USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 77
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On February 16, 1894, Mr. Pratt was united in marriage at Columbus, Ohio, to Miss Alys Hull Crawford, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah Crawford, of Lancaster, Ohio. They are the parents of two children: Gladys G., who is now a student at Bradley Polytechnic Institute ; and Edward H .. attending the Whit- tier school. The family residence is in the Uplands at No. 2532 Columbia ter- race, near Bradley Park, and is a hospitable meeting place for their number- less friends.
Politically, Mr. Pratt gives his allegiance to the republican party, and takes a lively interest in public affairs, although he never seeks office for himself. Ile is a thirty-second degree Mason of Peoria Consistory, and also belongs to the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the Knights of Pythias, and holds membership in the Creve Coeur Club. Mr. Pratt has gained success in the few years of his activity in this city, which is inseparable from expert accomplishment in any line. His work is thorough and his audit reports clear and complete, and many large business institutions in the middle west now employ the services of The Edward A. Pratt Audit Company, regularly. Mr. Pratt has developed municipal accounting and public corporation records along original lines. bring- ing much prestige to his company.
He is a vigorous man in the prime of life, is doing much valuable work, and is building a wide reputation for ability and integrity.
JOHN D. BUSH.
John D. Bush has been engaged in the real-estate business in Peoria for the past twenty-six years. He is a native of this city, his birth having occurred on the 7th of May, 1859. He is a representative of one of the early pioneer families. His father, William R. Bush, came here from Indiana in 1836 and established a distillery which he operated for many years.
Reared at home John D. Bush was educated in the graded and high schools of this city, his student days terminating at the age of eighteen years when he graduated from the latter institution. Immediately thereafter he entered his father's office in the capacity of bookkeeper, retaining this position until 1885. In that year he gave up his position and engaged in the real-estate business, first handling only local property. He began by making a specialty of the erection and sale of homes on an installment plan and met with success in this undertak- ing. In 1905, he practically withdrew from this line of business and devoted his entire attention to the exploitation of Mississippi farm lands. He has acquired a large tract of valuable land on the gulf, which is most productive and which
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he is offering for sale on very reasonable terms. Mr. Bush is a capable business man of high principles and honorable methods and is meeting with success in the promotion of his present project, because he has the confidence of his townsmen who feel assured that he will not be connected with any enterprise that is not exactly as represented in every respect.
On the 30th of March, 1893, Mr. Bush was united in marriage to Miss Clara M. Griffith of Stockton, California, a granddaughter of old Captain Moss of Peoria. Two daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bush: Harriet A., who is seventeen years of age, and Mary H., who is sixteen, both of whom are now attending Downer College at Milwaukee. The family reside in the Peters apartment building at No. 518 Hamilton street.
Mr. Bush is one of the alert, enterprising business men of the city, progres- sive and energetic in his methods and the possessor of the essential, factors which make for success in any line. His belief in himself gives him the power and en- thusiasm to arouse and stimulate the interest of those with whom he comes in contact, thus winning him the cooperation and support essential to the success- ful promotion of every enterprise, whether public or private, which he under- takes.
CHARLES E. FULKS.
Charles E. Fulks was born in Beardstown, Illinois, February 10, 1856, a son of John B. and Sarah Ann Fulks. The father resided in Kentucky, where for many years he was a leading and influential citizen, serving for a number of terms as a member of the state legislature, and removing to Illinois served as sheriff of Cass county. By trade he was a printer and was at one time editor of the Beardstown Gazette. He died in 1866 and for twenty years was survived by his wife, who passed away in 1886, the remains of both being laid to rest in a cemetery at Beardstown, Illinois.
The educational opportunities of Charles E. Fulks were quite limited. He pursued his studies through some of the grammar grades of the Beardstown pub- lic schools but at the age of ten years entered his father's printing office, where he learned the trade. In 1881 he was elected cashier of the Cass County Bank, and his worth in matters of citizenship was also recognized and he was called to the office of city clerk, which position he was filling in 1884 when he decided to remove to Peoria. Upon his arrival in this city he obtained a position as book- keeper with S. H. Thompson & Company, wholesale grocers, in which capacity he served for five years. Early in the spring of 1890 S. H. Thompson decided to retire and his business was purchased by D. H. Bethard, Carl Jobst and Charles E. Fulks, who were fellow employes of Mr. Thompson, and organized the firm of Jobst-Bethard Company of which our subject has filled the office of secretary and treasurer since the incorporation of the company. From that time forward the growth of the business has been continuous and its history constitutes an im- portant chapter in the commercial annals of Peoria. As he has prospered Mr. Fulks has extended his efforts in other directions and is now one of the direct- ors of the Schipper & Block Dry Goods Company, one of the largest stores of this kind in the state outside of Chicago.
On the 25th of May, 1882, in Beardstown, Illinois, Mr. Fulks was married to Miss Mary J. Orwig, a daughter of John W. and Jane Orwig, pioneer resi- dents of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Fulks have two children, Edna and George W., the latter now assistant secretary and treasurer of the Jobst-Bethard Company, while the former is the wife of Roy V. Engstrom, who is a consulting engineer and builder of reinforced concrete buildings at Seattle, Washington, and who at one time was a professor in the University of Illinois at Champaign. Mr. and
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C. E. FULKS
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Mrs. Fulks occupy a pleasant and well appointed home at No. 447 Moss avenue and their friends in this city are legion. Mr. Fulks holds membership in the Country Club and the Creve Coeur Club, and otherwise is well known socially in Peoria. He is a prominent Mason, having taken high rank in the order. He is a past master of Illinois Lodge, No. 263; F. & A. M .; past commander of Peoria Commandery, No. 3, K. T. ; past M. P. sovereign of St. Helena Conclave, No. 3, Knights of Constantine, while at the present time he is filling the office of illustrious commander in chief of Peoria Consistory, A. A. S. R. Social, frater- nal and municipal interests maintain in Mr. Fulks an even balance to his great business activity and make his a well rounded character.
OTTO REIMERS.
Otto Reimers, who is the owner of an excellent farm of sixty-six acres, situ- ated two and one-half miles northeast of Hanna City, in Rosefield township, was born in Davenport, lowa, November 22, 1878. He was reared and educated in his native town and came to Hanna City in 1902. Shortly afterward he pur- chased his present farm, for which he paid nineteen hundred dollars and which has increased in value until it is now worth about three times its purchase price. He engages in general farming but makes a specialty of raising stock and grain and his well tilled fields annually yield him a good competence.
On the 17th of April, 1901, Mr. Reimers was united in marriage with Miss Daisy Boxwell, who was born and reared in Davenport, Iowa. In politics Mr. Reimers votes the republican ticket, believing that the principles of this party are most conducive to good government. He is greatly interested in all that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of the community and all measures of reform and progress receive his support. During the years of his residence here he has gained many friends by reason of his social, genial nature which everywhere com- mands the high regard and confidence of the people.
CHARLES F. BLACK.
Charles F. Black, United States marshal, to which position he was appointed on the Ist of May, 1910, was born at Harkers Corners, Peoria county, November 6, 1859, his parents being Gain R. and Susan Matilda ( Powell) Black, both of whom were natives of Virginia. The father comes of Scotch-Irish ancestry, while the mother was of Scotch lineage.
Charles F. Black supplemented a common-school course by two years' study in the Peoria County Normal and then entered Brown's Business College, from which he was in due time graduated. He then turned his attention to farming and stock-raising, and also engaged successfully in shipping live-stock, but at lengthi abandoned private business interests to concentrate his energies upon po- litical duties. However, he is a director in the Farmers' Grain & Lumber Company of Glasford. He was first called to office when, in 1887, he was made highway commissioner of Hollis, which office he continued to fill until 1893. In the latter year he was elected assessor and served for three years, or until 1896. He was then made supervisor and filled that position for six consecutive years, or until 1902, when he was elected to represent his district in the state legisla- ture. He remained a member of the general assembly through three terms, be- ing reelected in 1906 and again in 1908. While connected with the house he proved one of the active working members, connected with much constructive legislation, advocating at all times such measures as he deemed beneficial to the
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commonwealth at large. On the Ist of May, 1910, he was appointed United States marshal and is now filling that position. In politics he has always been a republican and is a believer in high tariff on luxuries.
In St. Louis on the 16th of May, 1908, Mr. Black was united in marriage to Miss Edith Brown, a daughter of Quinlan Brown, of Sterling, Colorado. In 1909 Mr. Black was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 16th of January. In fraternal relations Mr. Black is well known as a high de- gree Mason, holding membership in the consistory and in the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Odd Fellows society. There is in his entire life history no esoteric phase and his position is never an equivocal one; he openly avows his policy in regard to political affairs and is only conservative when guarding the interests of the public, not in the expression of his opinions concerning any point of vital significance to the community. He has a wide acquaintance throughout the state and enjoys the warm regard of his political colleagues and contempora- ries and of many friends whom he has met in purely social ways.
ROSS J. CANTERBURY.
Ross J. Canterbury, city engineer and one of the representative young men of Peoria, was here born in 1884. His father, A. C. Canterbury, came to this state originally from Kentucky and engaged in the live-stock business in Peoria, where he reared his family. Spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, Ross J. Canterbury pursued his education in the city schools and also in Bradley In- stitute, from which he was graduated with the class of 1906 on the completion of a course in the engineering department. He then turned his attention to rail- way and mining engineering, in which field he continued until 1909, when he was appointed assistant city engineer. His service in that connection was of such excellence that on the Ist of December, 1910, he was elected city engineer and is now filling that office. His college training and his previous experience well qualified him for this work and he is proving a most faithful incumbent.
In IgII Mr. Canterbury was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Allen, of Peoria, a daughter of J. S. Allen. They are well known young people of the city, having an extensive circle of friends and the hospitality of many of the attractive homes here is freely accorded them. In politics Mr. Canterbury has always been a republican and it was as the candidate of this party that he was elected to the position which he is now creditably filling.
WILLIAM F. MEIDROTH.
William F. Meidroth was born in Peoria, September 9, 1856, a son of Wil- liam and Caroline (Lidle) Meidroth. The father's birth occurred in Nord- hausen, Germany, in 1822, and his death in Peoria in 1873, when he was fifty- one years of age. He was a cabinet-maker by trade and after 1854 came to America. His wife, a native of Swabia, came to the United States in company with her brother and two sisters, and in 1855 she gave her hand in marriage to William Meidroth.
Their son, William F. Meidroth, entered business circles as an employe in a tobacco factory at Peoria and subsequently became a typesetter in the office of the Deutsche Zeitung, where he was employed for five years, during which period Captain Fresenius was the editor. He also "held cases" on the National Democrat. He afterward went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where for two years he had charge of a fine Kentucky stock farm and prepared cattle for
A
W. F. MEIDROTH
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONE.
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exhibition. In 1878 he became a member of the Peoria fire department, with which he was connected for four years.
His association with his present line of business began in September, 1881. when he entered the employ of Charles Block, with whom he remained for four years. In 1885 he started in business on his own account at Bridge Junction, where he remained for five years, and in 1891 opened the Pabst buffet on the ground floor of the Niagara building, which was one of the largest and most elegantly equipped buffets in the city outside of Chicago. He prided himself on the good quality of refreshments, both solid and liquid. and the attention and service rendered by his employes. In 1901 his ten-year lease at the Niagara expired, whereupon he fitted up a new place of business at No. 104 South Jefferson avenue, which was one of the coziest gentlemen's resorts in the state. In 1910 he opened up the finest buffet in the state in the Jefferson office building, where he is now conducting business.
Mr. Meidroth was married in Peoria, January 15, 1878, to Miss Josephine Moutier and they became parents of two sons: Arthur J., who is general man- ager of the Los Angeles Paving Brick Company, of Los Angeles, California; and William F., who is with the engineering corps in the United States war department. Mrs. Meidroth died in 1884 and Mr. Meidroth's second marriage was with Miss Josephine Tendering at Pekin, Illinois, on the 12th of October. 1886. They have two children, Leslie and Bernadine. Mr. Meidroth is a democrat in his political views and his fraternal relations are with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Heptasophs.
VOLNEY H. FREEMAN.
It is the generally accepted opinion that the enterprising and successful man of business has few of those qualities which are manifest in an artistic or poetic nature, but Volney H. Freeman not only made continuous progress in business circles but also gave evidence of much more than ordinary literary ability. He was born in Glenville, Schenectady county, New York, in 1824, and had traversed life's journey for about eighty years when called to his final rest on the 27th of May, 1904. His parents were farming people who lived about three miles west of Schenectady and in that locality Volney H. Freeman spent his boyhood and youth. He was a pupil in the district schools of the neighborhood and when not busy with his text-books assisted in the work of the home farm until nearly twenty years of age. He then left home and in 1844 began teaching in the country schools, following that profession until 1851. He came west to Illinois about 1850 and taught his last term of school at Farmington, this state, in the following year.
About that time Mr. Freeman was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Dix- son, of Harkness Grove, Illinois, and immediately afterward he began farming, which pursuit he followed for three years. He then sold his land and took up his abode in Peoria, with the business interests of which city he was continuously identified throughout his remaining days. Here he first engaged in the manu- facture and sale of saddlery and harness, conducting his business in a storeroom which he purchased from the late Thomas Dobbins. After six years spent in that field of labor he extended the scope of his activities to include the auction busi- ness, conducting both interests for a year. He then discontinued the manufac- ture and sale of harness and erected a business block on South Washington street, in which he carried a stock of general merchandise and also dealt in real estate and conducted an auction business for twenty-five years. On the expiration of that period he closed out his general merchandise and auction house and for five years thereafter conducted a shoe business. He then began the publication of his
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"Book of Poems," of which ten thousand copies were sold. He afterward con- ducted a real-estate office and devoted his time largely to the management and control of his extensive real-estate holdings. From time to time he had invested in property until he was the owner of much valuable realty in Peoria, deriving therefrom a substantial annual income. He was a man of marked energy and singleness of purpose and in all of his business enterprises was successful.
Mr. and Mrs. Freeman were the parents of two sons both of whom are de- ceased, leaving Mrs. Freeman as the sole survivor of the little household which once numbered four members. She makes her home at No. 1413 North Perry avenue, and has many friends in Peoria. Eight years have passed since Mr. Freeman was called from this life but his memory is yet cherished by many who knew him. He was a public-spirited man, deeply interested in all that pertained to the welfare and development of the city in which he so long made his home. His aid could always be counted upon as a factor in movements for the public good and his cooperation was of a practical and therefore beneficial character. He reached an advanced age, respected and honored by all who knew him.
ADDISON H. WHITE.
Addison H. White is the secretary and general manager of the Senet Cedar Company, manufacturers of sweeping compound, the place of business being situated at 1500 North Adams street, Peoria. He was born in Peoria county, September 11, 1860, the son of O. H. and Martha (Coe) White. The White family is of English origin and came to America in the Mayflower. Addison H. White of this review is a direct descendant of Peregan White, who was born shortly after the Mayflower landed. Members of the White family have dis- tinguished themselves in various affairs of this country. Spencer White operated a sawmill on Rock Island before that island was purchased by the government, which established thereon a large United States arsenal and armory. The pater- nal and maternal grandfathers, Mr. White and Mr. Moss, came to Peoria county in 1835, and other members of the Moss family also located here about that time. The father, O. H. White, was a traveling salesman for the firm of Culter & Proctor, stove manufacturers, and he sold the first stoves that were ever made by that firm: He resides at Aspen, Colorado, in which city his wife passed away in 1898, at the age of fifty-eight. She is buried there.
Addison H. White received his primary education in the public school. The first of these he attended was a district school and then he received instruction in the private school of the Rev. Dr. Chais and complemented his education by a course in Parrish's Business College. Subsequently he engaged as a clerk in the grocery business of John Wise and later entered the hardware business of A. R. Thompson in the same capacity. In 1893 he became connected with the Metro- politan Life Insurance Company, with which firm he remained for eight years, and during five and a half years of this time he was assistant superintendent in the various offices of this company. Afterward he returned to Peoria and be came identified with the Peoria Life Insurance Company, holding the position of superintendent of agents, and continued in this work for three years. He then bought a half interest in his present business, traveling for the same for a few years and then assisted in forming the present corporation, which was organized August 9, 1909. The business was established as a copartnership and was re- organized under its present name after Mr. White had purchased an interest therein. Since this it has grown wonderfully and from a small beginning has developed into a large concern. During the last year Mr. White has had entire charge and has been very successful. This prosperity is entirely due to his splen- did business foresight and his untiring energy.
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In Peoria, on September 28, 1886, Mr. White was married to Miss Lotta Barfoot, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Barfoot, pioneer residents of Peo- ria county. The father, who was formerly engaged in the painter's business, lived for a number of years retired and passed away in 1911. Mr. White gives his political allegiance to the republican party. For many years he has been an active worker in the Congregational church and was one of the charter mem- bers of the Plymouth church of that denomination in this city. He resides in his beautiful home at No. 314 Archer avenue and well deserves to be numbered among the prosperous and highly honored residents of this city.
FRANK MACHIN STORY.
Sixty-seven years ago Henry Story and his wife left Sheffield, England, crossed the Atlantic and located their first home in America at the corner of Fourth and Sanford streets in Peoria. The city was then only a country village, undeveloped and unorganized. There were no municipal improvements and wild grass had to be mowed with a scythe within a few blocks of their home. Repre- sentatives of the Story family have lived in Peoria since that time and today Frank M. Story is spending his retired life in this city. He has been identified with various business enterprises for over fifty years, during which time he has witnessed the development of the city and has contributed toward it, the rest which he is now enjoying being well deserved and fully carned. He was born in Sheffield, England, October 17, 1842, and is a son of Henry and Hannah ( Machin) Story, both natives of that city. His father's birth occurred in 18II, and he remained in England until 1845. In that year he came to the United States, locating in Peoria, where in 1846 he built a home on the corner of Fourth and Sanford streets. The house is still standing and for over half a century constituted the family residence. Henry Story was a worker in ivory and hard- woods for the cutlery trade and followed this line of occupation in Sheffield. All of the elephant tusks that came to Sheffield and valuable hard woods were brought to his establishment, in which he did this class of work for the different cutlery firms of England. When he came to America he specialized in the turn- ing of billiard balls and did other work along the same line for a number of years. Ile also built wagon hubs, stair pilasters and made fishing rods. The lat- ter he constructed along an original plan of his own, hollowing them out into telescope form so that they served as a walking stick. Mr. Story has now in his possession several tools and poles constructed by his father.
The subject of this sketch was educated in the Peoria public schools and dur- ing his childhood spent much of his time helping his father. After he laid aside his books he established himself in the photographic business and was successful in this line of occupation for sixteen years, abandoning it at the end of that time to take a position as traveling salesman in the employ of Harsch Brothers, a concern which later operated under the name of Harsch & Griswold, and subse- quently as Griswold & Company, and the National Biscuit Company. After twenty-four years' service with the above concerns he retired from active life about the year 1901 in order to take care of his father during his last illness. He is now living in a comfortable and pleasant home located at 501 North street, to which he moved after fifty-nine years of continuous residence in the old home- stead.
On February 19, 1874, Mr. Story was united in marriage to Miss Emma C. Elliot, a daughter of Judge William and Frances (Crissy) Elliot, of Farmington, Illinois, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, respectively. Mrs. Story's father was a prominent attorney in Fulton county. Mr. and Mrs. Story have three children : Mabel Frances, who lives with her parents; Wilhelmina Blanche, who married F.
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