USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume Two > Part 24
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J. W. Sink is a member of the Brethren Church. He belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Loyal Order of Moose, and the Rotary Club. He is president of the Rose Lawn Club and is an ardent golfer. Politically, Mr. Sink is a Republican.
Solomon Jones, M. D .- One of the physicians and sur- geons of Vermilion County is Doctor Jones, specialist in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, who has been engaged in practice at Danville for twenty-five years. He was born near Perrysville, Indiana, June 2, 1872, the son of James Madison and Ellen (Skelton) Jones.
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James Madison Jones was born near Perrysville, In- diana. He was a farmer and stock raiser and spent his entire life in that section of Indiana. He died on Decem- ber 22, 1926, and is buried in Atherton Cemetery, near Danville. His widow, born in Eugene, Indiana, resides on the old homestead near Perrysville. Their children were: Ella May Randall, lives at Danville, R. F. D. No. 6; Solo- mon, the subject of this sketch; V. M., garage owner, lives at Danville; Leah Houser, lives at Danville, R. F. D. No. 8; Cortz, farmer, lives five miles west of Perrysville; and Victor H., farmer, lives six miles west of Perrysville.
Solomon Jones was educated in the grade schools of Highland Township, Vermillion County, Indiana, and fol- lowing his graduation from high school entered Indiana State Normal School. He was subsequently graduated from Illinois Medical College, Chicago, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1902. While a medical student Doctor Jones taught school in Highland Township from 1895 until 1902, and during the spring and summer seasons studied medicine. In January, 1903, he opened an office at 11 South Hazel Street, Danville, and began the practice of general medicine and surgery. He located in the Tem- ple Building in 1906. In September, 1915, he entered the New York Post Graduate School for one year, and upon his return to Danville his practice was limited to the eye, ear, nose and throat, with offices at 611-13 Temple Build- ing. During 1927 Doctor Jones studied at the University of Vienna, Austria.
On November 18, 1902, Doctor Jones married Miss Ella A. Van Meter, who was born near Kankakee, Illinois, the daughter of Jesse B. and Isabella (Bickle) Van Meter, natives of Iroquois and Kankakee counties, respectively. Mr. Van Meter, now eighty-three years of age, lives on a small farm near Danville. His wife died January 9, 1921, and is buried in Atherton Cemetery. Doctor and Mrs. Jones have a son, Jerome V. He attended the grade
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schools of Danville, was graduated from Miami Military Institute, Germantown, Ohio, English Course, in 1924, and Latin Scientific Course in 1925, attaining the rank of major, with honors. At the present time he attends the University of Illinois.
Doctor Jones has been a member of the Vermilion County Medical Society for the past twenty-six years, served as secretary for seven years, and as president in 1915. He is a member of the American Medical Associa- tion; American Medical Association of Vienna, Austria; Tri-State Medical Association and Post Graduate; Ameri- can College of Surgeons; and president of Aesculapian Society of Wabash Valley in 1929. He is a member of Lakeview Hospital staff and served as a member of the school board of Danville from 1912 until 1918.
Doctor Jones is a Democrat, a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Danville, and is affiliated with Unity Lodge No. 344, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Perrysville, Indiana; Danville Consistory, thirty-second degree. His wife is a member of Eastern Star, Milford, Illinois; Womans Club, Danville; National Congress of Parents and Teachers; and Illinois Congress of Parents and Teachers.
Herbert Frederick Wolter is perhaps one of the best known and most successful of the younger business men of Danville, where he is proprietor of the Danville Baby Chick Company. He was born at Danville, September 19, 1896, the son of William Frederick and Caroline Louisa (Housewaldt) Wolter.
William Frederick Wolter, retired, is a native of Cleve- land, Ohio. He followed farming throughout his active career and was widely known as a dairyman. He pur- chased his first farm in 1885 and lived there until 1895, at which time he removed to Danville. Mr. Wolter, how-
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ever, continued to operate his farms until his retirement in 1918. He lives at Danville. His wife is a native of Eugene, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Wolter have the follow- ing children: Frank Christopher, lives at Perrysville, Indiana; William Wolter and Nellie Elizabeth, both de- ceased; and Herbert Frederick, the subject of this sketch.
Herbert Frederick Wolter attended the public schools of Danville and was graduated from the College of Agri- culture, University of Illinois, in 1918. He was a teacher of agriculture and athletic coach at Mt. Carroll (Illinois) High School for one year, after which he accepted a posi- tion as state leader in boys' and girls' club work in the Extension Service of the University of Illinois. Mr. Wol- ter continued in this work for a period of four years, and in August, 1923, became interested in the feed milling busi- ness in Danville, associating himself with the Fecker Mill- ing Company as manager of the mill. On January 1, 1925, he engaged in his present business of hatching chicks. He began the first strictly commercial hatchery in this sec- tion of the State, using a ten thousand egg Buckeye incu- bator. The hatchery operates under the name of the Dan- ville Baby Chick Company. Its first location was at 108 South Street, Danville. The second year the hatchery was moved to 511 East Main Street, its present location. The capacity of the incubators was increased by the addition of a Smith forty-seven thousand egg incubator, and the following year another Smith incubator of the same capac- ity was added to the equipment, making this the largest hatchery in this section of the State.
The Danville Baby Chick Company hatches and sells a quarter of a million chicks annually. Most of them are sold locally. It purchases its supply of eggs from more than 100 specially selected and mated farm flocks that are under the direction and supervision of Mr. Wolter him- self. The patronage of this company has been built up
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through high quality chicks, honest and fair dealing, and service to the customer.
On June 12, 1924, Mr. Wolter was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Muriel Phillips, who was born at Chi- cago, Illinois, March 4, 1893, the daughter of James Hamil- ton and Evalena May (Edridge) Phillips. Mr. Phillips was born at Coldwater, Michigan, and his wife is a native of Allegan, Michigan. They are residents of Saugatuck, Michigan. To Mr. and Mrs. Wolter a son has been born, James Herbert.
Mr. Wolter is a Republican, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with Further Light Lodge, No. 1130, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Dan- ville Consistory, thirty-second degree; Gao Grotto; and Curtis Redden Post, American Legion, Danville.
During the World War Mr. Wolter entered the officers' training camp at Fort Sheridan and was commissioned second lieutenant, Field Artillery. He served until Decem- ber 15th and was attached to the Thirty-seventh Training Battery at Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, Kentucky.
John Olson, president of the Olson Cut Stone Company, Danville, is a reliable and highly successful business man of Vermilion County. He is a native of Sweden, born February 16, 1858, the son of Olaf and Annie (Nord) Olson.
Olaf Olson spent his entire life in Sweden and died in 1876. His wife died in Danville in 1909 and is buried in Springhill Cemetery. Mr. Olson had a common school education and learned the trade of stone cutter, which he followed throughout his life. He was fifty-nine years of age at the time of his death. To Mr. and Mrs. Olson were born the following children: Lars, who died in 1926;
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Mons, who died in 1922; Olaf, who died in 1917; Neal, who died in 1909; and John, the subject of this sketch.
John Olson grew up in his native land and was twenty- one years old when he came to the United States. He had learned the granite cutting trade and after his arrival in this country he settled at Johnsonville, near Danville. He entered the employ of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Rail- road and engaged in construction work for a few months, after which he worked in the Grape Creek Coal Mine. Later, he began as a clerk for the Grape Creek Coal Com- pany Store, in the mining section near Danville. In 1890 he became a stone contractor and engaged in building con- crete and stone bridges and abutments. In 1904 Mr. Olson opened a stone yard on the Big Four Railroad. The busi- ness was finally removed in 1926 to its present location at 1505 Factory Street. Mr. Olson is now associated in the business with his two sons, Fred W. and David A. Olson. The former is office manager and the latter serves as superintendent. The most modern appliances and machinery are in use in the company's plant, including electric stone cutting saws, etc. Among the numerous large contracts handled by the Olson Cut Stone Company are the following: St. James Methodist Episcopal Church; Lincoln Methodist Episcopal Church; and Young Women's Christian Association.
In 1881 Mr. Olson was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Johnson, of Sweden, the daughter of Orh and Petronella Johnson. The former died in 1888 and the latter in 1896. To Mr. and Mrs. Olson nine children were born, as follows: (1) Annie, married Robert Muirhead, lives at Danville; (2) Bessie, who died in 1922, was the wife of Jesse Shaffer; (3) Fred W., a graduate of Dan- ville High School and Success Shorthand School, Chicago, is a veteran of the World War, having served in France, and as clerk to the American Council in Odessa, Russia, now associated in business with his father in Danville;
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(4) Nellie, who died in 1922, was the wife of Albert Schultz; (5) Sadie, who died in 1911, was the wife of Charles Muirhead, of Danville; (6) Oscar E., who is identi- fied with his father's business in Danville; (7) David A., also identified with the Olson Cut Stone Company; (8) Esther, married Jack Foster, lives at Danville; and (9) Donald P., lives in Danville.
Mr. Olson is a Republican and holds membership in the Gospel Tabernacle Church. He and his family are prominent members of the community in which they have spent so many years.
Jacob S. McFerren .- A man of natural forces so con- stituted that from his earliest boyhood to the end of his life he utilized time as if each moment was of golden value, Jacob S. McFerren, commercial, industrial, and financial leader of Hoopeston, rose to his commanding position in the affairs of men through strong native ability, controlled and directed by a far reaching foresight and a keen judg- ment which he possessed in an exceptional degree. The following paragraphs indicate in outline the nature of his notable service to his time and record the estimate placed by his contemporaries upon his worth as a man of affairs and as a citizen.
Jacob S. McFerren was born in Warren County, Ohio, October 1, 1845, the son of William M. and Eliza (Snyder) McFerren, the father being a merchant who was born in South Carolina and who died in 1894. There was another son, Pingree, and two daughters, Alvira B., who married Edward C. Griffith, and Mrs. Mary Huey, of Hoopeston.
Jacob S. McFerren received his early education in the public schools of his native county and later in Bartlett Commercial College in Cincinnati, Ohio. He obtained his first business experience under the direction of his father,
JACOB S. McFERREN
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whom he assisted during vacation period, and when fifteen years of age he left school and became an equal partner in a business at Level, Ohio, with his uncle who supplied the capital while he managed the enterprise and shared equally in the profits. His store was conducted under the firm name of J. S. McFerren and Company, his uncle two years later entering into other business connections and becoming a member of a grain firm. In the meantime Mr. McFerren had built up an extensive trade, but a heavy decline in the grain market and other disastrous speculations causing his uncle's firm to suspend business with heavy liabilities, the firm of J. S. McFerren and Company was naturally in- volved, and so it was closed out and all debts paid in full, leaving an untarnished name as asset. This and about $300 was all that Mr. McFerren had left of the $3,000 clear profit he had made in this, his first mercantile ven- ture. He then sought employment and remained in Ohio until 1865 when, believing that better opportunities awaited an energetic young man somewhere further west, he made his way to Paxton, Illinois. He was then about twenty years of age and his first position in this new en- vironment was taking charge of the books for J. W. Scott, but he soon secured a more lucrative position with R. Clark, one of the oldest merchants of Paxton, whom he served as bookkeeper until the end of the year. At that time, owing to failing health, Mr. Clark offered to turn over his stock and business to his nephew, A. L. Clark, and to Mr. Mc- Ferren, loaning them all the needed capital. This proposi- tion was accepted and the firm of Clark and McFerren started its career. Success attended the venture from the beginning and establishing the business upon a substan- tial basis their capital steadily and rapidly increased. They enlarged their stock to meet the growing demands of their trade, which they fostered with integrity, activity and honesty. Mr. McFerren's initiative spirit, his daring and fearlessness in following wherever opportunity beck- oned soon led him to engage in banking and in the real
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estate business, and associating himself with T. W. Cham- berlain in these ventures, they opened a bank at Hoopes- ton on August 1, 1872, under the name of McFerren and Chamberlain. Although but a new firm, they successfully weathered the financial panic of 1873, keeping their doors open during that trying period and winning public con- fidence by the safe and conservative methods which they followed. In 1874, owing to ill health, Mr. Chamberlain retired, and Mr. McFerren assuming complete control be- came president and brought this business to a point of de- velopment that marks it today as one of the strong na- tional banks of the State. He was also interested in bank- ing circles in Danville.
Mr. McFerren's natural energy was so great that he filled every moment of his life with intense activity, never wasting any time, and his thrift of this tremendous asset, time, supported by faithfulness of purpose and never end- ing effort led him into broad channels. With his genius for organization he marshalled and coordinated forces so that his plans, always subjected to the test of his sound judgment, rarely miscarried, but moved on to substantial success. His investments, made judiciously and with dis- crimination, resulted in making him owner of several thou- sand acres of land in and near Hoopeston, while in his as- sociation with the firm of Moore, McFerren and Seavey, from which Mr. Seavey withdrew later, they possessed large land interests in the South, throughout the State of Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee. Their operations in these sections were of great public benefit for they not only bought and sold land but greatly improved property, established industries thereon, and secured transportation facilities through railroad building that have been of in- estimable value to the various communities involved. They were the builders of twenty miles of railroad from Luxora, Arkansas, to Big Lake, called the Mississippi, Big Lake and Western Railroad, and had holdings along that line
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amounting to 30,000 acres of land, for which the railroad furnished an outlet for their lumber and also constituted a part of the trunk line from the Mississippi River to Jop- lin, Missouri. They had extensive saw mills at Luxora, Pitman's Island, and at Woodstock, Mississippi, besides others, all with a capacity of from twenty thousand to twenty-five thousand feet per day, their most extensive lumber industry, however, being located at Memphis, Ten- nessee, where they had a double band saw mill with a ca- pacity of fifty thousand feet per day, the plant there hav- ing been erected at a cost of $75,000. Their interests like- wise included a box factory at Memphis.
Hoopeston has profited largely by the efforts of Mr. McFerren, not only in its industrial upbuilding but also in its civic and moral welfare. He was, on the industrial side, one of the founders of the Union Tin Can Company and when it merged into the American Tin Can Company he became a stockholder in that. He was a joint owner with A. H. Trego of the Hoopeston Canning Company, devoted exclusively to the canning of corn, an enterprise that stands foremost in its class in the country, garnering as it does the corn from the great belt of the district. His real estate holdings in Hoopeston included the bank build- ing, office building, and opera house building, besides many business and residential structures.
Mr. McFerren was chosen Hoopeston's first mayor and he was reelected to that honored office on several different occasions thereafter. During his first term he succeeded in suppressing all the saloons in town and there has never been an established liquor business in Hoopeston since that time. He also did much for the improvement of streets, including the paving, and wherever there was need of re- form in the upbuilding and progress of the town he labored effectively. He was treasurer and director of the district agricultural society, school treasurer of township No. 23, range No. 12, and one of the original projectors of the
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Ford County Agricultural Society. He supported liberally church and benevolent enterprises and all undertakings that were for the public benefit and general good. He gave generously to the Hoopeston Public Library and pre- sented to the city a public park, having purchased for this the old fair grounds, comprising thirty acres of land. His public activities brought him in touch with many of the political leaders of his early day, among whom was Joseph G. Cannon, who was his close friend, as well as being Illi- nois' well known statesman.
Mr. McFerren married (first) April 4, 1871, Susie P. Clark, daughter of R. Clark. Her death occurred the same year, on July 28th. He married (second) Lida A. Schultz, who died in 1894, leaving two sons, William and Donald, whose sketches appear in this volume. In 1897 Mr. Mc- Ferren married (third) Lottie L. Schultz, a sister of his former wife, and their residence was one of the homes in Hoopeston noted for its warm hearted hospitality.
A life of vigorous energy spent in the promotion and extension of a number of important productive industries of the country, given in the civic service of the city of his adoption, Jacob S. McFerren made it a study to subserve his natural inclinations to the demands which modern con- ditions of society impose upon a man in public eye, and so well and ably did he use his forces that at his passing he left vacant a commanding position in the social civic and representative business life of his community that will long be left unfilled. His home and family life was beau-
tiful in its marked simplicity and in spite of the many de- mands that his active career made upon him he found time for forming and cementing those bonds of affection and friendship that are life's finest reward.
Mr. McFerren died at Chandler, Arizona, January 7, 1923, and is buried in Hoopeston.
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William McFerren, president of the First National Bank, is a prominent citizen of Hoopeston, active in its social, fraternal and community affairs. He was born in this city, December 27, 1886, the son of Jacob S. and Lida (Schultz) McFerren.
A complete sketch of Jacob S. McFerren appears else- where in this edition.
William McFerren was educated in the public and high schools of Hoopeston, from which he was graduated. He then attended Hotchkiss Preparatory School and upon completing his schooling returned to Hoopeston, where he entered business as local agent for the Overland automo- bile. In 1912 he became identified with the First National Bank as vice president and director, and upon the death of his father in 1923 was elected president of the institution.
During the World War Mr. McFerren enlisted at Wash- ington, District of Columbia, in the United States navy, aviation section. He took ground school work at the Masschusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, and was later qualified as a balloon pilot at Akron, Ohio, finally be- coming a student officer. He was discharged from the service December 2, 1919.
Mr. McFerren married Miss Marjorie Welles, the daughter of Edward M. and Marietta (Smith) Welles, na- tives of Addison, New York, now residents of Norwalk, Connecticut. Mr. Welles is a retired paper manufacturer. Mr. and Mrs. McFerren are the parents of three children : William, Jr., born March 7, 1915; Marjorie, born in 1917; and Patricia, born in June, 1923.
Mr. McFerren holds membership in the Universalist Church and has the following club and lodge affiliations : Star Lodge, No. 709, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Danville Consistory, thirty-second degree; Mohammed Shrine Temple; Loyal Order of Moose; Lions Club; Ameri- can Legion; Hubbard Trail Country Club; Commercial Club; and Chamber of Commerce. He is also identified
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with the Vermilion County, Illinois, and American Bank- ers Associations. He is interested in the Hoopeston Can- ning Company, which was founded by his father.
Politically Mr. McFerren is a Republican. He is presi- dent of the Hoopeston School Board.
Donald C. Good, M. D., is perhaps one of the most prominent and successful of the younger physicians and surgeons of Danville, with offices in the First National Bank Building. He was born at Mankato, Kansas, Decem- ber 22, 1895, the son of C. W. and Zillah (Davidson) Good.
C. W. Good, who lives retired at Hiawatha, Kansas, is a native of Montrose, Illinois. He spent his boyhood in Illinois but due to ill health went West soon after com- pleting his schooling. He made the trip in a covered wagon and traveled approximately seven thousand miles throughout Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa, before he located in Kansas, where he attended a normal school. He then became a teacher and for thirty years was identified with the schools of Kansas as county superintendent. He also farmed and at one time was connected with the Chau- tauqua and Lyceum Bureau of Chicago in Nebraska. Mr. Good also studied law and was admitted to the Kansas bar to practice, although he never followed this profes- sion. He has been a resident of Hiawatha, Kansas, since 1904, and is now serving as city clerk. His wife is a native of Fairview, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Good's only child was Donald C., the subject of this sketch.
Donald C. Good attended the public schools of Fair- view, Kansas, and Hiawatha, his family having removed to the latter place when he was a young child. Following his graduation from high school in 1914 he entered the University of Kansas, where he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1918. In 1922 he was graduated from
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the Medical School of Northwestern University and spent the following two years as an interne in Western Memorial Hospital, Chicago. In October, 1924, Doctor Good went to Kansas, but soon returned to Danville and opened an office in the Baum Building. In October, 1926, he removed to his present location, where he carries on a general practice.
On April 15, 1922, Doctor Good married Miss Thelma Winkler, of Hiawatha, Kansas, the daughter of J. B. and Melvina (Atkins) Winkler. Mr. Winkler died in 1919 and. his widow lives at Hiawatha. Doctor and Mrs. Good have no children.
Politically, Doctor Good is a Republican. He is a mem- ber of St. James Methodist Church, and is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge and Danville Consistory, thirty-second degree. He is also a member of the Roselawn Country Club, Kappa Sigma and Phi Chi fraternities.
Doctor Good is well known in Danville as a musician. Throughout his college life he was especially interested in band and glee club activities.
Arthur H. Smith, one of Danville's most progressive young business men, is a veteran of the World War. He is well known in this city as secretary and treasurer of the Danville Coca Cola Bottling Company. Mr. Smith was born at Louisville, Kentucky, December 23, 1887, the son of Jacob J. and Mary (Mather) Smith.
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