USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume Two > Part 36
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Harlin Melville Steely, Jr., is one of the successful and popular attorneys of Vermilion County, and is engaged in active practice in Danville as a member of the firm of Steely and Steely. He was born in this city, the son of Harlin Melville and Miriam M. (Marquess) Steely.
A sketch of Harlin M. Steely appears elsewhere in this history.
Harlin M. Steely, Jr., attended the public schools of Danville and began his college career as a student at the University of Chicago. In 1904 he entered Yale Univer-
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sity, from which he was graduated in 1908 with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. He was an associate editor of the Yale Record; member of the Skull and Crescent Society; the Kopper Kettle Club; the Glee and Banjo Clubs.
Mr. Steely studied law with his father and in February, 1911, was admitted to practice in Illinois. He is a member of the Vermilion County and Illinois State Bar Associa- tions. He was city attorney of Danville from 1917 until 1919. He is president of the Danville Civic Council and in 1925 was president of the Kiwanis Club of Danville.
Mr. Steely is a thirty-second degree Mason, a Shriner, an Elk, and a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
J. S. Cromwell .- One of the recognized leading men of Fairmount is J. S. Cromwell, who is identified with the general mercantile business of J. S. Cromwell & Son. He was born on a farm near Fithian, February 2, 1865, the son of Jackson and Mary Jane (Meade) Cromwell.
Jackson Cromwell was born at Marion, Indiana, and his wife was a native of Illinois. He followed farming throughout his life. He died March 31, 1920, and his wife died May 27, 1923. Both are buried in McFarland Ceme- tery. Their children were: Jackson and Maria Hender- son, both deceased; J. D., lives at Fithian; J. S., the subject of this sketch; Cora Reams, lives at Fairmount; Rosetta and Nellie, both deceased.
J. S. Cromwell spent his early years on a farm near Fithian and attended the district schools. He followed farming until 1896 when he removed to Fithian and engaged in business as the proprietor of a grist mill. The mill was destroyed by fire in December, 1901, and in the spring of 1902 Mr. Cromwell located on a farm near Mc- Kindree, Illinois, where he remained until 1914. He has since been a resident of Fairmount. He purchased the
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hardware business of W. W. Burroughs which he later sold to W. F. Temple. In 1915 he purchased the department store of J. A. Cox, which he conducted in partnership with his nephew, W. E. Black, under the firm name of Cromwell & Black. Since 1926 Mr. Cromwell has been associated in business with his son, L. J. Cromwell.
Mr. Cromwell was married (first) on May 9, 1886, to Miss Laura Ellen Firebaugh, who died September 15, 1895. She is buried in Stearns Cemetery, near Muncie, Illinois. She was the daughter of Thomas and Lucinda (Hobick) Firebaugh. He died in 1903 and his wife died in 1913. Both are buried at Mount Vernon, Illinois. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cromwell: Bertha O., who died in 1910, was the wife of Jackson Richter, and they had two sons, Ralph J., who lives at Fairmount, and Bernard, who lives at Dearborn, Michigan; Charles H., lives at Danville, married Florence Howard, and they have two children, Delores and Robert; and Jesse D., lives at Danville, mar- ried Emma Howard, and they have three children, Tex Howard, Zella, and Margaret, all graduates of Danville High School.
Mr. Cromwell was married (second) to Miss Eva J. Underwood, who died in March, 1918. She was the daugh- ter of L. C. and Sarah (Kyger) Underwood, who died in 1917 and 1925, respectively. To J. S. and Eva J. (Under- wood) Cromwell were born nine children, as follows: Lela M., born September 18, 1899, a graduate of Fairmount High School, now teaches school; Lola, born January 1, 1901, died August 15, 1901; L. J., born December 23, 1901, associated in business with his father, married Zella Ellis, and they have two children, Harold Cromwell, and Olive June; Mary E., Sarah, Ruth, and Daphne M., all graduates of Fairmount High School, now teachers; George C., and Grace E., students.
On January 25, 1921, Mr. Cromwell was married (third) to Alice L. Fennemore, of Sidney, Illinois, the daughter of
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George W. and Catherine (Morgan) Fennemore. He died in 1917 and his wife died in 1919.
Mr. Cromwell has served as tax collector of Oakwood Township and as assessor of McKindree Township. He is a Republican, a member of the Methodist Church, Modern Woodmen of America, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Cromwell is the owner of a fine farm of two hun- dred thirty acres in McKindree Township.
William F. Gerety, M. D., is prominent in Danville as one of the most successful physicians and surgeons of Ver- milion County. He was born in this city, August 23, 1883, the son of Thomas and Margaret (Kelly) Gerety.
Thomas Gerety was born in Ireland, as was also his wife. He emigrated to the United States when about eighteen years of age and settled in Danville, where he worked in the old Moss Bank coal mines. Later, he was employed by his brother, who conducted a business at 122 West Main Street. After the death of his brother, Thomas Gerety took over the business, which he conducted success- fully for forty-five years. He died in 1908 and his wife died in 1918. Both are buried in Saint Patrick's Cemetery, Danville. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gerety were: Margaret, who died in 1892; James, who died in 1917; Cath- erine, the widow of Daniel Murphy, lives at the old home- stead, 122 Payne Avenue, Danville; Anna, who died in 1892; William F., the subject of this sketch; Mary, lives at home; and Barney S., owner of Worthams World Best Shows, Little Rock, Arkansas.
William F. Gerety grew up in Danville and attended the public schools here. He clerked in the drug store of Owen & Raines for two years, and then went to Decatur, Illinois, where he took over the management of a drug
31-Vol. 2
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store in the Wabash Hospital for two years. In 1904 he entered the University of Illinois, and four years later received the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He then returned to the Wabash Railroad Hospital as house physi- cian and in 1911 located at Danville, where he established a private practice with offices at 2011% East Main Street. He removed to his present location, 1261/2 East Main Street, in 1924.
On November 3, 1910, Doctor Gerety was united in mar- riage with Miss Margaret Meehan, of Decatur, Illinois, the daughter of William and Nellie (Fisher) Meehan. Mr. Meehan, now eighty-five years of age, lives at Decatur. His wife died in 1921. Doctor and Mrs. Gerety have a son, William Francis, born August 8, 1918. He attends Rose- lawn School, Danville.
Doctor Gerety is a member of Saint Paul's Catholic Church, and belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and Loyal Order of Moose. He is identified with the Vermilion County Medical Society and Illinois State Medical Society, and is a member of the staff of Saint Elizabeth's Hospital, Danville.
Martin L. Brookshier, M. D., is a prominent general medical practitioner of Georgetown. He is a well known citizen and is a leading member of the Vermilion County Medical Society, Illinois State Medical Society, and Amer- ican Medical Association.
Doctor Brookshier was born in Clark County, Ken- tucky, January 12, 1878, the son of Achilles and Susan (Moreland) Brookshier.
Achilles Brookshier was born in Kentucky. He was educated in the district schools, taught school for several terms, and subsequently studied law. He followed farm- ing, however, throughout his life and met with an acci-
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dental death in a runaway at Gainesville, Texas, in 1896. His wife died in 1919. Both are buried at Winchester, Ken- tucky. Mr. Brookshier was a Democrat and a member of the Baptist Church. His wife held membership in the Christian Church. Five sons and two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brookshier, all of whom are still living.
Martin Brookshier, the paternal grandfather of Martin L. Brookshier, was a Pennsylvanian by birth, and his wife, Amanda (Cummings) Brookshier, was of Irish extraction. They were pioneer settlers of Clark County, Kentucky, where the latter part of their lives was spent. They were the parents of thirteen children. On the maternal side the grandparents, George and Sally M. (Robertson) Moreland, were born in Pennsylvania, and settled in Clark County, Kentucky, at an early date. He died many years ago but his widow survived him until 1913, when she died at the age of one hundred and six years. She had lived on the same farm for seventy years.
Martin L. Brookshier received his early education in the district schools of Clark County, Kentucky. At the age of seventeen years he came to Illinois and settled at Deca- tur. He attended Green Academy at Taylorville, Illinois, and also studied at Marion Academy, at Marion, Indiana. He subsequently took a preparatory course in medicine at Willow Springs, Missouri, and in the spring of 1897 located at Pontiac, Illinois, where he spent almost three years in a shoe factory. He entered Barnes Medical School at Saint Louis, Missouri, in 1889, from which he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1903. He began the prac- tice of medicine at Graymount, Illinois, and after nineteen months located at Pontiac, Illinois. He later practiced at Decatur and Olivet, Illinois, and in September, 1917, came to Georgetown, where he purchased the Whitlock residence on Fifth Street. In 1924 he moved his office to Main Street and built a beautiful home on the adjoining lot. He erected an office and store building in 1927 and opened the Brook-
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shier Drug Store, which is managed by his son, M. J. Brookshier.
On September 7, 1904, Doctor Brookshier was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Beier, of Bloomington, Illinois, the daughter of H. J. and Rickie (Cruse) Beier, natives of Germany. To Doctor and Mrs. Brookshier were born eight children, as follows: M. J., born June 14, 1905, lives at Georgetown, married Opal Hughes, and they have two sons, M. J., Jr., and Robert; Mildred Fern, died in infancy; Norwood Martin, born November 17, 1909, lives at Georgetown; Donald A., born September 9, 1911, stu- dent; Orville A., born August 1, 1914, student; Frieda Lorene, born April 23, 1917, student; Susan I., born Decem- ber 24, 1920; and Paul Wayne, born March 17, 1922.
Doctor Brookshier is a member of the Nazarene Church.
E. C. Matthius is a veteran of the World War and one of the best known young men of Lyons, where he is con- nected with the shops of the Big Four Railroad as foreman of car shops. He was born at Evanston, Illinois, August 11, 1894, the son of J. D. and Adella (Reinke) Matthius.
Rev. J. D. Matthius was born at Staten Island, New York, and his wife was a native of Chicago. She died in September, 1916, and is buried at Battle Creek, Michigan. Reverend Matthius was educated in the parochial schools of New York City and attended the Lutheran Theological College, at Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was later graduated from Concordia Seminary at Saint Louis, Missouri, in 1891 and was immediately made assistant pastor of the Bethle- hem Lutheran Church, Chicago. He was also in charge of missionary work on the north shore of Chicago, between Edgewater and Glencoe, Illinois. In 1893 he took charge of the Bethlehem Church at Evanston, Illinois, and later
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established self sustaining congregations at Rogers Park, Wilmot, and Glencoe, Illinois. In 1910 Reverend Matthius was called to the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Indianapolis, Indiana, where he is now serving as pastor. He is district president of the Missouri Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and president of the Foreign Missionary. To Reverend and Mrs. Matthius were born five children, as follows: R. H., lives at Indianapolis, Indi- ana; E. C., the subject of this sketch; Ada, unmarried, lives at Indianapolis, Indiana; Irma, married Jerry Jordon, lives at Indianapolis, Indiana; and Luella, unmarried, lives at Indianapolis, Indiana.
The boyhood of E. C. Matthius was spent at Evanston, Illinois, where he was educated. At the age of sixteen years he went to Indianapolis, Indiana, with his parents and began his business career as a salesman for the Marott Department Store. In October, 1912, he entered the employ of the Big Four Railway as a clerk in the offices at Beech Grove, Indiana. The following year he was promoted to cost accountant and served in that capacity until 1917, at which time he went to Brightwood, Indiana. In April, 1917, he enlisted for service in the World War and was sent to Columbus, Ohio, and later to Fort Monroe, Vir- ginia, where he served as a first-class sergeant with the Forty-first Division. He was discharged December 12, 1918, and went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he resumed his former work with the Big Four Railroad Company at Brightwood, Indiana. He was transferred to Mattoon, Illinois, July 29, 1922, as assistant general car foreman and on December 1, 1927, accepted his present position at Lyons as car foreman of the shops.
On October 6, 1920, Mr. Matthius was married to Miss Helen Resener, of Indianapolis, Indiana, the daughter of E. B. and Mary (Wehking) Resener, of Indianapolis. They have three daughters: Myra A., born June 16, 1921; Mary
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Elizabeth, born October 16, 1923; and Mona Lee, born June 19, 1926, died in infancy.
Mr. Matthius is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, of Indianapolis, Indiana. He is affiliated with the American Legion, and Country Club of Mattoon. Politically, he is a Republican.
Harry Sager is numbered among the enterprising men of Danville, where he is proprietor of the Sager Feed Mill. He was born in Marion County, Illinois, September 18, 1889, the son of Jacob and Mary (Allen) Sager.
Jacob Sager was born on a farm in Marion County, Illinois. He followed farming and stock raising there until 1899, at which time he removed to Kell, Illinois, where he became interested in business as a dealer in farm imple- ments and machinery. He later conducted a meat business at that place and in 1903 came to Danville, where he operated a grocery and meat business at Oaklawn for two years. He then sold his business and entered the employ of the Chicago and Eastern Railroad, being employed in the Danville shops until his death in 1906. He is buried in Marion County. His widow, born in Wayne County, Illi- nois, lives at 1520 Oakwood Avenue, Danville. To Mr. and Mrs. Sager were born five children: Harry, the subject of this sketch; Stella, the widow of C. E. Lunger, lives at Champaign, Illinois; J. L., World War veteran, lives at Los Angeles, California; Fleeta, married D. Pilcher, lives at Toledo, Ohio; and Roy, lives at Oceanside, California.
Harry Sager spent his boyhood on his father's farm in Marion County and obtained his education in the public schools of Kell and Danville. He as employed as a call boy by the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad and later traveled for the company installing electrical appliances on the road. He continued in this work until 1919 when he
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opened a garage in Danville. This was sold five years later and in 1924 Mr. Sager purchased the property at Buchanan and Green Streets, which is the site of his pres- ent business. He carries on a wholesale and retail busi- ness, his warehouse having a three car capacity. Mr. Sager has attained success in his business by hard work. At an early age he assumed the responsibility of caring for his widowed mother and younger brothers and sisters, his father having died when he was seventeen years of age. Thus as a boy he possessed the same traits of a suc- cessful business man that are his today.
In 1919 Mr. Sager was united in marriage with Miss Pearl Brubaker, of Danville, the daughter of George and Mayme (Abrams) Brubaker. The former is deceased and the latter lives in Danville. Mr. and Mrs. Sager have no children.
In politics Mr. Sager is independent.
Henry Snider .- One of Vermilion County's most promi- nent citizens and successful business men was Henry Snider, of Georgetown, who died November 16, 1928. He was a native of Kaief, Russia, born April 20, 1860.
Mr. Snider was the oldest child of a large family. His father died when he was very young, thus making it neces- sary for him to help care for the family. When he was twenty-one years of age he came to America and settled at Lafayette, Indiana, where he spent four years. He was possessed of an energetic and industrious disposition and from the very beginning of his business career met with marked success. As a merchant, he traveled by horse and wagon throughout the surounding community, buying but- ter and eggs from farmers, in exchange for which he gave merchandise. Mr. Snider's business gradually drifted into Cumberland County, Illinois, and it was he who was the
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founder of the town of Roslyn, where he established a general mercantile business in 1890. At that time he also became postmaster of the newly organized village. In 1894 Mr. Snider sold his business at Roslyn and moved to Haze, Illinois. Subsequently he located at Fairland, Illi- nois, and in 1897 went to Villa Grove, where he conducted a general mercantile business until 1900. He then came to Vermilion County and erected a large store building in Georgetown, and engaged in business with Gordon Grimes, a local school teacher. After three years Mr. Snider pur- chased his partner's interest and carried on the business until 1907, at which time he settled at Westville, where he was associated with C. B. Spang in the mercantile busi- ness. After a year Mr. Snider again purchased his part- ner's interest in the business. He also had extensive real estate interests at Westville, being the promoter of the Sni- der addition, just outside the city limits of Westville. He also conducted a mercantile business at Lyons, Illinois, and in 1924 established a business at Georgetown, which is now carried on by his daughter, Miss Esther Snider. She is also proprietor of the store at Ridge Farm, which was established by her father in 1927.
On November 26, 1892, Mr. Snider was united in mar- riage with Miss Sarah Frederick, of Roslyn, the daughter of Oliver and Lucy (Warner) Frederick. He was born in Kentucky and died in 1888. His wife, born in Putnam County, Indiana, died in 1928 at the age of ninety-one years. Both are buried at Toledo, Illinois. Mrs. Henry Snider died February 23, 1920, and is buried in Spring- hill Cemetery, Danville. To Mr. and Mrs. Snider were born three children: Harry, born at Rosyln, Illinois, December 6, 1893, died October 4, 1927; Esther, born August 24, 1899, a graduate of Danville High School and the University of Illinois, taught school at Indianola and Tuscola, Illinois, now manager of the stores and business which were established by her father; and Rachael, born
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January 6, 1908, married on March 2, 1929, to O. E. Min- niear, and lives at Danville.
Mr. Snider was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is buried in Springhill Cemetery, Danville.
Gladys Price Brown, who is identified with the Physi- cians and Surgeons Exchange, is recognized as one of the highly successful young women of Danville. She was born at Fairmount, Vermilion County, May 26, 1897, the daugh- ter of Charles M. and Alice M. (Yerkes) Price.
A complete sketch of Charles M. Price appears else- where in this history.
Gladys Price attended the public schools of Fairmount and after her graduation from high school entered Eastern Illinois State Normal School, Charleston, Illinois. She is a graduate of Gem City Business College, Quincy, Illinois, Kellberg Institute, Chicago, and the School of Physical Therapy, Saint Joseph, Missouri. Part of her education was received in night schools her entire expenses being earned by her efforts in the business world. She also taught school for six and one-half years and after her gradua- tion from the Kellberg Institute she spent four years con- ducting a department of physical therapy in Danville. As the result of her continued association with doctors she realized the necessity of a Physicians and Surgeons Ex- change, which was created by her in June, 1928. The entire work of organization was carried on by Mrs. Brown alone.
The Physicians and Surgeons Exchange and Nurses Registry in the city of Danville is the first and only doc- tor's information exchange in Vermilion County. It is a free service to the public and is financed by dues paid by the doctors who are members of this organization. The year of 1928 was devoted entirely to the organization
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process, which consisted of selling the doctors and adver- tising a service to which the public has heartily responded. The Exchange now includes a Nurses Registry which sup- plies graduate, undergraduate, and practical nurses not only for the city of Danville but for outlying towns and communities where help is needed. At the present time the Exchange has a total of forty-two doctors registered.
On March 5, 1927, Gladys Price married George H. Brown, who was born at Saint Joe, DeKalb County, Indi- ana, the son of Calvin H. and Alice (Swineford) Brown. Mr. Brown lives at Fort Wayne, Indiana, where his wife died July 10, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have a daughter, Dorothy Alice.
Mrs. Brown is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Fairmount, and belongs to the Business and Pro- fessional Women's Club and Vermilion County Republican Women's Club.
Charles M. Price, retired, is a representative citizen of Fairmount, having spent his entire life on the old Price homestead. He was born March 27, 1860, the son of George and Ruth (Wooden) Price.
George Price was born in Madison County, Ohio, August 19, 1834. He came to Illinois from Ohio when nineteen years of age and accumulated valuable land hold- ings, which he improved. He was especially interested in the buying and shipping of cattle and at the time of his death left a large estate. He was known throughout the community as "Uncle George." Mr. Price died January 9, 1912, and his wife, born at Catlin, Vermilion County, July 25, 1830, died February 28, 1917. Both are buried in Daugherty Cemetery, Fairmount. To Mr. and Mrs. George Price the following children were born: John Wesley, deceased; Elizabeth Baldwin, deceased; Josephine Rice,
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lives at Sidell, Illinois; Eugene, died in infancy; Addie Jackson, lives at Sidell; Alberta Clapp, deceased.
Charles M. Price attended Jordan school near Fair- mount and at an early age assisted his father with his farming and stock interests. At the time of his marriage, at the age of twenty-seven years, he took over the man- agement of the home farm, at which time his father retired. From then on his activities were confined to grain raising, which he continued until his retirement at the age of fifty-five years. He has continued to reside on the old Price homestead and superintends his farming interests.
On October 19, 1887, Mr. Price married Miss Alice Maud Yerkes, of Fairmount, the daughter of Hiram and Hester E. (Prevo) Yerkes, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana. Mr. Yerkes died June 3, 1913. His wife died December 7, 1877. Hiram Yerkes enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War as a member of Com- pany H, Sixty-third Indiana Infantry, in August, 1862. He fought in sixteen battles and followed his regiment in all its marches, participating in all the hardships and vicis- situdes of a soldier's life. The records indicate that he was one of the bravest men of his company and while at the front in some of the hardest fought battles of the war stood at his post without fear and flinching. He was con- tented to enter the ranks as a private soldier, but was soon promoted to the rank of corporal and afterward became sergeant. He met the enemy in battle at Reseca, Georgia, Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee, Atlanta, Kenesaw Mountain, Jonesboro, Cassville, Lost Mountain, Altoona, Chattahoochie, Town Creek, Burnt Hickory, Buzzard's Roost, Fort Anderson, Wilmington, and Columbia, North Carolina. He was at one time entirely buried in the dirt plowed up by a rebel cannon ball, escaping by a miracle from being torn to pieces by the deadly missile. He wit- nessed the surrender of General Johnson, through General
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Sherman, but the joy of the Union Army was soon sad- dened by the news of Lincoln's assassination. In July, 1865, the regiment was discharged and Mr. Yerkes mus- tered out at Indianapolis.
To Charles M. and Alice Maud (Yerkes) Price were born five children: Walter Earl and Lowell Milton, both died in infancy; Ethel Lynn, who is identified with the New York Life Insurance Company, Decatur, Illinois; Gladys Brown, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this history; and Mabel Redmond, lives at Decatur, Illinois.
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