USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 29
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 29
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
the manufacturing interests of the city and was thereby a prominent promoter of its commercial prosperity and upbuilding. In fact, he was the pioneer in the manufacture of woolen goods in this section of the country. A contemporary biog -. rapher has given the following account of the es- tablishment of the business: "The woolen indus- try in Lacon with the outgrowth of an article in the Chicago Tribune about the close of the war from the pen of Spencer Ellsworth, which at- tracted the attention of Samuel Saque and John Grieves. Correspondence between these gentlemen and Mr. Ellsworth led to a meeting of a few of the representative citizens of Lacon and the ap- pointment of William F. Fisher and Mr. Ells- worth a committee to confer with Saque and Grieves with reference to the establishment of a manufactory at this point for the production of woolen goods. A favorable report being made, a company was organized with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, which was later in- creased to one hundred and twenty-three thousand. The first board of directors were Archibald Rid- dell, Jolın Grieves, William F. Fisher, Spencer Ellsworth, Dr. Thomas, Alonzo Roberts and P. Stevens. The company, known as the Lacon Wool- en Manufacturing Company, after being duly in- corporated, commenced operations, having elected John Grieves as superintendent. It was in Jan- uary, 1866, when Mr. Grieves first came to Lacon to engage in the work. The mill, erected at a cost of eighty-four thousand dollars, was built under the supervision of Mr. Grieves, and all the machinery bought by him. There were many dif- ficulties to be overcome in the establishment of such an enterprise in the west, and it required boldness in any one to come in competition with the old and well established houses of the east. The company was fortunate in the selection of Mr. Grieves as superintendent and general man- ager. A thorough master of his trade, and with good business instinct and tact, he took hold of the enterprise with a determination to make it win. The erection and equipment of the mill with necessary machinery exhausted the capital of the company, leaving it without a dollar with which to purchase necessary supplies. Nothing daunted, Mr. Grieves went to Chicago, and, stat- ing his case to dealers, secured the dyes and other material needed, and work was commenced. The first output of the mill was fancy cassimeres. A
fine fabric was made, comparing favorably with those of any eastern mill. The product was put with the commission houses of Chicago, but with ill success. Mr. Grieves then went to that city, and with samples of cloth visited the trade and after many disappointments succeeded in selling the goods. After a trial Mr. Grieves and the di- rectors of the company were convinced that a change would have to be made in the manufac- ture of the goods, as such prices for cassimeres and flannels could not be obtained as could justify the making. It was then agreed to engage in the manufacture of shawls, being the first mill in the west to engage in that line. For five years Mr. Grieves continued in charge of the mill, when he resigned his position and removed to Beloit, Wiz- consin, where he rented and operated a mill for a year, then to Peoria, where he also engaged in woolen manufacture. During the succeeding five years the Lacon woolen mill made no progress, and Mr. Grieves was persuaded to return and oc- cupy his old position as superintendent and man- ager. From 1876 until 1894 he filled those posi- tions and during that time dividends on the stock were made and paid, save for the years 1892 and 1893. In the spring of 1894 the directors of the mill took charge and employed John Hanley as superintendent for a year, when the firm went into liquidation, and until November of that year they were engaged in cleaning out all stock on hand. In the spring of 1895 the mill was rented to John Grieves & Sons, who are still operating it with success, turning out about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars' worth of products annually. Employment is given about seventy-five hands. In 1883 Grieves, Halsey & Company erected the Ett- rick mill at Lacon at a cost of thirty-four thou- sand dollars. It first engaged in the manufacture of hosiery yarn and continued in that line until it became unprofitable in consequence of the low prices prevailing. The looms were then changed and the manufacture of shawls was commenced, and later another change was made to dress goods. John W. Grieves, the son of our subject, suc- cceded Mr. Halsey, and the present firm was start- ed, that of John Grieves & Sons. This mill, which is run night and day, also gives employment to about seventy persons, and the combined pay roll is about four thousand five hundred dollars per month. The products of these mills are mainly disposed of in Chicago, though selling in all of
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the principal cities." The above was written in 1896. The business continued to grow and ex- pand until 1901, when the plant was destroyed by fire. Previous to this, however, Mr. Grieves had resigned in 1893 as manager of the mill, but after a year he returned to the business and in connection with his two sons purchased the plant, which they operated successfully under the firm style of John Grieves & Sons until the fire. A year later business was resumed in a new plant, which was erected after plans approved by Mr. Grieves, the building being specially designed for the purpose used. The product is high grade woolens and men's wear and Melton thibets. John Grieves continued an active factor in the business until his demise, and his sons, George H. and John W., now remain sole proprietors.
On the 17th of April, 1841, Mr. Grieves was united in marriage to Miss Isabelle Hart, and unto them were born two daughters: Elizabeth, now the wife of I. R. Luedke; and Mary Jane, who died at the age of eighteen years. After the death of his wife, Mr. Grieves married her sister, Miss Eliza- beth Hart, who died in March, 1881, leaving two sons and four daughters: Isabelle, Jessie, Olive, Christine, John W. and George H., the former be- ing sales manager and buyer, while George H. be- came superintendent of the Ettrick mill. The wife and mother passed away in March, 1881, and Mr. Grieves survived for more than two decades, pass- ing away on the 3d of July, 1904. During his residence in Lacon he served as a member of the school board and was ever interested in all mat- ters relating to the general welfare and to the substantial upbuilding of the city. In his political views he was a republican and in religious faith was a Baptist. His was a life of activity crowned with a justly merited and gratifying measure of success which was by no means the result of fortu- nate circumstances. His prosperity came to him through energy, labor and perseverance directed by an evenly balanced mind and by honorable busi- ness principles. From early life it was his plan to spend less than his income and he made the most of his opportunities. In manner he was quiet and straightforward and all who knew him respected him. Truly such a life is worthy having lived and such lives deserve permanent record on the pages of their country's history that others, seeing their good works, may be stimulated to fol- low in their footsteps.
George H. Grieves, the senior partner of the present firm, was born in Ottawa, Canada, March 22, 1856, was educated in the public schools, and received his business training under his father, becoming familiar with the business in principle and detail. He was married in 1879 to Miss Ame- lia Miller, of Lacon, and unto them have been born six children : Roy, who at the age of twenty- four years is now connected with the business; Olive, a graduate of the Lacon high school ; Harry, who is connected with the Standard Oil Company at Whiting, Indiana ; Millard, in the mill with his father ; Lowell, a graduate of the Lacon schools; and Wallace, who is still a student.
John W. Grieves, the younger son, was born May 18, 1862, and supplemented his public-school education by practical training received in his father's mill. He was married in 1886 to Miss Blanche Blackstone, of Lacon, and they have two sons, John P. and Blake B., aged, respectively, seventeen and twelve years. The former is now in the mill and the latter in school.
Both George H. and John W. Grieves are mem- bers of Lacon camp, No. 96, M. W. A., while the former is a member of the Masonic lodge at La- con and both give their political allegiance to the republican party. Both were well equipped in early life for the conduct of a business which has devolved solely upon them since the death of the father. They are men of enterprise who keep in touch with the trend of modern thought and action in the business world and they are now controlling an important industrial concern with large out- put, which finds a ready sale on the market.
FREDERICK E. DAWSON.
Frederick E. Dawson, who figures in business circles of Henry as a dealer in builder's supplies, was born in Putnam county on the 3d of Septem- ber, 1865, and is the eldest of a family of four children whose parents are Clark M. and Mary J. (Raymond) Dawson, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Connecticut. The father was a farmer by occupation and after com- ing to Illinois settled about two and a half miles from Henry, where he owned and improved one hundred acres of land, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation. He filled the office of school director but was never very active in po- litical circles. He held membership in the Metho-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
dist church and died in that faith in 1904 at the age of sixty-seven years. His widow still survives him and is now living in Henry. Their four chil- dren were as follows: Frederick E .; Frank, a farmer living southwest of Henry in Marshall county; Mrs. Martha Schimmel, who is a widow and lives in Henry; and Edward, who follows farming on the old homestead.
Frederick E. Dawson, whose name introduces this record, began his education at the usual age in the district schools and thus pursued his studies until he reached the age of twenty. The periods of vacation were largely devoted to farm labor and after working with his father on the home place for a time he afterward began farming on his own account by renting land in Whitefield township. There he lived for two years, after which he spent one year upon a rented farm in Henry township, Marshall county, and five years in Putnam county. He has been engaged in his present business in Henry for seven years, conducting here a feed store and also dealing in building materials, including lime and cement. Since establishing his present enterprise he has prospered and a constantly growing trade has made him one of the substantial merchants of the town.
In 1893 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Dawson and Miss Hattie Mateer of Henry. They are members of the Methodist church and Mr. Dawson gives his political allegiance to the re- publican party. He is a typical citizen of the middle west, possessing the alert, enterprising spirit which has been the dominant factor in the development and upbuilding of this section of the country, leading to its rapid and substantial progress.
WILLIAM ZILM.
It would be difficult to name few, if any, resi- dents who have been held in higher regard or more genuine friendship than was William Zilm, a man whom to know was to respect and honor, and whose many good qualities won for him a feeling of admiration that was akin to love. He was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, March 6, 1834, and for many years occupied a beautiful home at the outskirts of La Rose. When a youth of nineteen years he left his native country, at- tracted by the opportunities of the new world.
This was in the year 1853, and after crossing the Atlantic he took up his abode in Henry, Illinois. While there he formed the acquaintance of Miss Minnie Rinkenberger, who was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, June 14, 1839. She came to America in February, 1853, crossing the iriny deep on a sailing vessel, which was seventy-eight days in making that voyage. She landed at New Orleans and after spending a year in Chicago became a resident of Henry, Illinois. She had acquired her education in Germany while spend- ing her girlhood days in the home of her parents, George and Barbara (Hausenhouer) Rinkenber- ger. Her father was employed in a warehouse and died in 1866, while her mother passed away in 1868.
In 1857. William Zilm went to La Rose and was employed on the farm of Abijah Sherwood. His sweetheart came soon afterward to La Rose and on' the 30th of April, 1857, they were mar- ried. For many years they traveled life's journey together, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows, adversity and prosperity. This was largely an ideal married relation, their mutual love and confidence increasing as the years passed by. With nothing but their two pairs of hands and their stout young hearts, coupled with their determination and earnest purpose, they started out to make a home and in a few years were able to buy the farm of their former em- ployer, while as the years passed they added to it many acres and placed thereon fine modern buildings and many substantial improvements. In all of his business undertakings Mr. Zilm prospered, for he formed his plans readily and was determined in their execution. Moreover, he was thoroughly reliable and straightforward in all of his dealings and his business integrity as well as his enterprise proved an important factor in his success. The accumulation of wealth was not the sole end and aim of his life, however, for he was a most free hearted and generous man and it is safe to say that he and his good wife gave away as much as they kept for themselves. They were always generous to the poor and needy and no one sought their assistance in vain.
Unto this worthy couple were born nine chil- dren, all of whom are living with the exception of William, who died in Streator in early man- hood and whose loss came as an almost irrepara- ble blow to the parents. The surviving children
WILLIAM ZILM.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
are as follows: Mrs. Ellen Stuebing, of La Rose; Mrs. Alvina Kopf, of Streator; Fred, who is liv- ing in Lostant ; Charles, also of La Rose ; Martin, of La Rose; Mrs. Anna Meredith, of the same town; Edward, living in Streator; and Mrs. Jo- sie Iliff, of La Rose. At his death Mr. Zilm also left thirteen grandchildren and three great- grandchildren.
For about three years prior to his demise Mr. Zilm was in ill health and, hoping that he might be benefited thereby, spent some time at the fa- mous springs at West Baden, Indiana, but all to no avail. His health gradually grew worse and though everything that medical aid could do was done for him he gradually sank and passed away on the 22d of May, 1906. He was a devoted and faithful member of the German Lutheran church and assisted most liberally in its building. The funeral services were there held, the Rev. Rudolph addressing the people both in German and Eng- lish. Fully one thousand people were gathered at the church and upon the lawn to pay their last tribute of respect to one whom they had known and honored. His prominence in the community is indicated by the fact that school was closed for the day and business practically suspended dur- ing the hour of the funeral. Mr. Zilm from his boyhood days was a great lover of flowers and plants, which he always had about him in pro- fusion, and there were many floral evidences of love and friendship from those who knew him at his funeral. Knowing that the end was draw- ing near, Mr. Zilm made arrangements for his interment and at his request six of his old-time friends, Carl Winkel, C. K. Schumacher, Casper Preis, Charles Winkel, Sr., August Schoof and Charles Schoof acted as his pallbearers. The name of William Zilm will long be honored and his memory cherished in the community where he resided. It is said that there is not a home in La Rose or the surrounding district that has not received gifts from his garden and orchard as an expression of his friendship, and the poor and needy always found in him a friend. He was a gentleman of genial manner, ever ready with a cordial greeting and word of encouragement. His life was crowned with a measure of success and prosperity that made him one of the substantial residents of the county, but, more than that, his life was the exemplification of true and honorable manhood and of Christian faith and purpose.
FRED A. VAUGHN.
One of the most energetic, enterprising and suc- cessful business men of Wenona and of Marshall county is Fred A. Vaughn, secretary and treas- urer of the A. H. Hill Lumber Company, and although he is yet a young man the financial and commercial history of this locality would be in- complete and unsatisfactory without a personal and somewhat extended mention of him, for he is a typical representative of the spirit of mod- ern progress and belongs to that class of repre- sentative American citizens who, while advancing individual interests, also promote the general wel- fare. Born in Wenona, March 17, 1876, he is a son of Isaac and Maria J. (Willis) Vaughn, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of New Jersey. The father came to the west prior to the Civil war, arriving at Magnolia, Illinois, about 1855. He afterward removed to Wenona and was here living at the time of the outbreak of hostili- ties between the north and the south. Believing in the justice of the Union cause, he offered his services to the government, enlisting as a member of Company H, One Hundred and Fourth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. His company was largely made up of men from Wenona and Osage and the command was with Sherman on the cele- brated march to the sea and in various important battles which led up to the final victorious re- sult, in all of which Mr. Vaughn participated. He was captured with his regiment at the battle of Hartsville, but was afterward exchanged. He served as a first lieutenant of his company and when Captain Southwell, his superior officer, was wounded he was made acting captain, having charge of the company until Captain Southwell was again able to resume command. After the close of the war Mr. Vaughn returned to Wenona and during the political campaign that followed he was nominated and elected county treasurer of Marshall county, in which office he served for two terms, making a creditable record. He was the first mayor of Wenona and did much toward organizing the city and placing its interests upon a safe, substantial basis. He was also engaged in the drug business with his old captain, Mr. Southwell, for a number of years and figured very prominently in the public life and business inter- ests of the town. He died in 1904 and is still survived by his widow. In their family were two
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
sons and two daughters: Cora, the wife of L. M. Bayne, of Ottawa, Illinois; Alice, the wife of A. H. Hill; Ralph, a druggist of Wenona; and Fred A.
The last named, at the usual age, entered the public schools and passed through successive grades until he had completed the high school course. He then attended the Wesleyan College at Bloomington, Illinois, and after the completion of his education became connected with the lumber trade at Lostant, Illinois, in 1899. Subsequently he was at Ottawa in the same line of business and on the 1st of July, 1904, he was made secretary and treasurer of the A. H. Hill Lumber Company at Wenona. This company is now controlling one of the largest lumber enterprises in this section of the state and the business is constantly growing. Mr. Vaughn is a factor in its success, being a young man of marked enterprise, keen business discrimination and unfaltering industry. Already he has gained a notable place in commercial cir- cles and one does not need the gift of prophecy to predict a still more successful future, because his qualifications are such as insure success in the business world.
LUTHER DICKINSON GUNN.
No history of Putnam county would be com- plete without mention of Luther Dickinson Gunn, who is the most venerable citizen residing within its borders. His life record began in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, July 28, 1814. His father, Luther Gunn, was born in Montague, Massachusetts, in September, 1782, and died when his son Luther was but a week old. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Delia Dickinson, was born in Whately, Massachusetts, December 6, 1792, and died in Greenfield, Massachusetts, February 7, 1881. The paternal grandparents were Nathaniel and Hannah (Montague) Gunn and the maternal grandparents were Jehu and Eleanor (Pomeroy) Dickinson. Luther Gunn, Sr., was a physician by profession and was practicing at the time of his death. His wife was then taken to the home of her parents and later she married Levi Gunn, a second cousin of her first husband, and made her home at Conway, Massachusetts. By her first marriage she had two children: Sarah, born Au- gust 26, 1812; and Luther, born July 28, 1814. By the second marriage there were eight children.
Luther Dickinson Gunn spent his boyhood days in Conway, Massachusetts, to the age of sixteen years, living with his mother and step-father. In the meantime he acquired a good common school education and when a youth of sixteen he began learning the trade of a carpenter and joiner under John Howland, remaining in his service until twenty-one years of age, at which time his em- ployer gave him a set of bench tools, consisting of three planes and a hammer, all of which were made by Mr. Gunn while he was working for Mr. Howland. The employer also took him to a store to be fitted out with a suit of clothes. There were two grades of cloth on display and Mr. Gunn was told that if he would go back and work another month he would receive wages for his services and a suit made of the better material. This he did. He was in very limited financial circumstances, so much so that when on his twenty-first birthday, wishing to treat the boys to root beer, he had to borrow twenty-five cents of his mother in order to make the purchase. He worked for three months at twenty dollars per month in order to secure money enough to bring him to Illinois.
Hearing that Colonel Ware, a merchant of Hen- nepin, was going to New York to buy goods, Mr. Gunn arranged to meet him in the metropolis and with him returned to Hennepin. They traveled down the Ohio and up the Missisisppi and Illinois rivers to Hennepin. While on the trip the ship lost a rudder and was disabled. A carpenter was asked for among the passengers and Mr. Gunn, having his tools with him, volunteered to make the re- pairs and did so. On arriving at Hennepin he was first employed to build a kitchen for Mr. Warc, with whom he had made the trip. He then began work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed for several years. Even after he began farming he still did considerable building, and was thus closely associated with industrial in- terests in the county at an early day.
On the 14th of November, 1839, Mr. Gunn was united in marriage to Miss Emirancy Collins, who was born in Granville, Washington county, New York, October 15, 1822. She was a daughter of Joel S. and Sally (Sprague) Collins. The father was born in Massachusetts and removed to Ches- tertown, New York, when Mrs. Gunn was but six years of age. There he died three years later. His wife was born in Stratton, Vermont, and died at the age of forty-seven years. After losing her first
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Emirancy Collins Funn
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
husband she became the wife of Amos Dewey, of Hartford, New York. When Mrs. Gunn was a maiden of fourteen summers she came to Putnam county with her mother and step-father, who lo- cated on a farm southwest of Granville. When her father died she was left an inheritance of about three hundred dollars, and with this she and her husband purchased eighty acres of land south- west of Granville. Not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made upon the farm. Mr. Gunn bought trees, chopped them down, hewed out the timber and had the lumber sawed at a horse- power sawmill north of Granville, and from this he built his house. The young couple moved into it before the doors were hung or the windows put in, and they lived in that primitive home uutil after all of their children but one were born. In 1866 they sold the property and purchased a farm of one hundred and seventy acres of land east of Granville, where they resided until about fourteen years ago, when, retiring permanently from the farm, they took up their abode in the village. Mr. Gunn, however, still owns that property in addi- tion to a comfortable residence in town. Starting out in life as he did, without capital save his willing hands and strong determination, the suc- cess that he has achieved is due entirely to his own labors. He was ever an industrious, energetic man and worked hard in order to gain a start. Now he is in possession of a comfortable compe- tence which enables him to live retired and to provide himself and his wife with many of those things which add to the comfort of life.
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