USA > Illinois > McLean County > History of McLean County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 27
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Mr. Pringle is well known throughout the country as the author of "Adolescence and High School Problems." The book was published in 1922 by the D. C. Heath Publishing Company of New York and contains about 400 pages. The introduction is written by Dr. Lotus D. Coffman, president of the University of Minnesota, and the book is used exten-
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sively in state reading circles and in universities and normal schools in the United States.
On March 20, 1894, Mr. Pringle was united in marriage with Miss Lillian Smith, a native of Vermont, and the daughter of Samuel and Susan (Abbot) Smith. For many years Mr. Smith was superintendent of a large leather manufacturing concern in Boston, Mass. To Mr. and Mrs. Pringle have been born two children, as follows: Helen, teaches English in the Davenport High School, Davenport, Iowa; and Kenneth, attended the Illinois State Normal University and the University of Illinois.
Mr. Pringle is a Republican, an attendant of the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the various Masonic Lodges. Since the publication of his new book he has been called to various institutions throughout the coun- try to speak on high-school subjects. Mr. Pringle is a substantial citizen and is highly respected throughout McLean County.
Mrs. Jessie (Ross) Ausmus, chief probation officer of the juvenile court of Bloomington, was born at Warsaw, Hancock County, Ill. She is the daughter of William C. and Mary C. (Cyrus) Ross.
William C. Ross was a native of Pennsylvania and his wife was born in Adams County, Ill. Mr. Ross was a first lieutenant during the Civil War. He engaged in farming and stock raising in Adams County, Ill., for a number of years and is now deceased. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Ross removed to Quincy, Ill., where she engaged in news- paper work. Mr. and Mrs. Ross were the parents of eight children, four of whom grew to maturity.
Jessie (Ross) Ausmus lived on the farm until she was nine years old, when her parents moved to Camp Point, Ill. She received her edu- cation in the district school, Camp Point High School, and Normal school. On Nov. 24, 1892, she was married to Richard R. Ausmus, and two years later they moved to Bloomington, Ill. In 1918 Mrs. Ausmus was ap- pointed assistant probation officer and two years later was made chief probation officer, which office she now holds.
Richard R. Ausmus was born in Schuyler County, Ill., May 10, 1862, and is a son of Rev. T. B. and Martha Ann (Clark) Ausmus, the former a native of Illinois, and the latter of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Ausmus are both deceased. Richard R. Ausmus is a representative of the
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Schaff Piano Company of Chicago. To Richard R. and Jessie (Ross) Ausmus one son was born, Carl. He was educated in the Bloomington Schools and High School and enlisted in the World War in the Aviation Department in November, 1917, and served a year in France. On his return from service in July, 1919, he returned to his former position as salesman for the Packard Motor Co., and in September, 1921, while on duty met a tragic death.
Mrs. Ausmus has been a member of the board of education for nine years and is the only woman on the board, and was re-elected for a fourth term on April 7, 1924. She is also a member of the Parent Teacher Club, the Art League, and the Womans Club. Mrs. Ausmus is a member of the Christian Church.
Sage H. Kinnie, who is successfully engaged in the general insurance business at Bloomington, was born at Cicero, N. Y., Jan. 1, 1888, and is the son of John S. and Edith R. (Peacock) Kinnie.
John S. Kinnie is a native of Oneida County, N. Y., born Feb. 12, 1862, the son of David and Catherine (Peck) Kinnie. Mr. Kinnie came to Illinois with his family in 1898 and entered the employ of the Bloom- ington Canning Company, of which he is now superintendent. Mr. and Mrs. John S. Kinnie have three children, as follows: Sage H., the sub- ject of this sketch; Erma, married Herbert Steffens, lives at McLean, Ill., and they have a daughter, Edith; and Gladys, married Roy Chambers, lives at Quincy, Ill., and they have one son, John Delmar.
Sage H. Kinnie has lived in Bloomington since he was 10 years old. He received his education in the Franklin public school, Bloomington High School and also attended Illinois Wesleyan University. Mr. Kinnie has been engaged in the insurance business since 1912 and has met with success in his work. His company is known as the Sage H. Kinnie Com- pany with offices at 501-503 Peoples Bank Building.
On Oct. 17, 1916, Mr. Kinnie was married to Miss Jessie M. Duns- comb, a native of Hoopeston, Ill., who attended the University of Minne- sota and Illinois Wesleyan University. Mr. and Mrs. Kinnie have no children.
Mr. Kinnie is a Republican, a member of the First Methodist Church, and belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Arts and Crafts Masonic
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Lodge, Masonic Lodge and Consistory, and the Maplewood Country Club of Normal. He is secretary of the Bloomington Club, member of the As- sociation of Commerce, and a member of the Rotary Club since 1917. Mr. Kinnie served as secretary of the Rotary Club from 1918 to 1920, belongs to the Young Men's Club of Bloomington, and the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity of Illinois Wesleyan University, and is secretary-treas- urer of the Phi Gamma Delta Association of Bloomington. He Is a stock- holder in the Illinois Feed and Elevator Company and also a director. Mr. Kinnie is a public spirited and progressive young business man of Bloomington and has many friends and acquaintances.
J. S. Kinnie, superintendent of the Bloomington Canning Company, is one of the well known and substantial citizens of McLean County. He was born in Oneida County, N. Y., Feb. 12, 1862, the son of David and Catherine (Peck) Kinnie.
The Kinnie family is of English descent and they were early settlers of New York, where David Kinnie followed farming during his entire life. There were nine children in the David Kinnie family, three of whom are now living.
J. S. Kinnie was reared on his father's farm and attended the dis- trict schools of New York. As a boy he began making tin cans for the packing of goods. At that time the cans were all made by hand. Mr. Kinnie later became an overseer in a canning factory at Milan, Ohio, and after five years he returned to New York, and was employed in a canning factory at Auburn. In 1898 he came to Bloomington and en- tered the employ of the Bloomington Canning Company, where he has remained ever since. He has about 25 men in his employ and during the busy season has a great many more. Mr. Kinnie owns a home at 109 E. Division St., and other city property in Bloomington.
On March 14, 1887, Mr. Kinnie was united in marriage with Miss Edith Peacock, a native of Somerset, N. Y., born Nov. 25, 1866, and the daughter of Harrison Peacock. To J. S. and Edith (Peacock) Kinnie three children were born, as follows: Sage H., a sketch of whom ap- pears in this history; Erma, married Herbert Steffens, lives at McLean, Ill., and they have a daughter, Elizabeth Peacock; Edith; and Gladys,
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married Roy Chambers, assistant manager of Kresge's store in Bloom- ington, and they have one son, John Delmar.
Mr. Kinnie is a Republican and a member of the Grace Methodist Church. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
Richard F. Dunn, city attorney of Normal, is one of the widely known and successful attorneys of McLean County. He was born in Bloomington, Sept. 18, 1888, and is a son of Richard T. and Mary G. (Lyons) Dunn.
Richard T. Dunn was born in New York, and his wife was a native of Bloomington. They live at Bloomington where Mr. Dunn is employed as an iron moulder with the American Foundry & Furnace Company. There are six living children in the Dunn family, of whom Richard F., the subject of this sketch, is the oldest.
Richard F. Dunn received his education in the public and high schools of Bloomington and in 1911 was graduated from Illinois State Normal University. In 1914 he was graduated from the law school of Illinois Wesleyan University and admitted to the bar in October, 1915. Mr. Dunn has since been engaged in the practice of his profession at Bloomington and has been successful. Since December, 1918, he has served as city attorney of Normal. While a student in high school and college Mr. Dunn was employed by the Pantagraph, and worked in sev- eral different departments.
On Aug. 26, 1913, Mr. Dunn was married to Miss Clara Huxtable, a native of Benson, Woodford County, Ill., and the daughter of Thomas and Mary G. (Barney) Huxtable, of Woodford County. To Mr. and Mrs. Dunn two children have been born, Richard Thomas and Robert Staf- ford.
Mr. Dunn is a Republican, a member of the Catholic Church, and belongs to the Elks, the Young Men's Club, the Y. M. C. A., the Bloom- ington Club, the Association of Commerce, the Commercial Club of Nor- mal and the Maplewood Country Club. In 1919 he organized the Bloom- ington and Normal Sanitary District for sewage disposal. He was ap- pointed by ex-Governor Frank Lowden as public guardian of McLean County in 1917, which office he still holds. Mr. Dunn is a reliable and efficient member of the community and has the esteem of his fellow citizens.
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Frank C. Barley, a well known and substantial citizen of LeRoy, was born March 1, 1872, and is a native of LeRoy. He is the son of Charles A. and Mary A. (Dempcy) Barley.
Charles A. Barley was a native of Champaign County, Ohio, born March 19, 1845. He came to Illinois in 1868 and located at LeRoy in McLean County, where he taught school for a number of years, and was also principal of the LeRoy Public Schools for three years. Mr. Charles A. Barley was a son of George Barley and Julia Barley, and Mary A. Dempcy Barley was a daughter of Jefferson and Jane Dempcy, and lived on adjoining farms near Cable, Champaign County, Ohio.
In 1874 he engaged in the real estate, insurance and farm loan busi- ness at LeRoy, which he continued until a few years before his death. Mr. Barley served during the Civil War, being a member of the 134th Ohio Infantry. He died at his home in LeRoy, July 22nd, 1911, and his wife, Mary M. Barley died June 9th, 1914. They were the parents of five children as follows: Mrs. Inez Dodge of Bloomington, Frank C., the subject of this sketch; Miss Jessie Barley, of LeRoy; Canby A. Barley, of LeRoy, in business with his brother, Frank C. Barley; and Lloyd B. Barley, who lives in Arkansas.
Frank C. Barley has spent his entire life in LeRoy. He was edu- cated in the public schools of LeRoy and later took a short course in the Bryant & Stratton Business College at Chicago. He then engaged in the real estate, insurance and farm loan business with his father under the name of C. A. Barley & Son. Later this business was carried on under the name of the Barley Loan & Land Co. This company does a large volume of business and is widely known throughout central Illinois.
In 1900 Mr. Barley married Miss Florence Martin, a native of Daw- son Township, McLean County, Illinois, born January 4, 1871, a daugh- ter of Willet L. and Demaris Dooley Martin. Mr. Martin was a son of Mr. Archer Martin and Jane Martin, early settlers of McLean County, and Demaris Dooley Martin was a daughter of William Dooley and Mi- nerva Dooley, also early settlers of eastern McLean County. To Willet L. and Demaris Dooley Martin two children were born as follows: Mary M. Wirt of Leroy, Ill., and Florence M. Barley.
To Frank C. Barley and Florence Martin Barley two children have been born as follows: Arthur Wayne, born Jan. 6, 1902, now living with his parents at LeRoy ; and Francis Jay, born March 12, 1905, now attend- ing school at the Illinois Wesleyan University of Bloomington, Ill.
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Mr. Barley is in politics a Republican, being one of the leading mem- bers of the party in eastern McLean County. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of LeRoy and Mr. Barley belongs to LeRoy Lodge No. 221, A. F. & A. M. He has served the community at LeRoy in various official capacities and was for many years vice-presi- dent of the J. Keenan's Bank of LeRoy and is secretary of the LeRoy Home Building Association.
The Barley Loan & Land Company occupies a very prominent corner at LeRoy in the Barley Building at corner of Chestnut and Center Streets. This concern has been prominently identified with LeRoy and the vicinity thereof for a great many years. Mr. Barley owned and laid out into building lots and streets what is now known as the Morehouse & Barley Addition and also adjoining same on the east what is now known as the Barley & Pfitzenmeyer East Park Addition to LeRoy, both of these ad- ditions now being the finest residential district in LeRoy.
Mr. and Mrs. Barley are members of old and well established fam- ilies of McLean County and the names of their families have been known and respected for many years.
Dr. Guy F. Wait, a prominent dentist of LeRoy, was born at Rey- nolds, Ill., Oct. 17, 1874, the son of Meigs and Edith J. (Clark) Wait.
Meigs Wait, a native of Switzerland County, Ind., was born Sept. 9, 1836, and died Oct. 6, 1919. He was a well known farmer of Rock Island County, Ill., for many years, having settled near Reynolds when he was a young man. His wife, the daughter of William and Mary Clark, was born Oct. 9, 1842, and died July 1, 1923. Mr. and Mrs. Wait were the parents of the following children: Harry, lives at Liberty, Texas; Ernest, deceased; Daisy lives at Reynolds; Bert, farmer, lives in Arkansas; Marion, farmer, lives at Reynolds, Ill .; Dr. Guy F., the subject of this sketch ; and Mark, lives at Augusta, Ill.
Dr. Guy F. Wait was educated in the Dexter District School and was graduated from the Geneseo Institute in Henry County, Ill., after which he attended Northwestern University, at Chicago, where he studied den- tistry. He received his degree in 1898 and then began the practice of his profession at Reynolds, where he remained for nine years. On Jan. 1, 1909, Dr. Wait came to LeRoy, where he is now located. He has an excep-
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tionally fine practice built up, due in no small part to his many years' experience.
On June 21, 1906, Dr. Wait was married to Miss Blanche Burgoyne, a native of Rock Island County, born June 16, 1884, and the daughter of J. C. and Emma (Ballard) Burgoyne. Mrs. Wait has one brother, J. B. Burgoyne. He now resides in Fresno, Calif. To Dr. Guy F. and Blanche (Burgoyne) Wait two children have been born: Myron, born Oct. 18, 1907, a junior in high school; and Edwin C., born July 15, 1920.
Dr. Wait is a member of the Illinois Dental Association and belongs to the Masonic Lodge No. 221, LeRoy. He is a Democrat and a public spirited and progressive citizen.
Chester C. Williams, the well known superintendent of the electric light and water department of Bloomington, is a native of Illinois. He was born in Vermilion County, March 27, 1881, and is the son of William Todd and Emma A. (Underwood) Williams.
William Todd Williams was born in Vermilion County, Ill., March 3, 1858, and his wife was also born in the same county, Feb. 14, 1858. The Williams family were early settlers of Vermilion County, where William Williams' father entered land from the government .. Mr. Williams fol- lowed general farming and stock raising until 1893, at which time he entered the employ of the Big Four Railroad, where he served for 18 years. After representing a meat company from Chicago for several years, Mr. Williams retired and now lives at Bloomington. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church. Chester C. Williams, the subject of this sketch, is their only son. Emma A. (Underwood) Wil- liams is the daughter of Harrison and Eliza (Gephart) Underwood.
Chester C. Williams spent his boyhood in Vermilion County and was educated in the public and high schools at Bloomington, Ill. When he was 13 years of age his family moved to Urbana, Ill., and he later at- tended the University of Missouri and the University of Illinois, where he studied engineering. After completing his school work, Mr. Williams worked at various electrical jobs until he was appointed foreman in the Chicago & Alton Railroad shops, where he remained for five years. In 1909 he took his family to Albuquerque, N. M., where he represented the Santa Fe Railroad. After two years Mr. Williams returned to Illinois
C. C. WILLIAMS
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and in 1915 was appointed superintendent of the electric light and water department of Bloomington, which office he has since filled in a most capable manner.
On Sept. 24, 1906, Mr. Williams was united in marriage with Miss Ida I. Jackson, a native of Illinois, born Sept. 24, 1885, and the daughter of David M. and Mary Jackson. Mr. Jackson now holds a responsible position with the Chicago & Alton Railroad and he and his wife reside in Bloomington. To Chester C. and Ida I (Jackson) Williams two daugh- ters have been born, as follows: Grace L., born Nov. 30, 1907, a junior in University High School and also a student of the voice at the Skinner School in Bloomington; and Bernalillo was born Sept. 22, 1909, named after Bernalillo County, N. M., where she was born.
Mr. Williams and his family are members of the First Christian Church. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge No. 43 of Bloomington, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America: He is a prominent citizen of McLean County and he and his family are representative citizens of their community.
R. E. Kimler, cashier of the First National Bank of LeRoy, is a vet- eran of the World War and one of LeRoy's enterprising and successful young business men. He was born at Saybrook, Ill., Jan. 2, 1893, the son of James E. and Emma (Clark) Kimler.
James E. Kimler was a native of LeRoy and followed farming for a number of years. He died June 7, 1911, at the age of 54 years. His wife, a native of England, came to this country with her parents when she was a young girl. Mrs. Kimler was the daughter of William and Fannie Clark, and she died June 17, 1911, at the age of 52 years. Mr. and Mrs. James E. Kimler had three children, as follows: Ora May Myers, lives at LeRoy ; Harry H., lives near LeRoy; and R. E., the subject of this sketch.
R. E. Kimler received his education in the public and high schools of LeRoy, from which he was graduated in 1911. He then attended the Brown Business College at Bloomington and finished there in 1914. Mr. Kimler was then employed as clerk in the railway office at Clinton, Ill., and received three promotions while in the employ of the company there. In 1917 Mr. Kimler came to LeRoy and was appointed assistant cashier of the First National Bank, which office he held until the time of his (60)
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enlistment for service in the World War, on April 27, 1918. He enlisted at Bloomington and was sent to Camp Dodge, Iowa, with the 339th Ma- chine Gun Battalion, 88th Division, and on Aug. 8, 1918, he sailed for overseas. Mr. Kimler took active part in the war and was discharged from service on June 11, 1919. After his return to LeRoy he resumed his former position as assistant cashier of the bank, and in March, 1921, became cashier, which office he has since filled in a capable and efficient manner.
Mr. Kimler is a Republican, a member of the Methodist Church at LeRoy, and belongs to the Masonic Lodge.
H. W. Green, a progressive farmer and stockman of Dale Township, was born at Henry, Ill., July 6, 1877, and is a son of Oscar and Eliza (Snyder) Green.
Oscar Green was born in Erie County, Pa., April 28, 1834, the son of Isaac A. and Sallie (Pettitt) Green, both natives of Saratoga County, N. Y., of English extraction. Isaac Green, during the early part of his life, engaged in farming but later became a banker and after a few years thus occupied, retired from active labor. Both he and his wife were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a steward for a number of years. His wife, Sallie (Pettitt) Green, was born May 5, 1809, and the first representative of both families emigrated from England over 200 years ago, landing at Providence, R. I. Phillip Green, the paternal great- grandfather, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., in 1782 and married Miss Nancy Addington in 1803. From there the family removed to Illi- nois in 1837. One of the sons took part in the Black Hawk War in 1831. Isaac Green removed to Peoria County, Ill., in 1838, where he lived until 1854. He then lived in Marshall County, Ill., for 30 years and later came to McLean County. Isaac A. and Sallie (Pettitt) Green were the parents of nine sons: George, Oscar W., Lloyd, Henry, Elisha P., Rowe, Christie, Lawton and Lorin. Oscar, father of the subject of this sketch, remained at home until the time of his marriage, Dec. 29, 1859, to Miss Eliza Jane Snyder, who was born in Marshall County, Ill., Nov. 11, 1836. Her father was Col. Henry Snyder, a Virginian, who was born April 24, 1790. Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Green had four children: Minerva C., the wife of Martin Luther Riggs, lives in Bloomington; Edwin P., married Minerva Hayes,
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lives in Bloomington ; A. O., married Minnie McClelland, now deceased; and H. W., the subject of this sketch.
Oscar Green, who now lives retired in Bloomington, was for many years among the representative farmers of Cheneys Grove Township. He was the owner of 366 acres of fine land, supplied with fine buildings and his herd of Shorthorn cattle included some of the finest animals to be found in the state.
H. W. Green received his education in the schools of Saybrook and has always followed farming. He has lived on his present farm since 1917, which is well improved. Previous to owning this land, Mr. Green lived in Old Town Township. He owns 180 acres and also operates his father- in-law's farm of 187 acres.
In 1904 Mr. Green was united in marriage with Miss Edith Clark, a native of Bloomington, and the daughter of Silas and Sallie (Parks) Clark, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Kentucky. Mrs. Green's grandfather, Jonathan Parks, came from Madison County, Ky., to Illinois in 1853 and was among the earliest settlers of Shirley, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Green have two daughters, Viola Frances and Sylvia Irene.
Mr. Green is identified with the Republican party in politics and belongs to the Masonic lodge, the Consistory of Bloomington, the Shrine of Peoria and the DeMolay Commandery of Bloomington. He and his family are members of the Christian Church of Shirley and are highly esteemed members of their community.
John H. Stewart, a successful and well known merchant of Heyworth, is a native of Randolph Township, McLean County. He was born Jan. 13, 1858, the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Thompson) Stewart.
Robert Stewart was born in Ohio and came to McLean County with his parents when he was a young boy, and they located on a farm in Ran- dolph Township. Mr. Stewart died in 1868, at the age of 42 years, and his widow was later married to William Creswell. Mrs. Creswell is de- ceased. To Robert and Elizabeth (Thompson) Stewart the following children were born: William, deceased; B. F., died in 1921; Charles, lives at Normal, Ill .; John H., the subject of this sketch; R. E., lives at Bloom- ington, Ill .; and Mary E, married John F. Miller, lives at Seattle, Wash .; and he is congressman from his district and has also served as mayor of
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HISTORY OF MCLEAN COUNTY
Seattle. To William and Elizabeth (Thompson) Stewart Creswell two children were born: George W., died in 1921; and Carol, lives in Montana.
John H. Stewart spent his boyhood on a farm and was educated in the district schools. He then went to Texas in 1878, where he became a cattleman. After five years he went into business with his step-father, a prominent rancher of Wyoming at the time. In 1911 Mr. Stewart en- gaged in the general merchandise business at Randolph and since 1919 has conducted his grocery business at Heyworth, and is among the lead- ing merchants of the county.
On Nov. 29, 1882, Mr. Stewart was married to Miss Edith Noble, a native of Randolph Township, McLean County, born in 1860, and the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Jane (Hoover) Noble, natives of Ohio, and the parents of the following children: Mrs. Stewart; Grace, married a brother of John H. Stewart, and she lives at Bloomington, Ill .; and Nellie, died in 1922. To John H. and Edith (Noble) Stewart three chil- dren have been born, as follows: Bertha Clemm, lives at Bloomington; Walter, died at the age of five years; and John Harrison, in business with his father at Heyworth, and he has two sons, John William and Thomas Edward Stewart.
John H. Stewart is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has always been an energetic and industrious man and a highly esteemed citizen.
E. S. Lyons, now manager of the Lyons Grain Company, of Colfax, and one of McLean County's most extensive farmers and stockmen, is a native of Martin Township, and a member of one of the county's oldest and most prominent pioneer families. He was born April 22, 1876, the son of John U. and Mary J. (Wiley) Lyons.
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