USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 51
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
456
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
ceeded in building up a good trade. He is now enjoying a very good patronage, numbering among his customers many of the city's best citizens.
On the 23d of February, 1898, Mr. Rodecker was married to Miss Anne Meyers, a daughter of Benjamin Meyers, a blacksmith of Peoria, but a native of Germany whence he emigrated to the United States in 1860. He was reared and educated in the fatherland and there he also learned the trade that he fol- lowed with excellent success in this city for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Ro- decker have two children, a daughter and a son, Mabel, who is thirteen, and Charles, who is looking forward to the eleventh anniversary of his birth. The family reside in the old Rodecker homestead. In the conduct of his business Mr. Rodecker is meeting with such prosperity as is the reward of the man of industrious habits, who directs his transactions in accordance with high stand- ards of commercial integrity.
MARTIN KINGMAN.
Martin Kingman was born in Deer Creek township, Tazewell county, Illinois, on April 1, 1844, and came of a family tracing its ancestry back to Henry and Joanna Kingman, who, on leaving the ancestral home in England, sailed for America, arriving at Weymouth, Massachusetts colony, in May, 1632. There Henry Kingman operated a ferry across Weymouth bay, not far from Boston. His children continued to reside in Massachusetts, and settled in North Bridge- water, where the grandfather of Martin Kingman was born. He afterward be- came a resident of Pelham, that state. Abel Kingman, the father of Martin Kingman, was born in Pelham, on what is known at Pelham Hills, just east of Amherst, Massachusetts. He left there, to become a resident of Illinois, in 1834, at which time he settled in Tazewell county. In 1835 he wedded Mary Ann Bingham, a lady of French-English descent, and a native of Norfolk, Virginia. They became parents of five sons: Charles, the eldest, who died in California in 1896; Cyrus, the next born, who died in Herington, Kansas, in 1907; Henry, the third, a prominent farmer and merchant at Delavan, Kansas; and Abel, the youngest, who died when a child. Martin Kingman, the fourth son, was but three years of age when his father was drowned while crossing the Mackinaw river, in Tazewell county. The family was left in somewhat straightened finan- cial circumstances so that the educational opportunities of the sons were neces- sarily limited. However, on leaving the district school, at the age of twelve years, Martin Kingman spent two years as a pupil in the old Tazewell county courthouse in Tremont, then occupied as an academy. He later spent two years as a student in the Washington academy, in Washington, Tazewell county, but it was his personal labor that provided the funds for his education.
While attending the Washington academy he became a cadet in the Washing- ton zouaves, and thus acquainted himself with military tactics-an experience that was of much value to him at a later date, when he went to the front in the Civil war. At the outbreak of hostilities he was engaged in teaching a school in his home district in Deer Creek township. Tazewell county. He watched with keenest interest the development of events in the south. His brother, Cyrus, had enlisted early in the year 1861, and this, combined with liis natural patriotism, led him to keep in close touch with all that marked the advance of the struggle be- tween the contending armies. He would often ride ten miles to Washington !. after closing his school in the afternoon, to learn news from the seat of war. Then came the year 1862 and the call for three hundred thousand troops. He could no longer content himself to remain at his desk, and when a meeting was held at the home church, he was the first to enroll his name as a volunteer. Thirty-eight boys of the neighborhood joined him, leading to the organization of
MARTIN KINGMAN
THE PUBLIC LIBRA?
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONG.
459
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
Company G, Eighty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Although but eighteen years of age, he was elected second lieutenant of his company, being the youngest officer in the second division of the Fourteenth Corps, Army of the Cumberland. For so young an officer, he was singularly honored with responsibility, and seems to have won, to an unusual degree, the confidence and friendship of those with whom he was associated. During the first year and a half he remained with his company, which he commanded, very often, for weeks at a time. He was then detailed to command a company in the Eighty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which had been captured and exchanged, but without its officers. For the last year and a half of his service, he was on the staff of Colonel Daniel McCook, the youngest of the various members of the McCook family, and at the death of Colonel McCook, was on the staff of Colonel Langley, who commanded the brigade, and, in that capacity, had charge of the ambulance corps and medical stores of the Third brigade, Second Division, Fourteenth Corps. In this posi- tion Mr. Kingman became acquainted with nearly all the general officers belong- ing to the Fourteenth Corps, as well as those of the Armies of the Cumberland, Tennessee, and Ohio ; the Army of the Cumberland being commanded by General George II. Thomas. Mr. Kingman retained the rank of second lieutenant until the day of mustering out. at Washington, D. C., June 6, 1865. when he was promoted to be first lieutenant, and was honorably discharged from the army with that rank.
Mr. Kingman, with other comrades, had charge of the reunion of the Eighty- sixth Regiment, held in l'eoria August 27, 1865. this being the third anniversary of the day in which it was mustered into the United States service, and was active in the management of many reunions held in later years.
In the fall of 1865. Mr. Kingman came to Peoria to live, and accepted a position as a salesman with the flour milling firm of Clark, Hanna & Company, with whom he remained a short time. In the spring of 1866 he entered into partnership, in the retail grocery business, with Henry Clauson, and they opened a store at the head of Bridge street, under the name of Kingman & Clauson, but after three months sold out at a handsome profit.
Mr. Kingman then entered the employ of D. J. Calligan, then in the whole- sale boot and shoe business, as a traveling salesman. He remained with Mr. Calligan until January 1. 1867, when he entered into partnership with Columbus Dunham, in the retail implement business, under the name of Kingman & Dun- ham. Three years later, Mr. Dunham, on account of ill health, was obliged to retire, and his interest was bought by Walter B. Hotchkiss and Charles T. Hurd. and the firm became Kingman, Hotchkiss & Co. They later retired, and in 1873 the firm name became Kingman & Company, Mr. C. A. Jamison having become a partner. In 1875, Mr. G. H. Schimpff became a partner. In 1882, Kingman & Company was changed from a partnership to a corporation, under the laws of the state of Illinois, and the business continued under that name until 1910. when it became the Kingman Plow Company, changing, in the meantime. from a retail to a wholesale business, and from a wholesale to a manufacturing business.
In 1879. Mr. Kingman, with B. F. Blossom and F. E. Leonard, organized the bank of Kingman. Blossom & Company, which in 1885 became the Central Na- tional Bank, and has since continued under that name, and has been very suc- cessful.
In 1879. Mr. Kingman and others organized the Jenney Electric Light & Power Company, which afterwards became the Peoria General Electric Com- pany, now the Peoria Gas & Electric Company.
In 1882, Mr. Kingman was one of the organizers of the Peoria Hotel Com- pany, afterward succeeded by the National Hotel Company, and whose property was for many years the leading hotel of the city.
In 1888, Mr. Kingman, with E. C. Heidrich, Mr. Jamison, and Mr. Schimpff. organized the Peoria Cordage Company, which has been a successful concern since its organization.
460
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
In 1890, Mr. Kingman, with A. S. Oakford and others, organized the Peoria Savings Loan & Trust Company, which afterward became the Bank of Illinois, and later the Illinois National Bank, and has since continued under that name, and has likewise been very successful.
I11 1898, when war was declared against Spain, Mr. Kingman, greatly in- terested in the situation, with Colonel Isaac Taylor, solicited Governor Tanner for permission to raise a regiment of infantry, and Colonel Taylor and Mr. Kingman organized a regiment, mustering one thousand seventy-five men, and known as the Peoria Provisional Regiment. Mr. Kingman was elected lieuten- ant colonel, and for three months gave a considerable portion of his time to the organization of said regiment.
Mr. Kingman became a member of the Illinois Commandery of the Loyal Legion, composed of officers of the civil war, and remained a member until his death.
He was a member of Bryner Post, No. 67, of Peoria, Grand Army of the Republic, for many years, and remained a member until his death.
Mr. Kingman was married at Peoria, on May 21, 1867, to Miss Emeline T. Shelly, who survives him. They became parents of five children, of whom three are living: Louis S., president of the Kingman Plow Company; Walter B., treasurer of the Kingman Plow Company ; and Mabel Dunham, who is the wife of William C. McClure, and mother of one child, Virginia Emily McClure. Two sons, Martin and Arthur, died in infancy.
In 1877 Mr. Kingman was appointed on the board of commissioners of the Illinois and Michigan canal by Governor Shelby M. Cullom, and continued in that position until 1883. Mr. Kingman was, at the time of the erection of the Peoria county courthouse, in 1874-1876, one of the committee, of the board of supervisors, having in charge the building of the courthouse.
Mr. Kingman, soon after coming to Peoria, became a member of the First Congregational church, and for many years was a trustee, being active in the financing and building of the church building, during the years from 1875 to 1883.
Mr. Kingman was for many years a member of the Union League Club of Chicago, and also of the Peoria Board of Trade, remaining so until his death.
Mr. Kingman's health began to fail in 1900, but, notwithstanding this, he re- tained an active position in his business affairs, but many years of ceaseless at- tention to business, as well as much time given to outside matters of a public- spirited nature, had undermined his strength. Notwithstanding this, he was re- luctant to let his duties pass into other hands, and retained an active part in his business until within a few weeks of his death, which came on December 19, 190.4.
CHRISTIAN STRAESSER.
Christian Straesser, who has been engaged in the commission business in Peoria for the past nine years and is meeting with more than average success, is a native of this county, his birth having occurred on his father's farm in Limestone township on the 5th of June, 1849. He is a son of Johannas Christian Straesser, who came to Peoria county from Pennsylvania during the pioneer days and engaged in farming.
The son of farming people of moderate circumstances, Christian Straesser was reared in the country in a manner very similar to other lads of the pioneer period in Illinois. In the acquirement of his education he attended the district schools of Limestone township, and while engaged in the mastery of the ele- mentary branches of English learning he also assisted his father in tilling the fields and harvesting the crops. Under the capable supervision and direction of
461
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
his father he early became familiar with the practical methods of agriculture and at the age of nineteen with his brother undertook the management of the home farmn. During the succeeding thirty-five years his entire time and atten- tion was given to agricultural pursuits, but in 1903 he withdrew from the active work of the fields and coming to Peoria engaged in the commission business. Although he was not familiar with commercial methods, Mr. Straesser is a good business man with practical ideas and sound judgment and has succeeded in building up a very good trade. He has a nice patronage, that is constantly increasing, and is the owner of a well established, thriving business, which is netting him lucrative returns.
In 1871, Mr. Straesser was united in marriage to Miss Emma A. Powell, of Peoria, a daughter of M. M. Powell, who was formerly engaged in farming and for many years served as county coroner. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Straesser, as follows: Clarence W., who is married and engaged in business with his father ; Ethline May, who is living at home; and Edna B., who died at the age of eleven years. The family residence is located at 220 North Institute street, where Mr. Straesser has erected a very pleasant and com- fortable house, that is thoroughly modern in all of its appointments. His busi- ness is located at 113 South Washington street. During the period of his con- nection with the commercial interests of the city, Mr. Straesser has become recognized as a man of sterling integrity and worth among both his patrons and competitors and enjoys the respect of all with whom he has dealings.
LINCOLN B. JACKSON.
Lincoln B. Jackson, postmaster of Dunlap, is a native resident of Radnor township, born January 18, 1864. His father, John Jackson, a native of York- shire, England, came to America in 1818, when eleven years of age, with his parents who settled in Delaware on the present site of the city of Wilmington. In 1837 John Jackson removed to Illinois and two years later located in Radnor township, near Dunlap, where he took up a tract of timber land. He farmed there until a few years before his death, when he retired from active life and built a home in Dunlap. Ile passed away in this town, May 5, 1894, at the age of eighty- six. The mother, Elizabeth ( Jordan) Jackson, was a native of Lincolnshire, England, and came to America about 1850. She died in Dunlap, January 27, 1898, at the age of seventy-seven. In the family of John and Elizabeth ( Jor- dan ) Jackson were six children : Lavinia P., who is the wife of Moses Harlan, of Dunlap: Carrie M., who is the widow of Henry Shaw, of Dunlap; Isadore E .. now Mrs. Charles W. Wigginton, of Macedonia, Iowa; John R., a farmer near Thayer, lowa ; Mary, who died at the age of three years; and Lincoln B.
The last named received his early education in the public schools of Dunlap and was a student for two winters at an academy here. After putting aside his text-books he started out in life for himself by renting a farm, on which he followed general agricultural pursuits. Soon afterward he engaged in the hardware and grain business in Dunlap, where he remained until 1900. In 1902, under Postmaster-General Charles Emory Smith, he was made postmaster of Dunlap, which position he has since held. After his appointment as postmaster he purchased of G. L. Dunlap a stationery establishment, which he has since conducted in connection with his other work. On October 1, 1911, he formed a partnership with J. H. Shehan in a grain and stock business, under the firm name of Jackson & Shehan, and they are now carrying on an extensive business. Mr. Jackson also has some interests in farm property in this township.
On December 22, 1886, in Marshall county, Missouri, Mr. Jackson married Miss Isabella D. Wood, a daughter of John Wood, of Niles, Illinois. In his
462
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
political views Mr. Jackson is a republican but he has never taken an active part in political work, preferring to give all his attention to his business interests. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons and with the Odd Fellows. Having always made his home in Radnor township. Mr. Jackson is widely known and he has an extensive circle of friends who hold him in the highest regard. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church in Dunlap and has been steward of the same for many years.
NICHOLAS SCHAUB.
Nicholas Schaub, who was born in Rosefield township, on section 12, where he now resides, is one of the good substantial farmers of Peoria county. He is the son of John and Catherine (Klug) Schaub, the father born in France and the mother in Germany. The parents came to America in 1837, settling in New Orleans, and in 1849 removed to Rosefield township, Illinois, where the father died March 7, 1877, and the mother, August 18, 1902. In their family were five children, of whom Nicholas, of this review, was the youngest.
Nicholas Schaub was reared and educated in Rosefield township and has continued to reside on his home place. He owns two hundred and ninety-seven acres of highly improved land and engages in raising grain and live stock, making a specialty of horses, cattle and Poland China hogs.
On the 27th of April, 1897, Mr. Schaub was united in marriage to Miss Sophia M. Violet, who is a daughter of Joseph and Emmeline (Auther) Violet. To Mr. and Mrs. Schaub have been born seven children : Joseph C., on February 19, 1898; Theresa M., March 10, 1899; Catherine A., March 16, 1900; Varona A., born April 30, 1901 : Frederick T., born December 10, 1902; Edward N., born June 20, 1905 ; and Vincent V., born October 11, 1906.
In politics Mr. Schaub is independent and he has served as township super- visor for eight years. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and he and his family are members of the Catholic church. He is much interested in educational advancement and has been school director for twenty-one years. He is well known and has many friends throughout the entire community in which he was born and has spent many years of his life, and, being greatly interested in its general welfare, he takes an active part in all measures of reform and progress.
JEFFERSON J. GREENE.
A complete history of Peoria county demands that mention be made of Jef- ferson J. Greene, now eighty-two years of age-a self-made man, whose well spent life commends him to the honor and regard of all, and whose record is in- deed worthy of emulation. He started out in life empty-handed, and working as a farm laborer, made his initial start in the business world. Eventually he became a wealthy farmer and real-estate dealer, and he still gives personal at- tention to his business affairs and investments, although he has long since passed the age when most men would have put aside business cares to enjoy that rest which is the fitting reward of earnest labor.
Mr. Greene was born in Rensselaer county, New York, July 12, 1830, his parents being Samuel and Mary (Rose) Greene, the former a son of Longford Greene. All were natives of the Empire state, in which Jefferson J. Greene remained during the period of his boyhood and youth. He mastered the les- sons taught in the district schools, and at the age of seventeen put aside his text-
463
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
books that he might earn his own living, securing employment as a farm hand. He worked in that way for three years, carefully saving his earnings, and when he came to Peoria in 1854-fifty-eight years ago-he rented a farm and thus started out upon an independent carcer. His cultivation of that tract brought him added capital and he then purchased a farm situated on section 30 in Hal- lock township, upon which he made his home until 1886. Within that period he converted the land into fertile and productive fields and added many sub- stantial and modern improvements to the place, making it one of the fine farm properties of the district. In that year he withdrew from active connection with agricultural interests and turned his attention to dealing in grain and real estate. In these occupations he too was very successful, and in later years he has devoted his attention entirely to handling property and to building operations. He 'is seldom if ever at fault in matters of business judgment, and his keen insight is manifest in the splendid success which has attended his labors. He has ac- cumulated over fifty thousand acres of land throughout the United States, hav- ing over twenty-eight thousand acres in Texas and other tracts in Washington, Colorado, Missouri, Florida. Kansas and Illinois. He has erected many houses in Peoria which he sells on the installment plan, and he is the owner of valuable real estate in Berwyn, one of the attractive suburbs of Chicago. His business ability and enterprise have thus found tangible representation in his realty hold- ings. He is indeed a self-made man and deserves all the praise that term implies. While now eighty-two years of age he is still actively engaged in the real-estate business, and is one of the best known, wealthiest and most prominent residents of Peoria. He certainly deserves great credit for what he has accomplished and his prosperity is indeed well merited because it has been honorably won.
On the 3d of July, 1855, Mr. Greene was married in Chillicothe, to Miss Mary Nelson, a daughter of Osmond and Sarah Nelson. Mrs. Greene was born January 15, 1839, in Radnor township, and died July 27, 1887. There were four children of that marriage. Abbie L., born December 27, 1857, was the wife of Ephraim Clark but is now deceased. She had five children of whom three are living, as follows : Harry O. Clark of Pasadena, California ; and Abigal May and Thomas Oliver, both of Peoria. Rose R., born June 22, 1860. be- came the wife of George Overen and passed away May 1, 1880, leaving two daughters, Mrs. A. M. Santee and Mrs. Rose Calder. Hattie, born November 17, 1862, married M. G. Stine and died October 30. 1897, leaving two children, Clarence J. and Mary. Sarah M., born January 6, 1865, is the wife of Lyman Seelye, and has a daughter. Josephine, who is the widow of Elliott Breese.
Mr. Greene has two great-grandchildren, Forest Calder and Cora Elizabeth Clark. Having lost his first wife Mr. Greene was again married in 1888, his second union being with Miss Sarah J. Henthorn, a daughter of Nelson G. and Elizabeth C. (Moeller) Henthorn, of Lacon, Illinois, who were natives of Penn- sylvania and when quite young removed to Ohio where they were married. They became residents of Lacon, Marshall county, in 1835, and there the mother died November 2, 1887, and the father on February 22, 1890.
Since the organization of the republican party Jefferson J. Greene has usually voted for its candidates at elections which involve national issues and questions, but casts an independent local ballot. He has filled the offices of school director and school trustee, serving in those positions for many years. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm friend, in fact, his influence is always given to the side of progress and improvement for the benefit of the individual and the community at large. He held membership with the Presbyterian church at Dunlap, but since coming to Peoria has attended the Union Congregational church. He has ever realized the responsibility and obligations of wealth and has been most generous with his means for the aid of the worthy poor and for public projects. He gave a thousand dollars for the erection of the Young Men's Christian Association building in Peoria, and he has aided many churches
464
HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
and charitable projects in a most liberal manner. Measures and movements for the upbuilding of the city have also received his indorsement and material as- sistance. His has indeed been a well spent life, and the most envious cannot grudge him success so honorably has it been won and so worthily used.
JOSEPH BENEDICT GREENHUT.
Peoria's most distinguished citizen in the commercial life of the city is Joseph Benedict Greenhut, who has been associated with more enterprises that have contributed directly to the business activity and consequent prosperity of the city than any other one man. Moreover, his civic pride and his interest in the wel- fare and upbuilding of the city are manifest in his generous support of projects for the public good while on various occasions he has been the donor of public buildings which are attractive architectural features and which provide a meet- ing place for some of the most commendable organizations. In a word Joseph Benedict Greenhut is a splendid specimen of American manhood and chivalry who has recognized the responsibilities, obligations and opportunities of wealth and has again and again reached out a helping hand to the individual or to the community. A native of Austria, he was born at the military post of Teinitz, February 28, 1843. He was only about four years of age when his father died and afterward his mother became the wife of Wolf Schaefer and became a resident of Chicago about 1852, at which time Joseph B. Greenhut was a lad of nine years. When thirteen years of age he began learning the tin and coppersmith's trade and in that capacity worked for different firms in St. Louis. He afterward started south, going to Mobile, Alabama, where he remained for two years. He came north in March and on April 17, in response to President Lincoln's first call for troops to aid in the preservation of the Union, he enlisted as a private of the Twelfth Illinois Infantry, the first Chicago regiment to respond to the call
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.