USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 31
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On July 18, 1876, Dr. Asa L. Fox was married at Lewistown, Ill., to Miss Cornelia V. Deems, of Lewistown, where she was born April 5, 1850, a daughter of John and Phoebe (Brown) Deems, natives of Ohio and
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early settlers in Illinois. John Deems was born in 1809 and died in 1898, and his wife was born in 1809 and died in 1886. To Dr. and Mrs. Fox was born one son, Dr. Ralph Deems Fox, a well known physician and surgeon of Bloomington, a sketch of whom appears in this volume.
Dr. Fox is a Republican and he and Mrs. Fox are members of the Methodist Church. As a physician and surgeon and a citizen, Dr. Fox ranks high in the community.
Dr. John L. Yolton has been a successful and well known physician of Bloomington for many years. He was born in Avena Township, Fay- ette County, Ill., Aug. 10, 1858, and is the son of William and Belinda (McGeehon) Yolton.
William Yolton was a native of Pennsylvania, as also was his wife. They were early settlers of Fayette County, Ill., where Mr. Yolton en- gaged in farming in Avena Township. Mr. and Mrs. Yolton, now de- ceased, were the parents of two children: Dr. John L., the subject of this sketch, and Geneva, born in 1862, now living in North Dakota, is the wife of John Arnold.
Dr. Yolton was reared on his father's farm in Fayette County and received his education in the district schools, and taught school for a time. In 1887 he was graduated from Woman's Medical College at Chi- cago and served one year as interne in Woman's Hospital, Chicago. From 1889 to 1892 Dr. Yolton was physician at Croy Agency, Mont., in the settlement of the Crow Indians. Since that time he has been located in Bloomington. Dr. Yolton now lives retired at 208 E. Jefferson St., Bloomington.
Dr. Yolton was married the first time in 1886 to Miss Ella B. Smith, a native of St. Elmo, Ill., who died in 1889. To this union two children were born: Blanche Hossack, born in 1887, lives in Syracuse, N. Y., and Wyman B., born in 1889, died in 1919. On Oct. 22, 1896, Dr. Yolton was married to Dr. Rhoda Galloway, a native of Iowa, born in 1862, and a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Hall) Galloway, natives of Pennsyl- vania. Mr. Galloway died in 1862, and his wife died in 1919. To Dr. John L. and Rhoda (Galloway) Yolton one child was born, Leroy W.,
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born in 1900. He now teaches school in Carleton College, Northfield, Minn.
Dr. Yolton is a Republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the Masonic lodge and the Knights of Pythias.
Dr. Yolton was among the first to tender his services at the outbreak of the World war and he was assigned to the Student Army Training Corps of Illinois Wesleyan University. It was his lot to take care of the boys of the educational institution who were anxious to participate and who occupied the barracks erected for their accommodation north of the west end of the university buildings. Dr. Yolton served faithfully and efficiently during the period of the war and the excellent health of the students during this period was largely due to the careful attention given them by Dr. Yolton and his associates.
Judge Thomas Kennedy, a prominent attorney of Bloomington, is a member of one of Illinois' oldest and most prominent pioneer families. He was born on a farm in Minonk Township, Woodford County, Ill., and is a son of Thomas and Catherine Kennedy.
Mr. Kennedy received his education at the winter terms of the dis- trict schools in the neighborhood and in the city schools of Minonk. His mother died when he was a small child and his father died when he was 19 years of age. He worked on a farm first for his father and after- ward as a farm hand for neighboring farmers. While working on the farm Mr. Kennedy prepared himself for teaching, received a certificate and taught school for about four years, the last year of which was spent in the city schools of Minonk. While teaching his last year he entered the law office of Martin L. Newell, a well known lawyer and author of law books, at Minonk, Ill. Here he studied for two years and passed the examination, being admitted to the bar in 1886. He served as city attorney of Minonk, was appointed Master in Chancery of Woodford County in 1887, and moved to Metamora, where he opened a law office, near the old court house, now a Lincoln Memorial building owned and cared for by the state of Illinois.
In 1888, Mr. Kennedy was elected State's Attorney of Woodford County, and the following year entered into a partnership with his for-
THOMAS KENNEDY.
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mer preceptor, Martin L. Newell and returned to Minonk. Mr. Newell was state senator and was engaged in writing law books and much of the law business of the firm was handled by the junior member. This partnership continued until 1893 when Mr. Newell, having been ap- pointed assistant attorney general of the state of Illinois and reporter of the appellate courts, moved to Springfield. Mr. Kennedy filled the office of state's attorney for eight years, retiring in 1896. He after- wards held the same office for a term of four years, 1912 to 1916, making 12 years in all as a public prosecutor. During that time and since his retirement from that position he has taken part in the prosecution of many of the most important criminal cases tried in central Illinois. In a case recently tried in one of the counties of central Illinois, where he was seated with the state's attorney, the defense moved the court to order his withdrawal from the case, his experience being one of the grounds urged in support of the motion. The judge, however, refused to take such a radical step.
In 1898 Mr. Kennedy was elected county judge of Woodford County and held that position for two terms, eight years. During that time, in addition to discharging the duties of a judge, in Woodford County, he held exchange terms in many of the surrounding counties. He had a very extensive law practice and was well known in the courts of Pontiac, Ottawa, Lacon, Peoria, Pekin and Bloomington, as well as in his own county. In 1918, he moved to Bloomington and opened a law office in the Griesheim building, across from the northeast corner of the court house square. In November, 1920, he formed a law partnership with his son, Kaywin Kennedy, and they are now in active practice under the firm name of Kennedy & Kennedy. They have an extensive practice here and still retain a large practice in the surrounding counties.
Judge Kennedy married Miss Clara Hart, a daughter of Allen Hart, one of the pioneers of Woodford County. Her mother, Mrs. Martha A. Hart, is now living in Bloomington. There are two sons in the Kennedy family, Kaywin and Thomas Hart Kennedy. Kaywin Kennedy is a grad- uate of the University of Illinois and of the Northwestern Law School of Chicago. Thomas Hart Kennedy is a graduate of Culver Military Academy and has taken courses in economics and transportation at Le- land Stanford and Columbia universities and has written many articles, and a book on aviation, transportation and kindred subjects. Both of (24)
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them served their country in the World War and came out of the army as commissioned officers, and one of them, Kaywin, saw service over- seas.
Judge and Mrs. Kennedy live in a beautiful home on Broadway, in Normal, adjacent to Bloomington, and take an active part in the educa- tional and social affairs of the community.
Wolf Griesheim .- Fifty-nine years have passed since Wolf Griesheim left his kindred in the fatherland to make his way in the land of his adop- tion. He has never had reason to regret his step. His fellow citizens have never had reason to regret his coming. For it was men of his type that built up the business field of the Evergreen City until it ranked with the soundest and most successful of the inland cities of the great west. They built upon foundations of integrity and honor. They won the confi- dence of the community. They earned the respect and esteem of unnum- bered friends. Now at the sunset, it will be timely to recall something of their early days and their experiences, the vicissitudes of the pioneer com- mercial activities, as they blazed the way for those who were to follow and later relieve them of the burdens and responsibilities that they had so long and so ably carried.
Mr. Griesheim was 19 years of age when he arrived in Bloomington. It was on a Christmas morning. He had $5.00 in his purse, his sole pos- sessions outside of a purposeful ambition and industry. He made the journey from New York on an emigrant train, due to the lower price of fare. He was eight days in covering the journey of 1,000 miles, which now takes less than two. With a small bundle, which carried his spare clothing, he started to walk up West Chestnut Street to the city, the Chi- cago & Alton depot being located in the freight yards in those early days.
Unable to speak the English language, Mr. Griesheim found some dif- ficulty in securing information, but finally met Tol Lawrence, later of Denver, who was able to understand the name of Resiel Livingston, whom Mr. Griesheim knew in Germany. Lawrence guided the newcomer to the Livingston store, then known as the S. & A. Livingston, located at the northwest corner of Center and Washington streets. He was given a cor- dial welcome and ate breakfast at the home of Sam Livingston. Mr.
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Griesheim was then taken to the store of Abe Berman, now the site of the Livingston building, where he went to work at once as a clerk. It was the original plan of Mr. Griesheim to start out as a peddler and sell goods in the rural districts, but Berman argued against this and advised the youth to learn the business and then embark upon his own hook. He started his new clerk at the munificent salary of $100 per annum, which included board, lodging and washing. The new clerk startled the natives with his energy. He found the store dirty and unkempt and the stock neglected, poorly arranged, and carelessly displayed. In a few days he affected a transformation. He washed the windows, scrubbed the floors at night on his hands and knees, rearranged the stock, put on attractive displays, etc. In those days the merchants had wide wooden awnings and a large proportion of the stock was displayed on the sidewalk during the day. So faithful was the new clerk and so valuable did he become that Berman raised his pay three times, until he was finally drawing the princely wage of $35 per month and board. Then came a calamity. Ber- man died. A. Livingston took possession of the store while Mr. Gries- heim went to the S. & A. Livingston store at the northwest corner of Center and Washington Streets, known as the headquarters. Maik Liv- ingston and Mr. Griesheim were given an eighth interest in the business in 1868 when a new building was erected, but the two boys were dissatis- fied and the firm then sold out to the pair and they formed a partnership, known as Livingston & Griesheim, which continued until 1886, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Griesheim opening a store alone three doors to the north. Of that little group of German born business men who came to Bloomington in the sixties and who became such an impor- tant part in the mercantile field, Mr. Griesheim is the last surviving.
The new store was known as the U. S. and the name was selected by William McCambridge, then a well-known member of the Pantagraph editorial staff. While Mr. Griesheim was in New York, McCambridge looked after the advertising. He kept the cabalistic letters "U. S." before the public and had everybody in central Illinois guessing as to the mean- ilng. The day of the opening a page "ad" in the Pantagraph explained the secret and the inaugural was a great success.
Finding it necessary to expand and being unable to purchase either of the adjacent buildings, Mr. Griesheim in 1890 purchased the site of the present Griesheim building, paying more for the lots than ever previously
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recorded for business realty, and erecting Bloomington's first sky-scraper in 1896. This structure was destroyed by fire in the great fire of 1900, but Mr. Griesheim with his usual energy was open for business four days later, securing a building on Front Street, which he occupied until the present fine structure was erected the following winter, moving in on Dec. 1st. Mr. Griesheim sold out in 1915 to his two sons, and has since taken life easy, enjoying to the fullest the fruits of his labors as a busi- ness man of Bloomington, his sons successfully carrying on the enterprise that he had launched and so ably conducted.
Mr. Griesheim gives much of his credit for success to the warm friends whom he met after arriving in Bloomington. Among the first was W. O. Davis, who came to Bloomington in 1865. Others included Col. D. C. Smith, Charles Gehmlin, Squire Vanordstrand of Heyworth; Chris Naffziger, of Danvers; J. E. McCormick; Wesleyan Crain, of McLean; Jacob Gingerich, of Dry Grove, who was his first customer; Sam A. Deal, of Dry Grove; Julius Reichel, Peter Whitmer, Joseph Pitts, William Muhl, and Warren C. Watkins. The latter saved him from serious finan- cial loss. His money, in the early seventies, was deposited in the old Home Bank. Watkins learned that the bank was insolvent and warned him to withdraw his funds. He did so just in time. Otherwise he might have been ruined. In the reconstruction days that followed the Civil War and the panicky era of the early seventies, many retail and whole- sale firms went under, and it required careful pilotage to steer clear of the shoals that perilled the mercantile craft.
Twenty years' service on the board of supervisors enabled Mr. Gries- heim to do much for the city and county, and he proved a valuable mem- ber. It was the fashion in those days to ignore the claims of justices of the peace and constables for services rendered. Mr. Griesheim inves- tigated such accounts and when he found that they were legitimate and had been well earned, he made an effective plea that the bills be allowed, and the committee, thanks to his efforts, did so, thus earning for him the gratitude of the men who had previously experienced great difficulty in securing satisfaction.
Mr. Griesheim was always a great admirer of Gov. J. W. Fifer, and, when the latter made his race for governor, Mr. Griesheim sent to Dan- vers and with the aid of Pete Elkins secured a wagon load of brick that Fifer and Elkins had made when they were boys together on the Danvers
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farm. The brick were placed in the Griesheim window and proved an effective advertisement for the governor. The display was written up in the Chicago and down state papers and proved a great hit.
Many changes have been noted by Mr. Greisheim in merchandising methods. Forty to 50 years ago traveling clothing salesmen brought the whole garment along instead of the picture style books with samples of clothes that thus reduce traveling expenses. Sometimes the salesmen would carry as many as 30 trunks filled with suits of various kinds. To- day the average salesman of clothing carries usually a single suit case. The styles have changed also. No one would wear the bell bottom trou- sers today of two generations ago; the plug hats, the tape edged cut- aways, the windsor flowing ties, and other evidences of elegance and smartness displayed by the Beau Brummels of long ago have gone, per- haps never to return except possibly in the movies.
In the early days no one thought of keeping tailors in the stores to remodel suits. If the trousers or vests were too loose, they were tight- ened by the buckle. Alterations had to be performed by the patron, if they were made. This change in conditions as well as many others that might be recalled came by degrees, but so gradually that the public paid little attention to them. The great palaces of trade now bear little resem- blance to the insignificance of stores of the sixties with their small stocks and primitive methods. Only those who have been privileged to witness the transformation can fully realize the contrast.
As a leading member of the Bloomington Benevolent Society for many years, Mr. Griesheim took an active part in looking after the needy and dependent, and hundreds have had reason to bless his generosity and consideration for those afflicted or in distress.
Now, in retrospection, as he gazes back over the years he has no regrets and finds satisfaction in completed service, well performed. Through unfaltering courage, a character stainless, a name that is hon- ored, he achieved unusual success, a goal that many seek in vain.
Wolf Grieshem was married in the old Sherman House in Chicago, Oct. 12, 1870. Mrs. Griesheim was born in Albany, N. Y., June 14, 1846, a daughter of Samuel and Henrietta Friend.
Mr. Griesheim practically retired from the mercantile business about ten years ago, and his sons, Myron H. Griesheim and Julius Griesheim, continued the active management of the Griesheim clothing business,
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which is located in the Griesheim building on the northeast corner of the public square.
In 1923 Myron H. Griesheim died and the business is now under the management of the other brother, Julius.
Myron H. Griesheim, deceased, was born in Bloomington, Oct. 10, 1879. He was educated in the Jefferson schools and the State Normal University, and Wesleyan University. At the age of 18 years he entered the store of his father and when he was 21 years old he was taken into the firm, then composed of his father, Wolf Griesheim, and his brother, Julius, who continues the active management of the business.
Besides the two sons, Myron H. and Julius, Mr. and Mrs. Wolf Gries- heim have had had two daughters, Florence, now Mrs. Milton Livingston, and Cora, married E. B. Heller, and died April 1, 1912, in St. Louis, Mo. A son, Edward Griesheim, died in October, 1893, at about the age of 21 years.
Lawrence Edgar Farlow, secretary of the Farmers Grain Dealers Association of Illinois, is among the substantial business men of Bloom- ington. He was born in Jefferson County, Ill., Jan. 2, 1889, and is the son of Samuel Marion and Nancy M. (Redmond) Farlow.
Samuel Marion Farlow, a native of Jefferson County, Ill., attended Ewing College and taught school for a number of years. He was a suc- cessful farmer and now lives retired. His wife died in October, 1897, and is buried in the Hams Grove Cemetery, near Mt. Vernon, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Farlow were the parents of four sons and seven daughters.
Lawrence Edgar Farlow grew up on his father's farm near Mt. Vernon and attended the public schools and Ewing College at Ewing, Ill. After teaching school five years Mr. Farlow was made manager of the Fisher Farmers' Grain & Coal Co., at Fisher, Ill., in 1912. He con- tinued in that work until 1919 when he was appointed state secretary of the Farmers Grain Dealers Association of Illinois.
On Feb. 26, 1910, Mr. Farlow was married at Farmington, Mo., to Miss Bertie A. Bumpus ,a native' of Jefferson County, Ill., and the daugh- ter of Rev. Samuel and Effie (Riggs) Bumpus, natives of Illinois, who live at Green Valley, Ill., where Reverend Bumpus has charge of a Metho-
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dist Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Farlow two children have been born: Coenia Blanche, born Feb. 3, 1911, and Edwin Marion, born June 22, 1914.
Mr. Farlow is a Democrat, a member of the First Methodist Episco- pal Church and belongs to the Masonic lodge and Bloomington Consistory. He is a reliable citizen and merits the esteem in which he is held in the community.
George Agle, retired, has been a prominent citizen and successful business man of Bloomington for many years. He was born in Erie County, N. Y., in 1843, and is the son of Frederick and Laney (Henry) Agle, both natives of Germany.
Frederick Agle came to America with his parents when a boy of 11 years and settled in Erie County, N. Y. His father, George Agle, was a soldier under Napoleon for 111/2 years, during which time he was at the memorable siege and burning of Moscow, Russia. He lived to be 80 years of age, and a unique incident of his life was the fact that he had never ridden horseback or in a wagon. Frederick Agle followed agri- culture pursuits in Erie County, N. Y., until 1880 when he removed to Bloomington. There were eight children in the Agle family, of whom George, the subject of this sketch, was the third in order of birth.
George Agle lived on a farm until he was 16 years old and received his education in the district school. He then went to Hamburg, Erie County, N. Y., and engaged in the tanning and currier trade, at which he served three years. He then removed to Illinois, locating at Bloomington, where he became a dealer in hides, wool, feed and leathers. Mr. Agle now lives retired and the business is carried on by his sons, George F., William F., and Charles F. J. Agle.
Mr. Agle was married in 1869 to Miss Caroline W. Eckhardt, who was born in Erie County, N. Y., the daughter of George and Margaret (Bley) Eckhardt. Mr. and Mrs. Agle have three sons, mention of whom is made above.
George Agle is a Republican and a member of the German Lutheran Church. He is a substantial citizen and his family has always stood high in Bloomington. His wife died May 20, 1918. She was a member of the German Lutheran Church.
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Dr. Cyrenius Wakefield, of old English stock, was born in Water- town, N. Y., July 12, 1815, and was the fifth in a family of six. When a youth he worked his father's farm in summer and taught school in win- ter. In 1837 he came to Bloomington, on the lakes to Chicago, from there by stage to LaSalle, on the river to Pekin, where putting his luggage on a wagon loaded with merchandise coming this way he set out on foot, reaching the town of Bloomington in two days. For a time he taught school south of here but lived west of Farmer City, where later he also taught school. In four years he owned a farm and comfortable home. He was now ready for marriage and his heart went back to a beloved schoolmate in the home of his youth. On Aug. 17, 1843, he was mar- ried to Miss Harriet Richardson, a relation of General Grant. To Dr. and Mrs. Wakefield four children were born as follows: Emma, Oscar, Harriet and Homer. Emma, deceased, was the wife of A. S. Eddy, also deceased. To this union five children were born as follows: Emma Agus- ta, wife of H. N. Woods, Bloomington; Florence Josephine, deceased, was wife of H. O. Davis, Bloomington; Adelbert Cyrenius, Los Angeles, Calif .; Louis O., manager of C. Wakefield & Company factory, Bloomington; and Maxwell, residing in Chicago, Ill. Oscar, deceased, early lost his two sons, Herbert and Bruce. Harriet now resides in Bloomington. Homer, a physician, lives in New York City. He is the father of three children, Sherman, Elizabeth and Harriet, all of whom reside in New York and vicinity.
Harriet (youngest daughter of Dr. Cyrenius Wakefield) was edu- cated in the public schools of Bloomington, later attending Miss Grant's Seminary in Chicago, followed by an extended trip abroad. On May 11, 1886, she was married to Albert B. Brady, a native of Iowa, born Sept. 19, 1862. Mr. Brady was a direct descendant of General Warrington of Revolutionary fame. On graduating from Knox College he was engaged in newspaper work, which he soon gave up in order to assist his dear friend, S. S. McClure, to found McClure's Magazine. Mr. Brady occupied the position of secretary and advertising manager of the McClure Pub- lishing Company until his death, Dec. 25, 1900, in Rome, Italy. To Albert B. and Harriet (Wakefield) Brady two children were born: Florence, now residing with her mother in Bloomington; and Albert B., who lives in Los Angeles, Calif., where he is engaged in business.
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DR. PYRENIU'S WAKEFIELD
UNIVERSITY OF ULL
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Dr. Cyrenius Wakefield's brother Zera was a fine physician and had much experience in the South before coming to Illinois in 1843. The two brothers opened a store at Point Isabelle, Dewitt County, Ill. Such a de- mand was made for Zera's medicines that preparations were made to manufacture them. Dr. Zera Wakefield died in 1848, leaving his brother sole owner of the business and formulas.
Dr. Cyrenius Wakefield became very skillful in his work. Early in 1850 he built a two story frame house in Bloomington, where the large store of A. Livingston & Sons stands today. Passing into the front door from the hall you could enter the living room to your left, or the drug store to your right. The stairway led to sleeping rooms. In 1851 Dr. Wakefield erected a three story brick building on a lot lying to the west, which was devoted to the manufacture of his medicines-by this time well established. In 1852 he purchased an additional building and placed it on the west of the large brick building. In the third story he pub- lished a paper known as the "Illinois State Bulletin." His brother-in-law, Robert Thompson, was a partner in this business. When the firm was burned out Dr. Wakefield erected a building four stories high. The signs read "Drugs and Medicines, Wholesale and Retail", and the building, springing as it did from the ashes, came to be known as old Liberty Hall, later Phoenix Hall. It was in one story of this that many public meetings were held, including the speeches of Lincoln. In 1856 Dr. Wakefield re- tired from the general drug business and gave his entire attention to his own medicines.
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