USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 48
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COLONEL JAMES MONTGOMERY RICE.
Colonel James Montgomery Rice, patriot in the war for the Union, political, military, and economic thinker, high-minded citizen, earnest worker within and without the church for the cause of religion, was born in Monmouth, Illinois, March 8, 1842. Believing that an honorable ancestry should be a spur to effort Colonel Rice took pride in tracing his family lineage through a line of men. forceful, democratic, patriotic, and Christian men, found fighting generation after generation for "God and the right."
James Rice, born in England of Welsh parentage, having probably been in the battle of Sedgemoor ( 1685), crossed the Atlantic to the New World. After William and Mary were established on the throne, leaving his family in Virginia. James Rice went back to receive his father's estate, but being captured by pirates on the return voyage, was never heard from again. For three generations the
JAMES M. RICE
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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family lived in Virginia, moving in each generation one step westward, finally removing over the mountains to Kentucky, where in 1812 was born George Poague Rice, father of James Montgomery Rice. George Poague Rice, educated for the ministry, was compelled, through failing eyesight, to take up a more active life and became by turns farmer and merchant in and near Oquawka, Illi- nois, being a member of the well known mercantile firm of Phelps & Rice of Oquawka. Caroline Montgomery, whom he married in 1841, was a descendant of John Montgomery, Major of the Scotch-Irish army of King William ( 1688- 90). Coming to this country, Major Montgomery organized the white brick Presbyterian church in Newcastle, Delaware, composed entirely of immigrants who came with him, and became its first elder. His son, Alexander, was the father of William Montgomery, colonel and later general in the Revolutionary war, and a member of congress while Washington was president. Lieutenant- Colonel John Montgomery, son of General Montgomery, was the grandfather of Caroline Montgomery, mother of James Montgomery Rice.
James Montgomery Rice spent the first fifteen years of his life on the farm, attending private or country schools or receiving instruction at home. After 1852 when the family was established at Qquawka, at that time one of the promising cities of the state, he attended an academy there. At eighteen he entered Monmouth College. At the end of his freshman year he was stirred by the attack on the Union, and though hardly convalescent from a dangerous illness, enlisted, August 20, 1861, as a private of Company E, Tenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was immediately made corporal and detailed to Grant's headquarters, where he served for two months as store-keeper. During the winter of 1861-2 his regiment guarded gun-boats in process of construction at Mound City, Illinois. Stationed, in February, 1862, at Bird's Point, Missouri, he took part, on March 1, in an engagement near Sykestown, and in April in the battles of Hamburg and Pittsburg Landing. On May 3 he participated in the advance on Corinth and the battle there; proceeding thence to Tuscumbia, Alabama. He was sent, August 31, 1862, to Nashville. All communication with the north was cut off for two months during Bragg and Buells' campaign in Kentucky ; clothing and food almost gave out; acorns and car corn, one ear per day, formed their chief diet. The Fourteenth Corps thuis earned its badge, an acorn, and the title of the "Acorn Corps." During the battle of Stone River, the regiment held Fort Negley. On the 6th of March, 1863, Mr. Rice was made sergeant to rank from January 8. He was at New Fosterville July 20, and at Bridgeport, Alabama, August 24. . On the Ist of October, 1863, his command held the bridge at Bridgeport during the terrible battle of Chickamauga. Ou the 21st of November, they crossed the Tennessee on pontoons, supporting Sher- man's victorious attack on Bragg's right at Mission Ridge. A week later oc- curred the engagement with Hardee at Chickamauga Station; thence the troops marched to Ringgold and on to the relief of Knoxville, Tennessee, which was invested by Longstreet, and later went into winter quarters at Rossville, Georgia.
In December, Colonel Rice was recommended for a commission. He passed the examination and in January, 1864, was detailed to brigade headquarters. On the 2d of May, he moved with Sherman toward Atlanta, taking part in the battle of Buzzard's Roost on the 9th, and of Resaca on the 15th; marching the following day toward Rome, which was taken on the 18th, and going then to join the main army at Ackworth, June 3. He was in the forward movement until the capture' of Atlanta. On the 27th of June he was in the attack on Kene- saw Mountain. The command crossed the Chattahoochee, July 18, with severe loss. Then came the battle of Ezra Church and the capture of Jonesboro. Meantime his term of enlistment had expired, and the war being virtually settled, Colonel Rice returned to the north, after being honorably mustered out. Septem- ber 18, 1864. During his three years of service. he had not lost a single day from duty.
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Always of a studious, thoughtful turn of mind, the young college boy had made use of the many idle hours camp life affords to continue his college studies by himself or with his companions, studying Greek, German, Latin and Survey- ing, and reading many volumes of history. On his return north, he entered the law school of the University of Michigan and took his degree there two years later. The following year he came to Peoria, and till his death, continued a prominent member of the Peoria bar. In 1877 he was city attorney. In 1883 he was admitted to the district court of the United States, the southern district court of Illinois, and the circuit court, and in 1890 to the United States supreme court. In 1878 and for many years thereafter, he was a member of the State Bar Asso- ciation and for several years previous had been a member of the Chicago Bar Association. In 1879 he became one of the principal organizers, the treasurer, and a director of the Peoria Law Library Association.
Four years after his coming to Peoria Colonel Rice had married Miss Eliza Lillie Ballance, daughter of Colonel Charles and Julia M. Ballance. Mrs. Rice was of exceptional character and from this time until her death in 1895, their lives were closely bound together and were mutually helpful and inspiring. Mrs. Rice is remembered for her personal charm, combining a witty and lively disposition with deep earnestness of Christian character. She was a leader in many of the charitable movements carried on by the women in her church and Peoria. There survive this union five children: Lillian Ballance, the wife of Major Wilson Chase, United States army, and her two children, Daniel Mor- gan Brigham and Caroline Rice Brigham; Caroline Montgomery; Mary Virginia; Montgomery Gordon, city attorney and clerk at Libby, Montana ; and Willis Bal- lance, married to Ruth Little Mason, an electrical engineer and assistant United States patent examiner, at Washington, D. C.
Colonel Rice was a broad thinker, keenly interested in inany lines of public life, and the force of his influence was always directed toward improvement in political, military, religious and social matters. He was a recognized leader in the republican party. In 1869, secretary and active manager for the republican county central committee for Peoria county, he served in 1871 as member of the state legislature that revised the statutes following the adoption of the present state constitution. From that time on, the weight of his disinterested, high- minded thought had a steady effect upon local political affairs. At various times he wrote articles on political questions that were broadly published and aroused nation-wide attention. In recent years he became a republican insurgent or progressive.
After the Civil war Colonel Rice took a keen interest in military matters. In 1879, he assisted in organizing and was a charter member of Bryner Post, G. A. R., becoming its first adjutant. In 1894-6 he was special aide on the staff of the commander-in-chief of the G. A. R., appointed for the purpose of promot- ing military training in schools and colleges, in which connection he wrote arti- cles upon the subject for the "Army and Navy Journal" and other papers. He belonged to the Society of the Army of the Cumberland and was a charter mem- ber of the Illinois Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. He was also a Knight Templar Mason, his membership being in Peoria Commandery No. 3.
Colonel Rice attained special prominence in connection with his services in the national guard. He enlisted May 30, 1875, on the reorganization of the National Blues, becoming first sergeant, and in 1876, second lieutenant. This was the best drilled company in the state. In the great railroad strike of 1877, it went on duty for four weeks, when Colonel Rice acted as adjutant of a bat- talion of four companies and had the principal management and direction of the whole affair in Peoria, which he managed without loss of property or life. Sent to St. Louis, he took forcible possession of the railroad train at Havanna to prevent delay and compelled the railroad company to clear the track. Colonel Rice's labors in behalf of the improvement and recognition of the national guard
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have placed him among the men to whom the nation owes a debt of gratitude. He took special interest in rifle firing, believing that what a soldier most needed in battle was to know how to "hit what he shot at." Through his efforts the militia of the state was brought to a very high standard of efficiency in rifle shooting. He was the author of a "Range Manual for Military Rifle Practice," which was the standard authority in many states and was used by other states and by many regular troops. He was the author of "Small Arms Practice for the National Guard" ( 1892), which was accepted as authority in Illinois and other states. In 1877 he was commissioned captain and special aide on the gov- ernor's staff with orders to act as assistant inspector of rifle practice. He was made lieutenant colonel and inspector of rifle practice of the Second Brigade in 1879, and in 1887 acted as assistant adjutant general of the Second Brigade dur- ing the riots in East St. Louis. The same year he was commissioned lieutenant colonel and assistant inspector general of the Second Brigade; and in 1890 was commissioned colonel and general inspector of rifle practice, which office he held until his resignation in 1896. In 1897 he was indorsed almost unanimously by the leading republicans of Illinois and by the national guard officers through- out the country for the position of assistant secretary of war.
His next step was to urge the recognition of the national guard as a means of national defense and its proper organization so as to make it practically useful for that end. In 1884 when the National Guard Association of Illinois was or- ganized, Colonel Rice was made chairman of the committee on constitution and by-laws. He delivered addresses on rifle practice and on the proper support of the civil power which were published by the association and widely copied ( See "United Service Magazine," Philadelphia, August 18, 1884). In 1887, as chair- man of the legislative committee, his article read before the convention, on "Military Training in the Army and the National Guard" was published in the Century Magazine ( October, 1888), and was largely commented upon in that ( See also April. 1889) and other magazines and military journals. The princi- ple for which Colonel Rice contended for twenty years, was, that the national guard is a national defence, organized of the people, by the people, and for the people; this he successfully maintained against apathy and opposition from every quarter, by his articles in leading magazines and papers, military and popular, of the country, and by active and laborious service with the guards in the field and camp. He developed the principle that the national guard as organized, may be called by the president into the service of the United States; that, when in the service, they are to be governed by the same rules and regulations, and to have the same rights, privileges, and duties as the regular troops ; and that they may be required to do duty "wherever ordered, within or without the territory of the United States." This principle, so necessary to the public welfare in time of na- tional danger, was successfully maintained by several articles in the "Army and Navy Journal" and elsewhere, and is now a part of the United States law.
In religious matters Colonel Rice was broad in his sympathies but strong in his convictions. Accordingly his counsel and his power for organization was sought in the conduct of many local and national enterprises for social better- ment. In the Presbyterian church he was a faithful and active member. Serv- ing first as president of the board of trustees of the Second Presbyterian church at Peoria, in 1886 he became a member of the session and was ruling elder at the time of his death, as well as a faithful teacher in the Sunday school. He was many times a delegate to the Presbytery and was commissioner to four gen- eral assemblies of the church. In this capacity, he became known throughout the country as the author of "the Peoria Plan" for electing and organizing the standing committees of the Presbyterian church, which had till that time been appointed by the moderator, or chairman, of the assembly. The plan, after years of opposition, was adopted, and has secured the decentralization of the church government, taking the power from the hands of a few leaders and giving it to
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the representatives of the churches. In this connection one of the most promi- nent Presbyterian journals of the country calls it "The joy of the church." Aside from his service through his church, Colonel Rice was relied upon by many other worthy undertakings for his moral and personal support. He was president of the Peoria Young Men's Christian Association for two years, se- cured its incorporation, and was the author of its constitution and by-laws.
On April 1I, 1912, in the midst of a busy and useful life, at the age of three score and ten, he passed suddenly from us, a man high-minded, strong, courageous, patient, tender and true, one who has left a deep impression for good in many lines of progress, relating to the political, social, military, eco- nomic, and religious development of the country. All Peoria named him as one of the city's leading and honored citizens, who had exerted a powerful influence upon those enduring forms of progress which have their inception in thought and research, in clear reason and keen perception, and in high character, and which are ultimately manifest in resultant and beneficial action.
BENJAMIN C. KOCH.
Benjamin C. Koch, who maintains an office in the Masonic Temple where he engages in the buying and selling of farm lands, is one of the most exten- sive real-estate operators in Peoria. He was born in Tremont, Illinois, on the 25th of May, 1873, and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Casper Koch, natives of Ger- many. They emigrated to America in 1851 and settled on a farm in the vicin- ity of Tremont and there their eleven children were born. The father passed away in 1875, but the mother retained the farm, which she cultivated with the assistance of her children, continuing to make her home there until her death on the 8th of April, 1911.
The youngest member of the family, Benjamin C. Koch was only two years of age when his father passed away. He pursued his education in the common schools until he was twelve, when he laid aside his text-books and helped in the cultivation of the home farm. Agricultural pursuits engaged his undivided attention from that time until he had attained his majority, when he started out in the world to make his own way. It was his intention to en- gage in the buying and selling of farming property, but as the land in the vi- cinity of his home was too dear, he invested his capital in Mercer county, this state. He has never engaged in a brokerage business, always having bought and sold for himself alone. At first he confined his efforts to this state, but later he extended his activities to Iowa, and finally established a large German colony at Oakville, Louisa county, that state. This was a stupendous under- taking as he handled about a half a million dollars worth of land in that sec- tion in 1901. The next year he began operations in bottom lands in Hancock county, but that spring the levees in the river broke, flooding all of the count- try thereabout. This naturally retarded the development of his project and in order not to lose either time or money in awaiting the completion of the en- gineering work necessary to drain the land, he traded his holdings for a tract in the Red River valley, Minnesota. He is now very enthusiastic over this section which he believes to be one of the most promising portions of the state. A man of unusual sagacity, he exercises good foresight and clear judgment in the promotion of his interests and always selects land in or adjacent to a thriv- ing town. He now owns two thousand acres in Marshall county, adjoining Warren, the county seat, and he also has a section at Grand Forks and three thousand acres in small tracts in the Red River valley. In addition to this he has holdings in other portions of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana and Califor- nia, but his greatest interests are in Minnesota. His thorough knowledge of
BENJAMIN C. KOCH
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR TILD Y
1
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practical agricultural methods has been of inestimable value to Mr. Koch, who has thus been able to more intelligently cultivate and improve farms that were badly run down, and greatly increase his profits. He has met with remarkable success in his business, the entire knowledge and understanding of which he has gained through his experience in developing and promoting his own projects. He is a man of much determination of purpose, who has the inherent faculty of directing large undertakings and is sufficiently resourceful to successfully meet and overcome obstacles that would conquer one possessed of less resolu- tion and perspicacity.
Mr. Koch was united in marriage on the 29th of May, 1894, to Miss Bertha Schneider, a daughter of John Schneider of Peoria, who formerly engaged in the barbers' supplies business, but is now retired. They have one son. Albert H., now a youth of sixteen years, attending high school at Tremont, Illinois, where Mr. Koch resides.
As prosperity has attended the endeavors of Mr. Koch he has turned his attention to other activities and is the secretary and treasurer of the Domestic Vacuum Sweeper Company, of which Silas Ropp is the president and John E. Gerber, vice president and general manager. They have the sole distribution of this device and it is the only machine of the kind manufactured in central Illi- nois. Mr. Koch assisted in the organization and financing of the company from the first and has been one of its most active promoters. He likewise holds the mineral rights to thirty-six hundred acres of land in Morrison county, Minne- sota, the development of which he feels assured will bring him handsome divi- dends. In his judgment real estate affords one of the best and most certain sources of revenue at the present time. Land values everywhere are advanc- ing, and there is no likelihood of their depreciating, and whenever he disposes of one holding he reinvests elsewhere, constantly being on the watch for oppor- tunities. His dealings have proven very lucrative and he has met with most gratifying prosperity and is now recognized as one of the substantial business men of Peoria.
GILMAN WILLARD AVERY.
Gilman Willard Avery was connected with a business that for almost a half century featured as one of the important productive industries of Peoria. The Comstock-Avery Furniture Company controlled one of the leading retail furni- ture enterprises of the city, their establishment being one of the largest in the state outside of Chicago. Year after year, active in its management, Gilman W. Avery contributed in large measure to its success and its prosperity in great measure was due to his business sagacity, executive ability and untiring efforts. In January, 1910, however, the firm passed out of existence. Mr. Avery passed the seventy-first milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Green- ville, New Hampshire, March 14, 1835. He was a son of Amos and Lydia ( Evans) Avery. The father was a farmer of that section but, finding the coun- try unfavorable for that purpose he removed to Jaffrey in the same state when his son was ten years of age.
Gilman W. Avery pursued the greater part of his education in the schools around Jaffrey, supplemented by a course in the Kimball Union Academy at Meriden, New Hampshire. For some years after his graduation he followed the profession of school teaching, first at Westmoreland, New Hampshire, and after- ward at Greenfield, Greene county, Missouri, whither he removed at the age of nineteen years. A little later he became a resident of Ebenezer, Missouri, where he established a high school, which he conducted successfully for a few years.
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His next removal was to Lebanon, Missouri, where he opened a general store. His previous experience as a teacher continued to prove of worth to him in this connection, for he had cultivated the habit of studying and analyzing his pupils and this proved of value to him in understanding his patrons. He continued the business until it was completely ruined by the outbreak of the Civil war, after which he returned to the east and spent the winter in teaching school at Broc- ton, New York. In the following August he located at Gridley, Illinois, where he engaged in general merchandising, but the following fall he came to Peoria and here resided until his death in 1906.
In 1861 had been organized the furniture and house supply business which he entered as a partner in 1864 under the style of Comstock & Avery. The business was continued under that name until 1892, when it was incorporated as the Com- stock-Avery Furniture Company. Gilman W. Avery had entire charge of the business and its success and constant prosperity were the direct result of his capable management. The business grew yearly, its output constantly increasing to meet the growing demand of the trade until finally its field of activity covered central Illinois. For some time prior to his death Mr. Avery was in failing health and in December, 1905, went to Biloxi, Mississippi, to escape the rigorous winter of the north. There he passed away on the 24th of March, 1906.
It was on the 18th of January, 1859, that Mr. Avery was married to Miss Ellen Haywood, of East Jaffrey, New Hampshire, who died April 19, 1890. Some time afterward he was again married, his second wife being Miss Alice J. Sawyer, of Peterboro, New Hampshire. By the first marriage there were three children, Frank E., Preston A. and Fred H., of whom the eldest and the youngest are living, while Preston A. died in 1864. Mr. Avery held membership in the Baptist church and was long a factor in the church work of the city. Reli- gion was to him a matter of evervday conduct and not merely of Sabbath observ- ance. His belief leavened his life and influenced his actions and made him at all times considerate of the welfare and rights of others. At one time he was a member of the city council and he was ever essentially a public-spirited man. interested in the welfare and progress of Peoria to the extent of giving active aid to those projects whereby the interests of the city were conserved. At his death he left an unassailable reputation for integrity and uprightness of character and a legacy of unsurpassed honesty as a heritage to his sons.
HON. ALVA MERRILL.
Of the Hon. Alva Merrill it has been said: "He has at all times utilized his public honors for the best good of his fellow townsmen rather than as an oppor- tunity for self-promotion or personal gain." As a member of the general assembly he stood loyally for measures and movements which he believed for the best interests of the commonwealth. He held a number of township and county offices and is still serving in public office as deputy internal revenue collector of the Peoria district. He was born in Medina township, Peoria county, October 9. 1854. and is a son of Samuel and Mary T. (Lake) Merrill, natives respectively of Ohio and Indiana. The paternal grandfather also bore the name of Samuel Merrill.
Upon the old home farm Alva Merrill was reared and in the district schools pursued his education, yet learned manv valuable lessons in the school of ex- perience. His home training, too. taught him the value of industry and per- severance-qualities which have since been manifest in his life. Subsequently he removed to Hallock, Peoria county, where he engaged in farming, cultivating a good tract of land there which he brought under a high state of development.
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