USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 69
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FRANK A. HALL.
Probably the greatest service a man can do for his fellowmen is to perform honorably and well the duties of a public office intrusted to him. To be success- ful in this way a man must give his energies, his intelligence and activity to the cause of the people, must be broad-minded and liberal and must have a moral character uncontaminated by personal ambitions. All these characteristics Frank A. Hall, now acting as justice of the peace, possesses in an eminent degree. He has the distinction of being the youngest man ever elected to this position in Peoria county .
Frank A. Hall is a native of Peoria, where he has spent almost his entire life and was born in 1882. His early education was acquired in the grammar and high schools of this city. For a period of three years he taught school in Peo- ria county and later attended the University of Illinois from which he was graduated with the degree of LL. B. Shortly afterward, on passing the required
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FRANK A. ILALL
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONA.
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examination he was admitted to the bar of Illinois. He returned to Peoria and took up the general practice of law, meeting with remarkable success.
Mr. Hall was elected to his present position of justice of the peace for Peoria county by an overwhelming majority in the spring of 1911. His politics are consistently republican. He is affiliated with the Masonic lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the Phi Delta Phi fraternities. His offices are in the Majestic Theater building on South Jefferson street, and here he holds court and carries on a general law practice. The success which he has attained has been highly deserved and the experience which he is now gaining will be one of the valuable assets in his future career. He looks upon public office as a gift of the people and he regards it as his duty to do everything in his power to promote the welfare and insure the prosperity of his fellow citizens. He never allows his personal prejudice to interfere with the conduct of his office. He performs the duties incident to his position as justice of the peace in a careful manner and with a keen appreciation of their importance and a knowledge of the responsibility which rests upon his shoulders.
JOHN A. BUSH.
John A. Bush, the honored president of the Old Settlers' Association, to whose zeal and interest the organization largely owes its upbuilding, is also numbered among the veteran business men of Peoria where for a half century he has been actively engaged in industrial enterprises. He is well known as a de- orator, painter and paperer and his business has assumed large proportions. His establishment is located on Jefferson avenue in the Cole building, and his inter- ests are conducted under the firm name of J. A. Bush & Son. There is perhaps not another business man in all Peoria who has so long been connected with the activities of the city. He was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, February 16, 1829, a son of George and Maria (Zilsie) Bush, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. The son was reared and educated in Pennsylvania and there learned the trades of cabinet-making and painting in Cumberland county. In 1849 he left home and after two months spent in Burlington, Iowa, came to Peoria. He immediately resorted to the trade of painting in order to provide for his support, and was further actuated by a laudable ambition to make for himself a prominent place in business circles. He was not long in gaining a lib- eral patronage as a dealer in wall paper and as a house and sign painter and decorator. He now has the largest and best establishment of the kind in the town, and although he is now eighty-four years of age is still active, working daily on painting or sign painting contracts. In August, 1911, he painted the seals of the states in colors for the Old Settlers' Picnic. He has ever held to high standards in his work, and the excellence thereof has been manifest in his continually growing success.
Mr. Bush was united in marriage to Miss Susan O. Hedenberg, a native of Jacksonville, Illinois, and a daughter of the Rev. J. Hedenberg. They became the parents of six children : John A. ; Nettie ; Frank H. ; E. Johnson ; and Laura and Kate, who died in infancy. The son Edward is now associated with his father in business under the firm style of J. A. Bush & Son.
While Mr. Bush has made for himself a creditable position in business cir- cles, many other interests have claimed his time and attention. He has always given his support to any improvements furthering the welfare of the city. He is the oldest Odd Fellow in the state and has been a member of the grand lodge of Odd Fellows since 1860. For sixteen years he has been a delegate from Colum- bia Lodge, No. 21, of Peoria. He is a member of the Peoria Encampment, No. 15. I. O. O. F., and has filled all of the chairs in the subordinate camp, has passed Vol. II-29
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the chair of the grand encampment in 1857; was a charter member of the Peoria Patriarchal Degree and was General of Equipments to the same with the rank of major. He held membership in the Knights of Pythias, is a charter member of the Independent Order of Mutual Aid, for fifty-seven years a member of Peoria Lodge, No. 15, A. F. & A. M., and is still active therein, and joined the chapter of Masons in 1863, belonging to the Peoria Knights Templar. He is the oldest living member in this organization today in Peoria city, an active member of the Peoria Consistory and a member of the Shrine. He has always been an inter- ested worker in all of these orders and as such has a state-wide reputation and in his life exemplifies their beneficent spirit. Of Columbia Lodge, No. 21, I. O. O. F., of Peoria, he has been a member for sixty-three years.
During the period of the Civil war he was a sutler to the Eighth and Seven- teenth Regiments of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. For many years he has been president of the Peoria County Old Settlers' Association and at the recent meet- ing was chosen for life. To him is due the success and upbuilding of this or- ganization, of which Peoria county has every reason to be proud. It is composed of men and women who have been most active in promoting the welfare and progress of this part of the state and whose work shall live long after they have passed from the scene of earthly activities. John A. Bush is one of four men now living that came to Peoria when a great part of the land which now is cov- ered with this flourishing city was a cornfield and all business was transacted on Water street. It consisted at that time of about two thousand inhabitants. Mr. Bush is a man of strong character, resolute and determined and yet at all times kindly and considerate. Few men of Illinois outside of the political leaders are more widely and favorably known. In his case old age does not suggest want of occupation or idleness ; it does not indicate a diminution of mental or spiritual force. On the contrary, he is of that class of men, comparatively few in num- ber, who grow strong mentally and spiritually as the years'go by and continually give out of their rich stores of wisdom and experience for the benefit of others.
JOHN SANBORN STEVENS.
John Sanborn Stevens, who passed away on the 4th of March, 1912, was the senior partner of the firm of Stevens, Miller & Elliott and one of the veteran members of the Peoria bar. He was admitted to practice in the courts of the state in 1865 and for forty-seven years continued an active representative of the legal profession, his ability and his industry maintaining him in a foremost posi- tion among the lawyers of the state. Moreover, his character was such as placed him with the foremost representatives of the legal profession and in his life he exemplified that for which the law stands-justice, truth and the protection of right and liberty. He was born in Bath, New Hampshire, September 16, 1838. and his parents, Joshua and Abigail (Walker) Stevens, were also natives of the same state. The father, however, was of English lineage, while the mother came of Scotch ancestry. They were married in the city of Bath, Maine, and there continued their residence until 1849, when they removed to Hardwick, Vermont.
John S. Stevens was at that time a youth of about eleven years and there he acquired his early education and prepared for college as a student in Caledonia Academy. In the meantime he provided for his own support by working upon a farm and by teaching during vacations in the district schools. In 1858 he en- tered Dartmouth College and was graduated with honors in the class of 1862, receiving therefrom the degree of Bachelor of Arts, while later his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. He thus laid the foundation for his professional knowledge in broad general learning. Soon afterward he came to Peoria, where he devoted two years to the profession of teaching. spend-
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ing the first year in the grammar schools and the succeeding year as a teacher in the high school of the city. While thus engaged he found time to carry on the purpose which he had long cherished-that of studying law. He began his read- ing in the office of Alexander McCoy, a prominent attorney of the city, and after a thorough course of study secured admission to the bar in June, 1865. His pre- ceptor at once admitted him to a partnership that was continued until 1870. In that year Mr. Stevens became a partner of Judge David McCulloch and was thus engaged in practice until 1876, when, without solicitation on his part, he was tendered the office of postmaster of the city by President Grant. He accepted and during the succeeding four years gave much of his attention to the duties of the position, although he did not withdraw entirely from practice and in 1877 formed a partnership with Senator Jolin S. Lee. P. W. Gallagher was also ad- mitted to the partnership and later Walter S. Horton entered the firm. For some time the legal business of the firm was conducted under the style of Stev- ens, Lee & Horton, and later William T. Abbott became a partner. Mr. Horton withdrew to remove to Chicago and subsequent changes in the personnel of the firm lcd to the adoption of the style of Stevens, Miller & Elliott. While ad- vancement at the bar is proverbially slow Mr. Stevens was not long in winning recognition as an able and learned lawyer and one capable of handling intricate and involved problems of jurisprudence. Thus from an early period in his career he was accorded an extensive clientage of an important character and was recognized as one of the distinguished lawyers of the Peoria bar. If further proof of his high standing were needed it would be found in the fact that in 1902 he was honored with the presidency of the Illinois State Bar Association.
In June, 1868, Mr. Stevens was united in marriage to Miss Sarah M. Bart- lett, a native of Peoria, and a daughter of Amos P. Bartlett, who was a pioneer merchant here. The two children born of this marriage died in infancy. Mr. Stevens was a member of Christ Church Reformed Episcopal and he was long closely, actively and helpfully identified with the moral progress of the com- munity. In his political views Mr. Stevens was a stalwart republican since the organization of the party and was frequently tendered the nomination for the state legislature but always declined the honor. However, he did effective work in the interests of the party, serving as a member of its local and state conven- tions and also as a member of the state committee in 1900. Ile was a member of the board of school inspectors and the cause of education was always sure of his championship. His labors at all times constituted an element in promoting progress and improvement along the lines which affect general interests of society and at the same time his devotion to his profession brought him to a position of distinction as a member of the Illinois bar. He was a man entirely free from ostentation or display. He lived his life quietly yet he ever held to profound convictions of right and wrong and strove to reach the high ideals of manhood and citizenship which he set up. The nobility of his character was found in this very simplicity ; the strength of his position as a leading member of the bar had its root in the fact that he was always direct in his work and never sought to lead the court astray in the matter of fact or law. His entire life record was as an open book which all might read and upon its pages there was found no stain nor dishonor. While he himself held to high ideals he was slow in condemnation of others and his hand at all times reached out in ready sympathy to assist those who were attempting to climb upward. A fitting tribute to the life of Judge Stevens was paid by the Bar Association in resolutions which read: "The char- acter of the good citizen, as measured after his decease, is always determined by his life's history ; by his faithfulness, integrity and uprightness in his dealings ; by the confidence and esteem in which he was ever held by his associates and the general public, and their estimate of him as a man and a citizen. Additional elements enter into the requisites of a true lawyer. We measure him not only by his ability and his knowledge of the law and of the fundamental principles
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of jurisprudence, but further by his individual uprightness and by his conscien- tious elevation of right and truth and justice; by his condemnation of wrong; by his honest and faithful discharge of duty to his clientage; by his fearless advo- cacy of his honest convictions and by his constant remembrance that he is part and parcel of the machinery under our system of government charged with the administration of justice.
"Mr. Stevens was a typical lawyer, and had an unusually exalted idea of the requirements of his profession, and never faltered in the expression of his opin- ions regarding legal ethics, and particularly with reference to those high prin- ciples of justice and equity required in the administration of the law. It has been given to comparatively few lawyers to possess in so large a degree so many of the high qualities required in a perfect lawyer as were found concentrated in Mr. Stevens ; and after a service of continuous practice of over forty-five years, with a large clientage during the entire period, the act that such clientage at all times had in him the highest degree of confidence and esteem and continued faithful to him until the end, is a sufficient testimonial of his legal ability, faith- fulness and integrity.
"With his associates in the practice and particularly with the younger mem- bers of the bar, he at all times exhibited the same genial and kindly spirit. He was ever ready to give to others the benefit of his own long experience and his counsel. He was never ruffled save when confronted with a case of wrong, op- pression or injustice; and for such cases he never failed to forcibly express his convictions of disapproval and hatred.
"Apart from his profession of law, Mr. Stevens had great administrative ability and excelled in good common sense and sound judgment, and had a broad comprehensive knowledge of business affairs. It was his well-earned reputa- tion for honesty, integrity and good business ability that rendered him a favorite instrument for the conduct of large and important trusts, and it can be truly said that the beneficiaries of such trusts never failed to find him a faithful, able and conscientious servant and trustee.
"In every department of life Mr. Stevens at all times stood, and was rec- ognized throughout the entire state, as a lawyer, citizen and a man of distin- guished character ; and by his decease not only the bar of Peoria, but our city and state, have lost a capable, honest and conscientious lawyer and a distinguished and highly esteeemd citizen. Words are vain to even attempt to express the loss to those of his own household. To the loving and beloved wife, now bereaved, the members of the Bar of Peoria extend their most profound sympathy.
COMMITTEE."
FREDERICK K. SIDLEY, M. D.
Dr. Frederick K. Sidley, specializing in his practice in the treatment of dis- eases of the ear, nose and throat, in which connection his advanced studies have given him marked skill, has for eleven years been a representative of the medical fraternity in Peoria, locating in this city in 1901. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1873, a son of W. K. Sidley. At the usual age he entered the public schools and when he had passed through the grammar grades became a pupil in the South Division high school of his native city, pursuing there a three years' course. He next entered the University of Chicago, pursuing a three years' literary course and later entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons. from which he was graduated with the class of 1897. With comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of general medicine and surgery, he entered the New York Eye and Ear Hospital, a college of New York city, in order to equip himself for special lines of practice. He spent a year and a half there in studying diseases of the ear, nose and throat, after which he went to San Juan, Porto Rico, where he practiced until 1901. That year witnessed
DR. FREDERICK K. SIDLEY
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his arrival in Peoria, where he has since remained and in rhinology and laryng- ology his work has been particularly efficacious. He is equally well known as an aurist and is now acting as ear, nose and throat surgeon of St. Francis Hospital at l'eoria. He limits his practice to those lines and has become widely recognized as an eminenet specialist, whose ability has lifted him far beyond the ranks of mediocrity. Ile belongs to the Peoria City Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and through the pro- ceedings of those bodies keeps in touch with the advanced work that is being done by the profession.
Dr. Sidley was united in marriage to Miss Irvine Brown, of Chicago, and unto them has been born a son, Frederick, whose natal year was 1907. Dr. Sidley is a Mason, exemplifying in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft. He belongs to the Creve Coeur Club and to the Peoria Country Club and has many friends in those organizations-men who esteem him for his individual, personal worth as well as for his professional attainments.
LEMON HILL WILEY.
There are many interesting incidents in the life record of Lemon Hill Wiley covering a long experience as a soldier of the Civil war, as a musician in connec- tion with bands and orchestras and later as a political leader, in which connection he has done important public service. He was born in Carmichaels, Greene county, Pennsylvania, April 17, 1844. His father, also a native of that place, was a blacksmith and wagon maker by trade. In early life he was elected justice of the peace and thereafter to the end of his days at each regular election was the candidate of both the whig and democratic parties. He became widely known as Squire Wiley and his record, uniformly characterized by justice and equity, won him the high commendation of the public. He died in 1882 and in the same decade his wife, who bore the maiden name of May Jackson, passed away. She was born in Greene county, near Carmichaels, Pennsylvania, and their children were Jackson, William, Lemon H., Elizabeth, Margaret, Mardelia and two who died in infancy.
Lemon H. Wiley attended the country schools, in which he acquainted him- self with the usual branches of learning that constituted the public-school cur- riculum. He was too much of a musician, however, to make a good blacksmith, although he entered his father's shop and attempted to learn the trade. He would whistle while he was pounding the hot iron and the nails which he was attempt- ing to draw, for so the process was termed, would grow cold. At length his father said: "You are no blacksmith. I will make of you a musician." Nothing could have better suited the lad and for years his developing musical talent kept him in a foremost position among musical leaders of this and other states. He completed a course of study in Green Academy and then joined a cavalry com- pany as bugler. This was in the spring of 1861 and the company was preparing to go to war. It had been organized but had not been mustered in, but Mr. Wiley met with parental opposition and was sent by his father to Illinois in 1862, this way hoping that the change of scene and interests would take away the boy's wish to enter the army. L. H. Wiley arrived in this state in June, 1862, and on the 4th of July came from Elmwood to Peoria, on which day he heard Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll deliver an address in Frink's Hollow. He went back to Elmwood again enthused with the purpose of defending the Union cause and enlisted in Company I of the Seventy-seventh Illinois Infantry. Col- onel D. P. Grier was then organizing a regiment, which was sworn in on the 2d of September at Camp Peoria. After several weeks spent in camp here the troops proceeded southward to Cincinnati, crossed the river to Covington and were brigaded at once with the Nineteenth Kentucky, the Eighty-third Ohio and
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the Twenty-third Wisconsin Regiments, They marched through Kentucky to Louisville, took boats for Memphis and thence went into action. Their first en- gagement was at Chickasaw Bluff and they were also in the first attack on Vicks- burg. The Union troops were driven back there and afterward proceeded up the Yazoo river to Arkansas Post but later were at Milliken's Bend and Young's Point, camping at the latter place under command of General Grant. When the army was brought into action they crossed the Mississippi river at Bruensberg, twenty miles south of Vicksburg. They participated in the siege of that city, remaining on the Mississippi side of the river until the surrender on the 4th of July, 1863. Later they were sent to Jackson, Mississippi, but afterward re- turned to Vicksburg and took boats there for New Orleans. From the latter point they proceeded to Brasher city and organized for the Red River campaign under General N. P. Banks. After meeting defeat at Pleasant Hill on the 8th of April they fought their way back to the Mississippi river, proceeded again to New Orleans, thence to Mobile, back to New Orleans and afterward to Mata- gorda Bay. They aided in the capture of Fort Gaines and Fort Morgan at the entrance of Mobile Bay and from the latter fort built roads to the bay and cap- tured other forts, leading eventually to the surrender of Mobile. The Seventy- seventh Illinois was the first regiment to land on the Mobile side. Later they proceeded up the Alabama river and during the trip learned of the assassination of President Lincoln. At length the force in front of them surrendered. Mr. Wiley was within four miles of Mobile at the time of the big explosion of the Mobile cotton press when tons of ammunition exploded with such terrific force that the concussion raised him two feet from his knapsack on which he was sit- ting. By boat the troops proceeded to New Orleans and with the close of their term of enlistment returned to Peoria by way of St. Louis and Cairo, being mus- tered out at Springfield in 1864. The Seventy-seventh Regiment and its band then made a tour of the country, visiting each place where one of the companies had been organized and everywhere received a most joyous welcome home. Mr. Wiley was at that time playing the cornet and was leader of the band. A prominent citizen, John Todhunter, asked him to remain in Peoria, which he did, joining Spencer's band. Later he was employed in Strickler's book store on Main and Adams streets and subsequently in the music house of Knolte & Bacon. When Mr. Knolte went to San Francisco Mr. Wiley engaged in business on his own account, occupying one-half of a store room, the other half of which was used as a jewelry store by Fred Eynathen. In 1870 he sold his stock to Woodruff & Powers of Chicago but remained with them. handling music and also having a small interest in the business. When he severed his connection with that house he went upon the road and for twelve years traveled in connection with the show business, spending the last five
years of that period with Haverly's Mastodon Minstrels. In 1880-1 they went to Europe, spending five months abroad. They played at Her Majesty's Theater in London and the Queen and other members of the court were in attendance at some of the performances. They also played in Liverpool, Man- chester. Leeds and Newcastle, returning thence to London for two weeks' engagement before sailing for America. They landed in Brooklyn, New York, two weeks before the inauguration of President Garfield in 1881 and played in that city, in Philadelphia and in Baltimore before going to Washington, D. C., for inauguration week. Haverly's band constituted a feature of the inaug- ural parade, with Mr. Wiley as leader. Less than a year later that band headed the escort to the funeral procession, its solemn strains being in marked contrast to the music played on that former occasion when all was rejoicing throughout the national capital. At the head of this band, ranking as one of the foremost musical organizations of the kind in the country, Mr. Wiley traveled from New Orleans throughout the south and northward to Portland, Maine. He visited San Francisco, New York and many intermediate points, directing the band which everywhere won high honor and great applause.
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