USA > Illinois > Washington County > History of Washington County, Illinois > Part 14
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Henry Holston, on St. Louis Street, a successful business man, runs a large stock of dry goods, groceries, hardware and clothing.
Marx and Strauss, enterprising business men, are located on the north side of St. Louis Street, where they do a large business, in dry goods, gro- ceries, clothing, etc.
I. Bach & Co., near the Washington County Bank, are extensive dealers in dry goods, groceries, and clothing.
Baab & Liebrock, on St. Louis Street, do an extensive business in the line of dry goods, groceries, clothing, etc.
The general store of W. P. Kuhl contains a large stock of dry goods, clothing and groceries.
DRUG STORES.
The city drug store, on St. Louis Street, kept by Dr. J. I. McCauley, has a large stock of drugs, stationery, books, notions, etc.
I. Clark Brown, south of the Public Square, keeps a large assortment of drugs, books, notions, etc.
Wm. Troutt, south of the Public Square, keeps a large stock of druggists articles, notions, etc. Charles Muelheims has a finely arranged and well regulated drug and book store, east of the Public Square.
HARDWARE STORES.
Clark and Volz are hardware merchants, on St. Louis Street.
C. and R. Scheurer, keep a hardware store south-west of the Public Square.
GROCERY STORES.
The following firms are engaged in the grocery and provision trade, on St. Louis Street : Ben. H. Thorp, J. L. Simms, S. W. Babcock, Meyer Bros., Scott & Mitchell, John Marlin, and J. W. Burgess.
Wm. Huff keeps a large boot and shoe store on St. Louis Street. Saddle and Harness shops are kept by John G. Bieser and Fred Hassler on St. Louis Street.
The manufacture of boots and shoes, in Nashville, is carried on by H. Buhrmann, Fred Hohman, Jacob Scerer and Andy Dolar.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Nashville bas two cigar manufactories, both on St. Louis Street, one operated by H. W. Brethauer, the other by Henry Steffen.
Of marble shops, there are two : one owned and operated by T. L. Nelson, the other by Carner & Mason.
LIVERY STABLES.
Vernor & Akins are on the north side of the Public Square, and Stewart Marlin on the south.
There are two meat markets in the city, both on St. Louis Street : one owned by James Adams, the other by Kranz & Co.
REAL ESTATE BROKERS.
Forman Bros., south 'of the Public Square, do an extensive business, in buying and selling real estate, perfecting titles, negotiating loans, etc.
Jones & West, south of the Public Square, do a general real estate business, and make abstracts of title.
J. S. Tindale, real estate and insurance agent, on south side of Public Square.
DEALERS IN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
F. E. Liese, north of Court House, has a large stock of all kinds of agri- cultural implements, farm machinery, etc.
H. C. Adams, in his large new brick, on St. Louis Street, has an extensive trade in all kinds of machinery and agricultural implements.
The City Restaurant, south of Court House, is operated by Wm. McElha- non.
Peter Froelich keeps a restaurant and confectionery store on St. Louis Street.
Dr. W. H. Pitcher, dental surgeon, is located on St. Louis Street.
P. H. Reither owns the only lumber yard in Nashville. He keeps a large stock of everything in his line.
BARBER SHOPS.
Messrs. Walker, Carter and Nickels, each have barber shops on St. Louis Street.
THE NEWSPAPERS OF NASHVILLE
Are the Nashville Democrat, Nashville Journal, Volksblatt and Zeitung. A complete history of the press will be found elsewhere in this book. Below will be found a history of the benevolent societies of Nashville.
WASHINGTON LODGE, NUMBER 55, A. F. AND A. M#*
On the 21st day of July, A. D. 1847 and A. L. 5847, & dispensation was granted by Right Worshipful Grand Master Nelson D. Morse, of the Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois, to William W. Bennett, W. M. ; Thomas S. Roe, S. W .; Gabriel S. Jones, J. W., and the requisite number of brethren, all of whom had been previously demitted from Mt. Vernon Lodge, Number 31, to form and open a lodge of free and accepted masons, in the town of Nashville, to be known as the "Hardin Lodge," number -.
The Lodge was continued under dispensation, until October 4th, 1848, when a charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of the State, when the name was changed to " Washington Lodge," number 55.
The first officers under the charter were: John G. Baker, W. M., Thomas S. Roe, S. W., Gabriel S. Jones, J. W., Alexander D. Hay, Treasurer and Darius Greenup, Secretary. He was elected to the office of secretary this year, and held the position continuously to 1870.
During the first year of its existence under the charter, Washington Lodge raised seventeen members, viz. : George T. Hoke, John Weightman, Thomas S. Callaway, Darius Greenup, John D. Wood, John C. Baker, Harvey Nevill, S. M. Carter, Elzy G. Coffey, Nahum W. Allen, George W. Hotchkiss, Lewis N. Farmer, Wm. A. Lamb, Joseph J. Swanwick, Robert Cook, Stephen Gray and Livesay Carter.
Of the early members of the Lodge nearly all have long since been "called from labor to refreshment." A few of the old land marks still re- main. Their names are as follows: George T. Hoke, S. M. Carter, Lewis N. Farmer and J. J. Swanwick.
NASHVILLE CHAPTER, NUMBER 89, ROYAL ARCH MASONS.
A dispensation, was granted by the Grand Chapter of the State, to com- panions who had previously been demitted from the other chapters, to
* The publishers are indebted to George S. Anderson, Esq., for the data concerning the lodge and chapter in Nashville.
organize a chapter in Nashville, to be known as Nashville chapter, number 89 R. A. Masons, on the 7th day of August, 1865.
T. D. Seawell, H. P .; W. H. Clayton, King; H. P. Walker, Scribe. Charter was granted on the 6th day of October, 1865.
Soon after its organization chapters were formed at Ashley, and other neighboring towns, which materially diminished the membership and interest of this chapter. The convocations have been unfrequent and irregular, and the chapter is in anything but a prosperous condition.
NASHVILLE LODGE, NO. 37, I. O. O. F .*
In April, 1845. a dispensation for the organization of this lodge was granted by Wm. M. Parker, Most Worthy Grand Master of I. O. O. F. of the State of Illinois. On the 8th of May following he came to Nashville and duly instituted said lodge. The Grand Lodge of the State granted a charter to the lodge on the 27th day of July, 1848.
The charter members were : T. J. Lecompte, W. B. Fulwiler, Jackson Dennis, Amos Watts, and John N. Vernor.
Of the charter members, Hon. Amos Watts is the only one now living. The first officers of the lodge were :
E. B. Marshall, N. G .; P. E. Hosmer, V. G .; T. J. Lecompte, Sec'y. ; John N. Vernor, Treas .; Wm. B. Fulwiler, W .; Jackson Dennis, O. G .; Amos Watts, C .; J. T. Sell, R. S. N. G .; H. D. Gosney, L. S. N. G. ; W. Walker, R. S. S .; Jacob Stocker, L. S. S.
This lodge has initiated 278 members, and admitted by card 63,-has now a membership of 65.
The Lodges-Okawville, Elkton, Richview, Dubois, Ashley, Irvington, and Arbiter, have all received the nucleus for their formation from Nash- ville Lodge, No. 37. This lodge has furnished one Grand Master for the State. T. B. Needles, present State Auditor, and one Deputy Grand Mas- ter, Hon. Amos Watts. Many of her members have at various times filled important positions in the Grand Lodge of the State.
The meetings of the lodge were first held in a room in the building occu- pied by James H. Sawyer as a residence. They afterwards built a frame building on the south side of Main street, west of the court-house, which they occupied until 1865, when they erected and removed to the large brick building on St. Louis street, which they now occupy. The third story is used by them as a hall, and the remainder of the building is rented for places of business, offices, etc.
K. OF H.
" Enterprise " Lodge, No. 748, K. of H., of Nashville, Illinois, was or- ganized, Sept. 21, 1877, by Deputy Supreme Dictator, J. W. Bradburn, and consisted of the following charter members : C. D. Wassell, J. G. Bieser, Henry Strauss, Carl Seifert, S. W. Babcock, James Adams, Valentine Rice, Henry E. Kuhe, E. L. West, F. O. Sawyer, George B. Bennett, W. S. Hisey, Robert Guthrie, H. C. Adams, S. W. Jones and E. H. Henry.
The following officers were elected:
E. L. West, Dictator; C. Seifert, Vice-Dictator; J. G. Bieser, Assistant Dictator; S. W. Jones, Past Dictator ; H. Strauss, Reporter ; C. D. Wassell, Financial Reporter; James Adams, Treasurer; H. E. Kuhl, Chaplain, Geo. B. Bennett, Guide, V. Rice, Guardian ; W. S. Hisey, Sentinel; S. W. Jones, Representative to Grand Lodge; E. W. Henry, W. S. Hisey, J. G. Bieser, Trustees.
The term expiring December 28th, another election was .held and the fol- lowing officers were elected for the ensuing term :
C. Seifert, Dictator ; J. G. Bieser, Vice-Dictator ; V. Rice, Assistant Dic- tator ; E. L. West, Past Dictator; H. Strauss, Reporter ; C. D. Wassell, Financial Reporter ; James Adams, Treasurer; W. S. Hisey, Chaplain ; S. W. Jones, Guide; H. E. Kuhl, Guardian ; H. C. Adams, Sentinel ; E. L. West, Representative to Grand Lodge; E. H. Henry, W. S. Hisey, J. G. Bieser, Trustees. And at the election of June 28th, 1878, the following were elected.
J. G. Bieser, Dictator ; V. Rice, Vice-Dictator ; Paul Leresche, Assistant Dictator: C. Seifert, Past Dictator ; George B. Bennett, Reporter ; Simon Steiner, Financial Reporter; James Adams, Treasurer ; W. S. Hisey, Chap- lain ; H. E. Kuhl, Guide; C. D. Wassell, Guardian; E. L. West, Sentinel ; E. H. Henry, W. S. Hisey, J. G. Bieser, Trustees.
The term expiring December 31st, 1878, the following officers were elected for the ensuing term.
George B. Bennett, Dictator; H. Strauss, Vice-Detator ; W. Lane, As- * From data furnished by George Akin, Esq.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
sistant Dictator ; John G. Bieser, Past Dictator ; C. D. Wassell, Reporter ; Simon Steiner, Financial Reporter ; James Adams, Treasurer ; W. S. Hisey, Chaplain ; H. E. Kuhl, Guide ; F. O. Sawyer, Guardian ; W. H. Pitcher, Sentinel ; C. Seifert, Representative to Grand Lodge; E. H. Henry W. S. Hisey, J. G. Bieser, Trustees.
The lodge is in a flourishing condition and numbers twenty-nine members.
NASHVILLE TURNVEREIN.
This society was organized on the 28th day of March, 1871. The first officers were: F. W. Bimmerman, Speaker ; Henry Strauss, Secretary ; J. G. Bieser, Treasurer ; Fred Volz, Turnwart. It was incorporated on the 3d day of April, 1876, with P. Liegel, Fred Volz, J. D. Nickel, H. D. Schmidt and J. G. Bieser as charter members. They were also the first trus- tees of the society. Soon after Jacob Nickel and H. D. Schmidt were elected trustees to succeed J. Buch and F. W. Bimmerman. The present officers are: L. Marx, First Speaker; H. D. Schmidt, Second Speaker; J. W. Schmitt, Secretary ; P. Siegel, Treasurer ; E. Schmidt, Assistant Treasurer ; Christ Keyler, First Turnwart; George Reitter, Second Turnwart; Fred Pirman, First Zeugwart; Pet. Bieser, Second Zeugwart; J. G. Bieser, Libra- rian. Trustees : P. Liegel, Fred. Volz, J. D. Nickel, H. D. Schmidt and J. G. Bieser.
The city of Nashville was organized under special charter in 1869. First officers : Hon. Daniel Hay, Mayor. Aldermen : D. E. Jenkins, Wm. Cos- tillo, N. McCracken, John Bieser, P. H. Reither, James M. McElhanon. Clerk, George S. Anderson ; City Collector and Assessor, H. P. Walker; City Attorney, G. P. Harben. Officers in 1870: Mayor, Hon. Daniel Hay. Aldermen : D. E. Jenkins, John Bieser, P. H. Reither, James M. McElha- non, John Akins and J. K. McMaster. Clerk, Wm. Costillo; City Marshal, H. N. Rountree ; Treasurer, Louis Krughoff. Officers in 1871: Hon. Amos Watts, Mayor; Aldermen : Dr. T. W. Burgess, James M. McElhanon, . F.
W. Hoffman, Andrew Free, J. K. McMaster and John Akins. City Clerk, George W. Vernor; Treasurer, Jacob Liebrock ; Marshal and Collector. Lewis M. Henry, who resigned, and was succeeded by Andrew Free. Green P. Harben was appointed City Attorney. Officers in 1872 under the general law : Hon. M. M. Goodner, Mayor. Aldermen, Hugh C. Adams, W. S. Forman, F. E. Liese, Fred Volz, J. B. Anderson and D. R. Meyer. City Clerk, F. W. Maxwell; City Attorney, Charles Rose; City Marshal, Will G. W. Vernor; Collector, W. S. Hay. Officers in 1873: Hon. M. M. Good- ner, Mayor. Aldermen : H. C. Adams, D. R. Meyer, J. B. Anderson, Fred Volz, F. L. Liese, W. S. Forman. Attorney. Charles Rose ; Treasurer, Jacob Leibrock ; Marshal, A. J. Reed; Clerk, J. N. Barber. Officers in 1874: Hon. M. M. Goodner, Mayor. Aldermen : H. C. Adams, D. R. Meyer, J. B. Anderson, Fred Volz, F. E. Liese, W. S. Forman. ' Treasurer, J. Liebrock ; Attorney, Charles Rose ; Marshal, A. J. Reed ; Clerk, J. N. Barber. Offi- cers in 1875: Hon. M. M. Gardner, Mayor. Aldermen : D. R. Meyer, W. S. Forman, George Akins, T. L. Reuter, H. C. Adams, F. Volz. Marshal, W. S. Morrill, who resigned and was succeeded by Alva Teel, who was also succeeded by John R. Garvin ; Attorney, Charles Rose ; Treasurer, J. Lie- brock ; Clerk, H. C. Boucher. Officers in 1876: Hon. M. M. Goodner, Mayor. Aldermen : F. Volz, H. C. Adams, John McElhanon, *P. H. Rei, ther, D. R. Meyer, W. S. Forman. Marshal, John R. Garvin ; Attorney- Charles Rose ; Treasurer, J. Liebrock ; Clerk, H. C. Boucher. Officers in 1877 : Hon. James A. Watts, Mayor. Aldermen : H. H. Buhrmann, James Garvin, P. Ziegel, John McElhanon, Fred. Volz, H. C. Adams. Attorney, S. W. Jones; Clerk, J. Paul Jones; Treasurer, J. Liebrock ; Marshal, W. H. Mason. Officers in 1878: Hon. James A. Watts, Mayor. Aldermen : H. H. Buhrmann, James Garvin, P. Ziegel, John McElhanon, Fred. Volz, H. C. Adams. Attorney, S. W. Jones; Clerk, J. Paul Jones ; Treasurer, J. Liebrock ; Marshal, W. H. Mason.
* Was elected, but did not qualify.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
VAN INGEN- SNYDER
HON. AMOS WATTS,
PRESENT Judge of the Third Judicial District, was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, on the 21st of October, 1825. He is of Welsh ancestry. His forefathers emigrated from Wales about 1680 and settled in Virginia. At a later period they moved to Georgia, where Benjamin Watts, the grand- father of the present sketch, was born. In 1813 he removed to the then ter- ritory of Illinois, and settled in what is now known as St. Clair county, where he engaged in farming until 1834, when he came to Washing- ton county, where he remained until his death, which event occurred in 1842. James Watts, the father of Amos, and son of Benjamin Watts, mar- ried Miss Charlotte Parker, who was also a native of Georgia, but a resident of St. Clair county at the time of her marriage. Her family was one of those who accompanied Benjamin Watts in his journey to this state in 1813. By this marriage there were five children, four of whom have survived the parent. James Watts died in St. Clair county in 1827, and the mother, Charlotte Watts, died in Washington county in 1843.
A short time after the death of his father, Amos was taken into the family of his brother-in-law, Zenos H. Vernor, with whom he remained until about 1840. While in the family of Mr. Vernor he learned the blacksmith trade, which he however subsequently abandoned for other pursuits more congenial to his tastes. After he abandoned the blacksmith trade his time was taken up in working on a farm, clerking in his brother-in-law's store, and feeding stock. In the year 1845 a man named Hugh Mclaughlin, a native of Ire- land, was hired as a farm laborer to Z. H. Vernor.
Mclaughlin was a man of fair education, and at his urgent solicitations the subject of this sketch purchased books, and a night-school was opened in Vernor's kitchen in winter-time. Mclaughlin was teacher and Amos was the pupil. This school was kept up for two winters, during which the subject of our sketch obtained all the education that he can boast of, and for which he has always felt thankful to his friend Mclaughlin. In 1847 he was elected County Clerk of Washington county. At the expiration of his term of office, in 1849, he was re-elected, and again elected in 1853, making in all ten years of service as County Clerk. During the term of his first clerkship he commenced reading law under the direction of Hon. P. E. Hosmer, and at the November term of the Circuit Court, in 1854, was admitted to prac-
tice. After his retirement from the county clerkship, he commenced the practice in all the courts of the state and county. In 1857 he was elected states attorney, and in 1860 was re-elected, and continued public prosecutor until 1865. In 1866 he was the unanimous choice of the Democratic party, in convention assembled, for member of the Legislature from the 7th Dis- trict, then comprising the counties of Clinton and Washington, but in the ensuing election was defeated by a small majority. His canvass however in that campaign demonstrated that he was a strong and popular man, for he not only carried the full strength of his own party, but received a flattering support from the opposition. From 1866 to 1873 Mr. Watts applied himself closely to the practice of his profession, and soon took front rank at the bar of his county and in the district, as an able and sound jurist. In 1873 his abilities as a lawyer, and his honesty and integrity as a man, received honora- ble and suitable recognition. He was elected Judge of the 23d Judicial Dis- trict, the position he now holds with a credit to himself that justifies the wis- dom of the people who gave him their suffrages.
In 1849, during his first term as county clerk, he married Miss Margaret J. Rinard, who was a native of Pennsylvania, but a resident of Wayne county, Illinois, at the time of her marriage. Eight children have been born to them, five of whom are at present living.
Such is a brief sketch of the life of Hon. Amos Watts. It now remains to speak more fully of the characteristics of the subject of our sketch, as a citizen, a jurist and a man. As a citizen, he has always taken a deep interest in everything that concerned the welfare of his county or state. He is, and always has been active in the promotion of enterprises that have for their ob- ject the advancement of the material interests of his locality. He is a public- spirited citizen, and his liberality and aid in the support of measures having this object in view, are numerous. This is notably so in the history of news- papers and their first establishment in the county. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and is soundly indoctrinated in the principles of his party. He is an active member of that organization, and believing in its principles, he has always zealously advocated them. He has always given to his party his best services, and his sound counsels and persuasive words have inspired courage in the hearts of its friends. As a jurist, he is well read in the dry and tech- nical lore of the law. He is of studious habits, and with him onse to 53 a
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
student, always a student. He early learned that the law was a jealous mistress, who required of her devotees their best energies, their most studious habits and undivided time, if they would succeed. The best evidence of the Judge's success is found in the honorable and responsible office he now holds. As a man, none stand higher in the estimation of the people, in whose midst he has lived for over a half a century. It can truthfully be said that not a stain rests upon his reputation. Living among a people with many of whom he has differed upon questions of politics and public policy, yet all accord to him an honorable and upright character, and all honor him as a man and a citizen.
HON. GEORGE VERNOR,
THE present honorable Judge of the County Court, was born in Nashville, Washington county, Illinois, on the 23d of October, 1839. On the paternal side, the Vernor family is of Irish descent. His father, Zenos H. Vernor, was born in South Carolina in 1808. He immigrated with his parents to Tennes- see in 1813. In 1830-1 the family removed to Illinois and settled in St. Clair county, where they remained for three or four years, when Mr. Ver- nor again removed and settled in Nashville, Washington county, where he remained until his death, which occurred June 20th, 1856.
Zenos H. Vernor in early life learned the trade of the blacksmith, and followed that occupation after his arrival here. He was the first to erect a shop for that business in Nashville. He subsequently obtained the trade and engaged in general merchandising, and later in life also engaged in farming. He married Miss Martha Watts, sister of Hon. Amos Watts. She was a native of Georgia, but a resident of St. Clair county, Illinois, at the time of her marriage. This event occurred in 1833. There were eleven children born to them, nine of whom survived the father, and eight yet living. Mr. Vernor in his life was prominent in the local affairs of his county and this section of the state. In 1848 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, and served with distinction that body. He also represented his district for three terms in the legislative halls of the state. In the county he served as County Judge, and for a long number of years was a School Commissioner of the county.
The subject of our sketch is the fourth in the family. He remained at home attending school until he arrived at the age of seventeen years, when he entered as clerk in the office of Amos Watts, who was at that time county clerk of Washington county. While in that capacity he commenced read- ing law, and in 1860, at the September term of the Circuit Court, was admit- ted to practice. He then formed a partnership in the law business with Amos Watts, which continued for eight years, at the expiration of which time the partnership was dissolved, and he has continued the practice alone up to the present.
In 1862 he was appointed Master in Chancery, and held that office until 1866. From that time until 1877 he continued in the practice. In the year last named he was honored by the election of County Judge, an office he now holds with a credit to himself that justifies the wisdom of those who were instrumental in honoring and elevating him to that position. On the 12th of February, 1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha A., daughter of John and Susan Mitchell. She was a native of Tennessee, but emigrated later to Kentucky, and in 1849 came to this state in company with her parents, where she resided at the time of her marriage. This union has been blest by eight children, six of whom are living, and all yet remain beneath the parental roof. In politics Judge Vernor is a Democrat. He cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860, and has remained a staunch Democrat ever since. He is not a member of any particular church organization, but inclines to the M. E. Church, as it was the religion of his honorable parent, and that alone biases him in its favor. The characteristics of the man, as we gather them from his friends and neighbors, are that he is a kind husband and father, a courteous and affable gentleman, and honora- ble in all his dealings with his fellow-men. In his profession he is regarded by the members of the bar as a clear, analytical reasoner, and a sound law- yer, and as such enjoys the confidence and esteem of the fraternity.
HON. JAMES M. ROUNTREE,
THE present efficient states attorney of Washington county, was to the " manor born." He was born near Elkhorn in this county, on the 12th of October, 1833. He is the third son in a family of eight children. His fa-
ther, Grenville Rountree, was a native of Bowling Green, Kentucky. He was born June 4th, 1807. The Rountrees were of English descent on the pa- ternal side, and on the maternal Welsh. The grandfather of the present sketch was a native of Virginia, but removed to Kentucky at an early pe- riod in the history of that state. He was one of the adventurous followers of Daniel Boone. In 1816 he removed with his family of eight children to the then territory of Illinois, and settled in Elkhorn, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1860. Before leaving Kentucky he eman- cipated twenty-six slaves, and entered into an agreement pledging himself that his late chattels should not become incumbrances upon the good people of the State of Kentucky. Grenville Rountree, son of William Rountree married a Miss Lydia Young, who was a native of Morrow county, Tennessee. She died in 1847. In 1848 he married Miss Chesney, a native of Illinois, by whom he bad eight children, five of whom are still living. She died in 1876. About two years ago Mr. Rountree removed to Nashville, where he now resides, a hale, hearty man of three-score years and ten. He was for the greater part of his life engaged in agricultural pursuits. He had in the earlier part of life amassed sufficient of the world's goods to lift him above want and place him in affluent circumstances. But trouble came to him in the guise of friendship, and together with sickness in his family, whereby large drains were made upon his resources, he saw his fortune melt away, until he was left with comparatively nothing. Life had to be commenced over again. The wreck had to be repaired. There was no time for repining. He went to work, and by industry and perseverance he began accumulating, and soon the sun of prosperity shone upon him once again. But this disaster, if it may so be called, occurring as it did at this particular time, was a serious one. It compelled the whole family to put their shoulders to the wheel and be- come helpers instead of merely consumers. This will account for the reason why the subject of our sketch did not have the advantages of an education in his youth, and at a time when the mind is free, and peculiarly susceptible to the inculcation of ideas. It was work, hard, stern work. In early life James M. Rountree learned the blacksmith-trade, and when he arrived at man's estate he commenced the trade on his own account, but the work was not suitable to his health, and he soon abandoned it and took up the carpen- ter-trade, at which he continued for two years. At the age of twenty-five he made up his mind to study law, and with this idea in view he commenced preparing himself by first obtaining an education in order to fit himself for the profession. He pursued his studies systematically, and at the same time continued his daily avocation until 1867, when he was admitted to practice in all the courts of the State of Illinois. For a period of nine years before commencing the practice of law he was extensively engaged in the milling business and general merchandising, and during that time realized sufficient from the business to place him in comfortable circumstances, and not entire- ly dependent upon his practice for a living. But success came with his first venture at the bar, and practice has followed and has been steadily increas- ing ever since. Long waiting and patient toil has brought its reward. In 1867 he was appointed Master in Chancery, and held the office for nearly four years. In 1876 he was nominated by the Democratic party for the of- fice of States Attorney, and at the following election was elected by a hand- some majority.
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