USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 1
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PEORIA CITY AND COUNTY ILLINOIS
A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement
ILLUSTRATED
VO
VOLUME II
CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912 CIT
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 674040 ASTOR, LENOX AND TU.DEN FOUNDATIONS. 414 L
.
A
T
EUGENE F. BALDWIN
Biographical
EUGENE F. BALDWIN.
There is no struggle more continuous or more severe than that which is con- stantly transpiring in the wonderful operations which furnish men with news. The demand for live, honest and up-to-date news, is constantly increasing, but the supply is dependent on many contingencies of which he must be a clear observer and accurate reasoner who measures. The revolution, too, in methods of busi- ness that has been witnessed even by the young men of this generation, has had the effect of stranding many who could not conform to the new systems. The most successful editor or newspaper man today is he who is most comprehensive in his grasp of thought ; who perceives most clearly ; discriminates most keenly ; seizes on the right means and the right time most decisively ; and retains his equanimity in situations most con plex and difficult. The successful newspaper man of today must be a man well versed in every line of culture, and must be able to estimate this culture truly and apply it properly.
Such a man is Eugene F. Baldwin, veteran editor of Peoria. Mr. Baldwin has climbed the journalistic ladder from the bottom round, and has attained his present position in the newspaper world through his own individual efforts and by strict application and hard work, and has brought his paper, The Peoria Evening Star, to a position of honor and distinction which it richly deserves. Mr. Baldwin is more than a mere newspaper editor. He is a scholar and a gentleman. In the course of his long editorial career, he has acquired a style that is classic, bril- liant, scintillating, with wit, scholarly and fluent with the ease of rare culture and learning. His success in the important department of journalism, against many adverse influences, is truly creditable to his intelligence, enterprise and in- dustry. But his success is not simply individual in its results ; through the Peoria Star, he is aiding to advance all the interests of Peoria, advocating its institu- tions and enterprises, and helping to increase its wealth, and extend its propor- tions to that of a metropolitan city.
Eugene F. Baldwin was born in Watertown, Connecticut, on December 1, 1840. His parents were Stephen and Julia ( Pardee) Baldwin. Stephen Baldwin was a deacon in the Congregational church, as was his father before, and the boy was brought up in strict Calvinistic principles, an early training which gave a distinct trend to his mind, and flavors his writings to the present day. The relig- ious influences of his early life were remarkably intense. The Bible was his daily reading, and his deep and detailed knowledge of the Book of Books is perhaps due to this early education in its beauties. Stephen Baldwin, the father of Eugene, was strongly religious in his tendencies, and being a builder by trade, conceived the idea that God had called him by Divine appointment to devote his energies exclusively to the building of churches. The mental food of the family consisted of Watt's Hymns, the Shorter Catechism, and Baxter's Saints' Rest. Mr. Eugene Baldwin's keen mind absorbed this religious atmosphere, and it colored all his life and writings.
Stephen Baldwin came west in 1855 and settled with his family in Milwaukee. Eugene was at this time of high-school age, and he attended the high school at Milwaukee. In 1860 he secured a position as teacher in Clinton county, Illinois, a situation which he gave up to enter the State Normal School at Bloomington, in
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
order better to fit himself for what he believed at that time to be his life's pro- fession. However, the next spring found him working at his carpenter's bench in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his father had moved in the interval. In 1861, when the Civil war had commenced, Eugene Baldwin enlisted in the Twelfth Indiana Volunteers, and served honorably and bravely until 1863, when after having been captured by the Confederates, and broken down physically, he was discharged as an invalid. In 1864, Mr. Baldwin came to Chillicothe, Illinois, to take the position as principal of the schools there. He made such a success of this work that he was soon called to Peoria to take the head of the First Ward school there. When a year later, he accepted the position as local editor of the Peoria Transcript, his long newspaper career began. After serving four years in this capacity, he resigned, and went to El Paso, Illinois, where he bought the El Paso Journal. The next year, however, he returned to Peoria, and in partnership with Mr. A. R. Sheldon established the Peoria Review, which remained in ex- istence but three years. There followed a short experience as editor of the Rock Island Union, after which Mr. Baldwin again purchased the El Paso Journal. In 1877, with Mr. J. B. Barnes as a partner, he came to Peoria and established the Peoria Journal, which is today one of the leading newspapers of the city.
In 1891, Mr. Baldwin left the newspaper world, and associated himself with Charles H. Powell in the Sylvan Remedy Company, dealing in patent medicines. This venture proved disastrous financially, and when it failed entirely three years afterward, Mr. Baldwin went back to the business for which he was so uniquely fitted, and began the publication of the Peoria Star, the first issue, ap- pearing September 27, 1897. Neither Mr. Baldwin nor Mr. Powell, who was still associated with him, had at this time, any money. They bought the printing press on credit, and even found themselves unable to pay the freight when it was shipped down to them. In comparing the humble beginnings of the Peoria Star of fifteen years, with the magnificent organ of weight and influence to which it has grown, we can but be struck with the commanding force of energetic per- severance in a worthy cause. Mr. Baldwin was then, as he is now, a forceful, aggressive, earnest man, and in those fifteen years has demonstrated the advan- tages of the city he has made his home, and abundantly verified the good opinions of his many friends. He has always kept abreast of the times, and in his en- thusiastic pursuit of his business is often in advance and always ready to meet the demands of this rapid age of improvement. He is a man of progressive ideas, has been successful in his business and has proved his ability as a manager of an enterprise which calls for intelligence, tact and skill. He has long been one of Peoria's energetic and enterprising citizens. He has brought the Peoria Star, from its precarious beginning to a position in the journalistic world which makes it one of the most weighty and influential newspapers in the city today.
Mr. Baldwin is now sole owner of the paper, and acts as its editor. His editorial remarks are read eagerly every day, for their clear, concise and pointed expositions of the current affairs of the day. In addition to the editorials, the Sunday issue of the Star contains a page from the pen of Mr. Baldwin, called The Philosopher. In this page, Mr. Baldwin has an organ for the expounding of his views on science, religion, current events, and all the various and manifold influences which make up the world. It is always a page of the most profound, cultured and scholarly philosophy, written in the pointed, witty, telling style, which is Mr. Baldwin's own. This Sunday page has earned for its author, a reputation which extends far beyond local limits.
Mr. Baldwin's style is strong and forcible, clear in expression, and of com- manding purity of English. Mr. Baldwin himself is public-spirited, without being partisan ; charitable without ostentation ; enterprising, but careful; imbued with high religious principles, always accomplishing remarkable results with quiet power.
LIC LIMMATY
AIRE NIC
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WILLIAM HAZZARD
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IHISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
On April 23, 1866, Mr. Baldwin was married to Miss Sarah J. Gove, and they became the parents of three children: Ethel, deceased; Frank E., now a prom- inent physician and surgeon in Peoria ; and Mildred, now living with her parents in their home at 211 North Perry avenue.
For some time, Mr. Baldwin did considerable outside literary work. He is the author of several pamphlets, one novel and a work on hypnotism. Of late years, however, he has given this up, devoting his outside time to lectures and speeches for which he is in great demand on account of his eloquent lucidity of thought. He was also one of the promoters and builders of the Grand Opera House, which building housed for twenty years the most exclusive and high-class amusements in the city until it was burned down a few years ago.
Mr. Baldwin is now in the seventy-second year of his age. He is in the full vigor and strength of manhood with all his faculties unimpaired. Almost his entire life has been directed to the study and betterment of journalism in his city. He is most industrious in his pursuit of his business and his breadth of learning corresponds to the labors he performs. As a thorough, sound and deep- read writer he occupies a position in the first ranks of his brethren. Clear and dis- tinct, always logical, with a full command of language, earnest and of strong convictions, he never fails to impress his audience with the justice of the cause he pleads. He is noted for his aptitude in grappling with details, and for his accurate and keen perception and judgment. Fearless, impulsive and frank to a degree, what he thinks, he says, and says it hard. He indulges in no prelimi- naries, but strikes straight from the shoulder. Perhaps the most obvious, if not the strongest trait of Mr. Baldwin's character is his intense individuality. No one who has ever met him can mistake anyone else for him, or him for anyone else. He is known as a forceful man whose strong and well-balanced views have enabled him to accomplish what he has undertaken and gain considerable prestige as a journalist, and his reputation for ability is of the very best. He is a man of strong presence, with a determined will and a kindly manner which carries every- thing before it : a sound, enterprising, clear-headed benevolent and versatile man, and Peoria is constantly the gainer by his remarkable abilities.
In social life he is universally respected and esteemed by all classes of our citizens. In the large circle of his acquaintances he forms his opinions of men regardless of worldly wealth and position. He has labored, and not in vain, for the welfare of the city, and enjoys in a marked degree that reward of the pro- gressive, upright citizen, the respect and confidence of his fellowmen. He bears the burden of his years lightly, and shows but few traces of the cares and per- plexities inseparable from an active, busy life.
WILLIAM HAZZARD.
William Hazzard is well known in financial circles as the cashier of the Com- mercial German National Bank, to which position he has attained by advance- ment through intermediate positions from that of messenger. Ability and faith- fulness have led to his continuous progress and he is recognized as a keen. prac- tical business man. His birth occurred in Peoria in 1869, his father being Joseph F. Hazzard, who was also a native of Peoria, born in 1843. After ac- quiring his education in the public schools of this city, the father engaged in the contracting and building business with his father, James Hazzard, who came to Peoria in 1840 as one of the pioneer residents of the city and spent the re- mainder of his life here in the contracting business. The name of Hazzard has ever stood as a synonym for business activity, enterprise and reliability in Peoria. During the past thirty years Joseph F. Hazzard has been in the government em- ploy in connection with the internal revenue office. He married Miss Louisa
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
A. Phenix, who came to Peoria from the south with her father, Leander Phenix, who spent the greater part of his life in this city. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Joseph F. Hazzard four children have been born : Florence, who is the wife of John Lloyd, of Los Angeles, California; Charles, a resident of New York city; Mary, of New York; and William.
The latter spent his youth as do most boys, dividing his time between the work of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and such tasks as were assigned him by parental authority. When he had graduated from the high school as a member of the class of 1888 he entered the office of Stevens, Lee & Horton, with whom he studied law until April, 1889. Thinking, however, that activity in the financial world would prove more congenial than law practice, he accepted a position as messenger in the Commercial German National Bank, when about twenty years of age, and since that time has worked his way steadily upward by reason of his close application, ready mastery of tasks assigned him and his indefatigable industry. He served as bookkeeper from 1892 until 1899 and was afterward exchange and collection clerk for two years. In 1901 he was made assistant cashier and in May, 1911, was chosen cashier to succeed E. A. Cole. Thus practically his entire business career has been spent in connection with the Commercial German National Bank and his activity has contributed in no small measure to its success.
In Peoria, in 1894, Mr. Hazzard was united in marriage to Miss Lona R. Evans, a sister of Willis Evans, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. They are the parents of three children: Lowell B., Lucia and Martha E. The parents attend and hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Hazzard is preeminently a home man, taking no active part in club life, yet is greatly interested in the welfare of his city and cooperates in measures and movements for its growth and progress. In quiet devotion to his duties he has won the respect and confidence of his fellowmen who name him as one of the representative citizens of Peoria.
CHARLES R. WHEELER.
Honored and respected by all, there is no man who occupies a more enviable position in the business and financial circles of Peoria than Charles R. Wheeler, the president of the First National Bank. It has not been his success alone that has placed him in high regard but rather the straightforward business policy which he has ever followed and the utilization of methods which never seek nor require disguise. He has been a resident of this city since 1851, coming here when a youth of ten years. His birth occurred on a farm near Kenton, Hardin county, Ohio, January 22, 1841, his parents being H. N. and Matilda ( McCoy) Wheeler. The father was born in Scioto county, Ohio, in 1811, and his parents were Amos and Elizabeth (Snow) Wheeler, the former of Wheelersburg, Ohio, and the latter a native of Connecticut. When eleven years of age H. N. Wheeler left his native county and removed with his parents to Monroe county, Ohio, where he resided until sixteen years of age, when upon the death of his father he went Burlington, where he completed his education. Five years were thus passed, after which he returned to Marion county and soon afterward embarked in merchandising, in which he continued until 1851. That year witnessed his arrival in Peoria. Some years before-in 1837-H. N. Wheeler was married in Hardin county, Ohio, to Miss Matilda McCoy, a native of Putnam, Muskingum county, that state. Following his arrival in Peoria he opened a wholesale grocery house under the firm style of Wheeler, Sloan & Company, and continued in the business for five or six years, after which he sold out. For many years he was engaged in the real-estate and banking business, in which connection he gained
.
CHARLES R. WHEELER
THE NEW YORK FUPLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LE OX AND TILDE FOUNDATION .
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
prominent recognition as a leading business man of that city. For several years he was a director in the Second National Bank, becoming a member of its first board, but resigned that position upon his election in January, 1866, to the presi- dency of the Mechanics National Bank. He remained at the head of that insti- tution for many years and succeeded in establishing it upon a safe, substantial basis, making it one of the leading financial institutions of the city. In 1879 he was elected to the presidency of the Chamber of Commerce of Peoria and was also treasurer of the Peoria Mercantile Library Association, being the first in- cumbent of that office. Ilis religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church and much of his time and thought was devoted to furthering its interests. In business affairs his plans were well formulated and carefully executed so that he carried forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. Death came to him in 1884 and his wife passed away two years later.
Charles R. Wheeler supplemented his public-school education by study in Antioch College at Yellow Springs, Ohio, after which he returned to Peoria to enter upon his business career. He joined his brother, P. C. Wheeler, in the conduct of a wholesale grocery business and was also a partner in the Barker & Wheeler Drug Company until he disposed of his interests in that enterprise in 1910. His identification with the First National Bank dates from the Ist of January, 1896, when he was called to the vice presidency of the institution. He served as its second executive officer for ten years and upon the death of John C. Proctor in 1906 was elected to the presidency. Recognizing the fact that the bank is most prosperous which most carefully safeguards the interests of its de- positors, he has been most watchful in making investments and loans and has thus protected the interests of the institution and its clients. He has made a thorough study of the banking business in its various phases and his capability enables him to find ready solution for intricate financial problems.
In 1870 Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage to Miss N. J. Williams, of Marion, Ohio, and unto them has been born a son, Charles N., who is now secre- tary of the Springdale Cemetery Association. The family is very prominent socially and Mr. Wheeler belongs to the Creve Coeur Club and to the Country Club. His friends find him a most congenial and entertaining companion and the social qualities of his nature constitute an even balance with his splendid business ability. Business has been his foremost interest and yet he has not allowed it to preclude his activity along other lines and especially in matters of citizenship he stands ready to aid and further any project for the general good.
JOSEPH V. GRAFF.
Joseph V. Graff, lawyer and lawmaker, in whose congressional record there is no esoteric phase and whose work has constituted a valuable contribution to va- rious lines of progress, was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, July 1, 1854. He comes of German and Scotch-English ancestry. His paternal great-grandparents were natives of Germany and on coming to America settled at Brownsville, Pennsyl- vania. There the birth of Jacob K. Graff, the father of Joseph V. Graff, oc- curred. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Mary Jane Miller, was a native of Ohio and was of Scotch-English lineage. The family home was es- tablished in Terre Haute, Indiana, and at the usual age Joseph V. Graff entered the public schools, in which he passed through the consecutive grades to his graduation from the high school. His more advanced literary course was pur- sued in Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Indiana, but in 1873 he became a resident of Illinois, settling first at Delavan, where he became interested in merchandising in connection with his brother and brother-in-law. His desire, however, was to enter upon a professional career and he devoted his evenings
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
and other leisure hours to the mastery of the principles of jurisprudence, his progress being such that in 1879 he was able to pass an examination that won him admission to the bar.
Mr. Graff at once entered upon the active practice of law in Delavan, where he remained until 1883, when he removed to Nebraska. During that period he was for one year a partner of W. R. Curran. He remained in the west for two years and then returned to Illinois, opening an office at Pekin, Tazewell county, where he remained alone in practice until 1894. He then entered into practice with Judge George C. Rider and was thus engaged until his removal to Peoria in 1899. In this city he became a partner of Lyman J. Carlock, their relation, however, being terminated when Mr. Graff was instrumental in securing the ap- pointment of his partner to the position of one of the United States judges in the Philippine Islands. Mr. Graff was then joined by C. V. Miles, under the firm style of Graff & Miles.
Until 1891 Mr. Graff never had held public office but in that year was elected one of the inspectors of schools for the city of Pekin and was made president of the board of education. He continued in that position until his nomination for congress. His political record is characterized by a devotion to duty that none has questioned. He has ever placed patriotism before partisanship and the public welfare before personal aggrandizement, and his election was a tribute to his personal worth and the confidence reposed in him. During the period of democratic rule in the state legislature, under the administration of Governor Altgeld, the state was redistricted that the election of democratic candidates for congress might be more sure. The counties of Putnam, Marshall, Peoria, Fulton and Mason were placed in one district, which was supposed to have a democratic majority of at least twenty-two hundred. So confident were the democratic leaders of victory that one strong democratic county was given to another dis- trict to make it more sure. In 1894 was held the first nomination after the re- districting was done and Hon. George O. Barnes, of Lacon, was made the dem- ocratic standard bearer, while the republicans chose Joseph V. Graff as their candidate. The election that followed was a surprise to the democratic leaders throughout the state, for Mr. Graff won by a majority of thirty-three hundred. That his first term's service won the commendation and approval of the gen- eral public is indicated in the fact that for three successive terms he was re- nominated by acclamation and reelected by a decisive majority. He became an active working member of the house, connected with much constructive legis- lation. He never gave his support to any measure without carefully informing himself concerning its salient points and its possibilities for effectiveness. He was made chairman of the committee on claims, which has jurisdiction over every claim presented against the government, with the exception of war claims. He was made a member of the committee on agriculture. His most important work was six years' service on the committee on appropriations, where as a member of the sub-committee of five, he had to do with the fortification appro- priations of the country, which amounted to from eight to fifteen million per year. Afterward he was added to the sub-committee having charge of all de- partment employes of the government. He was the only member from this part of Illinois who ever served upon the appropriation committee of Congress, which has no rival in importance in that body.
His work in behalf of the Civil war veterans won him the gratitude and thanks of all the "boys in blue." He interested himself in the river and harbor bills, which were before congress during the session of 1900-I and led to an appropriation of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the survey of the Illinois and Desplaines rivers from the lower end of the Chicago drainage canal with the view of deepening the same and giving a deep waterway from the lakes to the gulf. The bill, however, was defeated. The republican convention for the new sixteenth congressional district met in Peoria, May 5, 1902, and by
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
unanimous vote, Mr. Graff was tendered the reelection to congress, being thus nominated for the fourth consecutive terin by acclamation-a record that is almost without parallel in the political history of the state. He served in con- gress from the fifty-fourth to the sixty-first general assemblies, his term expiring March 4, 1911. Over the record of his political activity there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He has been loyal to his principles and his promises, sans peur and sans reproche.
Mr. Graff is a valued member of several fraternal organizations. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge, the Modern Woodmen Camp, the Union Veterans' Union and the Sons of Veterans Camp. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. It is well known that his cooperation can be counted upon wherever matters of public welfare are involved. Advancement and improvement con- stitute the keynote of his character and have been manifest in his professional career, in his political service and in his private life. Since his retirement from congress he has entered upon the general practice of law at Peoria and in addition is the vice president and a director of the First National Bank of East Peoria. His was an extended congressional service and the record of none has been more faultless in manner, fearless in conduct and stainless in reputation.
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