USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 42
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Mrs. Kimball's education was most thorough, her early environment was one of culture and aspiration toward higher things of life. Her memory has ever been most retentive, and she had received training both in music and art. When about 1879 she began her services as instructor in the Bloomington public schools, there could have been few teachers better qualified than she to work in any department, but it was natural that the young mother should be assigned to a position among the little children. For 11 years she taught in primary grades. During these same years she also gave devoted and faithful service as teacher in the primary department of the First Presbyterian Sunday School. And these things were all a part of her great task in life, the nurture and education of her own four daughters.
In 1891, she entered upon her long years, almost 30, of service in the Bloomington public library, where Mrs. Hannah R. Galliner, of revered memory, was still librarian. Mrs. Galliner closed her 27 years of service in 1894. At that time Mrs. Kimball was appointed first assistant. As the work of the Withers library, now taken over by the city, became greater, she was named as reference librarian. In this position, which was hers for 20 years she came in contact with students in the high school, Wesleyan and Normal, with the ministers, professional people, club mem- bers of the community. The young men working on a debate, the woman
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with a club paper to prepare, always found her helpful and sympathetic. If there was anything in the library that bore on the topic, Mrs. Kimball could find it. Many times she brought her own books, old magazines, etc., to supply a needed item. In this work her long years of reading, her keen interest in public events during her whole lifetime, were a wondrful assistance.
Mrs. Kimball was one of the earliest members of Letitia Green Stev- enson chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, joining the chapter in the year of its organization, 1894. She has held office as historian, as treasurer, as vice regent, and during the years 1908-10 was regent of the chapter. Three times she represented the chapter at the Continental Congress, or meeting of the national society, in Washington, D. C .; also several times at state meetings. In 1922 the chapter made her honorary past regent for life. She is still a most useful and valued member, her advice is sought by officers, and hearty co-operation given in all chapter undertakings.
A charter member of the Bloomington Woman's Club, there has hardly been a year when Mrs. Kimball has not given useful service as officer, department head, or committee member. Not all attention has been given to these club activities, but as a devoted member through the years of the First Presbyterian church, she has had a large part in the women's work, especially as teacher in the Sabbath school and as a leading member of the Woman's Missionary society. In connection with her work in these different organizations, she has prepared many fine papers which show decided literary talent. A number of articles from her pen have been published in the proceedings of the McLean County Historical Society. She was one of the organizers of the Bloomington Art Association, which flourished in the early '90's and numbered in its membership many gifted persons ; also of the Sketch club, organized about the same time, whose members met with pencil or brush in hand. At this time she did much painting in oils and upon china. Another artistic accomplishment has been her needle work, for she is an adept in plain sewing and embroidery. Today her leisure is spent with books, the current periodicals, for she keeps up with all the questions of the day-and meantime her busy fingers ply their skill in making beautiful articles which are highly prized by her family.
The seven grandsons and three granddaughters were an unfailing source of interest and joy through their years of childhood, and no less
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so now as they pursue their education and enter upon life careers. In their interest and affairs she renews her youth.
A. G. Carnahan, who successfully operates a garage and machine shop at 208-210 East Monroe street, in Bloomington, was born in Lee County, Ill., May 5, 1868, the son of John and Melvina (Cole) Carnahan.
John Carnahan was a native of Lee County, Ill., as also was his wife. He served throughout the Civil war and was a prominent farmer and stockman. Mr. and Mrs. Carnahan, deceased, were the parents of five children, three of whom are now living.
When A. G. Carnahan, the subject of this sketch, was 10 years of age he was placed in the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Normal, Ill., where he remained until he was 16 years old. While there he had charge of the water works, and after leaving the institution he was made chief engineer of the Miller Brothers Dry Dock plant at Chicago, and he was the youngest steam engineer at that time in Chicago. After remaining with that company for three years, Mr. Carnahan was engaged as engineer on the tug "Williams" on Lake Michigan, and later on the tug "Bertha," and the barge "Solan Johnson," holding each position for two years. He was also engineer on the steamer "C. C. Meyers." Mr. Carnahan returned then to Normal and installed a heating and electric light plant in the orphan's home there, which was about four years' work. He then entered the employ of the White and Evans Portable Elevator Company at Bloom- ington, where he made patterns and dies for portable elevators. His next work was the installation of the electric light and heating plant in the Illinois Hotel at Bloomington, and in March, 1905, he opened his machine shop in Bloomington. He has enlarged his business until he now occupies a fine garage on East Monroe Street, where he carries on all kinds of automobile welding, grinding and machine work. He does welding and cylinder reboring and has a completely equipped machine shop. Mr. Car- nahan employs 12 men in his shop.
On March 1, 1890, Mr. Carnahan was married to Miss Hattie Pallister, a native of Fulton County, Ill. To this union six children were born, as follows: Robert, a welder, employed in his father's shop; Ray, also em- ployed in his father's shop as foreman; Helen, married David Conroy,
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lives at Bloomington; Buster, employed in his father's shop; Melvina, at home, and Marion, also at home.
Mr. Carnahan is a Republican, a member of the Christian Church, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 77, of Bloomington. He has been unusually successful in his work and received practically his entire education along engineering lines by taking correspondence work from the Scranton, Pennsylvania, Correspondence School. Mr. Carnahan is an enterprising and progressive citizen and is widely and favorably known in McLean County.
Paul F. Giermann, chief of the police department of Bloomington, is a substantial and highly respected citizen of McLean County. He was born in Stettin, Germany, Oct. 7, 1881, and is the son of Ernest and Marie (Schmidt) Giermann.
The Giermann family came to the United States from Germany in 1882 and settled at Bloomington, Ill., where Ernest Giermann engaged in business. For 14 years he conducted an ice business and is now night watchman for the Illinois Tractor Company. His first wife died in 1889 at the age of 30 years, leaving the following children: Paul F., the sub- ject of this sketch; Ernest, Jr., lives in Iowa; and Herman, employed by the Bloomington Street Railway Company. Mr. Giermann was married the second time to Miss Adeline Woizeski, and to his union three children were born as follows: Carl, at home; Alfred, employed by the Blooming- ton Fire Department ; and August, deceased.
Paul F. Giermann was reared in Bloomington and received his educa- tion in the German Lutheran schools. When he was 11 years of age he would get up at two o'clock in the morning and work before school and also at nights. He was at the head of his class at graduation in 1896. He then worked as a farm hand for $12.00 per month and in 1898 entered the employ of Herman Steege, a dairyman. Two years later he worked for Joseph Stokes and then was employed as yard foreman by the Shi- cago & Alton Railroad for several years. After working for the J. W. Evans & Sons Coal Company for several years, Mr. Giermann entered the ice business with his father, which he continued until 1913. He then became a patrolman on the Bloomington police force and one year later was on the night force. In 1915 he was made night captain, which rank
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he held until July 23, 1922, when he was appointed chief of the police department after the resignation of J. J. Jones. Mr. Giermann was re- elected to the office in 1923.
On April 13, 1904, Mr. Giermann was united in marriage with Miss Eleanora Obenauer, a native of Dayton, Ohio. To this union four chil- dren have been born, as follows: Emma, Marie, Frederick, and Clara, all at home.
In politics Mr. Giermann is a Republican and he is a member of the Lutheran Church. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge, Arts and Crafts, the Loyal Order of Moose, and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Giermann is an efficient officer, one of the dependable citizens of Bloom- ington, and favorably known.
Horatio G. Bent, a well known attorney of Bloomington, who is also the efficient business manager and treasurer of the Bloomington School Board, was born in New Orleans, La., Nov. 22, 1857, that date being the 50th birthday of his father. He is a son of Horatio Gates Bent and Lu- cinda (Grimes) Bent, the former a native of Wendell, Mass., and the latter of Bethany, N. Y.
Horatio Gates Bent was born at Wendell, Mass., Nov. 22, 1807. He was a descendant of John Bent, the founder of the Bent family in America, who came to this country in 1638, making the voyage on the ship "Con- fidence." He settled at Sudbury, near Boston, Mass. Lucinda (Grimes) Bent was born at Bethany, N. Y., Aug. 12, 1823. She was a highly edu- cated woman and for many years was a teacher. Horatio Gates Bent was a commission merchant and was successively engaged in that business at Charleston, S. C., Atlanta, Ga., Mobile, Ala., and New Orleans, La., and moved to Bloomington with his family in 1858, when Horatio G. Bent, whose name introduces this sketch, was about one year old. Horatio Gates Bent died at Bloomington, July 31, 1863, and his wife died here March 12, 1898, and their remains are buried at Batavia, Ill. They were the parents of two children, Mrs. Nellie Bent Neville, 1002 Broadway, Normal, Ill., and Horatio G. Bent.
Horatio G. Bent spent his boyhood days in Bloomington and attended the public schools. Later he entered the Illinois Wesleyan University and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1879. He then entered
HORATIO G. BENT.
Be it Resolved by the
ara of Cauration
of the City of Bloomington that hereas for more than thirty years
Horatio G. Bent
has been connected with the Board of Education of the City of Bloomington, and during all of that time has been most faithful, and has shown a deep and abiding interest in the welfare of the schools, and in all matters connected with the youth of Bloomington.
e, the members of said Board of foucation Seen it fitting that he should be honored in his lifetime, in some appreciative way. We therefore resolve that the name of the new school now being erected on the Hawthorne School site be the
rafi 6. Bent
e deem this especially fitting, owing to the location of the school being in the same neighborhood as the home of Hr. Beat, where he has lived during all' bis residence in Bloomington
Lease Ettofman Robert E. Williams
SKAL Dowell
Mattie C. Bishop
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
the law department from which he was graduated in 1882. After being admitted to the bar he engaged in the practice of his profession at Bloom- ington. He became a member of the law firm of Pitts, Bent & Lindley, which was dissolved after a few years. For several years Mr. Bent was a teacher in the law department of Wesleyan University. Mr. Bent is a Democrat and was the candidate of that party for county judge, but was defeated by Colston D. Myers. He was the independent candidate for mayor of Bloomington at one time, but was also defeated. He served as a member of the board of education of Bloomington from 1893 to 1896 and was elected again in 1898 and has served continuously until the pres- ent time. He was secretary of the board of education from 1893 to 1895 and president from September, 1899, to April, 1917. At that date he became business manager and treasurer of the board of education and has acted in that capacity to the present time, making a term of official public service longer by many years than that of any other person who has been a member of the Board of Education, and longer than any pub- lic official who has ever been elected in McLean County. Perhaps no other man has had more to do with the successful development and modern equipment of the excellent school system of Bloomington than Mr. Bent. In recognition of his services to the schools of Bloomington the Horatio G. Bent school was named after him by the board of education.
On Aug. 25, 1880, Mr. Bent was married to Miss Adah Crist, a native of Bloomington and the daughter of Isaac W. and Sarah Ann (Lewis) Crist. Mr. Crist died April 1, 1880, and his wife died Oct. 17, 1914. To Mr. and Mrs. Bent have been born the following children: Horatio Crist Bent, born June 23, 1881, an attorney, Bloomington, Ill .; Lewis Grimes Bent, born Sept. 10, 1885, died May 19, 1911; and Julian Ross Bent, born Jan. 18, 1889, and died April 2, 1889. Mr. Bent and his wife are members of the Baptist Church and he is a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge. T
Frank M. Rice, cashier of the First National Bank of Bloomington, is a prominent citizen of McLean County. He was born at Rankin, in Vermilion County, Ill., July 11, 1878, and is the son of John M. and Delia (Clapp) Rice.
John M. Rice was a veteran of the Civil War and a leading farmer of Vermilion County, Ill., for many years. He was born in Madison County,
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Ky., and his wife was born in Vermilion County, Ill. Mr. Rice served with the 116th Indiana Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was a Republican and belonged to the Methodist Church. He died on June 11, 1922, at the age of 77 years and his widow lives at Normal. They were the parents of five children, of whom all are now living, as follows: Clinton, lives Vermil- ion County, Ill .; Charles A., Portland, Ore .; Jesse A., Portland, Ore .; Bertha, married Walter S. Johnson, lives in Bloomington, and Frank M., the subject of this sketch.
Frank M. Rice spent his boyhood on his father's farm and received his education in the public and high schools of Normal. He was a student at Illinois Wesleyan University for two years, and then entered the em- ploy of Oberkoetter & Sons, wholesale grocers of Bloomington. On Jan. 1, 1902, he became bookkeeper of the Third National Bank of Bloomington and was later appointed assistant cashier when the Third National Bank was consolidated with the First National Bank in 1911. In 1914 he be- came cashier of the McLean County Bank, which office he held until January, 1919, at which time he was associated with the First National Bank as vice president. On July 1, 1921, Mr. Rice became cashier of the First National Bank when the State Bank consolidated with it. He is also secretary of the board of directors of the bank, a director of the First Trust and Savings Bank, and director and vice president of the Pantagraph Printing & Stationery Company of Bloomington.
On Aug. 2, 1904, Mr. Rice was united in marriage with Miss Lura File, a native of Decatur, Ill., and the daughter of Daniel and Laura (Gam- ble) File, natives of Montgomery County, Ill. Mr. File is deceased and his widow resides at Decatur, Ill. Mrs. Rice is a graduate of Decatur High School and attended Illinois State Normal University, after which she taught school for four years. She is a member of the P. E. O. To Mr. and Mrs. Rice have been born four children, as follows: Robert M., Mary Ann, Martha Ellen, and William Hudson.
In politics Mr. Rice is identified with the Republican party and he has served as city treasurer of Bloomington for two terms. He has been a member of the board of trustees and treasurer of Illinois Wesleyan Uni- versity for the past 12 years and is a member of the board of directors of the Y. M. C. A. During the World war Mr. Rice was treasurer of the United War Workers and was treasurer of the National Play Ground As- sociation. He is also a member of the Association of Commerce and
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served as treasurer for two years. Mr. Rice is a member of the Grace Methodist Church, and belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Masonic lodge. He was one of the organ- izers of the Arts and Crafts Lodge, A. F. and A. M., and has served as treasurer since its organization, and he is also a member of the Blooming- ton Consistory.
As cashier of the First National Bank of Bloomington, Mr. Rice has served efficiently and capably. He has an extensive acquaintance in McLean County and stands high in his community.
Tracy Green, who has the agency for Chevrolet automobiles in Mc- Lean County, is an enterprising and successful young business man of Bloomington. He was born at Fairbury, Ill., June 3, 1894, and is the son of John and Nina (Flegel) Green.
John Green was a veteran of the Civil War and a prominent farmer of McLean County. He was born at New Hartford, Conn., and came to Illinois in 1900, purchasing a farm near LeRoy. His wife was born at Tremont, Ill. They were the parents of five children. Mr. and Mrs. Green are now deceased.
Tracy Green lived on his father's farm until he was 17 years of age and received his education in the district school. He went to Peoria, Ill., in 1912, where he was employed as an apprentice in the shop of the Cadillac Motor Car Company, and the following year he returned to Bloomington and was employed as a mechanic on Cadillac cars. In 1914 he took charge of the Ford stock department and the following year he became a member of the sales force. In June, 1918, he enlisted for serv- ice in the World War and was assigned to a motor transport corps and sent overseas in August of that year. Mr. Green was a sergeant in his company and had charge of a fleet of trucks. He saw active service in France and was discharged at Mitchell Field, Long Island, N. Y., on June 29, 1919. After his return to Bloomington he entered the employ of Dayton Keith & Co., Ford dealers, with whom he remained until No- vember, 1920, in the sales department. At that time he was made man- ager of the sales and service department. In November, 1921, Mr. Green purchased an interest in the T. K. Morrow Co., Dodge dealers, and the fol- lowing year he went into business for himself at 307-09 East Washington
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Street. He has the agency for Chevrolet automobiles and trucks in Mc- Lean County and part of Livingston County and has an up-to-date sales office and garage. The Tracy Green Company has nine retail salesmen and one wholesale. During the year 1923, 500 cars were sold by this concern.
On June 6, 1917, Mr. Green was married to Miss Grace Kessler, a na- tive of Vincennes, Ind. She was educated at Grand Prairie Seminary in Illinois and the Illinois Wesleyan University at Bloomington. Mrs. Green is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and belongs to the Sigma Kappa Sorority.
Mr. Green is a Republican, a member of the Methodist Church, and belongs to the Masonic Lodge, being a member of the Consistory and Shrine. He is a member of the Rotary Club, the Young Men's Club of Bloomington, Association of Commerce and the Bloomington Automobile Association.
F. A. Eyestone, now deceased, was a veteran of the Civil War and one of McLean County's substantial and highly respected citizens. He was born in Wyandott County, Ohio, Feb. 22, 1842, and died June 14, 1906. Mr. Eyestone was the second son of Ezekiel and Lucretia (Bab- cock) Eyestone, natives of Ohio, and early settlers of Illinois.
Ezekiel Eyestone brought his family to Illinois in 1865 and engaged in farming in McLean County for many years. His first wife was Lu- cretia Babcock, and to this union four sons were born, all of whom are deceased. He was later married to Miss Susan Gustin.
F. A. Eyestone spent his boyhood on his father's farm in Ohio and was educated in the district schools there. During the Civil War he enlisted in 123d Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served throughout the war. He was at Lee's surrender and was taken prisoner on that morning. After the close of the war Mr. Eyestone engaged in general farming and stock raising in McLean County, where he owned 160 acres of land, one mile east and one-half mile south of McLean. He retired in 1897 and moved to Bloomington, where he spent the remainder of his life.
On April 26, 1866, Mr. Eyestone was married at Melmore, Ohio, to Miss Minerva Ralston, who was born in Seneca County, Ohio, May 23, 1847, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Parks) Ralston. Mr. and
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Mrs. Ralston were natives of Virginia and early settlers of Ohio, where they died. To Mr. and Mrs. Eyestone no children were born. They adopted a daughter, Charity, now the wife of Thomas Lawrence. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence reside near McLean, Ill., and have one son, Ferando Alexander.
Mr. Eyestone was a Republican and served as county supervisor for 12 years, and also as tax collector of Funks Grove Township. He was a member of the Methodist Church and belonged to the Masonic Lodge and the Grand Army of the Republic. His widow resides at 701 East Doug- las Street, Bloomington, and still owns the farm in Funks Grove Town- ship. Mrs. Eyestone is a member of the Methodist Church.
E. W. Martens, a member of the firm of Martens & Clark Co., agents for the Haynes, Maxwell and Chalmers motor cars, is a pioneer automo- bile man of McLean County and a representative business man of Bloom- ington. He was born in Bloomington, Oct. 18, 1883, and is the son of C. C. and Carrie (Agle) Martens.
C. C. Martens was born in Stralzlund, Germany, and came to the United States in 1866, locating at Red Bud, Ill. Several years later he came to Bloomington, and worked at his trade as blacksmith in the Chrisman shop. Mr. Martens retired from business in 1910 and now re- sides in Pasadena, Calif. His wife is a native of Eden, N. Y. They have one child, E. W., the subject of this sketch.
E. W. Martens grew up in Bloomington and received his education in the Lutheran schools there and also attended Brown's Business Col- lege. He then engaged in the implement business with his father, and continued in that line of work until his father retired from business in 1910. Mr. Martens has been in the automobile business since that time and is associated with John M. Clark. Their place of business is at 315 E. Front Street, and they are distributors of Haynes, Maxwells and Chalmers automobiles throughout the counties of McLean, Ford, Wood- ford, DeWitt and Livingston. The firm does a large volume of business and they have a good salesroom and garage in connection.
On May 1, 1912, Mr. Martens was united in marriage with Miss Marie Wellmerling, a native of Bloomington, and the daughter of Lewis C. and Bertha (Laesch) Wellmerling, natives of Germany and early settlers of
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Bloomington. Mr. and Mrs. Wellmerling are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Martens three children have been born, as follows: Leota, Delmar, and Howard.
In politics Mr. Martens is a Republican and he is a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church. He belongs to the Illinois Automotive Trade Association, is treasurer of the McLean County Automotive Trade Asso- ciation and belongs to the Association of Commerce. Mr. Martens is a progressive business man of Bloomington and is well liked in the town and surrounding community.
George C. Broyhill, civil engineer, with offices at 222 Unity Building, is among Bloomington's enterprising and substantial business men. He was born at Tremont, Ill., Feb. 4, 1870, the son of Ambrose and Anna (Richmond) Broyhill.
Ambrose Broyhill was a native of Tremont, Ill., and he engaged in the real estate business at Bloomington for many years and in 1882 went to Normal, where he died in 1914 at the age of 70 years. His wife, a na- tive of Mackinaw, Ill., died in 1912 at the age of 65 years. Mr. and Mrs. Broyhill had two children, as follows: Ada, married William Huff, lives at Hillview, Ill .; and George C., the subject of this sketch.
George C. Broyhill spent his boyhood at Normal and attended the public schools there and Illinois Normal University. He then engaged in the real estate and insurance business from 1894 until 1898, Mr. Broy- hill became associated with J. G. Melluish in civil engineering. They now handle all classes of engineering and have offices at 222 Unity Building in Bloomington. Mr. Broyhill lives at 408 Broadway, Normal.
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