USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 108
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In his politieal ideas Mr. Sholl is liberal, and in exercising the elective franchise his choice is de- termined more by the character of the candidate
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than by strict party affiliations. He, like other members of his father's family, is numbered among the law-abiding citizens & and excellent business men of the county. His wife is well fitted by na- ture and education to occupy a high position in society, and above all to be to her husband and children all that a wise and affectionate wife and mother may be.
AMES F. ANDERSON. There are few residents of Peoria who are better acquainted with its growth than J. F. Anderson, who has lived here half a century, and whose portrait on the opposite page represents a pioneer of the county. His parents came bitber -in 1839, when he was but a child, their journey being ac- complished in a prairie schooner from Murfrees- boro, 'Fenn., which was the home of Grandfather Anderson. Our subject remembers one incident -that of getting stuck in a slough in Illinois, and having to go many miles to get oxen and ropes to pull the horses and wagon out, and he also recalls the fact that wolves came near eating the horses while they camped at night.
The father of our subject was Charles M. Ander- son, who was born in Rome County, S. C., Febru- ary 22, 1809, and married Miss Mary Youngblood, of Nashville, Tenn. He was a blacksmith and an edged-tool maker. His family comprised seven children, all now deceased but our subject. When he came to Peoria, Indians were still numerous here, and the only houses were built of logs. He purchased land at the corner of Fulton and Monroe Streets, and there built what was at that ime the finest house on Fulton Street. It is still standing, the second door south of the Christian Church, the ground of which Mr. Anderson sold to the society. He first established a blacksmith-shop, but subse- quently became interested with Grier, McClure & Co., in lumber and packing house. He breathed his last in 1880; his wife had died in 1856.
The subject of this sketch was born in Nash- ville, Tenn., May 22, 1834, and was but five years old when the family removed to the Prairie State.
He grew to manhood in Peoria, and has seen the town build up from almost nothing to a condition which is a just cause of pride to its residents. His education was obtained in private schools, and his first business enterprise was in the confectionery business, which he learned and followed for a year or two. Later he was engaged in various employ- ments until he secured work with Messrs. Stone & Boomer, of the American Bridge Company, of Chicago, who put up the first bridge across the Illinois River at this point. Ile worked with them on this bridge, and then at various points in Wis- consin, Indiana, Iowa and Missouri, for over two years.
We next find Mr. Anderson in the employ of a house-mover in Chicago, for whom he worked but six weeks ere becoming foreman. When the seheme for raising brick buildings was promulgated, he was under instruction for a year, and soon afterward had a gang of men under him. It was not long until he had worked up to such proficiency that he was engaged by his employer for $3,000 per year, remaining with him five years, or until the break- ing out of the Civil War.
Mr. Anderson was intensely loyal, and not many weeks had elapsed after the fall of Sumter before he had determined to enter the Union Army. On July 5, 1861, he left Peoria as a member of Com- pany D, First Illinois Cavalry, and was sworn into the service at Quincy. The regiment was sent into Missouri, fought against Price at Lexington, where Mr. Anderson was wounded in the ear, from which lie is still deaf. Ele was also taken prisoner there. but with his comrades was soon released on parole and sent to Quincy, whence they went to St. Louis to help fortify the city. He was obliged to report for one year to his doctor, and was then discharged. In the regiment to which he belonged every sol- dier owned his own horse.
When Mr. Anderson was able to work he began house-moving, at which he has now been engaged in Peoria for twenty-eight years. He also deals in second-hand houses and rebuilds, and is now the leading contractor in this line in the city. He has put in many of the new fronts and moved many of the prominent buildings. He employs from twelve to twenty men, a number of whom have been with
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him many years. He also gives considerable at- tention to the buying and sale of real estate, at this writing having thirteen residences to rent in different parts of the city, some of which are model homes.
Mr. Anderson is and has been for twelve years a Director in the People's Loan Association, of which he is one of the original stockholders. Ile is also one of the Directors of the Mechanics & Builders Exchange. For three terms he served as County Supervisor, but his business affairs have kept him too busy for him to desire the office. He has never aspired to political honors, the only attention which he pays to politics being to usually cast his vote with the Republican party. He is a member of Bryner Post, G. A. R. llis thorough knowledge of the business in which he is engaged. the reliable character which he possesses, and his personal at- tributes insure for him the respect of the commu- nity at large, and the special regard of those who are best acquainted with his good qualities.
The lady who for several years was a devoted companion to our subject, became his wife in Peo- ria November 14, 1864. She bore the maiden name of Louisa Fox, was born in Ireland in 1840, and being left an orphan in childhood, accompanied an aunt to Boston. Thence she came to Peoria County, Ill., with an unele, residing here from that time until her death, September 9, 1878. She was the mother of two children, one of whom is still living and is now with his father in business. He bears the name of John W.
W ILLIAM P. GRAHAM is a well-to-do farmer in Trivoli Township, where he has a finely improved place and is classed among the best citizens. Ilis father William Gra- ham was born in Marion County, Ky., his father, who was a native of Ireland, having located there in the very early days of the settlement of that State.
The father of our subject was a farmer and had a farm in Kentucky, and he also used to team across the mountains with a wagon. He was besides a blacksmith and a shoemaker. In 1836, he came to
Illinois with his wife and four children with a four- horse team, traveling a distance of four hundred miles, crossing the Ohio at Louisville, and the Illi- nois at Beardstown, and located in Trivoli Town- ship. He rented land and worked at his various callings. His health was not good after he came here as he had the ague nearly every fall, and in 1850, the township was deprived of a good citizen by his death of typhoid fever. He was an earnest Democrat in his political views. The maiden name of his wife was Elizabeth Jackson and she was born in Hardin County, Ky., coming of the old Jackson stock. She resided with her children until her death in 1886, at the age of seventy-two years. She was a Presbyterian in her religious faith.
Those worthy people were the parents of ten children named as follows: John D., who died in Warren County, Iowa ; Mark T., a farmer in Trivoli Township; Martha J., a resident of Trivoli Town- ship; William P .; Henry H., of MeDonough County ; Susan, now Mrs. Carr of Elmwood; James a resident of Guthrie. County, Iowa; Sarah who died at the home of our subject in Fulton County ; Andrew J., a physician in Peoria; Harriet, now Mrs. Cramer of Trivoli Township. The Doctor is a graduate of Keokuk Medical College of Iowa. He was in an Illinois regiment during the late war and served until its elose.
William Graham was born near Lebanon in Marion County, Kv., January 29, 1534. His first recollections are of his father's pioneer home in Trivoli Township. In 1838, the family removed to Fulton County near Farmington and there he was reared, receiving but limited educational ad- vantages in the primitive log house in which the district school was taught, which was three miles distant from his home. Early in life he was em. ployed in farming, his father died when he was six- teen years old and he then went out to work as a farm hand by the month and was thus engaged un- til his marriage.
After that important event in his life Mr. Gra- ham took up his residence in MeDonough County, and farmed near Prairie City two years, and after that rented a farm in Fulton County, near Farm- ington, and had a house and lot there. He finally bought eighty acres of the old home, and actively
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entered upon its further improvement. He engaged in general farming and stock-raising and in time began to make money, though he found the first thousand dollars the hardest to acquire of all his competeney. He now has two hundred acres of land, having bought the old Chapman place in 1885, where he has his home, eiglity acres of his realty lying on section 28, forty acres on section 27, and eighty acres on seetion 22. He has three different sets of buildings on his farm, all neat and well-ar- ranged, and he operates the whole farm, which is well watered by Tiber Creek. He has draft and road horses, feeds cattle to some extent, and lias about fifty two-year old steers and from seventy- five to one hundred high graded Poland-China hogs. He has witnessed the growth of the country from pioneer times when deer and wolves were plenty. He used to team to Chicago in winters when he was a boy. He also worked in a packing house and slaughter house on the river at Reed's Landing, and engaged in logging and other kinds of labor. .
Mr. Graham and Miss Caroline McCoy united their lives and fortunes February 13, 1864. She was born in Christiana, Del., on the 26th of De- eember, 1838, a daughter of James McCoy, who was born in Delaware near New Castle. August 6, 1807. His father Nathaniel McCoy, a Scotchman by birth came to America and settled in Delaware in early Colonial days. He subsequently emigrated to the Little Miami River in Ohio, where he and his wife died soon after settling there, leaving six chil- dren orphaned. Mrs. Graham's father was ap- prentieed to learn the trade of a blacksmith in Del- aware County, and he became a practical blacksmith and manufacturer of edged tools. In 1842, he re- moved to St. Louis with his family and carried on the manufacture of edge tools, and spears for the Government during the Mexican War. He made improvements on the cotton gin, which was exhib- ited at the St. Louis fair in 1845. He made the first mower ever manufactured in St. Louis, but the pat- ent was stolen from him. In 1852 he came to this State and located in OrionTownship, Fulton County, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land which he improved, and erected a blacksmith shop and was very successful in business. He now
lives retired, the infirmities of age having come over him, he being now eighty-three years old and nearly blind and quite deaf. Ile has always been a sturdy follower of the Democratie party. Ile was married at Ellicotts Mills, to Miss Cassander, daughter of William Ward a native of England. She is now seventy-four years old. She is a Baptist in religion. Her grandfather was an English Tory and came to this country. ller father served in the War of 1812, when a young man, and was at the battle of New Orleans. He was well educated, and was an attorney, and inherited wealth. He was aceidentally drowned in the Delaware River when but thirty-two years of age.
Mrs. Graham's parents had nine children, who were named as follows: Catherine, Mrs. Bates, of St. Louis; Sarah J., Mrs. Bledsoe, of Warren County, Iowa; Caroline; Amanda, Mrs. McCloud,of Christian County ; Almira, Mrs. Daugherty, of Ft. Scott, Kan .; Mary, who died in infancy; Robert, who died when young; Josephine, Mrs. Tyler, of Kan- sas; James a resident of Orion Township, Fulton County. Mrs. Graham is the mother of two chil- dren, James A. and William Allen, both of whom are at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Graham are people of great per- sonal worth and high social standing in this eom- munity, and the Presbyterian Church at Brunswick has in them two of its leading members. He has been School Director and Commissioner of High- ways for one term. In politics, in which he is much interested, he stands stanchly by the Democratic party.
6 HOMAS S. MARSHALL, senior member of the firm of Marshall & Co., dealers in dry- goods and millinery at No. 106 South Adams Street, has already gained a prominent place among the leading business men of Peoria, though he has been a resident of the eity only a few years.
Mr. Marshall is of Scottish birth and antece- dents, born May 24, 1852. He was educated in the land of his nativity, and learned his business in Glasgow, where he remained until he emigrated to
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the United States in 1872. After coming to this country, he first located in Hartford, Conn., and was with Brown & Co., of that city, the ensuing nine years. From there he went to Wheeling. W. Va., and engaged in business for a time. He came to Peoria in 1885, and established himself in his present business. opening a new store and building up his own trade. He has a large store, one hundred and eighty feet deep, occupying two stories, and complete in all its appointments. Ile employs a force of twenty-one hands and does a retail business, with the exception of jobbing in millinery. The firm was known as Marshall, Mur- ray & Co. until January 1, 1890, when our sub- jeet bought Mr. Murray's interest in this estab- ment, he taking the branch store which they had previously opened in Streator. Under Mr. Mar- shall's vigorous and enterprising management the business is constantly increasing, and he has a very satisfactory trade, amounting to more than $100, -. 000 a year.
Mr. Marshall and Miss Isabella Jamieson. of Middletown. Conn .. have united their lives and fortunes and have established in this city one of its coziest and most attractive homes. They have two children: William and Jamieson.
Mr. Marshall is a wide-awake, progressive man of business, and his standing in financial circles is of the highest order, as he conducts his business only by the most honorable methods, is carrying it on with marked success, and to-day is one of our moneyed men, who has contributed mueh toward raising the financial standing of Peoria. IIe is a man of social prominence and is President of the Caledonian Club.
I SAAC C. EDWARDS, one of the well-known and able attorneys of Peoria, was born in Stark County, Ill., January 19, 1851. He is a son of Benjamin F. and Catherine (Eekley ) Edwards, the former of whom came from Virginia to the Prairie State as early as 1844. The Edwards family is of Welsh extraetion and has been represented in Vir- ginia for two centuries, numerous members of the
respected family being now to be found in Grayson and Carroll Counties. The Eckleys were early set- tlers, first of Ohio and then of Illinois, and were of Irish origin.
Benjamin Edwards was engaged for many years in the peaceful pursuit of farming, but later in life embarked in the livery business. He came to Peoria in 1861, and was well known as one of the leading liverymen in the city for many years. He died in January. 1882. Mrs. Edwards survives and still continues to make her residence in Peoria. To them was born a family of six children. five of whom are still living.
The gentleman with whose name this notice is introduced remained in Tonlou, Stark County, after his father's family came to Peoria, attending school and making his home with J. A. Cooley. He com- pleted the course of study in Toulon Seminary, then came to Peoria and began working in the livery stable. Finding the business uneongenial, in 1869 be entered a boiler shop where he worked abont a year. Ile was still dissatisfied, being ambitious to climb higher and having a decided inclination for a line of life in which he would exert more mental ability. An opportunity having offered he entered the law office of McCoy & Stevens as a student. re- maining with them until the dissolution of the firm by reason of Mr. MeCoy going to Chicago.
Young Edwards was faithful and studious and although he found the road to success in his chosen field not an easy one, he had the mental ability and pluck necessary to complete his course of study with eredit. Ile finished his reading with MeCullough & Stevens, working for the firm eighteen months for the penurious salary of $10 per month. Even this did not discourage him, and the day soon dawned when he was able to put out his own "shingle," being admitted to the bar in 1871.
Mr. Edwards first opened up in business as junior member of the law firm of Voigt & Edwards, re- maining thus associated until July 20, 1874, when Mr. Voigt retired and he continued the business alone for several years. In 1878 he formed a part- nership with Isaac E. Lonsbert, but the firm was dissolved in about a year, Mr. Lonsbert removing to Emporia, Kan., where he was appointed Postmaster by President Harrison, leaving our subject again
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alone. For one year he was associated with Frank Ives, under the firm name of Edwards & Ives, and in 1885 he formed a partnership with Isaac M. Hornbacker, which continued for about eighteen months, since which time Mr. Edwards has been unassisted in his legal efforts. He is engaged in general law practice, although he lias greater suc- cess in criminal cases. In that department of his profession he has won an enviable reputation.
Mr. Edwards is one of the many enthusiastie work- ers in the building up of Peoria in whose future he has always had great faith. le began dealing in real estate about 1883 and within the last three years has handled over three hundred pieces of property within the city limits, besides doing con- siderable business in outside property. In the latter part of 1889-'90 he laid out and platted nearly thirty-five aeres in town lots, the same being known as Table Grove Addition to the city of Peoria and Table Grove Extended. While thus adding to the attractions and aiding in the further extension of the city of his choice, Mr. Edwards is adding to his own reputation as a young man of unbounded energy and shrewdness.
Politieally, Mr. Edwards is very active, but while working carnestly for the success of the principles in which he believes, he has declined all political honors although the nominations for Mayor and State Senator have been tendered him. lle is a working member of the State Republican League, of which he was one of the founders, is Vice-Presi- dent for the Congressional district and presided over the deliberations of the body during its last meeting held at Springfield and a member of the Republican State Central Committee. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic order and one of the few in this country who have received the thirty-third degree. This he did at Boston, Mass., September 18, 1888. From this it will be inferred that he has ever been a prominent worker in the fraternity and has held many positions. He is a charter member of Calan- tha Lodge, No. 47, Knights of Pythias, has served as Past Chancellor and was the first Vice-Chancellor of the lodge. He is also connected with the An- cient Order of United Druids, having been one of the founders of Merlin Grove, No. 71, which is pronounced to be the finest grove in Illinois. He
was its first Noble Arch, which position he held for two years. He is now Deputy Grand Arch of the State of Illinois.
It will be seen from this brief outline that Mr. Edwards possesses the social qualities which render a man popular, that he is benevolent, energetic, possessed of business tact of a high order, and ever ready to bear a hand in the progressive movements of the age. lIe is thoroughily versed in the prin- ciples laid down by Coke, Blackstone, and other eminent writers on jurisprudence, quick to perceive the salient points in attack or defence, and an adept in presenting the case lie has in hand to judge and jury. Being still quite a young man, the proba- bilities are that he will become a prominent figure throughout the State, as he already is in the county.
G EORGE T. GILLIAM. This young gentle- man has a good standing among the busi- ness men of Peoria, where he is engaged in insurance, loan and real-estate business, and that of an attorney- at-law. Ilis office is in the Merean- tile Library building, which he entered upon its completion and where he has since remained. He possesses a fine education, the manners of a well- bred gentleman and a character which wins friends.
The natal day of Mr. Gilliam was March 4, 1854, and his birth took place near Pittsburg, Pa. lle is a son of the late Dr. G. T. Gilliam, who moved West, and finally located in St. Louis, Mo., to educate his family. Our subject was graduated from the High School of that eity in 1875, and three years later obtained the degree of LL.B. from the Law Department of Washington Univer- sity. lle was admitted to the State Courts of Illi- nois and Missouri that year, and also to the United States Courts. After practicing in St. Louis a year he came to Peoria, in 1879, with the intention of continuing his professional labors here. It was not long, however, before he gave his attention to the office work in which he is now engaged and of which he has made a success.
Mr. Gilliam is Clerk of North Peoria, the most enterprising suburb of the city. He is not a politi-
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cal aspirant, preferring to devote his time to his personal affairs. He votes the Republican ticket, as did his father before him, the latter having been a prominent Abolitionist when it required courage to become known as a member of that party.
The virtues and graces of Miss Clara Semelroth, of this city, so deeply impressed Mr. Gilliam, that he desired hier presence in his home, and winning her consent, they became man and wife, April 30, 1882. Their happy union has been blessed by the birth of five children, named respectively: Jessie. Lillie, Alice, George and Josie. Mr. Gilliam be- longs to the Congregational Church.
OHN RADLEY, whose home is pleasantly situated on section 36, is one of the oldest settlers of Jubilee Township, and has suc- ceeded during a life spent in the practice of the virtues of industry and economy. in amassing a considerable amount of this world's goods and is now living in the enjoyment of all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He is of English birth and very quiet in his habits having no desire to meddle with the concerns of any one. lle makes no enemies as he attends to his own business and lets other people do the same by theirs. Never having met his "soul's affinity" he has remained unmarried. To the friends who know him well he is social and genial but does not care for large gather- ings or crowds of people.
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The father of our subject, George Radley, was born in Devonshire. England. The grandfather. also George. was an Englishman who owned and operated a farm in Swimbridge, and was highly esteemed by the people of that parish. The fa- ther was also a farmer and passed his entire life in his native country dying in 1842, when sixty years of age. He was, as were his forefathers and family, a devout member and regular attendant upon the services of the Protestant Episcopal Church. The mother of our subject was Elizabeth JJones, a na- tive of Devonshire and daughter of John Jones, a farmer of that parish. She accompanied her chil- dren to the United States and died at the home of
our subject in 1854. at the age of seventy-seven years. The parental family consisted of nine chil- dren named respectively: George, who resides in Brimfield, in his eightieth year; John, the subject of this brief biography; Betsey, now a resident of Woodford County, Ill .; Richard, lives in Kiekapoo Township; William also lives in Kickapoo Town- ship; Mary departed this life while a resident of this township, in 1845; Susannah makes her home with our subject; James resides in Jubilee Town- ship, and Maria W., lives in Woodford County. Ill.
Mr. Radley of whom we write was born in the parish of Swimbridge, Devonshire, England, in July 1812, and was reared in his native place where he resided until he was twenty-seven years of age. Ile received a fair education in the free schools of his native parish but was early obliged to commence working to help in the task of earning a living. In 1839, he emigrated to America in company with bis brother George. They chose the spring of the year for their venture and the vessel in which they sailed was five weeks making the trip. The voyage was rather tedious but was enlivened by the hope that they cherished of carving out their fortunes in the "New World" to which they were bound. From New York Harbor where they landed they went to Genesee County, N. Y., near Batavia, where he en- gaged on his uncle's farm and remained for a time, afterward coming to illinois.
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