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In writing a 1922 History of Carroll County, "The
Best in the World," covers everything. We doubt if there is a county the size of Carroll in the United States that has as much natural beauty, as much wealth, as many beautiful homes, in city and country, better broad acres of undulating
farming land, a happier and more prosperous people
than we have in Carroll county. Situated, the
second county from the north, in the State, and
along the beautiful Mississippi River, with its
scenery, its boating and fishing and hunting, and
extending eastward 20 miles, toward the Rock River,
growing more level each mile from the Mississippi,
until prairie land lies as far as vision can reach,
makes it the most desirable spot en earth to cast
one's life and fortune. Carroll County is not a
a County of large cities.
Carroll County was named in honor of Wm. Carroll,
of Carrollton, one of the signers of the Declaration
of Independence. Its first settlers were the Pierce's
and Woodruff's, and Bailey's and Melendy's,
Halderman's and Rinewalt's, and Preston's and
Petty's, and Downing's, and Christian's, and
Kridler's and Dame's and others long since deceased
and whose children are now the old settlers and
their children, grand and great grand-children are
the younger element.
Carroll County boasts of taking care of her aged
and infirm, unfortunate, financially, people and has
one of the finest county farms and county buildings
for their care that can be found, situated a mile and
and a half south of Mt. Carroll, and at present looked
after by Wm. Christian and wife.
In writing a history of this county in the now means
to tell of the business enterprises and the men who
make for the progressiveness of the county. Carroll
County dates back to the 30's, when there was a
Fort at Savanna, and Elkhorn Grove was the first
settlement east of Savanna, with Cherry Grove to
the northeast.
The County Officers of Carroll County at Present are:
County Judge J. F. Brearton, Savanna.
The Supervisors of the County are:
SAVANNA With something more than five thousand people
is the largest city in the county . Savanna lies
along the river in the center of the county. It is a railroad center, the Burlington Route and the
Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul, both having
terminal points there.
MT. CARROLL is the County Seat, a city of two thousand souls and
a most beautiful and attractive place to live
LANARK lies eight miles east and is a prairie city, a Garden
of the Gods, a most beautiful residence city, and
surrounded by the richest land in the County.
SHANNON lies eight miles northeast of Lanark, and it, too is
a prairie village of some 600 enterprising people,
and no better land lies out of doors than that
surrounding Shannon.
MILLEDGEVILLE is situated in the southeaster corner of the county,
on the level prairie, is a city of beautiful homes, and
the best farming county in the Untied States
surrounds it.
CHADWICK is a village nine miles west of Milledgeville, and like
the latter is situated in a great farming country.
it is a bustling village and has many enterprising
citizens.
THOMSON is a village situated in the southwestern part of the
county. The soil there is sandy but it is the
greatest soil for water and musk melons in the
world and is known as the water melon village, it
is a good business place.
ARGO-FA is a hamlet situated five miles south of Mt. Carroll,
and was, while the- condensary was running one of
the liveliest hamlets in the county, and although the
plant closed the enterprising people there have
converted it into a creamery that is doing a
business. It is a rich part of the county.
WACKER is a hamlet five miles southwest of Mt. Carroll and
its people are happy contented, wealthy citizens.
They have a store, creamery, blacksmith shop, two
churches and wouldn't change places with anybody.
In this edition we shall give each city, town and
hamlet a place of its own, and we invite the careful
reading of it all, as it will give you an idea of who
the men are who are making Carroll County the
great county it is, and are placing it in the archives,
among the records that it may be preserved and in
future years become yet greater from the foundation
laid by the pioneers and being built upon by the
present-day people.
MT. CARROLL, as is well known, dates back
to about 1836, when the old mill was built
This with a distillery and a Cooper shop, and
the old stone hotel formed the necules of the present
thriving city, with its beautiful parks, and homes
and schools and churches. Its business houses are
if the best, filled with the choicest of goods.
Mt. Carroll has something like twenty miles of
concrete sidewalk, two miles of paved streets, a
fine system of water works, pure water, and plenty
of it, good fire protection, a fine system of boulevard
lights being installed as this is written.
It is the county seat of Carroll County and is
situated as near the geographical center of the
county as it can be the way the towns are laid out.
The court building was erected in 1858, but outgrew
its use and a new office building was erected in the
late 90's. The buildings are surrounded by a
beautiful park, well shaded and containing the
soldiers' monument, an annex, cannon and ball from
the Civil War, and a concrete bandstand, one of
the finiest in the northwest.
The city park is a natural park on the west side of
the citv, with many large trees for shade and the
creek running through it. There is a cook house,
tables. toilets, swings, and benches, and it is an ideal
spot in summer and largely patronized by people
from everywhere.
Down the creek two miles further is Smith's Park,
another ideal spot, well supplied with everything,
electric lights, a store, a dancing pavilion, boats,
horse shoe and croquet grounds, and is one of the
beauty spots of nature.
The Caroline Mark Home, situated in the north part
of town is a fine building erected by the trustees of
the late Caroline Mark Estate, and built for the
accommodation of homeless ladies of this
Congressional district, supplied with all the
comforts of such a Home. Here is another
beautiful park, making four in all.
The Frances Shimer School affiliated with the
University of Chicago, a school for girls, is one of
the prettiest places within the confines of the city.
The buildings are of the best and provided with
every comfort to the school girl. The buildings are
all lighted by electricity, and warmed from a central
heating plant. The grounds are beautiful, and are
large and commodious containing golf and tennis
grounds, a base ball diamond, as well as plenty of
shade and flowers everywhere.
The creek winds through the city, and a high bridge
crosses the chasm at the foot of Clay street, and
every stranger who comes to town drives over the
bridge, the street leading to the Caroline Mark
Home.
The Carnegie Library, the City Hall, the Cemetery,
are places much visited by the strangers who come
here as well as the parks.
The public school buildings are large and modern
in every respect, and contain both the grades and
the Community High School pupils.
We have the Methodist, the Baptist, the Lutheran,
Church of the Brethren, the Church of God and the
United Brethren churches in town, each with a
minister, services twice on Sunday beside Sunday
School and meetings during the week, so that the
spiritual needs of the people do not lag.
Our city is divided into three wards, with two
aldermen to each ward, and a mayor elected from
the city generally. These are at present: Mayor,
Wm. Keim; Aldermen first ward, Fred C. Leigh,
George E. Myers; second ward, Val Smith, Ed. Fox;
third ward, Arthur Hoover, Charlie Isenhart; City
Clerk, E. N. Gsell; City Attorney, John Connell;
Treasurer, Ralph Leigh; City Marshal, Geo. F.
Phillips; Water Rent Collector, John Mummert.
John Warfield is City Engineer and his son Ben, is
assistant.
The Commercial Club is composed this year of Guy
Bradbury, President; Fay F. Christian, Treasurer;
Members, C. L. Smith, Ray Doty, and this Club is
one of the greatest organizations in the way of
business that we have. They take care of all of
the big days, have band concerts weekly during the
summer, and manage the Farmers' and Merchants'
Picnic in the fall, on Labor Day, the regular date
for the affair. The merchants, business men and
those who have Mt. Carroll's interests at heart
subscribe liberally, and the Club has the money
which they invest with care. They also have, in
the past, built much good road.
With our schools, our churches, our homes, we
are a happy and contented class of people, always
looking forward to something which is going to
make for the betterment of the city in all ways.
Our stores are equal to those in any city twice our
size. Our business men are alive and awake.
Our officers are all efficient. In fact, we are a
happy and contented people, as to hying, but ever
ready to push forward to greater goals.
Mt. Carroll has a tennis club, a golf club, a base
ball team and a band that is well known everywhere
in the county.
And we are still going on making history. From
a land of hazel brush and scrub oaks, and buffalo,
deer, wild turkey, wild cats, wolves and lynx, we
have developed into a city that is the pride of
everyone who is living here or has lived here in the
past.
The old pioneers converted the virgin soil into a
home making place and the people of today, while
reaping the benefits are striving for still greater
things. Those who have been and are making Mt.
Carroll, will be found on the following pages.
It is simply a brief synopsis of what these enterprising
men are doing, and we ask that you carefully read every word in the following pages which
is set forth in truth.
While Mt. Carroll is not a manufacturing center,
yet we have two Monument mariufactories, an
Artificial Ice plant, a Co-operative Creamery and
many minor industries.
Mt. Carroll is the home of the Farm Bureau, with
more than half the farmers of the county as
members. G. R. Bliss is County Agent, in charge
of the Bureau. This is an agricultural community.
and the farmers claim that this Bureau has been of
much value to them. Connected with the Bureau
is the Live Stock Shipping Association and the Live
Stock Breeders Association.
We have two Boards of Educations, the Public School
and the Community High School Boards.
We have the benefit of both the telephone systems,
the independent and the Mutual.
And last but not least, Mt. Carroll is the only city
of the same size in the State of Illinois that has a
daily paper.
He has been in the harduare and implement business a number of years and hass built up a trade second to none in the county. He is a hustler every minute of the time, whether it was for himself or the city, made no difference and every body in Mt. Carroll should raise his hat to George Paul for what he has accomplished for the city as well as for himself.
Not only washe mayor but an active member of the Commercial Club at the same time. He is genial, and can he approached upon any subject looking to a greater Mt. Carroll.
Mr Paul believes in recreation, however as well as sticking to business and is at the head of the horseshoe pitching club of the city and is adept at at the art of pitching the shoes. While Mayor he arranged for winter amusement in the city hall by having boxes of earth and sand made to pitch in.
He is popular with all, because he is a man of business and can adopt himself to circumstances. He can make a speech to a houseful as easily as he can talk to an individual.
As a busines man he is square and well liked, understanding the business himself and largely attending to the trade personally. His accquaintanceship is large and his friends reach to all parts of the county.
He is married and with his wife and daughter lives in their modernly apoointed home on Broadway.
He is interested in farming, being manager of 1000 acres and having 200 acres of his own. Hand he is as successful in farming as he is in other business. In fact he was a farmer before he entered the hardware business, leaving the farm on account of trouble with his eyes, and after they became better, he then purchased the hardware store, and has continued in the business over since, rising to the top by his business methods and squareness. George Paul has made history in Mt. Carroll and is not yet through.
T. A. Wachtel is a practical, old time marble cutter and formerly chiselled out the fine work by hand. But his business grew too rapidly for old time methods and anyway, he is progressive and up-to-date, so he and his son Earl, have fitted out the manufactory with the latest designed tools, all pneumatic, that can be found to do the work. This has increased their facilities greatly and they keep apace with their much work, by diligence and long hours, for they have much to do, as the many monuments in the cemeteries in Carroll and other counties, town and Wisconsin show, being monuments to the memory of those over whose graves they stand, and also a monument to their skill and workmanship. There aro no finer workmen than Wachtel & Son, and when they agree to do work for you their word is their bond that it will be as agreed.
Mr. Wachtel, Sr., has been Alderman, Mayor, member of the Board of Education, and is one of the trustees of the Carnegie Library, a man in whom every confidence is placed by his follow citizens, and his son Earl, is in the same class. Mr. Wachtel is on the road most of the time, in his car, getting orders, which Earl sees are turned out promptly on the times promised.
The factory is located on lower Market street where a great platform loaded with monuments, completed and raw granite, can be seen at any time and where many stop to look atthe artistic work which this firm does in granite and marble. The Wachtel families are among our most highly respected people.
It might be said that Mr. Wachtel came to Mt. Carroll to engage in this business when there was no monument works within easy reach. Those who wanted work in this line had to travel a long way to reach a factory or do the business by mail. Mr. Wachtel started in a small way but the need of such an establishment was such as to at once bring the factory into prominence, The business grew and prospered, fair dealing and confidence in the proprietorship brought trade and today the monument factory is widely known and the finished product is distributed all over Northern Illinois and adjoining states.
He has always been one of the foremost, wide-awake business men in the city. Has always been at the head, started the first delivery wagon on ever run in the city, purchased the first car load of salt, which made his competitors think he had gone wild.
The mud on Market street was deep in springtime and in summer the dust was deep. Capt. Wildey was elected Alderman of the city and under his administration that street was macadamized, the men breaking the rock by hand.
He was one of the first men to put his money into tho electric light company. He was an ardent advocate of water works and of a fire company. His purse was always open, and his ideas and arguments always sound. The Captain has grown old in the business and has seen Mt. Carroll advance from a small village to a city. He has done his share at all times in making the history of the town and without his acts and deeds, there would not be much of what is history. His body is not as strong as it once was, he probably could not throw himself upon a horse as he did when out on scout duty in the sixties, but his mind is as bright as ever and he is as full of pep as in the days of yore, when he was at the head of every enterprise in the city. Captain Wildey's name will always be associated with those who made Mt. Carroll. He is still at his place of business every day, the directing hand. He has one of the most popular wives and families in Mt. Carroll.
He is at the head of the G. A. R. and always has been. He is an honored, upright citizen who has and is helping make Mt. Carroll what it is in 1922. Long live Capt. Wildey.
F. G. Edwards has for years been a licensed pharmacist, and it was finally decided that he would go into partnership with Mr. Hartman, although he had retired from active business. The store has prospered. It has a large trade in every branch of the business, and its ice cream and soft drinks are acknowledged to have no peer. Their fountain is one of the most modern and up-to-date in the city.
Mr. Hartman is a civic hustler, and is always looking for something that will be for the benefit of the city. He is a loyal, leading member of the American Legion, and there is nothing he will not do to put it into the clear when it undertakes anything of a civic nature. The American Legion members have been making history and will continue doing so for years to come and Mr. Hnrtman is one of the foremost members.
This store carries a large stock of paints, oils, drugs, books, patent medicine, sporting goods, in fact anything that should be found in a fleet class drug store can be found here. Both the proprietors are as popular as any men in the city. Mr. Edwards has been a director in the Commercial Club, and is a level headed business man in city affairs, and his experience, coupled with the youth, ambition and executive ability of Mr. Hartman makes a team that is bound to be the leaders they are.
F. G. Edwards is the father-in-law of Mr. Hartman, and has always been in business here. He is one of the most ponular business men Mt. Carroll ever had, and one of the hustlers. A former director in the Commercial Club, always ready and willing to do his share in any enterprise that looks for the uphuilding of the city. As a young man he was always in the front ranks and he has never lagged.
The firm of Ivey & Sons is known all over Northern Illinois, Eastern Iowa and Southern Wisconsin, and their handiwork is in hundreds of cemeteries. George W. Ivey came to Mt. Carroll 25 years ago and established a factory for the making of these memorials. It was all hand work in those days, but as he advanced in the business, he took his sons, who were workers in the factory into partnership, and the best nod newest of pneumatic machinery, which enables them to turn out the best of work in a very short time.
Their work is acknowledged to be of superior workmanship, as each man in the works has his specialty, and no finer work is turned out in any city in the United States than right here in Mt. Carroll, and the four or five boys have all they can do. Mr. Ivey, senior, is on the road all of the time, in his car, securing work, and at times J. W. and Leslie do some of this business. J. W., George, Jr., and Harry, with the father, Leslie and Preston constitute the firm, and they are among our must popular people. They are among our most enterprising, ambitious, energetic citizens and keep pace with the world. They always carry a large stock of monuments on hand.
The senior Mr. Ivey and who raised a fannly of natural-born marble workers, is cue of the oldest monument men in years and experience in this section. For many years he was located in this line of business in Galena under the firm name of Ivey & Vincent. He disposed of his interests to his partner and after a year or two of leisure come to Mt. Carroll and established a factory. It soon was numbered with the solid business institutions of the city and outgrowing its building, lots were purchased and a larger, nice modern "home" for the business took its stead. The handsome building and fine equipmeot furnishes one of the best of monuments to the integrity and honorable dealing have during these years been serving the public.
They made business even under the most difficult circumstances, and N.H. Halderman is continuing in the same old mill. For the most of his life he has been a factor is the business of Mt. Carroll, always being in everything that would help the city along. The old mill is a landmark, and "Hub" is the mill itself practically, as he has been the head of it for many years, ever since the death of J. M.Shirk.
Mr. Halderman has the confidence of everbody, knows and is known, perhaps as well as any man in the county, one of its oldest settlers, and as straight as a man can be. He was always energetic, far seeing, ambitious and has made a success of life.
He owns a beautiful home and acres of ground in the eastern part of the city, the old homestead, where he has lived since childhood, except for the years he lived in Milwaukee, while yet a young man. His home is one of the largest and most commodious in the city, although the house was built many years ago.
Mt. Carroll without the name of Halderman would not be recognized, as more than half the plats of the city are in that name.
Mr. Halderman has a wife and one son, Nathaniel Jr., his older eon, Frank, who worked with him in the mill, having passed away some years ago.
Mr. Haldsrman etill personally superintends the business and is at the mill office a reasonable number of hours each day. He is one of our most known, highly respected citizems, and business men.
The family was among the first to come here, and the father of our sketch was in fact, Mr. Carroll, for there was nothing else here than the mill and other enterprises owned by him. Mt. Carroll owns its existence to this day from the efforts of N. Halderman, and the names is known and respected in all parts of the county.
Selling out this business he purchased the bus and dray line of B. Vandagrift which was 19 years ago July 1, 1922. lie secured ths mail carrying contract, and was express agent 14 years. He was the first in this part of the country to have a motor bus.
Finally he sold out the bus and dray line, and proposed to take it easy, for he had been successful, but that ambition of his would not allow him to lie quiet and rest, and he established a taxi business, which he is still engaged in.
Mr. Sliteley owns two good farms close to the city, and spends some time looking after the business thereon. Helped to boom a corn carnival, and a home coming.
Mr. Fickes has everything in the electrical line from the common electric light bulb and socket to the new lights which have three degrees of light, and from that up to electric washers, motors, etc. He does a good business as he handles electric fixtures alone in this city, and is anexpert in his line. He has a radiophone, and is always getting the newest in the line of electric appliances.
He also does Plumbing, and puts in furnaces and all around is one of the hustlers of present day in Mt. Carroll. He was one of the citizens committee on the boulevard lighting system and did much work toward getting them here. Electricity is in its infancy, but Mr. Fickes is helping it grow. If there is anything in the electrical line that you want you will find it at his place, and the price will be right.
He is also agent for the Dodge and Rco(?) cars, and is a good salesman because he understands an automobile as the average man understands his meals, and he can explain the car to its smallest detail and make a driver out ef you in short order even if you never seen a car.
Mr. Turnquist enjoys the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens, and although he has only been in Mt. Carroll for four or five years has taken a front rank in the business of our city. He is a man who is always busy, ever ready to help in anything that looks to a larger and better Mt. Carroll and has become one of the substantial, reliable, up-to-date men of affairs in this little city, where things are done. His garage is the headquarters of many car owners who know if Ed Turnquist does their work it is well done. He is married and has an interesting family who live in the uptown residence district and are respected and happy. If you need anything in ths line of repair, if your batteries need adjusting see Ed. Turnquist and you will have the work done right.
During the years past, his well known ability as a peace officer, often was the cause of his being called by sheriffs to assist during court, and Henry rather liked it. When he retired from his farm and moved to town, his friends urged him to become a candidate for the position and he finally accepted and was elected by a large majority as any sheriff in the county ever received. And that their confidence in the ability and integrity of Mr. Wise was not misplaced has been many times demonstrated during the almost four years that he has held the office. Mr. Wise conducts the business as he does his own, always up-to-date, with courtesy, yet firmness and has made one of the best sheriffs we have ever had.
He still owns his fine farm in Salem township and visits it every few days, his son , Harry conducting the farm. Mr. Wise is one of our substantial present day men,
He is married, lives in his own well appointed property in the east part of town and is known and respected by everybody, as is his family. He is genial and companionable and his vacations consist of duck hunting in the Fall, he being a good shot, has a camp down the river and enjoys himself and is not stingy in seeing that his friends are supplied with wild duck.
Roy H. Fritz has all of these qualities and it is for this reason that he is regarded as one of the greatest auctioneers of the day. Coupled with all of these traits Mr. Fritz himself is a pure bred hog breeder and has the pedigrees of all breeds at his tongue's end, and knows their value.
He is a native of Carroll county, having been born on the farm of Thos. H. Fritz in Freedom township, where he grew to manhood, and is a successful farmer and breeder as well as an auctioneer. When yet quite young he took a liking to thiswork and soon became most profient and for the past years not only does all the sales around here, but goes to neighboring counties. During the season, there are few days when he does not have a sale to call. Everybody wants him because he gets the money, is pleasant to have around, always has a lot of bids in his pocket, and draws people to the sales.
He has associated with him Glenn Teeter, another young hustling auctioneer and the two make a team which has no peer in these parts.
Mr. Fritz owns a fine farm in Freedom, is married and has a family, is a director of the Fair association, and Superintendent of the Swine Department as well as an active member of the Farm Bureau, and is one of the most reliable and successful farmers and breeders of pure blood cattle and hogs in Carroll county.
Roy Fritz owes his great success to himself only as he is a self made man, always busy, always trying to do better farming, to have better cattle and hogs, and believing that modern methods are supplanting the old time ones he has kept pace with the improvements as they came along and has a farm under a high state of cultivation.
As an auctioneer and farmer Roy Fritz ranks as A No. 1.
"Bob," everyone calls him, is one of the most genial gentlemen you will meet with, always with a good natured smile he greet's you, and his popularity does not seem to ho diminished or grow less with the years, as was demonstrated at the April primary, when he was leading man of the five or six candidates in the district on the Republican ticket.
But Bob always was popular, are before becoming a law maker had been supervisor of his town for a number of terms, and sheriff of Jo Daviess county, and wherever he may be he is known and greeted by the people.
He has made a good legislator, looking after the interests of his district and is said to be one of the meat independent memhiera of the house, the Legislative Voters League saying in its report that he was almost too independent, which in other words meant that he did not and would not do the bidding of the so-called bosses, unless he was entwined that it was the right thing to do. He is a live one and has the confidence of his constituency.
Be is a farmer, an actual one and superintends his several big farms in Pleasant Valley. He has been suecessful all his life and he is perhaps, known to more people in this district and throughout the state than any other man in his county. He is most highly respected, for he has always been on the square whether in office or civic life and his word is taken politically as it is at the bank, and the politician whose word is taken in this day and age has surely been square all the days of his life.
Bob Irwin has been one of the history makers of the district and state
and will continue in that line, for he is genial and well liked by all, and
has ambitions that will yet be fulfilled. As a farmer, as a sheriff, as
a legislator, he stands and has stood in the front ranks, and will eoniinne
to do so, as a man with the ambitions and ability of Robert Irwin is bound
to make a showing and stand in the front of all things he undertakes. He
is one of the men in the district who is looked up to, and he never disappoints, fer he does things.
Rebert Irwin will continue in his popularity, for he is one of these men who never go back.
Mr. Hartman is a great salesman,
the auto business developing a
number of such. He deals in the Overland the Willys-Knight, and
the Stearns-Knight, three of the best
cars on the market, and has also recently taken the agency for the
Buick, and with four such cars, he cannot help making many sales.
Mr. Hartman is an expert mechanic himself as well as driver and
salesman.
He named his garage after the
Indian Head Trail which runs
through here from Sterling, and on
to Savanna. He has an Indian head for his literature and is known far
and wide as being a man who knows
an an auto from starting point to the tail light.
He is a genial gentleman, square
in his dealings, and always tells his
story in an open manner, so that
there is no deception in any transaction,
Mr. Hartman has a great, large
room for the storage of cars, and
when a car is kept in his garage it
is always ready to run. He has
competent workmen in every branch
of the business.
He is a gentleman who has the respect and confidence of his fellow
citizens, and is a man who is building up history in the automobile business.
He deserves the success he is attaining, for there is not a more energetic, ambitious, harder worker
in his line than Phil Hartman.
He has also added farm machinery
to his line and is agent for the Case
threshers, silo fillers, steam engines
and gas tractors and is ready at all
limes to demonstrate and show what
his machinery is like and will do.
He is about one of the greatest
hustlers we have ever had in Mt. Carroll and is constantly on the job,
Phil Hartman merits success and
with his ability and ambitions success is bound to crown his efforts.
Phil Hartman was a prize winner at the fair, which proves every line of the above,
Louis Coleman, the other partner
in this company, is a native Mt. Carroll boy, born and educated here,
learned the grocery business but quit it to cooduct his father's elevator for
several years, and upon its sale drifted back into his well known line and
became a clerk in the F. A. Eggenberger store. About four years ago
he purchased the store, from Mr. Eggenherger and for eighteen
months demonstrated his ability as a business man by doing an immense
business. Finally upon being approached by Mr. Eggenberger for
whom he had a great regard, a sale of a half interest was made in a couple of seconds.
And the two make a great team, conduct a great store, and are hustlers for the city as well as their own business.
Both are married. Mr. Coleman has two children.
They are both men who never tire,
and are constantly on the job, saying
they are there to accommodate the buyers of groceriess and if they are not
willing to accomodate the public,
they cannot expect much from thepublic. They are open nights, and
take week about in staying there, and
do not keep their clerks every night,
giving them many nights off. They
are among the greatest hustlers and
business men that Mt. Carroll has
ever had, and they are doing an immense business.
If you need anything in the grocery
line, call or telephone your orders and they be taken care of in the best manner.
Mt. Carroll has a number of the
best attorneys, and in this class we
desire to mention Orion H. Grove,
one of the popular members of the
bar. He is a native of Mt. Carroll,
but after graduating in law and being adnmmtted to the bar he opened
an office for practice in Chadwick,
where he remained a number of
years, but desiring to be at the county seat, he closed his office there several years ago, and came to Mt.
Carroll , where he has been located since
and has had much to do in his line,
before both the county and circuit
courts, for there is no better posted
lawyer in probate matters than Mr.
Grove, who gives earnest attention
to the matter of estates, seeing that
the widow and orphans get justice in
settling of estates in which they
are interested,
Mr. Grove is a genial, pheasant
gentleman to meet, modest in demeanor, yet deep in the matter of
law. That he is popular was attested in the Primary last April
when he was nominated for the position of
county judge on the republican ticket, which is equivalent to an
election in this county, and after next
November he will be the "county"
judge of Carroll county. That it
was a wise choice is admitted by all, for Mr. grove has the elements which go to make a fair and impartial jurist.
He is married and has several children, lives in his own modern residence
and has tho confidence and respect of all who know him.
Mr. Grove has been in many of the important cases in the circuit court
of this county in the past, and is at
present counsel for the Trustees of
the Caroline Mark Home, and numbers many other firms and clients of
1arge interests which he looks after.
He is one of those steady attorneys,
who when he has a case he gives it
the best that is in him. Many are sorry to see him leave the ranks
of the practising attorneys for the
judgeship, as when he takes that position, he can, of course, not practice
in his own court,
0. M, Grove when installed in the
Probate Judge's chair will be a man whom you can approach as you do now, sure of a welcome,
A.L. Edwards was practically brought up in the drug business, having entered the business when a very young man as a clerk and learned every branch of it, passing a most flattering examination as a practicing pharamacist.
About six years ago he purchased the store he now occupies from F.G. Edwards, his uncle, for whom he had been clerking. From the start, with his new ideas, the store proved a success and his business has steadily increased during the years.
Aside from drugs, he carries a full line of paints and varnishes, books of all kinds, patent medicines, while his lien of cigars and his trade in the line is the largest in the city.
He has one of the finest fountains and fixtures in the city, and has an enormous ice cream and soft fancy drink trade.
Mr. Edwards is one of the foremost of our business men in every venture, was Treasurer of the Commercial Club two years ago, and is one of the most liberal givers to everything that looks to the advancement of the city that we have. He is one of the heaviest payers to the Commercial Club, and whenever there is a project looking for advancement, the promoters are sure of the moral and financial support of A.L. Edwards.
He is one of the younger of our business men with "an old head on young shoulders." His ideas are always of the best and when advanced in anything are generally taken. He lives in his beautiful home with his wife and daughter just a block from the store on Market street.
Young blood is what makes a city boom. Young men have new ideas for there are new things under the sun, and they are not content to continue in the old rut, and Mr. Edwards is one of such young men. He has advanced ideas and carries them out. He is always on the job, and takes few vacations, saying that some day he hopes to retire and be able to take a real vacation. We need more men like hiim in business here. They are the men who make a town look well.
If you need anything in the line of drugs and books you will be welcomed, and our patronage will be appreciated.
The shop is an up-to-date one provided with electric clippers, shampoo brush, and face massage rubber. The shop is under the First State Savings Bank, and is as clean and sanitary as such a place should be.
Carroll Patton, the Senior partner, is a native Mt Carroll boy, who after his school days learned the tonsorial business and learned it from the ground up. But lie was not satisfied to work for some one else, and soon started in business for himself, being successful from the start, for he is not only an expert barber and hair cutter, but is the most rapid workman in the business. For easy shaving and nobby hair cutting he has no peer in the county.
Cecil DeNier was a soldier during the war and upon returning started to work in the Chas. Eyler shop, but desiring to go into business himself,opened a shop upstairs in the Richter Block. However, soon, he and Mr. Patten formed a partnership and they make a great team, for what we say about Carroll goes for Cecil.
This firm is well known, does much work and is popular among all who have to patronize "The Barber."
Mr. Hartmon is an able assistant to his brother in the Ford Garage, who conducts one of the most up-to-date garages in the county, both men having full knowledge of the construction of the Ford and Furdson, which is next to the greatest industry in the world.
Mr. Hartman has in the past devoted, most of his life to farming, assisting in carpenter work as well as the work at the Daggetts store.
Mr. Hartman, as well as his brother, are considerate and control a decisive truth in the business world. Mr. Hartman aims to be fair in his dealings, for his employer, as well as the patrons of the community.
Mr. Bleakley started into the business some years ago, as a partner with A. J. Fester, and the firm was prosperous from the start, but Mr. Foster, with his duties as station agent at the depot, could not be in the store very much and Mt. Bleakley purchased his interest and bringing his busniess ability to the fore has made a decided success of the store and has made a name of being a square dealer in everything.
Mr. Bleakley started with a fresh stock and has kept it fresh. He carries everything in his line and it is always just what he says it is. His patronage comes from all classes
Mr. Bleakley is a leader in many things and a man who loves his city and is willing to go his length at all times to better conditions in any way.
He was Treasurer of the Commercial Club several years age and a director for several ysar.i and an active memher. He is always at the meetings of the club and has sound advice to offer. He is a pleasant gentleman to meet and to do business with, always genial and pleasant.
In writing a history of the present day, it would be mnsomlilctc without the name of W. P. Bleakley occupyingan important place therein.
He is married and own's a pleasant home directly opposite the Methodist Church on Main street. Be has two children, Mrs. Lewis Noble, and Floyd, who is working at the jewelry business in Savanna. The family o among the most highly respected in the city.
Mr. Bleakley has demonstrated what business ability, close applica tion to business, straightforward business methods will do. The fourth grocery house in Mt. Carrell tried it a number of times, but never could make a success of it, but Mr. Bleakley gained the confidence of our people and success has crowned his efforts, for he is today doing his full share in supplying Mt. Carrol and vicinity with the best of groceries in the market, and has all of the fruits and vegetables for them in their season,
The business grew to need such a lot of looking after that Henry concluded that he needed a partner and chose Earl C. Boyd. Mr. Boyd is one of the noted hustlers of the town, and is always on the job with his good nature, his geniality end business judgment and the firm has flourished amazingly.
They not only deal in their bakery goods but have a fine fountain, handle ice cream and soft drinks,and their lunch counter is always full for here is the place to get short orders, in less time than it takes to tell about it.
They also deal in the boat brands of cigars and tobaccos, candy and everything that goes to make up a first class restaurant and confectionery store.
They handle all of the Chicago papers aad magazines of every kind and character. If it is a magazine or newspaper you want you can get it there, as it is a complete news stand.
These gentlemen are both married and have modern homes of their own where they live happily and contented. Mr. Raish also owns a farm which he personally superintends and in which he raises much of the produce used in their restaurant. Mr. Raish spent the past summer in Europe visiting relatives and seeing thecountry which he came from when a small boy, but he is back and is attacking his business with renewed vigor.
In Raiah and Boyd, Mt. Carroll has a couple of men who are a credit to any city, men who help to make for the welfare of the town and, make the city and business of all kinds better and are benefactors of mankind, in that they furnish in the "staff of life," their bread, the very best that can be made.
He is thoroughly conversant with all makes, and operates a garage and repair shop and his workmen are kept continuously busy, for he himself snperintends the work done at his place and when a job of repairing is done there you know it is right.
But he not only repairs cars, but is still in the selling business and has associated with him, Ira Newell, another hustler. They sell the Case and Oakland cars, which they claim fill all purposes better than any other cars made. They can be found at any time ready to demonstrate their cars.
Mr. Williamson is widely and favorably known as a business man, honorable in all of his transactions, and when he tells you anything you know it is gospel truth, in regard to repairs, a new car, or any business transaction. He is popular, is married and has an interesting and highy respected family living in their own modern home in East Carroll.
Adam Williamson is a native this county, has helped to make history in the auto business and will continue to do so, as the business is yet in its infancy and there is not a better posted man on cars than he.
He and Ira Newell make a team as salesnien and handle their favorite makes if cars, the Case and Oakland, which they believe give more value for thy money than any other. Mr. Williamson says the satisfaction one is having a Case or Oakland, because of the ease with which they are manipulated and all combined, make them the cars to buy, as you will have less trouble with them than any cars on the market, and we will say that he is a judge of cars, as he has been in the business and understands the mechanism of them all.
Mr. Williamson is a leader in the auto line today.
In 1906 Mr. Rhodes took his son Fred J. into partnership, and the success of the firm has continued and is really more marked than ever, for in this time of unrest things are not as easily conducted as in the old days of peace and low prices.
This firm is known as a sturdy, honest one, doing business on business principles. They carry a very large stock of lumber, and if anybody has any coal it can be found at the Rhodes yards. Tom Rhodes has sold the lumber for many of buildings in Mt. Carroll and the surrounding country, and to buy from this firm once is to be a life long customer, for fair dealing and honest weight and measure is their motto. Fred is a young man of sterling qualities, with ability, amibition and earnestness in his every move. He, like his father, stands well, and he too is one of the pushers, and has been a member of the city council, board of education and commercial club, and stands for everything that is for the good of Mt. Carroll.
This firm has made history and is making it. It will continue to do so, for with the business principles it adheres to it is as solid as a rock.
Besides the yard, the Rhodes' father and son have purchased and built bungaloes, cottages and residences and find a ready rental for the same, as all are modern and desirable.
The name Rhodes brothers is synonomous with business ability, integrity, ambition, honesty and square dealing during the many years the firm has been in business. It has the confidence of the people, and a firm which has that confidence cannot be other than leaders in whatever lines of industry they may be engaged. Ever ready with their pleasant word and good nature, it is a pleasure to do business with them.
Coal may be scarce this winter, but Rhodes Bros., will get it if anybody gets it.
Mr. Howard was formerly a telegraph operator in his younger days, and was at the Mt. Carroll office for a number of years, and while here became acquainted with Miss Jennie Fisher, a most estimable and popular Mt. Carroll girl, whom he married. After his marriage he lived in Chicago for some time holding a responsible position, and later moved to Oregon where he purchased and still owns a fruit farm.
He came back to Mt. Carroll, which he always regarded as home, after he had lived here, and ever since the election of Sheriff Wise has heen deputy and right hand man. He is, and has been for the past four years, county truant officer, and filled both positions faithfully and well, and there was no wonder that he had such an easy time being nomniated for the Schrievalty.
Mr. Howard is a man of ability, of executive power, and believes that when he took the oath of peace officer that it meant something and with the courage he has he has heen an able adjunct to the office. He is a fine penman and book keeper, and the accounts of the sheriff's office will compare with those of any other county office. As truant officer, he has succeeded in having all of the children in school. At first there were several who needed a warning and they got it. Dee Howard is all that a man and a county officer should he.
As sheriff he will give the county a faithful administration.
Mr. Howard is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Master of the Lodge at the present time. He is also an Odd Fellow and a faithful member of hnlh o rcauicntions and lives up to the code and teachings of these grand organizations. He is one of the most popular men in the city and is well known in all parts of the country.
During the next four years Mr Howard will be the principal peace officer of the county.
The Carroll County bank was founded in 1888. The two brothers guided its destinies into a channel of success and it has increased in capacity gradually until it is regarded as one of the leading banking houses in Northern Illinois, A valuable addition was made when S. J. Campbell, son of R. H. Campbell, having completed his education, was added to the official roster. He took up the work as one of the younger business men of the city, his adaptability and proficiency was clearly defined and he rapidly arose to one of the leading men in banking circles. The Carroll County State Bank has a strong working team and another valuable addition was made about a year ago when F. M. Linderman came from Beloit and became affiliated with the institution. This young man is possessed of all the requirements as a member of the staff and he has become one of the popular business men of the city. Then come Marion Hartman, MissHelen Novacek, Miss Madge Dynes,all combining to so conduct the institution that only the best of ser-vice is rendered. It gives the Mirror-Democrat pleasure to speak of the bank and its official family, which have ever been found among the foremost in advancing the interests of the city and enhancing any project that is right and of benefit.
The officers of the bank are as follows: George D. Campbell, President: S. J. Campbell, Vice President; R. H. Campbell, Cashier; F. M. Undermaan and A. M. Hartman, Assistant Cashiers. The bank has a capital of $50,000 and a surplus of the same amount. The reports from time to lime show a healthy condition, which show its security and perpetuity.
The Carroll County State Bank has been a history maker during all these years, has grown steadily, and in the future will continue to be one of the largest banking intitutions in the country and in Northern Illinois.
Fred Leigh has made a great record the past year, having sold $300,000 worth of insurance in Carroll county during this time. He is a genial representative of his company, and man whom it is a pleasure to do business with. His office is over the Mirror-Democrat office, where you can see him, or if you will call he will come and see you. He is also an Alderman of Ward 1, and a hustler in whatever he undertakes.
Fred is married, has one child, and is n young nian who has' a good future before inns.
Frank MeCray will rank yet higherin electrical circles for his heart is in the great work.
We have in mind Miss Jessie Patterson, a Mt. Carroll born girl, who has been making her way throngh life, and at present is holding a responsible position.
Miss Patterson after going through our schools, worked fur ten years for the Independent telephone Co., performing her labors cheerfully and well. Then she spent two years with the 0. H. Martin D. G. Co., resigning to accept the private secretaryship for W. W. Hartman Auto Co. She is also the secretary of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Miss Patterson is an exceedingly bright young woman, of cheerful disposition, genial and pleasant with all and has a future before her that holds even more responsible positions, for ability, worth and ambition are what counts and Miss Patterson possesses all of these.
Her life has been one of success thus far and will continue through the years to come.
Mr. Humbert is one of our youngest business men and has a future before him, and that future will be one of success.
Frank then worked in his father's restaurant, which then as now, was a household word. At the death. of his father he took over the business which he has most successfully conducted ever since. He makes ice cream for wholesale and retail, some of our dealers and ships much sway, he being an expert in making this popular and much eaten delicacy.
He is an nntiring worker, and to his energy can be placed the great success he has made of the business which he has made his life work, that of catering to the wants of the public.
Mr. Isenhart is married, and has an interesting family, one highly respected everywhere. Frank Isenhart bears a big share in the history of Mt. Carroll, past and present.
While a number of the family, most of them in fact, have continued in the banking business A. J, took to the lumber and coal business has made his business a decided success from the start. Colehour Miles was the name of the firm when it started, but "Jud," desired to sole proprietor and purchased his partner's interest a number of years ago, and has from that time on conducted a most prosperous businss
A. J. Miles inherited his business ability and it has increased to with years and with experience. His reputation for squareness in his transactions with men is unquestioned. His word is as good as his bond and is taken readily.
He carries a large stock of lumber of all kinds, furnishes cement in any quantity from a sack to a train load, and has coal in his bins when it is possible to have, and his prices are honest living ones, with full weight and full measure in every transaction
Recently he saw that there was great demand for a filling station there in this day of automobiles and he has had built one of the most up-to-date stntions of the kind, draw. his gasoline direct from the tank. He has a convenient place to drive into for filling, with a large shade over the top, so that the weather does not interfere, and he has found that his idea of the demand for the station was ~ustifiod. as he is doing a large business in this line, also.
Mr. Miles drives an autmobile, but he is a great lover of horses and has owned several of the best ever owned in this county. He owns McGinty, but the animal is in pasture this summer. He also raised and owns Ileen, the roan mare that has made a great record this summer in the hands of a Beloit trainer, having made a record of better than 2:11, and he also has a 3 years old colt that is a most promising animal, raised by himself.
Mr. Miles will use his utmost endeavors to see that his patrons are supplied with coal during the ccoming winter months.
Their experience had taught them just about what the people like as to strength in pop, and their article is Just a little the best that was ever in the city and as a consequence everybody is drinking it. The young men have made a success from the start.
They have everything new, as clean and sanitary as it can he and when you drink the product of their place you know that you are getting the purest and cleanest that can be turned out. They have a large truck and deliver to any part of the county The way to help this enterprise is to call for Mt. Carroll pop, no matter what town you are in.
The young men are hustlers, they are not afraid of work and are constantly at their place of busineaa ready to serve you whether you want a single case or a dray load of their cooling heverages. They make all flavors, their grape, lemon and orange, seemingly are the beat sellers and if you like grape pop, Bryan's drink, try theirs for it is almost as strong as the juice itself.
These young men are bound to be history makers in their line of business, which in this day and age is a necessary one, for soft drinks are used by everyone.
The Mt. Carroll Bottling Works will thrive and become greater as the years roll around.
As we have often remarked, Mt. Carroll needs young blood and these young men are of the calibre who do things. They are ambitious energetic, ready to work at all times, and it is this class that succeed and make any city better for their having lived in it. Industriousness is the trade mark of success and lazy men cannot succeed in any line. These two young men knew that if would take work and lots of it In compete with the other works in the county, hut they had confidence in themselves, and in their business and they have found it was not misplaced.
Henry Egererre the senior partner is a business man, who thoroughly understands every detail of the meat business, having made it a lifelong business. He is one of the most genial and pleasant men imaginable to do business with. Always has a pleasant word and a smile for every customer. He knows everybody in the city and the country for miles around. He is an earnest advocate be a greater Mt. Carroll, has been an alderman and served the city well, is always ready to do his part in any public enterprise.
His partner in the business is the well known and respected Rudolph Gnat, who does the buying of all cattle and hogs for the firm, and also waits on the trade at times when not in the country looking for hogs and cattle. Mr. Gust was alderman of Ward No. 1, for a number of years and was one of tIme most progressive, pushing men on the council. He knows what a city should be and did all in his lower to push Mt. Carroll along. Was a member of the streets committee and other committees and an ardent advocate of good streets.
This firm has their own cooling system, everything is sanitary, as clean as n market can be kept. The meats are of the best. They also deal extensively in canoed goods and are a credit to the city.
This firm has withstood a half dozen or more other markets which came here to start business, but none of them remained long as the firm of Egererre & Co., nail the confidence of the buying public, had never raised prices, because they were the exclusive dealers here, hence they retained their trade during all the trials of the new merchants. This of itself is something to he proud of, and a credit to their business methods
Mr. Egersrra is one of the best shop men who ever wrapped up a piece of steak, while Mr. Gust's judgment of stock is unquestioned, For some time they bought and shipped stock, but of late years have done little in that line confining their exclusive time to the meat business, as they buy and kill most of the fresh meat they sell.
Sherm Myers is known to everybody, as a genial, companionable, likable business man and numbers his friends by his acquaintances. He is always on the job, an indefatiguable worker, accomodating and pleasant to deal with, square as a die, his word as good as his bond. He carries a large stock, but if there is anything you want in his line which he hasn't in stock he hustles and has it here in the shortest time possible, mail being too slow he uses the telegraph lines.
He has been town clerk for a long number of years and has given such eminent satisfaction that nobody ever thinks of becoming a candidate He has all of the business of the town to perfection, knows bridge work and road tax work as well as be knows his furniture stock. He is a live wire, is married, owns a most modern home and has two sons, both musicians, and popular young men
As a young man Sherm Myers was popular with his fellows and he has never lost any of his popularity. His business ability is unquestioned, and he is one of the most steady business men in the city, seldom being foundaway from the store, always pleasant and ready to accommodate buyers.
He is a Mason and has held about all of the offices of the lodge, has been through all of the Chairs of Carroll Lodge No. 50, I. 0. 0. F,, and is one of the most active of the members in arranging for social affairs of this lodge. He is also an active member of the Knights of Pythias. An all around good citizen and one of oar beat business men.
Howard L. Elliott is agent for this company. He is a Carroll county man by birth and residence, a pleseant person, approachable to all, and will gladly give you his time in explaining the service offered by the fine company he represents. See him for the best in life insurance. Act today and be safe for tomorrow.
There is a reason for their success The Chevrolet is a great car and the reputation of these gentlemen for square dealing and uprightness in all their transactions accounts for their great success as auto salesmen.
Both are native Mt. Carroll boys, who have been raised and always lived here and whose word is good, and is taken. They are highly respected and are making history for their car and as salesmen.
Their chief ambition is to put their car into the hands of buyers for they kuow its merits and know that a satisfied customer is a life long friend. These yonng moo with their ambition and their knack of salesmen are the leaders in their line.
In the above firm the breeders in and around Mt. Carroll, have veterinarians who have been most successful in their very large practice. Both are men of experience. During the war, Dr. Derrer was placed in charge of ship loads of horses for Europe, on several occasions, his duties being to look after toe health of the aninolls on their ocean voyage.
Dr. Elliott, after his graduation had several years experience in the Union Stock yards at Chicago, being an example of the United States Bureau of Animal Industry.
The gentlemen being Carroll county boys wanted to locate here and each opened an office, but soon united forces and they surely have made a success. They are both busy day and night, for they answer all calls as promptly as any physician we have, and their diagnosis and treatment of diseases heir to the animal kingdom are correct in every instance, in accordance to latest knowledge on the subject, and to their skill and knowledge, many of the breeders today owe their success.
While young in years both are ripe in experience, and they have the full confidence of their patrons. In fact their work is not confined to Mt. Carroll and vicinity, but they are frequently called to other towns and to Jo Daviess county.
Each bears a graduation diploma and certificate from the Chicago veterinary College showing that they applied themselves daring their college days with the same vigor they are now using `in their practice.
The stock business is one of the leading classes of business in this country, and the veterinary firm of Derrer & Elliott are making history.
It is a pleasure to chronicle the success of our boys at all times.
The farmers and stock raisers of Mt. Carroll and vicinity are to be congratulated upon having a firm of veterinarians, with both exports in their line, snd with the experience they have had. The stock interests demand that only the best of veterinarians should handle the valuable blooded stock bred in this vicinity, and we surely have them.
Mr. Webb came here when the electric system was anything other than satisfactory to our people. There was a plant here much too small for our needs and in a run-down dilapidated condition. Mr. Webb took hold and built it up so that the lighting system was very satisfactory, but the plant did not have the capacity he needed and ho finally arranged to close down the plant here and buy his current from the Savanna Utilities company. He put in a fine system of distribution, erected a station near the depot, and today has a most satisfactory supply of current day and night for the many motors, which turn machinery of all kinds, as well as furnishing best for cooking and for ironing.
Mr. Webb is a careful painstaking gentleman, one who desires to give satisfaction and a dollar's worth of service for every dollar ho receives, and when anything goes wrong he is out no matter what the weather is to find and remedy the cause. He has often said that when anything goes wrong, that he believes he feels worse than those who have to be inconvenienced by it, for trouble will and does come on the best electric 1ines in the world. But trouble does not remain, as he is after it the moment it appears, be it a street light, or a burned out fuse in a home.
J. W. Webb is a gentleman who enjoys the fullest confidence of our people. They believe in him. He is a gentleman of character, correct in all things and his word is as good as a bank note. He is highly respected by all for his ability in doing things. There are no promises he makes that are unfilled. Morally and from a business standpoint he stands the equal of any citizen. He has the interests of the city and her lighting at heart and is never happier than when everything is running smoothly and the city is well lighted, her citizens satisfied. Mr. Webb has at his home an apparatus which tells him when there is trouble, and he can switch on and off the lights from his home, if necessary, which shows what a complete system he has, and the interest he takes in his business. The electric lights in Mt. Carroll will be added to with the boulevard lights
Two years ago he became a candidate for State's Attorney, and his ability and untiring hustling qualities brought him victory. He has ably filled the office, and is in this, as everything he takes hold of, tied up in his work. He finds time to try civil case's in both of the courts however and his services are much wanted in probate matters, for he is square with his clients, and understands the probate law as thoroughly as the criminal law which he is called upon at all terms of thecircuit court to work under, for there have been many indictments during the almost two years he has held the office and he has succeeded in convicting many.
He holds the office of city Attorney as well as being State's Attorney and is surely a terror to evil doers. He does not persecute but he does prosecute with all his vigor, when called upon to do so.
He lives, with his wife, on the corner of Clay and Market street in one of the handsome homes of the city. John Connell is going to be more greatly honored in the future,
Mr. Connell finds some time to relax from his duties and belongs to the Golf Club, heing one of the leading players at this great game. He also spends a little time at the Connell cottage at Laittesville where he where he fishes and relaxes from his oneous duties. He is a most genial, companionable gentleman, and is popular with all. Mr. Connell is what is called a "mixer", and can make himself popular at any gathering. He is a fine speaker and is called upon many times to talk at celebrations,home comings, and other gatherings in all parts of the county.
In the history of Carroll county in the future the name of John R. Connell will be coupled as it ever has been on the right side of the ledger.
He is in the field independently at present doing work in this line all over the county and is kept busy. He is often called to rewire badly wired residences, and they find that he has made great changes in the system, when he has completed a contract. Mr. McCray understands the science of electricity as well as it can he understood, for nobody really knows much about it, as it is in its infancy and men like McCray are learning more and more by delving into it and giving it study. Mr. McCray is a student of the Chicago Engineering Works of Electricity, and will soon graduate under L. L. Cooke, chief engineer.
He is also the state's voluntary Weather observer for Carroll county and sends daily reports to the bureau at Springfield. In this, like in everything he does, he is thorough.
He is interested in wireless as well as in wire electricity and has a rasliophone, which ho is experimenting upon and will, we will venture, make improvemeuts upon, for it is barely known, so far as to the possibilities that the future will bring.
Mr. McCray is an untiring worker and has a future before him that will speak far itself, and we predict that discoveries and improvements will come from his delving into the mysteries of one of the greatest forces in the world.
He is now agent for the Thor Electric washer, one of the greatest pieces of machinery ever invented.
He is married and has one child, lives modernly and happily on Jackson street. "Jim" is for anything and everything to make Mt. Carroll better.
Mr. McCray's record of the temperatures, the rainfall and other weather observations are eagerly sought by all, as they are known to be absolutely correct.
Mr. Keim is a native of our city, his parents, Mr. and Mrs C.H. Keim now deceased, having come to Mt. Carroll in 1853. Its has always been a citizen of this city or vicinity, He attended the Mt. Carroll High School, also three years at Carthage College. At Carthage, he met Miss Mary C. Mack, who also was a student of the college, and who a few years later became his wife.
After leaving school he took up teaching, which he followed successfully for six year, both rural and city school. 1n 1889, Mr. Keim decided to try farming and purchased a farm near Mt. Carroll where the family resided for twenty-nine years, moving to our city in 1918, into the house on Cole Ave., where Mr. Keims parents spent their last years. The daughter, and only child, Mary E., now Mrs. C. H. Hawk resides at Moline, I11. Mr. Keim has always been interested in the financial and political affairs of the community. He was township treasurer of Salem for 20 years. He is noted as a good financier He began loaning money early in life, and is interested in more than a dozen enterprises.
He is now acting as secretary and manager of the Mutual Telephone Co. and in less than two years has made a 20 per cent increase in the number of stations, besides improving the eqnipment and service.
As Mayor, Mr. Keim was elected without any solicitation on his part, and while ho has been in office but a few months, the business of the city is being carefully and economically managed and the year will undoutedly pass with some substantial public improvments. Mr. Keim is entitled to all the success that has come to him, for he is an upright, square, honest and conscientious man in every way, and will stand all tests in his business or private life. He is a deep thinker a student, and under his administration as Mayor, we are going to find that he is just as competent in civic affairs as he has been in his previous undertakings.
Mr. Keim has his hands full with the Mayoralty and the telephone company, but he is a man who is not and never has been afraid of work, and will get along without scrimping either in the end.
This store has been here since 1908, when George Kraft, who is the head of the Kraft stores in the United States, started in the room which had been occupied by Joe Peterson for a number of years. Charles Odell of Brooklyn, Iowa, was placed in charge of it. He cast about for a man who would fit in as a clerk, and he was very particular as to the kind of man, for he wanted one honest and who was not afraid of work. He tried several and finally entered into a contract with Al. Kessler, who was then in the grocery business, to become head clerk in the company.
Mr. Odell often said that he had made no mistake in his choice, for Mr. Kessler took hold with a vim, and the two made a team that bu1lt up the store rapidly, and Mr. Kraft a man who recognizes ability, and it was not long until he concluded that Mr. Kessler was a man he wanted as manager of a store insteard of a clerk. He started a store at Cresco, Iowa, and Mr. Odell was sent there as manager, while Mr. Kessler was taken into partnership and given the management of the Mt. Carroll store, and it was a move that proved the wisdom of Mr. Kraft.
For twelve years Al. Kessler has been managing partner of the Kraft Kessler store here and the business has steadily increased in spite of War and slumps. The reason was that there was managerial ability, coupled with the fact that it was a store that carried what the people wanted and were willing to pay for. To be a good dresser, one must have good clothes and this store carries none but the very best known brands of ready to wear clothes, while at the same time they have their tailors in Chicago who make clothing to order and measurement.
The store carries anything that a man can possibly want from the medium grades to the very best. They do not deal in shoddy things, and when it comes from Kraft-Kessler it is known to be right. That is their slogan, things they sell must give satisfaction or your money back and this motto has given them the name of being the greatest outfitters in northern Illinois. People come from neighboring towns in order to have clothes to their liking. There is no profiteering at this store, the prices being as reasonable as tbey can be in this day of rebuilding.
Mr. Kessler has increased the business so largely that two additional helpers are needed as clerks in the store, and he has the genial, popular E. N. Gsell, as his head clerk and Francis Weidman as second clerk. Mr. Gsell is also city clerk, and has his headquarters for this at the store.
The history of this store has been one of progress, one of steady climbing and it is near the apex of popularity as any store ever was.
Mr. Kessler is a pusher, he is always for anything and everything that will help bring business here and make the town better. He was largely instrumental in getting the boulevard lighting system through, and it is to his hustling ability that the Market street from Carroll street west will be furnished wlth these lights, as he personally went out and solicited the business men of that district and prevailed upon them to get in to this even if the paving does not extend dowu that far. He is an active working member of the Commercial Club, and has been director. He is always looking for ward to better things for his city, and the Kraft Kessler store is one of the bulwarks of the city.
Mr. Kessler is married, owns a beautiful home two blocks from his store in the Strickler addition, where everything has been modernized during the past two years.
Mr. Kessler goes to Chicago once or twice every year to meet with the chain of stores in which Mr. Kraft is interested, and the fact that the Mt. Carroll store shows as well as those in towns many times the size of tbis speaks volumes for the managerial ability of Al. Kessler. In fact the store is going so well, and Mr. Kraft has suoh great confidence that he seldom comes here to look after business personally, relying upon the ability and integrity of his junior partner to conduct the store as he sees fit, and he is satisified with the outcome. They carry a very large stock of ready-made clothing, and their furnishings are of the finest quality and latest styles. This store enjoys a great patronage beoause it is deserved. It is a credit to Mt. Carroll and the men who own it, and one of the largest in the county, being the largest storeroom and one of the best lighted in the city.
There is always the largest store in every city. The Squires Hardware Co., hold this distinction in this city, as their volume of business is greater without doubt than any other firm in the city.
Upon the death of Mr. Squires' father, the late Thomas Squires, the store was taken over by John W. Squires, who conducted it successfully for a number of years. But Mr. Squires' health was not of the best, and he proposed to his worthy and trusted employes, that they form a stock company, and the same was formed.
From the start the firm took on new life. Mr. C. E. Smith became the Secretary and Manager, Mr. N. C. Smith, Vice President, looked after the machinery and other ends of the business, and Mr. Squires, President, the books.
This firm is known far and wide as one of the largest firms in the country, and many a man owes his standing to the liberality of this firm which sells most of the machinery and hardware needed for miles around. Their well known reliability has become so well estabished that if it comes from Squires' it is known to be right.
They are pleasant gentlemen to do business with, liberal in their transactions, sell as low as they can and do business.
Mr. Squires has been spending the summer in Europe, but is now at home from his trip. Each of the firm owns a modern home and are among the men who have and are making, Carroll County what it is. Their history is a history of business deeds, and will continue to be.
N. C. Smith had the plumbing business of the city, but the firm disposed of that branch of the business to his two sons, but in all other lines the Squires Hardware Company is at the front.
They carry one of the largest stocks of every kind of hardware to be found in northern Illinois. They buy by the carload, bave their own dray to haul from the station to their warerooms. They are large employers of labor for their business is verv extensive. They deal in wind mills and pumps and set them up. Gasoline and kerosene engines, in fact anything from a shingle nail to a threshing machine can be purchased from the Squires Hardware Co.
These gentlemen represent the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance co., of Milwaukee, one of the best in existence, and they have built up an estate for many of the people in Carroll and Jo Daviess counties.
Mr. Auman is the District Agent for Carroll and Jo Daviess counties, and there isn't a better representative of insurance in Illinois than he unless it be his partner, Blaine L. Peck, who is Field Superintendent for the same district, and one of the greatest hustlers in Carroll county.
These gentlemen took over the territory some years ago, and they are a whole team. They have sold more life insurance in their territory than in any agents in a territory much larger. '
They have seventeen sub-agent's, 14 of which are bank officials. And therein lies much of the great success they have made. They are gentlemen of high character and standing, whose word is taken on any matteer. People believe in them, and in appointing sub-agents they have taken extreme care to appoint only men in whom the public in their respective localities has the the greatest confidence. Men who stand high in business circles, whose word is good, who never misrepresent. These are things necessary in any successful business. Almost anybody with talent in that direction can go out and make a talk, misrepresent things and induce people to buy, but where you intend to do business with these same people time and time again, your word must be good, and Auman & Peck, individually and as a firm, are held in the greatest confidence and esteem by all they have ever done business with.
Their company is one that is known all over the world as being of the highest standing and what they do and do not do, is plainly outlined by Messrs. Auman and Peck and their sub-agents.
Their sub-agents are such men as Schreiner and Flowers of Chadwick, State Bank. Roy Bray of the Exchange Bank of Lanark, Messrs. Dow, Nash, Siemen, Cullen, Scott & Hissem, bankers in Jo Daviess county towns.
The Northwestern Mutual is 67 years of age, has assets of $509,000,000. There are more than 5,000 male policy holders in Carroll and Jo Daviess counties. An outstanding feature is the service given by Messrs. Auman and Peck to those who hold policies, and a large share of their time is taken in assisting in changes desired by old policy holders, and information to them.
Auman & Peck is a household word in these two counties, and many feel and display gratitude to them for having put them on the way of building up an estate which they otherwise could not have done.
A policy in the Northwestern Mutual is as good as a government bond and pays more interest on the investment. See the agents and they will set you on the way to good fortune and an estate for those you leave behind.
These gentlemen are among the livest of our people when it comes to doing anything for the benefit of the city, as they are alway ready to do their share, Be it in money or work. They own their own homes, convenietly situated close to their office, Mr. Aumans home being one block from his office on Main street and Mr. Peck's about the same distance on Market street. Their office is in the E:inney building on Main street, and is most conveniently appointed.
Mr. Peck is also a justice of the peace of the Town of Mt. Carrell.
He made good from the start, and some of the greatest criminal cases ever tried in the county were tried by Mr. Eaton and him. Was appointed Master in Chancery. Then he took to politics as well as law, and was elected County Judge for two terms, after which he became a candidate for the Legislature and served one term in the I1linols House of Representatives and for the past years has been State Senator from this district, and is known as one of the most independent officials in that body. He votes as he believes and as his conscience dictates, no matter what the so-called bosses want.
He is a member of the Senatorial Committee which has had the building trouble in Chicago in hand and has been one who has recommended the indicting of a number of labor leaders as well as the big profiteers.
He was asked to become a candidate for Lieutenant Governor at the last election, but declined, preferring the Senatorship. He was frequently mentioned in connection with the Federal District Attorneyship, but, made no active attempt to secure the position. He was, while County Judge, frequently called to Chicago to hold court and the newspapers there spoke in words of praise extoling him as a judge.
He is not only a lawyer but a farmer, and owns several farms which he personally superintends.
He is yet a young man and while he has accomplished much, there are greater things that he will accomplish.
Several years ago he purchassd from the Chas. Holman estate what was known as "The Cave," which in fact, takes in all of Carroll Creek from the "Old Ford" down to below the cave, for a half mile. Ben started to make a summer resort of this and he has succeeded so well that the thousands of people from many miles around visit his property, which is known as "Smith's Park," every summer.
He improved the park grounds without taking away any of the natural beauty or scenery, erecting a pavilion, a store, an electric light plant, sinking a well, putting up swings and the like for children, with a cookhouse, croquet grounds, horse shoe grounds. He has built a dam and has boats and the only thing lacking is a bathing beach which he will probably have in another year. The beauty of this park has extended far and wide and has done more to advertise and make history for Mt. Carroll than any other one thing.
He is a young man, who is respected for his many admirable qualities, his business ability, his talent as an auctioneer and as a man. He lives on his farm north of Mt. Carroll, with his wife and children, surrounded by all that goes to make a farmer's life one of content and happiness.
They have been prosperous from the very start and with each passing year their business increases. They are deserving and this is the reason of their success. Everybody honors and respects them, admires them for their business acumen and their desire to help their part of the country. The Hartman Bros. are fixtures, are in fact, Daggetts Station, for without them the farmers in that section would have no local market for their produce and would be very much inconvenieneed. They are reliable, their prices are right, and they are among the most highly respected citizens.
Mr. Kneale was a member of the city council for a number of years while he lived in Ward Two, and showed much ability in dealing with civic affairs. He is genial, pleasant to do business with, and is reaping the fruits of his industry as he should. He is one of the men who has helped make history in the city and is still in the same line.
He started his present novelty store a number of years ago, and he has surely made a great success of it, and if anybody wants anything in the novelty line, it is straight for Otto Jessen's that they go. He came heer from Lyons Iowa, where he had lived, in 1874.
In 1888, when the water works were put in he was on the water works committee, and gained by the foreman of the construction crew, the title of "Watchdog of the Waterworks." He drafted Ordinance No. 107, the first ordinance written in regard to the control and management of the svstem of waterworks in the city of Mt. Carroll.
His place of business is in East Carroll where he has a large geen house in which flowers bloom the year around. He takes all the possible care of them and attends to their needs as a mother does to her child.
He grows anything and everything in the line of flowers and mosses and plants, and has bulbs and flowers for sale at any time. His place is a thing of beauty. The green house is just across the street from his residence, and everything is as convenient as possible. Mr. Schroeprel makes a great exhibit at the fair each year and his exhibit is one that is looked at and admired by all,
Aside from flowers and plants, Mr. Schroeppel also raises vegetables and berries and is a valuable man to the city, keeping the people supplied with everything that can be raised and always early. He is a straightforward, upright man, respected by everybody and his friends are numbered by those who know him. As square as can be made, his word is taken in all business transaction without a word for an order there means that you will get just what you ask for.
Mr. Schroeppel has lived in Mt. Carroll for a number of years and has by his fairness, his generosity, his public spiritedness, built up most prosperous business in his line and people find no necessity for sending out of town when they want flowers for special occasions.
He takes particular pains in filling orders for designs for funeral floral offerings. Henry Schroeppel is one of the substantial business men of Mt. Carroll. He asks the patronage of the people who desire anything in the line o green house plants or flowers, and those who have never tried his products will learn that they can di better with him than by sending abroad.
Mr. Stakemiller is one of those men who is ,always busy. If he is not demonstrating a thresher or a road grader, or a Ford, he is taking somebody on a trip in his taxi, or looking after his property, he occupying one of the apartments. He is one of our most reliable business men, one who is highly respected by all who know him, one who is ambitious, industrious, public-spirited, progressive and up-to-date in everything.
With his property, which is so desireable that it is always occupied, with people waiting for someone to move so that they can get in, he is a busy man all the time, for he sees that his property is kept in condition. And for this reason many desire to be one of his tanants. They know that they have a home in every sense of the word while occupying an apartment in the Stakemiller Flats.
He lives in West Carroll and is always at home over Sunday and as often during the week as possible, but he is one of the hardest workers in the city and his enterprise and ambition, coupled with his industriousness and uprightness makes him a valuable citizen.
Mr. Frederick lives just outside of the city limits, west of the creamery, where he has arranged things to suit his needs, and when you buy milk from him you can depend upon it that it is fresh, pure and wholesome. He also raises thoroughbred chiclens and a reliable farmer and dairman in every sense of the word. He is well known and well liked because he is en the square in all of his businss transactions.
Mt. Carroll has a gigantic one conducted by Fred H. Colehour, a son of on of the pioneer settlers of the county surrounding Mt. Carroll. Fred is one of those jovial business men whom everybody likes to do business with, and as a result he does an enormous business all the time. He pays the highest markd price for grains and buys outright, or he will store for the farmer.
Aside from dealing in grain he is one of the largest dealers in flour in the county, handling a number of the best brands, which he sells on a small margin. He handles cement and coal and if coal is not in his bins it is indeed hard to get.
There is no contract for coal, cement or flour too large for him to give you figures on and he has the laculty of getting supplies quickly. Fred is a business man who has made a success of what ever he has undertaken and everybody who knows him is his friend. Square as a man can be, ever ready to do anything for the benefit of the city, his pocketbook is always open, he is ready to do all in his power for the betterment of the city. No one ever heard Fred Colehour "beef" about improvements. He has been on the city council, a member of the school board, and a director of the Commercial club, and wherever found his counsel is sought and heeded in business affairs whether they be civic or individual.
Fred has just returned from a trip to Europe where he spent three months sight seeing and enioying himself, and has returned with renewed vigor. Fred never did lack pep, and his vacation has given him even more vim than before.
Mr. Colehour has been identified with the business interests and history of this city since he was a young man, and will continue to be a lead ing business figure in the future, for with his ambition, his progressiveness and the public spirit which predominates in him he cannot help being among the live ones as long as he continues in business of any kind. He, with his wife and two sons live in a beautiful modern home in East Carroll, surrounded by every comfort and luxury to make them happy.
Every stranger who comes to the this city, has to pass the grounds and the first question asked is, "What is that?" The buildings and the grounds attract immediate attention.
Most of our readers know the history of the School, it having been started by Frances Wood and Miss Gregory in the early days, as the Mt. Carroll Seminary. Miss Wood married Dr. Henry Shimer and Miss Gregory passed away. Mrs. Shimer conducted the Seminary until her death when she endowed it, and it became the Frances Shimer Academy, affiliated with the University of Chicago, with a board of directors from Mt. Carroll and Chicago and William P. McKee of Minneapolis was chosen as dean. So ably did he handle the school, that he has held the position during all the years, and bids fair to do so all his life, for he has built up the institution until it is almost as well known nationally as any school for girls in the United States, and we will say that it is one of the very best.
It is a school for girls and young women. Tvo-year college course with diploma, admitting to Junior class of leading colleges without examinations. Four years academy work, permitting entrance to all institutions that admit on certificate. Home economics, Music, Special courses in Art, Elocution, and Secretarial. Nine modern, buildings, 35 acres, 70th year. The schcol has had a waiting list for the last three years.
The new College Dormitory now in course of erection, with a kitchen and dining room on the south was necessary for the accomodation of the many girls and young women from all over the United States who desire to attend. It will be a pretentious affair, but will soon be outgrown, as under Dean McKee there seems to be no limit to its growth.
People send their daughters there not only because of the educational advantages, but for the moral air surrounding it, for the girls there are looked after and cared for in this respect as carefully as they would be at home.
Their health is one of the chief things and is carefully conserved. There are tennis and golf grounds, base ball grounds, a gymnasium, where the girls exercise daily. The grounds are beautiful and are well kept. The girls have everything that heart can desire, and are most kindly treated.
The bulidings are steam heated, from a central plant, eletric lighted, well ventilated, with pure city water, and every accomodation.
There is a fine auditorium where entertainments are given during the school year, and one of the best of school papers, The Record, tells of the interests in these entertainment, and in vesper. The School is all that can be desired and Mt. Carroll takes great pride in pointing it out as one of the leading features in the city. It has been a history maker in the city and county, and under the present efficient management will continue to become a great factor as the years roll by.
Dean McKee is, in the opinion of the writer, one of the greatest school men and educators of the present day. He is modest and may resent this assertion, but it comes from a knowledge we have of the man, as a man, and head of such an institution as The Frances Shimer School.
The School opened on the 20th of September this year, and just how he is taking care of the girls during the finishing of the new Dormitory we do not know. Owing to the strikes and delay in getting material, the building is not yet nearly finished, although when the contract was let it was believed that it would be ready for occupancy in some parts of it bv the fall opening. But Dean McKee will find a way, he always has and always will.
The Mt. Carroll Golf Club is allowed to play on the School links, being the only available golf grounds in the city. They have certain hours for play, while the students are at their studies.
The former as a soldier of the Revolutionary war and the latter as a veteran of the War of 1812. They were Fay's great, and great great grandfathers, who came here in the 30's took out patent grants for land, established a saw mill above the old "ford" and helped build the first buildings. The log houses, and lumber from their mill furnished the studding and rafters. The name Christian has been identified with Mt. Carroll since its incipiency.
Fay is keeping the "name in the lime light. He graduated from the High School, tried journalism in Joliet, but concluded he would rather be in business for himself, took a course in embalming, secured a license and opened a furniture and undertaking store in Mt. Carroll, and was successful from the first. From one room he opened another, finally purchased the Wherritt building and has converted it into the largest furniture emporium in Carroll county, with the greatest and best display rooms in the county. He is a member of the Commercial Club, an energetic and pushing young man who is forging ahead every day, and the top is his aim. He carries an immense stock, sells at a reasonable profit, is a favorite undertaker as he has the dignity and sympathy that goes with the position. He is one of the youngest business men in the city, but one of firm convictions and business tact. He, like his forbears is a history maker, they of the past, he of today.
Fay Christian is a man of force of character, upright in his dealings and with his present surroundings is taking a commanding lead in the furniture business of this county. His stock is large and varied and his prices are always living ones, and he has made it possible for young couples, who are not too well fixed financially to start out in life with ample furniture for modern housekeeping, and he has found that his confidence has seldom been misplaced. He is a young man who is bound to move onward and upward in commercial life until he reaches the apex.
He is married and has one son. They live over the furniture store in a well appointed home, surrounded by everything to make them happy and contented.
But he was equal to the task and the business increased under his administration and grew to proportions larger than any similar business in the county. At the time of the erection of the Caroline Mark home, Mr. Squires had the contract for plumbing and heating, and one day while personally supervising the work, or looking over it, he fell from the second story through an aperature, upon a cement floor and sustained injuries from which he has never fully recovered.
Many a man after the accident, would have sat quietly down in despair, but not so with John Squires, for as soon as he was able to be out, he was on the work again, and continued until some years ago, when he decided that the business was too large for one man to waste his life upon, and a stock company was formed.
Since that time Mr. Squires has given up the active management of the entire business, but still looks after the bookkeeping department, as he is a financier without a peer in this part of the country, and will not allow himself to rust out. He and Mrs. Squires spend most of their winters where the climate is conducive to his health and this summer, he spent three months touring Europe, returning home in much better health than when he started.
He owns a beautiful summer home at Lake Geneva, Wis., and he and Mrs. Squires spend much of the summer there.
He is one of our most enterprising business men, his pocketbook is always as wide open as any when money is needed for enternrises. He has been a director of the Commercial Club and an Alderman of the city and has several times refused the mayorship. J. W. Squires is a history maker in Mt. Carroll and his name is synonimous with that of the city.
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