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 40
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Mr. Bennett in his career as a farmer, displayed an active wide-awake temperament, forethought. and an excellent capacity for shrewdly managing his affairs to the best advantage, and these traits
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have been the means of his securing a desirable in- come and obtaining his cozy home. As a loyal citizen should, he interests himself in national af- airs and is identified with the Democratic party.
= ESTON R. GALES. This gentleman has secured a satisfactory degree of worldly success by reason of his personal integrity and the exercise of unmistakable business ability. He possesses the well-bred manners so characteristic of those born in the Southern States, and having excellent conversational powers is able to present the subject which he desires to bring to one's no- tice, with a degree of tact which makes his com- panionship agreeable and gives him a success not met with by all who are in the same line of busi- ness. He has been located in Peoria since 1887, and now has charge of the National Accident As- sociation in the State, which gives him a wide field of labor.
Mr. Gales is descended from the early settlers of North Carolina and is therefore of remote English ancestry. Ilis parents were Seaton and Mary (Compton) Gales, both natives of the same State and the father was engaged in editorial work in Raleigh. That city was the birthplace of our sub- ject, who, as he grew to manhood, attended private schools there, among them being the Male Acad- emy. He left school when sixteen years old and embarked in business in New York City, finding employment with a noted firm of wholesale hard- ware dealers. lle continued there until 1821, when he returned to his native State and was elected to a clerkship in the State Legislature.
Mr. Gales retained that position until elected by the legislature to the office of Clerk of the Criminal Court of Wake County, the duties of which posi- tion he continued to discharge until by a change in the judicial system the court was abolished. Re- embarking in a business carcer, he was connected with the tobacco interests for some time, then en- gaged in the insurance work in Cincinnati, Ohio. From that city he removed to Peoria at the date before mentioned, to take charge of the Peoria
District of the Prudential Insurance Company, with which he was engaged in Cincinnati. From that position he was finally called to take charge of the State work of the Association with which he is now laboring.
In 1878, Mr. Gales and Miss Anna Cowan Strong were joined in holy wedlock. The bride is a native of the same city in which her husband opened his eyes to the light, is intelligent, accomplished and well-bred, capable of gracefully filling any position to which she might be called. Mr. and Mrs. Gales have one child-Anna Cowan, a bright miss now ten years old.
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Mr. Gales is an active member of the Reformed Episcopal Church and Superintendent of Bacon Mission, which was established about two years ago, having for its object to reach the unsaved that the ordinary means of Christian work are not adapted for. The life of the Mission and its suc- cess, is due to the Christian energy of those who are connected with the Bible Class of the church. Meetings are held bi-weekly, with a Sunday-school in connection therewith, and an industrial school in session except during the summer months.
ARCUS WHITING, M.D. Although not yet thirty years of age, Dr. Whiting has an excellent standing in the profession which he has chosen, and is regarded by his fellow-citizens as an honor to the city in which he has made his home. He came to Peoria immed- iately after his graduation and during the few years which have elapsed since that time he has built up a good practice by his pleasing personal traits and his skill in his chosen work. His natural acumen added to the thorough instruction which he re- ceived, makes him judicious in the use of Thera- peutical agents,and his desire to reach the highest position possible keeps him on the alert to add to his knowledge by observation and study.
Dr. Whiting was born in La Fayette County, Mo., August 22, 1860, and being a son of a min- ister. received his education in various schools as his father was called from place to place. IIis
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father, the Rev. Charles Whiting, D. D., is now in charge of the Baptist Church in Canton where he has been for the past twelve years. His instruc- tion was more serviceable to hiis son than all others he received, as it inspired him with the love of learning as well as stored his mind with facts and principles. When eighteen years old young Whit- ing began reading medicine with Drs. Sutton and Fleming in Canton, and he afterward entered Rush Medical College in Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1883.
The social and benevolent nature of our subject has led him to identify himself with various or- ganizations in the principles of which he concurs. He is a Mason, a member of the Knight of Pythias. also of the Select Knights of the Associated Or- der of United Workmen, the Knights and Ladies of Honor, the Modern Woodmen and the Red- Men. His political adherence is given to the Democratic party. For thrce years he has held the position of Health Officer for Peoria.
The mental ability and culture and the womanly graces and accomplishments of Miss Mattie Garth- waite, daughter of Luther and Rosa Garthwaite, of Indianapolis, Ind., won the regard of the young physician and his feeling being reciprocated they were united in marriage January 24, 1888. A daughter-Ethel Lee-adds her infantile grace to the charms of home.
ENRY H. FAHNESTOCK, of the firm of Oakford & Fahnestock, who carry on a wholesale grocery business in Peoria, was born in this county June 14, 1838. He is a son of Jacob and Maria (Ilarmon) Fahnestock. natives of Pennsylvania, whence they came to the Prairie State in 1834. In the Keystone State Jacob Fahnestock had been in the mercantile bus- iness but after coming to Peoria County he fol- lowed farming.
The subject of this brief sketch began to learn the trade of a cooper at the age of sixteen years, and when twenty one years old took charge of a
small hotel and a cooper shop in Kingston. He carried on these enterprises three years, after which he entered the employ of the Kingston Mines Coal Company, keeping books and doing other general work for them two years. HIc next embarked in a hay speculation in McLean County which "swept the platter clean." Ilis next vent- ure was to embark in the hotel business with a brother-in-law, J. W. Robbins, but he abandoned the hotel a year later to become book-keeper for A. & J. Schardzki.
After remaining in their employ a year and a half he began traveling for Gibson & Woodbury, some eighteen months later taking up a similar line of work for S. H. Thompson & Co., continu- ing so employed until 1871. He then entered the establishment of llenry & Oakford, as a partner, the firm becoming Henry, Oakford & Fahnestock. On New Year's Day, 1881, he bought out the in- terest of the senior member of the firm. and the business since that time has been continued under the style of Oakford & Fahnestock.
An important step in the life of our subject transpired in 1859, when he was united in mar- riage with Miss Frances E. Hill of this city. The wisdom of his choice has been abundantly demon- strated by the happiness of the home. The union has been blessed by the birth of two children-Lil- lie L. and Howard R., both of whom are still at home cheering their parents by their presence.
Mr. Fahnestock is a believer in and a supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He is a member of the Masonie fraternity, his name being enrolled in Eddy Lodge, No. 357, Kingston Mines. Mr. Fahnestock is regarded as a man of honor, good business qualities and kindliness in social re- lations. and as a representative citizen of Peoria we present his portrait on another page.
AKFORD & FAIINESTOCK. The large and extensive business of the mercantile es- tablishment of Oakford & Fahnestock, the leading merchants of Peoria, was started January 1. 1868, by .Joseph F. Henry, Aaron S. Oakford and
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George Wright, under the firm name of J. F. lIenry & Co., doing an extensive retail business on North Washington Street. near Main Street.
January 1, 1870, Messrs. Henry and Oakford bought out Mr. Wright's interest, the firm name being changed to HIenry & Oakford. They en- larged the retail trade of the house, and with char- neteristic enterprise, added a wholesale department. From very small beginnings, the wholesale trade steadily grew and constantly required an increas- ing amount of capital to carry it on.
The 1st of January, 1872, Mr. H. H. Fahnestock joined Messrs. llenry and Oakford in the business, and once again the firm name was changed, be- coming Henry, Oakford & Fahnestock. They moved to South Washington Street, near Liberty, and from that date confined themselves exclu- sively to the wholesale trade. In 1874 Mr. C. J. Off was admitted into the firm, and retired in 1877.
More room was needed to carry on the cxten- sive business that the firm controlled, and in 1875, it moved into a large store below Liberty Street, on Washington Street. In a few years the busi- ness had reached such enormons proportions that the firm was again forced to move, and in 1877 Easton's Commercial Block was built expressly for it.
In Jannary, 1881, Mr. Henry's interest was pur- chased by the present members of the firm. The trade of this house advanced wonderfully under the new management, increasing so rapidly that, in addition to the Easton Block, they used a ware- house of equal size, extending from Commercial to Water Street. Even this amount of room did not afford the facilities necessary for the operations of so large a business, and in 1887 Messrs Oakford and Fahnestock became the owners of the building now occupied by them. This is a mammoth, four- story warehouse, on the corner of Liberty and Commercial Streets, and fronting on Washington Street. It is handsomely fitted up, and well-ap- pointed in every particular, with fine offices and salesrooms, extending to Washington Street, and the establishment throughout is considered one of the finest in the State. Adjoining, on Washington Street, are the extensive coffee and spice mills op-
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erated by the firm. The house employes ten trav - eling salesmen, and a large force of clerks and other employes, to assist in conducting their im- mense business, which extends throughout Illinois and Iowa, and amounts to about $1,500,000 a year.
G EORGE LANE. This gentleman is pleas- antly located in Trivoli Township, owning fifty acres on section 19, and another tract of one hundred and sixty acres on sections 19 and 30. In addition to his own property, he rents two hundred and five acres, operating therefore four hundred and fifteen acres. He has set out one hundred orchard trees on his home place, has fenced and otherwise improved it, erecting in 1888 a barn 36x48 feet, and in 1890 another 36x37 feet. The land is fertilized by a stream which flows through it, beantified by native groves, affording the best of pasture ground for the large herds of cattle which he raises and feeds. His principal oc- cupation is cattle feeding and shipping, his trans- actions in that line being more extensive than those of any other man in the township. IIe feeds about twelve thousand bushels of corn a year, being obliged to buy more than half this amount.
Mr. Lane uses the best farm machinery, running his corn crusher and grinder by steam, and hav- ing a steam thresher, with which he does much work during the season. He has threshed since he was sixteen years old, and held an interest in a machine for quite a number of years. Besides the cattle which he feeds, he also buys and ships hogs to some extent, feeding two or three carloads per year, and raises some draft horses. He is an excel- lent judge of stock, and has made more money by trade than in any other way. His home is located four miles from Farmington and three miles from Cramer, giving him convenient markets.
Our subject is of Southern ancestry, being a grandson of Col. Lewis Lane, a native of North Carolina, who located on a farm in Tennessee in 1814. He was a private in the War of 1812, and a Colonel in the Black Hawk War. For some years he held the office of Iligh Sheriff in Tennes-
i
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see and a similar office in Hamilton County, Ill., to which he finally removed. He occupied himself in farming and hunting being a well-known sports- man and at one time the owner of eleven hundred acres of land. He was liberal and open-handed, spending his money freely, was as popular as any man in the county and moved in the best of so- ciety. At one time he was engaged in raising fast and fancy horses, owning some valuable speci- mens. Hle was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and lived to be over ninety years old. An heirloom in his family is a canc which he cut from timber on Andrew Jackson's place at New Orleans.
The father of our subject was Joel P. Lane, who was born near Nashville, Tenn., came to Hamil- ton County, Ill., when a babe and was educated there. He made several trips back and forth be- tween that and Peoria Counties, finally removing to the latter in the fall of 1834. In 1840 he brought some running horses which he traded for the land now occupied by our subject, upon which he located and resided until his death. During his early years he was not very energetic, but later in life became very successful. When the Civil War closed he had one hundred and forty acres of land, to which he added until his estate amounted to two hundred and sixty acres. ITis specialty was raising swine. He was a Democrat in politics, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, active in all its work, a Class-Lcader for years and Superintendent of the Sunday-school. lle died in 1874, when sixty-nine years old.
The wife of Joel P. Lane and mother of our subject was Keziah Proctor, a native of Hamilton County, Ill., in which her parents, David and Jane Proctor, were early settlers. Her father was born in Virginia and was engaged in farming. Mrs. Keziah Lane is now living with our subject, being quite advanced in years. She is the mother of eight children, four of whom are still living. These are: Johnson H., a farmer in Trivoli Township; John W., whose home is in Abingdon; he of whom we write; and Alva C., a real-estate and loan agent in Eureka, Kan. The deceased are: Lewis H., who died here; Elza, Sarah and Mary.
The subject of this sketch was born April 5,
1855, on the farm he now owns, and reared upon it, early beginning to take a share in the farm work, and pursuing his studies in the district schools. He remained with his parents until twenty years old, when, his father dying, he began farming for himself, finally buying out the other heirs of the homestead. He engaged in general farming, then went into the sheep business quite extensively, having as many as fifteen hundred head, one thon- sand of which he brought from Kansas. He sold wool and mutton until the dogs became so numer- ous and troublesome that he disposed of his flocks and embarked in the cattle business. He feeds about four carloads, or one hundred and seventy- five head per year, in addition to those raised on his own place.
Mr. Lane was fortunate in securing for his wife an amiable, capable young lady, a native of Tim- ber Township, known in her maidenhood as Miss lda Fahnestock. Her father, William Fahnestock, made an early settlement in Timber Township, where he was engaged in farming and cooper- ing, but is now in the hotel business at Glasford. Mrs. Lane received her education in this vicin- ity and for some years was successfully engaged in sehool teaching. She and her husband have two children-Frank and lloward.
Mr. Lane is an ardent Democrat, but will accept no offices. Honorable in all his actions, intelli- gent, courteous and of a friendly spirit, he is de- servedly popular, while his energy, tact and thrift make the outlook for the future bright indeed.
OIIN E. MCKINNEY is an extensive manu- facturer of brick, carrying on his business in Richwood Township, where he is also en- gaged in farming. Our subject was the ninth child born to his parents and the place of his birth was in Allegheny County, Pa., about seven miles from Pittsburg, June 26, 1826, being the date of his birth.
The father of the gentleman of whom we write, David McKinney, was born on the Atlantic Ocean, while his parents were emigrating from Ireland to
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the United States. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Abigail Ensley, and she was a native of the Keystone State. She was married in Beaver County, that State, and at once she and her husband removed to Ohio, of which they were pioneers. They lived there some years, and then returned and located near Pittsburg. Mr. MeKin- ney was a tailor by trade, and also engaged at one time in keeping hotel, toll gate and post-office where he lived. In 1842 he came with his family to Peoria County and cast in his lot with its pioneers, settling south of Edwards' Station. They lived there one year, and then removed to Richwood Township, and subsequently to Timber Township, and after that the father bought a farm in Logan Township. Later in life he sold that and bought a house and lot in Peoria, and there he and his wife spent their remaining years in the comforts of a good home. They had a family of ten children, three sons and seven daughters.
The son of whom we write was a youth of six- teen years when he accompanied his parents to their pioneer home in Peoria County. Ile contin- ned to live with them until he was eighteen years old, and then left the shelter of the parental roof, and was employed one year in a brick yard in North Peoria. He continued to work for others for several years, and gained a thorough knowledge of the best process of making brick. In 1860 he established himself in business as a manufacturer of brick in the same yard where he has been en- gaged ever since, with the exception of two years, until the present time. He turns off from one million to twelve hundred thousand bricks annually, for which he finds a ready sale. He also devotes some of his time to the management of his farm, which comprises forty-three and one-half acres of well-tilled soil, on which he has erected a fine set of buildings, and has every convenience for carrying on his farming operations advantageously.
Mr. Mckinney was married in Logau Township to Miss Eliza, daughter of the late William Stratton, who was one of the old settlers of that township and of the county. Mrs. McKinney is a native of New York City, where she was born January 13, 1827. ller marriage with our subject has been blessed to them by the birth of five children-
Luther B., Julia A., Sarah J .. William and Maud. Julia is the wife of John Buttrick; Sarah is the wife of J. H. Flanegan; and Maud is the wife of Sherman lines.
During his residence in this township, Mr. Mc- Kinney has proved the worth of his citizenship by his liberal support of all measures in any way tending to advance the community. His standing here is of the best, as his dealings are conducted on a strictly honorable basis, and all who come in con- tact with him soon learn to trust him. His capacity for intelligent and well-directed labor is of a high order, and by his wisdom, thrift, and forethought he has won a competence. Mr. Mckinney has acted with the Republican party, though he is in- dependent in his political views, and reserves his right to vote as he pleases. He was a Trustee of North Peoria at one time, and proved to be a good civic official.
ACOB MULLER, a prominent and wealthy business man of Peoria, who for nearly thir- ty-five years has carried on a large retail grocery business at No. 112 Bridge Street, is a fine type of the German element that has been so instrumental in the upbuilding of the city. He has met with more than ordinary success in busi- ness, and has acquired a fine property, and has erected a handsome residence at Nos. 309 and 311 Jefferson Avenue, that is an ornameut to this part of the city.
Mr. Muller was born in Germany, January 26, 1835, but before he had attained manhood, he had turned his face toward this land of promise, the goal toward which so many of his countrymen pressed, he coming to this country in 1851. He first located in Massachusetts, but hearing much of the "Great West." and especially of the Prairie State, he determined to avail himself of its marvel- lous advantages, and in 1854 he took up his resi- dence in Peoria County, and in 1855 came to this city to establish himself in the grocery business. He had come to this country a stranger in a strange land, with whose language and customs he was un-
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yours Truly Clarow S. Oakford
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familiar, and by his own efforts he had made the capital on which to start in his new career. IIe located on Bridge Street, and here has remained for a third of a century, and is now one of the lead- ing grocers in the city. In 1865 he built the fine brick store in which he is now carrying on his busi- ness, and has it well-fitted up and stocked with everything in his line.
Mr. Muller has been prominent in many of the enterprises that have greatly added to the financial standing of the city. He helped to organize and start the German-American Bank in 1870, when it was a private concern, and remained with it until one year after it was made the German-American National Bank, when he sold out his share of the stock. He was also one of the organizers of the German Insurance Company which was established in 1876, with a capital of $100,000, which has since been increased to $300,000, and he is still a stockholder in the company, has been connected with it all the time. and has been a factor in its healthy and continuous growth to its present pros- perous condition. He is also a stockholder in the Central City Railway, having owned shares in it from the start until the present time, when it has become one of the finest equipped electric railways in the country.
Mr. Muller was married to Miss Paulina Koenig, a native of Germany, in Peoria, and she has been to him a true and devoted helpmate, and looks well to the comforts of her household in the pleasant home that they have established. The six children born to them are all living, and are residents of this city : Theodore, Secretary of the German In- surance Company, married Minnie Borries; Julia is the wife of Henry Krenter; Amelia is the wife of Charles Jobst, of Gauss, Jobst, Barthard & Co., wholesale grocers ; Rudolph, Jacob, and Adolph at home. Mr. and Mrs. Muller have four grandchil- dren.
Mr. Muller has attained his position of wealth and prominence in this community by his own en- ergy and ability. Ile is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Sehriller Lodge, No. 335, of which he has been Treasurer; and he is also a leading member of the Turnverein, and has been Treasurer of the society for the last thirty
years. He is a man of honor and solid worth, which justly entitle him to the high regard in which he is universally hekl. In the accumulation of his wealth he has not neglected his duty towards oth- ers, but has ever been just and generous in his deal- ings, and with true publie spirit, has encouraged all schemes for the advancement of the prosperity of the city, and has given liberally of his means to the needy and suffering, who have ever found in him a true friend.
ARON S. OAKFORD. A writer famous alike in America and England says of the mason to whom he served an apprenticeship that "he put his conscience into every stone that he laid." This unwavering uprightness should be the foundation of every avocation, for upon it is based the integrity of the nation itself. The citi- zens of Peoria County have contributed to elevate the standing of morality not only in the county but in the State, and among those "whose word is as good as his bond," and whose individual efforts have aided in the development of the resources of the county, a conspicuous position is accorded Mr. Oakford. The portrait on the opposite page represents the senior member of the firm of Oak- ford & Fahnestock, the leading wholesale grocery house in Peoria. Mr. Oakford is pre-eminent in the business life of this, his native county, as one of the foremost of its progressive, wide-awake men of business, and his talent, energy and marked executive ability have been potent factors in ex- tending the commercial and financial interests of this city.
Mr. Oakford is now in the prime of life, having been born October 28, 1815, in this county; his father and mother were among the earliest settlers of this section of Illinois. When he was seven years old they removed from a farm into the city of Peoria, and here he was reared and trained for the important part he was to take in its mercantile enterprises. He was given the advantages of a liberal education in the public schools and in the city High School, and thus laid a solid foundation
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