USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 15
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Mr. Evans was named by Representative Joseph V. Graff as clerk of the committee on claims in the house of representatives at the opening of the fifty- sixth congress in 1899 and served in that capacity for three terms. He after- ward acted as secretary to Mr. Graff to the close of his term of office on the 4th of March, 1911, and at the same time remained in active connection with news-
WILLIS EVANS
TILDE
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paper work, being Washington correspondent of the Peoria Herald-Transcript. During the sessions of congress he also acted as assistant to Charles P. Keyser. chief of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat Bureau.
In politics Mr. Evans has ever been a republican and in 1898 was the candi- date of his party for city clerk of Peoria, easily winning the nomination over old-time leaders of the party in the big city convention. He met defeat at the polls, however, at the hands of Robert M. Orr, the incumbent, who was an old and tried official.
On the 27th of August, 1895, Mr. Evans was married to Miss Leoti Runyan, a daughter of Washington and Martha Runyan. They became the parents of two children: Marguerite, who was born June 23, 1896, and is a student in the Bradley Polytechnic Institute of Peoria ; and Melody, who died January 20, 1908. when six and a half years of age. Mr. Evans is connected with most of the representative organizations of Peoria. He belongs to the Illinois Farmers Club, the Peoria and Illinois Historical Associations, is secretary of the Peoria County Old Settlers Association, is a member of the Peoria Association of Com- merce, the Creve Coeur Club, the Peoria Transportation Club, National Imple- ment & Vehicle Show, and the Child's Welfare League. These membership rela- tions indicate much of the nature of his interests and the line of his thought and activity aside from that already indicated as his chosen life work. On Feb- ruary 1, 1912, Mr. Evans was unanimously chosen executive secretary of the Peoria Association of Commerce and secretary and a director of the National Implement & Vehicle Show, which organizations are flourishing under his direc- tion. There is something in a journalistic career that keeps the individual in close touch with the world's work and progress, and Mr. Evans has ever been stimulated by the spirit of advancement and in turn has made liberal contribu- tion to that progress which awards Peoria a first place as a typical city of the middle west, utilizing the best that the east has to offer and at the same time possessing the initiative that produces advancement along original lines.
OSCAR ALLEN, M. D.
Dr. Oscar Allen, now a practicing physician and surgeon of Chillicothe, Illi- nois, is one of the foremost men in Peoria county in the ranks of his profession. He was born in Medina township, this county, twelve miles north of Peoria, in 1867. His father, William H. Allen, was a native of Rhode Island but lived for seventy-five years in Illinois and for seventy years in Peoria county. He was one of the pioneer settlers of this district and carried on and operated an extensive farm for many years. He is now living retired on the old home- stead. During a portion of his life he was engaged in brickmaking, and his father was the first brickmaker in Peoria county. He married Miss Sarah E. Nuttall, of England, who came to this country when she was eighteen years of age and settled in Peoria county. They have four other children besides Dr. Oscar Allen of this sketch.
Oscar Allen was educated in the district schools of the county, and the Peoria high school. He gained his medical education in the 'College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, and took his post-graduate course in Chicago. Immediately after his graduation from college he went to Lawn Ridge, Illinois, and practiced there for two and one half years. At the expiration of that time he removed to Dunlap, Illinois, and remained there for fifteen years. He spent two years in Chicago practicing his profession, and on January 1, 1911, removed his office to Chillicothe, in the Wescott building where he is at present located. During his long period of activity in the medical profession Dr. Allen has at- tained a degree of efficiency which can only be the result of personal experience.
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He regards his calling as a sacred obligation and has a full appreciation of the duties of a physician to his fellowmen.
In 1892, Dr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Linnie Waite, who was born in Topeka, Kansas, but spent most of her life in Peoria county. She is a granddaughter of Loren Wilder, one of the pioneer settlers of this district. To Dr. and Mrs. Allen four children have been born, Donald M., Robert B. and Willadell, and an infant son all living with their parents at home.
Politically Dr. Allen keeps himself entirely independent of lines and parties. He is a liberal thinker on all subjects and prefers to keep his judgment free and his principles unbiased by any partisanship. Both his father and his uncle were prominent in democratic politics in Peoria county for many years, but Dr. Allen, although he takes an active interest in public affairs, has never sought office. Fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and is prominent in the affairs of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Most of his time and at- tention is given to the practice of his profession, and the extensive practice which he has built up in Chillicothe and throughout the county is ample evidence of his proficiency and skill.
MATHEW HENEBERY.
So important and valued were the business connections of Mathew Henebery as to gain him classification with the prominent and representative citizens of Peoria. He was associated with manufacturing, commercial and financial inter- ests, all of which constituted features in the city's development and progress as well as his individual success. His determined purpose enabled him to carry for- ward to a successful completion whatever he undertook. However, he never regarded any position as final but rather as the starting point for still further accomplishment, and each forward step brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. He was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, September 8, 1834, a son of Nicholas and Anastasia (Carroll) Henebery. He was a youth of fifteen years when, in the spring of 1849, he was brought by his parents to America. They landed at Montreal, Canada, and by way of Buffalo and Chicago, pursued their way to La Salle, Illinois, where they stopped for a brief period and then continued their journey to Peoria.
Mathew Henebery had been a pupil in the schools of Ireland before coming to America, and soon after reaching this country he began earning his own living, being employed as superintendent of a line of drays for about two years. He afterward worked upon the telegraph line between Peoria and Chicago, and in 1851 became connected with the liquor business as an employe of Napoleon B. Brandamour. His ability soon led to his admission to a partnership in the busi- ness, and the firm built an alcohol distillery and continued the conduct of their enterprise for two years. At the end of that time business relations were dis- solved, Mr. Brandamour taking over the alcohol still while Mr. Henebery became the owner of the wholesale branch of the business. From that time until his death Mr. Henebery continued in that line of trade, and yet it would be unfair to speak of him only in this connection. His business interests were of a most varied and important character, and many of the leading commercial and financial concerns of Peoria profited by his keen sagacity, his unfaltering enterprise and his capability in coordinating forces. Aside from his connection with the Branda- mour liquor business, he was one of the organizers and builders of the Great Eastern Distillery. and for a long period was president of the Peoria Pottery Company and took an active part in formulating its business policies. He was likewise largely instrumental in establishing the Peoria Stock Yards and in organ- izing and conducting the Peoria Packing & Provision Company. He became
MATHEW HENEBERY
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AST. TILDEN (C.
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president of the Peoria Opera House Company, and in financial circles figured prominently as vice president and one of the directors of the First National Bank of the city for many years. As he prospered in his undertakings, he made exten- sive and judicious investments in property, becoming the owner of several val- uable farms in Illinois and Nebraska. He remained in active connection with both the Brandamour liquor trade and with banking interests up to the time of his death which occurred November 4, 1907.
On the 10th of May, 1857, Mr. Henebery was united in marriage to Miss Mary Daniels, and their union was a long and happy one. Mrs. Henebery sur- vived her husband about five years. She died on March 12, 1912, at the ripe old age of seventy-seven years, one of the best loved women in the city of Peoria. Mr. and Mrs. Henebery became the parents of twelve children. Those still living are : Richard J. Henebery, of Peoria, manager of the Henebery estate ; Josephine, the wife of E. J. Cashin of Peoria; Nellie, the wife of Samuel H. Cummings of Peoria ; Mary, the wife of Robert De Wald of Fort Wayne; Lida, married to Charles B. Muhler, also of Fort Wayne ; Theodosia, the wife of Edwin Muir of Detroit ; and Miss Lucy Henebery, of Peoria. There is still living a brother of Mrs. Ilenebery, Mr. John Daniels of San Antonio, Texas.
Mr. Henebery was a member of the Roman Catholic church, and his political faith was that of the democratic party. He held membership in the Creve Coeur Club, and was identified with various public interests, some of a social, others of a benevolent nature. Any project that had for its object the welfare and upbuild- ing of the city received his indorsement and his liberal financial support. He served as one of Peoria's aldermen at an early day, and was afterward a member of the school board. Since his death the Mathew Henebery Memorial school has been erected as a monument to his memory. The cause of education ever found in him a warm friend, and he was an earnest and zealous champion of the public library, having served as a director from the time of its organization until 1894. He gave liberally in support of the hospitals of the city and cooperated with many organized charities, while his individual charitable gifts were almost innumerable. He had a deep and abiding love for his fellowmen and was therefore interested in all that tended to ameliorate hard conditions of life for the unfortunate, or sought to further the uplifting and ennobling influences which work for an advanced civ- ilization. His advice was often sought and always freely given. He was loving and kind, and his many friends found him a congenial companion who was always considerate of the words and wishes of another. His advancement in the busi- ness world was the righteous outcome of his energy and determination.
J. N. HECKARD.
T. N. Heckard, a man of enterprise and of marked force of character, who through his business life has made good use of his time and opportunities, is now the owner of a general merchandise store at Oak Hill. He was born March 17, 1858, in Illinois, his parents being Peter J. and Margaret ( Wilson) Heck- ard, who came to Peoria county in 1863. In the father's family were five chil- dren, of whom J. N. of this review, is the third in order of birth.
J. N. Heckard was reared under the parental roof and remained at home until 1882, when he began working for the Monarch Brewery firm of Peoria. where he remained until 1891. For the following six years he was employed in the Peoria Malt House and in 1897 he purchased forty acres of land in Rose- field township, on which he followed farming until 1902. He then, on selling this tract of land, bought fifty-six acres in Elmwood township, which he owned until 1906, when he engaged in the general mercantile business at Oak Hill, where he now has a well stocked store. Vol. II-7
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On the 22d of January, 1882, Mr. Heckard was united in marriage with Mrs. Mayme Fash, a daughter of Charles and Sarah Moore. The father, Charles Moore, was killed in battle in the Civil war, and his widow subsequently became the wife of Thomas Clark. Mr. and Mrs. Heckard are the parents of two chil- dren : Frank R., who was born June 16, 1886, is married and is a blacksmith for the Star Mining Company at Peoria. Goldie R., aged nine, is attending school. In politics Mr. Heckard is a stanch democrat. He gives much time to the cause of education and is now serving as president of the school board. He is an energetic, public-spirited man, well liked both as a merchant and in a social way and is meeting with excellent success in his business career.
MARTIN V. B. CUMERFORD.
In a history of the successful men of Peoria mention should be made of Mar- tin V. B. Cumerford inasmuch as personal effort, intelligently directed, consti- tuted the basis of a growing and gratifying success that enabled him in his later years to live retired. Within the period of his close connection with business interests in Peoria he ever commanded the good will and confidence of those with whom he had dealings and, therefore, was spoken of in terms of high regard wherever known. He was born in Muncie, Delaware county, Indiana, February 24, 1841, a son of George and Harriet (Collis) Cumerford. The father, a native of Virginia, was a cabinet maker by trade and followed that pursuit throughout the greater part of his life. His political allegiance was ever given to the democratic party.
Martin V. B. Cumerford was the eldest of a family of eight children and was early called upon to contribute to their support because of the invalid con- dition of his father. His education was acquired in the public schools and in the Muncie Seminary, and when fifteen years of age he became a post boy, carry- ing the mail between Muncie and Marion, Indiana, a distance of thirty-three miles. While thus engaged he never missed a trip summer or winter. In 1859 he secured the position of bell boy in the Spencer House at Indianapolis and was acting in that capactiy at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. His patri- otic spirit prompted his enlistment and he became a bugler with a cavalry com- pany under Captain Bracken. He soon ceased, however, to act as musician and went into the ranks, participating in many hotly contested engagements, in the long marches and in the hard campaigning which led to the final victory that crowned the Union arms. His was the first cavarly company organized in Indiana and was later mustered in as Company K, First Indiana Volunteer Cav- alry. The regiment was assigned to General Siegel's force whose corps was in the middle of the line at the battle of Bull Run, on which occasion Mr. Cumerford was one of General Siegel's orderlies, accompanying him in that capacity in several other engagements. In August, 1862, and in September of the same year, he was recommended because of brave and meritorious service for promotion to the rank of lieutenant, but owing to the confused condition of affairs this was not agreed upon. He went through the several campaigns in Tennessee and was then mustered out at Nashville. In October, 1864, he returned to Indianapolis, where he cast his first vote for Oliver P. Morton for governor and a month later supported Abraham Lincoln for the presidency.
This was an eventful year in the life of Mr. Cumerford, for it was on the 15th of November, 1864, that he married Jennie E. Tout. They started on a trip southward and after two years returned to Indianapolis, where Mr. Cumerford accepted a clerkship in a grocery store. He also held the office of clerk in the In- diana house of representatives during 1866 and 1867. In the latter year he came to Peoria and entered business circles of this city as bookkeeper in the planing
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mill of Truesdale & Company. Two years later he became manager of Ballard's lumber yard and subsequently was employed in the freight office of the Indiana, Bloomington & Western Railroad. In 1874 he engaged in the grocery business, retiring in 1890. During his sixteen years' connection with that trade he secured a good patronage and the business was one of the profitable enterprises of that character in the city, a large and carefully selected line of goods bringing to him a well merited trade. In 1893 he entered the undertaking business with his son, Harry E., at No. 708 Main street. In this connection they built up a large establishment, being among the foremost in their line in central Illinois. The father, however, practically lived retired in his later years, leaving the manage- ment and active work of the business entirely to his son.
In politics Mr. Cumerford was always a stalwart republican but was not a politician in the ordinary sense of the term. IIe was never a seeker after office, yet in 1875 he was elected alderman of the new eigth ward. He belonged to Bry- ner Post, No. 67, G. A. R., and to Fort Clark Lodge, I. O. O. F. He passed away on the 29th of April, 1912, being then seventy-one years of age, and thus was ended a life of usefulness and honor-one which gained for him the high respect of all with whom he had been brought in contact. He was independent in character, fearless in action and was a splendid type of the high-minded, pro- gressive citizen, whose fidelity to every cause in which he believed gained for him the respect and confidence of those who knew him. His personal charac- teristics were such as made him well liked and highly regarded and his record indicates what may be accomplished when determination and energy lead the way.
THOMAS FORBES.
Thomas Forbes, who now lives retired in Hanna City, was born in New Jersey, May 3, 1830. His parents were William and Susan (Graham ) Forbes, both of whom were natives of Ireland and came from that country in 1828, set- tling in New Jersey, where the father was employed in the iron works. In 1836 the parents removed to Philadelphia and the following year came to Peoria county, locating in Logan township, which was then called the middle precinct. where the father entered eighty acres of government land and later purchased an adjoining forty acres. In their family were four children, of whom Thomas, of this review, was the eldest. The others are: John, of Lincoln, Nebraska ; Mrs. Nancy Shepherd, a widow of Washington county, whose husband was a physi- cian and was drowned while crossing a creek in Tazewell county, on his way to see a patient : and William, who lives in Peoria.
Thomas Forbes, being only seven years of age when his parents removed to Logan township, was reared and educated here and remained under the par- ental roof until 1856. At that date he began farming a tract of forty acres of land which he and his father together had purchased. Later he bought an ad- joining one hundred and twenty acres, making in all one hundred and sixty acres in the tract which he cultivated. At the time of the purchase of this tract the greater part of it was under timber but a few acres of it were ready for cultiva- tion. At the beginning of the war he enlisted in the Seventy-seventh Illinois Regiment, under General D. 1'. Greer, and remained in service for three years. During this time he was taken prisoner and lay for thirteen months and nine- teen days in prison at Camp Ford. At the close of the war he returned to his farm and resided on the same until 1892 when he sold it and removed to Hanna City, where he now owns an excellent home and is living retired.
On the first of May, 1856. Mr. Forbes was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Cox and to them have been born five children. They are: Mrs.
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Iantha Louila Foster, of Washington, Illinois; Mrs. Susan Stewart, who resides on a farm in Logan township; Mrs. Ida Mary Patton, of Lenox, Iowa; Charles, who is engaged in farming near Mount Pleasant, Iowa; and Mrs. E. M. Pat- ton, who resides on a farm near Clearfield, Iowa.
Politically Mr. Forbes gives his allegiance to the republican party. He has served as road commissioner and also as township tax collector. He is a mem- ber of the Presbyterian church and his life is faithfully guided by its teachings. He has done efficient work in citizenship, being at all times public-spirited and pro- gressive. He has now attained the advanced age of eighty-one years, has resided in Peoria county for over seventy-four years and has been an interested witness to the changes that have here occurred. Wherever he is known he is held in the highest esteem and is most warmly regarded where he is best known.
HEYE DIEKEN.
Heye Dieken, who, since 1894, has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Logan township, was born in Norden, Hanover, Germany, on May 14, 1856. In early youth he decided to seek a home in America, and at the age of eighteen he arrived in Peoria county where for eight years he was employed as a farm hand. He then visited his native country, but after four months was again in Peoria county where he became employed on the poor farm, and after two years was promoted to the position of assistant superintendent of the insane department, which office he filled for five years. Subsequently he purchased in Limestone township two hundred acres of land which was known as the Walter Booth farm. Seven years later he sold the same and bought his present farm of one hundred and seventy-two acres on sections 17 and 8 in Logan township. He has now resided here for seventeen years. He has an ex- cellently improved farm and employs the latest methods in tilling the soil, one hundred and forty acres of the land being under a high state of cultivation and thirty-two acres in blue-grass pasture. He engages in raising corn, oats, wheat and alfalfa, and also raises quite extensively horses, cattle and hogs.
On the 26th of October, 1885, Mr. Dieken was united in marriage to Miss Mary Davis, a resident of Limestone township. To this union have been born five children. They are: Minnie, now Mrs. Richardson; Adeline, the wife of Lester Quin ; and Delitha, George and Carl Otto, all of whom are at home.
In politics Mr. Dieken gives his support to the democratic party and has served in the capacity of road commissioner for three years and as town- ship supervisor for four years. He is greatly interested in the cause of edu- cation, is now a school trustee, and has efficiently filled that office at previous times. He is a member of the German Lutheran church, and in the country he has chosen to make his home he is a most useful, valued and highly honored citizen.
JOHN A. READ.
Among Peoria's representative citizens John A. Read is numbered. He has re- sided continuously here since 1878 and is today proprietor of the largest auc- tion and furniture house in this part of the state. Aside from his business con- nections he is well known as a republican leader and one whose advocacy of the party and its principles is based upon comprehensive and thorough knowledge of the political issues and questions of the day. He was born in Hannibal, Os- wego county, New York, July 16, 1850, and traces his ancestry back to Amos and
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Mary ( Bennett ) Read, who were married about 1776. Their second child, Caleb, was born at Lisbon, Connecticut, November 24. 1780, and died in West- moreland, Onieda county, New York, March 15, 1849. He had been married at Montville, Connecticut, September 6, 1804, to Miss Mary Leffingwell, a daugh- ter of Benjamin and Lettis (Camp) Leffingwell. Her birth occurred at Mont- ville or at Boswell, Connecticut, January 17, 1782, and she passed away September 30, 1825. Dwight Ripley Read, the father of John A. Read, was a son of Caleb and Mary Read and was born at Brookfield, Madison county, New York. He wedded Miss Margaret J. Wasson, who was born at Little Sodus Bay. Cayuga county, New York, in 1825, and was a daughter of George and Sallie ( Brew- ster ) Wasson, who were natives of New York, born in the vicinity of Schenec- tady.
When a little lad of twelve years John A. Read began to earn his own liveli- hood and from that time to the present has been dependent entirely upon his own resources. Whatever success he has achieved is the reward of his own labors. In 1867 he accompanied his parents to Peoria, and two years later, having reached the age of nineteen, he went to Kansas where, in 1872, he settled on a govern- ment claim in Morris county, remaining there for two years. After some time spent in lowa he returned to Illinois and for a year made his home in Elmwood, Peoria county, where he engaged in auctioneering. He became an auctioneer and furniture dealer in Peoria in 1878 and is now proprietor of the largest auction and furniture house in this part of the state. Recently he has extended the scope of his business by the establishment of a large storage and warehouse, and is accorded a liberal patronage in these different connections. He has labored dili- gently, basing his advancement upon the safe, substantial qualities of unfaltering industry and determination. He helped to organize the Illinois Auctioneer Asso- ciation and for years served either as its president or secretary.
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