The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 94

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 94

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FITZWILLIAM & SONS, dealers in dry goods, Bloomington ; and one of the very fore- most henses in Bloomington. All the advantages that intelligence, business education and finan- eial ability give a merchant, are possessed by Messrs. Fitzwilliam, and account for their large *trade. William M. Fitzwilliam, senior member of the firm. is a native of Pennsylvania. having moved to Ross Co., Ohio, at an early day; Lere he was engaged in the dry-goods business, in Bainbridge, for a number of years. Francis J. Fitzwilliam, a native of Ohio, has had almost a lifetime experience in the dry-goods business. Ile was a soldier of the late war, having enlisted in Co. G, 33d Ohio V. I., as 1st Lieutenant, and participated in some of the most severe battles of the war, as Perryville, above the clouds at Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, in the campaign to Atlanta, and other battles ; after his muster-out he returned to his home in Ohio, where he- remained until 1866; he then came to Bloomington and opened a dry-goods store on Main street, with a very valuable stock ; from there they moved to a room in Schroeder's Opera Ilouse ; thenee to their present commodious building, which is 25x105 feet, three stories high. with basement, and a stock of dry goods the largest in the city, valued at $75,000. Their motto is excellence in quality, integrity in transactions, one priee to all, and quick sales and small profits.

W. D. GILMAN, druggist. Bloomington ; the drug business is well represented in Blooming- ton ; among those establishments that are neatly fitted up, and stocked to supply any and all demands for goods in this line, is that of W. D. Gilman, corner of Main and Jefferson streets. Mr. Gilman, the gentlemanly proprictor. is a native of Washington, D. C. ; at the age of 16, he began learning the drug trade ; has had experience in the drug business in St Louis and Colum- bia, Mo .; he spent two years at his present location in the employ of Dr. Dyson ; then engaged in the drug trade in Hleyworth, where he remained for two years; in November, 1878, he returned to Bloomington and became the successor of Dr. Dyson, where we now find him. Many of the eitizens of Bloomington became acquainted with Mr. Gilman during his two years residence in this eity, and are well aware of his ability as a thoroughly-educated druggist ; his stoek of goods is neat and tastily arranged, and of the very best quality ; he has a large line of show-ease goods and a complete assortment of choice brands of eigars ; these are all conducive to his success, but no more so than a fine family-recipe department, over which he presides per- sonally ; his readiness and courtesy in waiting upon customers, clean and tidy store-room, must insure him success in the future as he has had in the past.

JAMES GOODHEART, Deputy U. S. Marshal, Bloomington ; was born in this county March 30, 1830; during his early life, educational advantages were limited, but by study, obser- vation and experience, he has acquired a good business education : at the age of 18, he began the trade of a briek mason and plasterer, which he followed until the beginning of the late war. when he enlisted with the 94th 1. V. I., and served until the expiration of his term (three years) ; he then returned to Bloomington and took np his trade, together with contracting and building ; he followed this abont twenty-five years, and a number of fine business honses and residences to-day stand monuments of his workmanship. He was elected to the office of County Sheriff in 1874, and was re-elected in 1876, serving two terms with honor and credit to himself and those he represented ; he is a man of fine physical powers and good business ability. lle was appointed Deputy U. S. Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois, in December, 1874. which position he still holds; he is publie-spirited and enterprising, having assisted in many of the public improvements of Bloomington. He married Miss Catharine O., daughter of Daniel Fordice, an early settler of this county, Ang. 26. 1852; they have a family of eight.

GEN. ASHAEL GRIDLEY, banker, Bloomington ; was born in Cazenovia, N. Y., April 21. 1810, and educated at the Pompey Academy ; at the age of 21, he determined to "go West." and Oet. 8, 1831. located in Bloomington ; he began his career as merchant, in which busi- ness he continued eight years. Mr. Gridley was a soldier of the Black Hawk war. In the year 1840, Gen. Gridley was elected to the position of Representative, and was the compeer of Mr. Lineoln; he was one of the most active members, and was the author of much legislation that redounded to the material interest of Bloomington. As State Senator for four years, he achieved a reputation that made him well-known throughout the State " There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune:" this juneture in his history occurred in 1841 and 1842, when his lucky star suggested that he should turn his energy and knowledge to the practice of law as a profession ; he at once worked his way into a large and

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lucrative practice, and soon stood in the front rank in his profession ; he formed a partnership with Col. Wickizer, the firm name being Gridley & Wickizer, and in looking over the old dockets of the McLean Co. Courts, the eye is frequently arrested by the name "Grid. & Wick.," as it was put, in order to economize time and labor ; he has long since abandoned the arena of litiga- tion and has been engaged in the banking business. with even greater success. In 1853, the doors of the McLean Co. Bank were opened for business with Gen. Gridley as Manager, and they stand open to-day, with the same familiar face looking on and directing its operations ; that he has acquired a large property is true, but that he has locked up in vaults his accumulated wealth no man can say, for his public spirit and munificence are betokened upon every street ; but more conspicuously in the extensive gas works built by his own means, at a day when its success as a profitable investment was extremely problematical.

H. GRAHAM, carriage and wagon-maker, Bloomington ; was born in Lake County, Ohio, Oct. 26, 1830, and came, with his parents, to Lake County, Ill., in 1844, where he learned the trade of wagon-making; his advent to the city of Bloomington dates back to 1851, where he has since lived ; he began manufacturing wagons and buggies on his own account in 1875, and enjoys the reputation of turning out work second to none ; his place of business is 406 and 408 West Front street. He married Miss Anna Lively, of Waukegan, Ill., June 4, 1854 ; she died May 13, 1877, leaving one child, Louisa B.

R. GRAFF, grocer, Bloomington ; is a native of Germany, where he was born May 15, 1840 ; He came to this country in 1852, and located in Bloomington, Ill. ; during early life his chances for education were limited, but, by observation and experience, he has acquired a fair business education ; he followed agricultural pursuits until 1866, when he engaged as clerk in a grocery store ; in 1872, he began business on his own account; he is located at 819 East Grove street, where he keeps a fine stock of goods ; he is a careful and reliable business man. whose aim is to secure the best patronage. He married Mrs. Margaret Leiser Sept. 1, 1869; she is a native of Germany ; they have three children.

ADAM GUTHRIE, tobacconist, Bloomington; was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, March 10, 1825 ; his father was Scotch-Irish and his mother German ; they settled in McLean Co., in 1826 : he is one of a family of twelve ; his educational advantages were limited ; after the death of his father, in 1846, he learned the trade of a plasterer, which he followed for many years; he held the position of Assessor for thirteen years, and was also Deputy Recorder, and, in 1870, took the United States census in District No. 7; these, with other positions, he has filled with credit ; he has witnessed the entire growth and development of Bloomington, and assisted in many of its improvements. perhaps to a greater extent than some of larger means. During the late war he enlisted with the 94th I. V. I., and, after a service of eight months, was discharged on ac- count of disability ; he is now engaged in the cigar business, and is finely located on the corner of Jefferson and Main streets ; his place is known as the Board of Trade. He married Miss L. L. Butler, of Bloomington, in 1849; they have raised a small family.

P. W. GAFFRON, grocer, Bloomington ; is a native of Prussia, where he was born Nov. 5, 1820, and raised and schooled, and afterward learned the grocery business. He came to this country in 1848, and spent considerable time in traveling and prospecting in the Southern States ; then located in Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained until 1851, when he removed to St. Louis, and there entered into partnership with one Roddewig and manufactured cigars, in which he continued until 1856; he then removed to Bloomington, erected a building and opened a grocery store. lle is one of the oldest grocers of Bloomington, and is located at No. 812 West Market street, where he keeps a well-assorted stock of goods ; he pays the highest market price for country produce, and is a careful and reliable business man. He married Miss Henrietta Schultz, of Cleveland, Ohio, Dec 20, 1853; they have nine children living

J. W. GRAY, grocer, Bloomington, of the firm of Brown & Gray, was born in New York City, July 3, 1849, and is the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Whitten) Gray. He has a good busi- ness education, and ranks with the leading business men of Bloomington. He came to this county with his parents in 1863, and began to do business on his own account, in 1871, at Farmer City, where he continued until 1875, when he located in Bloomington and engaged in the grocery business with his present partner, and now enjoys a flourishing trade. They are located at No. 118 West Front street. Mr. Gray was married to Miss Lavina Price, of Farmer City, Ill., May 10, 1876.

WM. E. GAPEN, attorney at law ; Bloomington ; was born in Washington Co., Penn., July 13, 1831; graduated in 1854 at the Waynesburg College, Waynesburg, Penn .; in 1856, he was admitted to practice law, and continued at his profession until 1861, when he went to Washing- ton City and accepted a clerkship in the Pension Office ; in 1864, he resigned and returned to Waynesburg; in 1868, he came west to Bloomington, Ill., and commenced the practice of law in 1869; about 1870, he entered into partnership with Mr. Henry A. Ewing, which constitute one of the strongest law firms in the McLean County bar. Mr. Gapen was a delegate to the Chicago Convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln for President, in which Mr. Gapen took an active part.

HYDE & MARTINS, plow manufacturers; Bloomington. There are, probably, but few of the successful merchants and manufacturers of the city of Bloomington, who are equal in energy,

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BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP.

enterprise and a clear conception of the wants of the public, to the firm of Hyde & Martins, manufacturers of the Centennial and Victor Plows, and dealers in agricultural implements. They have been in business in their present line only since January, 1877, and have already established, by good management and the superiority of their plows, a fine business. Their plows, especially, deserve more than a passing mention. Being something entirely new, yet the advan- tages of it are so very plain that the only wonder is that plows have not been constructed in this manner ever since they have been so universally used. The principal advantages gained are lightness of draft and a peculiar shaping of the standard, so that it is almost impossible to choke it in loose straw, rank weeds or cornstalks. Mr. V. M Hyde, the senior member of the firm, is a native of New York ; he came West first in 1863, locating in Bloomington, where, for five years, he was engaged as salesman, cashier and book-keeper in the dry-goods trade. In 1868, he removed to Detroit, Mich., and engaged in the manufacture of druggists' sundries, on Larned street, and wholesale crockery, glassware, etc., on Woodward Avenue. This business he was engaged in until 1873, when he returned to Bloomington, and engaged with the Bloomington Paper and Bag Co., as traveling salesman, which position he held until 1877, when he, in com- pany with Mr. Martins, engaged in his present line of business. He is possessed of the energy, ability and experience to carry most any business through successfully. Mr C. C. Martins, the junior member of the firm, is a native of Prussia. In 1869, when he was 15 years old, he came to the United States. He first located in Belleville, near St. Louis, where he remained about one vear. In 1870, he came to Bloomington, and engaged in the manufacture of carriages ; this he followed until he engaged in the manufacture of plows, which he has since followed. Before leaving his native country, he had acquired a good education and had begun to learn his trade. He is a thoroughly mechanical genius. The patenting of and construction of their plows being of his invention, two men could hardly be found to carry on the business to better advantage than himself and Mr. Hyde: both being so well adapted to their separate departments of the work. Should no misfortune befall them, they will yet rank among the large plow manufacturers of the West.

WILLIAM HILL, physician and surgeon, Bloomington. Among the leading physicians of Bloomington, who, by a long and successful practice, have established a reputation for skill and ability as a physician, is Dr. William Hill, who is a native of Butler Co., Ohio; he was born March 12, 1829; read medicine at Indianapolis, Ind., under Dr. J. W. Merritt; in 1849, he attended lectures at La Porte, Ind., and at Ann Arbor, Mich., during winter terms of 1851, 1852 and 1853; attended and graduated at Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, in 1856; he practiced medicine in Middletown, Ind., in 1851, and, in 1853, removed to Louisville, III. ; in 1856, he located at Salem, Ill., where he practiced ten years, including time spent in the United States army as Surgeon of 48th Ill. V. I .. in 1861 ; in 1862, he resigned this post to accept the position of Surgeon of the 1st Missouri Light Artillery. At the close of the war, in 1866, he returned to Illinois and located at Bloomington, where he has since resided, engaging in the practice of his profession. He is a member of the McLean Co. Medical Society, of which he held the office of President in 1873; he has also written frequently for the different medical journals.

JAMES W. HAYES, deceased, Bloomington, whose portrait has a place in this work, was born in Haddonfield, N. J., July 3, 1833 ; his mother died when he was but a child, and soon after his father moved to California, and there died ; he spent his early boyhood with his unele, a farmer in Bucks Co., Penn. ; at the proper age, he returned to Haddonfield and there learned the trade of a carpenter with another uncle, after which he went to Philadelphia, and there resided until the year 1855, when he was married and moved West. During the summer of 1855, he worked in Quincy, and in December of the same year, in company with Mr. John W. Evans, afterward and ever since his partner, came to Bloomington, and in the following spring began business as a contractor ; in 1858, Hayes & Evans bought a two-thirds interest in the establish- ment then owned by Parke & Bros., and which occupied the same spot as does the well-known shop of Hayes & Evans to-day ; Mr. S. S. Parke remained in the firm, which was known as Hayes, Evans & Co. ; soon afterward, they bought out Mr. Parke and changed the name of the firm accordingly ; in 1859, the shop, which had already fallen a prey to the flames twice before, was destroyed by fire, and was immediately rebuilt ; from its organization, the firm of llayes & Evans was successful ; they have always been busy ; their contracts have been faithfully per- formed. and both members of the firm have advanced from the foot of the ladder to the positions in which they are known, by perseverance, industry and good management ; to the character of the deceased much of all this is due ; he was a man of wonderful energy, indomitable pluck, and clear and foreseeing mind ; quick spoken, and straightforward in his address, he was sometimes misunderstood by those who knew him but slightly, but all who had continued intercourse with him, either in social or business relations, learned soon to appreciate his character ; during his association with Mr. Evans, the deccased superintended the outside work, giving to this depart- ment the activity and energy which characterized him, while Evans gave his attention to the work of the office and the shop. Mr. Hayes was a member of Remembrance Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of Wade Barney Lodge of Masons. Mr. Hayes married, May 2, 1855, Miss Elizabeth S. Burk (daughter of Thomas and Ann Burk, natives of Philadelphia, Penn.) ; they have seven children

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

-Ella (now Mrs. Dr. C. R. Carr, of Bloomington), Thomas B., Alice L., Howard E., William S., James W., Jr., and Fredonia. Mr. llayes' death occurred Jan. 27, 1874. from an aggravated lung trouble. Ilis widow married Feb. 1, 1876, Luther Wilson, and still resides in Bloomington ; they have had two children, one living-Luther, and one dead-Grace.

OSCAR HIELBIG, musie, Bloomington. There are probably but few men in Central Illinois so thoroughly skilled in the construction of musical instruments as Mr. Oscar Helbig, of 316 North Main street ; he is a native of Germany : came to the United States in 1871 ; though before leaving his native country, he had learned the trade of minnficturing pianos, and had worked in most of the large cities of Germany ; he worked one-half year in New York City, for George Steeks, in the manufacturing of pianos ; then went to Chicago, where he remained about one and one- half years, also working at his trade while there, and did some business on his own account ; he then came to Bloomington and began work for Mr. Strops ; then worked for Andrus & Van >choick, and finally began business for himself in tuning ; he began on a small scale: by his elose attention to business he now has a fine trade ; has a fine line of musical instruments, for which he paid cash, buying them direct from the manufactories, more especially the pianos, of which he keeps several different manufactures ; he also does something in the jobbing trade of small instruments : his reputation as a piano-tuner is not equaled in the city. as he keeps most of the finest instruments in order for a circuit of eighty miles : he is a thoroughly educated man in his line of business, and bids fair to rank among the large dealers of the State.

S. HAYES, carriage and wagon manufacturer, Bloomington : was born in Hartford Co., Conn., Jan. 17, 1807, where he learned the trade of wagon-making ; he came to Bloomington in 1840; he embarked in business on his own account shortly after arriving here and has been a successful man ; he owns the property occupied by him, corner of West and Front sts .. a loca- tion well adapted to his business ; he makes all kinds and styles of vehicles and has the reputa- tion of turning ont substantial and honest work, which fact, probably as much as any other, has secured him an extensive trade ; he has been a hard-working business man as well as enterpris- ing and public-spirited, having always taken active part in all matters pertaining to the good of the community. He married Miss Eliza Roab, of his native county, in September, 1829. They have raised a family of seven.

CAPT. GEORGE T. HERITAGE, mechanic, Bloomington. Capt. George T. Heritage is one of the few natives of England who is a resident of Bloomington ; he was born in 1834, and, in 1846, came to Canada, where he remained for about nine years ; in 1855, he came to the States and located in Bloomington, beginning work for Mr. Walton the same year of his arrival; for twenty-four years he has held his position in the factory, though, during this time, he was engaged in the war of the late rebellion. In April, 1861, he enlisted as Sergeant in the 8th I. V. 1., three months' service; after serving his term of enlistment, he returned and helped to organize the 39th I. V. I., which he entered in Co. B as First Sergeant ; after nine months serv- ice, he was promoted to the rank of Captain ; in 1864, he was shot through the body, from the effects of which he has not yet recovered and probably never will, as the wound was a severe «ne ; upon his return from the army, as soon as his health would permit, he again accepted his position with Mr. Walton ; for many years he has had charge of the wood-work department of the factory ; during most of the time has charge of four or five men ; he is now one of the hon- ored and respected soldier-citizens of the city of Bloomington.

H. Il. HEWITT, hardware, Bloomington. A fair illustration of what can be done by energy, industry and a close attention to business is found in the hardware and agricultural implement trade of Mr. H. H. Hewitt ; he is a native of Saratoga Co., N. Y .; upon coming West, in 1857, his first location was in El Paso, Woodford Co., Ill. ; here he taught the first school ever taught in El Paso; this was in the winter of 1858-59; in 1860, he opened the first hardware store in that place ; this business he conducted until 1869, when he sold out and came to Bloomington ; for two years he was engaged in the book trade, the firm being Miner & Hewitt; in January, 1873, he again engaged in the hardware trade, with Mr. Haggard, the firm name being Haggard & Hewitt ; in 1874, he bought Mr. Haggard's interest in the business, and has since conducted it alone ; from 1871 nntil 1873, he also had an interest in a hardware establishment in El Paso ; his establishment is located at No. 309 N. Main st. ; this building is 24 feet front and 100 feet deep, three floors and basement ; in addition to this, he has two large sheds for storing farm machinery ; prominent among his line of goods is the Schuttler wagon, Champion reaper and mower, the " Early Breakfast " and " Everlasting" stoves ; he employs from eight to ten men ; his business aggregates about $100,000 per annum; this is wholly the result of his industry, energy and good financiering, by which he has established a business of which any man may justly feel proud.

MRS. W. H. HANNA, Bloomington. Of those who were, during their life, prominent mem- bers of the bar in Bloomington, we mention Mr. Hanna; he was a native of Brookfield, Ind. ; those who are familiar with the history of Indiana will well remember the prominence of the Ilannas; his people moved from his native place to In lianapolis when he was but two years old ; there he resided until the age of 25, when he moved to Bloomington and begin the practice of law, as he hal become a graduate of the legal profession before leaving In lianapolis ; his death occurred Aug. 5, 1870, in his 45th year. He was married in 1846, Mrs. Hanna being still a

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BLOOMINGTON TOWNSHIP.

resident of Bloomington, and they are among the first families of the city, thoroughly educated and refined people.

E. T. HUTCHINSON, dentist, Bloomington ; before engaging in any profession, it would be well for any person to study his adaptability for that profession ; this seeyis to have been the case with Dr. E. T. Hutchinson, whose natural talent in the profession of dentistry has been well proven by his success ; he is a native of Christian Co., Ky. ; was born April 9. 1845, and began the study of dentistry in 1868, graduating at the Pennsylvania Dental College of Philadelphia in 1871 : after graduating, he returned to Bloomington, where he has been a resident since 1857, and began the practice of his profession: his office and residence is located corner Center and Grove streets, being what is known as the Hutchinson Block, which he erected in 1875, with special reference to the dental business ; here, by his own design, he has elegantly furnished reception and operating rooms, paying special attention to having his operating room well lighted by large, French plate-glass windows, thus enabling him, with the help of the finest-improved make of dental instruments, to do fine and lasting work while operating, he having spent much time in the study and practice of this part of his profession ; of his success and ability in this part of the science, there is abundant proof among the first families of the city.

M. D. HERRINGTON, butcher, Bloomington; was born in Lenawee Co., Mich., April 23, 1844, where he lived until 1856, when he removed, with his parents, to Tipton, Iowa ; in 1858, they removed to Laclede, Mo., and, in 1869, to MeLean, Ill. ; during his early life, he obtained a good education, including a commercial course at Quincy, Ill. ; his first business experience was in the grocery line, at Hannibal, Mo. ; he returned to Bloomington in 1873, and opened a mert-market; his shop is at 615 North Main street, where he has one of the neatest markets in this section of the Stato; the trade he has secured in this vicinity, and the satisfaction given to both private and public houses prove him to be a good business man. He married Miss Ida Jones, of this county, Ang. 15, 1871 ; they have three children.

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The History of McLean County, Illinois; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, Part 94

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