USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 35
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John Feicht spent his boyhood days in Bloomington and attended the public schools there. His first employment was that of a tobacco stripper at $1.25 per week, and at the age of 13 years he learned the blacksmith trade which he followed for two years. His next employment was in a pool room where he received $1.00 per day, working daily from 7 a. m. until 11 p. m. When he was a young man Mr. Feicht engaged in the saloon business which he continued until prohibition came into effect. He now lives retired at 914 South Madison Street, Bloomington.
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In 1890 Mr. Feicht was married to Miss Hulda Harting, a native of Bloomington, and the daughter of Charles and Minnie (Feicke) Harting. Mr. and Mrs. Harting were natives of Germany and came to the United States in 1870, locating at Bloomington, where Mr. Harting worked at his trade as blacksmith. He and his wife are now deceased. To John and Hulda (Harting) Feicht four children were were born, as follows: Mabel, died in 1910, at the age of 19 years; Charles A., cashier of the Cudahy Meat plant in Bloomington, married Miss Tjaden, and they have one son, Howard Eugene; John Elmer, died in infancy; and Earl L., born in 1907, a student in high school.
Mr. Feicht is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Elks Lodge, Red Men, and the Loyal Order of Moose. He is a dependable citizen and is well known in McLean County.
Charles Thomas, who is successfully engaged in farming and stock raising on his farm of 151 acres in Randolph Township, was born in Ger- many, April 25, 1851, the son of Carl and Louise Thomas.
Carl Thomas and his wife were natives of Germany and came to America in 1871, locating on land in McLean County. Mr. Thomas fol- lowed general farming during his life and died at Bloomington, Jan. 6, 1895, and his wife died March 9, 1894. They were the parents of the following children: Charles, the subject of this sketch; Costa, deceased; and John, a retired farmer, lives on Madison Street, Bloomington.
Charles Thomas was reared and educated in Germany and at the age of 20 years enlisted in the German army and served in France for two years. While he was in service his parents moved to the United States and shortly after his discharge from the army he came to this country and located at Chicago for one year. He then came to McLean County and worked on a farm near Hudson for one year, after which he returned to Chicago. He returned to McLean County, however, and rented a farm, which he operated for 11 years. Mr. Thomas now owns a well-improved farm in Randolph Township, but resides at 507 Moulton Street, Bloomington.
In 1877 Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Wilhelmina Reanke in Chi- cago, and to this union the following children were born: Bertha, born Jan. 2, 1878, married Albert Shultz, lives in McLean County; Amelia,
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born Dec. 5, 1879, married Ernest Koos, lives in McLean County ; Ida, born March 2, 1881, married Carl Bruckman; Herman, a farmer, lives in Mc- Lean County; Martha, born Dec. 26, 1885, deceased; Clara, born May 7, 1889, married Louis Grese, lives in McLean County ; Emma, born March 21, 1892, married John Graf, a farmer, lives in McLean County ; and Carl, born June 29, 1894, lives at home.
Mr. Thomas and his family are members of the German Lutheran Church at Bloomington and they are reliable and substantial members of the community.
Robert K. Leech, now deceased, was for many years a well known and highly respected citizen of Bloomington. He was born at McKees- port, Allegheny County, Pa., in 1831, and was a son of James and Dorcas Leech. In 1859 Robert K. Leech went to Leon, Iowa, and worked at his trade, which was that of a brick mason. He was married at Leon and two years later came to Bloomington, Ill., where he worked at his trade and contracting until the time of his death in July, 1911. He was a vet- eran of the Civil War, having enlisted in Bloomington in 1862, and became a member of Company F, 94th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He took part in a number of battles, including the siege of Vicksburg, and after serv- ing three years was honorably discharged at Fort Morgan.
Mr. Leech was married to Miss Elizabeth Mikel, a daughter of Will- iam and Catherine (Warren) Mikel, of Leon, Iowa, and to that union were born the following children: Lenna, married James R. Clark, and they had one son, an attorney, who is now located at Springfield, Ill .; Norma F., married W. D. Master, a retired farmer, and they have one daughter, Edith L., who is a teacher in the Petersburg, Ill., high school; John S., who served for a number of years in the government printing office at Washington, D. C., and later was sent to Manila in the govern- ment printing service, where he remained 13 years, and is now in the employ of J. P. Morgan & Co., in New York City, as credit man; James William, was a printer and died at San Antonio, Texas, leaving one daughter who resides in Colorado; Katie Florence, who died in Blooming- ton at the age of 22 years.
The Leech family are all members of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Leech resides at 607 East Jefferson Street, Bloomington. She is recognized as
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one of the honored pioneer women of McLean County, and the Leech family is highly respected. ..
Clair O. Hamilton, state bank examiner, is a prominent citizen of Bloomington and McLean County. He was born in Bloomington, Dec. 5, 1883, and is the son of F. Y. and Emma (Cone) Hamilton.
F. Y. Hamilton, a native of Richwood, Ohio, was a well-known attor- ney of Bloomington for many years. He died Nov. 29, 1922, and his wife, who was born in Adrian, Mich., died March 9, 1888. They were the par- ents of two children: Clair O., the subject of this sketch; and Ethel, who died Oct. 29, 1920. She was the wife of Senator Frank O. Hanson.
Clair O. Hamilton received his education in the public and high schools of Bloomington, after which he was graduated from the Virginia Military Institute at Lexington, Va. He is also a graduate of the Rose Polytechnic Institute of Terre Haute, Ind. After completing his school work, Mr. Hamilton followed his profession as electrical engineer for a number of years, being located at Houston, Texas, and at Greenville, Miss. He later owned a tailoring establishment and men's furnishing business in Bloomington and Normal, which he conducted successfully for 11 years. At the present time Mr. Hamilton is serving in the capacity of state bank examiner and lives at 711 East Empire Street, Bloomington.
On Aug. 12, 1901, Mr. Hamilton was united in marriage with Miss Nell Kimler, a native of LeRoy, Ill., and the daughter of Frank and Jane (Pemberton) Kimler, natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively. Mr. Kimler died in 1917 and his wife died the year previous. To Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton four children have been born: Frank K., Jack R., Margaret R., and Nancy Jane Hamilton.
Mr. Hamilton is a Republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the Masonic Blue Lodge and Consistory. He is a nephew of former Governor John Marshal Hamilton of Illinois.
Franklin Young Hamilton was born Dec. 27, 1852, at Richwood, Ohio, in a one and a half story log house of two rooms, which is still stand- ing. His parents were Samuel and Nancy Hamilton. He was the fourth son of a family of nine children. The family came to Illinois when he was
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a year old, locating first on a farm near Varna, whence in 1866 they re- moved to Wenona. He obtained his education, first at the Illinois Wes- leyan University, afterwards at Adrian College, Michigan, the latter con- ferring upon him the college degree.
. In 1882, upon his graduation, he came to Bloomington, and in 1884 entered the law office of Rowell & Hamilton as a student; the latter, his brother, was afterward a state senator, lieutenant governor and gov- ernor. Upon the completion of his law studies, he was admitted to the bar of the state, and in 1886-88 he served as a member of the state legis- lature, making there an honorable record. At the conclusion of this term of service he entered upon the active practice of his profession, and so continued until his death at Brokaw Hospital, Nov. 24, 1922.
As a lawyer, he was recognized as one of the leaders, was for 29 years the local counsel of what is now the Big Four railroad system. He always enjoyed the confidence of all, a good practice, and was frequently engaged in important cases; besides, what he preferred, an extensive office practice, in which his superior business ability and judgment, and his thorough knowledge of the law gave him success.
He was prominent and faithful in civic matters. He was a member of Bloomington Lodge No. 43 of Masons, and of the Bloomington Con- sistory ; a charter member of the College Alumni and Longfellow Clubs, and for many years an Odd Fellow; until his later years was active in the church, and in the Y. M. C. A. For many years he was a trustee of Brokaw Hospital, as such a representative of Abraham Brokaw, his client, and rendered great service in procuring the latter's bequest to that char- ity, as well as in other important respects.
He was thrice married, first to Emma J. Cone, at Morenci, Mich., Oct. 3, 1875. For a time the husband and wife taught school at Sheridan, Mich. They had two children, Claire O. Hamilton and Ethel Hamilton, the latter married Frank O. Hanson, and died in 1920. In 1890 Mr. Hamilton married Olive Hudson, and in 1916 Mrs. Anna Morrison, each of whom preceded him into the great beyond. Two sisters, Mrs. E. H. Miller of Chicago and Mrs. O. C. Allen survive him.
He was affable, a true friend, a gentleman, always ready to serve others. He left behind him the kindly recollections of his brethren at the bar, and of a wide circle of friends who feel a personal loss and be- reavement in his death. One by one, the third generation of Blooming- ton's lawyers is passing away; the present one of younger men taking
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their places, who will be stimulated, encouraged and have much to learn from the examples of faithfulness, energy and devotion to the high ideals of Mr. Hamilton.
Frank H. Blose, alderman from the Third Ward of Bloomington, is a well known and successful business man of McLean County. He was born on a farm in Warren County, Ohio, May 16, 1860, the son of John W. and Jacqueline (Hayner) Blose.
John W. Blose and his wife were natives of Virginia and the parents of two children, as follows: Frank H., the subject of this sketch; and Jennie, married Charles H. Smith, a farmer, lives in Warren County, Ohio. Mr. Blose died Dec. 31, 1923, at the age of 90 years. His wife died in April, 1909.
Frank H. Blose was reared on his father's farm in Ohio and attended the public schools. When he was 19 years old he began his apprentice- ship as blacksmith and three years later worked at his trade in Spring- boro, Ohio, a short distance from his home. In October, 1881, he came to Illinois and located at Delana, now Glenavon, where he remained until 1888, at which time he moved to Bloomington. Mr. Blose has been in business at Bloomington during all these years; his shop located at 413 N. Center Street, until 1892 when he moved to his present location at 218 S. Center Street. When Mr. Blose embarked in the horse shoeing business in Bloomington there were probably as many shops as there are now garages. He has been privileged to witness the closing of the farrier shops one by one until now but a few remain.
On April 5, 1883, Mr. Blose was united in marriage with Miss Ora B. Batson, a daughter of Alexander A. and Mary C. (Babbitt) Batson, na- tives of Indiana. The Batson family came to Illinois in 1880 and settled near Glenavon. Mr. Batson served throughout the Civil War and is now deceased. His widow resides with her daughter, Mrs. Blose. To Frank H. and Ora B. (Batson) Blose four children have been born, as follows: Gertrude, married Harry H. Craig, a member of the Chicago police force; Annie M., married Frank Baker, lives in Bloomington; George H., died in infancy ; and Edgar L., has been an electrician for the Bloomington Light Company for 16 years, is married and has one child, Marian Barbara. He is a veteran of the World War.
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Frank H. Blose was elected alderman from the Third Ward in 1923 and he is chairman of the finance committee and also of the judiciary and light companies. Since the death of Mayor Shorthose, Jan. 4, 1924, Mr. Blose has been acting mayor of Bloomington. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 43 and has filled all the offices of his lodge, including master from 1896 to 1897. He is one of the oldest past masters of the Bloomingtn Lodge and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Blose and his family are members of the Christian Church and he is a highly respected citizen of his community.
Walsh & Sons, dealers in stone and granite, are among the enter- prising and successful business men of Bloomington. The firm was organized by Michael Walsh many years ago and is now conducted by his sons. He was a native of Ireland, born in 1857. Following his mar- riage, Mr. Walsh came to the United States and settled at Bloomington, where he was employed by the Chicago & Alton Railroad as a stone cutter. After several years he became a contracting stone mason and his first piece of work was the residence of Reverend Weldon on North Main Street. The stone yard was located at the corner of Center and Market streets, the present site of the Will building. The present location is at 600 West Olive Street. Mr. Walsh died in 1909.
In 1856 Michael Walsh was married to Miss Anna Shaunessy, a native of Ireland, and to this union the following children were born: Michael E., a member of the firm; Mary, married William Young, lives in Bloomington ; Anna, married James Cavello, lives in Bloomington ; Thomas M., a veteran of the World war, also a partner in the business; Julia, married Fred Gerth, lives in Bloomington; Lawrence P., a partner in the business; Margaret, married Lawrence Wagoner; Eleanor, married Thomas Salmon; John J., a partner in the business, and Edward, serving in the United States Navy, and is now stationed in Washington. Mrs. Michael Walsh died in 1914.
Walsh & Sons, as the firm is still known, is among the leading business enterprises of Bloomington. They handle stones of all kinds and domes- tic and imported granites. Since the death of their father in 1909, the Walsh boys have invested a considerable amount in the business and enlarged it extensively. They have about $50,000 invested and do $120,000 worth of business annually.
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Archie M. Augustine, nationally known horticulturist and nursery- man, is a resident of Normal and a member of one of McLean County's prominent pioneer families. He was born at Pontiac, Ill., Nov. 10, 1869, and is the son of Capt. Henry and Margaret (Gapen) Augustine, a com- plete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this history.
Mr. Augustine was educated in the public schools and the Illinois State Normal University. After completing his education he entered the nursery business at Normal with his father, who was already widely known through his horticultural pursuits. In September, 1890, Mr. Augustine left Normal and went to Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic, where he established a nursery. After four years of work and study there he returned to Normal. In 1905 he went to Michigan, where he established an orchard in the northern part of the state. Two years later, however, he became interested in the banking business at West Branch, Mich., where he remained two years. Mr. Augustine has in- herited his ability along horticultural lines from his father and has even advanced further in the new methods. He has devoted practically his entire life to this work and the name of Augustine is closely associated with horticulture throughout the country, as well as in many countries abroad.
On Sept. 14, 1895, Mr. Augustine was united in marriage with Miss Belle Cothran Marsh, a native of Bloomington, born Sept. 5, 1873, and the daughter of Dr. Benjamin P. and Mary F. (Ayres) Marsh. The Marsh family came to Illinois in 1850 from New York and in 1866 Dr. Marsh located in Bloomington, where he served as the first high school principal in 1867. He later engaged in the practice of medicine there, which he followed successfully until the time of his death in 1911. He was 71 years of age. Dr. Marsh was a well educated man, being a grad- uate of Knox College, Galesburg, Ill., Rush Medical College and Hanna- man Medical College, Chicago. He always took a keen interest in state and religious affairs and for many years was among the influential citi- zens of Illinois. Mary F. (Ayres) Marsh was a prominent woman of her day. She conducted the first kindergarten school in Bloomington and for a number of years had charge of the Girls' Industrial School. Mrs. Marsh held many club offices, was Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and was an active church member. She died in 1912 at the age of 69 years. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Marsh, two
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of whom are now living, Mrs. Archie M. Augustine, and Mrs. Catherine Risley, lives at Albany, N. Y.
Mrs. Archie M. Augustine is a graduate of Bloomington High School and the Illinois Wesleyan Conservatory of Music. She is a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and is regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution at the present time. To Archie M. and Belle Coth- ran (Marsh) Augustine two children have been born, as follows: Frances Marsh, the wife of Herman Schimpff, lives in Peoria, Ill., and they have one child, Mary Frances; and Areta M., a student at Illinois State Normal University.
Mr. Augustine has served as president and secretary of the Central Illinois Horticulture Society, as secretary of the Illinois State Horticulture Society for nine years, and for 10 years had charge of the Illinois Horti- cultural Society Experimental Stations in Illinois. He was elected presi- dent of this society but resigned that office soon after his election. Mr. Augustine also served as secretary two years and president two years of the Illinois State Nurserymen's Association.
Mr. Augustine is a Republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the Masonic Lodge and all its branches. He served as a director of the Illinois Children's Home Finding Society for 10 years, taking the position left vacant by his father's death. Mr. Augustine also belongs to the Rotary Club of Bloomington. He is a man of high civic ideals, capable and practical in all phases of his work, and a citizen of whom his community is justly proud.
Capt. Henry Augustine, deceased, was of German ancestry. He was born in Lancaster County, Pa., July 25, 1840, the son of John A. and Anna (Miller) Augustine. John A. Augustine was a native of Wurtemburg, Germany, and came to America as a boy, locating in Lancaster County, Pa., where he married and reared a family of ten children. In 1857 he brought his family to Canton, Ill., and here his death occurred in 1870, his wife having died four years previous.
Henry Augustine was 17 years old when the family removed to Illinois. He received his education in his native state and engaged in farming until the outbreak of the Civil War. He enlisted on Aug. 3, 1861, in Company A, 55th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as company sergeant. On (27)
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Aug. 1, 1862, he was commissioned second lieutenant and on Oct. 2nd of the same year was promoted to first lieutenant. June 27, 1864, he was commissioned captain and commanded Company A until the following Nov. 8 when he resigned, and upon his return recruited Company I, 51st Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as captain. In this capacity he continued until November, 1865, when he was mustered out of service and honorably discharged, having participated in 32 hard fought battles, and been under the enemy's fire for 196 days. During six months of his service he was judge-advocate of a military court. His promotion from rank to rank speaks for itself, and certainly in the Union ranks there was no more earnest, courageous and helpful soldier. Two of his brothers, Michael and J. M. Augustine fell and were buried by the captain on the battlefield, and the remains were brought home by him and interred at Canton, Ill., after the war. The former, who was a member of the 103rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry was killed at Missionary Ridge, while the latter, who was lieutenant-colonel of the 55th Illinois Infantry regiment lost his life at Kenesaw Mountain.
After the war Capt. Augustine engaged in the drug business in Can- ton, Ill., until 1868, when owing to failing health he engaged in farming and the nursery business at Pontiac, Ill. In 1876 he came to Normal and established the present nursery business on a small scale, which at present is one of the best known enterprises of the kind in the State of Illinois. A regular and important part of the business in the past has been its foreign trade, having had business connections with France, England, Germany, Scotland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Captain Augustine introduced many new and valuable fruits and to him is ascribed the Sudduth, one of the most valuable varieties known of the pear, as well as the introduction in the west of the Snyder blackberry. He was superintendent of the Illinois State Fruit Exhibit at the Columbia Exposition in Chicago, in 1893, and the creditable showing of Illinois fruit at that time was due to his unceasing efforts and pride in local conditions. He served as president of the National Nurserymen's Association and Illinois State Horticultural Society, and contributed to the literature and general undertakings of both these organizations.
To the enviable reputation as soldier and horticulturalist must be added that of philanthropist, the latter perhaps the most unceasing and tireless of the efforts of Captain Augustine. For more than 35 years he devoted time and money to the noble cause of the Children's Home and
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Aid Society, an organization which has accomplished untold good for the homeless waifs of society. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and served as president of the Illinois State Sunday School Association, and the McLean County Sunday School Association. For 14 years he was Sunday School superintendent at the Soldiers' and Orphans' Home at Normal. He was also identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, being a member of the W. T. Sherman Post, Bloomington.
The marriage of Captain Augustine and Margaret E. Gapen occurred March 17, 1869, and of this union there is a son, Archie M., a sketch of whom appears in these volumes. Mrs. Henry Augustine was born in Penn- sylvania and educated in Fulton County, Ill., where she removed with her parents in early life, they being Bachriach and Margaret (McGee) Gapen.
On March 8, 1913, Capt. Augustine was killed by a Chicago & Alton passenger train in front of his office, which is located at the Illinois Cen- tral and Chicago & Alton Crossing. Mrs. Augustine is now living in Los Angeles, Calif.
Captain Augustine was one of the solid, substantial and highly es- teemed men of McLean County and his life was an expression of rare ability, noble purpose, well directed generosity and faith in the goodness and possibility of his fellowmen.
John J. Stack, now living retired at Bloomington, is a member of a well known pioneer family of McLean County. He was born in Blooming- ton, June 5, 1868, and is a son of Patrick and Helen (Kinsella) Stack.
Patrick Stack was a native of Ireland, born March 17, 1831, and was one of a family of eight children, all of whom are deceased. In the spring of 1848 Patrick Stack and his brother Edward came to New Orleans in a sailing vessel that took over eight weeks to make the voyage. When they landed in New Orleans there was an epidemic of cholera there and they both hired out as deck hands and worked on the Ohio and Missis- sippi rivers. Later they worked at their trades as stone and brick masons in St. Louis for one year. From there they went to Lexington, Ky. Three years later they heard of a building boom in Chicago and went there for two months and then went to Bloomington. This was in 1852. They were employed by the Illinois Central Railroad Company as stone masons. At this time the railroad was being built from Chicago to Clinton, Ill., and
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the work lasted for several years. Mr. Stack then became interested in paving and was instrumental in having the first brick pavement laid in Bloomington. The bricks were made by James McGregory and the brick yard was located southeast of Bloomington. He was first appointed fore- man under the street commissioner and after three years was elected commissioner. Later Mr. Stack became interested in the proposed water works for Bloomington and he located a well north of the cemetery, which was 65 feet in depth and 40 feet in diameter. This well furnished all the water used in Bloomington until 20 years ago. Mr. Stack was also identi- fied with the sewage system in Bloomington and most of the pipes fur- nished for this purpose were eight feet in diameter. All of the brick used was purchased from the McGregor & Hafter Brick Company.
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