USA > Illinois > Macon County > Decatur > Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois > Part 28
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came to the United States in 1850 and after the death of her first husband, Thomas Ray, she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Crary. She is a lady of broad culture, of innate refinement and of warm friendship. She belongs to several social organizations of the city and is deeply interested in church work, her co-operation therein proving an active factor in the development of the moral interests of the community.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Crary hold member- ship in the Congregational church of De- cattir and he has been a liberal contributor to its support. His political allegiance was given to the Whig party in his early man- hood and he is one of the few surviving men who voted for William Henry Harrison in 1840. Almost a half century later he voted for the grandson of the Tippecanoe hero, depositing his ballot for Benjamin Harrison. Mr. and Mrs. Crary now occupy a very attractive and comfortable home on North Union street in Decatur and there are quietly passing the evening of life. As the day with its morning hope, its noon- tide of activity and its evening of completed and successful effort, so has been the life of Mr. Crary and at all times his has been an honorable and upright career.
WILLIAM A. MELTON, M. D.
Dr. William Alexander Melton is a skilled physician and surgeon of Warrensburg, Illi- nois, whose knowledge of the science of medicine is broad and comprehensive, and whose ability in applying its principles to the needs of suffering humanity has gained him an enviable prestige in professional circles. The Doctor is a native of Kansas, his birth having occurred in Osage county, that state, on the 10th of February, 1863, and his parents are William A. and Roxie (Beckes) Melton. The father is now en- gaged in farming in Garfield county, Okla-
Frank In Pratt
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homa. In his family are three children : William .A., of this review; Mina R., the wife of Z. L. Iless, of Iola, Kansas; and Luther T., who married Luhu Partridge and lives in Garfield county, Oklahoma.
Dr. Melton acquired his early education in the district schools near his boyhood home and later attended the Normal School at Paola, Kansas. He was in school dur- ing the winter months, while throughout the remainder of the year he worked on the home farm for some time, and later en- gaged in teaching school for seven years in Shawnee county, Kansas. He began the study of medicine with Dr. W. S. Pickard, of Burlingame, Kansas, and in 1892 entered the Northwestern School of Medicine at Chicago, where he was graduated in the class of 1896. That year he opened an of- fice in Warrensburg, being in partnership with Dr. Allen for a time but is now alone, and he has built up a large and lucrative practice here.
In 1898 Dr. Melton was united in mar- riage to Miss Olive Lehew, who died Jan- uary 1, 1901. She was a native of War- rensburg and a daughter of Spencer and Flora (Stahl) Lehew, the former of French and the latter of German descent. Mrs. Lehew is still a resident of Warrensburg.
The Doctor has a well equipped office and in connection has a nice operating room. He is the owner of a fine medical library, laboratory and the latest improved surgical apparatus, and he has not only met with success in a professional way but has also prospered financially, having already ac- quired a comfortable competence. Ile gained his start in life by teaching school and through his own well directed efforts he has worked his way upward until he to- day stands among the leading physicians of Macon county. He is a member of the Decatur Medical Society ; the District Med- ical Society of Central Illinois; the Illinois State Medical Society, the American Medi-
cal Association and the American Associa- tion of Life Insurance Examiners, being examiner for a number of the leading com- panies of the country and also for the Mod- ern Woodmen of America and the Royal Circle. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic Order, and in politics is identified with the Republican party. He is now serving his second term as a member of the town board of trustees. The Doctor is an active worker and prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Warrensburg and has been connected with . the Young Men's Christian Association, the Epworth League and Christian Endeavor Society. Genial and affable in manner, he makes many friends and is popular both in professional and social circles.
FRANK M. PRATT.
The business interests of Frank M. Pratt are important and extensive, involving the investment of much capital, demanding keen sagacity, close application and strong busi- ness ability in their control and, while he is meeting with splendid success, he also belongs to that class of representative American citizens who are promoting pub- lic prosperity by pushing forward the in- dustrial wheels of progress. The day of small undertakings, especially in cities, seems to have passed and the era of gigan- tic enterprises is upon us. In control of mammoth concerns are men of master minds, of almost limitless ability to guide, of sound judgment and discrimination. Their progressiveness must not only reach the bounds that others have gained, but must even pass beyond into new and broad- er untried fields of operation ; but an un- erring foresight and sagacity must make no mistake by venturing upon uncertain ground. Thus continually growing, a busi-
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ness takes leadership in its special line and the men who are at its head are deservedly eminent in the world of commerce, occupy- ing a position that commands the respect while its excites the admiration of all. Frank M. Pratt is actively associated with the con- trol of enterprises that are so large as to be national in their character. He is now president of the Pratt Cercal Oil Company and Pratt & Company, of Decatur, and is actively associated with the American Hom- iny Company, which embraces large indus- tries in various cities throughout the United States.
The life record of Frank M. Pratt began in Litchfield county. Connecticut, January 21, 1853. his birth having occurred on the farm owned and occupied by his father, Enos B. Pratt. The family is of English lineage and at an early cpoch in the devel- opment and colonization of New England was founded in that portion of America. The paternal grandfather was Martin Pratt, a native of Connecticut, and among his chil- dren was Enos B. Pratt. The latter was also a native of the Charter Oak state, born in 1828. Throughout his business career he carried on farming and in the tilling of the soil met with creditable success. For a companion and helpmate on life's journey he chose Miss Emeline Bierce, who was also born in Connecticut. The family continued to live in that state until 1874. when they came to Decatur, Illinois, and here the father changed his occupation from agricultural to mercantile pursuits, establishing a grocery business on Franklin street, in which he car- ried on operations along both wholesale and retail lines. At the same time he engaged in the buying and selling of horses, which he shipped to Connecticut, and for fourteen years he carried on business here. his life's labors being ended in death in 1888. His widow still survives him. making her home in Decatur at the age of seventy-six years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pratt were born eight
children, four sons and four daughters, seven of whom are now living, namely: Martin B., who is a prominent merchant and grain dealer; Ralph E., who is engaged in the grain business in Chicago and is vice presi- dent of the American Hominy Company, also interested in the feed and oil business and in the Pratt Cereal Oil Company ; Riley E., a leading business man of Buffalo, New York, and manager of the Pratt & Com- pany grain business there; Nellie, now the wife of George Tucker, of Decatur; Abbie P., who is at home with her mother; and Ada, the wife of Heston I. Baldwin, a mem- ber of H. I. Balwin & Company, of Decatur.
When a little lad of about six years Frank MI. Pratt entered the common schools of his native state and later continued his studies in the home academy. He entered upon his business career as a teacher, being em- ployed in that capacity in the graded schools of Connecticut for two years. On coming to Decatur he engaged in the grocery busi- ness with his father and later located in Oreana, Macon county, where he conducted a general store and also engaged in the grain business for five years. On the ex- piration of that period he returned to De- catur and entered into partnership with his brother Ralph E. Pratt in the grain busi- ness. In 1888 they opened a branch estab- lishment in Chicago and in 1890 another in Buffalo, New York. Riley E. Pratt took charge of the last named. From the time of his return to Decatur Frank MI. Pratt's success in business has been uniformly rapid and the enterprises of which he is at the head have assumed mammoth proportions. In 1890 he built the transfer elevator at De- catur, and four years later, in connection with his brother Ralph E. Pratt built a large mill for the manufacture of hominy and cereals, the latter business being consoli- dated in 1902 with about fourteen different concerns of the middle west engaged in the manufacture of cereals throughout Ohio,
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Indiana and Illinois, under the name of the American Hominy Company, of which Ralph E. Pratt is vice president. Their headquarters are in Chicago and the busi- ness is capitalized for three million five hun- dred thousand dollars. Upon the consolida- tion of these mills Frank M. Pratt formed the Pratt Cercal Oil Company, with a capi- tal stock of six hundred thousand dollars, the principal stockholders being himself and brother Ralph E., and they built a large mill for the extraction of corn oil, it having a capacity of six hundred thousand pounds of ground corn and capable of producing sixty thousand pounds of oil per day. The ground corn is taken from the hominy mill and is that part which for a time was looked upon as refuse and regarded as of no value except for feed, but at the present time it is utilized, bringing a good profit. The oil mill was put in full operation in Septem- ber. 1903, and has become one of the most important industries of central Illinois and of the western states. The Pratt plant of the American Hominy Company is noted in milling circles as an example of cleanliness. of purity of products and the general ex- cellence of its manufactures. It is equipped with the latest and best improved machin- ery, having several special features, includ- ing steel tanks for storage purposes and im- mense elevators.
In 1876 Frank M. Pratt was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Boyer, of Oreana, a daughter of William Boyer, one of the prominent okl residents of that place. They have two children: Mrs. Helen G. Vance. who is now a widow and resides in Deca- tur; and Charles F., who is connected with Pratt & Company, of Decatnr. Mr. Pratt has been prominently identified with both the Decatur Club and the Decatur Country Club. He has served as president of the former and has been vice president of the Country Club since its organization and in the city where he has long made his home
he has a wide acquaintance and a large cir- cle of warm friends.
Such in brief is the life history of a man who, by his own energy, perserverance and indomitable strength of character, has achieved a reputation that entitles him to rank among the leading merchants of the world. due alone to his keen foresight and honesty of purpose, and a bright example to the rising generation of what can be ac- complished by untiring energy and attention to business. His success has been truly wonderful and due alone to his individual efforts. One of the most active of men, never idle, and keeping his wealth in mo- tion for the interests of the city he lives in, his name in commercial circles is a tower of strength and with him there is no such a word as "fail" in anything he undertakes.
JOHN G. STOBER.
John G. Stober, who is a merchant po- liceman of Decatur, was born November 14. 1846, in the town of Silberhausen, in the province of Saxony, Germany. He was a son of Henry and Elizabeth Stober, in whose family were four sons and a daughter, two of whom are yet living in the father- land. Three of the number emigrated to America and one died here. The father was a dry-goods merchant and by the capa- ble conduct of his business affairs won a good living for his family.
In the public and parochial schools of his home town John G. Stober was educated and after putting aside his text books he received his business training in his fath- er's store, becoming associated with his father and brothers in this enterprisse. . \t the age of twenty years he was drafted into the regular army of Germany and six weeks after he had joined the service war was declared between Prussia and Austria. Mr. Stober was then called to the front and
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served for six months, participating in a number of battles, including the engage- ments at Pressburg, Citgin and Koenig- kratz. After the war was over he served for three more years. At the end of nine months he was made corporal of his regi- ment and when two years had passed he was made third sergeant. On the 15th of June, 1869, he received an honorable dis- charge and again he engaged in business with his father, but on the 15th of June, 1870, he was recalled to the army and par- ticipated in the Franco-German war, serv- ing under William I. He fought in four battles-Beaumont, Cravette, Sedan and the siege of Paris, and was present at the time that Napoleon III was taken prisoner. For one year he remained with the army and then was honorably discharged on the 15th of June, 1871, his regiment being stationed at that time at Erfurt.
On again returning home Mr. Stober joined his brothers in business, his father having died in the meantime, his death oc- curring February 27, 1869, and on the Ist of February, 1882, the mother of our sub- ject passed away.
From 18;1 until 1876 Mr. Stober was associated with his brothers in the conduct of a successful mercantile enterprise in his native land, but the opportunities of the new workl attracted him and in the latter year he decided to emigrate to the new world.
Bidding adieu to friends and native coun- try he sailed on the 9th of February, 1876, for New York, where in due time he landed. Ile then made his way across the country to Connersville, Indiana, where he lived for three years and then again started west- ward, locating at Pocahontas, in Randolph county, Arkansas. One year was passed there, at the end of which time he returned to Indiana. While on the return trip, how- ever. he passed through Decatur and was greatly impressed with the city and its
prospects. The vision of this place remained continually in his mind and in 1883 he re- turned here to become one of its residents. Ile was first employed as an engineer by the Decatur Brewing Company and later he . engaged in business on his own account, conducting a grocery store on East Will- iams street. When Captain Keenan was elected mayor of the city in 1887 Mr. Stober was appointed to a position on the regular police force and has since served in that capacity, either as a regular or merchant policeman, for the past sixteen years. lle is now a merchant policeman, although at the present writing he is away on leave of absence, having gone to the fatherland to visit the country from which he has been absent for twenty-eight years. He sailed on the 4th of August, with pleas- ant anticipations of again renewing the ac- quaintances of his early life and looking once more upon the scenes amid which his childhood was passed.
At Liberty, Indiana, Mr. Stober was united in marriage on the 13th of January, 1881, to Miss Catherine McWalter, of that city. Three children have been born unto them, two sons and a daughter, but all are now deceased. Mrs. Stober was born in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland, and came to America in 1865. Her parents are now deceased.
Mr. Stober is a member of Decatur Coun- cil of the Knights of Columbus, having been initiated into that order November 24, 1901. He is also a stanch Democrat and has taken an active part in the political campaigns in this city. His religious faith in indicated by his membership in St. Patrick's Catholic church. He has never had occasion to re- gret his determination to s ek a home in America for he has found here the oppor- tunities he sought and to-day he is a well known and respected citizen of Macon county, having warm friends within its bor- ders.
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MILTON JOHNSON.
Milton Johnson is distinctively American and so were his ancestors both lineal and collateral for generations. It was at a very early period in the history of America and its colonization that the Johnson family, of which our subject is a representative, was established1 in the new world. Only twelve years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock the Johnson family was planted on American soil by emigrants from England and from 1632 down to the present time representatives of the name have been found loyal in citizenship and honorable in business relations so that they have proven of worth to the communities in which they have made their homes.
Captain Othniel Johnson, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Buckland, Massachusetts, and served his country in the war of 1812. He spent his entire life in the state of his nativity and passed the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten, his death occurring at the age of sev- enty-three. Edwin Johnson, the father of our subject, was one of a large family and his natal year was 1818. He, too, was born in Massachusetts and as a preparation for the practical duties of a business career he learned the trades of a stone-mason and plasterer. When the tide of emigration was steadily flowing westward into the states of the Mississippi valley he sought a home in Wisconsin, locating there at the age of twenty-two years. Settling on a farm in the town of Greenfield, five miles from Milwaukee, he began the task of cul- tivating and improving the land and for forty years carried on farming there. Ile afterward came to Decatur to make his home with his son Milton and here died in August, 1900. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a man whose strong principles and force of char- acter gained for him the respect and ad- miration of his fellow men. Ilis wife, who
bore the maiden name of Pauline lowes, was also born in Massachusetts and was a daughter of Nathan Howes, one of the farmers of the Old Bay state. Her death occurred in Wisconsin in June, 1804. By her marriage she became the mother of the following named: Milton Johnson, of this review ; Franklin, who wedded Miss Mary Clark, a niece of Alvan Clark, the famous telescope manufacturer, and lives in Bara- boo, Wisconsin, where he is engaged in hor- ticultural pursuits : Mary, a resident of Oak Park, Illinois, is the wife of 1. E. Brown, who for the past twenty years has been sec- retary of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation of the state; Martha, wife of Rev. (. II. P. Smith, a Methodist Episcopal min- ister belonging to the Illinois conference; and Anna, who was educated for foreign mission work and assigned to the China de- partment but after having made all arrange- ments to sail from Seattle she was taken ill at the home of our subject while paying a farewell visit and it was several months be- fore she recovered. She finally resigned her appointment and later became the wife of 1. J. Davis. They make their home in Oak Park, Illinois. After the death of his first wife, Edwin Johnson was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Christiana Remington. There was only one son by this union, Edwin, who was formerly an archi- tect of Chicago, but is now engaged in the drug business in Sugar City. Colorado.
Upon the oldl home farm near Greenfieldl, Wisconsin, Milton Johnson first opened his eyes to the light of day, his birth occurring on the 30th of September, 1845. At the usual age he entered the district schools and therein pursued his studies for some time. In the months of summer he assisted in the work of field and meadow and con- tinned under the parental roof until twenty years of age, when as a preparation for the responsibilities of later life he pursued a course in the Bryant, Stratton & Spencer
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business college of Milwaukee. Ilis first independent venture was as a teacher. For several terms he taught in the public schools where he displayed marked aptitude for the work, gaining distinction by reason of his skill and zeal. He then became a teacher in the college where he had obtained his education, Bryant, Stratton & Spencer's, and while there was in charge of the bank- ing department and thus acquired a keen taste for the business which he has made his life work. Later he severed his connec- tion with educational work and came to Decatur, where he has made his home con- tinuously since 1866.
During the first three years of his resi- dence in this city Mr. Johnson was in the service of the United States Express Com- pany and then entered the employ of the firm of Powers, Ferris & Company, boot and shoe dealers, with whom he remained until 1872. That year witnessed the begin- ning of his connection with the banking business in which he was destined to rise until he is now one of the most active and influential representatives of the financial circles of this city. In 1872 he became a bookkeeper in the banking house of Mil- likin & Company, serving in that capacity until 1880, when he became a member of the firm and took an active part in its con- trol until 1892, when he sold his interest in that institution and entered upon his con- nection with the Citizens' National Bank, of which he is now the cashier. For one year he served as vice president and in 1892 was elected president. acting in that capacity for some time. In 1899 the bank was re- organized with Harry Shlandeman as presi- dent : William II. Starr, vice president ; Mil- ton Johnson, cashier ; and J. N. Baker, as- sistant cashier. Mr. Johnson has since served as cashier and the prosperous career of the bank has been largely due to his ef- forts, his thorough understanding of the banking business and his sound judgment.
He has the ability to readily read and un- derstand men and while he is always courte- ous in his treatment to the patrons of the bank he rarely, if ever, makes a mistake in placing trust in one who does not warrant it. During his connection with the Citizens National Bank its business has been doubled many times and while the policy that is fo !- lowed is conservative to the point of safety it is also progressive to the point of modern methods which are fully abreast with the times.
On the 5th of January, 1870, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Philena A. Evans, whose parents, John and Lucy (Peckham) Evans, were natives of New York, whence they emigrated westward to Waukesha, Wisconsin. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born six children : Elbert E., who is a resident of Pasadena, Califor- nia ; Franklin L., who was educated in the Northwestern University at Evanston and is in the National Bank of Commerce in St. Louis, Missouri; Milton, who was also a student in the Northwestern University and is now teller in the Citizens' National Bank of Decatur; Pauline, the wife of R. C. Augustine ; Alva M., who is an employe of the Merchants' National Bank at Indi- anapolis, Indiana ; and Roy G., who com- pletes the family. Miss Maude E. Evans, a niece of Mrs. Johnson, formerly made her home with this family. She is now married to Roy Stewart, of Decatur. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have a beautiful residence which was erected at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars and is built in modern style of archi- tecture. It is one of the beautiful homes of this city and in its furnishings indicates the cultured and refined taste of the in- mates.
In Masonic circles Mr. Johnson has at- tained distinction and is a worthy exemplar of the craft. He belongs to Macon Lodge, No. 8, F. & A. M .; Macon Chapter, No. 21, R. A. M .; and Beaumanoir Commandery,
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No. 9. K. T. He has been honored with official preferment in these various branches of Masonry, serving as eminent commander for two years, and he has also held office in the First Methodist church, of which both he and his wife are members, having been steward and president of the board of trustees for the past fifteen years. He is benevolent, giving liberally of his means to the poor and needy, but which is after the spirit of the teaching which says "Let not your left hand know what your right hand doeth."
Viewed from any standpoint his life might be said to be a success ; and it is the success not merely of the man who prosecutes a prosperous commercial life, intent only on winning wealth, but that of the man who advances public good in promoting individ- nal prosperity. The study of the character of the representative American never fails to offer much of pleasing interest and valu- able instruction, and the life of Mr. John- son certainly furnishes food for deep and profitable thought.
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