USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 52
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to arms. Mr. Greenhut was the second to enlist from the city of Chicago. Within two months he was promoted to the rank of sergeant with which he served until seriously wounded in the arm at the battle of Fort Donelson. He was then granted a leave of absence, spending six months at home, and then when his wound had healed he recruited a company of infantry of which he was elected captain. The command was assigned to the Eighty-Second Illinois Regiment and subsequently he was made chief of staff of the brigade. He served in some of the most important battles of he Civil war, continuing in active duty until 1864, when his health failed and he was allowed to resign.
Upon his recovery Mr. Greenhut devoted himself to mechanical pursuits in Chicago, during which period among other inventions he invented
was used in the McCormick and patented the twine binder which
reaping machine, and subsequently started in the distilling business
from which he has since realized a magnificent fortune and which has made him so well known throughout the United States and also in other countries. His business ability and sterling qualities being recognized, he has not found it difficult to secure the assistance and cooperation of capable business men in the establishment and development of business projects, many of which he has handled with masterly skill. In 1887 he managed to bring all distilleries of the United States together into the Distillers & Cattle Feeding Company of which he became president and so continued until 1895, when on account of differences between the eastern and western stockholders he with- drew from the company. He was equally prominent in the organization of the glucose companies of the United States when the interests of such houses were consolidated. Mr. Greenhut possesses notable powers of management and con- trol with marked ability to coordinate interests and to combine seemingly diverse
JOSEPH B. GREENHUT
The PUBLIC
ASTOR, LES. ALL TILDEN FOUNDATION ..
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
factions into a harmonious whole. It is said that difficulties vanish before him as mist before the morning sun. He possesses the powers of a tactician and a diplomat in handling men and business situations and influencing men to his way of thinking.
It can be said of Mr. Greenhut more than of any other one man that he has made Peoria commercially, for he has been connected with practically every business movement and enterprise of importance here. He was one of the officers and directors of the old Central Railway Company, now the Peoria Rail- road Company, also of the Commercial German-American National Bank, the Merchants National Bank and the National Bank of the Republic of Chicago. He is likewise the president of the National Cooperage & Woodenware Company of Peoria, controlling one of the largest enterprises of this character in the United States. He was also interested for years in the Siegel-Cooper Company of New York, his son, B. J. Greenhut, being his representative in that company. the father acting as president and the son as secretary and treasurer. Because of his extensive holdings in this vast mercantile enterprise the name has been changed to the Greenhut-Siegel Cooper Company, of which Mr. Greenhut re- mains as the president. Their Sixth avenue establishments in New York are the largest department stores in the metropolis. In this project both of his sons are deeply interested and very active and seem to possess much of the busi- ness ability and enterprising spirit of the father.
On the 24th of October, 1866, Mr. Greenhut was united in marriage to Miss Clara Wolfner. of Chicago, and they have for forty-five years traveled life's journey happily together, the interests of one being also the interests of the other. They became the parents of a daughter, Fannie V. and two sons. Bene- dict J., and Nelson W. The elder son is married. Mr. Greenhut now maintains his residence in New York during the greater part of the year. His country home at West End, New Jersey, is one of the most palatial on the coast. It was built for John A. McCall, then president of the New York Life Insurance Company and Mr. Greenhut bought it when Mr. McCall sought a buyer several years ago. However, he also maintains his home in Peoria, having a fine resi- dence on High street. To this the family all return for the Christmas holidays when all of the Greenhuts and their relatives celebrate an "at home." Mr. Greenhut says it is worth everything to keep the house open the year around for this home-coming. Both be and his wife are greatly interested in charitable and benevolent work. Mrs. Greenhut is lady of most charming manner, tact- ful and thoughtful, and has the faculty of putting her guests at ease in her pres- ence. Her gifts to the poor of Peoria amount to thousands of dollars annually. Her quick consideration, her deep interest and her earnest sympathy enable her to readily understand the needs of the poor and they also constitute features in her social success. She is the vice president of the Peoria Woman's Club and both Mr. and Mrs. Greenhut are prominently identified with the National Jewish charities. When President Mckinley and his entire cabinet visited Peoria in 1899, they were the guests of the Greenhuts. Peoria is proud to claim Mr. Greenhut as one of her leading citizens, owing to the fact that he has done so much for her advancement. He is honored by all who know him for his gen- erosity, his ability as a man of business and his sterling, upright character. Of him many instances are related which are indicative of his views of life. It is said that he was entitled to a large pension for his military service yet he never claimed it. On one occasion when a business concern in which he was interested went to the wall because of the general depression in trade he paid up the cred- itors to the extent of his interest so that no man nor woman suffered. He aided materially in building the soldiers monument in Peoria county at a cost of forty thousand dollars which was dedicated by President MeKinley October 12, 1899. He also recently gave the Greenhut Memorial Hall in Peoria county, costing twenty-five thousand dollars, to the Grand Army of the Republic. He has like- Vol. II-22
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
wise made other splendid gifts to the city, all of which indicate his generous spirit and his liberality. There is no sense of duty in all this, for his generosity is rather the outgrowing of a nature that reaches in helpful support to all man- kind and seeks to benefit where aid or encouragement are needed.
CHARLES TREFZGER.
Charles Trefzger is the proprietor of Trefzger's Pure Goods Bakery, one of the best known and oldest establishments of the kind in Peoria, having been founded by his father over fifty years ago. His birth occurred in this city on the 16th of February, 1860, his parents being Simon and Catherine (Scherr) Trefzger, natives of Germany. The family of Mr. and Mrs .. Trefzger numbers twelve, eight sons and four daughters, our subject being the second in order of birth.
In 1867, the parents of Charles Trefzger went to Baden, Germany, on a visit, remaining there for four years. During that time he pursued his educa- tion in the schools of the fatherland but upon their return to Peoria in 1871, he resumed his studies in the public schools, which he continued to attend until he had attained the age of fourteen years. His text-books were then laid aside and he began his preparation for a commercial career as an apprentice in his father's bakery. During the succeeding seven years he was employed in each depart- ment of the business, mastering its every detail and qualifying himself for its future management. Upon attaining his majority he was made a partner in the enterprise, assuming more and more of the responsibility connected with its management until 1890, when he purchased his father's interest and has ever since been operating the establishment alone. The business was first founded in a small way as a retail bakery in 1860, but as the years have passed it has de- veloped until they now· maintain both a retail and wholesale establishment. The wholesale department is located at 102 South Monroe street, while the retail store is at the corner of Main and Monroe streets, having occupied this site for thirty-nine years. The development of the business has been marked by a steady, permanent growth from the time of its founding and is now one of the largest concerns of the kind in the city. The products of their factory are of a superior quality and are fully commensurate in every respect to the prices charged. It has been the policy of the firm to accord all patrons courteous and considerate treatment, and as a result the names of many of their customers have been on their books for a long period of years. Mr. Trefzger is an enterprising man of sound judgment and practical ideas and has always applied himself closely to his business, giving his personal supervision to every department, as did his father. They are both men of high standards and good principles, whose method of conducting their transactions always commends them to the support and con- fidence of all with whom they have dealings and as a result they have been re- warded with success.
On the IIth of June. 1890, Mr. Trefzger was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Schiefeling of this city, who passed away in 1901. Three children were born to them, as follows: Marie, who is eighteen years of age; Florence, who has passed the seventeenth anniversary of her birth; and Joseph, who has recently entered upon his sixteenth year. The family home is located at 109 Ellis street, where Mr. Trefzger owns a very pleasant residence, which is presided over by his eldest daughter.
Mr. Trefzger and his family are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, belonging to Sacred Heart parish of which the wife and mother was likewise a member. Politically he is a democrat, but the exacting demands of his ex- tensive personal interests have always precluded the possiblity of his participat-
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
ing in public affairs. He believes in the affiliation of all crafts and trades, and is a member of the Master Bakers' Association of Peoria, of which he has several times been president. He is now vice president of the Illinois Master Bakers' Association and is one of the senior members of this organization, and he also belongs to the National Association of Master Bakers. As he is public- spirited and progressive in his ideas he gives his cooperation to the movements of the Peoria Merchants' Association and the Peoria Association of Commerce, being affiliated with both of these organizations. Mr. Trefzger is a worthy representative of one of the city's highly esteemed pioneer business men, bitt his own capabilities have won him recognition that places him in the front rank of the local commercial fraternity, and he is accorded the respect that is in- variably paid to deserving merit in all walks of life.
THOMAS CLINCH.
Thomas Clinch, deceased, was well known throughout Peoria county, as one of the organizers of the banking firm of Clinch, Schenck & Lott at Elmwood. He was born in Borden, England, his parents being Thomas and Matilda Clinch, both of whom were natives of that country and spent all their lives there. The father was a well known stock buyer. In his family were five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the eldest, and was the only one who came to America.
Thomas Clinch received a common-school education and being only nine years of age at the time of his father's death, he was forced in early life to leave school and help support his mother. Accordingly at the age of thirteen he was sent out to work. When twenty-one years of age he came to America, locat- ing near Farmington, where he was employed on the farm of Nathan Kellogg for one year and received as compensation for his services thirteen dollars per month. Subsequently he rented a farm which he operated for two years. He was then married and afterward purchased a farm of forty acres in Rosefield township, which farm he cleared and improved and gradually added to until he owned in all two hundred and seventy acres of excellent land in Peoria county. He engaged extensively in general farming and stock-raising and was very successful in both these lines of work. On November 29, 1886, he moved to Elmwood where he purchased a home consisting of an excellent house and two acres of land. It was about this time that Mr. Tracy's bank in Elmwood failed and Mr. Clinch, in partnership with W. H. Lott, at once became active in the organization of another banking firm, the name of which was Clinch & Lott, but scarcely one year had passed after the establishment of the bank until Mr. Lott was killed in the Chatsworth wreck. This necessitated a reorganization and as the bank was growing, and they desired to associate Henry Schenck as a member of the banking firm and the same was made an equal partner in the business and M. T. Lott succeeded his father, and Walter A. Clinch, son of Thomas Clinch, was taken into the firm. Then the firm name of the bank became Clinch, Schenck & Lott. This firm name has never been changed since, for on the death of Mr. Clinch of this review, his son, W. A. Clinch, became a full partner and on the death of Mr. Henry Schenck, his son, Harry, succeeded to his position. Also now C. E. Clinch, the son of Walter Clinch, has recently been taken into the firm. The bank of Clinch, Schenck & Lott has grown and prospered and it has a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars and its estimated worth is two hundred thousand dollars.
On the 29th of August, 1854, Mr. Clinch was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Ann Bohanan, who was born near Saratoga Springs, New York, a daugh- ter of Major S. and Esther (Dickinson) Bohanan. The parents were both born
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
and reared in New York, and on June 27, 1837, came to Illinois locating in Peoria county, where they entered government land and cleared and cultivated the same. At the time of their settlement here their nearest neighbors were more than a mile distant. They became owners of between three hundred and four hundred acres of excellent land in this county. In their family were six daughters and one son, but the son died in 1872 of lockjaw. The father passed away September 23, 1884, and the mother in December, 1898, at the advanced age of ninety years and three months. She was a member of the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Clinch became parents of four children: Walter A., a sketch of whose life appears on another page of this volume; Charles Eugene, who died December 5, 1882, at the age of twenty-four years; Vilu Maude, who died No- vember 9, 1893; and Sadie Blanche, who died March 14, 1896.
Mr. Clinch of this review, passed away October 13, 1895, and his death was deeply deplored by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, for his long resi- dence here and his active life, both in his farming and banking interests, had made him a prominent man in both the business and social world. In politics he was a republican, and he served as county supervisor for eighteen consecutive years and was holding that office at the time of his death. He was a member of the building committee during the erection of the present courthouse and was a helpful citizen of this county in various other ways. He was a member of the Wesleyan church in England, and his wife belonged to the Congregational church. In the broadest sense of the word he was a self-made man, for he started out in life empty-handed, and passed away as one of the most prosperous and good substantial men of his community.
JOHN CUSACK.
Prominent among the native residents of Rosefield township is John Cu- sack who is actively engaged in raising grain and live stock on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He was born December 6, 1858, and is the son of Patrick and Nora (Maloney) Cusack, both of whom were natives of Ireland. the father born in 1819 and the mother in 1827. Both parents came to America in 1850, locating in Pennsylvania, and were married in that state the follow- ing year. In 1853 they removed to Illinois, settling in Rosefield township where they resided the remainder of their lives, the father dying April 7, 1891, at the age of seventy-two and the mother on April 10, 1906, at the age of seventy- nine. They were the parents of twelve children of whom John Cusack of this review is the third in order of birth.
John Cusack, reared under the parental roof, remained at home until 1892 when he purchased in Rosefield township one hundred and twenty acres of his present farm and began operating the same. In 1905 he bought an adjoining . forty acres so he now has in all one hundred and sixty acres in his farm. He engages in raising grain and live stock, making a specialty of horses, cows and Poland-China hogs.
On the 26th of October, 1892, John Cusack was united in marriage to Miss Ellen M. McIntyre, who is a daughter of Frank and Catherine (Burns) Mc- Intyre of Rosefield township. The parents are both natives of Ireland, the father born in County Donegal, September 16, 1828, and the mother in County Mayo, November 27, 1838. Both came to America in 1855, and on the 27th of February, 1862, were united in marriage. The father passed away in Rosefield township on the 24th of November, 1906, at the age of seventy-eight years, two months and seven days, the mother preceding him by almost a year, died December 22, 1905, at the age of sixty-seven years and twenty-five days. In their family were eight children of whom Mrs. Cusack is the eldest. Mrs.
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
Cusack received her education in the common schools and the high scohol of Elmwood. In the winter of 1881 she began teaching at the Hietter school and followed that profession for ten years. To Mr. and Mrs. Cusack have been born seven children: Nora, born July 28, 1893, who is a graduate of the public schools and is attending the Normal school, has been engaged in teaching for three terms and is now the instructor in the primary department at Kingston Mines in Timber township; Frank, born December 24, 1894, was graduated from Edwards school September 1, 1910, and is now helping to operate the home farm; and Patrick, born August 5, 1896, James, born March 8, 1898, John born February 15, 1900, Mary, born May 8, 1902, and Catherine, born Novem- ber 26, 1904, are all in school.
In politics Mr. Cusack belongs to the Democratic party and he has served in the capacity of tax collector for his township. He is greatly interested in and has given much time to the cause of education and is now efficiently per- forming the duties of school director. He is very prosperous both in his farm- ing and stock-raising, and is widely known throughout the township as a man who uses his influence for the general welfare and for the reform and progress of his community. Mr. Cusack and his family are members of the Catholic church.
W. D. CHARLES THRESHNIE.
W. D. Charles Threshie is well known in the banking and business world of Peoria county as cashier of the Dunlap Bank, as vice president and a di- rector of the State Trust & Savings Bank of Peoria and as secretary and a di- rector in the Dunlap & Alta Telephone Company. He was born in Avranches, France, October 29, 1863, the son of David Scott and Eliza Bird ( Martin) Threshie. The father was a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and was a lawyer and a writer to the Signet. He traveled extensively and his son, the subject of this sketch, was born during one of his visits to France. However, he spent the greater part of his life in Dumfries and on the island of Jersey, passing away at the latter place in 1879, at the age of eighty-two. The grandfather, Robert Threshie, was also a lawyer of Dumfries. The mother, Eliza Bird (Martin ) Threshie, was the daughter of a judge in the East India Company. She died in 1896, at the age of sixty-three. In their family were six children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the youngest and is the only one in America.
W. D. C. Threshie was educated in St. James' College on the island of Jer- sey. Leaving school at the age of nineteen, he entered the army, receiving a commission as first lieutenant in the Welsh Regiment, with which he served for one year. In 1883 he came to America and located at Dunlap, where he worked on a farm until 1886, when he went to western Kansas and was there engaged in cattle ranching for nine years. Subsequently returning to Dun- lap, he purchased of William Wood in 1899 the banking establishment with which he has since been connected. In July, 1910, he took in as a partner 11. Winchester. Mr. Threshie is extremely successful in the financial world and he is now also secretary and a director of the Dunlap & Alta Telephone Com- pany, of which he was one of the organizers in 1905. Also he is vice presi- dent and a director of the State Trust & Savings Bank of Peoria, and he also is interested in some farm lands in this section of the county.
On the 20th of June, 1890, at Savoy, Illinois, Mr. Threshie married Miss Minnie Dunlap, the daughter of Burleigh Dunlap, of this city, and a grand- daughter of Alva Dunlap, who was the founder of the town of Dunlap. To Mr. and Mrs. Threshie have been born two children: Marion, who was born July 28, 1894; and Robert D., born July 14. 1897. Politically Mr. Threshie is
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an independent and he has served for several years as school trustee, always having been greatly interested in educational work. Fraternally he is identi- fied with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, is a member of the Masons, having attained the thirty-second degree in that order, and is also a member of Mohammed Shrine at Peoria. Mr. Threshie has hosts of personal friends in the business world and throughout Peoria county, and he is chairman of the board of trustees of Prospect Presbyterian church of Dunlap. He is fond of outdoor life as is shown by his membership in the Illinois Valley Yacht Club, and his yacht on the Illinois river affords his principal recreation. .
GEORGE F. SIMMONS.
George F. Simmons, proprietor of the Troy Laundry of Peoria, is the head of one of the largest establishments of this kind in Illinois. He is an active figure in his business, interested in the details of its development and thor- oughly conversant with its different branches. Mr. Simmons is well known and prominent in the laundry business, not only in his city, but throughout Illinois as well, taking an active part in all conventions of the state associa- tions, and serving as president of the Laundrymen's National Association for one term.
George F. Simmons was born at Baltimore, Maryland, September 9, 1865. the son of David E. and Frances E. Simmons. Both of his parents were natives of New York state, the father was born at Oneida and the mother at Rome. David E. Simmons followed the occupation of marine engineer and for many years was well known on the Great Lakes. In 1870, he removed to Oshkosh, and twelve years later retired from active life.
George F. Simmons lived in Oshkosh and during the last years of his school life, spent his vacations learning the cigar-making trade, and immediately upon leaving school, secured employment in this line of activity. He gave up cigar- making to work as a steam fitter and plumber, in which employment he re- mained for three years. In 1881, the first steam laundry in Oshkosh was established and George Simmons immediately secured a position therein, and his work there gave an impetus and direction to his ambition. He left Oshkosh in 1883 to accept the position as manager of the Minnesota Steam Laundry of St. Paul, Minnesota, and held this position for three years, going from there to the Duluth Steam Laundry of Duluth, Minnesota, for two years, then owned and operated the Ashland Steam Laundry of Ashland, Wisconsin, for two years and next became connected with the Troy Laundry of Peoria, as its manager and held this position, with the exception of one year as assistant manager of the Grand Laundry Company in St. Louis. Then returning to Peoria, purchasing a quarter interest in the Troy Laundry and acted as its manager up to 1892, during this time, buying additional stock at different times, until he became sole owner of the corporation. Under his direction since that time, the business has increased rapidly, new and efficient methods have been adapted, and nothing has been left undone to make this laundry one of the most progressive in the state. In 1911, the business had increased to such an extent that it had entirely outgrown its quarters, and Mr. Simmons then built the immense modern laundry building at 917 to 923 Main street, where he is now doing business. The new structure made the Troy Laundry the largest establishment of its kind in the city. The equipment is absolutely new and modern, and the facilities for the finest laundry work are unparalleled. Mr. Simmons never loses an opportunity to make himself thoroughly conversant with new methods in his business, and he is well known in all conventions of the Laundrymen's Association. In 1895. he declined the chairmanship of the
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