USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 47
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FRANCIS RALPH DENNIS.
Francis Ralph Dennis, a real-estate man, has operated largely in that field in different parts of the country and is the father of a number of town sites leading to the substantial development of the southwest, particularly of Oklahoma. He was born in Hennepin, Putnam county, Illinois, in 1877, a son of Francis S. Dennis, who was born on a farm near Henry, Marshall county, Illinois, in 1836. He is now living in Henry and, although he devoted his earlier years to agri- cultural pursuits, he later turned toward merchandising as a dealer in ice and beef. He married Ruth Bush Chance, a native of Putnam county, Illinois. Their wedding, which was celebrated in Henry, has been blessed with four sons and three daughters : Irving, deceased; Walter ; James, who has passed away ; Fran- cis Ralph; Edith, who has also departed this life; and Agnes and Ella, who are both married. It is interesting to know something of the still earlier history of the Dennis family, for the grandfather, James Dennis, was an old-time newspaper correspondent and from Illinois wrote for Philadelphia papers about the Indian occupancy of this state and the pioneer development. He now lies buried in one of the oldest cemeteries of the state bordering the Illinois river, where the graves of the Dennis family indicate that they were among the first to settle in Illinois.
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When Francis Ralph Dennis was six years of age his parents removed to Henry, Marshall county, and later he attended the city schools and the high school. He left home at the age of eighteen years and was afterward employed in various cities but in 1898 joined the army, enlisting for two years' service or "during the war," following the outbreak of hostilities with Spain. The war closed at the end of eight months and he was then honorably discharged. He was a member of the First Illinois Cavalry under Captain Robert Fort, a greatly beloved officer and one of the leading young republican politicians of the state. He served as state senator, as had his father and his grandfather before him, and few men were ever more greatly loved than was the Captain of L troop of the First Illinois Cavalry.
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F. R. DENNIS
ARY
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When the war ended Francis R. Dennis went to Chicago and was employed at various places before entering the real-estate business in that city. He began operations in a small way but gradually extended his efforts and was very active in establishing new towns in Oklahoma, following the admission of the state to the Union. He was the original town site man at the beginning of the boom and largely through his efforts the towns of Thomas, Hobart, Siboney, Roosevelt and Davidson sprang into existence. He has carried on real-estate dealing in Peoria for seven years and is now at the head of a large clientele in this con- nection. He has thoroughly informed himself concerning property values here and has negotiated many important realty transfers in various districts, largely western lands. He is also a factor in industrial circles of the city, being engaged in the building of the Hebdennis grain weighers, which are continnous weighers. These machines are all manufactured in Peoria at the "Old Pottery" site at Adams and Mary streets, where are employed several score of workmen. These machines are of great value and are finding a ready sale on the market.
On the 10th of October, 1911, Mr. Dennis was married to Miss Florence G. McKelvey, of Hedrick, lowa, and they reside at No. 400 North Glen Oak avenue. Mr. Dennis votes with the republican party. He has been described as "a clean- cut young business man and a student of up-to-date things and methods." This indicates his progressive spirit, while something of his social nature and position is indicated in the words of one who called him a "prince of good fellows"-ex- tremely courteous and a true gentleman. His experiences in life have been broad and interesting and his ambition has kept him in touch with modern pro- gressive methods. What he undertakes he accomplishes, for he is determined and energetic, realizing ever that when one avenue of opportunity seems closed other paths may be found which will lead to the desired goal.
ANDREW DISTLER.
Andrew Distler, who is located at 600 Pennsylvania avenue, Peoria, has been successfully engaged in contracting and building in this city for the past four years. His birth occurred here on the 15th of August, 1856, and he is of Ger- man extraction, his father, Captain Paul Distler, having been born and reared in the old country. He emigrated to the United States in 1851, settling in Peoria and when the Civil war broke out he enlisted as a captain of Company B, Four- teenth Illinois Cavalry, and went to the front, remaining there until the close of hostilities. He saw much notable service during that time and was taken prisoner at Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Distler was a carpenter by trade and for many years operated a planing mill here, continuing to be engaged in active business until his death in 1885. As a business man and citizen he was highly esteemed.
In the acquirement of his education Andrew Distler attended the public and German Free schools until he was twelve years of age. He then went to work in his father's mill and for four years thereafter ran the engine. At the end of that time he was assigned various duties in the shop until he had thoroughly mastered every detail connected with its operation. The work that they turned out was of a very superior quality and the father was awarded the contract for the millwork for the present courthouse. Upon attaining his majority Mr. Distler was made foreman of his father's shop, but he only retained this posi- tion for about a year, giving it up at the expiration of that period to follow the carpenter's trade. After being identified with this vocation for four years he went to Bloomington, this state, to take, charge of a small furniture factory. He only held this position for a brief period, when he came back to Peoria to work in the Comstock-Avery planing mill. From there he went to the Rogers Vol. II-20
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planing mill on Washington street, where he was employed for several years. After the death of his father he operated the old Distler mill but later disposed of it and went to work for Comstock & Avery. Soon thereafter he left their employ and took a place in the Truesdale mill, being employed there for seven years. At the end of that period he entered the service of Rogers & Benneaen . again, but soon after going there he became associated in business with two of his brothers and gave up his position. This undertaking proved quite successful and a year later he bought out his brothers and moved their establishment from Fulton street to Main street. He subsequently sold this enterprise to the Archer- nias Company, remaining in their employ for about a year thereafter. When he left them he took a position with the Garside Manufacturing Company, but two years later he gave this up to become identified with the Wahlfeld Manu- facturing Company. From there he went to the Peoria Hardwood Lumber Company, giving up his position with them thirteen months later to engage in contracting and building for himself. He has been following this for four years and is meeting with very good returns, having established a profitable business.
On the 12th of June, 1878, Mr. Distler was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Sipp, a daughter of Adam Sipp, who located in Richmond township in 1850. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Distler, as follows: Fred William, who is thirty-one years of age, living in Peoria; Veronica, the wife of William Buchanan, also of this city; and Florence, who is living at home.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Distler and their family are members of the German Lutheran church, and he is affiliated with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, in which lodge he has held all of the chairs, and the Maccabees. He also belongs to the American Union, the Boosters' Club and the Master Builders' Association. Mr. Distler enjoys a wide and favorable acquaintance among the residents of Peoria, where he has passed all of his life.
LUKE L. WATSON.
Luke L. Watson, secretary and treasurer of the Klein-Watson Company, general contractors and plasterers in this city, with offices in the Jefferson build- ing, is one of the foremost men in business circles in Peoria. He has been iden- tified with the firm of which he is now a member since its organization on No- vember 9, 1909. He was born in Bloomington, Illinois, on the Ist of March, 1879, a son of Luke and Katherine Watson, of that city. His father is a pioneer contractor and plasterer in Bloomington, where he has followed that occupation since 1870. He came to America from Ireland in 1868 and settled immediately in Bloomington, where he is still residing with his family.
Luke L. Watson received his early education in the public schools of his native city and was graduated from the high school in 1899. His education was supplemented by a course in Brown's Business College in Peoria. When he laid aside his books he returned immediately to Bloomington and assisted his father in the business until 1904. During this period he gained a practical knowledge of the details of plastering and contracting. He became a skilled workman him- self and laid the foundation of his successful career along this line by per- sonal experience. In 1904 he entered the employ of the United States Gypsum Company of Chicago as traveling salesman for the state of Illinois. He was extremely successful in this line and his rise through various positions was rapid and well deserved. In March, 1907, he was appointed manager of the Peoria branch of the company and came to this city on that date, remaining in the employ of the United States Gypsum Company until November, 1909. He was one of the organizers of the corporation with which he is now connected and has held the position of secretary and treasurer since the founding of the com-
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pany. He has done remarkable work in this line and the practical experience which he gained in his father's shop has been a valuable asset to him during his business career. The reputation of the firm has advanced steadily since its organization and it is now known in Peoria as one of the largest and most trust- worthy institutions of its kind in the city. The market for its work extends be- yond the boundaries of the county and many of the largest buildings in this section of the state have been erected by the Klein-Watson Company.
On June 5, 1906, Mr. Watson was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Mary Finnan, a daughter of Paul and Margaret Finnan, the former a very prominent merchant in Bloomington. He was during his life actively interested in state politics and was representative for Bloomington in the Illinois general assembly at one time. He died in July, 1909, at the age of fifty-four years, having sur- vived his wife for seven months. They are buried side by side in St. Mary's cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are the parents of one daughter, Margaret Mary, who in the seventh successive generation bears that name. Politically Mr. Watson affiliates with the democratic party but beyond casting his vote at each election he takes not a very active part in city or state politics. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church and is prominent in the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Ancient Order of Hiber- nians. Ile has attained that success which is the inevitable result of expert knowledge in any line. He has acquired in the course of his business career a specialist's ability as a contractor and plasterer and his remarkable proficiency is one of the leading influences in the prosperity of the corporation with which he is identified.
GEORGE W. H. GILBERT.
George W. H. Gilbert is a worthy representative of a well known pioneer family of Peoria, whose members have been identified with the business interests of the city for more than seventy-five years. His birth occurred here on the 12th of February, 1837, his parents being Henry and Margaret Ann ( Fash) Gil- bert. The father was born in London, England, in 1808, and there he was reared and educated and learned the carpenters' and joiners' trade, and also studied architecture. In 1834 he emigrated to the United States, locating in Peoria, having come via Philadelphia, New Orleans and St. Louis. Here he followed the profession of architecture and also engaged in contracting and building during the remainder of his life. He was one of the foremost rep- resentatives in this line of business in the city and designed and constructed many of the business buildings and residences of that period. In St. Louis, during 1842 to 1846 inclusive, he was one of the builders of the St. Louis courthouse. In matters of citizenship he was public-spirited and took an ac- tive and helpful interest in all movements that would tend to improve local con- ditions or advance the welfare of the community. He was a strong temper- ance worker and his political support he gave to the whig party. He made many friends, as he was a man of high principles and sound integrity, and was always loyal to his ideals. His death occurred in this city on the 4th of July, 1848.
The mother was born on Vesey street in the city of New York in 1820. but she came to Peoria as soon as she was passed as an embryo teacher, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Fash, Sr. She was one of the first teachers in Peoria. She was married in 1835 to Mr. Gilbert. They began their domestic life at 310 South Jefferson avenue, where Mr. Gilbert died. Mrs. Gilbert im- mediately built the double brick houses, Nos. 312 and 314, and had lived in that house for more than fifty years when she passed away. Their family num- bered six, of whom our subject is the eldest. In order of birth the others are as follows: Margaret E., the widow of Lester Patee; A. Frederick. who for a
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few years was engaged in business here with his brother George W. H .; Celes- tine S., the wife of J. M. Black, who for years has been and still is a promi- nent worker in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in the Dakotas ; Charles, who died in infancy ; and Carrie M., who is now Mrs. J. W. Rowcliff, of Peoria. The family formerly affiliated with the Baptist church, in which the father was a member of the choir. After his death the affiliation was changed to the Congregational church.
George W. H. Gilbert passed his boyhood and early youth, as did the other lads of that period, and obtained his education in the public schools. At the age of fourteen years he left school and began his business career as an em- ploye of A. Bishop, the hatter and furrier. As he was a bright, diligent youth, thoroughly trustworthy and of good habits, upon attaining his majority in 1858 he was taken into the firm.
Somewhere in the neighborhood of 1858 to 1860, Thomas Chamberlain, brother-in-law of Henry W. Adams, then a hardware merchant at the head of Bridge street, corner of Adams ard Franklin, gathered a few children together in Fond Du Lac township, Tazewell county, afterward called Coleville, etc., and finally East Peoria, and called it a Sunday school. Tom was called back to the State Bank in Boston and interested young Gilbert in the Sunday school. Mr. Gilbert took care of it for eight years, until it became the large part of the Coleville Methodist Episcopal church under Rev. Henry Apple. After help- ing to build and organize the church, Mr. Gilbert withdrew because he had mat- ried and commenced raising a family and the added demands of business upon his energies made walking (for that was then the only method) two and one- half miles and back, too large a tax. Thereafter he was ever ready to assist in such work upon requisition.
He remained part of the firm of Bishop & Company until January 1, 1865, when he bought the interest of his partner who removed to Chicago and es- tablished the firm of A. Bishop & Company on Wabash avenue. Mr. Gilbert then became associated with his brother, A. Frederick, in continuing the same kind of business. In connection with their factory they maintained a sales- room, and as they possessed unusual foresight and skill as furriers and discern- mment in matters of business, succeeded in building up a splendid trade. A. Fred- erick Gilbert withdrew after only a short partnership to embark in other busi- ness. G. W. H. Gilbert maintained the enterprise until 1885, when he also with- drew from business activities and spent several years in travel. Upon his re- turn to Peoria he opened a real-estate office and thereafter devoted his atten- tion to this business. He is now living practically retired and is temporarily residing in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
Mr. Gilbert has been married three times. His first union was with Miss Josephine Speers, at that time a resident of Peoria, but who was born at Belle Vernon, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in the vicinity of Pittsburg. They were married in 1859, and Mrs. Gilbert passed away in January, 1875, at the age of thirty-nine years. Seven children were born to them, four of whom died in childhood. Those living are as follows: Henry S., the eldest son, who is asso- ciated with the Aetna Life Insurance Company at Peoria; Mary W., who is Mrs. George H. Batchelor of New Bedford, Massachusetts; and Lester E., who is in the coal business in Minneapolis. Mr. Gilbert subsequently married Miss Alice Osbon, of Ripley, Ohio, and they had three children, one of whom is now deceased as is also the mother, her death occurring in 1898. The two living daughters born of this marriage are: Retta O., now Mrs William C. Har- vey, of Fresno, California ; and Elsie M., now Mrs. J. Warren Braley, of New Bedford, Massachusetts. In 1906, Mr. Gilbert married Miss Rebecca S. Foltz, of Farmington, Illinois, who died in 1911, leaving no children.
In matters of religious faith Mr. Gilbert is a Congregationalist, and he is a republican in his political views. He believed in the Dred-Scott Decision when
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it was rendered, but was converted from that error by a lecture by "Old Doc- tor Baird, the Cosmopolitan," early enough so that he was in the convention in Chicago when Mr. Lincoln was nominated for president the first time. Al- though he never prominently participated in political matters, he took an active interest in all local affairs. He was almost the first child, other than Indian, born in Peoria county, and was one of the organizers of The Peoria County Old Settlers Association, in 1867. He is one of the two surviving charter mem- bers of this society, of which he was secretary for many years.
Mr. Gilbert has passed almost his entire life in Peoria with the exception of a few years in his early childhood, when he resided in St. Louis, coming back to Peoria at the age of nine. He was for many years prominently identi- fied with local business affairs and, owing to his honorable methods and fair- ness in his transactions, is held in the highest esteem by all who have had dealings with him.
GEORGE HELGESON FITCH.
Ever since Cervantes laughed romanticism out of the world, the pen, inked with good-natured laughter at all pretense, dipped in satire at all hypocrisy, and in good-natured raillery at the pretentions of man, has been a force that moves the world. and brings men up short at the boundary line of absurdity, with a laugh. Peoria is fortunate enough to possess in Mr. George Fitch editor, author and humorist, a man who by his kindly satire, his good-natured ridicule of the follies of human nature, has contributed much to the laughter of the world.
Mr. Fitch at thirty-four years of age. has established a reputation in the literary world which has become national. He is known all over America as the creator of Siwash College and the originator of Ole Skjarssen. All the leading newspapers in the country publish daily his Vest Pocket Essays, and all the prin- cipal magazines are proud to accept his witty and laughter-filled stories.
George Helgeson Fitch was born in Galva, Illinois, on June 5, 1877. He spent his early youth in that city, graduating from the Galva high school in 1892. The next two years he was a clerk in the local postoffice, but resigned to enter Knox College in 1894. The world owes much to this career in Knox. Perhaps we never would have heard of Siwash or the great Ole, had it not been for George Fitch's experiences while at college. The college atmosphere has tinged most of his literary work since that time. The campus, the college halls, the old tradi- tions, the co-eds, the fraternities, all formed part of the course of study to which Mr. Fitch applied himself, and the effects of this application, the keen apprecia- tion of the humor of the life, the kindly memory of the brotherly spirit which pervaded it, have all been preserved for us, in the inimitable records of Old Siwash. It was while a student at Knox College that Mr. Fitch was received into the Beta Theta Pi fraternity, a national institution, which numbers among its members many journalists, authors and men of national reputation.
Mr. Fitch graduated from Knox College in 1897. He took up journalism at once. It was in his blood. His father, E. E. Fitch, was the owner and editor of the Galva News, and spent all his life in the newspaper profession. After a year as a reporter on the Galesburg Evening Mail, Mr. Fitch returned to Galva, as editor of his father's paper, in which position he continued for three years. He worked on the Fort Madison Republican for a few months after this, and then resigned to accept a position as editor of a feature column on the Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil. In this occupation, Mr. Fitch found his true sphere in life. His column became first locally and then widely famous, as a mine of humorous, scintillating paragraphs and keen satire on local foibles. All lowa laughed at itself, when mirrored in Mr. Fitch's column. Four years later, Mr. Fitch came
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to Peoria as managing editor and feature writer, for the Peoria Herald-Tran- script. Here his long newspaper experience stood him in good stead. The man- aging editor of a paper in a city of this size has many other things to do besides grasping the opinion of the hour on current subjects, and enforcing it daily in the columns of his paper. He has largely to be a business man, and administrator of affairs and a manager of men, and in many ways a vast deal more than the intellectual interpreter of the opinions presented in the journal on which he works. Mr. Fitch soon proved himself an able editorial writer, never champion- ing a cause which he believed to be unjust, always ready to write in his own logical, well balanced and forceful style for any cause making for the uplift of his community. In a business in which it has always been exceedingly hard to be independent, Mr. Fitch has kept himself so. His pen has always been ready to help Peoria in her plans for business and social improvement. No plan was ever put forward looking to the improvement, advancement and beautification of Peoria, which did not find in the editorial and Straight-Talk columns of the Herald-Transcript a ready and efficient indorsement. Aside from his editorial duties on the paper, Mr. Fitch conducted his famous "Transcripts" column, a daily feast of witty comments on local happenings and national politics. Mr. Fitch still continues to conduct this colunin, although he resigned his duties as managing editor of the paper two years ago, in order to devote his time entirely to magazine work. Peoria has grown to depend upon its "Transcripts" as a sance of laughter for its breakfast.
Mr. Fitch now writes for all the leading American magazines. His Siwash stories first appeared in the Saturday Evening Post, and were collected in book form, some two years ago. The Ladies' Home Journal, The American, McClures, Hampton's and other standard periodicals, are always glad to receive his work. His style is luminous and clear, his wit always bright, scintillating and free front malice. Mr. Fitch is still a young man but his life is a happy illustration of the rewards of hard work and talent, when combined with high principle and un- swerving integrity. His name is known in the highest literary circles of America.
His private life is simple and unostentatious. He was married October 5. 1904, to Miss Clara Gattrell Lynn, of Kansas City. He has three children : Mary Gattrell, aged five years; Elinor Morehead, aged three; and a daughter, yet unnamed. His essentially social nature has drawn around him many friends, who all delight in his kindly humor and his friendly nature. A man without pretense, thoroughly genuine, free from small importances of lesser minds, absorbed in his work, and bent on doing the best he can for everybody, George Fitch is making for himself a life, filled with the high rewards of beneficent labor and personal contentment.
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