USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 79
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WILLIAM H. ROGERS.
William H. Rogers who passed away at his home in Radnor township on January 31, 19II, was one of the early residents of Peoria county. He was born October 1I, 1836, in New York state in Maranac which was his mother's first home in America. His father, John S. Rogers, was born in New York state, of German descent, August 4, 1808. He was drowned in the Mississippi river, July 9, 1843, while bringing his family to Illinois where they were to settle. The mother of William H. Rogers, of this review, was Mary Ann (Seddan) Rogers. She was a native of England, born December 25, 1807, and was brought to America when she was five years of age, by her parents, who settled in Maranac, New York. She died in Peoria county, March 12, 1879. In the family of John S. and Mary Ann (Seddan) Rogers were nine children: Ely B., born September 7, 1828; Margaret, born November 8, 1829; George A., born October 8, 1831 ; Calvin C., born June 18, 1833; John S., born January 18, 1835; William H., of this review ; James H., born January 31, 1839; Minet S., born September 9, 1840: and David J., born September 10, 1842. The only
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living members of this family are Minet S., who now resides at El Paso, Illi- nois, and David J., who lives in East Peoria, Illinois.
William H. Rogers was brought to Peoria county, Illinois, in 1843, when he was six years of age. The family located in Jubilee township, Illinois, and there he grew to manhood and received his education in the common schools When he was sixteen years of age he began working as a farm hand, and received eight dollars per month as compensation for his services. In 1861 he moved to Radnor township, buying there eighty acres of land, which was located a short distance west of Dunlap, and is the birthplace of his sons, John L. and Elmer B., and his daughter, Mina E. All his life he was engaged in general farming and he was very successful in his financial transactions. At the time of his death he owned one hundred and sixty acres of land in Nebraska, which is now in possession of his son, Logan A .. and he also owned four hun- dred and ninety acres in Radnor township, which now belongs to his sons.
In 1861 Mr. Rogers was united in marriage with Miss Janette E. Wakefield, and immediately after their marriage they removed to Radnor township, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Janette E. (Wakefield) Rogers, was born on November 22, 1841, in Radnor township, about three miles west of Dunlap, near the present home of her sons John L. and Elmer B. She was the daughter of Jolin L. Wakefield, who was born of Scotch parentage, in Chester county, Pennsylvania, June 18, 1794. Her mother was Martha (Strick- ler ) Wakefield, who was born of English parentage in Dauphin county, Penn- sylvania, October 27, 1805. John L. Wakefield was a weaver, and he worked at that trade in Pennsylvania, also in Boerne, Warren county, Ohio. IJe left Pennsylvania for Warren county, Ohio, in 1821, and remained in that place until the fall of 1834. In 1836 he and his wife came to Illinois locating ou section 18 in Radnor township, and spent the remainder of their lives there. He passed away November 8, 1881, and his wife February 19, 1879. In their family were fifteen children: Jonathan, born January 28, 1824; Sarah, born March 24, 1825; Elizabeth, born August 2, 1826; George W., born April 27. 1828; Joseph, born February 28, 1830; William, born January 30, 1832; Re- becca, born January 27, 1834; Lucinda, born March 24, 1836; Wilson N., born March 7. 1837: Maria, born June 15, 1839; Janette E., who was the wife of William H. Rogers; John T., born April 21, 1843; James K., born July 27. 1845; Henry D., born September 9. 1846; and Sophia L., born Janu- ary 28, 1849. Maria, who now resides in Dunlap, and Sophia, of Lenox, Iowa, are the only surviving members of the family. Mr. and Mrs. William Rogers became the parents of seven children: Logan A., who is engaged in farming in Nebraska; Charles S., a retired farmer at Estherville, Iowa ; Wilson N., who is engaged in farming near Dunlap; William J., of Dunlap; John L., of this township; Mina E., who is the wife of Mr. A. Y. Case. a farmer near Dunlap; and Elmer B., of this township.
William H. Rogers was a republican in politics, and for many years he served as commissioner of Radnor township. All his life he was greatly interested in educational advancement, and for more than twenty years was a school director. Both he and his wife were earnest and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Both were well known and highly honored throughout this community, and their deaths were deeply deplored by many friends and acquain- tances. Mr. Rogers passed away January 31, [Q11, and his wife, preceding him by a great number of years, passed away April 14, 1888. The work on Mr. Rogers' old homestead is carried on now by his two sons: John L., who resides a short distance east of the old family residence, and Elmer B., who lives at the homestead.
John L. Rogers was born on his father's old home place May 5, 1879, and was reared there and educated in the common schools of Radnor township. He has always followed the occupation of general farming, and now operates a
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large farm in Estherville, Iowa, to which he moved in March, 1912. He mar- ried on November 21, 1900, at Dunlap, Illinois, Miss Myrtle Byers, the daughter of Thomas R. and Arminda Phoebe (Yates) Byers, the father of Scotch and the mother of English descent. To Mr. and Mrs. John L. Rogers have been born two children, both of whom now are attending school. They are : Ruth, born September 2, 1901 ; and Justin, born February 20, 1906.
Mina E. (Rogers) Case, the only daughter, was born on the old homestead on March 30, 1886, was reared there and educated in the common schools of Radnor township. She was married on September 17, 1908, to A. Y. Case, a son of Charles Case. Mr. and Mrs. Case have one child, Aldah, born September 30, 1910.
Elmer B. Rogers was born on the homestead on which he now lives, Feb- ruary 14, 1887, and is the youngest of his father's family. He was reared here and attended the common schools in Radnor township, and later was a student in the Princeville high school. He has always followed general farming and is now operating one, hundred and twenty acres of his father's old homestead. On August 1, 1907, he married Miss Lelia Byers, who is a sister of Myrtle (Byers) Rogers, the wife of the brother, John L. Rogers. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer B. Rogers have become the parents of one son, Otto, who was born March 27, 1909.
The brothers are well known throughout Peoria county. They have ever maintained the excellent reputation of the family that was established by their worthy father. They are both greatly interested in the welfare of the com- munity, and the elder, John L. Rogers, has served as school director, an office which he held for three years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America.
JOHN COMSTOCK.
No history of Peoria's pioneer development and progress would be com- plete without extended reference to John Comstock, a business man of marked ability and enterprise who recognized, and grasped the opportunities which sur- rounded him and thus gradually worked himself upward to the plane of af- fluence. In all his dealings his integrity was unquestioned, and throughout his life he stood for that which is most commendable in the relations of man with his fellowmen.
Ohio numbered Mr. Comstock as a native son, his birth having occurred in Taylorsville, that state, on the 20th of November, 1818. His life span covered the intervening years to the 5th of August, 1905. He was early thrown upon his own resources for his father, who was a civil engineer, died in 1829, and soon afterward his mother passed away so the boy was left an orphan at the early age of eleven years. He then went to live with an older sister with whom he remained for two years, but when a lad of thirteen years started out in life on his own account. From that time forward until his death he depended upon his own resources and as the years passed he continually advanced in the business world until he gained a prominent position as one of the most capable and successful of real-estate dealers in Peoria and throughout the state. He made his initial start in the business world, however, at Zanesville, Ohio, where he was employed in a flour mill for two years and also in other work by which he could earn an honest living. In 1837 he went to New Orleans with a boat load of flour and afterward up the Red river, but did not make perma- nent location in that part of the country, going east to Louisville, Kentucky, where he learned the cutter's trade in a merchant tailoring establishment. He afterward mastered all branches of the business and was employed in Louisville
JOHN COMSTOCK
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ASTOR, LENOX AND TILOEN FOUNDATIONS.
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until a strike was ordered by the tailors of that city and he left Louisville for Peoria, arriving here by boat on the 9th of January, 1840. It was a small and comparatively unimportant town which welcomed him, but he believed its future would give him opportunities. He opened a merchant tailoring establishment and after conducting business alone for a time he became senior partner in the the firm of Comstock & Clegg. The confinement of the shop, however, told upon his health, and because of this he began, in 1853. to deal in real estate, his opera- tions in that direction enabling him to spend considerable time out of doors. In those days military titles covered all the desirable vacant land in northwestern Illinois, and an understanding of the laws governing land titles was a valuable asset to anyone engaged in that line of business. Mr. Comstock's educational privileges had been very limited, but at this period he began to study and read land laws and pursued his investigations until he became a recognized authority. His opinions were respected by the best lawyers of the day, including such well known members of the bar as Judges Purple, Cooper, Williamson, Puterbaugh, Manning and Browning. His judgment is the matter of land titles was rarely questioned, and his opinions, once formed, were never wavering. His knowledge and experience in this direction stood him well in hand, and he became one of the most successful real estate men in the city. As the years progressed he not only handled property but engaged also in speculative buikling, erecting many houses and business blocks, some of which he sold and others rented. In 1883 he became connected with James M. Morse in the real estate business, and the dealings of the firm were of a most important character. His labors contributed much toward the upbuilding of the city, and whatever he undertook he carried out to a successful completion.
In other ways aside from his business Mr. Comstock contributed to the work of public progress. At the time of the Civil war he was a stalwart advo- cate of the Union cause and gave liberally of his means to support and uphold the Union army. So valuable was his aid in this connection that Richard Yates, who was then governor of the state, conferred upon him a colonel's com- mission. His work was unique and certainly most commendable in this con- nection. He not only raised and financed a company of infantry but made most liberal provision for the widows of all of the soldiers who were mem- bers of that company, giving to each whose husband lost his life at the front a quarter section of land. This being rich Illinois prairie land, the property through development became very valuable and provided a livelihood for many families. Colonel Comstock's work in this connection is indeed worthy of the highest praise and indicates not only his loyalty to the Union but his spirit of broad humanitarianism and helpfulness. He always remained a stalwart advo- cate of progressive measures for the public good, and yet he had no political aspirations nor would he consent to become a candidate for office. His views, however, accorded with the principles of the republican party and he never faltered in his allegiance to the cause which he espoused. He stanchly op- posed anything like misrule in municipal government and believed that the ideals of citizenship should be as high and public service as clean as a man's record in his business or his home relations. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he served as the first president of the Republi- can Club of Peoria.
On the sixth of October, 1851. Mr. Comstock was united in marriage to Miss Amelia A. Molineau, who still survives him, as do eight of his children, namely : Helena A., John, Spencer, Nathaniel. Mary, Jessie, Mrs. Susan Hart and Mrs. Eva Schelley. The last named is a resident of St. Louis. Another daughter, Mrs. Bena Strecker, died in 1903. Mr. Comstock passed away on the 5th of August, 1905, when he was eighty seven years of age. He was one of the first members of the Peoria lodge of Masons and he also held member- ship in the Royal Arch Chapter. Later in life he joined and attended the
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Episcopal church. He served on the building committee of the Masonic Tem- ple and at all times was deeply and helpfully interested in the organization which has as its basic principle the brotherhood of man. His life was indeed an honor to the community in which he lived and his character was such as at all times commanded respect. He certainly deserved great credit for what he accomplished, inasmuch as he started out in life empty-handed and with few of the advantages which most boys enjoy. At a time when lads are largely engaged in the pursuit of an education he was earning his own living. As the years passed he increased his usefulness by reason of his determination, energy, enterprise and ambition and his work figured as a factor in Peoria's up- building and progress as well as in his own success.
JAMES T. JOHNSON.
Success in life is not so much a matter of many opportunities as it is of the shrewd and discriminating use of time and talent. The career of James T. John- son, now living retired in his pleasant home at 2904 South Adams street, Peoria, is an example of the truth of this statement. He began his career when he was eight years old as a trapdoor opener in a coal mine, and closed his active business life upon his retirement as president of the Peoria Coal Drill Works.
Mr. Johnson was born in New Richmond, England, September 2, 1843, his parents being Thomas and Dina (Truesdale) Johnson, both natives of England, who never left their native country. Their son received his education in the public schools of Great Britain but laid aside his school books at the early age of eight years when he entered the employ of a coal-mining company. His duties were to open and close the trapdoor leading into the mine. He had to rise at four o'clock in the morning and work for sixteen hours every day, work- ing in cold water up to his knees. He often worked in places where the cold water dripped from above and soaked his clothes. His hours were long, his pay meager and the conditions of his life hard and cruel in the extreme. He was often beaten by his employer and put to tasks entirely unsuited to a boy of eight years. However, he gradually worked his way upward from his humble position, and by his energy, resource and careful saving improved his position until when he was twenty-eight years of age he engaged in the contracting busi- ness on his own account, making a specialty of tunneling. He took one of the largest contracts in that line ever let in England, which was to drill a tunnel through two thousand, one hundred yards in the county of Durham. He left England when he was thirty-six years old and came to this country, settling in Irving Station, eighteen miles east of Pittsburg, in Pennsylvania. He started his business career in this country by engaging in coal mining and was so occupied in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Iowa. He had a resourceful and intelligent mind and a discriminating grasp of what was needed to promote the progress and development of the coal interests in this country. For years he had interested himself in machinery and in due course of time had become the in- ventor of various attachments for mining implements which have made devices so used more simple and effective. His first patent was taken out in 1885 and was an improvement upon a coal miner's drill. He received the world's prize at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago for improved mining machinery. During his travels he had come to the conclusion to remove his home to the middle west, and subsequently had become connected in Peoria with the Peoria Coal Drill Works, of which he later became president, and with which three of his sons, James, Fred and Walter, are now connected.
At one period in his career Mr. Johnson became interested in Illinois farm lands and bought for himself a large tract of land just oustide of the city of Peo-
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ria. This he owned and operated for a number of years and was extremely suc- cessful along this line. His farm is today one of the most modernly equipped in central Illinois and he still takes a keen interest in its development. Mr. John- son has always had firm faith in the commercial future of Peoria, and the com- fortable fortune which he has accumulated in the course of his life has always been invested in local enterprises. He has erected a large number of buildings in this city, including the one at 3114 South Adams street in which his business is located. This structure is modern in every detail and thoroughly equipped along modern lines of construction. It has a frontage of one hundred feet and is one of the imposing buildings in this city.
In 1869, before leaving the mother country, Mr. Johnson had married, in the county of Durham, Elizabeth Thompson, a daughter of William and Catherine (McKinsey) Thompson, both natives of England. Her father was engaged in coal mining in the old country and there died in 1876, at the age of sixty-twc years, while the mother survived until 1903, attaining the remarkable age of ninety-six years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson fourteen children were born, of whom eight are now living, namely: James, who is connected with the Peoria Coal Drill Works in Peoria; Maggie, who makes her home in Chicago; Lilly ; Fred, who is also connected with his father's business: Joseph; Katie; Ida; and Walter. who is likewise associated with the Peoria Coal Drill Works. In January, 1908, Mr. Johnson lost his wife, who had been an able helpmate and an active factor in his success. She is buried in the family lot at Springdale ceme- tery, in this city. Their eldest son, William T., who died in 1909, is buried in the same cemetery. Mr. Johnson lost his eldest daughter, Harriet, in St. Louis, Missouri, where she found her last resting place.
James T. Johnson is now living in honorable retirement after an active and suc- cessful business career. When he was a little boy, spending his time opening and closing a trapdoor in a coal mine, his opportunities did not seem bright, and yet at that time he had the future before him, full of hard work it is true, but des- tined to be rewarded and crowned by much success and a happy and honorable retirement after hard labor.
FRANCIS MARION EVANS.
The presidency of the Peoria Boat Company and the holding of large real- estate interests closely connect Francis Marion Evans with the business circles of Peoria and at the same time he is active in politics as a republican leader, fill- ing the position of county game commissioner at the present writing in 1912. He was born in Le Roy, Dawson township, McLean county, Illinois, March 25. 1874. His father, Francis Marion Evans, also a native of that township, was sixty-six years of age when he passed away in 1908. His father also bore the name of Francis Marion Evans and he and two of his brothers were the first white settlers in McLean county. From that pioneer period the Evans family has been closely and helpfully identified with the work of development and progress there. The mother of Francis Marion Evans of this review bore the maiden name of Adelaide V. Bump and was born in Hudson township, McLean county, where her life was passed, her death occurring only six months after her hus- band's demise.
Their son Francis Marion Evans, one of a family of eight children, attended the public schools in Bloomington and also the Normal State University at Nor- mal, pursuing a two years' course in electricity. He devoted several years there- after to electrical work and traveled for the Manhattan Electric Company of New York. He was also on the road for local electric firms and then took up the duties of fireman and engineer on a locomotive. In 1894 he came to Peoria
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and has since been identified with the business and political interests of this city. Wisely using his time and opportunities, he has eventually become president of the Peoria Boat Company and is engaged in the sale of motor boats beside repre- senting several other business interests. He has made large and judicious invest- ments in real estate and his property holdings are extensive, yielding him a grati- fying income. At one time he was inspector of streets under Mayor Woodruff and also filled the position of police inspector. Later he went upon the road as representative of Clarke & Company, distillers and makers of alcohol. He was again called to public office in his recent appointment by Governor Deneen to the position of county game commissioner. He has long been an active factor in political circles and his opinions carry weight in the local councils of the repub- lican party. He is now chairman of the senatorial committee, which position he has filled since the enactment of the primary law. He is noted for his capacity for work and for his administrative ability and it is well known that his devo- tion to the public interests insures prompt and faithful performance of his official duties.
In 1897 Mr. Evans was married to Miss Elizabeth Pipes, a daughter of George Pipes, a prominent raiser and dealer of live-stock in this county. A son has been born to them, Francis Marion IV. The family home is at No. 105 Elm- wood avenue and the warm-hearted hospitality Mr. and Mrs. Evans extend all friends and acquaintances render it exceedingly attractive. Mr. Evans is a well known young man, progressive and enterprising. He stands close to the dis- tinguished politicians of the state and in Peoria, where his business record is a familiar one, he enjoys confidence and warm regard because of the good use he has made of his time and talents.
JACOB C. GMELICH.
Jacob C. Gmelich, a progressive young business man of enterprise and ability, has for practically twelve years been operating a confectionery and bakery establishment at No. 313 Main street, Peoria, where he enjoys an excel- lent patronage. He was born in Peru, Illinois, on the 8th of July, 1878, and is a son of Gottlieb Ginelich. The father was born in Germany, but for many years he has been engaged in the hardware business at Peru, where he is numbered among the representative citizens. He takes an active interest in all public affairs and at different times has been called to public office, having served as county treasurer. Gottlieb Gmelich served in the Civil War and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
The early education of Jacob C. Gmelich was obtained in the public schools of his native town, after which he attended St. Bede College for two years. When his studies were completed he entered the candy factory of Fred San- ders at Detroit, Michigan, in the capacity of an apprentice, remaining there for eight years. During that period he thoroughly mastered every detail of this industry, in which he became most proficient. At the expiration of that time he removed to New York, settling in Buffalo, where he operated a confec- tionery establishment for the greater part of a year. From there he came to Peoria and in July, 1901, opened his business at No. 313 Main street. Here he is engaged in the manufacture of all manner of plain and fancy confections, ice creams and plain and fancy bakery goods, including all kinds of pastries and cakes. In addition to this during the noon hour he serves a light luncheon, and bakery lunches during the entire day. Everything that is sold in his estab- lishment is manufactured there and is of exceptionally good quality. He em- ploys only the very best of ingredients in the manufacture of his goods, which are advertised to be absolutely pure and are offered at reasonable prices. In
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the development of his business Mr. Gmelich has met with such success that in August, 1908, he extended the scope of his activities by establishing a branch store at No. 100 South Adams street. This is conducted on exactly the same lines as his original store, excepting that all the baking is done at the former place. He has succeeded in establishing more than a local repu- tation and ships his bakery goods and ice creams to families in nearby towns and is building up a profitable out-of-town retail business. He gives his per- sonal supervision and attention to every detail connected with his stores and fac- tory, which he strives to operate in strict accordance with the highest standards of cleanliness and sanitation. Mr. Gmelich is now making arrangements to re- move his store from No. 313 Main street to No. 323 Main street, where he expects to more than double his present capacity and will install extensive modern improvements, not the least of which will be a beautifully decorated and attractively furnished refreshment parlor. He has secured a ten-year lease on the property and will doubtless meet with success in his new venture. His establishments are neat and attractive in appearance. He keeps a high class of help and is particular to see that every patron is accorded the most cour- teous and considerate treatment. The methods and policy adopted in the con- duct of his business are such as to commend him to the confidence of all who have transactions with him and nautrally he is prospering.
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