USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume Two > Part 3
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
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Wilbur Austin, married Marie Bennett, lives at Farmers- burg, Indiana. 4. Esther, married George Dysert, lives at Oakland City, Indiana. They have a son, Marion.
Mr. Endicott is a member of the Methodist Church, and is affiliated with Collison Lodge, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons No. 714; Danville Consistory, thirty-second degree; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 332; Loyal Order of Moose; and Modern Woodmen of America. Politically, Mr. Endicott has always been a Republican.
John R. Moore .- Perhaps one of the best known and most highly esteemed men of Vermilion County is found in John R. Moore, who is serving as county clerk. He is a native of Vermilion County, born on a farm in Blount Township, July 12, 1869, the son of Rufus S. and Filena (Rowley) Moore.
Rufus S. Moore was born near Akron, Ohio, in 1826. His wife was born near Attica, Indiana, in 1833. He was educated in Ohio, where he spent his boyhood. Mr. Moore was a wagonmaker by trade and after coming to Danville in 1867 was employed in the building of the Wabash bridge. About 1868 he purchased a farm, which he operated until the time of his death in June, 1910. His wife died in 1895. Both are buried in Springhill Cemetery, Danville. Mr. Moore was a Republican and served as school director and treasurer. He held membership in the Methodist Church and belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. There were five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Moore: William R., died in 1918; Albert S., lives retired on the old homestead; U. Elmer, lives at Bismarck, Illinois; Emily R., died in 1927; and John R., the subject of this sketch.
John R. Moore has always lived in Vermilion County. He received his early schooling in the district schools and spent two years at Valparaiso University. In 1892, after
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leaving college he became identified with the county offices at Danville and the following year was appointed deputy county clerk, under Walter C. Tuttle. The following year he was reappointed to this office under Thomas J. Dale, with whom he was associated until 1914. He was then elected county clerk and has continued to serve in that capacity to the present time, being again reelected to office in 1926.
In 1895 Mr. Moore married Miss Ida A. Ashworth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Garrison Ashworth, natives of Indiana, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have two children: Miriam A., employed in her father's office as deputy county clerk; and Edward G., connected with the Health Department, Chicago.
Politically, Mr. Moore is a Republican. He is a mem- ber of the First Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Modern Woodmen of America, and Order of Redmen.
John D. Cole, county coroner, is regarded as one of the substantial and best known citizens of Danville and Ver- milion County. He is also a veteran of the World War, having served in France with the famous "Rainbow" Divi- sion. Mr. Cole was born near Catlin, Illinois, October 24, 1877, the son of W. A. and Fannie (Finley) Cole.
W. A. Cole, well known resident of Danville, is a native of Ohio, born at Zanesville in 1847. His wife was born at Danville in 1857. Mr. Cole began life as a railroader, and was employed as a fireman on the old Zanesville & Ohio Railroad. He came to Vermilion County in 1875 and spent three years as a farmer, after which he removed to Fort Scott, Kansas. He returned to Illinois in 1890 and became an engineer on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. In 1894 he became interested in the coal business and is
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thus engaged at the present time. Mr. Cole is a Repub- lican and a member of the Lincoln Methodist Episcopal Church. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cole: John D., the subject of this sketch; Charles, deceased; and Stella, married Edward Tate, lives at Danville.
Fannie (Finley) Cole is the daughter of John Finley, who settled near Catlin, Illinois, in 1831, being one of the first settlers of that section. He was a native of Pennsyl- vania.
John D. Cole grew up at Fort Scott, Kansas, and at- tended school there, the grade schools of Danville and the Danville High School. He then attended Danville Bus- iness College in 1899. He began his business career with Bell's Clothing Store, Danville, as bookkeeper and cashier. In 1908 he founded the Danville Gymnasium, which he suc- cessfully operated until 1916. Mr. Cole was elected coroner of Vermilion County in December, 1920. He was re-elected in December, 1921; November, 1924; and again in Novem- ber, 1928.
During the Spanish-American War Mr. Cole enlisted in Battery A, First Illinois Field Artillery, and served in Porto Rico, being discharged as a private in November, 1898. He re-enlisted in the same battery and served until 1900. Five years later he again enlisted in Battery A. He served on the Mexican Border in 1916, and was mus- tered out of the federal service in February, 1917. During the World War he again enlisted in Battery A, First Illi- nois Field Artillery, which became the One Hundred Forty- ninth Field Artillery of the Forty-second Division. Mr. Cole saw active service in France and participated in seven major engagements. He was made color sergeant of this regiment and was discharged in May, 1919. He has since re-enlisted and received the commission of Second Lieu- tenant.
Mr. Cole is a Republican, a member of the First Meth- odist Episcopal Church, Elks Club, Loyal Order of Moose,
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Order of Redmen, Knights of Pythias, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and United Spanish War Veterans.
Clarence E. Vance, who is superintendent of the city schools of Danville, is widely known in the educational life of Vermilion County. He was born at Crawfordsville, Indiana, September 25, 1882, the son of Joseph R. and Elizabeth (Shanklin) Vance.
Joseph R. Vance was a native of Lafayette, Indiana. He served for many years as police magistrate at Hoopes- ton, Illinois. He died at Hoopeston, Illinois, in 1916 and his wife died in 1918. Both are buried at Hoopeston. Their children were: C. M., lives at Urbana, Illinois; W. A., lives at Hoopeston, Illinois; Mrs. Dan Fitzgerald, lives at Los Angeles, California; Mrs. F. M. Schlippy, lives at Los Angeles, California; and Clarence E., the subject of this sketch.
Clarence E. Vance attended the public schools of Hoopeston. He completed a course at the State Teachers College, Normal, Illinois, and later received the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from the University of Illinois. The professional educational work of Mr. Vance has been as follows: a teacher in the rural and vil- lage schools; principal of grade schools; district superin- tendent; assistant superintendent; and city superin- tendent.
In June, 1906, Mr. Vance was united in marriage with Miss Eva M. DeWitt, of Milford, Illinois, the daughter of E. A. and Olive (Hobson) DeWitt, the former a native of Newark, New Jersey, and the latter of Milford, Illinois. Mr. DeWitt is deceased, and his widow lives in Los Angeles, California. Mr. and Mrs. Vance have a son, John DeWitt, born April 27, 1909. He attends the University of Illinois.
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Mr. Vance is a Republican, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Masonic Lodge, Knights of Pythias, Grotto, Kappa Delta Pi, Sigma Delta Sigma, and Phi Delta Kappa fraternities, and Kiwanis Club.
Mr. Vance's maternal great-grandfather was one of the founders of Wabash College. His paternal grandfather was a teacher of languages in Cincinnati in 1830. The Vance family is of Scotch descent and the Shanklins were political refugees from England.
Alfred Henry Trego .- To be well beloved by the com- munity in which he spent the many years of his mature manhood, to be still active in the business and civic life of that community after he had passed the allotted period granted to man, to be ungrudged the honorably earned suc- cess and distinction that crowned his years, such was the happy lot of Alfred H. Trego, whose wish to "died in har- ness" had been frequently expressed by him. A son of the Keystone State, Mr. Trego came from a long line of Ameri- can ancestry, who trace their lineage back to France, to the time of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in the reign of Louis XIV. The Hugeunots by the edict issued by Henry IV in 1588 had been granted freedom and liberty of conscience and worship. In 1685 at its revocation the cruel persecutions that followed drove them out of their home land by thousands and they sought refuge in those welcom- ing lands that hospitably received them, many going to England and from there to America to join William Penn's colony of Friends.
So came Peter Trego, the founder of the American branch of the Trego family. He was born in France in 1655 and according to old manuscripts no mention is made of other members of his family accompanying him to
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America, where he is next heard of as landing in this coun- try in 1682 and in 1690 as an inhabitant of that part of Chester, now known as Delaware County. He married Judith, and their first child was Jacob. Jacob Trego was born in Chester, now Delaware County, Pennsylvania, August 7, 1687. He married Mary Cartlege, December 1, 1710. They removed to Merion, later Middleton, and were the progenitors of the Bucks County branch of the Trego family. He died at Middleton, April 10, 1724. He had four children, among whom was John. John Trego, son of Jacob and Mary (Cartlege) Trego, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, May 6, 1715, and he married Han- nah Hester. They had seven children, of whom one was William. William Trego, son of John and Hannah (Hes- ter) Trego, was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, March 16, 1744. He married Rebecca Hibbs, of Byberry, Ben-Salem Township, September 19, 1768. He died in 1827. They had nine children, of whom Jacob is men- tioned. Jacob Trego, son of William and Rebecca (Hibbs) Trego, was born October 28, 1780. He married Letitia Smith. He died October 3, 1870. Curtis D. Trego, son of Jacob and Letitia (Smith) Trego, was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, September 18, 1809. He married Mary Gilbert on October 30, 1834.
Alfred H. Trego, oldest son of Curtis D. and Mary (Gilbert) Trego, was born June 16, 1838. His father fol- lowed farming and about 1840 started with his family for the Middle West, traveling in covered wagon to Mercer County, Ill., where he established his home upon a farm. In 1856 he removed to Galesburg, his object being to give his children a better chance for their education, and to do this he carried on a grocery business for several years at Galesburg. During the Civil War he became engaged in purchasing horses for the post at Gallatin, Tennessee. Sub- sequently, he resided at Orion, Henry County, Illinois, and
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the last ten years of his life he spent in Cass County, Iowa, where both he and his wife died.
Alfred H. Trego was five years of age when his family made the overland journey to Mercer County, and his ex- periences were those that fell to the lot of farmer boys in pioneer times. His preliminary education, acquired in the district schools, was followed by instruction gained in Lom- bard College, Galesburg, from which he was graduated in 1862. The month following his graduation, at the age of 24 years, he offered his services to the government, joining Company C, of the 102nd Illinois Infantry, under Capt. Frank Shedd, and Col. McMurtry. He served until the end of the war when he was honorably discharged in 1865, hav- ing seen active service during all that time. He served in Kentucky and Tennessee, and also in the campaign at Cin- cinnati. Subsequently he was stationed at Gallatin, Ten- nessee, where he served as aide-de-camp to Gen. E. A. Paine, continuing there until April, 1864, when he joined General Sherman's forces at Chattanooga, and owing to the absence of his captain on detached duty, took charge of the company as first lieutenant. He served throughout the Atlanta campaign until that city was captured and later was made adjutant general of the First Brigade of the Third Division of the Twentieth Corps, commanded by General Hooker. With that rank he served on the "march to the sea" in the campaign to Savannah, and from that point marching through the Carolinas and on to Wash- ton, being mustered out of service in June, 1865. He was wounded three times.
After the war Mr. Trego returned to Galesburg, but soon after he removed to Rock Island, Ill., where he en- gaged in the retail grocery business with his father for one year. He then went to Chicago, Illinois, where for a brief period he was employed as a bookkeeper in a commission house. In 1867 he established a commission business of his
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own on South Water Street. In 1871 the terrible fire that swept Chicago completely wiped out his business, the in- surance company paying only ten cents on a dollar for the loss. His resources gone, Mr. Trego went as a dock laborer at $1.50 per day, working six months and he then was pro- moted to shipping clerk, remaining until 1877, when he re- moved to Hoopeston. After locating in this city, Mr. Trego opened a lumber yard. He was very energetic and de- termined, and soon developed and built up a business that enabled him to discharge his financial obligations. In 1888 he established branch yards at Wellington, Illinois, and Ambia, Ind., and in the meantime became engaged in the canning business, associated with J. S. McFerren and A. T. Catherwood. In 1886 the present business, the Hoopeston Canning Company, was established, beginning operations on a small scale. During the first season the company canned from thirty to forty thousand cans; later this grew to two hundred thousand cans and the employment in- creased from three hundred to four hundred people during the season. After Mr. Trego became identified with the business the trade extended throughout the United States, this being the largest corn canning factory in the country. In 1910 they canned about six million cans, representing the products of about three thousand five hundred acres. The growth of this mammoth enterprise was largely due to the splendid business ability developed through his ca- reer by Mr. Trego, to his executive force and administra- tive powers.
Mr. Trego was also one of the eight organizers of the Union Can Company in 1894, which in 1900 was merged with the American Can Company, and Mr. Trego became a stock holder. He was also a director of the First Na- tional Bank of Hoopeston. He was equal owner with J. S. McFerran of one thousand seven hundred acres of land in Grant Township, Vermilion County, and also had ex-
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tensive real estate holdings in Chicago. He was president of the Illinois Cuban Land Company, owners of twenty thousand acres near Santiago, Cuba, and he was president of the Cuban Cattle Company. The successful manage- ment of all of these companies with which he was con- nected was due in large measure to the impetus and guid- ance of his sound judgment and enterprising spirit. Mr. Trego also found time for civic duties and large social ac- tivities, and Hoopeston has benefited much by the spirit of cooperation that made him a chief factor in her advance- ment, not alone in trade but in civic virtue and socially.
Mr. Trego married (first) in October, 1869, Miss Frances Caroline Reed, a native of Farmington, Illinois. She died April 27, 1897. Their children were: Charles H., born August 3, 1870, died November 10, 1918; Carrie Jean, deceased; Edward Francis, born September 22, 1876; Walter, born September 20, 1883; Sidney Reed, de- ceased; and Gilbert Curtis, born February 22, 1888. Mr. Trego was married (second) to Florence Andrews Honey- well, who before her marriage was a portrait, scenic and landscape artist, as well as a teacher of art. She was born at Logansport, Indiana, the daughter of Alba and Cornelia (Andrews) Honeywell, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this history.
Mr. Trego was always a Republican and served as mayor and alderman of Hoopeston. He was a member of the Universalist Church and served as Sunday School su- perintendent for over thirty years. He was affiliated with Star Lodge, No. 709, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Hoopeston Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Knights Tem- plar; and Grand Army of the Republic. He was a trustee of Lombard College and secretary of the Board of Trustees of Greer College.
Mr. Trego died October 19, 1915, and is buried in Floral Hill Cemetery, Hoopeston.
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Otis Kercher, of Danville, is prominent throughout Ver- milion County, of which he is serving as farm adviser. He was born at Goshen, Indiana, September 9, 1892, the son of Abraham and Anna (Buzzard) Kercher.
Abraham Kercher was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1851, and removed to Warren County, Ohio, with his parents when he was one year old. Later the family settled at Goshen, Indiana, where Mr. Kercher spent the remainder of his life. He died in 1922, and his wife, a native of Elkhart County, Indiana, died in 1906. Both are buried in Waterford Cemetery, Goshen. Mr. Kercher was a Republican and a member of the Menonnite Church. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kercher: Olive, deceased; Cora E., teacher in Women's College, Montgomery, Alabama; William Wheel- er, lives at Goshen, Indiana; Rosa Venetta, lives at Goshen; Lawrence Eugene, principal of Elkhart Township Schools, lives at Goshen; John Wesley, lives at Dayton, Ohio; Noble B., deceased; Oscar B., World War veteran, lives at Fort Worth, Texas; Otis, the subject of this sketch; and Merrill Abraham, engineer, with the Bell Telephone Company, Philadelphia. He is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, and served throughout the World War.
Abraham Kercher was the son of William and Mary (Moyer) Kercher. They came from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and in 1852 settled in Warren County, Ohio, and later located at Goshen, Indiana. He owned and operated a blacksmith shop at that place and for a number of years employed the Studebaker brothers as wagon- makers. William Kercher was the son of John Kercher, who came to Pennsylvania from Holland, being the pos- sessor of a land grant from William Penn near the present site of Reading, Pennsylvania.
Otis Kercher obtained his early education in the public schools of Goshen and in 1914 received the degree of Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois. He
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taught agriculture at Homer, Louisiana, and later became head of the agriculture department at the State Industrial School at Rushton, Louisiana. In February, 1915, Mr. Kercher became identified with the Bureau of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry at the University of Kentucky. He was appointed farm adviser of Pike County, Illinois, in November, 1919, where he remained until March, 1924. He has since served in the capacity of farm adviser of Vermilion County.
In 1914 Mr. Kercher married Miss Genevieve Williams, the daughter of T. B. and Anna (Lucas) Williams, of Sidell, Illinois. They have a son, Richard Allen, born March 7, 1925.
Mr. Kercher is a Republican, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Masonic Lodge, Young Men's Chris- tian Association, Epsilon Sigma Phi fraternity, and Dan- ville Rod and Gun Club. He is also a member of the Ken- tucky Academy of Science and a member of the staff of the United States Department of Agriculture.
John A. Foster, justice of the peace, is a representative citizen of Danville. He was born at Auburn, New York, December 26, 1868, the son of William N. and Eleanor (Mc- Intosh) Foster.
William N. Foster, deceased, was a leading druggist of Auburn, New York, where he was born. He was a grad- uate of the University of Syracuse. Later in life, due to ill health, he retired from business and lived on a farm near Fosterville, New York. He died in 1866 and his wife died in 1883. Both are buried at Fosterville. Mr. Foster was a Republican and held membership in the Methodist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Foster were the parents of three children: John A., the subject of this sketch; Nellie, the widow of Thomas Clark, lives at Auburn, New York; and Thomas J., who died in 1893.
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John A. Foster was educated in the public schools of Auburn from which he was graduated in 1890. He then attended the University of Michigan and in 1892 was ad- mitted to the bar. He engaged in private practice at Manistique, Saint Joseph, and Benton Harbor, Michigan. He also served one term as prosecuting attorney of School- craft County, Michigan. In 1898 Mr. Foster enlisted in Company E, Second United States Volunteer Engineers, and was sent to Cuba. He took part in engagements near Santiago and was mustered out of service at Havana, Cuba. He then accepted a government position as quarter- master's agent at Havana for the entire Island. He re- mained there until October, 1902, when he returned to this country and engaged in the oil business at Beaumont, Texas. Later he spent five years as assistant superintend- ent of the Sells-Forpaugh circus, and in 1907 went to Chicago, where he became assistant curator of the medical department, University of Illinois. He came to Danville in 1909 and was identified with the Soldiers Home here in various capacities for eighteen years. He was elected jus- tice of the peace in May, 1927.
On July 7, 1907, Mr. Foster married Miss Annie E. Page, of Chicago, the daughter of Dr. Albert Allison and Sarah Elizabeth (McCormick) Page. Doctor Page was a graduate of the University of Missouri and engaged in the practice of medicine at Clinton, Missouri, for many years. He died in 1869, and his wife died in 1887. They are buried in Kansas City, Missouri. Doctor and Mrs. Page were the parents of three children: Mamie, the widow of Robert Holmes, lives at Kansas City, Missouri; George A., lives at Los Angeles, California; and Annie E. Foster.
Mr. Foster is a Republican and is affiliated with Vet- erans of Foreign Wars, Post Number Seven Hundred Twenty-eight, and Spanish-American War Veterans, John A. Logan Camp, Number Forty-one.
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Hon. Joseph B. Mann .- The city of Danville lost one of its most prominent and valuable citizens in the death of Joseph B. Mann, which occurred on July 5, 1924. He was outstanding as a lawyer, being familiarly known as the "Dean" of the Vermilion County Bar Association, and he was also a leader in the civic and social life of the city. Mr. Mann was born at Somerville, New Jersey, November 9, 1843, the son of John M. and Elizabeth (Bonnell) Mann.
The Mann family is of Scotch and Dutch descent and the Bonnells are of French and Irish extraction. The Manns settled in Pennsylvania at an early date. The pa- ternal grandfather of Joseph B. Mann fought at the battle of Germantown, where he was in command of a militia regiment. His great grandfather Mattison was a private soldier in the Revolutionary War.
John M. Mann, father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Pennsylvania. He was a lawyer and engaged in the practice of his profession in New Jersey for thirty- five years. He was also prominent in public affairs and served as a member of the New Jersey State Legislature, as county clerk and surrogate of Somerset County, N. J., and he also held many minor offices. Both John M. Mann and his wife are buried at Somerville, New Jersey. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Joseph B., the subject of this sketch, was the youngest. During the Civil War four sons entered the service; William, who served as' adjutant of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; Charles B., who served as major of the Seventy-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga; Samuel B., who served as a sergeant major in the Third New Jersey Vol- unteer Infantry; and John W., who served as adjutant of the Twenty-Seventh New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. He died from an attack of typhoid fever, which was contracted while in service in the army.
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HON. JOSEPH B. MANN
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
Joseph B. Mann attended the public and private schools of Somerville, New Jersey, and also attended a boarding school at Flatbush, New York. He was graduated from Riverview Military Academy, Poughkeepsie, New York, and Rutgers College, New Brunswick, New Jersey, in the class of 1865. He came west in the fall of that year and settled in Chicago, where he attended Kent Law School. The following spring he located at Danville and entered the law offices of the late Judge Oliver L. Davis, being ad- mitted to the bar in March, 1867. He practiced law alone for several months and then was elected city attorney of Danville in May, 1867, holding office one year and refus- ing the re-election. He then became associated in prac- tice with Judge E. S. Terry and in March, 1868, formed a partnership with Judge O. L. Davis, which continued until 1873. Mr. Mann then became a member of the circuit court and engaged in practice alone until 1875, when a partnership was formed with W. J. Calhoun. Later, DeWitt C. Frazier was admitted to the firm, which con- tinued until the election of Mr. Calhoun as State's attorney. In 1885 Mr. Mann became identified with Judge O. L. Davis, who had retired from the bench. Three years later, however, Judge Davis retired from active practice and Mr. Mann again resumed partnership with Mr. Calhoun until 1892. At that time Mr. Mann removed to Chicago, and was associated with Curtis H. Remy until 1901, when he returned to Danville. He practiced alone from 1901 until his retirement in 1917. One of the most important cases tried by Mr. Mann was that which arose out of the Iroquois Theatre fire in Chicago, in which he was one of the attorneys for the defense.
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