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 55
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M ARTIN KINGMAN. The subject of this sketch is the youngest of a family of four boys. His father was from Massachusetts, and his mother from Virginia. They came to Illinois in 1834, and settled on a farm in Deer Creek Township, Tazewell County, where Martin was born April 1, 1844. His father died when he was four years old, leaving his mother with a young family to rear. When fourteen years of age he left home to earn his living, attending school in the summer and teaching in the winter. By this means he was enabled to acquire a good, practical educa- tion. When eighteen years old he entered the army as a private in Company G, Eighty-sixth Regiment Illinois Infantry, returning at the close of the war as a First Lientenant, during that time having never lost a day or been absent from his command, a most remarkable record. Part of the time he was on detached service, being in charge of the Ambulance Corps, and afterward being As- sistant Quartermaster.
After his return from the war Mr. Kingman en- paged in various lines of business until 1867, when the farm machinery firm of Kingman & Dunham was organized. This firm existed for three years when failure of health made it necessary for Mr. Dunham to go to California. The firm of King- man, Hotchkiss & Co., was then organized, and
existed for two years. The firm of Kingman & Co., composed of Martin Kingman, C. A. Jamison, and G. H. Schimpff, was then formed. The firm of Kingman & Co. prospered so, that in 1882 it was deemed advisable to incorporate it with §600,000 capital. A house was established at St. Louis in 1882, and in 1884 a house was established at Kansas City. These three houses do business throughout the entire southwest, west and northwest. Not- withstanding the magnitude of this business, Mr. Kingman has identified himself with other large and important enterprises. In 1879, the private bank of Kingman, Blossom & Co., was organized, and continued until 1884, when it was succeeded by the Central National Bank, of which Mr. King- man is President and a large stockholder. He is also President and a large stockholder of the National Hotel Company, being one of the prime movers in its organization. The National Hotel is one of the finest hotels in the West. He is Presi- dent and a large stockholder of the Peoria Cordage Company, which was organized in 1888. Ile is Vice-President of the Peoria Electric Light Com- pany. He has served as President of the Peoria Fair Association for two years; he has also identi- fied himself with other large enterprises, among them being the Moline Plow Company, Moline, Ill., the Marseilles Manufacturing Company, Marseilles, Ill., the Milburn Wagon Company, Toledo, Ohio, being a large stockholder in each. In 1889, he or- ganized the People's Savings Bank in Lower Peoria, and having recently sold that interest he is now one of the organizers of the Peoria Savings, Loan and Trust Company, which will commence business on January 1, 1891, in the elegant new Young Mens' Christian Association Building, where this bank will have one of the finest banking rooms in the city.
Mr. Kingman has been a strong supporter of re- ligious objeets, being an active member and Trustee . of the First Congregational Chnreh for many years. He also devoted a large amount of his time to act- ing as Treasurer of this church while its present handsome building was ereeted; he also served two terms as President of the Young Men's Christian Association, and while President conceived the idea that the Association ought to some time have
Linus Scroll
Juliet A Jerwill
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a building that would be an ornament to the city and a credit to the Association. He advocated the desirability of the lot on which the building now stands, as being the most suitable place for such a structure, and to secure this lot, he, with Mr. O. J. Bailey, bought it and held it until the time came when the Association was ready to erect a building.
While enumerating his. business successes, we must not forget to mention his marriage. Hle was married May 21, 1867, to Miss Emeline T. Shelly. Four sons and one daughter have been born to them, and two sons and the daughter are living.
Personally, Mr. Kingman stands very high in the opinion of the people of Peoria, and his reputation is by no means confined to that city. Socially, he is very affable and courteous, and makes a favorable impression at sight. Of course, the immense busi- ness interests, in which he is the controlling spirit, compel him to be a very busy man. Justice and truth compels us to state, that he works too much. This is not due to an inordinate desire for gain, but because he loves progress. He is as eager in the work of building up some important enterprise, even when his pecuniary interest in it is slight, as if his whole fortune and reputation were staked on it. If he could moderate his zeal and enthusiasm and work less, it might be to his advantage; yet this does not certainly follow. With his nature, the nearest thing to rest is a change of employment; if compelled to remain idle, rust would probably be more dangerous than wear. Mr. Kingman is a type of the keen, pushing, progressive Western merchant. He is a self-made man, and his course in life thus far has been onward and upward.
Le INUS SCOVILL. Among the well-known citizens of Chillicothe should be noted thie gentleman above named, who is enjoying the ease and repose won by years of successful effort. He has made his home in the city of Chil- licothe since the fall of 1887, after having resided in Medina Township more than a half century. He has seen the country improve around him and for- cibly contrasts its appearance when he first beheld
it, in May, 1831, with that which it presents to-day. No one rejoices in the prosperity and high civiliza- tion of this part of the Prairie State more than he of whom we write.
Before outlining the life work of our subject it will not be amiss to make brief mention of the family history. Ilis father, Linus Scovill, Sr., and his grandfather, Ahijali Scovill, were born in Con- neetient. His grandmother, Patience (Wolf) Scovill, was a native of the same State, whence the family removed to Ontario County, N. Y., after the Revolution. Grandfather Scovill was a member of the Colonial army throughout that noted contest. In the Empire State he and those of his family who were able to assist him, took up pion- eer labors, undergoing the usual privations and manifesting the hardy persistence to which the later generation owes the comfort of its surroundings.
Linus Scovill, Sr., was young when his parents removed to the Empire State and there he grew to manhood. He was still quite young when he left home to join the army in the War of 1812, through which he served, as did some of his brothers, though not in the same regiment. After the war had closed he returned to his father. While grow- ing up in Ontario County, Mr. Scovill became a personal friend of Solomon Spalding, the writer of the Book of Mormon. Mr. Spalding had no thought at that time that his book would gain such fame and wrote it with no design to deceive, but as a novel in historical style but of imaginative scenes. lle referred to this fact in conversation with Mr. Scovill one day, saying that his own head was the scroll and the cellar of the house in which they were boarding, the caves or place of discovery.
In the Empire State, the father of our subject married Miss Elizabeth Seely who was born and reared in Goshen. Her parents, Israel and Sarah (Gale) Seely, finally removed to Illinois, the fa- ther dying in this county in Angust, 1843, when past three-score and ten years old. The mother died in Vermillion County, Ind., at an advanced age. Linus Scovill, Sr., had for some years prior to his marriage been a dry-goods clerk, but after that in- teresting event he turned his attention to farming. He finally removed to Indiana about 1820, making his home in the western part of that State some
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eleven years. He then came into Illinois, crossing the Illinois River when Peoria was still known as Ft. Clark, and settling on a Government claim which he purchased from John Love in what is now Me- dina Township, this county. His claim had been loeated by him the year before, during his first trip to this State, which was made with a view of getting out of the country whose people were troubled with milk sickness.
The Scovill family found themselves in a wild country, the unbroken prairie traversed chiefly by Indians, but after some years the land was im- proved and beautiful homes built up far and near. Mr. Scovill was a thrifty man who baving secured a fine piece of land improved it well, leaving to his heirs a good inheritance. Ile was called from time to eternity November 15, 1840, when somewhat past fifty-four years of age. He was one of the well- known pioneers, honored of men for his manly con- duet and industrious life. His wife survived him, dying in 1863, at the age of about seventy-thrce years. She was a member of the Methodist Church, while her husband was a Universalist.
Linus Scovill, Jr., the subject of this notice, was born in Ontario County, N. Y., March 10, 1815, and had but recently entered his teens when his father landed in Illinois. The next year the youthi enlisted as a teamster for the Black Hawk War and after having fulfilled the duties of his position as long as his services were needed, resumed the agricultural work which he had begun in boy- hood. After he became the proprietor of the home- stead he made many improvements upon it, erc he left it to remove to Chillicothe, having one of the finest farms in this section of the country. It com- prised three hundred and twenty acres on sections 21, and 22, Medina Township, was favorably lo- ¿cated, and the seat of a very successful farm life.
At the home of the bride in Chillicothe Township, Mr. Scovill was united in marriage with Miss Juliet A. Murray. This estimable lady was born in Vir- ginia, June 19, 1812, and was quite young when her parents, John and Cynthia Murray, removed to Ohio. There her father died, the mother with her six children coming to Illinois in 1846. Mrs. Mur- Fay spent the remainder of her life in this county, dying at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Scovill in Mc-
dina Township when quite an old lady. Mr. Scovill, although an active local politician is in no sense an office-seeker. He has, however, been elec- ted to most of the local offices of the township and has carried out the wishes of the people by acting in their behalf. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party. He and his wife attend the Baptist Church.
In connection with this sketch are presented lithographie portraits of Mr. Scovill and his esti- mable wife, who are widely known as pioneers of Peoria County.
AVID SMITH. The town of Dunlap is the seat of the thriving business of this gentle- man, who handles general merchandise, keep- ر ing an abundant supply of well-selected goods suited to the wants of the dwellers in the contigu- ons country as well as those who reside in the cor- porate limits. Although Mr. Smith was reared on a farm, and spent his earlier years in tilling the soil, he has shown his ability to conduct business enter- prises, being a judicious buyer, a genial salesman, and a capable manager.
Our subjeet is a son of the late James Smith, who is numbered among the early settlers of the Prairie State having come hither in 1837, and becoming a resident of this county in 1844. At that time be Ioeated in Radnor Township, spending the remnant of his days there, entering into rest in 1872. He married Maria Clevenger, a native of the Buckeye State, who is now living in Dunlap. As pioneer settlers this worthy couple endured toils and priva- tions, and braved dangers, cheerfully bearing all in order to bestow upon posterity a larger extent of cultivated land and a broader civilization.
The parental family was a large one, consisting of fifteen children, of whom our subject is the eld- est. He was born in Champaign County, Ohio, July 13, 1830, and having accompanied his par- ents to this State, attained to manhood in this county, in which he has spent the most of his time since his youth. Having been reared on a farm, he pursued an agricultural career until 1873, when re-
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moving into Dunlap, be embarked in the stock business. To that line of trade he devoted his en- ergies some four or five years, then turned his at- tention to grain and lumber, in which he dealt about eight years. In the meantime he established himself in the mercantile business, to which he is now giving his attention with satisfactory results.
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The estimable woman who presides 'over the do- mestie economy in the home of Mr. Smith was known in her girlhood as Miss Martha Chapin. She is a native of the Empire State, but prior to her marriage, was living in Illinois, that event hav- ing been celebrated in this county, May II, 1851. Under her skillful management the dwelling is a place of neatness, good cheer and home comfort, and many are the neighborly deeds of kindness which she finds time to perform. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had five children, two of whom died in infancy, aud Florence when about fifteen years old. The survivors are: Alice, now the wife of Paul II. Harrison ; and Ann, wife of Smith Stephens.
Mr. Smith is a believer in and supporter of the principles of Republicanism. He has filled the offices of Highway Commissioner and School Di- rector, manifests great interest in the welfare of the community, and the better development of the ma- terial resources which the Prairie State affords her sons and daughters, and lives an upright life.
R REDERICK B. BLANCHARD. The ca- reer of this gentleman, now a stock-shipper and dealer in grain at Princeville, has been one of undeviating integrity and unwearying in- dustry. His labors have been rewarded by a fair share of this world's goods, among his possessions being two residences in the town which is now his home. Ile is of Southern ancestry, his grandpar- ents having been born in Virginia and his parents in North Carolina.
Grandfather Blanchard, whose given name was Thomas, tilled the soil in North Carolina for some time, then journeyed to Logan County, Ky., on foot with pack horses, passing the remnant of his days there. He became wealthy, owning a large
plantation. His son, William P., father of our subject, was six years old when taken to Kentucky where he grew to maturity and engaged in farm- ing. Ile married Mary Barham, daughter of the Rev. Daniel Barham, who removed from Virginia to North Carolina and later to the Blue Grass State. Hle subsequently made an early settlement in Coles County, this State, dying there at a goodly age. Hle was a minister of the Baptist Church.
The father of our subject was opposed to slavery and so in 1819 he removed from Kentucky to Ili- nois, locating in Lawrence County. lle bought Government land, farming there until 1836, when he changed his location to Peoria County. Early in the spring he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and building a log house brought his family hither in the summer. He was a prosperous farmer, was Justice of the Peace, and the organiz- ing of Princeville Township, with the first election, was held at his house. He finally retired to Prince- ville, where he died in 1868, at the age of seventy- one years. Ilis wife also died in this place. Ile was a consistent member of the Christian Church. Ile and his wife had a large family whose record is as follows: Louise, Elizabeth and Philena, died in Princeville; William K. and Thomas W. in Oregon, and James C. in Washington; Mary A. is also de- censed, and Daniel U., who lived to be but six years old; John L., Mason M., and Delilah live in Princeville, the latter being an inmate of the household of our subjeet; Henry C. is mining near Joplin, Jasper County, Mo .; and Jemima, the widow of Benjamin Merritt, lives in Galva, this State.
The subject of this notice was born near Law- renceville, III., April 3, 1835, and was brought to Peoria County the next year. He was reared on a farm, where he early assisted to break prairie and in other ways add to the worth of the parental estate. His limited educational privileges were en- joyed under the subscription plan, by which schools were kept up in the early days. When twenty years old he purchased sixty acres of land adjoin- ing his father's farm, operating it in connection with work on the homestead until 1866. He then located in Princeville and with his brother, Mason M., opened a general store which they carried on a
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year. Our subject then bought out his brother and continued the business alone, pursuing a successful mercantile career until 1883. He then sold out to devote his entire attention to the grain and stock business, in which he had engaged some years be- fore. In 1871 he built an elevator and in 1884 began buying and shipping stock also. These en- terprises he is still successfully prosecuting.
Mr. Blanchard worked hard to secure the rail- roads through Princeville, the accomplishment of his purpose costing him much money as well as personal effort. Time has shown that his belief that the interests of the town would be much ad- vanced was well founded. Ile was a member of the first Council in this place and is now serving acceptably as School Director. His strong adher- ence is given to the Republican party, his first Presidential ballot having been cast for Gen. John (. Fremont. In religion lie adheres to the princi- ples promulgated in the Christian Church.
An important step in the life of our subject oc- curred in Princeville, March 12, 1857, when he be- came the husband of Miss Amy Reeves. This lady was born in Stark County. October 30, 1838, but reared and educated in Princeville. She is well fitted to discharge the duties which devolve upon her as wife and mother, while as a member of so- ciety she is highly regarded for her pleasing social qualities and kindly nature. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard consists of five living children, viz. : Ettie M., Hattie, William K., Lucius and Lois. Ettie was graduated from the Normal School at Valparaiso, Ind., and became the wife of A. D. Edwards, Supervisor of Princeville Township and a merchant in Monica; Hattie is the wife of Leroy Wear, of Princeville Township, and prior to her marriage was a school teacher. The other children are at home. The parents have lost three children : Ellena, Matilda and Freddie.
The father of Mrs. Blanchard was Jacob Reeves, a native of New York, who became a resident of Ohio when yonng. He was married near Cleveland to Hannah M. Scofield, likewise a native of the Empire State, but reared in Ohio. About 1837 this couple removed to Stark County, Ill., settling in the spoon of the Spoon River, where Mr. Reeves followed farming and his trade of a mason until
his death in 1846. His widow supported and wisely reared her family, removing to Princeville the year after her husband's death, and dying here under the roof of our subject. in 1888, at the age of seventy-nine years. She was a consistent mem- ber of the Christian Church. Mrs. Blanchard is the sixth of the eight children which comprised the family. Of these James died in Peoria when a young man; John lives in Abilene, Kan .; Mrs. Jane Cook, in Lyons County, Kan. ; Mrs. Harriet Miller, in Saline County, Neb .; Benjamin, in Pottawato- mie County, Kan .; Jacob died when an infant; and Mrs. Mary Blanchard lives in Koloka, Washington County, Kan.
ACOB HOFFMAN. This gentleman has been for ten years identified with the busi- ness interests of Peoria, furnishing employ- ment for a number of men and adding to the circulation of "filthy Incre" by a flourishing trade in cigars and tobacco. He manufactures from six hundred thousand to seven hundred thousand cigars annually, furnishing occupation for fourteen cigarmakers, besides other help of various kinds. His business was established in 1873, at which time he became a resident of this city.
Mr. Hoffman is a native of Prastibor, Austria, where he was born October 5, 1849. Ilis parents are Benedict and Barbara (Austria) Iloffman, his father being a general storekeeper in his native land. Some time before reaching his majority young Hoffman came to America. landing on hier shores in 1867. He had already been employed as a clerk in the hardware business, and in it he con- tinned for a time, locating in St. Louis, Mo. From that city he finally removed to Peoria, where he has made many friends and acquired a good reputation.
Mr. Hoffman votes the Republican ticket, but takes no special interest in politics. Outside of his business affairs and his home, his chief enjoyment is in social orders, in a number of which he holds membership. Ile belongs to the Independent
RES. OF SIEBELD REENTS, SEC.14. ROSEFIELD TP. PEORIA CO.ILL
A.U.POTTER. DRY GOODS CROCERIES.
FLOUR SALE BOOTS . SHO IL POTTER
STORE & RESIDENCE OF, A. U. POTTER, EDELSTEIN, ILL.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHIICAL ALBUM.
Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmeu, Red Men, German Workmen, Rifle Club and Turners' German School. He was married October 5, 1876, to Miss Maggie Lang- jahr. The happy union has been blest by the birth of one child, Bertie.
P AUL S. LEITZ. This name will be reeog- nized by many readers as that of a rising young architect of Peoria-a man who has already achieved marked success in his line, who bears the reputation of an honest, trustworthy business man, and whose private character is irre- proachable. He is entirely self made, owing his fame and snecess to his own works, backed by his inherited talent for art, which has been of great benefit in the occupation to which he devoted him . self. We are pleased to invite the reader's at- tention to his portrait, which is presented in connection with his personal sketch.
Mr. Leitz is a native of Louisville, Ky., born in 1858, and belonging to a family which has produced artists and musicians of high repute. His father, Theodore L. Leitz, was born in Germany, and was formerly an officer in the German army. He is at present residing in Milwaukee, Wis. Ile has won fame as an artist, while his eldest son, now United States Band Master at Vallejo, Cal., has gained re- nown as a musician. The mother of our subjeet was known in her maidenhood as Miss Matilda Scheidemantle.
When he, of whom we write, was five years old he went to Indianapolis, where he attended the public schools when he had arrived at a suitable age, afterward pursuing his studies in Indiana Univer- sity. After leaving college he began the study of architecture under Edwin May, of Indianapolis, one of the first of American architects. A few of the masterpieces designed by this gentleman are the Indiana State Asylum, the State House, the Marion County Court-house, and the Northern Indiana State Prison. Young Leitz remained under his tu- telage eight years, imbibing in a great measure thie
architectural conceptions which have made his instructor famous.
In 1880, Mr. Leitz came to Peoria, at once as- suming a position among the leading architects of the place. Ilis works are not confined to the city, but include the Pontiac Reform Sehrool building, the hospital at Bloomington, and many other prom- inent structures in the West. A large number of the fine residences in Peoria are due to his ere- ative genius, while the High-School building, the J. II. Lee school building, the Reed school and library building, which are pronounced by compe- tent judges to be among the best school buildings of the West, were also designed by him.
The culture, refinement and estimable character of Miss Sarah Albs, a native of Toronto, Canada, won the regard of Mr. Leitz, which being recipro- cated, they were united in marriage in 1884. They are the happy parents of two interesting children- Olga and Nita. Mr. Leitz is building an elegant residence on Moss Avenue for a home, which under the control of his wife, will undoubtedly become a favorite resort for the best society of the city.
OHN STURM. Among the early settlers of Medina Township whose life work has been successfully pursued, may be numbered John Sturm, now deceased. He was a fine representative of the hard-working, progressive agriculturist, and of the man of studious habits, intelligence and upright character. Beginning his career with a small capital, he acquired a landed estate of about thirteen hundred acres, the greater part of which was placed under good cultivation prior to his death. By reason of his enterprise and interest in the material prosperity and increase in civilization of this section, he became influential in the community, but not as a politician or public officer. He had no desire for official honors, being content to uct well his part as a private citizen.
Mr. Sturm was a son of the Buckeye State, born January 25, 1817, and had passed his three-score years and ten when called from time to eternity, the date of his demise being February 15, 1888.
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