McLean County, Illinois - The whole text, 1879 (part 27 of 42)

/JONATHAN H. ROWELL, was born at Haverhill, N. H., on the 10th day of February, 183o. He came to Illinois, and settled at Stout's Grove, McLean Co., in July, 1849. He went to the schools of that day. and gathered such knowledge as their limited facilities afforded. He worked on a farm and taught school alternately from the time he was old enough to take a school until 1855. Rowell was then 20 years old, and at this date we find him beginning a regular course of study at Eureka College ; a companion at this school says that Jonathan was one of the most untiring, steadfast and persevering students in the institution, and that his early mastery of mathematics was wonderful ; he could make a mental calculation in less time and with more accuracy than most scholars could with slate and pencil ; he was absorbed in study, and read everything within reach : it was in mathematics, however, that he especially distinguished himself at College, and his persevering study and final triumph was rewarded by the appointment to the chair of mathematics, a position which he filled creditably for a year. In May, 1861, the first faint mutterings of civil war reached him at Eureka; and when they were followed by a call for troops. Prof. Howell quitted the halls of learning for the tented field; he enlisted >n the spring of 1861, in the 17th 111. Inf. ; he was elected 1st Lieut, of Co. G, which was raised in Woodford Co. ; he was promoted to the Captaincy in 1862 ; after a brilliant service of three years, he returned home to the pursuits of a peaceful life. He attended the law department of the Chicago University ; here Capt. Rowell applied himself with diligence, and in 1865 he graduated with an especially fine record, being the valedictorian of his class. His mind being thus stored with legal lore, the next movement in order was the realization of something from the investment ; he immediately began practice in Bloomington ; a partnership was formed with Tipton & Benjamin, which continued through the years of 1866, 1867 and 1868. His energy aud ability soon demanded recognition, and, in 1868, he was elected State's Attorney for McLean, Logan and DeWitt Counties, and prosecuted with distinguished ability for four years. The partnership now with the Hon. J. M. Hamilton was formed in 1871. Capt. Rowell is one of the most successful criminal lawyers in Illinois, and this result has been reached by his own efforts. When he began his education, and upon entering Eureka College, he had $40 and a suit of clothes, and these constituted his worldly possessions. It was a struggle for success which sometimes looked dark and uncertain, but indomitable will triumphed over adverse circumstances.

THOMAS PIERCE ROGERS, M. D., Bloomington, whose portrait appears in this work, was born Dec. 4, 1812, in Columbiana Co., Ohio ; his ancestors came from the north of Ireland; his grandfather, George Augustus Rogers, was born about the year 1735, in the north of Ireland, and was educated at Oxford for the ministry, but gave up that calling and accepted a commission in the British army ; he came to this country as Colonel in the army under Gen. Braddock, and was at the battle of Bloody Run (or Braddock's defeat), andalso with Gen. Wolfe when he stormed Quebec ; after peace was declared, he returned to England, resigned his commission and came to the United States about the year 1774; his son, Alexander Rogers, the father of Dr. Rogers, whose sketch we are writing, was born in 1773 : the family first settled in Frederick Co., Md., where it stayed until 1786, when it moved to Fayette Co., Penn. ; there Mr. Alexander Rogers married Catharine Wallahan, who was born in Carlisle, Penn. In the year 1798, Dr. Rogers' grandfather, father and all their connections moved on the extreme frontier, then the wilderness of Ohio ; there his father settled on a farm. The subject of this sketch received such an education as could be obtained in the little, round-log schoolhouse of a new country; at the age of 17, he went to a select school at New Lisbon, and finished his education at a Quaker institution at Salem ; he then returned home, working one or two years, and continuing his course of study ; he chose the profession of medicine, and began his study in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio ; he finished his course of study in Philadelphia, and returned to Tuscarawas Co., where he practiced in company with Dr. Lewis ; in the spring of 1838, he started for Illinois on horseback, and came to Marshall Co. ; and, in the month of March, located at Decatur, Macon Co., and soon afterward formed a copartnership with Dr. Thomas H. Reed, from Nashville, Tenn. ; Dr. Rogers afterward moved to Washington, Tazewell Co., and formed a copartnership with Dr. G. P. Wood, which continued for seven years. In June, 1840, he married Miss Harriet Wilcox, of North Bergen, Genesee Co., N. Y. ; she died four years after her marriage ; they had one child - Harriet Julia, who died at the age of 9 months. In May, 1846, he married Mrs. Minerva Burhance, a widow lady with one daughter. In 1848 Dr. Rogers learned from Stephen A. Douglas, in Peoria, that the Illinois Central Railroad would surely be built, and this decided him to move to Bloomington for a permanent home ; he moved to Bloomington in March, 1849, and continued the practice of medicine up to 1867, when he retired from his profession, having been a successful practitioner for thirty years ; he then engaged in agricultural pursuits. While practicing his profession, he was three times chosen a delegate to the National Medical Conventions ; he was twice chosen a delegate to State Medical Conventions. Dr. Rogers has been more or less connected with politics since coming to the West; while at Decatur, he held the office of Postmaster for two years ; in 1848, he was selected at the Convention, at the village of Waynesville, to be a candidate for State Senator, but was defeated ; in 1862, he again received the nomination of his party for State Senator, but was again defeated ; he has been honored by his party by being made a member of every Democratic State Convention, except one, since 1844 ; has been chairman of the Democratic Central Committee, McLean Co., for eighteen years out of twenty-four; was appointed a delegate from Illinois to the Convention at Baltimore, which nominated Franklin Pierce ; he was an alternate delegate to the Charleston Convention ; was a delegate to the Baltimore Convention, when Douglas was nominated. When the war came, the Doctor took strong ground for the Union, and did much work in getting volunteers, and took the stump and advocated crushing the rebellion out by the power of arms. In 1864, he was a delegate to the Convention which nominated McClellan for President ; when the Liberal movement was inaugurated, Dr. Rogers moved actively and efficiently in the matter, and was placed in nomination as its candidate for the Legislature under the minority representation system ; he was elected a member of the Lower House of the Assembly, and has been re elected every two years since ; and is at present serving in that capacity, and is recognized as one of the most active and far-sighted of its members.

-r - \ OWEN T. REEVES, Bloomington. The subject of this sketch was born Dec. 18, 1829, in Ross Co., Ohio ; after a period at the common schools of the day, he entered the Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio ; his studies were pursued uninterruptedly with the highest results, and he graduated one of the most thoroughly learned students that ever went out of the institution, in 1850; he received a merited compliment by being retained in the institution as tutor; he also filled the responsible position of Principal of the Chillicothe, Ohio, High School for four years, and engrafted upon the schools of that city many important changes in study and system which remain to this day ; he was recognized as one of the leading and most advanced educators of the day in Ohio : meantime, and during his active school service, he read extensively the primary law works, with a view to entering into the practice of the law, a profession for which he had certainly many natural qualifications. In 1854, Mr. Heeves was attracted to and located in the then young but promising city of Bloomington, 111. ; his known large experience in publicschool matters operated to bring his services in demand ; he drew up the charter of the Union- School System, of Bloomington, in 1857 ; for five years he served faithfully and intelligently as a member of the Board of Education ; the magnificent system of schools in this city, and their flourishing condition, are results, in a great measure, due to the efforts of Mr. Reeves; and he yet watches their development with earnest solicitude. In 1861, he was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors for Bloomington Township; in 1862, he was ^appointed City Attorney ; in these offices Mr. Reeves is said to have discharged the duties incumbent upon him in a faithful and praiseworthy manner, devoting to them his whole time and talents. In the latter part of 1862, when the country was struggling in the throes of civil war, Mr. Reeves responded to the call for troops, and, with commendable energy and patriotism, organized the 70th Illinois Infantry Regiment ; this regiment he commanded as Colonel with marked distinction ; after his service in the army, Col. Reeves returned to the walks and pursuits of private life. In 1867, he procured the charter for the L., B. & M. Railroad, and took a prominent part in the organization of the company and the construction of the road ; this varied and important business occupied actively all his time ; when the road was leased to the Wabash, Mr. Reeves became General Solicitor of the leased line, and continued such so long as the road remained in the hands of the Wabash. In 187-1, Col. Reeves joined Judge Benjamin in the organization of the Bloomington Law School ; during all this time he has enjoyed a large and important law practice ; in the month of March, 1877, he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court.

~^SMRS. GEN. GILES A. SMITH, Bloomington. History is but a plain, unvarnished statement of facts, whether these facts be relative to the works of art or of nature ; and if of the latter, it may be of nations, kingdoms, States or individuals, the truths are just as important to be left upon record ; there was many a hero in the war of the late rebellion of whom the world is yet ignorant, or to whom history has not done justice. We would here mention the name of Gen. Giles A. Smith, as we purpose giving a brief biographical sketch of his life. To go into detail would require a volume half the size of this. He was a native of Jefferson Co., N. Y. ; was born Sept. 29, 1829 ; remaining at his native place until he had grown to man's estate, and had received his education ; leaving his native place, he came west as far as London, Ohio, where, for a short time, he was engaged in business ; he then went to Cincinnati, and for two years was in the employ of Day & Matlock, wholesale dry goods merchants. In 1856, he was married to Miss McLain, who is a native of Madison Co., Ohio, and a resident of London at the time of marriage : the same year they became residents of Bloomington, where she still resides. From this date until 1861, he was engaged in the mercantile and hotel business, being engageil in the latter business just previous to entering the army. From a Sunday until the following Thursday he closed the hotel, settled his private affairs and raised a company of soldiers ; he entered the service as Captain of Co. D, 8th Mo. V. I., the regiment being commanded by his brother, Morgan L. Smith; in the fall of 1861, he was stationed at Paducah, from which place, with his regiment, he took part in the capture of Forts Henry and Donelson ; also the battle of Shiloh and siege of Corinth, where his regiment was first in the rebel works, and took possession. After the capture of Corinth, his regiment went to Memphis as a part of the 15th Corps ; here Gen. Smith was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and. on the promotion of his brother to a Brigadier, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel ; he soon after took part in

Sherman's first attack on Vicksburg, and afterward in the attack on Arkansas Post, where his horse was shot from under him, and himself slightly wounded; in the operations resulting in the capture of Vicksburg he took an active and conspicuous part. By a brilliant and daring feat, he, with his. regiment, rescued Admiral Porter and his iron-clads, when they were surrounded and hemmed in by the rebels. After the capture of Vicksburg, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, for gallant and meritorious conduct on the field of battle. As brigade commander, he took a conspicuous part in the campaign resulting in the defeat -ef Bragg, and at the siege of Chattanooga and battle of Mission Ridge, where he was badly wounded ; recovering from his wound, he returned to the field as brigade commander in the 15th (then the 17th) Army Corps, under Gen. Frank P. Blair. On the 22d of July, 1804, was fought the memorable battle of Atlanta, in which Gen. McPherson fell. The heaviest portion of this battle fell on the division of Gen. Smith. His gallant and heroic conduct on this occasion forms no small part in the history of that eventful day ; he then took part in Sherman's great march to the sea, in command of the Second Division of the Seventeenth Corps. After the surrender of Lee, he, having been promoted to a full Major General, was transferred to the Twenty-fifth Army Corps, and stationed at Brownsville, Tex. After the division of the corps, he declined the commission of Colonel of cavalry in the regular army, and returned to his home in Bloomington. He was appointed by President Grant as Second Assistant Postmaster General, which position he held until his resignation on account of failing health, in 1872. He then became a resident of Bloomington and of San Jose, Cal., but a resident of the former place at his death, which occurred on Sunday, Nov. 5, 1876. Thus perished a brave and gallant soldier, an honored citizen and fond husband and father. Mrs. Smith is still a resident of Bloomington. She was with Gen. Smith during most of his army life, and many of the scenes and incidents of war are indelibly impressed upon her memory. She has possession of all of the General's papers and commissions of promotion, which are, as they should be, highly prized by herself. She is a lady of fine mental culture, and is amply able to conduct the education of their only daughter.

WILL S. SMITH, was born in Orange Co., N. Y., Feb. 18, 1851 ; he is the eldest son of Matthew C. and Mary Jane Smith, who were both natives of New York State ; his father was captain and owner of a vessel running between New York City and Albany, on the Hudson River ; he died February 18, 1857, leaving a family of five children - Anna E. (now Mrs. Dr. S. C. Wilson), Will S., Matthew C. and Frank B. ; during his life-time, however, he recognized the value of an education and made every effort to secure for his children that mental culture which is imperishable ; but Will was not a studious youth ; the glorious fun of fishing, hunting, base ball and other athletic sports, had for him a far greater charm than the problems of his arithmetic, the puzzling intricacies of his grammar, the comprehensive knowledge contained within the pasteboard lids of his geography, or even the polysyllables of his spelling-book ; all told, his schooling amounted to less than four years of constant attendance ; to this day, he acknowledges that it was his fault that not even a common-school education accompanied him when he embarked for himself in the struggle of life ; he applied himself to several vocations and finally settled down to learn the art of printing, which business he is at present engaged in ; he has worked in some of the largest cities in the country; in 1866, he, with his mother and youngest brother, moved West and settled in Bloomington, 111., where his sister and next elder brother preceded them about six months ; he married Miss Sue A. Colvin, Nov. 13, 1873; she was born in this county ; in 1876, Mr. and Mrs. Smith visited the Centennial Exposition, and made an extended tour through the East, visiting nearly all of the largest cities, and spending some time at his old home, where he had not been for ten years ; in 1878, he went to Chicago, 111., where he and his wife are at present living.

"~" H. P. SEIBEL, Justice of the Peace, Bloomington ; was born in Bavaria, on the Rhine, June 1, 1831, where he received his education ; he came to this country in 1849, locating in Cincinnati, where he was engaged in book-keeping ; while there he was a member of the School Board for several years ; after which, he was engaged in the manufacture of pianos, in which business he continued some four years ; he came to Bloomington in 1872, where he has since lived, an enterprising and much respected citizen ; he was instrumental in establishing the paper-mill, which was for a time operated successfully; he is the founder of the Maennerchor Society of Bloomington, in which he officiated as President for several years ; for the last two years has served as musical director; this society is one of which the citizens of Bloomington may well be proud. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1877; this, with many other honorable and prominent positions, he has filled with credit. He married Miss Catharine Hoffmann, of Germany, Nov. 11, 1855; she was born June 24, 1831; they have a family of five.

THOMAS SLADE, attorn ey-at- law, Bloomington ; was born in fall River, Mass., in March, 1834 ; he was of Quaker parentage, all of his ancestors for generations back being of that religious faith ; he received his preliminary education before entering college, at the Fall River high school and at Friends' Seminary, Providence, R. I ; in 1856, he entered the regular collegiate course of Brown University, in the city of Proviience, which course he finished in three years. After graduation, he remained in the institution as a resident graduate for some months ; in March, 186U, he started for the West ; he landed in St. Louis in the same month, and at once entered upon the study of the law, being at the same time employed as a deputy in the United States Ciicuit Clerk's office in St. Louis ; after a few months, in order to devote his entire time to his studies, he abandoned this position and entered the law office of "Knox, Smith & Sedgewick; Mr. Slade continued his law studies until December, 1862, before applying for admission to the bar, at which time he was admitted to the bar of St. Louis, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession in that city. Just at this time, the troubles incident to the rebellion were convulsing the city of St. Louis, Composed of so many conflicting elements and factions arising out of the great questions at stake, and Mr. Slade united with the National Guards, a regiment which was at that time kept on duty in the city, at intervals standing guard over prisons and other duty in that vicinity; being engaged in this service, the work of his profession was considerably interrupted, but he continued to practice a=( opportunity allowed and was building up a substantial and rapidly-growing business. In 1864, he was a candidate for City Attorney before the Republican convention of St.. Louis; five candidates were before the convention, but the contest was finally reduced to that between Mr. Slade and a Mr. Stewart, the latter a one-armed soldier, the latter receiving the nomination after a vigorous fight, by a very small majority ; no more fitting complin ent could have been paid to a young man, who arrived a stranger in the city four years before, than the flattering support he received in that convention. In 1865, Mr. Slade decided to leave St. Louis, though regretting to leave the thriving business he had already established ; but, having gone from a cool coast climate, he was never satisfied with the warm sultry climate of the St. Louis region, and for this sole reason he left and came to Bloimington in quest of a cooler and more bracing climate; he at once effected a partnership with Mr. W. M. Hatch, who was then one of the longest resident attorneys of the place, the firm being styled Hatch & Slade ; in 1872, this firm was dissolved ; in 1879, he formed a partnership with Mr. H. E. Hadley, who is a young man with very flattering prospects for success ; he is a graduate of the Chicago College of Law. Mr. Slade, in 187.', was appointed a member of the State Bo ird of Education.

^- - AUGUSTUS SEIBEL, baker, Bloomington ; was born in Bavaria, Germany, Jan. 23, 1845, and came to this country in 1856, locating in Cincinnati ; for some two years he attended school, then began the trade of a baker, which he followed until December, 1861, when he enlisted with the 6th Ky. V. I.; he was in many of the heaviest battles and most severe skirmishes of the war; was promoted to 2d Lieutenant, then to 1st Lieutenant and Regimental Adjutant; he was mustered out at Brazos Santiago, Tex , Nov. 13, 1865. His place of business is 713 West Chestnut street ; he is a practical baker of many years' experience, which enables him to turn out the best of bread, cakes and pies, which can be obtained at the store or from the delivery wagon. He married Miss Margaret Hoffmann, of Cincinnati, July 2, 1867 ; they have been residents of Bloomington since 1868, and have a family of three children living.

0. B. STILES, cigar-maker, Bloomington; was born in Norwich, N. Y., May 7, 1839, where he was raised, schooled, and learned the trade of a cigar-maker, in which business he has had many years of experience; he came to Bloomington in 1866, and began on his own account the manufacturing of cigars, and did an extensive business for a time, but, like many good business men, met with adversity; but, being possessed of energy and perseverance, he began anew with the determination to succeed, and is now doing quite an extensive business ; his place of business is No. 120 South Main street, where he superintends the manufacturing of fine cigars. He married Miss Louisa A. Conly, of his native county, Nov. 15, 1860 ; they have one child - Lottie M.

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

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

* - M. G. SIMONS, ice-dealer, Bloomington ; was born in Wyoming Co., Penn., Nov. 25, 1829, where he spent his early life and obtained a schooling ; he removed to DeKalb Co., 111., with his parents in 1844, where he lived until 1863, when he came to Bloomington, 111., and engaged in the ice business, continuing it one year; he then engaged with the C. & A. R. R. Co., and after two years returned to the ice business, and -is now prepared to supply the citizens with the best of ice at reasonable rates. He is honorable and upright in his dealings, and a much-respected citizen. He married Miss Ellen M. Brown, of De Kalb Co., 111., March 2, 1856; they have a family of seven.

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

<^-~ WILLIAM HAWLEY SMITH, County Superintendent of Schools, Bloomington; was born in Franklin Co., Mass., Oct. 7, 1845; he was brought to Christian Co., 111., by parents in 1855, and was raised upon a farm, and received his early education at. the district schools ; he removed to Normal in 1865, and en'ered the State Normal University, graduating in 1870, and the following year was Principal of the Granville Public School (Putnam Co.); from 1871 to 1873, was Principal of Tonica Graded School, after which he abandoned teaching on account of his health, and went out on the road as commercial traveler, continuing at this until January, 1875, when he resumed teaching, taking charge of the Farmer City Graded School, continuing until the following November, when he was elected to the office of County School Superintendent. Mr. Smith is a man of fine mental powers, social and genial, through which qualities he has won the popularity that placed him in his present position. He married Miss Ellen H. Galusha, of Morris, 111., July 19, 1870; they have two children - Arthur G. and Leslie. ,-^ - "DR HERMAN SCHROZDER, proprietor Grand Opera House, Bloomington ; was born in the town of Althaldensleben, near the city of Magdeburg, in Prussia, in 1821. His father was one of the great Napoleon's old soldiers, who gave the signal of retreat from Moscow on the side of the Emperor. On his deportation to Siberia he escaped from Russian slavery, and found, after a long wandering, a home and wife in Althaldensleben. Here the doctor was born in a year of great famine, and taken in a basket to the Kloyster Fields, by his laboring mother ; he had the best schools the town and Kloyster could afford, and, being of Catholic parents, was selected to become a priest. As his parents were poor - aristocratic people, and even the Bishop, took hold of this remarkable scholar, and furnished him with the means to study, but after the death of his mother, he abandoned the idea of becoming a priest, and commenced the study of natural philosophy and medicine. At the height of his studies, his main protector, Herr Nathusius, died, and he commenced the study and work of an architect ; here he succeeded so well that soon he became the contractor of Government buildings, and made money, with a great prospect before him. He then married, in 1846, the youngest daughter of the late Baronet Prince von Buchau, who was the General Adjutant of the great Gen. Blucher, at Waterloo, and last commander of Cassel. But, with his thorough study of history and love for Republican principles, our doctor became an agitator in press and public speeches, and, in the great historical year 1848, we find him upon the barricades an I among the revolutionary speakers, and, as a contra revolution took place, our doctor was prosecuted, and would have been shot, if he had not escaped at night with his young wife to free America, disguised, in one of the old, rotten, wooden ships. In New York, he soon found out that he could not succeed, so he wandered as an emigrant to Cleveland, Ohio ; here he found kind friends, and took up again the old study of medicine, and, after two years, became a physician of note ; after practicing medicine in Mansfield and Mt. Gilead, Ohio, for a while, he traveled by wagon to the West, and landed in the then little town of Bloomington, 111. He settled, in 1852, near the Illinois Central depot, then a prairie, and constructed a shanty out of the first old log house ever built in Bloomington, and practiced medicine. Our doctor had a sharp eye to business, and bought of Mr. Wm. Dimmet nine town-lots, and erected, in the course of two years, thereon, thirteen houses, from lumber he made himself from twenty acres of timber-land, which he bought. Rents were high then, and soon the doctor accumulated money to buy from the Illinois Central Railroad 120 acres of land, now the south side of El Paso, and 80 acres, now the city of Gilman ; he named it Schrcederville ; he laid it out in lots, but sold it, in 1856, for a good price then, and commenced grape culture, and probably the first vineyards in the West. His success was great, particularly in the propagation of grape vines and plants ; he soon became the leading man in his new business, and has sold by this time, over twenty millions of young vines all over America, even to France and Germany ; his ambition and profits were great, and, in 1866, he built the opera house, with two stores, opposite the Court House Square, in this city ; in 1869, he helped build Minerva Block, the finest building in the city. Other valuable blocks and city property he added year by year, besides nearly 10,000 acres of Western lands. He invested in the Bloomington Coal Mine, and owned nearly one-fifth of the stock ; was twice President of the mine, but sold out at a great loss, to devote his time to his nursery business. In 1878, he erected his Steam Sausage and Meat Pressing Factory, on South Main street, a business of great promise. His vineyards are laid out in Schrceder's Addition. The doctor has two daughters - America and Minerva, and one son, Franklin. As a jovial, literary and business man, he will not soon be forgotten in Bloomington.

~A. C. SWEETSER, Justice of the Peace, Bloomington; was born in Oxford Co., Me., Feb. 23, 1839 ; he removed to Leeds, Wis., where he lived some four years, and thence to Bloomington ; during his early life, he learned the trade of a miller, which he followed until 1861. He then enlisted in Co. K, 8th I. V. I. (three months), and served until the expiration of the term ; then re-enlisted with the 39th I. V. I.; he was in many severe battles and skirmishes ; before Petersburg, on June 2, 1864, he was severely wounded in both legs, from the effect of which he was compelled to have the left leg amputated ; previous to receiving these wounds, be had served some three years, and escaped without a scratch, though having many narrow escapes. After the war, he returned to Bloomington, and, in 1867, was elected Town and City Collector, serving some five years, and in 1873, he was appointed a Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue. Mr. Sweetser is a man of good business ability, social and genial, and a much-respected citizen.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PH. W LL1AM STAUTZ, butcher, in company with F. A. Homuth. Bloomington; is a native of Prussia, where he was born May 15, 1838 ; at the age of 14 he emigrated to this country, and came directly to Bloomington, where he has since temained, engaged in the butcher business, which has given him some eleven years' experience in the business, lie married Miss Caroline Diedrick, of his native country, Sept. 23, 1877; they have one child - Maiilda.

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

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

born in Christian Co., Ky., Aug. 15, 1840. When 11 years old, he came to McLean Co., 111., and settled in Bloomington When he was about 15 years old, he commenced to learn the trade of printing, in the Pantograph office. He worked at his trade some eighteen months, thence to school, where he received a good education. In 1859, Mr. Stevenson commenced farming on a piece of Illinois Central Railroad land ; here he remained until 1863. He then entered the butcher business. Since then, he has been engaged in grocery, boots and shoes and hardware business. In 1868, he was appointed Superintendent and Weigher of the McLean County Coal Company. The shaft is 540 feet below the surface, being the deepest working shaft in the State. The coal is of the very best quality. They are now raising from three hundred to five hundred tons of coal per day. They employ two hundred hands. Mr. Stevenson, in 1878 was elected Alderman from the Third Ward on the Independent ticket. He is a Democrat in politics. N. C. SWEENY, Bloomington; was born in Muskingum Co. Ohio, Jan. 1, 183s, and i-t the son of Joseph Sweeny, ot Maryland, a farmer, who moved to Ohio at an early day. and from thence to Illinois, about 1858 ; he died in McLean County, in 1871, at the age of 65 years, respected and honored. Mr. N. C. Sweeny came to Bloomington in 1860: he was at one time in the lumber business, and also, for a short time, in the grain business. He is a Republican in politics, and, in 1876, was elected Alderman of the First Ward, which office he now fills.

Bloomington; was born near Clarksville. Tenn. When he was only 5 years old he moved to Illinois with his parents, and settled in Greene Co. His father was a farmer, and a soldier of the war of 1812. Mr. Smith was raised on the farm. When he was 18 years old, in 1847, he commenced clerking in a store. In 1850, he formed a partnership with his brother. In 1851, they moved their stock to Springfield and commenced the dry goods business. There Mr. Smith remained until 1860, when he came to Bloomington, and, April 5, I860, began the dry goods business in his present location, and to-day is the oldest dry goods man in Bloomington.

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

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

- -ISAAC W. STROUD, attorney at law, Bloomington; was born in McLean Co., 111., Sept. 16, 1845, and is the son of Elbridge Stroud, who was an early settler of this county, having made his home hereabout 1830, coming from Ohio; his death occurred Feb. 20,1855, when about 42 years old. Isaac W. Stroud was admitted to practice law at the Illinois bar in 1874; in 1875, he was elected by the Republican party as Treasurer of McLean County; this office he filled until 1877.

MRS. C. TOWNSEND, wHow, Bloomington; is the widow of Rev. J. B. Townsend (now deceased). Mr. Townsend was a gentleman of more than ordinary mental capacity, though for many years an invalid. In speaking of those who are gone, we feel that this history would be incomplete, without a personal mention of Mr. T. He was a native of Washington ( o., N. Y.; was born Aug. 8, 1810; his father intended him for the legal profession; for this purpose he entered the Union College of Schenectady, N. Y., where he was graduated with honor in 1835; he then spent one year in Castleton, Vt., as assistant principal in a seminary; he then entered the Auburn Theological Seminary ; finishing his theological course in the Union Seminary of New York ; his health failing, he moved to Knoxville, Tenn., taking charge of a seminary for young ladies; here he formed the acquaintance of Gen. John H. Cook, of Virginia; his health still being poor, he was induced to visit Gen. Cook at his home in Virginia ; regaining his health, he again began preaching in Goochland Co., Va; in 1843, he went to the wild country of Missouri, and began his work there ; shrinking from no duty and laboring almost incessantly, his health again gave way, and he was compelled to desist; from here he went to St. Louis, and took charge of the Free Church ; here, for six years, he was eminently successful ; his congregation grew so rapidly, as to cause the erection of a large edifice, known as the Pine Street Church; in 1850, he accepted a call as the Pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati ; this appointment he held for nearly two years, when his throat again became so bad, that he retired from the pulpit ; though he lived for twelve years after retiring, he did not afterwards preach. For five years he was engaged in the grain trade in St. Louis; then moved to McLean Co., where he resided until his death, which occurred from consumption Jan. 27, 1865. As a financier, Mr. Townsend was as successful as in the pulpit. During his business in St. Louis, he accumulated a fine property; though, by the treachery of those he thought were his friends, he lost over $20,000; he still left, at his death, a fine property. Sept. 6, 1839, he married Miss Cordelia Dunning, of Fairfield, N. Y. Mrs. Townsend is still a resident of Bloomington. She is a pleasant, genial lady, and is respected by a large circle of friends.

THE BLOOMINGTON LEADER, Bloomington. The publication of the Weekly Leader was commenced on the 17th of December, 1868. by Orin Waters and John S. Scibird, who were formerly owners of the Pantagraph ; on the 22d day of February following, the Daily Leader was started, and both publications have appeared regularly ever since; on July 12, I860, the Eveninj Leader was changed to a morning paper, and as such was published until Oct. 9, when it was again changed to an evening paper ; Mr. Elias Smith was editor-in-chief, assisted on the local by J. S. Scibird, one of the proprietors ; as a compliment to the publishers, the position of Postmaster was given to Mr. Scibird, who held the office for four years ; in 1872, a stock company was formed, composed principally of leading politicians, who elected O. Waters as Manager ; hard times continued and it proved a financial failure; Feb. 19, 1874, 0. Waters purchased the right, title and interest of the stock-holders and became sole proprietor and publisher; in January, 1875, Mr. Waters became financially embarrassed and the establishment passed into the hands of the present proprietor, Mr. M. F. Leland ; the Leader has grown to be a strictly firstclass paper, and is fearless in its advocacy of the right ; it is Republican in politics, and does not hesitate to expose wrong, whether in the Republican party or out of it ; the Weekly Leader enjoys a large circulation and the confidence of its readers ; the Daily Leader is also a creditable and enterprising sheet, an/1 has a large advertising patronage and an entensive circulation ; journalistic ventures have been frequent in Bloomington, but in nearly every instance, with the exception of the Leader and Pantagraph, they have been failures and short-lived. M. F. Leland, the present proprietor and publisher of the Ijeader, was born in Sherborn, Middlesex Co., Mass., on the 28th day of March, 1835 ; came to Bloomington, in 1858, and for a number of years was engaged in the photograph business in this city ; was then one of the proprietors of the East Grove Street nursery, in company with E. Beaumont ; in 1869, he took a position on the Lender, as solicitor and collector; subsequently he was local editor, and still later became proprietor and publisher. Under his management the Ijeader grew in influence, and in the first three years the circulation of the Weekly Leader more than quadrupled ; the daily also improved in its appearance and support, and now enjoys the reputation of being one of the best and most reliable publications in the State ; the job-printing department is one of the largest and best equipped in Central Illinois, and turns out. a large amount of choice work ; in fact, the Leader is established on a firm foundation, and its future is as sure as the sunshine ; considerable money has been sunk in bringing it to its present sound financial standing, an experience which we may say all newspapers have to pass through before reaching the goal which the ambition of the publishers anticipates.

WILLIAM W. TUTTLE, of the firm of Baird & Tuttle, Loan Agents, Bloomington ; was born in New York, and is a graduate of Columbia College ; he came West in 1872, and entered into partnership with Mr. Baird in the loan business. These gentlemen have control of the Phcenix Nursery. - - . THOMAS F. TIPTON, Bloomington ; was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, Aug. 29, 1833 ; his father, Hiram Tipton, removed from the Buckeye State to Illinois, in the year 1844, and settled in the section now known as Money Creek Township. In March of 1845, his father died, Thomas at that time being but eleven years old ; he continued to live with his mother until her second marriage, in 1847, when he cut loose from the parental roof-tree, and began life on his own account, and took his future into his own hands. At this time he is described as a boy, that, while he had no vicious habits, possessed a quick and retentive memory, a deep reverence for truth and honesty, and with a keen contempt for anything affected or snobbish. During the summer months, he worked on a farm, and, in winter, he went to school, thus obtaining knowledge under difficulties ; this was continued until he had attained to his sixteenth year, when he began teaching, but in the winter going himself to school as a pupil. Mr. Tipton began the garnering of legal knowledge in the law office of H. N. Keitly, at Knoxville, 111., being a careful reader and a close, pains-taking student ; at this time he was in the most robust health, being very strong and active, and excelling in all athletic sports. In the spring of 1854, young Tipton was admitted to practice, and, as a singular coincidence, attained his majority the same year. He began active law practice at Lexington, and continued there until Jan. 1, 1862, at which time his lucky star directed him to Bloomington, and in the spring of 1863, he formed a law partnership with Reuben M. Benjamin. In January, 1836, Gov. Oglesby appointed him State's Attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, and for two years he discharged the duties of the office with infinite satisfactiou to the law-abiding people, and to the great annoyance of evil-doers of high and low degree. In 1869, the Hon. Lawrence Weldon became a partner, and the firm was then known as Weldon, Tipton & Benjamin; but, as his worth became recognized, Mr. Tipton was called higher up. In August, 1870, he was elected Circuit Judge, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of the venerable Jno. M. Scott, who had been elected as a member of the Supreme bench of the State. When Mr. Tipton took his place on the bench, the new constitution had been but just adopted, making many radical changes, and opening up a vast field of unexplored legal work, thus making work on the bench necessarily slow, and much more laborious than formerly ; he was rewarded for his fidelity to the interests of the people, and his efforts in behalf of equity, by an indorsement in the way of a re election for the term of six years. He remained on the bench until March 1, 1877, when he resigned to take a seat in Congress - another step higher. The 1st of March, 1877, Mr. Tipton and John E. Pollock formed a law partnership under the style of Tipton & Pollock, as it now stands; previous to his election to the bench Mr. Tipton enjoyed a large civil and criminal practice; it was as varied as litigation itself, and it was uniformly managed with good tact and acknowledged legal acumen; he was not a lawyer simply to wring from quibbles and technical obscurities th it justice which else he could never reach, but he sought to win upon the broad spirit of the law in its most elevated sense. He was elected to the Forty-fifth Congress as a Republican, receiving 15,229 votes ; in Congress he favored the Silver bill ; introduced a bill for postal savings banks ; opposed the further contraction of the currency and the Wood Tariff bill ; also opposed the William and Mary College bill, and the " Potter revolution" he opposed ; he was against the transfer of the Indian Bureau to the War Department.

"nQHARLES THEIS, grocer, Bloomington; was born in Prussia, Oct. 7, 1824; during his early life he received a fair education, and began mercanti'e life as clerk with a wholesale house, remaining some eight years ; he came to this country in 1851, locating in St. Louis, and followed clerking in variou< branches of mercantile business until 1857, when he came to Bloomington, 111., shortly thereafter embarking in the grocery business on his own account, and locating at his present place of business, No. 712 W. Chestnut street; here he keeps a good line of groceries. He marr.ed Miss Frances Sommerheuser, of his native country, in September, 1856; she was born Feb. 2, 1832 ; they have a family of six - Bertha, Clara, Charles, Julia, Ida and Flora.

L. L. TRACY, engineer at Water-works, Bloomington; was born in Chittenden Co.. Vt., Oct. 21, 1818. During his early life, he obLained a good education, and for some ten years was engineer for the Steamboat Transportation Company that plied between Whitehall and St. John, Canada. This gave him a thorough knowledge of engineering. He abandoned steamboating in 1850, and removed to Janesville, Wis., where he followed milling until 1865 ; thence to Aurora, 111., where he engaged in flouring. He came to Bloomington in 1867. He had by his own energy accumulated a large property, but, like many good business men, met with adversity and lost severely; but, being possessed of untiring energy, he resolved to begin anew, and engaged as engineer with William Flagg. machinery manufacturer, and, since 1871, has been gradually returning toward his once high financial standing. He was appointed by Mayor Reed to his present position in 1878. He is a practical engineer, and considered the right man in the right place. He married Miss Elizabeth Hill, of his native county, Feb. 12, 1844. They have four children living. s^ ""^jr. F. TRYNER, grocer, of the firm of Tryner & Tewk^lwrry, Bloomington ; was born in Lincolnshire, England, Oct. 30, 1809. He came io this country in 1833, locating in New York City, and there engaged in the tailoring business, which he followed until 1844, when he began in the clothing and furnishing business. In 18 >6, he removed to Salem, 111., and opened business. In 1866, he came to Bloomington, and, for a number of years, was with his son, G^ATryner (grocer). In 1876, he engaged in business with his present partner. These many years of mercantde experience enable him to command a good trade. His place of business is 103 West Front street, where he keeps a well-assorted stock of family groceries and provisions. He has twice married - first to Miss Eliz ibeth Roberts, of Wakefield, England, in February, 1833 ; she died in 1851. He was married to his present wife in 1854; she was formerly Margaret H. Sclover, of New Jersey. He has eight children living.

THE EYE. H. R. Persinger, editor, Bloomington. The Bloomington Sunday 3Iorniny Rye was started on Jan. 20, 1878 ; it was the second attempt at Sunday journalism in Bloomington ; the Sunday Herald, the first venture, commenced in July, 1877, and, after a painful struggle of three months, died out : great doubts, therefore, were entertained as to the success of The Eue, and the publisher, although confident, was discouraged and distrusted on every hand ; the office was located in the second room, upstairs, over Living-ton's clothing house, corner Main and Washington streets; when the paper went to press about midnight on the 19th of January, the press-room was thronged with a crowd eager to see the infant ; fears were whispered of its reception, and its early demise was predicted as certain ; in the face of the unlimited amount of distrust exhibited, the editor sometimes looks back and wonders how he ever had the courage to pursue his adventure ; but his confidence never once flagged ; a discouraging accident happened at the very outset ; owing to utter carelessness on the part of the pressman, who had been drinking, two of the forms shifted out of place on the press, and several columns of bright, new type were mashed and ruined in spots ; although late and everybody worn out, the matter had to be almost wholly reset, which occupied the whole night, and the papers were not all printed until 4 o'clock A. M. ; Sunday dawned dark, and ihreatening rain ; but a small army of excited newsboys were soon scampering over the city, yelling - " Here's yer Sunday Morning Eye." and their enthusiasm was enhanced by the ready s.iles they met with. The Eye was looked upon with favor, and from that time. to the present one - one and a half years - has constantly increased in favor and circulation; it, to-day, circulates in almost every home in the city; has been twice enlarged and improved ; enjoys an envied advertising patronage, and is in a condition of gratifying prosperity ; in material and influence, it has trebled itself in value, and is not incumbered by a single debt In October, 1878, it was removed to elegant rooms over the People's Bank, corner of Center and Washington streets, where it now has the finest location and most cheerful office in the city ; its subscription price is $2 a year, postage paid, or 5 cents a copy ; the city circulation is far in excess of that of any other Bloomington local paper.

Its editor, Holland R. Persinger, was born at Xenia, Ohio, June 9, 1852; he began his career as a journalist or printer in the office of the Sidney (Ohio) Democrat, a weekly paper, in February, 1869, finishing his apprenticeship in the office of the La Fayette Daily Courier ; he was employed as city reporter and editor of the La Fayette Sunday Leader, nearly five years previous to his advent in Bloomington. In 1877, thinking he could manage a paper of his own. he traveled over Illinois in search of a location, landing at Bloomington, and, in January, 1878, produced The Eye, of which he is still editor and proprietor.

J. THOMPSON, grocer, of the firm of Thompson & Jameson, Bloomington; was born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Oct. 19. 1842, where he spent his early life ; he his received a good business education. During the late war, he enlisted With the 2d Ohio V. I., entering the service in August, 1 861 ; he participated in many of the most severe battles of the war - such as Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga and Mission Ridge, and the march of Sherman to Atlanta ; he escaped without a scratch, and was mustered out after a service of thirty-seven months. He then attended commercial college at Dayton, Ohio, for a time, and afterward re-entered the army in the Quartermaster's Department at Little Rock, Ark., as shipping-clerk, which position he held for six months; he then went to Galveston, Tex., where he was appointed collector for the G.. H. & H. R. R Co. ; after remaining here awhile, he went to Lacey, Va., where he acted as assistant Postmaster for two years. He has held a number of prominent and responsible positions. He is doing business at 701 North Main street, where he keeps a well-assorted stock of goo Is, sold at bottom figures. He married Miss Amanda C. Carrier, July 31, 1868.

/~J. R. TANKER -LEY, photographer Bloomington; was born in Middlesex Co., Va. ; at the age of 18 years, he commenced to learn the photographic art with Shew & Marks, of Baltimore, the leading artists of that city ; in 1867, he came West and located in Bloomington ; in 1870, he commenced photographing in the rooms he now occupies, and is one of the oldest and finest photographic artists in the city; has had over thirty years' experience in the art; those who visit his parlors will see that he produces first-class work.

/"LEWIS B. THOMAS, insurance agent; Bloomington ; was born in McLean Co. 111., Sept. 27, 1838, and is the son of William and Catherine (Hains) Thomas. William Thomas is a native of Pennsylvania, having come to Ohio at an early day, where he was raised on a farm. In Febru- - ary, 1836, he came to Illinois, and located in what is now the city of Bloomington, McLean Co. He was engaged in farming until about 1841, when he entered the saw mill business, and continued it for five years. He was elected to the office of County Treasurer and Assessor of McLean Co., and filled the same for about thirteen years. He was also treasurer of the war fund. He was engaged very extensively in the live-stock business and was, at one time, one of the largest stock-dealers in this vicinity ; he followed this business about thirty-five years. In 1867, be failed. He entered the insurance business in 1849, and. in 1859, his son, Louis B., the subject of this sketch, succeeded him in the business. He represents the best insurance companies in the country. Mr. Thomas was elected City Treasurer of Bloomington in 1860, and filled the office with credit.

J. E. VOAK, M. D., Bloomington. Another of the old physicians of Bloomington, who has been in constant practice for twenty years, is Dr. J. E. Voak. He was born March 16, 1829, and is a native of Yates Co., N. Y. He began the study of medicine under Dr. D. Lathrop, of Syracuse, N. Y.; attended and became a graduate of the Syracuse Medical College in 1855. He also, in 1866, became a graduate of the Homoeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He began practice in Independence, Iowa, where he remained nearly two years; was also engaged in the drug business during this time. The next seven years he spent in practice in Mason and Logan Cos., 111., and, in 1866, located in Bloomington, where he has since resided, engaged in the practice of his profession. He is also the author of a medical work of 320 pages, known as Dr. J. E. Voak's Family Guide. This work is now found in hundreds of families, and is, of itself, a proof of his study of the science of medicine and of his ability as a physician.

W. S. VINYARD, manufacturer of clothing, Bloomington. The success of any enterprise depends almost entirely upon the financiering of the party who is conducting it. Though a man may meet with fair success as a merchant, he may be much more capable of conducting the business of some lines of manufacturing. This seems to have been the case with Mr. W. S. Vinyard, who is a native of Pope Co., 111., and was for two years engaged in the dry-goods trade in Jacksonville, 111., and in this city from 1873 until 1878, when he engaged in his present business of the manufacturing of overalls, jackets and jeans pants ; his factory and salesroom is located at No 101 W. Market. The building being 90x22 feet, two floors, one would hardly suppose so much business could be done in so small a space ; the first floor is used as a cutting-room, salesroom, storeroom and office ; the second is given up exclusively to manufacturing; here, he has twenty Wheeler & Wilson sewing machines, every one of which is kept going; he employs, in all, about twenty-seven hands, most of whom are young ladies ; the most of his goods are shipped to points in Illinois, after supplying the home trade. His business aggregates about $40,000 per annum. In establishing and successfully operating his factory, he has done a business that is not only a credit to himself, but a benefit generally to the citizens and the city of Bloomington. r-DR. C. WAKEFIELD, Bloomington; was a native of Watertown, N. Y., and was born July 12, 1815 ; he is a direct descendant of Th. Wakefield, who emigrated from England about the year 1680; his father, Joseph Wakefield, was a native of Rutland, Vt., and was one of the first party of emigrants to Watertown, N. Y.; here he improved a farm, married Susan Sawyer, who emigrated from New Hampshire, and raised a family of six children, viz., Betsey, Elisha, Orion, Zera, Cyrenius and Egbert. Cyrenius served out his minority with his brothers on his father's farm, working during the summers, attending and teaching school during the winters. In the spring of 1837, in his 22d year, he emigrated to Bloomington, 111, going by steamer around the lakes ; at Chicago he took stage to La Salle ; in the night he was aroused by a horn announcing the arrival of a steamboat, on which he took passage to Pekin, 111 ; from this point there was no public conveyance to Bloomington ; he got his trunk carried on a load of merchandise and reached Bloomington himself very comfortably in two days by his pedestrian ability. He lived in this vicinity two years and taught a large school three miles south of the town for fifteen months. The schoolhouse had an immense fire-place in one end, as stoves were a rare article in the West at that time. He then bought land west of Farmer City, in DeWitt Co., and commenced the labors of improving a farm. By teaching school winters and improving his land summers, he, in four years, had a good farm, with a comfortable frame house upon it. This musi have suggested the need of a housekeeper, for he then took another tour over the lakes back to Watertown, N. Y., and, on the 17th of August, 1843, was married to Miss Harriet Richardson, who had been, for many years, his old schoolma e. Another trip over the lakes and across the then prairies, and they reached their cozy fvm-house, where they commenced the duties and experiences of domestic life. His plan was to enter into an extensive stock-raising business as soon as he could. In June, 1845, Dr. Zera Wakefield, who graduated in Cincinnati, and had, for ten years, been doing an extensive practice in Arkansas, came North to visit his brother. He liked the country so much better than the South that he concluded to settle here. After visiting his friends East, he returned to Arkansas, settled up his business there during the winter, and, in May, 1847, arrived for a permanent location. He and Cyrenius then formed a business partnership ; he advanced money against Cyrenius' farm and stock : they then started a country store, which was quite successful under the management of Cyrenim, while Dr. Z. Wakefield entered immediately into the practice of his profession. After about two months, the miasmatic fevers commenced and were of unusual prevalence and severity. With his accumulated skill in subduing the violent congestive fevers of the South, he was able to break up the most severe cases here in a few hours. His wonderful success created a great sensation, and his fame soou extended fifty miles around. With the aid of a driver and a change of horses, he was quite unable to fill all of the demands upon him. When they could not get him, they wanted some of his medicine, and this necessitated keeping it prepared, with directions, to supply the demand. He prepared concise recipes of the compound he used, and instructed Cyrenius in all of the arts of compounding, so that he was able to supply the demand. This soon necessitated printed directions and a uniformity of bottles, and thus originated the highly-celebrated Wakefield's medicines. During the S'immerof i847, some demand for agencies arose in the surrounding country, which was supplied to the extent of forty or fifty This condition of events gradually changed their country store into a medicine laboratory. In June, 1848, after two years of practise here, Dr. Z. Wakefield took a violent congestion of the lungs, which caused his death in thirty-six hours. This was a heavy stroke on Cyrenius, who was greatly attached to his brother. The demand for these medicines was great, and, much of his means being invested in it, he wisely bought his brother's interest and continued to extend their usefulness. He sold his farm and moved to Bloomington in February, 18o0, in order to get better postal and express facilities. He applied himself diligently to the study of medicine and pharmacy to prepare himself for a more extensive work, and here gained the title of Doctor. During his first few years in Bloomington, he did quite an extensive drug business in company with Robert Thompson. His medicine laboratory was then in the rear of the drug store. In 1856, he built a brick laboratory near his dwelling-house, and to which subsequent additions have given its present extensive proportions. In 1857, he retired from the drug trade, and gave his whole attention to his medicine business. He has pursued his business with wonderful energy until now (1879) he has extended the local agencies over all of the Western States and accumulated quite a large capital. But his pathway has not all been sunshine, for, in February, 1853, he lost, by fire, his new twostory dwelling-house, which he had built the fall before, with much of his furniture, and with no insurance. In the great fire of Oct. 16, 1855, he lost, in addition to his half of the drug store and building, his medicine factory and a three-story brick building, with small insurance. He has lost heavily by security debts and insurance companies, all of which he waded through without faltering. In 1871, Dr. Wakefield took in partnership his son Oscar, and his brother-in-law, C. S. Jones, and surrendered to them the most of the labors and perplexing cares of his extensive work, that he might improve his health and enjoy more completely the fruition of his many years of toil. Since his retirement from active duties, he has spent considerable time in traveling. In 1874, he spent the spring in Florida and other Southern States, and the summer in Colorado ; the summer of 1876 he spent, with his family at Atlantic City and the Centennial, and in the summer of 1878 he, with his family, traveled four months in Europe. He has raised a family of four children, viz., Emma, Oscar, Hattie and Homer; Emma is now Mrs. A. S. Eddy, and jesides in Bloomington; Oscar is married and occupies the Doctor's former residence, and he occupies his fine stone residence, which he built in 1871 ; Hattie and Homer are yet in their teens. Dr. Wakefield is a man of very firm and decided principle ; politically, he is a Republican. After the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, he was among the foremost in advocating the formation of a new party, and he was one of those who organized the Republican party in Bloomington, ai the first meeting, Sept. 9, 1854. He is decided in his religious views, and follows his convictions to their legitimate results. He is at present a very liberal supporter of the Free Congregational Church of this city ; in fact, he is one of the most liberal citizens of Bloomington, ever ready to assist those who are in real distress ; during the past winter, he gave much time to the work of charity, being at the head of the Public Committee on Distribution, and, at the same time, was a liberal subscriber to the cause. Dr. Wakefield is a man of quiet, retiring manners, never seeking public office or any kind of notoriety. He was sought by the public, a few years ago, as a member of the City Board of Education, which position he filled very ably, and declined re-election. As a citizen, he stands among the foremost of the best. known of the many public-spirited men of our city, having a fame that extends outside the city, county or State, being, in fact, a man of national reputation.

f "WILCOX BROS., dealers in dry goods, Bloomington ; one of the best and largest stocks of dry goods in Bloomington may be found at the above-named store ; Mr. Frank B. Wilcox is a native of New York ; his first experience in the dry-goods business was as a clerk in that city ; in 1868, he commenced business as one of the firm of Richardson & Wilcox, in Bloomington, which afterward changed to Wilcox Bros.; these gentlemen now occupy a room 25x106 feet, Mr, L. T. Wilcox attends to the purchasing of goods, and has had over eleven years' experience in the dry goods business ; he understands the quality of goods and knows the best places to buy the same ; those wanting any kind of dry-goods, silks and dress goods, will do well to call on Wilcox Bros.

FRANKLIN WHITE, Bloomington; was born in Oswego, N. Y., May 13, 1833, and is the son of E. White, a contractor and mill-builder; from 1839 to 1845, the family resided in several of the leading cities - Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis; in 1845, they settled in Chicago, then a. city of 13,000 inhabitants ; here Mr. White remained until 1860 ; he learned the trade of a pattern-maker in Chicago ; Mr. White states that he saw the first railroad laid out from Chicago, and the first telegraph line laid into it ; he and his brother had a little experience in the mercantile business in Chicago in May, 1860, Mr. White came to Bloomington and accepted a position in the Chicago & Alton Railroad shops, as foreman of the pattern department ; this place he has filled ever since ; in 1876, he was elected to office as Alderman from the Sixth Ward ; in 1878, he was re-elected to same office, having proven himself a man of acknowledged ability. Mr. White's political opinions are Republican.

Z. WATERS, M. D., Bloomington. The longest established and representative eclectic physician of Bloomington is Dr. Z. Wateis, a native of Watertown, Jefferson Co., N. Y.; he was born May 16, 1836, and, with his parents, removed to De Witt Co., 111., in 1844 ; early in life, he decided upon the profession of medicine, and read the allopathic system, and, in 1859, com menced practice in Van Buren, Crawford Co., Ark., where he continued for three years ; in July, 1861, he returned to Bl omington, and, in October of the same year, entered the Eclectio Medical Institute, of Cincinnati, where he graduated in the spring of 1862. He then enlisted in the army as a private soldier, and was soon promoted to the p sition of Assistant Surgeon of the 68th I. V. I.; with his regiment, he joined the army > f the Potomac, where he was placed in charge of what was known as the Octagon Hospital, two miles west of Alexandria. Va. At the expiration of the term of enlistment, he returned with his regiment to Springfield, where they were discharged in September, 1862; in October, 1862, he commenced the practice of medicine in Bloomington, 111., where he has continued to the present time. Dr. Wafers is the author of the well-known "Waters' Family Medicines;" also the inventor of the "Waters' Abdominal and Uterine Supporter." He is a member of the Illinois State Eclectic Medical Society, and of the United States Eclectic Medical Society ; as a physician and as a man of honor, he stands high in the estimation of the people of Bloomington.

JOHN C. WILDBERGER, saloon-keeper, Bloomington ; was born in Switzerland in 1833, and is the son of Jacoh and Mary F. Wildberger, of Sw tzerland; in 1853, he sailed for America and landed in New Orleans in April, 1853 ; here he remained but a short time, and then came to Bloomington in the same year, which has been his home ever since. He enlisted in Co. A, 101st I. V. I., as Orderly Sergeant, in 1862, and was mustered out in 1865 ; he participated in the battles of Resaca, Loikout Mountain (the battle above the clouds), Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, etc., and was with Sherman on the march to the sea, through the swamps of the Carolinas, and at Washington on the grand review ; he did good service and was only sick about two months ; with this exception, he served full time. At the close of the war. he returned home to Bloomington ; Mr. Wildberger was in the bakery business about five years: he was, also, for a short time, a resident of Morgan Co., Ill He married Hattie Weersh, of Switzerland ; they have four children - John, Casper, Hattie and Lotta.

"""FRANCIS X. WOCHNER, brewer, of the firm of Meyers & Wochner, Bloomington : was born in Germany in 1832: came to America in 1839, landed in New Orleans, thence to Illinois, and located near Springfield, where he engaged in farming; from there he came to Bloomington ; here he entered with Mr. Myers upon the making of beer ; they employ about ten men and draw their patronage from the surrounding country.

>"",,S. R. WHITE, lumber, Bloomington. One of the prominent contractors and builders of Bloomington is S. R. White ; he is also a dealer in lumber, lath, lime, shingles, etc, his establishment being located at 304 East Douglas street. Mr. White is a native of Huntington Co., Ind., ; it was there that he learned the trade of a carpenter and builder; since his residence in Bloomington, he has, in many instances, proven himself a thoroughly accomplished workman as well as a responsible contractor. He came to Bloomington in 1868, and first began working at his trade, and in 1874, he embarked in the lumber trade, and contracting and building; in this, he has proven himself a good financier, as well as a reliable contractor ; during the season, he employs quite a number of men and frequently has several buildings in course of construction at the same time ; he is now doing a good business, which is the result of his own energy, industry and good financiering.

^^ J. L. WHITE, M. D., Bloomington. Among the leading physicians of Bloomington, whose name and ability are familiar to the people, is Dr. J. L White ; he is a native of Westminster, Mass : after receiving a liberal education here and at Williston Seminary, of Easthampton, he began the stu<ly of medicine, graduating at the Harvard Medical College in December, 1853. Previous to his graduating, he had been for some months one of the Medical house pupils ®f the Massachusetts General Hospital ; subsequent to this, he spent several months in foreign travel and study. In 1854, he came West and located at Jerseyville. 111., where he resided, engaging in the practice of his profession, until March, 1870, when he removed to Bloomington. Mere, by his close attention to business and thorough knowledge of the science of medicine, he has met with very gratifying success. He is a member of the Illinois State Medical Society and of the Jersey and McLean County Medical Societies, in both of which he has held the office of Pres dent. He has, at various times, contributed articles on medical subjects to various medical journals. During the war of the rebellion, he was Surgeon of the Board of Enrollment of the 10th Congressional District; for six years he has been District Surgeon of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. Feb. 10, 1857 he married Miss Harriet, daughter of Samuel Hawley, of Jerseyville, 111.

HENRY M. WAIT, Bloomington, was born in Franklin Co., Mass., in 1834; in 1856, he came West, to Illinois; in 1867, he came to Bloomington, where he has been engaged in the flour and feed business and in the manufacture of brooms Mr. Wait, at the breaking out of the war, enlisted in Company G, 18th U. S. Inf., as First Sergeant; he served until the expiration of his term, and was honorably discharged ; he was in a number of prominent battles, with the Army of the Cumberland. Mr. Wait is a Republican in politics. He holds the office of Health Commissioner.

CHARLES H. WAIT, proprietor of Wait's Hotel, Bloomingto11 ; was born in Windsor, Vt., May 10, 1820, and is the son of Capt. Joseph Wait, whose father was Gen. Marmaduke Wait. The subject of this sketch was brought up on the farm and graduated from the district school when very young, namely, when 8 years old ; he then entered the hotel business, as hostler and bartender, in Perkinsville, Vt.; then was engaged in driving a four-horse team from Whitehall, N. Y.. to Claremont, N. H., over the Green Mountains, hauling flour, principally. In 1840, he came West and located at Chicago, then a small town ; he became general manager of a stageroute - one of the first at Chicago; in 1842, he went to New Orleans, and was engaged in managing an omnibus-line; thence to Vincennes, Ind.. and in charge of an omnibus-line running from Louisville. Ky., to Vincennes, Ind. He married at Washington, Ind., in 1844, to Elizabeth Lucas. In 1845, he commenced farming in Davis Co.. Ind., and farmed until 1853. He commenced farming a poor man, but, with good mmagement and hard work, he was very successful From firming, he went to Washington, Ind., and purchased an important hotel, of which he remained proprietor from 1853 to 1855. He then went to St. Louis and was engaged in the livery and sale stable business, doing a very extensive business and furnished many horses for the Government. He was Government Inspector during the first year of the war. In I860, he came to Bloomington and married Mrs. M. C. Burch. He was tor about two years in the mercantile business : with this exception, he has been engaged, during his residence in Bloomington, in the hotel business, and keeps one of the most home-like and pleasant hotels in the city.

PRESTON WOOD, clergyman, Bloomington ; was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1325, and is the son of Preston Wood, a tanner and currier. When he was but 14 years of age, he commenced to learn the printer's trade in Leeds. England, and served as an apprentice for seven years. In 1847, he preached his first sermon in York England, and was taken into the British Conference. In 1852, he came to America, and landed in New York City; here he followed his trade as a printer for one winter. In 18-32, he came West, to Illinois, and joined the Illinois Conference, in Winchester, 111., in the fall of 1852. His first appointment was at Hillsborough, 111 ; thence to Waverly, Beardstown, Le Roy, Decatur, Atlanta, Clinton, Lincoln, Danville and other places. In 1861 and 18n2, he was Chaplain of the 38th I. V. I. He is the only surviving one of four brothers who enlisted in the army. At the close of the war, he became Presiding Elder of the Danville District for four years ; thence to Bloomington four years. He is now finishing his second year as Financial Agent of the Wesleyan University. His son, William T., is a graduate of West Point, and is now Second Lieutenant in the 18th U. S. A.

JOHN F. WOOD, pattern-maker, Bloomington. Among the many lines of industry and enterprise represented in Bloomington, is the pattern manufactory of John F. Wood, locited on East Douglas street; Mr. Wood is a native of Virginia; he came West in 1854, and located at Bloomington, where he learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner ; finding himself capable of <ioing fine mechanical work, and having a natural talent in that line, he learned the art of patem-making, which, when properly done, requires the finest mechanical skill; he has his establishment fitted with all the necessary business facilities in the way of machinery, having »n engine of ten-horse power, and an endless variety of tools ; by his energy and industry, he has established a fine business, receiving many orders for fine work in the State of Illinois and many of the Western States; he also does a general repairing business; he is well-known to the citizens of Bloomington, and many dealers in the State, as a man whose honor and integrity is above reproach.

1828, where he was raised and schooled ; during his early life, he learned the trade of a harness-maker and siddler ; in 1852, he came to Bloomington, 111., and began the harness and saddlery business with M. L. Moore; this he continued for two years, then for the next three years he was in business with Parke & Hoopes, grocery and provisions; in 1857, he engaged in the lumber business, which he followed successfully for some seventeen years; during most of this time, he was in partnership with George Bruner ; Mr. Whitmer came to Bloomington without property, but being possessed of energy and perseverance, he gradually climbed the ladder of fortune, till to-day, he is one of the solid men of Bloomington. In January, 1875, he was appointed President of the People's Bank, of which he was one of the original s'ockholders; in business he has been a successful man, and has acquired a large property. He married Mis-> Lucy McDonald, formerly of Winchester, Ky., Feb. 22, 1855 , they have raise I a family of six. - -ALBERT WELCH, grocer, Bloomington. The advent of this gentleman to McLean Co., dates back to the year 1835, at which time there comparatively few settlers, and the coun ry presented rather a desolate appearance; he had but little means, but was possessed of willing hands and a determination. He was married to Sarah, daughter of G. Randolph, Esq., of this county, Oct. 22, 1846; they first located in what is now Randolph Township, where he entered his first forty acres ; they prospered and gradually added to their land until they had 500 acres of as fine land as may be found in McLean Co. They have raised a family of two boys and two girls. He is now doing business at 225 East Front street, where he keeps a well-assorted stock of provisions and family groceries.