The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 92

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 92

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DUDLEY CREED, present editor and publisher of the Democratic News, Bloomington ; was born in Berryville, Highland Co., Ohio, Aug. 10, 1853, in which place he resided until he was 12 years of age, when he commenced working on a farm, during the summer months, and attending the high school in the winter, at Hillsboro', to which place his parents moved in the year 1864. He gradu- ated from that school in the spring of 1868, and moved with his parents to Chillicothe, Mo., at which place he taught school for four or five months. Then he entered the office of the Chilli- cothe Tribune, for the purpose of learning the printing business, at which establishment he remained for three years, when he was made local editor of the Tribune. Mr. Creed moved to Bloomington in 1874. In 1876, in partnership with F. M. Doxsey, he purchased the job-print- ing establishment of A. L. Paine, at 212 North Main street. In June, 1876, moved the office to Paxton, Ford Co., and established a newspaper called the Ford County Blade. In December of the same year, sold out and returned to this city and established the Democratic News, the first number being issued Jan. 6, 1877.

H. C. CRIST, M. D., Bloomington ; is another of the well established physicians of Bloom- ington ; he is a native of Muskingum Co., Ohio, and was born Dec. 28, 1846; he began the study of medicine in 1865, under his father, Dr. David Crist (now deceased), who was among the leading

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practitioners of Bloomington for twenty-three years; he was a native of Perry Co., Ohio : began the practice of medicine in 1842, after graduating at the Columbus Medical College, of Columbus, Ohio; during his residence in Bloomington, he was engaged in constant practice until his death, which occurred March 19, 1875. H. C., the subject of this sketch, in 1865, became a graduate of the State Normal University. thus qualifying himself for a thorough and compre- hensive course of study in the science of medicine ; during the winters of 1867-68 and 1869-70, he attended the Rush Medical College of Chicago, graduating in the spring of 1870 ; af er graduating, he began practicing in Bloomington, which he continued until 1874, when he accepted the appointment of Surgeon of the Pima Indian Agency, of Arizona; this post he held until the death of his father in 1875, when he resigned and came home to settle up the estate ; remaining here, he began practicing, which he has continued with very gratifying success : he is a thoroughly well-read physician, and has devoted much time and study to that part of the medical science known as obstetrics, in which he has practiced very successfully. He is a member of the Mclean County Medical Society, also of the Illinois State Medical Society.

DAVID DAVIS, Bloomington. Cecil Co., MId., claims the proud distinction of being the birthplace of Mr. Davis ; he was born in 1815 ; his education was received at Kenyon College, which, located at the village of Gambier, in the State of Ohio, was a half century ago one of, if indeed not the leading educational institution west of the great Eastern universities ; here Mr. Davis formed the acquaintance of men, who have become equally famed with himself; Edwin M. Stanton, the great War Secretary under the lamented Lincoln, was an intimate college friend of the subject of this sketch; at the same institution Stanley Matthews erected the foundations of a future that has made him famous as the trusted adviser of a President ; here, too, Ruther- ford B. Hayes, President of the United States, implanted the germ of a wonderful career ; Henry Winter Davis, the " prince of parliamentary orators," if not an immediate associate, was a student at the same college, so that we find that the Alma Mater days of Mr. Davis were cast among associations which could not have failed to leave a lasting impression upon his mind, and no doubt, exerted an important influence upon his future. In 1847, he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention : in 1848, he was chosen Judge of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, em- bracing four counties ; in 1862, he was appointed one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1835, Mr. Davis removed to this city, and immediately stepped into a lucrative law practice, and that he was deserving of this his application and his fidel- ity to the interests of his clients gave ample proof. As a mere lawyer Mr. Davis was consci- entious, even to his own disadvantage and pecuniary loss, as some of his professional colleagues claimed, and yet his career has abundantly demonstrated the truth of the old axiom that hon- esty is the best policy, though it is not the intent to infer that the subject was honest from policy. He never sought political preferment, never aspired to political place - though his name has on several occasions been mentioned in connection with high civic honors; he has always clung steadfastly and proudly to the chosen profession of the law, and to this directness of purpose and concentration of effort we must aseribe much of his great suc- cess. As a judge Mr. Davis has won an enviable place among the ermined magnates of the Bench ; the conspicuous traits of his character as a jurist, are his inflexible and unswerv- ing devotion to truth, his rigid impartiality upon all cases brought before him for adjudi- cation, and his honest desire that every accused should have his case, properly presented before the Court ; if accused had not what he considered able counsel, he would not hesitate himself to consult the authorities to see that they had been fully set forth before the jury; he saw truth as if by intuition ; he had an inborn, natural inclination toward equity, in illustration of which many incidents are recalled by attorneys who have had cause to remember this truly com- mendable trait, but none more pertinent than this : At a session of the Danville Court, at which Judge Davis presided, a " celebrated case," known as the Jones cause, was up for adjudication ; able counsel were employed on both sides, as interests representing a large sum were at stake ; Daniel W. Voorhees, now United States Senator, appeared for the defendant ; the case was con- ducted in a skillful manner on both sides, the trial occupying several days in the hearing. Judge Davis took a keen interest in all the proceedings, and as usual discovered the equitable side. Mr. Voorhees overwhelmed the opposition with authorities parallel with the case, and it was universally conceded that this authority preponderated in the favor of his client ; the attorneys were congratulating Voorhees upon the probable successful termination of the trial. "No," said he, " it's of no use to argue the case; Davis will take it under advisement and will have a special law passed rather than give a decision that would rob the defendant of his rights, even though the weight of the authorities seemed to be against him." No greater compliment could be pro- nounced upon any Judge illustrating his love of equity. On the Bench Mr. Davis was a per- fect model of a Judge-full of dignity and decision, and yet with mildness and suavity ; his high personal character and his unbending morals have given an elevated tone and a purer atmosphere to the bar ; as an Associate Justice of the United States, his decisions were learned and able, and commanded the respect and admiration of his associate members. In the Senate, to which he was elected, Mr. Davis is the same dignified and conscientious gentleman, and whatever legislation he has introduced into that body has been based upon equity and justice, and

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with a view to resulting in the " greatest good to the greatest number." For the young law student no more profitable study can be found than the life of the jurist and statesman, David Davis.

GEORGE P. DAVIS, Bloomington ; was born in McLean Co., Ill., in 1842, and is the son of Judge David Davis, who was born in Cecil Co .. Md., March 9, 1815, graduated at Kenyon College, Ohio. Sept. 4, 1832, and commenced the study of law at Lenox, Mass .; in 1835, he came to Illinois and located in Pekin, Tazewell Co. ; after practicing law for a year in Pekin. he removed to Bloomington, which has ever since been his home. Judge Davis married Oct. 30, 1838, to Miss Sarah Walker, at. Lenox, Mass. ; she is a daughter of Judge Walker, of that State : they have two children living, a son and a daughter ; the former, George P., the subject of this sketch, who graduated in 1864, and in 1867, he graduated in the law department of the Michi- gan University at Ann Arbor, Mich. : Mr. Davis commenced the practice of law in 1867, in Bloomington, and, at one time, was in partnership with William H. Hannah.

D. D. DANIELS, butcher, of the firm of Daniels & Logan, Bloomington ; was born in Wash- ington Co., Ohio, Oct. 20. 1829; in the spring of 1852, he, with five others of his town. started for California, via Topeka, Ft. Scott, etc., to Sacramento city, which place they reached after : tedious and eventful journey of six months; he returned in 1858 and located in Bloomington, where he has since lived ; he is one of the oldest butchers, if not the very oldest, in Blooming- ton ; and has the reputation of exposing for sale the finest quality of all kinds of meats. which, with fairness in dealing, has won him the large patronage he now enjoys ; his place of business is 515 North Main street. He married Miss Emma Virden, of Virden, Ill., Oct. 22, 1863.

MISS A. DE CONVILLE, teacher, Bloomington ; is now filling the position of principal of one of the ward schools of the city of Bloomington ; she was born in Bloomington, Mc Lean Co., Ill, and graduated from the High School of the city in 1877; in 1878, she commenced teaching school.

JOSEPH DENISON, County Treasurer, Bloomington ; son of Andrew and Susanna ( Herr) Denison, was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Dec. 10, 1832; during his early life. he received -a good business education, and for several years was in a general store, where he learned busi- ness : he came to McLean Co., Ill., with his parents, in 1851, locating in Bloomington, and. for some three years, worked at the trade of marble engraving, after which he embarked in the grocery business ; this he continued until 1862, when he enlisted in the 94th I. V. I., and went out as Ist Lieutenant ; was promoted to Captain, which position he held to the expiration of his enlisted term (three years ) : he participated in many of the most severe battles of the late war, and escaped without a scratch. In 1865, he opened a grocery store in Lexington, Ill., where he also served as express agent ; here he was quite successful; in 1868. he was appointed U. S. Gauger and Storekeeper, for the Eighth District of Illinois ; in 1871. he was elected Treasurer of Mc Lean Co., and re-elected in 1873, and again elected in 1877 : Mr. Denison is a man of fine business ability and good social qualities. He married Miss Sarah J. Strain, of this county, Oct. 3, 1854; they have a family of five children.

REV. J. W. DINSMORE, Pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, Bloomington : was born in Washington Co., Penn., March 13, 1839, and is the son of William and Rebecca Dinsmore ; he received his college education in Washington, l'enn., in 1859, and his theological education in Allegheny City, Penn., in 1862; his first appointment was at Prairie du Sac : here he remained for seven years ; from there he came to Bloomington in 1870, and took charge of the Second Presbyterian Church, which charge he has held ever since. He was married in December, 1862, to Ada Vance, of Alleghany City, Penn .; they have had five children, three living.

S. E. DIAS, cigar manufacturer, Bloomington ; was born in London, England, April 10, 1842, and came to this country in 1857 locating in the city of Boston, where he learned the trade of a cigar-maker. During the late war, he enlisted with the 38th Mass. V. I., and was in a number of severe battles. skirmishes and sieges ; at the battle of Port Hudson, was wounded, disabling him from further duty, in consequence of which he was discharged in the fall of 1865. after a service of two and one-half years. In 1869, he moved to Detroit. Mich., where he began manufacturing cigars ; he removed to South Bend, Ind., 1873, where he remained until 1875, when he came to Bloomington, Ill., where he has built up a considerable trade ; his place of business is No. 103 North Main street, where he keeps a neat retail stand, well stocked. He married Miss Esther Holland, of South Bend. Ind., Aug. 24, 1870; they have a family of two living.

N. DIEDRICHI, foundry, Bloomington : Mr. N. Diedrich has probably shown more pluck and energy in carrying on his business through difficulties than any man in the city of Bloom- ington ; he is a native of Germany, where the early part of his life was spent, and where he was educated and learned his trade : in 1852, he came to the United States, and located in Blooming- ton in 1856, and worked at his trade until 1860, when he started the Bloomington Foundry and Machine Shops: this establishment he ran for two years, then sold out and became foreman, which position he occupied until he took the Union Foundry; in 1874, this burned, causing a loss on his part of about $4,000 ; rebuilding on the same ground, he then contracted with the Ruttan Heating Co .; he did their work for two years. when they failed : this was : heavy loss for him, being about $15,000, though he retained the patterns of the Ruttan Co .. and has since been manufacturing the heater himself; since conducting the business himself, he has

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met with very good success, his shipping facilities are good, being located near the I., B. & W. and L .. B. & M. Railroads ; the main building of the works is 100x200 fect, the whole containing an area of floor room of about 8,760 feet ; he employs from eight to fifteen men regularly, and, during the busy season, many more. He has carried his business successfully through many ditti- culties ; he is now ranking among the solid, successful manufacturers of the city of Bloomington.

E. DILLON & CO., importers ; Bloomington. Any man or set of men who engage in a bus- iness that builds up the reputation and aggregate value of live stock in any county are always con- sidered as public benefactors ; in the history of the business industries of Mclean Co., E. Dillon & Co., importers of Norman-French horses, most certainly are of this class. Mr E. Dillon, the senior member of the firm, is a native of Ohio; he was born in 1816, and, in 1823, he with his people came West, locating in Tazewell Co. In 1864, he came to McLean Co., where he has since resided. They are one among the oldest importing firms of Norman horses in the United States. Their business dates back to 1857, when they purchased the famous imported horse old Louis Napoleon, the first imported Norman horse ever brought to Illinois ; since then, they have imported and handled about five hundred stallions and one thousand mares ; they have on hand now about eighty head, forty of which are stallions, eight of these being imported stock, and many of the balance native full-bloods ; their stock farm is located in Normal Township, though they also have a stable of fine stock on North East street, Bloomington; mail will reach them directed to either Normal or Bloomington. They sometimes turn out with a four-in-hand of fine dapple-gray stallions, each of which will weigh nearly two thousand pounds ; it is a sight that causes any and all to stop and wonder at the beauty of the animals. Mr. Dillon is a citizen that for many years has been well known to fine stock-dealers and breeders ; he is a man who has been honorable and upright in his business transactions, and has won a name and reputation of which any man may well be proud. The members of the firm are E. Dillon, the subject of this sketch, Levi Dillon, I. Dillon and A. Dillon, all of whom are thoroughly educated horsemen. The estab- lishing and successful conducting of the business has been the result of their energy, industry and good financiering.

L. C. DILLINGHAM & CO., peddlers' supplies ; Bloomington. In Bloomington. almost every line of business seems to have a representative. The above firm are successfully conduct- ing what is known as the Peddlers' Exchange, located at 322 S. Main street, the members of the firm being L. C. Dillingham. of this city, and C. W. Fish, of 120 Lake street, Chicago ; the firm is known here as L. C. Dillingham & Co. Mr. D., the subject of this sketch, is a native of Green Co., Ohio ; he came West in 1872 and located in Bloomington, engaging in his present line of business ; here, by energy, industry, and good financiering, they have established a good busi- ness. Their line of business is peculiar of itself and requires a man of good ability to conduct it successfully : they have had many difficulties to contend with and obstacles to overcome, but Mr. D. is one of that class of men who seldom fail to carry any enterprise through successfully ; they have now seven wagons on the road and are doing a business of about $12,000 per year; under his supervision, they bid fair to double this amount in a few seasons.

D. DRIGGS, pattern-maker ; Bloomington. The subject of this sketch is a native of Hart- ford, Conn., where he grew to manhood and received his education ; after completing his liter- ary studies, he began the study of law ; after completing his course of study of the legal profes- sion, he began practice ; but, as it proved, unfortunately for him, himself and partner in a short time had established a business that was more than they could attend to; the consequence was, Mr. Driggs' health failed and he was obliged to give up the practice of his profession. Think- ing som'e mechanical trade better suited to his state of health, he learned the trade of a pattern- inaker in Cincinnati, Ohio; he worked there some time, then moved to Canton, Ill., where he remained one year ; from there he removed to Peoria, where he was at work at his trade for three years ; then went to El Paso ; there he was engaged in running a foundry until 1873, when he removed to Bloomington, where he has since resided, engaged in the manufacture of patterns. Hle is a man who, had not his health failed in early life, must surely have become a prominent member of the bar. Whatever his position may be in life, he easily holds the reputation of being a gentleman and a scholar.

1. DUDLEY, railroad agent, Bloomington ; though Mr. Dudley has been a resident of Blooming- ton but four years, he is, probably, as well and favorably known as many of those who call themselves pioneer residents ; in 1848, he began his first railroading, on the Concord Railroad, of New Hampshire ; since that time, he has been engaged in railroading most of the time; previous to coming to Bloomington, in the employ of the L., B. & M. Road, he had been with the Pan-Handle Road for ten years. From 1862 until 1864, he was in the Railway Department of the civil service. He now has charge of the Freight and Ticket Department of the L., B. & M. Road at Bloomington. The general verdict of the people is that he is the right man in the right place.

IMRI DUNN, druggist, Bloomington. Among the thoroughly reliable druggists of Bloomington who have had many years' practical experience in the drug trade, is Mr. Imri Dunn, whose establish- ment is located corner Center and Front streets ; he is a native of Bloomington, and was born June 14, 1847; he first embarked in the drug trade in Macon, Ill., in the spring of 1865, remaining there until 1871, when his store burned, with many others, at the time of the Macon fire ; he lost by this misfortune about $4,000. In the spring of 1872, he removed to this city and again engaged

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in the drug trade, where he has since remained ; he also carries, in connection with his full line of drugs, a fine assortment of clocks. watches and jewelry, and makes repairing of clocks, watches and jewelry a specialty in this department. Mr. Dunn is a thoroughly-educated drug- gist, of fifteen years' experience, and a close student of the various properties and qualities of drugs and chemicals. The enterprise he has exhibited, his neat and tastily-arranged store, a fine line of pure drugs, fine toilet goods and perfumeries and a case of the choicest brands of cigars, coupled with a fine prescription and family recipe department, are all conducive to his success : but these no less than his good judgment in buying, thereby enabling him to sell cheap, and his strict adherence to a cash system in buying, makes his establishment, if not so large. as thoroughly reliable as any in the city of Bloomington.

J. DUNN, physician and surgeon, Bloomington. Dr. J. Dunn, the subject of this sketch, is a na- tive of Fulton Co., Ill .; he was born May 14, 1840, and began the study of nredicine in 1861, with his father, Dr. W. A. Dunn, of Greenfield, III. He had pursued his studies but a short time, when he enlisted in Company D, 32d I. V. I .; he entered the service as a private, but was promoted from time to time, until he rose to the rank of Captain and Acting-Assistant Inspector General of the Illinois Brigade. At the battle of Bentonville, he was complimented by his Brigade Com- mander, Gen. Belknap, for gallantry during this action ; he was engaged in many of the heavy battles, remaining in the service until the close of the war. After his return from the army, he again began the study of medicine with his father, and in the winter of 1866-67, he attended lectures at the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago. In the spring of 1867, he began prac- ticing with Dr. J. A. Wakeman, of Centralia. ; in the winter of 1868-69, he again attended lect- ures, and graduated at the Homeopathic Medical College, St. Louis : returning to Centralia, he followed the practice of his profession until the fall of 1873. removing to Peoria, III., where he only remained during the winter; in the spring of 1874, he located at Bloomington and began practicing. He is a member of the MeLean County Homoeopathic Medical Society. Since his residence here he has devoted himself fully and exclusively to his profession.

McCANN DUNN, physician and surgeon, Bloomington ; Dr. McCann Dunn is another of the old reliable physicians of Bloomington ; he is a native of Frederick Co., Va., was born April 7, 1821 ; he began the study of medicine in 1847 ; attended his first course of lectures at McDowell's Medical College, known as the Missouri Medical College, St. Louis; graduated at the Medical College, Chicago, 1862. In 1850 he began practicing in Knox Co., Ill., where he remained three years; though in 1852, he began the practice of homoeopathy, believing this to be the true science of medicine. In 1853, he came to Bloomington, where he has since resided, devoting his time exclusively to his profession. He is President of the McLean County Homoeo- pathic Medical Society, which was organized in 1878; he also helped to organize the Illinois State Homoeopathic Medical Society.

W. A. ELDER, physician and surgeon, Bloomington ; every city has its representative men in all professions. Of the great number who represent some profession, and more especially that of the medical, there are comparatively few, who, by hard study, almost constant practice and time devoted wholly to their profession, have reached a degree of eminence placing them in the mind of the public, and by the verdict of their societies among the first. This position has been attained and earned by Dr. W. A. Elder, of Bloomington. He is a native of Waterloo, Seneca Co., N. Y., and was born March 3, 1826, and a descendant of Samuel Elder who came from Scotland in 1740, and settled in Hampden Co., Mass. After pursuing collegiate studies three years, he began the study of medicine with his uncle, Dr. Samuel Elder, of Fairmount, St. Clair Co., Ill; in 1847, he graduated at the Medical Department of the University of Mis- souri, at St. Louis; after finishing his studies at college he was appointed resident physician to the Marine Hospital of St. Louis ; this post he held one year; during the next three years he engaged in private practice in St. Louis and San Francisco, Cal. In 1852. he located at Bloom- ington, where he has since resided, giving his time exclusively to the practice of his profession. He is one of the original members of the McLean County Medical Society, of which he was elected the President in 1875: he has also made frequent contributions to the different medical journals. In his practice he has been most untiring, working with an energy seldom equaled by one of his profession.

JOHN W. EVANS, planing-mill, Bloomington ; another of the old residents of this city and one, too, who has been directly identified with many of the changes and improvements made in Bloomington, is John W. Evans, contractor, lumber-dealer and manufacturer ; he is a native of Cambria Co., Penn .; was born in February, 1828, and came West in 1852. After traveling over the Western States for a few years he, in 1855. located in Bloomington, where he has since resided ; he had learned the trade of carpenter and builder in the East; in 1856, he formed a partnership with Mr. Hayes and engaged in contracting and building: their business grew to such proportions that from 1870 to 1873, their contracting amounted to about $160,000 per year, Since the death of Mr. Hayes, in 1874, Mr. Evans has conducted the business alone ; he has been an energetic, hard-working man, and now owns a good property, which is wholly the result of his own industry and good financiering.

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 92

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