The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 101

Author: Le Baron, Wm., Jr. & Co., Chicago, Pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron, Jr.
Number of Pages: 1092

USA > Illinois > McLean County > The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 101

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O. B. STILES, cigar-maker, Bloomington; was born in Norwich, N. Y., May 7, 1839, where he was raised. schooled, and learned the trade of a cigar-maker, in which business he has had many years of experience ; he came to Bloomington in 1866, and began on his own account the manufacturing of cigars, and did an extensive business for a time, but, like many good busi- he'ss men, met with adversity ; but, being possessedl of energy and perseverance. he began anew with the determination to succeed, and is now doing quite an extensive business ; his place of business is No. 1:0 South Main street, where he superintends the manufacturing of fine cigars. He married Miss Louisa A. Conly, of his native county, Nov. 15, 1860; they have one child- Lottie M.

R. W. STUBBLEFIELD, dealer in and importer of Norman French horses, Bloomington ; he is a native of McLean Co .; first engaging in the stock business in 1868, when he began buying, selling and shipping cattle and hogs until May, 1874, when he made his first importa- tion of Norman horses ; since engaging in the business, he has imported twenty-three head : he has on hand now about forty head of thoroughbred and graded stock, among which are imported seven stillions and six mares ; his stock-farm of 160 acres is located three miles west of Shirley ; he is also doing a feed and livery business ; located corner of Front and Lee streets, in what is known as the old Jones livery-stable ; though his importations may not be so large as some other dealers, no tiner stock can be found in the State of Illinois than is found at his stock-farm or at his stables in Bloomington.

T. W. STEVENSON, hardware, Bloomington ; T. W. Stevenson, of the firm of Stevenson & Bro., is a native of Christian Co., Ky .; his people in 1863 left Kentucky and came to McLean Co., where he has since been a resident ; in 1872, he was engaged in general job-work and repairing : this he followed until 1875, when he engaged in the hardware trade with his brother. J. C .; in 1877. they built No. 107 East Front street, which is a fine brick, with heavy plate-glass front, the building being 20x90 feet, three floors and basement ; they have the entire building well stocked with a complete line of hardware and stoves : they are also agents for J. W. Reedy's elevator, one of which they are using in their own establishment. T. W. was married Nov. 30. 1876, to Miss Mary Gillersleeve, her people being old and prominent settlers of McLean Co. There is probably no family of brothers now residing in Bloomington who are better or more favorably known than the Stevensons ; they are not only live. active business men, but some of them have won distinction politically : the brothers, T. W. and J. C., have shown as much energy

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and good business tact as any ; beginning upon a very small capital, they have, in a few years, established a business of which they may well be proud.

M. G. SIMONS, ice-dealer, Bloomington ; was born in Wyoming Co., Penn., Nov. 25, 1829, where he spent his early life and obtained a schooling; he removed to DeKalb Co., Ill., with his parents in 1844, where he lived until 1863, when he came to Bloomington, Ill., and engaged in the ice business, continuing it one year ; he then engaged with the C. & A. R. R. Co., and after two years returned to the ice business, and is now prepared to supply the citizens with the best of ice at reasonable rates. He is honorable and upright in his dealings, and a much-respected citizen. lle married Miss Ellen M. Brown, of De Kalb Co., Ill., March 2, 1856; they have a family of seven.

J. V. SCOTT, contractor and builder, Bloomington, is a native of Pennsylvania : in 1845, he came West and located in Greene Co., Ind .: there he began learning the trade of a carpenter and joiner, serving a regular apprenticeship of three years ; he remained there working at his trade until 1865, when he again moved West. locating the last time in Bloomington, where he has since resided ; he has been actively engaged in his business since learning his trade; for thirty-three years has been a contractor ; since his residence in Bloomington, he has, by close attention to business, won the respect and confidence of the prominent class of citizens ; the consequence has been, a large number of the finer class of prominent buildings have been con- tracted to him for erection ; among the many of this class of buildings, may be mentioned Funk's, Pollock's, Colwell's and Probasco's ; by a steady attention to his business and a respect for the rights of other people, he has established a large business.

WILLIAM HAWLEY SMITH. County Superintendent of Schools, Bloomington; was born in Franklin Co., Mass., Oct. 7, 1845; he was brought to Christian Co., Ill., by parents in 1855, and was raised upon a farm, and received his early education at the district schools; he removed to Normal in 1865, and en ered the State Normal University, graduating in 1870, and the following year was Principal of the Granville Public School (Putnam Co.); from 1871 to 1873, was Principal of Tonica Graded School, after which he abandoned teaching on account of his health, and went out on the road as commercial traveler, continuing at this until January, 1875, when he resumed teaching, taking charge of the Farmer City Graded School, continuing until the following November, when he was elected to the office of County School Superintend- ent. Mr. Smith is a man of fine mental powers, social and genial, through which qualities lie has won the popularity that placed him in his present position. He married Miss Ellen H. Galusha, of Morris, 111., July. 19, 1870; they have two children-Arthur G. and Leslie.

DR. HIERMAN SCHRODER, proprietor Grand Opera House, Bloomington ; was born in the town of Althaldensleben, near the city of Magdeburg, in Prussia, in 1821. His father was one of the great Napoleon's old soldiers, who gave the signal of retreat from Moscow on the side of the Emperor. On his deportation to Siberia he escaped from Russian slavery, and found, after a long wandering, a home and wife in Althaldensleben. Here the doctor was born in a year of great famine, and taken in a basket to the Kloyster Fields, by his laboring mother ; he had the best schools the town and Kloyster could afford, and, being of Catholic parents, was selected to become a priest. As his parents were poor-aristocratic people, and even the Bishop, took hold of this remarkable scholar, and furnished him with the means to study, but after the death of his mother, he abandoned the idea of becoming a priest, and commenced the study of natural philosophy and medicine. At the height of his studies, his main protector, Herr Nathusius, died, and he commeneed the study and work of an architect ; here he succeeded so well that soon he became the contractor of Government buildings, and made money, with a great prospect before him. He then married, in 1846, the youngest daughter of the late Baronet Prince von Buchau, who was the General Adjutant of the great Gen. Blucher, at Waterloo, and last commander of Cassel. But, with his thorough study of history and love for Republican principles. our doctor became an agitator in press and public speeches, and, in the great historical year 1848, we find him upon the barricades ant among the revolutionary speakers, and, as a contra revolution took place. our doctor was prosecuted, and would have been shot, if he had not escaped at night with his young wife to free America, disguised, in one of the old, rotten, wooden ships. In New York, he soon found out that he could not succeed, so he wandered as an emigrant to Cleveland, Ohio ; here he found kind friends, and took up again the old study of medicine, and, after two years, became a physician of note ; after practicing medicine in Mansfield and Mt. Gilead, Ohio, for a while, he traveled by wagon to the West, and landed in the then little town of Bloomington, Il1. Ile settled, in 1852, near the Illinois Central depot, then a prairie, and constructed a shanty out of the first old log house ever built in Bloomington, and practiced medicine. Our doctor had a sharp eye to business, and bought of Mr. Wm. Dimmet nine town-lots, and erected, in the course of two years, thereon, thirteen houses, from lumber he made himself from twenty acres of tim- ber-land, which he bought. Rents were high then, and soon the doctor accumulated money to buy from the Illinois Central Railroad 120 acres of land, now the south side of El Paso, and 80 acres, now the city of Gilman ; he named it Schroederville; he laid it out in lots, but sold it, in 1856, for a good price then, and commenced grape culture, and probably the first vineyards in the West. His success was great, particularly in the propagation of grape vines and plants ; he soon became the leading man in his new business, and has sold by this time, over twenty millions of

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young vines all over America, even to France and Germany ; his ambition and profits were great, and, in 1866, he built the opera house, with two stores, opposite the Court House Square, in this city ; in 1869, he helped build Minerva Block, the finest building in the city. Other valuable blocks and city property he added year by year, besides nearly 10,000 acres of Western lands. He invested in the Bloomington Coal Mine, and owned nearly one-fifth of the stock ; was twice President of the mine, but sold out 'at a great loss, to devote his time to his nursery business. In 1878, he erected his Steam Sausage and Meat Pressing Factory. on South Main street, a bus- iness of great promise. His vineyards are laid out in Schroeder's Addition. The doctor has two daughters-America and Minerva. and one son, Franklin. As a jovial, literary and business man, he will not soon be forgotten in Bloomington.

A. C. SWEETSER, Justice of the Peace, Bloomington ; was born in Oxford Co., Me., Feb. 23, 1839 : he removed to Leeds, Wis., where he lived some four years, and thence to Blooming- ton : during his early life, he learned the trade of a miller, which he followed until 1861. He then enlisted in Co. K, Sth I. V. I. (three months), and served until the expiration of the term : then re-enlisted with the 39th I. V. I .; he was in many severe battles and skirmishes ; before Petersburg, on June 2, 1864, he was severely wounded in both legs, from the effect of which he was compelled to have the left leg amputated : previous to receiving these wounds, he had served some three years, and escaped withont a scratch, though having many narrow escapes. After the war, he returned to Bloomington, and, in 1867, was elected Town and City Collector, serving some five years, and in 1873, he was appointed a Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue. Mr. Sweet- ser is a man of good business ability, social and genial, and a much-respected citizen.

JAMES STONE, Captain of Police, Bloomington ; was born in Jefferson Co., Tenn .. . Jan. 21, 1845 : he was brought to this county by his parents while quite young, and received a good common-school education. During the late war, he enlisted with the 33d I. V. I., and served two and a half years, and was in many of the severe engagements, escaping without a scratch After the war, he followed school-teaching for about seven years. In 1873, he was appointed upon the police force, where he bears the reputation of always discharging his duties to the entire satisfaction of all concerned, through which he has won the friendship and respect of the citi- zens of Bloomington ; he was appointed to the position of Captain of the Police, by Mayor Bunn in 1877. which position he has since held, having been re-appointed in 1878. by Mayor Reed. He married Miss Cynthia Foster, of this place, March 30, 1869; they have a family of four-Jennie E., Stella, Pearl and an infant.

H. H. SWAIM, Deputy Sheriff, Bloomington ; was born in Marion Co., Ind., Dec. 16, 1840, and raised, chiefly, in St. Joe, Mo., where he received his schooling. During the late war, he enlisted with the First Engineer Corps. of Missouri, entered the army July 13, 1861, and partic- ipated in many severe engagements, among which were Lexington. Shiloh, and the principal engagements while with Sherman, through Georgia : he escaped without injury. After the war, he located in Bloomington, where he has since been engaged in various business capacities. Many important positions of trust have been confided to him here, among which we may men- tion that of Street Commissioner, to which he was elected in 1866, and re-elected in 1867, and to his present position as Deputy Sheriff March 21, 1872. He married Miss Paulina Stewart : they have one child-Leota P.

JOHN SPINNING, butcher, Bloomington; was born in Essex Co., N. Y., Sept. 6, 1843, where he passed his early life ; he came to Bloomington in 1873, and followed carpentering, also contracting and building for a time : then engaged in the butcher's business : his market is located at 304 North Main ; keeps the best quality of meats, both salt and fresh, and is a practi- cal and well-posted butcher. He married Miss Nancy Simpson. Sept. 28, 1869: they have two children-William S. and Roy.

J. R. SCOTT, grocer, of the firm of Scott & Miller, Bloomington ; was born in Greene Co., Ind., May 29. 1852 ; his parents were John V. and Phoebe M. ( Plumb) Scott : he received a good education, and began in mercantile life with A. Eversole, Esq., continuing with him for a number of years, and thoroughly learning the business ; he opened business for himself in 1875, in com- pany with Thomas Evans ; this partnership lasted one year, when he became associated with his present partner ; they are located at the corner of Main and Mulberry streets : here they keep a neat and well-stocked establishment : they are careful and reliable business men ; they are still young, but with a prospect of success before them. Mr. Scott married Miss Katie M. Roberts, formerly of Carlisle, Penn., Dec. 20, 1876.

WILLIAM STAUTZ, butcher, Bloomington ; son of Jacob and Bibianna (Uhri) Stantz, who were early settlers of Bloomington : the father died Sept. 24. 1878; he had lived a prominent and much respected citizen. The subject of this sketch was born in Bloomington, Nov. 24, 1859; he now manages the affairs of the butcher shop located at 501 W. Market street, one of the neat- est and best arranged shops of the city, and has the reputation of keeping for sale the best quality of all kinds of meats, both salt and fresh.

F. R. SPRAGUE, grocer. firm of Sprague & Johnson, Bloomington; was born in Union Co., Ohio. Oct. 22, 1851, and brought to this county by his parents in 1857, locating in Lexing- ton, where he was raised and schooled: he came to Bloomington in 1870. and in 1871 he engaged with Aldrich & Bros. (wholesale grocers) as book-keeper, where he remained until

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1875, after which he was with A. Anthony (grocer) until 1877, when he embarked in the grocery business on his own account : he is located at No. 619 North Main strect ; here he keeps a fine grocery, in which is offered a well assorted stock of goods, and sold at bottom figures.

PH. WILLIAM STAUTZ, butcher, in company with F. A. Homuth, Bloomington ; is a native of Prussia, where he was born May 15, 1853; at the age of 14 he emigrated to this country, and came directly to Bloomington, where he has sinee remained, engaged in the butcher business, which has given him some eleven years' experience in the business. He married Miss Caroline Diedrick, of his native country, Sept. 23, 1877 ; they have one child-Marilda.

JAMES B. STEVENSON, Bloomington ; was born in Christian Co., Ky., and moved to Illinois and located in Bloomington in 1853; in 1867, in company with others, he helped to sink the WeLean Co. Coal Shaft, which was first sunk to a depth of about three hundred feet ; this vein they worked for a year or more, when they sunk it again to a second vein, which was about four hundred feet from the surface ; this vein proved to be a better quality, but also very expensive to work. After a period of about three years of discouragement and unforeseen dif- ficulties, the company again prospered, and found a third vein of coal at five hundred and forty feet below the surface, being the deepest working shaft in the State. The MeLean County Coal Co. are now raising from three hundred to four hundred tons of coal per day, and their pay rolls vary from $16,000 to $19,000 per month, giving employment to about three hundred men, and reducing the price of coal to half its former cost, saving many thousand dollars to this community.

CHARLES SHACKLEFORD, Bloomington ; was born in Maysville, Ky., on the 4th day of October, 1840; his early youth was passed in acquiring the rudiments of book knowledge; he entered Bethany College, Virginia, and after years of close and patient study, graduated with much credit in 1860; he returned home and entered the law office of llon. John A. Clarke, one of the prominent attorneys of Maysville. For four years he applied himself with diligence, and acquired a vast amount and wide range of legal knowledge. In 1864, he received the necessary authority to practice in Kentucky. Through fidelity to the interests of his clients, Mr. S. worked himself into a really lucrative practice; but, like a great many others, he thought, to achieve distinction, he must leave the scenes of youth and seek it among strangers. At that day Illinois was the El Dorado for which all ambitious and aspiring spirits were push- ing. Mr. Shackleford broke away from home and friends and familiar associations, and cast his fortunes with the hospitable and open-hearted people of Illinois; he located in Bloomington, and very soon business of an important nature came pouring in upon him ; rapidly he acquired an extensive practice in the State and Federal courts in Illinois and Missouri, and now he has at least sufficient business to keep him constantly engaged ; although he has a miscellaneous practice of no small importance, his largest revenue is derived from his services connected with trust estates for Eastern capitali-ts. This business he has managed with uniform success, as he has all the other details of his legal business. In 1875, the Democratic Central Committee of Ohio, engaged Mr. Shackleford for a series of speeches in the campaign of that year, in the interest of Gov. Allen. Mr. S. made an extended canvass, speaking in company with such orators as Pendleton, Voorhees and Judge Thurman. His speeches attracted wide attention, and were published extensively as campaign documents. Ile advocated with conspicuous ability the increase of the currency in the interest of the West, and in all essential points he cham- pioned Western issues.

W. W. STEVENSON, Superintendent McLean County Coal Company, Bloomington ; was born in Christian Co., Ky., Aug. 15, 1840. When 11 years old, he came to McLean Co., 1}]., and settled in Bloomington When he was about 15 years okl, he commenced to learn the trade of printing, in the Pantagraph office. He worked at his trade some eighteen months, thence to school, where he received a good education. In 1859, Mr. Stevenson commenced farming on a piece of Illinois Central Railroad land ; here he remained until 1863. He then entered the butcher business. Since then, he has been engaged in grocery, boots and shoes and hardware business. In 1868, he was appointed Superintendent and Weigher of the MeLean County Coal Company. The shaft is 540 feet below the surface, being the deepest working shaft in the State. The coal is of the very best quality. They are now raising from three hundred to five hundred tons of coal per day. They employ two hundred hands. Mr. Stevenson, in 1878, was elected Alderman from the Third Ward on the Independent ticket. He is a Democrat in politics.

N. C. SWEENY, Bloomington; was born in Muskingum Co. Ohio, Jan. 1, 1838, and is the son of Joseph Sweeny, ot Maryland, a farmer, who moved to Ohio at an early day. and from thence to Illinois, about 1858; he died in McLean County, in 1871, at the age of 65 years, respected and honored. Mr. N. C. Sweeny came to Bloomington in 1860; he was at one time in the lumber business, and also, for a short time, in the grain business. He is a Republican in politics, and, in 1876, was elected Alderman of the First Ward, which office he now tills.

STEPHEN SMITH, dry goods, Bloomington : one of the best-known business men of Bloomington ; was born near Clarksville, Tenn. When he was only 5 years old he moved to Illinois with his parents, and settled in Greene Co. His father was a farmer, and a soldier of the war of 1812. Mr. Smith was raised on the farm. When he was 18 years old, in 1847, he commenced clerking in a store. In 1850, he formed a partnership with his brother. In 1851,

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they moved their stock to Springfield and commenced the dry goods business. There Mr. Smith remained until 1860, when he came to Bloomington, and, April 5, 1860, began the dry goods business in his present location, and to-day is the oldest dry goods man in Bloomington.

H. M. SENSENEY, coal merchant, Bloomington ; was born in Frederick Co., Va, and is the son of John Senseney. At the age of 21, he came West and located in Bloomington, where he has remained ever since, engaged chiefly in mercantile business. He has been in the retail grocery line, in the coal business and a traveling agent on the road ; the first in the grocery line from Bloomington. Mr. Senseney married Miss Love Ballard, in May, 1865; they have four children, one girl and three boys.

ADLAI E. STEVENSON. Mr. S. is by birth a Kentuckian, having been born in that State on the 23d day of October, 1835. In 1852, he came to Illinois, and soon after began study at the Wesleyan University ; he also pursued his studies, both scientific and classical, at Center College, Ky. lle was known as a thorough and practical student, and the time passed in the company of professors and students was put to the best possible use. His mind was placed at the head- waters of the fountains of knowledge, and of all that flowed through he retained only the most precious genis. In May, 1858, he was admitted to the bar, after a rigid examination-an ordeal which is as greatly dreaded by the legal aspirant of to-day, if indeed not more than it was twenty years ago. On the 18th of December, 1858, Mr. Stevenson located in Woodford Co., and for ten years had a large and important practice there. In 1869, he located in Bloomington, and has practiced his profession here since. Mr. Stevenson has been the worthy recipient of honors at the hands of the people. In 1861, he was appointed Master in Chancery of Woodford Co., by Judge Richmond, and was re-appointed to the position in 1863, holding the office for four years. In 1864, Mr. Stevens received yet farther public recognition. In that year he was elected Pros- ecuting Attorney for the Twenty-third District, within the boundaries of which was embraced the counties of Woodford, Marshall and Putnam. This position he held for four years, and it is said that he prosecuted for the State with so much vigor that his district was nearly cleared of law- breakers. In 1864, he was a candidate for P'residential Elector, in the Mcclellan campaign, and made a thorough canvass of the State. At this time, he attracted attention as a ready debater and fluent speaker, and made a good record as a campaign orator. In 1874, Mr. Stevenson was sent by the people of the 13th District to represent them in Congress, and while there he dereaned himself in a manner to command respect from political friends and foes. In 1877, President Hayes appointed Mr. Stevenson to a position upon the Board of Visitors to West Point Naval Academy. All these positions have been filled intelligently and the duties discharged faithfully, and the most searching investigation into Mr. Stevenson's public acts would fail to uncover either neglect or malfeasance. While in Congress, IIon. A. E. Stevenson was a member of the Committee on Territories, and the District of Columbia. Ile was appointed by the Speaker of the llouse as a member of the special committee to investigate charges against Federal offi- cials in the Custom House at New Orleans. While in Congress, Mr. S. constantly advocated the reduction of expenses of the General Government, and opposed the admission of New Mexico as a State in the Union, because of its lack of the requisite population. He favored the repeal of the Resumption act and the remonetization of silver. He delivered a speech in Congress in Jan- uary, 1877, advocating the organization of the Electoral Commission for the purpose of settling the complications growing out of the late Presidential election. He favored the faithful execu- tion of that law, and opposed schemes tending to delay the count of the electoral vote. He became a law partner of James S. Ewing in June, 1869, which partnership still continues. Among the important suits in which this firm have been engaged as counsel are the mandamus proceedings against the towns of Waynesville and Old Town, recently decided by the Supreme ourt in their favor. In both cases the writ of mandamus was denied, by which the towns were relieved from a heavy bonded indebtedness. Mr. S. has been an active member of the Masonic fraternity, being Past Master of Bloomington Lodge, No. 43, as well as a member of the Chapter and Commandery.

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 101

Author: Le Baron, Wm., Jr. & Co., Chicago, Pub Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron, Jr. Number of Pages: 1092

Author: Le Baron, Wm., Jr. & Co., Chicago, Pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : W. Le Baron, Jr.
Number of Pages: 1092