USA > Illinois > Clay County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 68
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 68
USA > Illinois > Marion County > Biographical and reminiscent history of Richland, Clay and Marion counties, Illinois > Part 68
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The subject began making brooms in 1858 and has carried on the same, most of the time ever since. He and his sons have carried on this business in connection with other lines with uninterrupted success. They have no trouble in disposing of all the brooms they can make in the home market, for they are known to be a superior grade and are eagerly sought after.
Mr. Bronson has always been a stanch Republican and he takes much interest in all movements looking to the well being of his county. Mrs. Bronson is a member of the Christian church.
VERNE E. JOY.
Verne E. Joy was born at Carmi, Illinois, December 12, 1876. He was educated in the common schools, and after receiving a business education spent over three years in Germany, as United States Consular Agent at Selingen and Sonneberg. Mr. Joy became editor and publisher of the Centralia Evening and Weekly Sentinel on November 1, 1906, at the time of his father's retirement, who had spent a life-time in the business and had built up a splendid prop- erty in The Sentinels. Under the new man- agement the papers assumed a new aspect, reflecting the former training of Mr. Joy on Denver, Pueblo and Colorado Springs papers in addition to his acquirement of the printing trade under his father. The Evening Sentinel was given a new style of make-up, wire service was added, illustra- tions secured and the paper has since ap- peared in eight page form instead of four. New machinery and equipment was in- stalled and the paper has made a remarkable stride forward in circulation and advertis- ing, until at present The Sentinel has the largest sworn afternoon circulation of any daily in Southern Illinois. This paper moved to its own new and well appointed building the last of October, 1908, where it has ample and commodious quarters and is now more than meeting the fondest ex- pectations of its numerous patrons. It now occupies two floors, each one hundred and forty-seven feet long and has practically five thousand square feet of floor space.
F. P. MILLER.
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
New machinery, new type and other modern appliances and accessories have been added throughout; a new linotype machine pur- chased, and it is now one of the most com- plete and up-to-date equipments for the pub- lication of a newspaper in all Southern Illi- nois. The mechanical appearance of the paper is very attractive and in a small way equal to any metropolitan paper in the coun- try, and in keeping with the paper's claim of being "Egypt's Greatest Daily." All kinds of job and other high class printing are done at The Sentinel office in a large and separate department.
FRANKLIN PIERCE MILLER.
No resident in Centralia township, Ma- rion county, is deserving of specific mention in a book of this nature more than the sub- ject of this sketch, owing to the fact that he has led a very industrious and honor- able life, and is widely known as one of the leading fruit dealers in the Middle West.
Franklin Pierce Miller was born in Cale- donia, Pulaski county, Illinois, October 23, 1852, the son of Henry and Catherine (Coover) Miller, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Maryland. Henry Miller, who grew up in North Caro- lina, was a farmer and he also engaged in real estate speculation. He located in Jones- boro, Union county, Illinois, in the early set- tlement of the county, and was one of the pioneers of that locality. His father was a
pioneer merchant there and also run a tan- nery. He was accustomed to take leather to St. Louis and trade for merchandise. The subject's grandfather Miller raised a large family and died in Union county, this state. The father of the subject had only a limited education, but he later devoted much time to home-study and became a well read man. He was a Democrat and took much interest in political affairs, a member of the German Reformed church, in which he took a great interest, while his wife was a member of the Lutheran church. The subject's mother had the first cook stove brought into Jones- boro and also owned one of the first sewing machines, which she operated for many years. Henry Miller passed away in 1872, at the age of fifty-seven years, and his wife survived until 1898. The following children were born to them: George, now deceased, having died at the age of fifty-seven years, married first a Miss Castleman, and his sec- ond wife was Addie Phillips. He died near Anna, Illinois. He was a teacher in early life, and later a commission merchant in Chicago. Andrew J., the second child, is deceased; he was a merchant at Cobden, Illinois, and married Allie Phillips; Alice, the third child, married Arthur Moss, who is deceased; she is living at Anna, Illinois; John, the fourth child, who was a merchant at Anna, Illinois, and who married Mollie Green, is deceased. Franklin Pierce, our subject, was the fifth child in order of birth. Mary married James N. Dickison, a mer- chant and a director of the First National Bank at Anna, Illinois. David Watson is
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
a grain and lumber dealer at Winnebago, Minnesota; Caleb Monroe lives at Anna, Illinois ; he is a farmer and fruit grower in Southern Illinois. He owns about four hun- dred acres of fruit, all kinds of vegetables, devoting especial attention to asparagus growing. He owns the opera house block and other valuable real estate and is in- terested in the bank at Anna.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the home schools and remained a mem- ber of the family circle until he was nine- teen years old, when he clerked in his broth- er's store at Cobden, Illinois, where he re- mained for one year and then went to Chi- cago, where he was engaged with his brother, George, in the commission business on South Water street for about eight years. He closed up that business and came to Centralia in 1889, and bought his present home. He first put out twenty acres of strawberries the first year and the next year ten acres more and later planted many ap- ple and peach trees. He raises mostly small fruits, apples and Elberta peaches. He has been a fruit grower and dealer at Centralia on an extensive scale for the past twenty years, the firm name being F. P. Miller & Company, fruit dealers and brokers. They buy fruit from Texas, Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia and all of the southern states and their trade extends as far north as this county. They are the largest dealers in Illinois and are known throughout the coun- try. Their offices are in the Merchants' State Bank building in Centralia. J. E. Hefter, of Centralia, is a partner in the firm.
They are known as "The Fruit Kings." Their business is a credit to this county and is of much importance in establishing in other states the prestige of the locality in commercial and horticultural lines.
The subject of this sketch built his mod- ern and nicely furnished home in 1900 and his substantial and attractive barn in 1908.
Mr. Miller's happy domestic life began in July 8, 1885, when he was united in mar- riage with Laura Hoag, a native of Cen- tralia, Illinois, the daughter of Peter and Carolina Hoag, natives of New York. They are both deceased. He was foreman of the blacksmith shop of the Illinois Central Rail- road for forty years. Two bright children have added sunshine to the pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Miller, namely : Myrtle L., the wife of Robert Goodale, of Centralia, Illinois, where he is a wholesale manufacturer of ice cream. The second child of the subject is named Dwight Paul, who is at this writing attending Blees Mili- tary Academy at Macon, Missouri. He is a graduate of the Centralia high school.
In his fraternal relations the subject is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Queen City lodge, at Centralia, Illinois; also the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Woodmen. The family attends the Baptist church.
Mr. Miller started in life under none too favorable environment, but being ambitious and a man of industry, rare common sense and foresight, he has always prospered and today is ranked among the progressive and substantial citizens of Marion county, Il-
583
RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
linois. He learned much in the way of be- ing a general business man from his father, who was one of the well known men of in- dustry in his day, having conducted a saw and grist-mill which were run by water- power with an old-style propeller saw. It was located on Mill creek, Union county. He also owned a large maple grove and made maple syrup and sugar.
CHARLES S. HUDDLESTON.
Dependent very largely upon his own re- sources from early youth, the subject of this sketch has attained to no insignificant position, and though he has encountered many obstacles, he has pressed steadily on and has won an eminent degree of success, and is today one of the foremost business men in Marion county, being the owner of a large marble and granite works in the thriv- ing city of Centralia.
Charles S. Huddleston was born near Mt. Auburn, Kentucky, February 27, 1867, the son of George P. and Melinda (Pribble) Huddleston. Grandfather Huddleston was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Ken- tucky in an early day, where he spent the remainder of his life and where he died. He was a Confederate soldier and died from disease contracted while in the serv- ice. His wife died when about fifty-two years old. Their family consisted of nine children. Grandfather Pribble was a na- tive of Pennsylvania, who moved to Illinois in 1882 and died the following year at the
age of sixty-five years. His wife died at the age of seventy-two years. They were the parents of four chilren and were mem- bers of the Christian church.
The father of our subject remained in Kentucky until he was forty years old, when he moved to Illinois in 1881. He was a sol- dier in the Eighteenth Kentucky Volunteer Infantry in the Union army. He was wounded and captured at the battle of Rich- mond, Kentucky, and was discharged on ac- count of the wound, and he carried his arm in a sling for two years as a result of the same, the bone in the shoulder joint hav- ing been shattered with a bullet. His wound still gives him much pain and he draws a pension. He now makes his home with our subject. He holds to the faith of the Christian church. The mother of the sub- ject passed to her rest when thirty-four years old, and was buried in the beautiful Mt. Auburn cemetery. She was also a faithful member of the Christian church. George P. Huddleston was a farmer and carpenter in his active life, having devoted twenty years to his trade with marked suc- cess. He had a brother, Charles I., who was also a soldier in the Union ranks, hav- ing enlisted from Kentucky and served through the war, having been with Sher- man on his march to the sea. He came out of the war on a mule which he captured while on a foraging expedition and which he rode in the grand review at Washington. Another brother, John, also enlisted from Kentucky in the Union army, and another brother, Peter, was also in the Union serv- ice, having also been with Sherman and
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
served to the end of the war, receiving an born in 1892, is in her second year in high honorable discharge. Lorenzo, another school in 1908; Ruby was born in 1895, is also in school; Nina, born in 1898, is in school. brother, was in the Federal ranks. He died soon after the close of the war.
The parents of the subject reared five children.
Charles S. Huddleston, our subject, first attended school in Kentucky, which state he left when fifteen years old and came to Illinois, in which state he went to the pub- lic schools for four or five winters. He had to walk nearly three miles each way to school. During this time and until he was twenty years old he worked on the farm, after which he served eleven years as a let- terer and carver on marble and granite. After four years he became superintendent of the works, so efficient had his services been. He continued as superintendent for a period of seven years. Then the owner died and Mr. Huddleston was selected to close up the business, which he did in a most satisfactory manner and finally bought the business without the payment of one dollar, all being in time notes, which he paid when due and had the business clear of indebtedness. This was in 1901, and he has since conducted the works successfully. It is now the largest works of its character in this locality and is well patronized, yield- ing the owner a handsome income.
Mr. Huddleston was united in marriage in 1891 to Jennie Baldridge, who was born in Irvington, Illinois, the daughter of James and Lydia ( Pitchford) Baldridge, a native of Illinois.
Three interesting children have been born to the subject and wife, namely : Neva,
In his fraternal relations our subject is .a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen, also a member of the United Commercial Travelers. The subject, wife and two oldest children are members of the Christian church. Mr. Hnddleston is a charter member of the Young Men's Chris- tian Association and still retains his mem- bership in that society, which boasts of the second largest membership in the state. In politics he is a loyal Republican and is now filling his second term as Alderman from the Third ward of Centralia in a most able and praiseworthy manner.
BEN W. STORER.
Mr. Storer is one of those estimable char- acters whose integrity and strong personal- ity must force them into an admirable place among the citizens of any community, who command the respect of their contemporaries and their posterity.
Ben W. Storer, the well known grocer, was born in Centralia, Illinois, July 19, 1868, the son of Samuel and Susan B. (Bates) Storer, and he has taken part in the devel- opment of his native village, which he has seen grow to a thriving city. The parents of our subject reared a family of five chil- dren, three boys and two girls, of whom Ben W. was the fourth in order of birth.
585
RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the Centralia public schools. He first be- gan his business career in a grocery store, working for Barton & Stevenson, with whom he worked for two years, giving entire sat- isfaction. He then took a position with the R. D. Beaver Grocery Company, remaining in their employ for four years with equal success, when he engaged with Colonel Pit- tenger in the same business, continuing there for four years, building up an excellent trade, at the expiration of which time he embarked in the grocery business for him- self. Having mastered all the details of this special line, his success from the first was assured, as time soon substantiated.
Our subject was united in marriage with Mabel Kerr, of Centralia, the daughter of the late J. N. Kerr, former editor of the Cen- tralia Sentinel and Mayor of the city for several years, our subject's wife being the oldest member of the family. To Mr. and Mrs. Storer two bright and interesting sons have been born, namely : Wilson Bates and Ben Wade, Jr., both now in school.
Our subject is a member of Helmet Lodge, Knights of Pythias No. 26, of Centralia. In politics he is a loyal Republican, and re- ligiously he was reared a Presbyterian.
In 1892 our subject began business at II4 East Broadway, having here launched successfully a grocery store, which steadily grew in its volume of business, until now his store is known throughout the community, his trade extending all over the city and to all parts of the county. He has a neat, up-to- date store and carries a full line of fancy
groceries, canned goods, fruits and vege- tables of all kinds in season. He employs eight clerks and runs three wagons. His trade is very largely among the best class of people of Centralia, where he is known to all classes as a man of honest principles.
W. B. GOODALE.
W. B. Goodale was born in Centralia, Marion county, August 17, 1855, the son of William and Mary (Sherwood) Goodale, who were the parents of five children, four boys and one girl, of whom our subject was the fourth in order of birth. He bears the distinction of being the first white male child born in Centralia. The parents of our subject were Eastern people. They both passed away when our subject was about thirteen years of age. W. B. Goodale re- ceived his early education in Centralia. When in his "teens" he went to work for the Illi- nois Central Railroad Company, learning the machinist's trade, at which he worked, giving entire satisfaction, with this company for a period of fourteen years, at the expira- tion of which time he had accumulated suf- ficient money to buy a fruit farm near the city, and for the next fifteen years he ap- plied his skill and industry to raising small fruits of all kinds with great success, when he sold his farm and began the manufacture of ice cream, having purchased an interest in a plant in 1901. At that time the yearly output of the plant was very small, but un-
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
der the efficient management of our subject Frank and Laura (Hoag) Miller, the father the capacity was gradually increased as trade poured in from all sides until now the out- put is fifteen times greater than formerly.
The plant has been thoroughly remodeled in every way, having all the latest equip- ment for the business, is thoroughly sani- tary and always kept very clean. The prod- uct of this well known plant is shipped to over fifty cities and towns throughout Southern Illinois. The cream is bought from Elgin and Chicago markets and the milk is obtained from the dairymen in and about Centralia.
The plant proper is forty by seventy-five feet. All milk and cream is here thorough- ly pasteurized by the most complete process. It is the only firm in the city that carries the state inspector's certificate, being up to the standard required by the state. This firm also manufacture all their own ice and cold storage, and recently purchased the fac- tory and equipment of the Mt. Vernon Ice Cream Company.
W. B. Goodale was united in marriage to Mary E. Wild on October 27, 1881. She is the daughter of Samuel and Ann Wild, one of the old English families of Centralia. The wife of the subject is the oldest of three girls in the Wild family. One son has blessed the home of our subject and wife, named Robert W., who is a full partner with his father in business and a young man of great ability and promise of a future re- plete with happiness and success. Robert W. Goodale married Myrtle Miller on Jan- uary 9, 1907. She is the only daughter of
of Mrs. Goodale being a prominent fruit grower and commission merchant of Cen- tralia. Robert W. Goodale is regarded by all who know him as a thoroughly modern business man and one of the rising young men of Centralia. His education, natural ability and commendable qualities have well fitted him for an active and thorough busi- ness career.
In politics both our subject and his son vote for the character of the man rather than the party, although they are sometimes counted upon as being Democrats, especial- ly in national issues. Religiously they are Baptists. Both father and son are thorough, practical men in every respect. W. B. Good- ale in former years was a member of the United Workmen. Robert is a member of the Modern Woodmen lodge at Centralia.
ROBERT ROHL.
Conspicuous among the representative citizens and progressive business men of Marion county, Illinois, is the gen- tleman whose name appears at the head of this article, who has by his great in- dustry, wise economy and sound judgment developed a good business.
Robert Rohl was born in Marquette, Michigan, January 14, 1856, the son of Carl and Caroline (Weiland) Rohl, both na- tives of Germany, the father having come from Prussia and the mother from Wur-
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RICHLAND, CLAY AND MARION COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
temburg. They both came to America when young and were married in Marquette, Michigan. They were the parents of nine children, of whom our subject is the oldest child of the four now living. His younger brother, August, lives in Centralia.
Robert Rohl's early life was spent in Mar- quette, Michigan, where he acquired his ed- ucation. While yet a boy he began clerking in a hardware store, where he gave entire satisfaction to his employer for three years. He afterward worked at odd jobs, such as carrying hod, stone and brick mason work, mixed mortar and did general, all-around work on brick, stone and frame building construction. After two years of this kind of hustling he went to Minnesota, where he worked on a farm for five years in the sum- mer and during the winter months cut cord- wood and sold pumps. Then he returned to Marquette, Michigan, and went to work in the powder mills, making black powder, having worked there for one year, at the end of which time he and his younger broth- er, August, conducted a beer bottling plant in that city, which they successfully conduct- ed for six months, when our subject bought August's interests in the business and con- tinued it for four years from 1881 to 1886. While in this business he added soda water, bottling and supply trade to his already large business. He then sold his business in Mar- quette and came to Centralia and began in the same business, where he bought out Mr. Hayes in 1886, and has since continued with marked success, his busness being located at 117 North Oak street. He paid fifteen hun-
dred dollars for the plant and has so in- creased the trade and the value of the plant until it is now worth several times that amount. His goods are shipped to the whole surrounding country, throughout Southern Illinois, and new territory is constantly be- ing added, for the superior quality of his goods is recognized by all, and new custom- ers are constantly coming to him. Mr. Rohl now carries about thirty towns on his ship- ping list and does a general carbonated soda water, ginger ale and all sorts of temperance drink business, also wholesale and retail, for beers, bar supplies and soda water fountains.
Our subject was married to Anna Sta- bler in May, 1881, and four children have been born to this union, namely: Thersa, Anna, Caroline and Robert, Jr. Anna mar- ried George F. Hails, of Centralia, a switch- man on the Illinois Central Railroad.
In politics our subject is a Republican, and religiously he was reared a Protestant. He has always taken a great interest in local political affairs and his political friends hon- ored him by electing him Mayor of Centra- lia, his term extending from 1901 to 1903. He was Alderman of the Fourth Ward for two terms. During his incumbency in these positions the city was carefully looked after and many public interests promulgated, so that his record was one of which anyone might well be proud.
Mr. Rohl in his fraternal relations is a member of Helmet lodge, Knights of Py- thias, also the Red Men and Pocahontas. He belongs to the Turners, also the United Com- mercial Travelers. He is a member of the
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND REMINISCENT HISTORY OF
Travelers' Protective Association, and was secretary and treasurer for four years of the United Commercial Travelers. He was chosen president of the Illinois State Bot- tlers' Protective Association for two years. He was a state delegate to the convention of the National Bottlers' Protective Associa- tion, held in Denver in 1907.
The subject's father is still living at Mar- quette, Michigan, at the age of eighty-two years. His step-mother is also living at the same age. Our subject's mother died when forty years old. Grandfather Rohl died in Germany at the advanced age of ninety-six years, and his maternal grandfather died at the age of seventy-eight years.
· EDWIN L. WATTS.
The subject of this sketch is recognized as one of the leading citizens of Centralia, where he is known by all as a business man of unusual ability, a man of progressive ideas and at all times ready to do his part in furthering any interest for the public good.
Edwin L. Watts was born in Clinton county, five miles west of Centralia, on a farm, November 11, 1873, the son of Wil- · liam M. and Martha (Short) Watts, both natives of Illinois, in whose family there were five children, two boys and three girls, Edwin L., our subject, being the youngest in order of birth.
Our subject received his early education
in the common schools of his native com- munity, having applied himself in a careful manner and gained a good education which has later been added to by' home reading, and by coming in contact with the world. He devoted his life to farming up to 1904, having been prosperous at this line of work, laying up from year to year a competence and making a comfortable living. But be- lieving that larger interests were to be found in Centralia, he came to this city and entered the livery business in which he was very successful for a period of two years, at the end of which he went into the im- plement business, having been associated with J. D. Breeze since 1906, the firm being Breeze & Watts, their well known place of business being 321 South Locust street, Cen- tralia. They handle a full line of imple- ments, vehicles, harness, buggies, wagons, drills, seeders, corn shellers and they deal in general stock on a large scale. Their store is always filled with customers and is one of the busiest places of its kind in Centralia. Before coming to Centralia, our subject served as Assessor of Raccoon township in a very creditable and acceptable manner for one year, during which time the interests of the township were as carefully looked after as if they had been his individual business.
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