went back to Ohio and Mr. Branson operated the ferry for four or five years. About this time he was converted and joined the M. E. Church and as there was quite a lot of Sunday travel across the river, he sold out rather than work on the Sabbath.
He then bought five yoke of oxen and hauled coal to the river and sold to boats. Jesse Eggman and family lived on what is now known as the Robinson place east of Kingston and the ferry was know as Eggman’s Ferry. After Mr. Eggman’s death his widow married a Mr. Bush, who soon after again left her a widow. Later she married Thomas Robison and for the third time is a widow. Mrs. Robison is still living and is the only person living, at least so far as known, who lived at or near Kingston when Mr. Branson came there.
About this time Mr. Strauther leased the mill and also began to mine some coal. Mr. Branson worked for him some time as kind of bank boss and foreman, having charge of selling of the coal to the boats and would also go up the river with a barge as far as Ottawa. The boats at first used wood altogether, but about this time began to mix in some coal and Mr. Branson hauled the first coal down with oxen.
In 1854 Mr. Branson was married to Miss Jane Alders, to whom three children were born, Isabelle, who married Luther Couch; Mary, who married Thomas Couch; and George, who died when three months old.
After his marriage, Mr. Branson lived in Kingston two years, then bought 40 acres on the hill north of town and built a log house. He cleared it off and farmed here over 20 years.
In 1861 his wife died, leaving him with two girl, ages 6 and 3 years. When old enough they kept house for their father until both were married. Mr. Branson then sold his farm to the Kingston Coal Co. and went to live with his son-in-law Luther Couch, remaining there twelve years, since which time he has made his home at his daughter, Mrs. Thomas Couch, coming with them to Glasford about seven years ago.
Mr. Branson bought a house and lot of Col. Fahnestock, which is now occupied by Mrs. Slone.
In politics he was a whig and voted twice for Henry Clay. He afterwards voted the republican ticket the first president which he helped to elect being President Harrison. A great feature in this campaign, as many of our readers will remember was a log cabin on wheels with a coonskin stretched over one end and a barrel of cider and a few goards. These always went with the procession. He now votes the prohibition ticket and says he wants to live long enough to see the women vote on saloons.
Mr. Branson is a very zealous Christian and has been steward and class leader in the M. E. Church and is a regular attendant at both churches.
Any number of incidents might be related of his boyhood days that would be of especial interest to the young. He was raised on the frontier of Indiana and the Indian boys were his playmates. These boys were experts with the bow and arrow and the white men would put up small coin to be given boys who could knock it down with an arrow. The coin always went to some Indian boy.
The first Indians he remembers seeing came to their cabin when his parents were away. The children were afraid and fastened the door. The Indians peeped in through the cracks of the logs and scared the children, yet they were friendly Indians and would not harm them.
When yet a small boy his parents were moving to another part of Indiana and his shoes were forgotten, he and a brother were sent back after them. Before overtaking the wagon they were intercepted by some Indian dogs and made a circuitous route through the woods and brush to avoid the dogs.
The boys today who suddenly came upon a wild bear in the woods could imagine what Mr. Branson’s thoughts were under a similar experience.
Mr. Branson was never much of a hunter but killed two deer across the river from Kingston. Among the early teachers at Kingston’s first log school house, Mr. Branson remembers Miss Lizzy Ashby, and among the ministers Rev.’s Moss and Ritchie.
Pekin was the Post Office where the Kingston people got there mail.
Having always being an industrious man, he finds it tiresome to do nothing, so of late years he has cut and sewed more carpet rags than all the ladies sewing societies combined. He also takes pleasure in helping the neighbors wash, turning the machine just for exercise.
In a subsequent issue, the following was added:
Uncle Tommy desires us to add to his biography a few things that will be of interest to some.
His first transgression or wrong doing that he remembers although he was but four years old. He stepped on his grandmother’s pet chicken and ran to get away. His grandfather saw him running and knew the cause at once. “Ah, there goes the rascal that killed the chicken.” he said.
He bought 160 acres of land on the Mackinaw for $1.25 per acre and sold it later clearing about $2000. He sold the 40 acres above Kingston to Jos. Brown for $2000 and had saved from his labor and accumulated in personal property about $4000. He gave his daughters each $1000 and has given to the church and missionary causes about $1500 and with other charities and bad debts he has not much left now.
He advises the boys to not get into the habit of strong drink.
He now has two children, ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Uncle Tommy says he set out fifty years ago as a pilgrim seeking a better land and is not tired of the way yet.
WILLIAM CRAMER
Contributed by Dick Parr
It gives us pleasure to place on these pages the record of the life and to present the portrait of this venerable pioneer of Peoria County, who is numbered among its wealthy and influential farmers and stock dealers. He is one of the old settlers of Trivoli Township, where his farming interests have been centered for many years.
John Cramer, the father of William, was a native of Pennsylvania, a son of one of its farmers who was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and in early manhood went to Ohio on foot and settled ten miles east of Columbus as one of the early pioneers of Franklin County. He cleared away the forest and broke the soil of one hundred and sixty acres of land on which he had a hewed log house for a dwelling. There he tilled the soil and raised stock until 1839, when he again took up the westward march and, coming to Illinois, located in Farmington, where he rented and farmed until he settled permanently on ninety-five acres of land that he bought on section 8, Trivoli Township. This was partly developed and he continued its improvement until his premature death, at the age of sixty-two years, in 1845. He was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and while a resident of Ohio was a member of the United Brethren Church.
The maiden name of the mother of William was Catherine Cobell, who was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Jacob Cobell, of that State, who became an early settler and a farmer in Franklin County, Ohio, where he died. She resided on the homestead for a few years after her husband died and then removed to Farmington where her death occurred at the ripe old age of seventy-seven years. Of the eleven boys born of her wedded life, eight grew to maturity: Jacob, who died in Trivoli Township; William; Daniel, a resident of Iowa; Isaac, who lives in Livingston County; Samuel Keys, who died in Cambridge; Irving, a resident of Cambridge, and Wesley, who lives at Nashville, Tenn.
June 26,1818, William opened his eyes to the light of the world in the primitive home of his parents, amid the primeval forests of Franklin county, Ohio. When he was only a small boy his services were required in the labors of the farm, and he was early taught to reap with a cradle, and to carry on agriculture generally after the primitive methods of yore. The schoolhouse in which he gained a knowledge of the contents of the English reader and the spelling book and learned to wield the goose-quill pen, was built of logs, had slab benches and puncheon floor, and greased paper served instead of glass in the opening that was cut for a window, and the establishment was heated by fire in a rude fireplace. His great delight in his youth was in hunting foxes, turkeys and other wild animals with hounds, and he became an expert in the use of the rifle, and is still the champion shot here, and was never beaten in a contest but once.
William remained at home with his mother until twenty-six years of age. In October of 1839 he left Ohio with a six-horse team, covered wagon and carriage, beginning his eventful journey to the new home on the wild prairies of this state. He was five weeks on the way, over the rough roads and the crude pole-bridges, crossed the Wabash at Terre Haute, and came directly to Farmington, enjoying himself all the way by hunting. He remained some two years in Farmington, and during the second summer engaged in chopping wood for one month, which was the only time he ever worked out. He continued with his father until 1846, when he became the possessor of eighty acres of raw land, he having previously rented land of his father. He located on this place, building a log house, and for twelve months engaged in drawing logs. He used two horses to break his land, turning two acres of the prairie sod each day. He worked hard and obtained money enough to buy forty acres adjoining his first purchase which he improved and finally, in 1860, replaced the log dwelling that he had constructed himself, by his present commodious residence. He built a barn, in 1848, of hard wood, which was the largest in the township at that time.
William made his money principally by raising corn, grain and hogs, and finally bought of his brother ninety-five acres of the old homestead, for which he paid $6,000. He kept it ten years and then sold it. At one time he owned a lot in Peoria. He bought an acre of land in Farmington and built a house on it for his mother, which he still owns. His farm is hedged, has a fine orchard and is amply supplied with small fruits, and has pleasant groves upon it. He rents his land, but still raises some full-blooded Poland-China hogs and good cattle. He used to raise fine horses and has a standard bred colt, "Mattie Hatton," and he used to have stallion roadsters.
In 1881, when the Iowa Central Railroad was being built, he was solicited to use his influence, and was very active in securing its passage through this township. He was the first man that put down $200 on the subscription paper. The company wanted $12,000 from Trivoli Township, and after obtaining $5,000 they called upon the people to raise more, then wanted $1,000 before building the road. He was one of three who raised the necessary $1,000-John Larkin and Thomas Higgs being the others. The company put a flag station here and the Division Superintendent named it “Cramer” in honor of our subject as it is located on his farm. A few months later they secured the location of a post-office here, thus making it a regular station.
About this time, William built a store and leased it, the building costing $2,000. He then put up another building, intending to rent it to some one to go into the grain business. For two years Mr. Cramer managed the store himself, but has since rented it. He has ever manifested a marked interest in whatever enterprise would promote the welfare of township and county. He gave right of way to the railroad across his land and subscribed $533.33 1/3, which would amount to about $2,000 in all. In politics he has always been loyal to the Democratic party and was at one time a delegate to a convention. He has served on the Petit Jury but would never accept public office.
August 17, 1843 was the date on which the marriage of our subject to Miss Ann Rogers was solemnized. She was born near Belfast, Ireland, October 24, 1824, and was a child when she came to Philadelphia with her father, John Rogers, who was a native of the same place as herself. His wife died in Ireland and he came to this country in 1826, with his little daughter, and made his home in Philadelphia where he engaged in weaving in a factory until coming to Illinois in 1835. He located at Harkness Grove, Trivoli Township, on three acres of land and engaged in weaving. He prospered at his trade until he lost his health and died. He was a Presbyterian in his religious belief. He was twice married, the maiden name of his first wife, Mrs. Cramer's mother, being Mary A Nicholson. His second wife was Eliza McMurdy, who died in Trivoli Township in 1886. There were two children born of the first marriage-Ann and an infant. The following are names of the children of the second marriage-John, James, Mathew William, Samuel George and Mary. Mrs. Cramer lived in Philadelphia until she was more than ten years old, and then came by boat to Peoria County with her father and lived in Trivoli Township until her marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Cramer have had five children: Arthur; Margery, who married Joseph Miller, a farmer of Utica, Neb.; Royal, who lives at home; Calvin, at home, a graduate of a college at Quincy, Illinois and at one time Township Clerk for four years. Arthur was only eighteen years old when he enlisted, in August 1862. in the Eighty sixth Illinois Infantry, Company D, for a period of three months. Soon after enlistment he was taken sick and died, in December 1862, in Nashville, Tenn., where he lies sleeping his last sleep, having sacrificed he young life for his country. Silas pre-empted a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Kansas. He was taken sick there and started for his old home, but on the way to the station, thirty miles distant, he died on the Kansas prairies, being only nineteen years old.
Source Unknown
Date Unknown
WILLIAM ESSEX
Contributed by Dick ParrSoperville
Knox County, Illinois Henderson Township September 18, 1893A Sketch of William Essex Life -- wrote by himself for Thos. G. Willstead
I was born in Virginia, Albermarle County, November 5, 1814 about two miles from Little York in the same County. Nelson County was joining on the west perhaps one and one-half miles. Charlottesville was the County seat. Richmond, eighty miles east of the County seat, was the Capitol of the state.
Father was down to Camp Culman guarding the sea coast when I was born. He was discharged November 10, 1814 on being 45 years of age.
I went to school at four different houses in Albermarle Co. The last school, in 1830, I ciphered over one-half through Pike’s Arithmetic. That year I went on a trip to Richmond as a wagon boy with David Cooper and another teamster or two. It was at the basin where they was unloading stone coal out of a canal boat. They had dirt In the boat and a coal fire on it, and were baking corn bread on the coal fire. That was the first time I ever saw stone coal burn. Coming home some of the teamsters wanted to play a 4 hand game of cards, I held a hand and my partner told me what card to put down. That was my first and last game. I don’t know whether we won or lost.
The great wagon road from Richmond crossed the Blue Ridge at the Rockfish Gap to go to the County seat of Augusta, Co., Staunton. South of the gap was a rock as big as a field, higher than any trees on the mountain. This rock was called Humpback Rock. A few times before the fall of 1830 I came across the Blue Ridge with father or some of my older brothers horseback on a sack of grain to get chopped or ground to meal. Waynesborrough was west of New River and there was a very large mill on it and mills all along down the river. One mill was on a spring, down the river and one up the river on a spring branch where we always got grinding done.
Father sold his farm and prepared to move to Putman County, Illinois. This fall, 1830. Benjamin Essex and family and Thos. Essex and family in a 3-horse wagon. Father’s family, John and family, David Cooper and wife, which was my only sister Eleanor. These made up the company to leave our old home East of the Blue Ridge. Started Oct. 3rd after burning the papers pertaining to Virginia, but father brought his discharge with him. Coming through Waynesborrow and Staunton in Augusta Co. we soon fell in with another mover going to Missouri. We had a tent and camped out. Some of them slept in the wagons. John went off the road to see his father-in-law’s folks in West Virginia. Nancy Grass, his sister-in-law followed and overtook us. She came the balance of the way. We came through Louisburg, Green Brier County, then west along the right side of New River down by the falls. Then the same water is the great Kannawwa River. We stopped of a Saturday night at a salt works. On this side was a burning spring, all fire and no water. We crossed at Charleston come through the valley on the left side of the River and come to the Ohio at the town of Galiopolia. In a free state it looked odd to see no black folks at work.
At Clecothe on Miame or Siota River they was making a canal through the town. Eleven miles this way was Old Towne, by name, Father’s cousin Joe lived there. They all stopped and washed. His wife had died but a little while before (so sister Eleanor said in Wyoming last week when I was to see her). Don’t recollect the town near the west edge of Ohio where we left the state and come into Indiana. We got on the great National Turnpike and come on that to the Capital, Indianapolis. The road was not finished to the Capital. We crossed White Water and come through black swamps, plenty of beach timber and nuts there. The next great river was the Wabash. There was a town on the east side of the river. The river was so low that we forded it. The river was not the state line there. After we come up the bluff and traveled some miles we come into Illinois, staid all night at Danville. After a while we got on some level prairie. I recollect, after traveling a good distance on the prairie of looking back to the timber to see how far down the hill it was to the timber and behold, I could see the road all the way to the timber and it looked uphill all the way. I looked sideways and it looked uphill every way. The prairie was burned and there was plenty of prairie chickens. I had walked most of the way from Va. and here was a chance to run some and see something as it looked a little distance. We frequently saw deer run out of some hazel thickets. Father and John went to a small thicket. One went around the right side, the other around the left side of the thicket. A big buck run out and both shot at it. One didn’t hear the other. Both front legs were broke. John cut his throat. The buck weighted 155 lbs. with skin on. The other side of Blooming Grove we saw a dead prairie wolf by the road. We come to Bloomington with one store in it. Next was Mackinaw town, then the Little River. Then came to Illinois River, crossed at Clark’s Ferry 1mile below Peoria. There was one store, a frame building, but no other frame, brick or store houses in the town. All were log houses. On Water St. part of Fort Clark was chopped down but the balance was standing Nov. 18, 1830, Silvenus Moore met us here and came with us to our journey’s end. We staid that night in Princes Grove at Wesley Miner’s. He married Nancy Grass. Nov. 19, 1830. We stopped with Isaac B. Essex in Putnam Co, Hennepin County seat was 40 miles away on the Illinois River.
Father’s family 4
Benjamin’s family 3
Brother Thomas’ family 4
John’s family including Nancy 4
David Cooper’s family 2
Brother Isaac’s family 6
21In all twenty-one to live in one large log house! Before the ground got too hard froze, Isaac planted poles in the ground in a circle and spread two tear of mattresses that the Indians had left there on them making an Indian wigwam with hole in the top for window and chimney. This was for some of us to stay in of day times.
Cooper went to a mill in Fulton Co. 40 miles away and got grinding done. Had to buy the grain for which he paid 24 deer. There was a little snow on the ground. Isaac and father went hunting. Father killed a big buck for Christmas. Thomas went and bought and brought home dressed hogs at $1.50 per 100. It kept on snowing every few days or nights until the snow was too deep to go from one settlement to another. Isaac had sod (sown) corn so when the meal was all gone Isaac put his hominy mortar in the wigwam. There was a long wooden pestle to reach up through the window and on the end of a spring pole. The pestle had a hole in it a piece above the mortar and a handle like a chair round put through to the middle of the pestle. Father stood one side of the mortar and I the other. That was our daily business, except Sunday, to pound corn to meal and sieve it out with a raw hide stretched over a hoop. Holes were burned through with the prongs of a fork. Father done all the sieving. The coarse was put back and other corn with it and beat again until we had meal enough to sieve again. If father wanted to make hominy he would select corn and put water in the mortar with the corn and pound it to pieces. When the bran all come off, father would put the pounded corn in a tray and pitch it up in the air and catch it when it came down. The wind of the corn falling would blow off all the bran. That was our part of making hominy. It had to be boiled.
During the winter of 1830, there came a crust on the snow. After It quit snowing the turkeys died. The prairie chickens lived. Some of the wolves starved and froze and live deer was very scarce. Isaac had been to Vandalia and brought a quarter of land for father part on both sides of the Spoon River. In March 1831 father built a double log cabin with a cover between, one for his family and one for David Cooper’s family. David Cooper and brother David was teamsters to brake prairie on Spoon River bottom. Father and I cut the rail timber to fence his farm. This winter a Blackhawk war was threatened at Rock Island. The settlers built a fort twix Spoon River and Indian Creek and built a shed. I think most of the neighbors moved into it. In a few days we heard peace was made and all went back to their farms again. Somebody went up Spoon River and pulled off his boots and coming back saw his tracks and reported Indians. Cooper came in and said that Indians were up Spoon River. I took a hatchet and a hunk of bacon and run south stopping at Prince’s and reported Indians. Two men come over and found that they were sock tracks and not moccasin tracks. Regulars and some militia was called out. A Blackhawk party went up Rock River. Col. Stillman followed them and got whipped. Father and I was planting corn west of Indian Creek. Thomas Owen came and told father of the battle. We staid and finished planting the sod corn for the neighbor. The Indians kept killing somebody and Father and Isaac moved to Peoria for safety. We got Dr. Langworthy's house to live in. John went across the river. The 20th August 1832, the war ended at the battle of Badax in Wisconsin up the Mississippi River. We all came home again. That year Isaac engaged my board for wood chopping and choreing and work Saturdays and go to school in Peoria. I had my tuition to pay for the winter of ‘32 and ‘33.There was about 30 scholars all that Peoria could furnish.
February or March 1834 1 wanted to hunt muskrat for their fur. A man by the name of Vandrough was furnishing some hunters for Winnebago Swamp. I started out and found him at Henderson Hill west of Henderson. He promised to send me to a lake up Rook River. When we, Wm. Owen and me, got there two trappers had trapped them out. We staid but a few days up Rock River. I worked for Vandrough until he would let me come home, which was March 20th. I got to Redoak Grove, Bishop Hill now, after dark and camped the balance of the night, Started early next morning and came to Fraker’s Grove and got breakfast at John Fraker’s then to brother Isaac's and father’s.
After I got home I was sick with a fever. It turned to fever and ague and lasted two or three weeks and generally let up until I recruited enough to raise fever again. It lasted until fall. The 4th of July of this year the folks built a school house and I was one of the scholars., This fall or winter I had a chance to go to Winnebago Swamps and hunt for Conrad Leek on the 1/2s. I made just about the same as working by the month.
The Sept. of 1835 I went to the lower end of Rock Island County to mow hay for brother Isaac on the river bottom and boarded at Wm. Sparks until Isaac would come out to take care of the hay. I mowed and put up about two ton a day, all blades shoulder high. Isaac and David come after awhile and brought plenty of provisions. The 5th of Oct. the hay was not all stacked and it rained, hailed and snowed, but we had good weather after that. David and I come home by the way of Rock and Gree Rivers and over to Spoon River and down that to our old home on the Spoon River.
The 5th of November I was 21 years old. This fall or rather winter three of us, Simeon, Ellis and I, went to Winnebago Swamps again to hunt fur. We built a shanty and staid until March. We caught many mink as well as muskrats. We done well. This winter 1835-36 the first was the coldest day of the winter. These times I worked for father when he wanted me to. Copper built a frame house close by father’s and lived in it and tended the farm. July of 1836 I helped cut and score timber for Conrad Leek above Centerville on Walnut Creek twix Lafayette and Victoria. It was a saw and grist mill, and the first one on the creek.
Next spring, I took a claim on Congress land 12 N4 East Sec. 22 (took timber on 33 of same township). Got a cabin raised and got the lumber and clapboards from father.
Went to quarterly meeting in July In the first school house In Stark County and enquired of Adam Perry what I should do to be saved. He said to join the church on probation as he had done and if they called for mourners that P.M. to go forward. I took his advice. Perry was M.E. class leader for the class of that school house. Southeast of Victoria there was a school house built called Salem in the same township. That was one preaching place. Three Robinsons and an Aldridge family moved into this settlement, also a local preacher named Charles Bostic. They were mostly Methodist. I went to Salem to meeting, too, in 12 North 4 East Knox County, Ill. My probation membership was moved from the school house In Stark County to Salem west of my house. In 1837 I got some land broke and planted sod corn but didn’t fence the land in. The cattle tramped the sod well. Next spring 1839, I fenced about 20 acres of my homestead on Sec. 22 broke and harrowed the sod and got it in good order for corn. This was a very late spring.
John Jordan was circuit preacher for this Circuit, part of Knox and part of Peoria Counties. This spring, say in April and May, the circuit preacher got a lay off. In May there was an appointment for a camp meeting near Farmington west side. John Jordan lived N. W. of Farmington on the Prairie. He invited me to came down to the meeting. (Sat. qr. meeting Conference.) (Wm. Clark told me years after that it was Friday 6 May 1838.) I started to the meeting, got to Farmington in the P.M., got a new pair of shoes and threw the old ones away. Then started to the Campground. I met a man, by the name of Williams, coming out of the tent singing, “ He has taken my feet out of the mire and the clay and established ‘em on the rock of ages.” I knew him and he knew me. I asked him how it was that he was playing fiddle when I saw him last. He said he was a backslider. Then he asked If I had a home here. I said, “No.” So, he invited me with him and said he would get me a home. I was introduced to a brother Parmer, a local preacher with 1 front finger off at the knuckle. I was made as welcome in his home as if it had been my mother’s tent. I was offered a chair and invited to set down. I expect I looked serious. He asked me if I wanted religion. I said yes that was what I had come for. He said kneel down and we will pray for you. So, I kneeled down by the chair and I think 2 or 3 of the family prayed for me. I did not get religion then, but after we got up from our knees he advised me what to do. He told me to go set in the alter when an Invitation was given to come forward for prayers, I said I would. So when the bugle sounded for night meeting, I went and sat in the alter on the bench just in front of the stand. The preacher read, sung and took his tax. I don’t know what the tax was. The stand was facing east. Lots of tallow candles were burning on the trees in the alter. I was the only person In the alter. The preacher was preaching Jesus and Jesus appeared like a shadow at my right side. I embraced him. All my sorrow and condemnation left me, not a candle waved and all was peace and joy for me but not enough to make any noise about or disturb preaching. When preaching was ended and an invitation to be prayed for given I took my handkerchief and swung it to and fro saying "Children of the Heavenly King as we journey let us sing,” and kneeled down. The man that had charge took me by the arm and went to another bench with two other young men. I staid a while on my knees praying. Then I sat on the bench. The officer asked me if I had religion. I said, "yes”, while the preacher was preaching. Then why did you come here to got more religion. Then I knelt down and prayed for more religion. When meeting was dismissed I went to brother Parmer’s. O, the joy in knowing my sins forgiven and me a subject of heaven. Next morning the people looked lovely. The trees looked different. I went to see John Jordan the circuit preacher. It was the first time I saw him since I had got to the camp meeting. I told him that I was at the mourning bench last night and there was no mourning there for me. He said,"Just discharge every duty and the path of the righteous will shine more and more unto the perfect day”. I was astonished to think that there was more happiness than I then enjoyed, but if it was scripture, it was true.
I attended all the public meetings Saturday and done some praying in secret. Sunday Wm. Clark preached. This day I attended the meeting also. It was published that the camp meeting would brake up Monday morning 29th day of May 1838. I went to see brother John Monday morning if was right for me to take sacrament. He said, “By all means, don’t let a duty slip.” I didn’t know it was my duty to commemorate the Lord’s supper. After preaching this morning the sacrament was offered. The table was north and south. The Elder and preachers was on the west side of the table so we facing west to commemorate the broken body and shed blood of Christ. When I was kneeling down with my eyes shut. I saw in my mind as plain as a picture on the wall Jesus on the cross and it was for me he shed his blood and died on the cross. When I swallowed the bread and wine the feeling was like a shock of electricity for speed, but love was burning in my heart and staying there. After meeting was dismissed. I started for Stark County to brother Geo. Farris. The house that we all stayed in the winter of 1830 and 1831. I went by where Yates City now stand and after passing a few miles about opposite to Elmwood, to best I know, there was not a house with any body living in it in sight. There was a field down to the east fenced with rails. There the circumstance came in my mind about the rich man and Lazuras, the beggar. While the rich man was begging father Abraham to send Lazuras to his father’s house to warn his five brothers that they come not to this place of torment. Father Abraham answered, “They have Moses and the Prophets let them hear them. If they will not hear Moses and the prophets they would not be persuaded if one rose from the dead.” I stopped in the road with my coat on my left arm, looked up and said, "Lord, I will hear Moses and the Prophets. I will obey the Scriptures. When I thought of walking I stepped on the ground just as I had done but I want almost like cailing (fast walking). I had come out of Fulton County into Knox County west of Prince’s Grove, then into Stark County across Spoon River and up on the right side until 2 or 2 1/2 miles below Wyoming to Bro. Geo. Farris. When I stopped in the door and faced the clock it was only 3 o’clock in the P.M. I staid all night at bro. Farris. I was asked to attend family prayers which was the first time I was asked to pray after I got religion.
Next morning I went to father’s borrowed a horse of David Cooper to mark off corn land. Brother David went with me and helped mark out and plant corn. After we had this land marked out we left the horse in the field. He jumped out. We supposed the horse had gone back to Cooper’s. We planted my corn the 1st and 2nd day of June 1838. I talked with David about reading the testament and seeking religion. He promised to stay at home the next Sunday and read the testament. When Jordan came on the circuit again I went with him to Stark County, by the way of Lafayette, and after preaching we went down to just above the mouth on the right bank of Spoon River. And I was baptized by John Jordan in Spoon River.
Father had heard of a horse took up at Chillicothe, Peoria County. He loaned me a horse and some money to go and get the horse, if it was Cooper’s. It thundered and hailed some before I got to Chillicothe. ‘Twas all joy for me to look on the clouds and see the I lightning descend to the earth. When I got to Chillicothe it was Cooper’s horse. He had swam Lake Peoria, just above town and landed in the swamp. He could not travel. He came back to the lake and swam back to this side (Peoria County). He had come from Ohio. Cooper had traded for him. I had to pay for taking up and keeping the horse. I came home with him next day (Tuesday). That was very dry spring, as well as backward. I think it was about 3 weeks after my corn was planted before It rained.Sometime this season I heard of Barney Frail’s death on the left side of Walnut Creek above Centerville. He died from the effects of toothache. He and Hugh both had lived in sight of father’s on the other side of the Spoon River. I dreamed that I was at his wake and his corps was in the coffin, but the lid was off and plenty of candles in room burning. His wife was crying and lamenting for fear that her husband was not happy. I undertook to console her and her husband was a member of a Christian (Catholic) Church. She could have that much hope that her husband was happy. Just then, Barney raised up in the coffin in a sitting posture. His wife jumped and embraced him. He shone brighter than all the candles. She asked him if he was happy. He said yes he had gone to Heaven. I dreamt on that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him. Here is a Catholic gone to heaven from a church where we would least look for a Christian. (I was cured of sectarianism).
The Sept. of this year I got some work mowing and making hay for John Foster northwest of Victoria. He had only one side of his farm fenced. The stock was watched off the other side. Foster had been to Fourman grove for a load of wood. He took a boy with him. While chopping wood he struck a big lick and a twig caught the ax and turned it so that he cut off the outside of his foot back to a little front of his ankle. The foot was not yet entirely well. There were 3/4 of a pound setting on the mantle dried. I have forgot the day of the month that the eclipse was on the sun. The sun was all darkened, but there was a bright ring all around the edge of the sun.
In the month of October I proved preemption. Mr. Stewart had proved up. I and Mr. Stewart started to Quincy to the land office to enter a homestead for both of us. Mine was 80 acres. Stewarts was 160. 1 staid to attend sale to buy some timber land. 80 at public sale. I got some work with a farmer gathering corn and that was my boarding place while attending land sale. Winter set in before we left Quincy. Several neighbors were at Quincy buying Congress land. I came home with some of them. They had a wagon. I think it was after the 10th of November when we all got home from attending land sales. Winter set in before we left Quincy.
My corn was good. I gathered and penned it in a rail pen. Next spring two men with families entered some land in the barrens. Benjamin Young and Winsent Tapp both built and settled on their land. Each had some girls. Tapp was from Virginia, to Ohio and then to Knox County, Ill. Tapp was the nearest neighbor so I got acquainted with them especially Mary Louisa who was just past 18. We agreed and on the 9th day of May 1839 we was married. This was a very early spring. We could mow grass for horses on our wedding day in the sloughs. Next day, 10th David Cooper moved us to my homestead on Sec. 22. This year brother David went back to Virginia where we moved from. Brother Joseph lived in Waynesborrow on this side of the Blue Ridge. He had married again. That fall he came with his family to Stark Co. when David came home.
I was very fond of hunting them times. I went to southwest Mo. to see some friends and found the game so plenty there that I was anxious to sell out and go where game was plenty.July 15, 1840 our first child was born and here I give all their births:
Elizabeth July 15, 1840I sold out to Taber my next neighbor north and moved 1841 on brother Isaac’s farm in Rock Island County. In the spring of 1842 I and Wesley Blacke started west to trap for beaver. We got to Linn County with a pair of oxen and wagon. There we found a friend. Made a canoe. Left the oxen with his cattle and launched our canoe in Cedar River. The current was so strong our traveling was slow. We met some trappers coming down from where we wanted to go. They had been there early and if they could not make it pay, no used of our ascending the river further. Before they was out of sight down stream we turned about and come with them to where our canoe was launched and had friend Cress come and haul our canoe home. We staid a while and each took up a claim on Congress land. When I got home In Rock, Island Co., Louisa had earned $5 weaving. I had to sell our soillet to pay ferriage across the river into Ill. again. My father-in-law had compromised with Taber for me to take my land back so I had to come to Knox Co. on my old homestead and give up my claim on Congress land in Blackhawk. This year 1842 and along later was hard times for money and grain was cheap. One of these falls was dry and the rivers low so almost no shipping up stream in the Ill. River, especially. Salt was very scarce. A man Jake Emery on Walnut Creek turned out his hogs. No Salt in Peoria so no packing pork there. Peter Miner went to Chicago that fall and brought away 2 barrels of Salt and sold 1 bbl. for 25 dollars and was offered 25 dollars for the other bbl. but would not sell it.
Eliza Jane October 24, 1841
Sophia and Maria March 15, 1844
Samuel September 5, 1846
Martha August 3, 1848
Isabell June 7,1850
Mary Frances December 1, 1852
Hiram and Biram April 3, 1855
Elenor May 11, 1857
Wm. Henry March 15, 1859
Angeline and George September 23, 1861About 1849 I sold the homestead to R. H. Tapp and went in with A. J. Tapp to make brick in Percerfor Township. I traded for 40 acres of land there worked one year and sold the brick. Made another kiln next year 1850. No sale for them. A. J. Tapp come to Henderson Grove and worked some for R. Hoops(?) making bricks. Feb. 1851 I moved to Cubbageville to make bricks again on Gid Pitman’s land.
In Feb. 1852 we moved back to Vincent Tapp’s. That year Vincent and I was in partner ship farming my father-in-law’s farm. I worked the summer of 1852 for A. J. Tapp brick making by job and day. In the summer Elder Barry preached in Galesburg first Baptist Church. I used to go to meetings of Sundays and some of nights. One day Brown got a pit of clay 6,000(?). Next day I carried off 1000 tips twix breakfast and supper and went to meeting in Galesburg that night and back afoot after meeting. Next season we went on partners. He bought a house and put it up close (East) of his for me to live in. In 1853 we started making brick In partnership in Henderson township part of Sec.21. Andrew J. Tapp owned the land. We done good business this year making and selling brick. When fall came Tapp had a good span of horses and wagon wanted to farm. I advised him to go to Iowa and settle on congress land. We bought the 37 acres that we lived on and A. J. Tapp moved to Iowa, Blackhawk Co. I made preparation for making brick; chopping and getting up wood for burning brick with next season. I hired a good set of hands, mostly Irish. I had good luck making brick this season (1854). In the fall of this year Tapp came in from Iowa so I was able to pay him all in gold for the land (tax title) 300 dollars. Times was good and paper money mostly in circulation.
This was the fall that the C. B. and Q. R.R. connected from Chicago and Quincy. I was going to Faulkner’s crossing and saw a train in the field loading up ties. It was the first R.R. train I ever saw. So I jumped over the fence and run and caught the car and shook it and told it I had caught it. I had run down two horses and a steer and had caught. After this the Burlington branch of the railroad was made. Then the Peoria R.R. was built.
About Christmas 1854 the weather was mild and on until 19th of Jan. then it snowed and blowed and the roads and deep cuts in the R.R. snowed in. Some of the snow had to be shoveled out. The snow plow was not here then.
This year ,1855, I done well brick making. The summer was dry. We dug another well for the brickyards and made more bricks then we did the year before. The winter of 1855 & ‘56 I bought some timber and chopped it for burning brick with the season of 1856. I wanted to make double the brick and clear double that I cleared the summer before. but the sales slacked up and prices went down some so when business started the spring of 1857 my creditors commenced suing me so I went in partners with my hands and sold the oxen to H. Maxwell. Reserved the use of them to work that summer. We only made one big brick kiln and I was sold out all the law would take from me. I assigned my interest in the kiln to a creditor until he got his pay and then to another until he got his. The boys all got their share of brick or cash for them as they were sold. This ended my brick making for a while here.
This fall 1857 Nov. 19 Eliza Jane was married to Charles Howe. He was a farmer, brick layer and plasterer. This fall Adams started a coal mine on Sec. 21 and Tryon Sears started one on the other side of the creek. Adams worked his slope until 1st of Jan. 1858. He failed and his carpenters took the bank to got something for what Adams owed them. Before Adams failed I stuck a pick in my ankle that kept me housed 2 weeks. When Adams failed Mike Shay and I bought Wm. Cowley’s tools and worked one of the woons (i.e. Cowley’s). We worked until the bank shut down then I bought Michael’s half of the tools.
The spring of 1858 was a very early spring. I was planting potatoes for Geo. Shute. Had the job done and was sitting in Shute’s house, heard it thunder, looked and saw his wife coming home from my house running. I started to go home just in time to be with the children before the storm stuck. The top of the chimney and most of the roof blow off. My wife was visiting that day 13 or 14 of May. 0, it rained and hailed, especially. That night a number of hail showers came. The creek rose from one bank to the other. The house over the slope blew down and washed below the road. I got a job taking the lumber out of the drift after the water went down. That summer I worked some for Mr. Parson towards Center Point. He said the water was three rails high on his fence. In that fall I got some work in Tryon’s and Sear’s Coal Bank, a slope. We pushed the coal out and unloaded it at the dump. Three cents a bu. was the price. for digging coal at this bank. Smith and Griffin of Galesburg opened up the old slope that Adams had dug. I recollect that I and Levi Casson worked some on this slope. The entry was run a long ways from the mouth of the slope. At the time of the rebellion I think it was, they had a shaft ahead of the south end of the entry and had a house with a boiler in it over the shaft only had one cage and a brake on it. One part of the shaft was left large enough for a big steam pump. The cars was large they would hold 8 bu. of coal. Thomas Allen sunk a shaft 16 feet on the south creek north of the five corners, Bandy’s land. I worked some in that shaft too.
This year, 1856, about 5th May all the little fruit froze. These was Democrat times. Geo. Buchanan was elected 1856 and took his seat 1857. Money was scarce and wages poor. I remember a years work in Allen’s bank and 5 dollars was the biggest money that I received at one time and that was to pay taxes with. I received dry goods, provisions and groceries for digging coal. That is what the proprietors could sell their coal for and we had to take the same. Some of the summers I worked all summer and some of them none at all. One time when we was up getting fresh air and waiting for dinner 3 of my children came with my dinner. 2 carrying a pail with my dry dinner in it and the other bringing milk. This is how the joke came that it took 3 children to carry my dinner. In 1861 the war was begun after Abraham Lincoln took his seat in March of this year. I was working for Smith and Griffin in the slope. This summer McClellan appeared to drive all before him for awhile and Mr. Griffin predicted that Richmond would soon be taken and that the war would be over in 3 months. I said, “I beg leave to differ with you, Mr. Griffin, I am a Virginian and the Virginians will fight. Although I am a coward by birthright, I was born when my father was in camp 1814 and it was natural for my mother to suffer fear for my father, but you will hear if Richmond is taken in 3 months.” I worked in this shaft and after they got it finished they drove the entry until met with the entry of the old slope. Then they could draw the pillars of the old works next to the creek. After they had run a year money was plentyer, but the prospects were gloomy as a nation. The Confederates was too good to our prisoners. Many of the Union soldiers wanted to be prisoners so they could stay at home on a furlough so we didn’t make much impression driving the rebels south the first year. I still worked digging coal some place. Part of the time back in the first shaft that was sunk in this section. One morning about 8 inches of coal fell on John Williams and a car. It broke the car mashed John down by the road rib. Hiram was not caught. John told him to go and get somebody to get the coal off of him. He was hurt some on one shoulder. He was back in a few days. I believe Thos. Bain was running the shaft at that time. It was a tear of coal that was left to loosen and he forgot to look at it before going under it. A man by the name of Lamsdon moved in one of my houses. He had a brother by the name of John. I think it was in 1862 or ‘63 that they was working 4 miles below Peoria on the other side of the river. They started home and came as far as Peoria and stopped until the weather moderated. The same winter I took a pick one morning and run to the slack pile and picked a little slack loose. One side of my nose was froze white. This was cold weather. Carter and Walker worked some in this slope. Walker had a house built on the hill. Under it there was drawing pillows. The ground caved in in the night and some of the folks got out at the window. The house was moved down on the level and a number of families Ivied in it afterwards. Once when it was empty it burned down in a night. Close under a white oak tree by the road an air shaft was dug and a pile of brush thrown on it. Of frosty mornings the brush pile would look like it was on fire it smoke so. Mr. Walker’s girl would go of a morning or any time Mr. Walker was working near the shaft and call in the brush pile over the air shaft. It looks odd to hear the girl with her face in a brush pile, and it a smoking like it was starting burn, call Pa to breakfast or dinner. After l862 Mr. Lamsdon rented a house of Mr. Clark on South Creek and moved there from my house. I worked some digging coal on that creek for Jerry Lewis. He opened a slope below the road on the other side of the creek. Peter Lewis had worked a drift below Jerry’s slope. When they wanted an air shaft I hoped to hunt the two nearest rooms of these two banks. The first time we hunted we failed to find any place where the two banks was close together. The 2nd hunting I found a room not very far from the mouth of the drift in the old bank on the left side of the entry and I followed that until I came to the face. There I knocked and the man in Jerry’s bank answered with a sledge in my room. I had passed about 14 feet on the left of the old room. We could hollow through the pillow. It had some big cracks in it. Afterwards 2 of us dug in the old room and 2 in my room and we got a hole through before night. I worked my room afterwards and got all of the loose coal of the air shaft.
James and John Lamsdon opened a coal bank on this side of the creek, a slope. It was below another old bank. They run into the other bank and had all of the water to pump out, but they had the advantage of all the pillows standing in the bank. I was working in this bank in the spring of 1864. I could earn 2 dollars a day and some over. I had engaged to work on a brick yard at Watauga. Then hearing a speech and call for more volunteers for 100 day Soldiers to join the100 day army, I volunteered for 100 days soldiering in the 137th regiment of infantry Ill. Volunteers, Co. C., and the day that we had to start to Quincy, Ill. to camp I went to Watauga and informed the brick maker that I had hired to the U.S.A. I come back home and me and wife went to Galesburg. I started for Quincy got there after night. Was marched out to Camp. Pitcher was our Lieutenant. One of the sergeant’s name was Cooper. Veash was Captain. John Wood Colonel. Roach was Lt. Colonel. We stayed there until June, and while we was there a man come into camp that some of the boys took for a rebel sympathizer. They gathered up the man and put him on a rail and carried him over the parade ground and they say that Major Pane come with a few soldiers and arrested the man from the rail and the rail riders and their friend’s rebelled that night. Many pistols was fired. I resigned all to God although I had hated my enemies and neglected some duties. Next day the whole of the 137th Reg. was ordered out to listen to a speech from a U.S.A. officer. He said as a Regiment we must be obedient to orders if It took all the U.S.A. soldiers to compel obedience. Major Pane forgave us and said he was going with us to serve his country, and if the boys chose they could take his life. He had only done what he thought was his duty to do and let the man off the rail. The man should have a fair trial if he had done anything wrong. That induced the Regiment to respect the Major so that until we come home, I did not hear evil spoke of Major Pane.
After Major Pane (of Monmouth, Ill.) forgave the boys some government clothes come and each volunteer drew a suit Lieu. Pitcher’s father was down to Quincy. I sent my citizens clothes home by him. The 6th of June we was sworn in to service and had our guns and knapsacks and in the P.M. of the same day, was marched down to the river and aboard a steamboat going to St. Louis, Mo. I don’t recollect how long we was in going to St. Louis. We staid there some days and nights and when they got ready to take us farther down the river we was marched ashore and staid in line until another boat was ready to take us aboard. Then we was marched on by companies. Each Company had a place on the boat by themselves. I think the boat didn’t run after night. Our boat stopped at Cairo, Ill. A fort was there below Cairo. Bird’s Point, opposite the mouth of the Ohio River, sometimes had Union soldiers on it. Some miles below Cairo in Ky. was a town forted, in Columbus, I believe. The next place of importance was Island No. 10. The lower end of the island had lots of shanties on it. Music played all the time we was passing the island. Lower down the river was a place on the Ky. side of the river called Fort Pillow. The buzzards was sitting on the trees and there was a bad smell, no man or beast in sight. The boat steamed down the river of day times. Still lower down the river was a place where a town had been and there was not a house except a slab shanty close to the river. I could see the brick chimneys where the houses was burned down. On the Arkansas side I saw some nice land cleared off on the river bottom. Some brick chimneys was standing and the houses gone. Every little while we passed a boat or part of it laying at the shore.
I forgot if it was the 13th or 14th when we landed at Memphis, Tenn. I think they landed the P.M. We marched out on the road east and camped for a few days then moved to the skirts of the town down the river. Here we put up our tents in town style. Co. A. west and Co. B. east Co. C. and I in the middle of the camp. I was in Co. C. 137 Ill. Vol. Infantry. After we camped awhile Col. Wood had two wells dug, each over 50 feet deep. The bottom of one well and perhaps the other was curbed with lumber to prevent the sand from caving in. We had rain daily. We had to train daily. We had dress parade sometimes. The Co. would have roll call to see if we were all there or on picket duty. After the wells was dug I had one of my stomach spells. I wanted the Doctor to give me some medicine. He told me to exchange my rations with a citizen for corn bread or hominy. A colored family lived in the field west of camp. I called there and one of the children was sick with dieria, the mother said. I inquired if they had any cornbread that they would exchange for hardtack. She said no, but if I waited she would make me some pone and swap for my hard tack. I waited and she made me a skillet full of corn bread, 3 pones baked over and under live coals of fire. I give all the sea biscuit I had for the 3 corn pones. That done in place of medicine for me. When I visited the family again I learned that the hardtack had cured their child.
July come in and warm weather, but it was generally cool at night. About 10 o’clock in the A.M. of fair weather a breeze blew and continued until 3 or 4 o’clock in the P.M. when the warm part of the day come on. We, the 137th. Reg., had as much line to guard as a whole brigade of old soldiers when we got to Memphis. When the weather was rainy it would rain 2 or 3 weeks, mostly showers. Sometimes 3 or 4 showers would come then the sun would shine out twix each shower. Then it might be 2 weeks dry and then the dust would fly when the soldiers was traveling.
I generally carried my knapsack out on picket with some clothes in it and paper and ink so I could write a little of good weather and send a letter home once in awhile and keep in practice carrying my knapsack. The boys generally did respect me. I suppose it was account of my old age, 49 1/2 when I enlisted, but some of them would laugh to see me carry my knapsack every time I went out on picket guard.Our Chaplin had a Regimental Church. He held prayer and speaking meeting for all who could and would come. Our place of meeting was under a tree near the camp. The 4th of July all of us that was in camp come out in Co. armed to hear speeches. Lieu. Col. Roach was one of the speakers. I think the Chaplin was one of the speakers. Ten companies one before the other sitting on the ground with muskets in hand, bayonets and breeches on the ground. That sight everybody did not see. We heard some good news from Sherman. We had hopes of the war coming to an end. I hoped to get home again and enjoy peace with my family after being down in Dixie holding the gun and setting myself up for a marker for the rebels to shoot at.
The old soldiers general made sport of us 100 day men and would call us “100 dayers”. Some of them did not but it was common for the 3 year soldiers to make sport of us in some way. The camp generally had a guard of nights. The night of the 20th of August towards 4 o’clock A.M. (21st) a string of cavalry came trotting along the road by our camp. The guard walking his beat thought they were Union cavalry coming in off a raid. Yes, he thought they are making sport of us again firing their pistols over our camp for a scare while the Cavalry trotted on towards town. Part of the cavalry went east around the field and come in on a road from the east to the south end of our company. They stopped here along the north side of this road. Some of the Co. cooks had built fires to get breakfast by. Our parade ground and the officers tents was at the other end of our camp and considerable down hill. They know the cavalry was Rebs. They was shooting down the cooks that was up and had fires built. Lieutenants, sergeants and corporals run along the tents and call out all the soldiers they could. The Rebs. killed some and got all the prisoners they could. I believe 9 was the loss of our Co. One sick man was taken out of his bed and shot and bayoneted. The Rebs. must have been drunk. I was on the new state line road, the farthest picket post that our regiment guarded. Some of the Union Cavalry came in from town where they was stationed and staid most of the day. We was too far from the camp to hear the muskets, but we could hear all the cannon plain, 2 or 3 batteries shelled them out of town after the infantry had drove them out of the thick part of town. They took from our camp everything they wanted. They got a great many horses from town. The Lt. Colonel’s horse was shot but not killed and Col. Roach was shot in the side but not killed or taken prisoner. When I came in camp from picket it was a pitiful sight to see the good horses and the blood where the dead soldiers had been picked up. Some of the trees had the marks of 20 to 30 bullets. The seminary had marks of a few cannon shots and lots of lead bullets. The Chaplin and Col. Wood both was in one room, neither was wounded or taken prisoner. Wood was sick, the Chaplin was nurse.
A flag of truce went after the Rebs. and got the names of all the prisoners and their Co.
All of the hospital prisoners were paroled. The officers fixed up after the battle and what was left of us had the same line to guard as we did before. Gen. Forest that had massacred Fort Pillow was the general commanding the Rebs. Six Regiments of his best troops was the news.The first day of Sept, 1864 we broke camp and started up the river for Alton. Ill. We was put aboard a train to go to camp near Springfield, Ill., don’t recollect the day we got there but recollect that many of the officers was very anxious for us to stay in service another month. I was sick with chills and fever and did not want to go again. I don’t think 10 private soldiers wanted to serve another month. The best that U.S. could do was to discharge us with $10 apiece and the balance of our pay another day. So the 24th we was mustered out of service. On the 1st day of October I arrived at Galesburg. Went to Post Office got 2 of 3 that I sent home. Mr. Goss that had been in 100 days service and got home hauled me and my bunch of new and old clothes out to the gate at my home. I carried the bundle to the yard put it down and embraced the family. When I was done reading letters it took both wife and me to carry the bundle in the kitchen. Some of the old clothes had greybacks on them. The greybacks did not disturb us anymore. I did not get over the fever an soon as I got home but gradually got well.
The winter of this year I worked in Smith and Griffin’s shaft. I think it was the next summer I worked some in Galesburg on a brick yard for Mr. Barton, E. F. Jackson was setter and burner. The brick was molded with a machine. In the winter of 1865 and ‘66 I dug coal again as usual. I think it was in 1867 that I tried brick making again, but 2 or 3 yards had got to work about Galesburg and I could not sell brick fast enough to make a paying business. I don’t recollect the year I went to Oneida and superintended burning for Dator and Smith. We used all coal and made a tolerable good burn. Another time Smith came for me to go and help to burn another kiln. This kiln got clogged with coal soot. Mr. Smith got some powder and early in the morning threw a bunch of powder done up in paper in the fire and stopped the mouth of the arch. The powder blasted out the soot so the kiln went to drawing like a stove does when the soot is cleared out of the pipe.
We had two cows. Each one had an ox calf one spring. By the time they weaned the boys would ride them. I made a yoke for them and sled, too. Before they were a year old in good roads they would haul 9 passengers, some men and boys. I got a cart to haul with and I think we plowed some with them. They was well broke and while pasturing them in Marshall’s pasture the biggest ox drove off the balance of the cattle and ate all the salt he wanted and then died. Mr. Marshall wintered the other ox for me and I sold the ox to him in the spring.
About the year 1872 or ‘73 I was chosen to travel part of Knox county with W.H. Robinson, Co. surveyor, to inspect coal mines. The next year Robinson chose me for his assistant to help to inspect all of coal mines of this county.
This fall and winter of 1873 and ‘74 I recollect giving Hiram and Biram a chance of paying for a horse each for themselves. Hiram got his colt from Thos. Muir. Biram got his from Mike Raferty. When we got harness we had a horse team. Biram and Hiram wanted to try their luck alone so both said I might have their horses and they went west to lowa to dig coal.
Sophia was married Christmas 1873 to A.W. Anthony. The next March Mary and Elenor were married. Mary Frances to D.H. McGrath and Elenor to l. H. Watters. Biram married Hannah Watters June 1876. About this time our old cabin was getting older. (Here a break comes in the record as some of the pages apparently have been lost.) Hiram bought a house down hill and moved it to the southwest corner of my pasture and sold the house to Biram. He and Fields moved his first frame house twix this and the road on the west side of my pasture for my grocery store. The house that Hiram sold Biram took fire one windy day and burned down. Biram built on the same place, but put the kitchen on the north side of the house. Biram later moved to Knoxville to dig coal. The bank did not suit him so he came to Randall (now East Galesburg) to work helping to make a brickyard and then he and Roy and Samuel worked there. Biram bought a house in State Street and lives there still (1893).
A quart of beef delivered today March 10, 1894 from F.G. Ostricher, a butcher in Galesburg at 5 1/2 cents a lb 150 lbs. Due $8.25. Bill paid and recet’d and put away.
An account of some of my children’s deaths. Wm. and Louisa’s children.
Elizabeth--died in Rock Ill. of whooping cough 1841
Samuel--died August 20th 1847
Isabell--died October 26th in Cubbageville, Knox Co, Ill, to best of our memory of this 1851
Eliza Jane Howe--died Sept. 13th Pottowattomie Co., Kansas 1860
Marth--died Sept 12th Knox Co., Ill 1866
Sophia Anthony--died in the night twix 23rd and 24th of July 1890
Mary Louisa, Mother, --died Sunday 4:55 A.M. 11th March 1894A record of father’s and Mother’s death and some of their children’s deaths:
Elizabeth, Mother, -- died Jan. 26th 1853
Thomas Essex, Father, -- died 15th May 1853
Jessey--died 1848
Elijah--died 1820
Benjamin--died Jan 4th Rock Island Co. 1866
Joseph--died Apr 27th 1876
Isaac B.--died Nov 7th of injuries received when gored by a bull 1877
John--died May 11th 1887
Thomas Essex, Jr.--died 20th Apr 1888
David Essex--died 8th Dec 1889
Elenor Ennis--died 13th Jan 1894A record of father’s family. My father, Thomas Essex was born in Talbert County, Md. 1789. Elizabeth Bowen of the same place 1773. They were married Easter Sunday.
A record of their children follows:
Benjamin--born 13th Jan 1792
Female Infant
Jessey--born 31st Aug 1796
Isaac B.--born 29th Jan 1800
Thomas--born 15th Nov 1803
Joseph--born 9th Sep 1806
John--born 30th May 1809
Elenor--born 29th Dec 1811
William--born 5th Nov 1814
David--born 25th Jun 1817
Elijah B.--born 9th Jul 1819March 14th, 1894 Wm. Essex is in Soperville, Ill. sick. He sent for a doctor 2 weeks ago Feb 27th, 1894. The first time in memory that he sent for a doctor to come and see him. (Records show that Wm. Essex died this day.)
(Retyped, and cleaned up some, from a copy obtained from Donna Dawson Headly Mar 2004. )
(Portions of this document have been found and referred to in files posted on the internet.) (RDParr)