USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Peoria > Peoria city and county, Illinois; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 80
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In June, 1902, Mr. Gmelich was united in marriage to Miss Lena Merkel, and to them have been born two children, of whom one, Robert, is living. Fra- ternally Mr. Gmelich has attained high rank in the Masonic order and holds membership in the commandery, shrine and the consistory, and he is also affili- ated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is likewise a valued member of the Creve Coeur Club. His political views coincide with the princi- ples of the republican party, to whose men and measures he gives his support at national elections. On other occasions he votes for the man he deems best qualified for the office. He is a man of sound judgment and practical views and has been identified with various local movements and enterprises and was at one time vice president of the Peoria Fountain Company. Mr. Gmelich has made orderly progression in the development of his career and is meeting with success by reason of his close concentration and the sagacity he has manifested in the direction of his business interests. In the city of Peoria he is widely recog- nized as a popular and public-spirited citizen and one whose cooperation can be counted upon to further any measure or movement calculated to promote the general welfare.
ALLEN & LARGE.
Allen & Large, wholesale dealers in cigars and pipes, are proprietors of one of Peoria's most recent and thriving commercial establishments, which has been conducted under the above name for less than a year, although the enterprise was founded practically nine years ago. It was first organized by Mr. Allen in 1903 under the firm name of Frederick J. Allen, and continued to be conducted under that name at the present location, 320 South Washington street, until the spring of 1911. On the Ist of March, that year, Mr. Large came into the busi- ness as an equal partner, the firm name being changed to Allen & Large. The added capital has enabled them to enlarge their enterprise and extend the scope of their business and they have every reason to feel encouraged and most san- guine regarding the future of their establishment. Both proprietors are travel- ing on the road and they also employ four salesmen, their territory being eastern Iowa, Illinois and western Indiana. They are both enterprising and capable young men, and have used such intelligence and discrimination in the develop-
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ment of their business that they have succeeded in building up a profitable trade. The patronage of the house has shown a marked increase ever since' it was founded, but with their increased capital and sales force their development is bound to be more rapid, while their prosperity seems assured. Both Mr. Allen and Mr. Large have been covering the territory in which they are now doing business for a good many years, as they were formerly in the employ of large local wholesale concerns, and are well known to the retail trade and have a good personal following.
Frederick J. Allen, senior partner of the firm of Allen & Large, is a native of Peoria, his birth having occurred in 1877, and a son of James S. Allen, a well known paving contractor of this city. He is indebted to the local public schools for his preliminary education, which was later supplemented by a commercial course, his student days being terminated at the age of seventeen years. He then entered upon the active duties of a business career as an employe of Oaksford & Fahnestock, wholesale grocers. When he first entered their service he was as- signed a minor position on the office force, where he not only efficiently dis- charged his duties but attentively applied himself to the mastery of the business, qualifying himself for advancement. He was ambitious and enterprising and wanted to make rapid progress, but being a practical and intelligent youth early realized that development in any line means the thorough mastery of a multitude of minor and apparently unessential details, so he made it one of his principles to do to the best of his ability anything he undertook. Such qualities as he mani- fested never go unobserved, and in connection with his rare faculty of doing things quickly and efficiently, he possessed the rarer gift of recognizing and anticipating possible requirements, always showing a personal interest in his work. He was soon promoted from his clerical position to the sales department and subsequently went on the road as a traveling salesman. Later he was called into the house and made buyer of one of the departments, continuing to be identified with this company until 1903. It was his intention not always to re- main in the service of others, however, and this ambition constantly stimulated him to renewed and greater efforts, and despite the fact that he had a most promising future with this firm he severed his connection with them. He had long believed that the wholesale cigar and pipe business afforded better oppor- tunities for a man of limited capital than almost any other line, so he pur- chased a stock and began operations at the firm's present location. His experi- ence both as salesman and buyer gave him the needed practical knowledge of conditions generally to qualify him to make a success of his undertaking. When he had his staff organized and was ready for operations, he decided to go on the road himself. That he did not miscalculate the possibilities of an enterprise of this kind is evidenced by the excellent business the company is now doing.
On the 4th of October, 1905, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Irene Hart, a niece of the late John Comstock, one of Peoria's oldest and most highly esteemed pioneers. Mr. Allen belongs to the United Commercial Travelers. His career has been characterized by orderly and permanent progression and his future as gauged by his past looks most promising and should bring to him the greater satisfaction and commendation because it has been self-won.
Frank H. Large is one of the most recent acquisitions to the wholesale com- mercial fraternity of Peoria, where he has long been recognized as a capable and promising business man. He was born in Denver, Colorado, on the 13th of Oc- tober, 1879, and is a son of the late Theodore S. Large, president of the Peoples' Fire Insurance Agency of Denver. The father was for many years successfully identified with the insurance interests of Denver, in which city he passed away in 190I.
Following the death of his father, Frank H. Large left his native city, in whose public schools he was educated, and came to Peoria and has ever since resided here. He has made his own way in the world since he was a lad of fourteen years, his first position having been in a local machine shop, where he
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was employed for about three years. In 1896 he withdrew from this vocation and went to work for the Wilson Grocery Company, remaining in their service for eight years. While there engaged he industriously applied himself to acquir- ing a thorough knowledge of the business generally, and as he was a bright, capable and ambitious youth, he became quite proficient. The firm early recog- nized his worth, giving evidence of their appreciation by promoting him to the position of traveling salesman, in which capacity he served until 1904. He then left their employ to become identified with The Jobst-Bethard Grocery Company, being a salesman of this house for seven years. On the Ist of March, 1911, he resigned his position to become associated in business with Mr. Allen, it having long been his ambition to have an establishment of his own. He was in every way fully qualified to assume the responsibility of such a connection, being thoroughly conversant with trade conditions generally and having a large personal follow- ing among the retail business men of this state. As a salesman, Mr. Large is ranked among the best in the city, and he has the additional advantage of pos- sessing fine powers of organization and keen business sagacity. He has made an excellent record during the entire period of his commercial career and there is no question but that the powers he exercised to the financial benefit of others will materially aid in promoting the development of the house of Allen & Large.
On the 26th of August, 1906, Mr. Large was married to Miss Anna Bourke, a daughter of the late Charles Bourke, who was postmaster of Peoria during the pioneer days. He was one of the town's oldest citizens, and had resided for over fifty years at 203 Sixth avenue, where he passed away in November, 1911.
Mr. Large has attained high rank in the Masonic fraternity and is a member of the Mohammed Shrine. He also belongs to the United Commerical Travelers and the Travelers Protective Association. He is a man of pleasing personality and genial nature and is very popular with his business associates, the respect of whom he has won and retained through the upright principles and honorable methods he employs in all of his transactions.
THOMAS B. LEWIS.
Thomas B. Lewis is a member of the law firm of King & Lewis, and has been engaged in practice for the last three years. He was born in Fairbury, Illi- nois, on November 12, 1884. His parents are Dr. G. C. and Ella L. (Beach) Lewis, the father a well known physician in his section of the state. He is affiliated with various medical societies and the National Geographic Society. They make their home at Fairbury, Illinois.
Thomas B. Lewis graduated from the Fairbury high school with the class of 1902. He continued his studies in Northwestern University for two years, subsequently entering the University of Illinois. In this institution he pursued a literary course until 1905, when he matriculated in the law department, being awarded the degree of LL. B. in 1908. He was admitted to the bar of the state of Illinois in the fall of the same year.
In Beardstown, Illinois, January 12, 1910, Mr. Lewis was married to Miss Jeanette E. Schmoldt, a daughter of Henry and Lina Schmoldt. The father, who is deceased, was one of the prominent citizens of Cass county and for many years was actively connected with political and public affairs. He was for some time a member of the deep waterway commission and was serving on this board at the time of his demise. lle was identified with various local enterprises, chief among these being the First State Bank of Beardstown, of which he was presi- dent. Ile was a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity and had attained high rank in this order. Mrs. Schmoldt survives and makes her home in Peoria with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, at 342 Crescent avenue.
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During his university days Thomas B. Lewis joined the Delta Tau Delta and Phi Delta Phi fraternities, with both of which he still keeps in touch. He is a member of the Creve Coeur and Illinois Valley Yacht Clubs and maintains rela- tions with the members of his profession through the Peoria County Bar Asso- ciation. He gives his political indorsement to the republican party.
EDGAR A. STRAUSE.
Success is but a relative term, the value of which must be determined not only by the position to which an individual has attained but also by the starting point of his career. Judged in this connection, Edgar A. Strause has made notable and creditable advancement. He started out in life without any especially favorable circumstances to aid him and laid the foundation for his success in thoroughly learning the tobacco trade. He is today at the head of an extensive tobacco house and is furthermore prominently known in Peoria as a leading factor in financial circles, being the president of the State Bank & Trust Com- pany. A native of Virginia, he was born in the old historic city of Richmond, on the 13th of August, 1871, his parents being Philip and Henrietta Strause. His father was a dry-goods merchant of that city, where he continued to make his home until his death in 1879. His widow still survives and now lives in Burlington, Iowa, with two sons.
It was in Richmond that Edgar A. Strause was reared and in the acquirement of his education attended the local schools, passing through consecutive grades until he became a high-school student. At an early age he felt it necessary to provide for his own support and first spent two years in the employ of his brothers, Isadore and Mark Strause, who were their father's successors in the wholesale and retail dry-goods business. On the expiration of that period he began acquainting himself with the tobacco business, entering a leaf tobacco factory, where he gained a knowledge of the trade. He followed the sales in open market and afterward went to North Carolina, where he engaged in buying leaf tobacco until about 1891. In that year he became a resident of Blooming- ton, Illinois, where he represented the Drummond Tobacco Company, having charge of sales as manager for central Illinois. He came to Peoria in 1893 in the same capacity and continued with that house in this city for seven years. He then became representative for Illinois for the Best & Russell Company as sales manager and his territory also covered a part of Indiana. This company is prominently known as importers and manufacturers of cigars and he continued with the house until he withdrew from that connection to enter business on his own account. In his individual undertaking he prospered and has made continuous advance. He is now at the head of the firm of E. A. Strause & Company, wholesale and retail distributors of cigars, operating six separate stores in Peoria. He has been engaged in the cigar business on his own account for about twelve years and is now one of the foremost representatives of the trade in eastern Illinois. He is thoroughly acquainted with every branch of the business in the field of manufacture as well as in the sales department and his long experience, comprehensive knowledge and progressive methods have con- stituted the broad foundation upon which he has builded his present day success.
Into other fields Mr. Strause has also extended his efforts and his name is today an honored one in financial circles, for he is the president of the State Bank & Trust Company of Peoria, to which position he was called in 1909 after two years of service as vice president, while previous to that time he had served for two years as a member of the board of directors, being elected to that posi- tion on the organization of the bank. The same business qualities which have brought him success in the cigar trade have contributed to the upbuilding of
EDGAR A. STRAUSE
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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HISTORY OF PEORIA COUNTY
the bank, which is now regarded as one of the safe and reliable moneyed insti- tutions of the city.
In 1895 Mr. Strause was united in marriage to Miss Flora Werschutz, of Peoria, and they became the parents of three children, Clifford, Edgar and Jack. The mother died July 9, 1909, her death being the occasion of deep regret to many friends. Mr. Strause is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. having taken the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite and also crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He likewise belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and to the Creve Coeur Club. His record is a notable example of the fact that success and an honorable name may be won simultaneously. At the outset of his career he realized that "there is no royal road to wealth" and he saw, too, that close application and unremitting energy must constitute the chief forces in the attainment of success. His life has, indeed, been a busy and useful one, but it has also been fruitful of sub- stantial results and while perhaps less spectacular than that of the military or political leader it has been none the less useful and valuable.
COLONEL ALLEN L. FAHNESTOCK.
In the course of his long carcer of eighty-four years Colonel Allen L. Fahne- stock has been actively identified with the life of his country in many different directions. He has served in her wars, been prominent in her manufacturing industries and active in her politics and has contributed much to her commercial progress and development. He is now a resident of Glasford, Peoria county, Illinois, where he is doing a flourishing business along mercantile lines.
Mr. Fahnestock is of German origin and the ancestry dates back to the great-grandfather of our subject, Dietrich Fahnestock, who was born in West- phalia, Prussia, and died in that country in 1775. Jacob Fahnestock, the grand- father of our subject, was the next in line. His birth occurred December 25. 1769, and he was the first of the name to settle in America. His wife, Salomc Fahnestock, was born November 14, 1772. Their son and our subject's father, Jacob Fahnestock, was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1801, and died in Lancaster, Peoria county, Illinois, September 9, 1841. His wife was Maria Harmon a native of Adams county, Pennsylvania, where her birth oc- curred May 16, 1806. She survived her husband until May 24, 1895, at which date her death occurred.
Colonel Allen L. Fahnestock was born in Abbottstown, Adams county, Penn- sylvania, February 9, 1828. He received his early education in the public schools of his native county and remained at home until he was eleven years of age. In 1839 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked in a store for some time. Later he went to Timber township and carried the mail once a week be- tween Lancaster and Peoria, receiving for his services twenty-five cents a trip. He attended school for a brief period and subsequently went to Peoria and learned the cooper's trade in the shop of James Souls. When he had mastered its details he worked at the business for a short time, and by strict economy he managed to save thirty-five dollars out of his first year's wages and sixty dol- lars out of his second. After two years he returned to Lancaster where he ob- tained a position in the employ of J. W. Robbins, making flour barrels at fifteen cents apiece. After his marriage, which took place in 1847, he became a manu- facturer of barrels on his own account and employed a large force of men. At about the same time he was elected to his first political office, which was that of township clerk. Later he became a supervisor and between 1856 and 1861 served as township school treasurer.
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On August 27, 1862, Colonel Fahnestock enlisted in Company I, Eighty- sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and was mustered into service with the com- mission of captain. The following year he obtained his promotion as major, and on April 13, 1864, was made lieutenant colonel. On account of his able service and his unblemished record he obtained his promotion as colonel, May II, 1865, and was mustered out of service with his honorable discharge on the 6th of June, 1865. While in the army he kept a diary of each day's work, the battles in which he was engaged, and a complete record of the life of the camps. This has been of great value to the government on many occasions. He has rewritten it once and is now engaged in a second revision of the manuscript. He is also copying the reports of all the officers of his brigade which were sent to headquarters every day during the war. When Colonel Fahnestock was discharged from the army he again entered commercial circles with which he had been connected since 1847. He dealt in all kinds of dry goods, groceries and drugs, and for some time he was interested in the lumber, brick, coal and lime business of the town- ship. He was intensely interested in the collection of rare relics and at one time had what was probably the largest number of specimens in the state. His entire collection amounted to seven thousand different relics, but he lately sold five thousand of these.
On the 5th of August, 1847, Colonel Fahnestock was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Doane, a native of Massachusetts, where her birth occurred in 1830. They became the parents of six children, five of whom are still living, namely, Charles, Alphonso, Frank, John and Mary. Colonel Fahnestock is at the present time actively interested in the work of the Grand Army of the Re- public. He belongs to Timber Post, No. 432, G. A. R., and was the first post commander of that organization and was subsequently reelected to this position several times. He has always been a republican in politics and in 1866 served one term as treasurer of Peoria county. He is a Royal Arch Mason and has always been prominent in the affairs of that organization. He is today one of the foremost merchants of Glasford, Illinois, where his well known principles of strict integrity and upright methods have gained him his success.
CHARLES S. DE GRAFF.
Charles S. De Graff is a well known and highly esteemed citizen of Peoria, who is now serving on the school board of the city and at the same time is con- ducting a printing establishment as publisher and editor of the Masonic News, in connection with which he operates a job printing department. His place of business is at the corner of North Adams and Eaton streets and his identification with the printing interests of the city dates from 1897, at which time he re- moved to Peoria from Tazewell county. He was born upon a farm in Hardin county, Iowa, February 23, 1864, and is a son of Hiram De Graff. In his boy- hood he entered the public schools and when not busy with his text-books he worked in the fields, being reared upon the home farm in the usual manner of lads of the period. The task of plowing, planting and harvesting early became familiar to him and through this means he learned the value of industry and persistency. He did not desire to make agricultural pursuits his life work, how- ever and, leaving the farm, went to Bloomington, Illinois, where he learned the job printing business. In fact, he acquainted himself with the various branches of the printer's trade and, working his way upward in that connection, eventually became proprietor and editor of the Tremont Sun, which he published at Tremont, Tazewell county, for about seven years. On the expiration of that period he disposed of his paper there and in 1897 came to Peoria. Here he es- tablished a job printing office, which he has since conducted, although he has
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extended the scope of his activities to include the publication of the Masonic News, of which he is also the editor. He entered upon active connection with that paper in November, 1899, and has made it one of the most interesting and widely read magazines of the craft.
Mr. De Graff is pleasantly situated in his home life, having been married to Miss Ella W. Funson, of Bloomington, Illinois. They have become the parents of four children, three sons and a daughter, namely, Frank, Alvin, Louis and Elsie May. The father is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp and of the Fraternal Reserves, and his Masonic relations are with Peoria Lodge, No. 15. He is in hearty sympathy with the teachings of the order and has made the Ma- sonic News of widespread interest to the brethren of the fraternity. In the development of this paper he has shown excellent business ability, increasing its circulation until it now has five thousand subscribers. The paper is published monthly and is devoted to the interests of the craft and to Masonic news in general. Mr. De Graff is a member of Grace Presbyterian church, in which he is serving as one of the trustees, and his deep interest in the welfare of the city is further indicated in the fact that he is a member of the Peoria school board, in which connection he exercises his official prerogatives in support of many plans and projects toward improving the school system and advancing its standard. Indeed, his influence is always on the side of material, social, intel- lectual and moral development and his position upon any vital or significant question is never an equivocal one.
FRANK J. QUINN.
It is an undoubted fact that the future of any city rests upon the ability and capacity of its young business and professional inen. The bar of Peoria has been noted for many years for the eminence of its members, and the men who were the great and active lawyers of yesterday have transferred their traditions of personal and professional success to the generation of today. In no case is this more true than in that of Frank J. Quinn, one of Peoria's best known and most widely popular attorneys. His father, Michael C. Quinn, now retired, was a leading attorney in this city for many years, and by his hard work attained many noteworthy achievements. The son is following success- tully in the footsteps of his distinguished father.
Frank J. Quinn was born in Chicago, January 23, 1866. His parents were Michael C. and Mary (Hurley) Quinn, both natives of Ireland. Michael C. Quinn was born in that country in 1840, and came to America when only a child, receiving his education in the schools of Holyoke, Massachusetts. He came to Peoria in 1867, after a short residence in Chicago, and is living at (02 North Madison avenue, this city. Michael C. Quinn has been prominent in local affairs. He was for many years a member of the Peoria city council, and also of the school board. He served two terms in the Illinois house of representatives, and was also for several years eity attorney of Peoria. He practiced law in conjunction with Hon. S. D. Puterbaugh, John S. Lee and Daniel R. Sheen. Later he was associated with his son, Frank J. Quinn in the practice of his profession.
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