Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II, Part 14

Author: Rice, James Montgomery, 1842-1912; S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 930


USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 14


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In 1880 Mr. Dalton was united in marriage to Miss Rose Mary Mooney, of this city, a daughter of Thomas Mooney, who served as circuit clerk in Peoria during the Civil war and later was police magistrate. He was one of the hon- ored pioneer residents of the county, having taken up his abode in Medina town- ship in 1834 in what is known as the Mooney settlement. He bought up hun- dreds of acres of land there and for many years was one of the extensive property holders of that district. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dalton have been born six children: Lucy Frances, the wife of Charles Charvat, of Chicago; Anna L .; Marie; Francis F .; Edwin and Willard. The family are communicants of St. Mark's Catholic church and Mr. Dalton also belongs to the Knights of Columbus. He has comparatively few outside interests beyond his business yet is loyal and progressive in all matters of citizenship and gives his cooperation to many measures contributing to the general good. In the grain trade his name is indeed widely known and the success of the large enterprise of which he is now an officer is attributable in no small measures to his efforts and his interest. As an employe he worked diligently and perseveringly and since coming to a position of executive control he has bent his energies to administrative direction and his well formulated and carefully executed plans have wrought for success,


GEORGE A. UMDENSTOCK.


George A. Umdenstock, secretary of The Central Stone Company, was born on a farm in the vicinity of Peoria on the 8th of September, 1875. He is of German extraction and is a son of Christian and Mary Umdenstock, both of whom are now deceased. His father was the first undertaker in the city of Pekin, but he subsequently withdrew from this business and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was living retired on his farm in this county at the time of his death, which occurred in 1882 at the age of fifty-one years. The mother, who survived him until 1901, was sixty-eight at the time of her death. Both were laid to rest in the cemetery at Pekin. They were the parents of ten children, seven girls and three boys, George A., the subject of this sketch, being the ninth child in order of birth.


GARDNER T. BARKER


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The education of George A. Umdenstock was begun in the district schools and completed in those of Peoria, his student days being terminated at the age of sixteen years. He then started out to fit himself for the graver responsibili- ties of life, and entered the plant of the Peoria Marble Works, where he learned the stone cutters' trade. He continued in the employ of this company for seven- teen years, and during that period became thoroughly familiar with every detail of the business. Not being satisfied to continue in the service of others all of his life he resigned his position in 1907, and became associated with Henry F. Bremer in the organization of The Central Stone Company. They engage in the manufacture of building stone at No. 1710 South Water street, this city, where their plant has been located ever since the company was organized. Mr. Bremer, who is mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work, is president of the company and Mr. Umdenstock is secretary, and as they are both thoroughly familiar with every phase of the business and are men of wide experience. they have met with little difficulty in building up a good trade. They have adopted a policy in the conduct of their indsutry that fully entitles them to the confidence of all who have dealings with them, and thus not only have the faculty of winning patrons but of retaining them. During the five years they have been operating this plant they have been awarded some excellent contracts and as they strive never to turn out an order that does not reflect credit on themselves and their establishment they are rapidly winning patrons, and are recognized as the owners of one of the thriving and prosperous activities of the city.


The 7th of June, 1899, was the wedding day of Mr. Umdenstock and Miss Barbara Dinkey, a daughter of Melchoir and Elizabeth Dinkey. The father who is now living retired, is a veteran of the Civil war, having served in Company I. Fortieth Missouri Infantry. He was mustered out in St. Louis. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Umdenstock, as follows: Clarence and Edna, both of whom are attending school; and George A., Jr., who is four years of age. The family home is located at No. 414 Arago street, where Mr. Umdenstock erected a very pleasant residence with thoroughly modern appointments in 1902.


Mr. Umdenstock and his wife are members of Grace Evangelical church, and Mr. Umdenstock is on the board of trustees of this organization. He is a man of progressive ideas in matters of citizenship, but is not partisan in his views, casting his ballot for those candidates he deems best qualified to serve the highest interests of the municipality. As a business man he has always manifested the diligence and persistency of purpose that win success and is now making marked progress in this direction.


GARDNER THURSTON BARKER.


While Gardner Thurston Barker became a conspicuous and honorable figure on the stage of business activity in Peoria, he played other parts in the drama of life with equal ability. He was recognized as a leader in public affairs and sev- eral times as chief executive of the city administered its municipal interests. Over the record of his public career as well as his private life there fell no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, for he held to high standards and neither fear nor favor could swerve him from a course which he believed to be right. With a nature that could never be content with mediocrity, he made constant advancement in business and for a long period controlled important commercial and financial interests of the city.


Mr. Barker was a native of New York, his birth having occurred in Moriah, Essex county, January 10, 1814. His parents were Gardner T. and Harriet (Lyon) Barker and while spending his youthful days under the parental roof he pursued his education, seeking a home and fortune in the west in 1838, when a


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young man of twenty-four years. At that time Peoria was a tiny town, contain- ing very few inhabitants and giving but little promise of future greatness. His business ability, however, was soon manifest here and with the growth of the city he was continuously identified, his individual efforts constituting an important factor in promoting the commercial and industrial activity and prosperity of Peoria. He was first associated with Almeran S. Cole in a general mercantile enterprise under the style of Cole & Barker, and a change in the partnership afterward led to the adoption of the firm name of Barker & Stearns. Still later Mr. Barker became sole proprietor. In 1867 he entered into active connection with the distilling business, which has been one of the chief sources of Peoria's upbuilding and prosperity. He also extended his efforts into various other lines of business and all of his different investments proved successful, indicating his sound judgment and keen discrimination. He never allowed pleasure or outside interests to interfere with the management of his business affairs and gradually he advanced to a position of leadership, enjoying the prosperity which was his by reason of intelligently directed effort and indefatigable energy. He retired in 1887 from the active management of his different interests and thereafter gave his attention solely to his duties as president of the Commercial National Bank and as president of the Allaire-Woodward Chemical Company. In all of his business affairs he found ready solution for intricate and involved problems. He seemed to recognize almost intuitively the opportunities and possibilities of a situation and he so directed forces as to produce a harmonious and resultant whole. As one of the wealthy residents of Peoria he took up the bonds when the city borrowed large sums of money and negotiated them in New York.


Business, however, was but one feature of the intensively active career of Mr. Barker. His deep interest in Peoria and her welfare and his thorough under- standing of the political questions and issues of the day led him to cooperate heartily with the democratic party, for he was an earnest believer in the principles which constitute its platform. In local political circles, therefore, he figured prominently. In 1852 he was elected to the city council and ten years later was chosen mayor of Peoria. His first term received indorsement in a reelection so that he served in 1870 and 1871. He gave to the city a businesslike and pro- gressive administration, characterized by retrenchment in useless expenditures yet marked by progressiveness where the best interests of the city were to be con- served. His word could always be relied upon whether in business or in politics.


On the 20th of August, 1840, Mr. Barker was united in marriage to Miss Helen White, of Champlain, New York, a daughter of Elial and Mary B. (Lewis) White, who were natives of Massachusetts, the former born at Medway, Decem- ber 21, 1794, and the latter at Amherst, February 9, 1799. The marriage cere- mony of her grandparents was celebrated by the Rev. Daniel Morton, the father of Vice President Levi P. Morton. The death of Mr. Barker occurred October 26, 1894. He was succeeded in business by his son Walter, who became the presi- dent of the Commercial National Bank, and he is also survived by a daughter, Mrs. Ellen B. McRoberts, and her two sons, Walter and W. G. McRoberts, and a grandson, Jesse, who was the son of Mr. Barker's youngest daughter and was left motherless during his infancy, at which time he was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Barker. Three years after the demise of her husband Mrs. Helen (White) Barker passed away. They had figured prominently in the social life of the city, where Mr. Barker made his home for fifty-six years. He had watched the development of Peoria from a small town to a city of metropolitan proportions and had proven a most important factor in this work of transformation. In all that he undertook, whether of a public or private nature, whether in business or in office, he put forth earnest, persistent effort, realizing that the source of power is within the individual and that not upon any environment or circumstance does progress depend. Whatever the quiet forces and influences at work in his life to shape his destiny, it was evident at the outset of his business career that he


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understood clearly the fact that energy and unfaltering purpose constitute the surest basis upon which to build success. He was a well balanced man mentally and physically, possessed sufficient courage to venture where favoring opportunity presented and his judgment and even-paced energy carried him forward to the goal of prosperity.


HENRY SCHWABACHER.


The life record of Henry Schwabacher covered seventy-five years, through- out which period his industry and determination constituted the strong motive forces of his advancement. He deserved all the credit implied in the term a self- made man, for when he reached the new world his capital consisted of less than a dollar. Gradually he advanced as the years passed by until he occupied a prominent position on the plane of affluence. He was for thirty-three years one of Peoria's most prominent capitalists and successful business men, during which period he followed various pursuits, his last years being spent in honorable re- tirement.


He was born in Fellheim, Bavaria, Germany, June 11, 1829, and acquired his education in the schools of that country. In 1848, when a youth of nineteen years, he came to the new world, leaving his native country at the time of the German revolution of 1848. When he reached New York city his cash and cap- ital has been reduced to ninety-five cents, but with the aid of friends he soon secured a position, and in business circles he demonstrated his worth, proving most diligent, capable and determined. In this way he gradually won advance- ment that brought him increased salary, and when his industry and careful ex- penditure had provided him with a small capital he invested in a little line of goods which he sold from house to house. In time his attention was attracted to the middle west with its growing business opportunities. For a brief period he engaged in the sale of goods in Cleveland and then continued on his way westward to Keokuk, Iowa, in 1853. There he opened a small store, carrying a little line of dry goods until four years had passed, when he disposed of his business interests there and in 1857 came to Peoria. Here at different times he was connected with various business enterprises. In 1861 he entered the wholesale liquor trade and soon afterward admitted his brother Jacob to a partnership under the firm style of H. & J. Schwabacher. Some time afterward they formed a partnership with Philip Zell and built a distillery, which they operated under the firm style of Zell, Schwabacher & Company. The house became widely known and they conducted the business along successful lines for over twenty years, when they sold out to the trust. Henry Schwabacher then retired from active life and his brother Jacob at that time removed from Peoria to Chicago. The record of Henry Schwabacher indicates what may be accom- plished in America where excellent business opportunities are afforded each in- dividual but where worth and merit must win advancement. He had but ninety- five cents when he arrived in the new world and at his death left an estate valued at over eight hundred thousand dollars. His judgment was sound, his insight keen and his energy unfaltering. After the distillery had been purchased by the trust the wholesale liquor business of the firm was continued by Julius and Louis H. Schwabacher, sons of him whose name introduces this review. Within the last few years, however, this business has also been sold and the sons are now devot- ing their attention to the management of the estate left by their father. As he prospered in his undertakings Henry Schwabacher, Sr., made extensive and im- portant investments in real estate, becoming the owner of much valuable property in Peoria and in Chicago. It seemed that his judgment was never at fault in making purchases, for the realty which came into his possession rose steadily


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in value with the growth and development of the city. His opinions came to be relied upon as most substantial factors in business and he was accorded a position as one of Peoria's most progressive business men.


In 1857 Mr. Schwabacher was united in marriage to Miss Virginia Ancker, a representative of a pioneer family of Peoria, and they became the parents of the following children: Julius and Louis are both residents of Peoria. The former married and has a daughter, Jeanie, while the latter has three children, Virginia, Florence and Louis H. Leo is a resident of Baltimore, Maryland. Hattie is the wife of Samuel I. Reichman, of New York city, and they have two children, Virginia and Stanley Reichman. Maud is the wife of Joseph A. Wilde, of Peoria. Florence is the wife of the Rev. A. J. Messing, of Bloomington, Illinois, and their children are Allen, Fannie, Virginia and Elizabeth Messing. Bertha is the wife of Myron H. Greisheim, of Bloomington, and they have two children, Henry and Katherine. Jacob died leaving a widow, Mrs. Henrietta Schwabacher, and three children: Fannie, the wife of Harry Hexter, by whom she has one child, Myron H. ; Hart J. ; and Helen Schwabacher. Nathan Schwab- acher, the eldest of the family, died leaving a son, Herbert J. Mrs. Henry Schwabacher, the mother of this family is still residing at the old home at No. 204 North Perry avenue.


In his political views Mr. Schwabacher was a republican where national questions and issues were involved but cast an independent local ballot, support- ing the candidate whom he regarded as best qualified for office. He was a man of refined taste, was most genial and hospitable and greatly enjoyed entertaining his many friends at his own fireside. He loved art and music and greatly en- joyed travel, utilizing much of his leisure time in that way. He was very firm in his convictions and his determinations and was regarded as a conservative, farsighted business man. He stood as a splendid type of the German American citizen of Peoria, his record being creditable alike to the land of his birth and the land of his adoption. Moreover, his life history proves what may be ac- complished when determination and energy lead the way and when firm purpose overcomes difficulties and obstacles.


HARRY C. BEEBE.


Harry C. Beebe is the sole proprietor of The Beebe Mill Works, located at No. 1007 and 1009 South Adams street. Although he has been identified with the industrial interests of Peoria for only a brief period, Mr. Beebe is well known in local business circles, as for eighteen years he was manager of the firm of Cartwright & Russell. He was born in Chillicothe, this county, on the 19th of May, 1861, and is a son of Reuben and Josephine Beebe, well known pioneer set- tlers of that town. The father, who was a carpenter by trade, was actively en- gaged in contracting and building in Chillicothe for more than fifty years. He was a man of marked loyalty and patriotism and went to the front as a private in the Eighty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war, being hon- orably discharged at the close of his period of enlistment. In matters of citizen- ship he was enterprising and progressive and during a large portion of his life was actively identified with municipal affairs and on several occasions was called to fill the mayor's chair. He lived to attain a ripe old age, passing away in 1904, and is buried in the cemetery at Chillicothe. The mother is still living and continues to make her home in the latter place, where she is widely known and held in high regard, as was likewise the father.


The boyhood and youth of Harry C. Beebe were passed in his native town, in whose public schools he pursued his education until he had attained the age of sixteen years, terminating his student days before he had completed his high-


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school course. After laying aside his text books he worked for his father for four years and during that period thoroughly mastered the details of the car- penters' trade. He next entered the employ of The St. John Marsh Company as their traveling representative, and during the succeeding five years he went through the western states seeking locations and establishing lumber yards for this firm. They discontinued business in 1886 and Mr. Beebe went to Denver, Colorado, and engaged in contracting and building for six years. In 1802, he returned to Peoria and became manager for Cartwright & Russell, remaining in their service until 1909, when he resigned his position in order to establish the enterprise he is now conducting. This proved to be a very lucrative under- taking, and at the end of his first year Mr. Beebe erected the fine brick factory building he is now occupying on South Adams street. It is sixty by one hundred and eighty feet, thoroughly modern in its construction and equipped with every appliance and machine essential to a plant of this kind. The growth of this activity has not been remarkable in any way, but its development has been characterized by the substantial and permanent progress that manifests stability. The receipts have shown a marked annual increase from year to year and em- ployment is now given to eight skilled workmen.


Hudson, Kansas, was the scene of Mr. Beebe's marriage on the 6th of April, 1886, to Miss Addie F. Cole, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Cole, the father a highly respected agriculturist of Reno county, Kansas. One daughter has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Beebe, Ruth, who is now at home with her parents. The family home is located at No. 502 Bigelow street, where they own a very pleasant and comfortable residence.


Fraternally Mr. Beebe is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is energetic in his methods and directs his efforts along well defined lines with the determination of purpose that invariably wins success, and in the or- ganization and concentration of his forces in the development of his industry is manifesting the same powers that characterized him when working under the supervision and direction of others.


HENRY HEDRICHI.


No account of the financial interests of Peoria would be complete without extended and personal reference to Henry Hledrich, the president of the Savings Bank and also director of the First National Bank of the city. He has occupied the presidency of the former institution since December, 1906, when he succeeded to the position left vacant by the death of W. A. Herron. Throughout his entire business career he has been associated with banking interests, having served as cashier of the Savings Bank from the Ist of February, 1872. He was born in the dukedom of Hessen, Germany, September 25. 1845, his parents being Chris- topher and Catharine Hedrich, who spent their entire lives in the fatherland. The son Henry pursued his education there and in 1865 bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for the new world, making his way direct to Peoria where he arrived when twenty years of age. He was first employed by Dr. McGee in a grocery store, in which he remained for a year, at the end of which time his employer was appointed postmaster of Peoria and made Mr. Hedrich a clerk in the postoffice. He remained there for five years and during the last year served as assistant postmaster. He then entered the Savings Bank as cashier and has been continuously connected with the financial interests of the city in an executive capacity to the present time. From the position of cashier he was called to the presidency in December, 1906. For six years he has remained chief officer of this bank which is one of the strong financial centers of eastern Illinois. The policy pursued commends it to the patronage of all and back of it


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stand a corps of officers who are widely recognized as progressive and reliable business men. In addition to his interest in the Savings Bank Mr. Hedrich was elected to the directorate of the First National Bank in January, 1911. He has become a recognized power in financial circles here and his reputation has been gained no less by his business integrity than by his success. In point of con- tinuous service he is today the dean of the banking profession in the county. His other activity in financial circles covered nineteen years' service as secretary of the Clearing House of Peoria-from 1879 until 1898.


Mr. Hedrich was married in Peoria in 1869 to Miss Jeanette Christens, of this city, with whom he traveled life's journey for about thirty-nine years. Mrs. Hedrich was then called to the home beyond and at her death left four children : Ida, now the wife of Leaton Boggess, of Peoria; Alice, the wife of Howard Bills ; Blanche, the wife of Albert Trubel; and Edward, who resides in Chicago. Mr. Hedrich is prominent in Masonry and has served for four years as master of Schiller Lodge, of Peoria. He has also attained the Knight Templar degree in the commandery and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is treasurer of the Old Settlers' Union of Peoria county and in 1906 he succeeded Mr. Herron to the position of treasurer in this society, as he did in the presidency of the bank. He has for forty-seven years been a resident of Peoria and is everywhere spoken of in terms of respect and high regard because he has never deviated from what his judgment has regarded as right between himself and his fellowmen. His life has been actuated by high and honorable principles and his record is an indi- cation of the fact that success and an honored name may be won simultaneously.


WILLIS EVANS.


Willis Evans, residing at No. 803 Bradley avenue, in Peoria, his native city, was born January 16, 1872. His parents, Isaac and Phoebe (Waggoner) Evans, were natives of Ohio and came to Peoria about 1860. The son attended the old Fifth Ward school, later called the Franklin school, on Moss avenue, but instead of entering the high school he became an assistant in his father's grocery store at West Bluff. Almost immediately he began newspaper work, thus following the advice of his mother. C. E. Nixon began the publication of the West Bluff Budget, a local weekly paper, and Willis Evans contributed articles, written for it from a stool behind the counter in the grocery store. Later he wrote for the West Bluff Herald, also a Nixon publication, and while still connected with the store he did valuable work for Edward Francis Younger, managing editor of the Peoria Transcript, who was Mr. Evans' journalistic mentor. In 1890 the latter became a regular contributor to the Transcript at the same time carrying for the West Bluff Bureau. Later in the same year he became regularly associated with the Transcript and afterward became a member of the staff of the Peoria Herald, owned by Henry M. Pindell. Eventually the two papers were consoli- dated under the name of the Herald-Transcript, their publication being con- ducted under the direction of Mr. Pindell, P. J. Rennick and Charles H. May. Starting as a reporter, Mr. Evans was advanced through successive promotions, becoming city editor, managing editor, editor and Washington correspondent. He has long since won for himself a creditable position in journalistic circles, not only as a writer but one who has adopted the most progressive methods of newspaper publication.




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