USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 74
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ISAAC EVANS.
Isaac Evans, of No. 310 North Orange street, is nearing the eightieth year of his life and has been for almost half a century a resident of Peoria. He has founded well deserved success in business upon the firm basis of honor and good faith and finds his reward in widespread respect and esteem. He was born in Oxford township, Coshocton county, Ohio, July 13, 1833, and is a son of Joseph and Margaret Evans. His father was a successful farmer and was active in promoting the progressive and scientific aspects of that occupation.
Isaac Evans was educated in the country schools. He attended sessions dur- ing the winter and during the remaining months of the year he worked upon the home farm. His educational advantages were not of an unusual sort but by wise application and the consistent use of every opportunity which offered itself he fitted himself for teaching. He received at that time a premium for excellent penmanship which was awarded him by the Coshocton high school. His work has always been distinguished by the same thoroughness which enabled him to obtain high honors at a time when opportunities for preparation were limited. In 1853 he removed to Crawford county, Illinois, locating on a farm near Olney. and there engaged in general farming until 1864. In that year he removed to Peoria and established himself as a painter and paper-hanger, later opening a grocery store at Main and Elizabeth streets, on West Bluff. He gave up the mercantile line in 1892 and is now active as a painter. At seventy-nine years of age he substantiates his boast that he does twenty-six hours of work in twenty- four.
Isaac Evans has three living children: Willis, who is secretary of the Peo- ria Association of Commerce; Lona Rebecca, who married William Hazzard, Vol. II-31
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cashier of the German National Bank of Peoria; and Rolla Quayle who is a draughtsman in Washington, D. C. Mr. Evans is a member of the Masonic lodge and has been active in that organization for fifty-five years. He was a charter member and one of the founders of the Masonic lodge at Sumner, Law- rence county, and he assisted three years ago in the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of its organization. His politics are consistently republican but he has never sought public office. He is deeply interested in the growth and de- velopment of Peoria and has always cooperated in any movement looking to- ward its commercial, social or political development. He belongs to the Metho- dist Episcopal church, being a charter member of the Hale Memorial, which was originally Hale Chapel, and was founded in 1866. He has always been actively identified with the affairs of this church. He is a man of varied interests, and is religious, friendly and of a kindly spirit and he finds his greatest joy in the fact that he is a plain, honest and hard-working citizen, counting everyone his friend.
LEE H. LORD.
When effort and ambition supplement native intelligence the result is as- sured. The logical outcome of such qualities is advancement and success-a fact which finds its exemplification in the life record of Lee H. Lord, a whole- sale hardwood lumber dealer of Peoria. Since engaging in this business he has met with excellent success and is today one of the foremost merchants in his line in eastern Illinois. Each step in his business career has been a forward one since he started out in life on his own account when sixteen years of age. He was born in Batavia, Illinois, on the 28th of December, 1861, and is a son of Dr. Isaac Lord, who for many years was engaged in the practice of medicine in that city. When Lee H. Lord was but two years of age his parents removed to Poughkeepsie, New York, where they resided for six years. The boy there began his education, which was continued in the public schools of Brooklyn, New York, subsequent to the establishment of the family home in that city. He was twelve years of age when he returned to the middle west, continuing his education in the preparatory department of the Christian University at Canton, Missouri. His student days were terminated at the age of sixteen years by his entrance into business circles. However, in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons. A receptive mind and a retentive memory have constantly broadened his knowledge and made him an alert, energetic business man whose efforts are resultant factors in the attainment of success. He was first employed in the local freight office of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company at Chicago, and the fidelity and ability which he displayed in that connection led to his promotion. For three and a half years he filled the position of assistant chief clerk and at the end of that time was made freight solicitor in the manufacturing district-a position of responsibility bringing large returns to the company. He readily adapted himself to his new work and the value of his service in that connection suggested him for a position of still greater responsibility. At the end of a period of three years he was sent to Moline, Illi- nois, as joint agent for the Rock Island and the St. Paul Railroad Companies, and the United States Express Company. For four years he occupied that po- sition and was then transferred to Peoria as soliciting freight agent for the Rock Island and as agent for the Great Eastern Railroad Company, in which capacity he continued until 1895. In that year he resigned in order to engage in business for himself, prompted thereto by laudable ambition and the recognition of his own capacities and powers. From the outset the new undertaking pros- pered and something of the volume of his present business is indicated in the
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fact that he handles hardwood lumber in carload lots only. He has made a care- ful study of the trade and of everything connected with the lumber business, with which he is very familiar in every detail. He has a wide acquaintance among lumbermen, not only in Illinois but in other states as well, and his busi- ness is of that class which contributes to public prosperity as well as to indi- vidual success.
On the 19th of October, 1887, Mr. Lord was united in marriage to Miss Emma St. Johns, a daughter of A. R. St. Johns, a member of the firm of St. Jolins & Brown, pioneer commission men in the Union Stock Yards of Chicago. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lord, as follows: Leslie, a graduate of Bradley College and now, at the age of twenty-two years, engaged in business with his father ; and Dorothy and Esther, aged respectively nineteen and seventeen years, both of whom are college students. Mr. Lord's enviable so- cial position is indicated in the fact that he is a prominent member of the Creve Coeur and Illinois Valley Yacht Clubs and in the latter organization is a director and chairman of the racing committee. He likewise belongs to the Association of Commerce and is in hearty sympathy with its movements and projects for the de- velopment of the city along material lines. He is intensely interested in all plans for the city's adornment and for the improvement of any conditions relating to the welfare of its inhabitants. His business career indicates that opportunity is open to all and that energy, determination and close application are the essen- tial elements of success. He has never neglected any opportunity that has come to him, has proven faithful to every trust reposed in him and when in the employ of the railroad companies never manifested a feeling that perhaps he has given greater service than was requited in his salary. On the other hand, he proved his worth to the companies which he represented and thereby won advancement. Since starting out independently in the lumber trade he has in every connection displayed correct business principles and closely adhered to the highest standards of commercial ethics. His energy and activity have thus been rendered most effective and his prosperity is certainly well merited.
WILLIAM V. TEFFT.
A representative of the legal fraternity of the legal fraternity of Peoria whose professional relations were established in this city in 1887, is William V. Tefft, a general practitioner of law with offices at No. 928 Jefferson building. He was born in Delavan, Tazewell county, Illinois, April 8, 1863, a son of Stephen P. and Elizabeth Tefft. The father, who was a well known farmer in Tazewell county, died in 1902 at the age of seventy years, and his wife's demise followed, on the 26th of September, 1911, when she was seventy-eight years old, both being buried in the Springdale cemetery. The grandparents were among the earliest pioneer residents of Tazewell county, having established a colony where Delavan now stands. The home of the Teffts, which was built in 1840, is still standing. The material of which it was built came from Providence, Rhode Island, and was shipped by water by way of the Gulf of Mexico and the Missis- sippi river, landing near the place where the building was erected, on one of the old trails of Illinois. This house is at present occupied by a representative of the Tefft family.
William V. Tefft received his preliminary education in the Delavan public schools and was graduated from the high school in 1882. For five years there- after he taught school in Tazewell and Logan counties but, having a taste for law, he early began studying to fit himself for legal practice and was able, in 1885, to pass the required legal examination, being admitted to the bar in that
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year. He did not begin actively to practice his profession, however, until 1887. Early in his career he began specializing in corporation law and is now practi- cally giving that branch of practice his sole attention. He is one of the leading supporters of the Peoria Bar Association of which he is an honored member.
Mr. Tefft was married in Peoria in February, 1893, to Miss Mabel P. Doug- las, a daughter of Tracy and Luthera Douglas, both old settlers of Peoria county. Her father is deceased and is buried in the Springdale cemetery at Peoria. To Mr. and Mrs. Tefft have been born two sons and one daughter: Ivan D., a student at Bradley Polytechnic Institute ; Lionel V., a student at the same school ; and Leah M., attending public school. Mr. Tefft gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and has had a public career of considerable importance. He was city attorney for two terms, and before completing the second term was elected to the position of states attorney, in which capacity he served one term. Fraternally he is a Mason, being a member of the blue lodge, consistory and shrine. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and was chancellor of the commandery. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is a member of the Creve Coeur Club and was at one time its vice president. In addition he belongs to the Ivy Club. The family residence is at No. 200 Park- side drive, a beautiful home. Mr. Tefft erected the structure, which is con- sidered one of the prettiest residences in the city. He has long been con- sidered as belonging to the front rank of the legal fraternity in Peoria, has through his careful attention to business, his loyalty to the cases entrusted to him and the distinctive ability which he shows in the practice of his profession gained a large clientele which is constantly increasing. His professional reputa- tion is widely known, not being confined to the city of Peoria, and his standing, both as a citizen and lawyer, is unquestioned.
NICHOLAS ULRICH.
As a conspicuous example of the business acumen, integrity and stability of our German-American citizenship, Nicholas Ulrich may be pointed to with pride by his German friends, while he is welcomed by those of American birth as well as by the representative sons of various foreign climes. He is head of the firm of Nicholas Ulrich & Company, a private banking, farm and mortgage loan con- cern, the oldest of its kind in Peoria, he having established that business in 1874. The offices of the company are at 327-28-29 Jefferson building. Mr. Ulrich was born in Germany, February 23, 1850, and until a youth of sixteen was reared and trained in the efficient schools of the fatherland. Having rela- tives in the new world of promise and opportunity, he set out alone for the United States in 1866, his destination being Peoria, Illinois, where his relatives resided. On his arrival here he at once entered the employ of his uncle, Val- entine Ulrich, a grocer, and later entered the grocery business on his own ac- count. After spending a few years in that branch of commercial activity he became inclined toward the legal profession and read law in the office of Cratty Brothers in Peoria and was admitted to the bar in 1876. He continued the practice of his profession until 1888, when his banking and loan business had assumed such proportions as to demand his entire time and attention. He therefore retired from the practice of law and has since occupied himself ex- clusively directing the affairs of his present business. Mr. Ulrich is also a stockholder and director in the Illinois National Bank of Peoria. His early education in Germany, his reading and practice of law, his keen observance of men and affairs peculiarly fitted Mr. Ulrich for the successful conduct of his present large and constantly increasing business and contributed in no small degree to the position of influence. esteem and affluence which he has achieved.
NICHOLAS ULRICH
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Mr. Ulrich, in 1872, was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Kreuter, of Peoria, a daughter of Jacob Kreuter. To Mr. and Mrs. Ulrich were born three children : Elsie, the wife of John Il. Merkle, of Peoria; Olive, who gave her hand in marriage to E. L. Mayall of Peoria ; and May, who is at home.
Fraternally Mr. Ulrich is identified with the Masons, belonging to the Knight Templar commandery and the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise a member of the Creve Coeur, the Peoria Country and the Illinois Valley Yacht Clubs. His life work and activities have contributed in large degree to the material pros- perity and progress of the city of his adoption, and as a result of his long res- idence in Peoria, his liberality and his genial nature, he has attracted a large circle of friends whose confidence he enjoys and in the association of whom he finds much pleasure.
SMITH F. ATWOOD.
Smith F. Atwood, the subject of this sketch, was born in the city of Peoria on the 9th day of June, 1865, a son of William W. and Nancy ( Frye ) Atwood, both of whom can trace their ancestry back to Revolutionary times.
He was reared on a farm on Orange Prairie where he helped in clearing the timber, and otherwise aided materially in improving and developing the land into a modern and productive farm. It was in the country school he received his early education,and he later took a course in the State Normal School at Valpa- raiso, Indiana, where he finished his collegiate course in 1885. Returning from college to the farm he was engaged until after his majority in agricultural and stock-raising pursuits, after which he concluded to devote his life energies to the practice of law. He entered the law office of W. T. Whiting, of this city, re- maining there until admitted to the practice of law, which was after passing the examination before the supreme court of the state of Illinois, at Springfield in the year 1890. Thereafter he immediately entered into the active practice of law, of which vocation he has made a success and is assistant state's attorney of Peoria county and village attorney for the village of Averyville.
On September 1, 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Fannie Harris, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Harris. His wife died on the 4th of June, 1906, leaving her husband and three children, Georgia, Loyal and Vera.
Mr. Atwood has always been active in politics since he became of age, having held several prominent political positions of trust. He was for one term presi- dent of the village of North Peoria, now a beautiful resident portion of the city of Peoria. He was for a number of years a member of the republican county central committee and in that capacity was an ardent and earnest supporter of the principals of his party and is now an energetic and progressive member of the board of supervisors of Peoria county, which position he has held on different occasions.
Aside from his professional and political services Mr. Atwood has been prominent in building up the city and county of Peoria in numerous ways. Public-spirited and progressive in principle, he is keenly interested in the future welfare of the community. A self-made and positive man, it was he who laid out the route of the Peoria & Galesburg Electric Railway, fully recognizing the importance of securing interurban roads for the city. Ile personally supervised the surveying of the route, himself carrying one of the instruments necessary to the survey. Mr. Atwood attended to the incorporation of the company, did all the other legal work in connection therewith as well as secure the right-of-way and the franchises in the several towns through which the route will traverse, necessary for the construction and operation of the railway. The road will be from Peoria to the county farm, thence paralleling the lowa Central Railway to
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Farmington, thence across the country to Maquon, a town on the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railway, thence practically paralleling the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy to Knoxville, thence to East Galesburg, and thence to Galesburg. He is the president of the company and is confident of the construction and operation of the road at an early date. At this time he is active in securing the necessary capital for the construction and equipment of the same, which will require about two million dollars.
HON. PERCIVAL G. RENNICK.
Hon. Percival G. Rennick of Peoria, has a wider acquaintance probably, than any other citizen of that city. While disclaiming political power he is a recognized leader of the republican party. At the present time he is collector of internal revenue for the fifth district of Illinois, which from a business stand- point is the most important federal position within the gift of the president of the United States. He has handled during the last eleven years an average of more than thirty-three million dollars per year. A portion of his time is devoted to lecture work and literary contributions.
Mr. Rennick was born at Knowlton, Canada, and came to Stark county, Illi- nois, with his parents in 1867 being then less than three years old. He is the youngest son of Francis and Sarah (Cousins) Rennick. The father came from the north of Ireland at the age of eighteen years and settled at Montreal, Canada, where he afterward met and married Sarah Cousins. He worked some time as a surveyor and afterward engaged in the grain business. Later he moved with his family to the United States establishing his home at Toulon where he en- gaged in farming and where the subject of this sketch received his rudimentary education.
Beginning his education in that district Percival G. Rennick was in due time graduated from the high school at Toulon and was then graduated from the Illinois Normal College. He took up the profession of teaching and became principal of the Castleton and Wyoming graded schools occupying both posi- tions during the period of four years. He proved himself to be an able edu- cator, contributing largely to the successful development of the educational in- stitutions with which he was connected. He read law for two years under a private tutor, and though he has never engaged in active practice his knowledge of the profession has been of immense value to him in other relations. In 1889 he was appointed by Hon. Julius S. Starr, then collector of internal revenue to the position of inspector. He served in that capacity for four years at the end of whichi time he became bookkeeper for the Wilson Wholesale Grocery Con- pany. In 1896 he was appointed clerk of the principal circuit court, acting in that capacity until chosen for his present position as collector of internal revenue for the fifth district of Illinois.
On the 10th of April, 1890, Mr. Rennick was married to Miss Jennie Ghar- rett, a daughter of B. F. Gharrett of Castleton. Mr. Rennick holds membership in the Episcopal church, Peoria Consistory and Commandery, Mohammed Temple, Lodge 479, A. F. & A. M., the Odd Fellows, Elk, Modern Woodmen of America, and the various clubs of the city. He was active in recruiting Troop G of the First Illinois Cavalry, and in 1899, the date at which this troop was mustered in. he was chosen second lieutenant. His private business interests include con- nection with the Working Men's Loan & Homestead Association of which he has been a director for fifteen years, one manufacturing concern, a southern lumber company and several smaller interests. He served one term as national president of the Fraternal Reserve Life Association. during which time he wrote a new. ritual for the association which was unanimously adopted at the national conven-
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tion. As a lecturer and entertainer he is known throughout a large part of the United States and at the date of this sketch is having the largest number of calls yet received by him. There are few, if any, lecturers who have greater ability, and in the humorous line and field of entertainment he has no superiors in the entire country. He is widely known and in Illinois his personal friends are numbered by the thousands. As has been said he is one of Peoria's best known citizens, genial, courteous, popular-"A prince of good fellows." Moreover he is a winner in every endeavor. He has the resolute spirit, the capability and initiative which enable him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. He has kept in touch with the world's best thought and progress. He is alive to every activity and to every vital question of the present hour whether it has relation to his important business interests, his official duties, his lecture work, or his political activity.
JOHN W. CULBERTSON.
The legal profession today holds out high rewards to honorable industry, cultivated talents, probity and integrity, which have been transmitted to its mem- bers through unbroken generations from Chase, and Martin, Pinkney and Mc- Mahon.
John W. Culbertson, who was up to the time of his death an able and suc- cessful member of the Peoria bar, is a worthy type of this class of lawyer. All through his life, he maintained the high standard of integrity which was a fixed principle with him, and at his death he left behind him a reputation for clear- sighted discrimination of values, strict honesty of purpose, and cool, prudent and wide-reaching judgment.
John W. Culbertson was born at Wooster, Ohio, on the Ist of November, 1860, his parents being Hugh M. and Margaret (Sanderson) Culbertson. The father was one of the carly settlers and agriculturists of that place and gave his political allegiance to the democracy. He passed away in 1897, at the age of seventy-one years, having long survived his wife, who was called to her final rest in 1872. The remains of both were interred in the family lot in the cemetery at Wooster, Ohio. The Culbertsons are of Scotch-English origin, the first rep- resentative of the name in this country settling in Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather of our subject participated in the Revolutionary war.
In the acquirement of an education John W. Culbertson attended a country school until fifteen years of age and then entered the normal department of the Northern Ohio University at Ada, Ohio, also taking a law course at the same institution. Subsequently he took up the profession of teaching, but later returned to the university and on the completion of his course received the de- gree of Bachelor of Science. In 1885 he was admitted to the bar by the supreme court of Ohio. In January, 1886, he came to Peoria, and secured employment as bookkeeper with the Mclaughlin Gas & Steamfitting Company, remaining in that capacity for about two years. Since 1887, however, he has devoted his atten- tion to the general practice of law, and won by intelligent application of his talents an extensive and gratifying clientage. He was a strong advocate with the jury and concise in his appeals before the court. Much of the success which attended him in his professional career is undoubtedly due to the fact that in no instance did he ever permit himself to go into court unless he had absolute confi- dence in the justice of his client's cause. Basing his efforts on this principle, from which there are far too many lapses in the professional ranks, it naturally followed that he seldom lost a case in whose support he was enlisted.
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