Rock Island County, Illinois - The whole text, 1908 (part 16 of 16)

This strong silent man, «lio abounded in action and in s])lendid achievement was supremely indifferent to jiersonal prominence or jiower. A man of the world in its largest sense, he was swayed by the simplest tastes. He found his recreation and delight in things which money cannot buy - in his home, in the woods and hills and water, in flowers, in tlie progress of the crops, in reverencing the memories of the stm-dy i)ioneei"s, especially of the middle west. Did he have a weakness it was for fine horses. He was a plain man of the people wherever he went, democratic in nature, dignified, reserved - a gentleman of the old school, courtly considerate, deferential, who shunned ostentation to the degree of abhorrence. His benevolences were wholly im])ersonal, offhand, from the pocket, his identity often being completely hidden. He was quickly responsive to children and he would strike up a sort of (piiet good fellowship with them as he passed them from day to day along the street. He gave most liberally to encourage talent and ambition of children in limited circumstances, and when once his sympathies were enlisted he never forgot. He idolized his own grandchildren.

Mr. Deere was married September 16, 1862, to Mary L. Dickinson of Chicago. To them were born two children: Anna C. Deere, August 20, 1864, who became the wife of A^'illiam Dwight Wiman and who died June 1, 1906, in Santa Barbara, California; Katharine M. Deere, born in October, 1866, wife of William Bntterworth. Mr. Deere died October 29, 1907.

Herbert E. Casteel

HERBERT E. CASTEEL, one of Rock Island County's most enterprising and highly regarded citizens, prominent in banking and business circles and a self made man, was born in Davenport, Scott County, Iowa, March 1.5, 1860. and was the son of Appleton and Elizabeth (iardner Cast eel.

Mr. Casteel's strides to prominence are the result of hard toiling antl struggle in his early days and his keen business methods and perseverance in later years.

Terminating his studies in the public schools of Davenport, he was not anj- too well ]irovidetl with education with which to enter the great field of business struggle, but

Willi iiploiiiistif iilcas he (juielly workecl ihciii to a point of value and with each chaiifio of position came a promotion and hifiiicr salary. To this end he directed his ardent amliition until he reached the estimaiile position of liank president.

Mr. ("asteel's business career dates back many years, owing to the fact that he started out for his own livelihood at an early age. When only thirteen 3'ears of age he w-ent to Port Byron, Illinois, and two years later, in 1875, he entered the employe of the Port Byron ]>umber Company as bookkeeper, which position he held for two and a half years. In 1875 he went to Rapids City, Illinois, where he entered the employe of Taylor Williams at the same occupation and, for two and a half years more he followed this special work. As a departure from the lumber liusiness Mr. Casteel became associated with John Schafer in the mercantile business, and after some years in this, and upon dissolution of partnership he, took the position of assistant superintencLint of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad company's coal mines at Perry, Iowa, until 1884, when he resigned his position and again took up merchandising.

Prior to his departure from Illinois for Perry. Iowa, and at the age of twenty-one years, he decided to take a wife, and on December 22, 1881, was married to Miss Emma S. Lowry. Tt) this union two children were born, a son, Lowry M., and a daughter, Evangeline Gardner Casteel. The sou is at jiresent engaged as assistant tellei- in the Rock Island National Rank, while the daughter attends college.

When John Schafer was elected treasurer of Hock Lsland County, Mr. Casteel was appointed deputy comity treasurer, which jiosition he held for the full term. At the expiration of this he accompanied Major ('. W. Hawes of the Modern Woodmen of America to Fulton, Illinois, as assistant head clerk, which position he held until IS!).'!.

when he decided to shake the dust of Illinois from his feet and locate in South Dakota. In the aliove year he located at Parkston, and occupied the position of cashier of the Parkston State Bank of Parkston, this change taking place just prior to the panic of the same year. He continued his services with that institution until 1898, and after a fewmonths of retirement and in August of 1899 he accepted the jjosition of cashier of the Rock Island National Bank and located his family here.

In the Fall of 1899 he floated the stock of and incorporated the Central Trust and Savings Bank of Rock Island, this taking place in December of 1899, and was elected himself as cashier.

In J\Iay, 1902, ui)on the death of J. F. Robinson, Mr. Casteel was elected president of the Rock Island National and of the Central Trust and Savings Banks, and to the present day is the head of both institutions.

In addition to the above responsible positions, Mr Casteel has the business management of the Robinson estate and is interested in several of the flourishing manufacturing institutions of the tri-cities.

Aside from deputy county treasurer he never held a pul)lic office except that of treasurer of the Bethany Home Protective Association of Rock Island, which is a home conducted for poverty stricken and destitute children. He w-as a democrat, but believe J in the Republican platforms under McKinle}- and Roosevelt, and in accordance with his political opinions voted the Republican ticket.

Mr. Casteel is a Mason of the thirty-second degree and has membership in several of the Masonic lodges aside from the Consistory. Among the lodges of which he is a member are Philo Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Rock Island Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Rock Island Commandery, Knights Templar and Oriental Consistory. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In his fratornal and social alliliations.

as well as in business, he has surruunded himself \\ ith numerous acquaintances throughout the city, county and state, and in honest opinion of so honorable a man to the community, it can be stated without contradiction that his loss would be a severe blow to the business interests of the city and to liis scores of friends.

A"\ T^AHI-'X that evil day shall come whereon y^ William A. Meese exchanges his 7's derby of commerce for the starry crown of heavenly reward, doffs his conventional haberdashery of the Mississijipi Valley for the celestial cerements of eternal bliss, Molina will pause in its onward march to industrial eminence, consider well this life-time of to the city's interests, drop a tear of affection for a departed comrade and wonder with apprehension where the half-dozen men are to spring from to take his place in the struggle for civic improvement. He has been for a half-century the loyal friend of his town, the unwavering champion of iloline's claims to consideration. her press agent, advocate and guardian spirit. This esteem is mutual and reciprocal and tlie constant plea of Moline i.-^ that William .\. Meese may long be s])ared to serve as her envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary. His list of activities for the gootl of his city before deliberative and legislative bodies and as a member of organizations which have built the city into its jiresent jiroud condition, sjiiritually, morally, educationally and industrially has not been written. The record is long, honorable and foitunatpl\- incomplete.

William A. Meese was burn in Sheboygan. Wisconsin. February 1. 1S.5(5. It has ijeen a subject of regret that he was not a native of Moline. but this error, not his own. he re])aire<l as speedily as possible by bringing his family to the \illage of promise in the garden spot of the Mississippi Valley at the age of two. His father, Henry Bruno Meese, and mother, .Tohanna (von Thielde) Meese, were natives of Hanover, Germany, and came to this country in 1S52.

A small and sturdy specimen of the towheaded Gernian-.^merican he entered upon his education in the Moline public schools, graduating therefrom in due time; thence to the preparatory course of Griswold College in J)avenport, and completed the Freshman year in that institution. From Griswold to Rock River Seminary (now Mt. Morris College) and graduation in 1876. In one subsequent year at the State University of Iowa the degree of Bachelor of T^aws was secured The next year was spent in advanced studies. In 187S after preparation adequate and admirable, the law student was transformed into a practicing attorney by admission to the Ijar of Illinois.

He entered upon the practice of law in his home city and soon attracted a volume of business flattering to the native product, who, unlike the biljlical prophet, found honor in his own country. By utilizing a natural talent for concentration which l)rings a margin of leisure, Mr. Meese has found time to serve his City and State in many ways. He has been a member of the lil:)rary board, a member of the ceuietery board, has served as City .Attorney ior six years and for four years was a trustee of the Northern Illinois State Xornud School. His profession l)ronght him into jjolitics and he has been allitv' with the Re]niljlican Party in his State.

Mr. Meese admits a natural iiu-jination toward allying himself with other men in (U-ganizations for mutual iielpfulness and the advancement of soiiety. He is a memljer of the Modern AAoodmen. the Odd Fellows, the Elks, the Red ^len. the Turners and a fewother fraternal lx)dies. He is also a member of the Moline Club, the Tri-City Press Club, the Chicago Press Club aiul a half-dozen historical societies.

It would lie easy for a l)ioiirai>li('r to write a chaiitei' coiiceruiiiji .Mr. Mee.se'.s love for histcry, his work aloiip: that line and hi.s really valuable eoiitriliutions to the records of this resrioii. .\ number of luonosr'Tphs \\ hich he has ]iublished show original research of vast industry and commensurate result. He has been the inspiration of the Rock- Island County Historical society and has been called upon for historical addresses on many important occasions in western cities. His historical library is admirable in its rapge and has many exceptional books of rarity and jireat value. Mr. ileese's friends are hopeful that there may come from his pen some day the yet unwritten history of Illinois, for which he has ample original material at hand.

Mr. Meese'.s research into kical events of bygone days led to his appearance before the Illinois General Assembly and an appropriation to mark the battle-site of the ^^'ar of 1812 on Campbell's Island near Holme. The dedication of that memorial in the Summer of 1908 was the occasion of such a patriotic demonstration as the City of Moline had never previoush- entered upon. Iniidentally the scholarl}' historian was so glorified by orators and jjress that his natural modesty has suffered an inordinate increase. His subsequent life has been one continuous un.spoken apology for !)eiiig unable to feel as great as his friends have jjainted him.

The work which at present engrosses the spare mint:tes of Mr. Meese concerns a wider area than his beloved Citv of Moline or his home state. It is the splendid endeavor to which the Upjier Mississippi River Improve-

While president of the Moline Business Men's Association IMr. Meese made several trips to. Wjishington, and as the result secured an ap]iro])riation of .?386.{)()0 for the construction of a lock in the ilississippi River at his home city, thus making Moline a river town, a privilege it had been dejirived of for over thirty 3'ears. As first \-ice-president of the River Association Mr. Meese assimied charge of and personally conducted the campaign before Congress for a six-foot channel for the Mississippi Iviver from St. Paul to the mouth of the ]\Tissouri River. The work was successful and in March 1908, Congress adopted the plan, the largest before that session, carr3'ing an expenditure of over twenty million dollars.

The solid foundation of success in life is a happv home. A\ hether this was appreciated by the yotmg attorney and his marriage made a part of his plan for advancement, or xvhet her Fortune so ordered affairs in the distribution of her favors, in any event the best Niece of good luck that ever befell ^Ir. Meese was his marriage in 1878 to Miss Kittie Buxton, daughter of Daniel Buxton and .\nna S. (Kane) Buxton, of .]\Iare:igo, Illinois. Their home has been brightened and blessed by four daughters - Maude, the wife of Harry E. Newton; Kittie, wife of Benjamin S. Bell. also Lillian, Gertrude and Helen Meese. In his life of professional activit,v and public tisefulness, William A. Meese has had the unswer%ing and symjiathetic encouragement of his familv circle.