Q.977 W67s L 1 G. RA RY . OF THL • U N I VER.5 ITY or 1 LLl NOI5
mvi wnmi-si^ Mm this book on or before the 5t Date stamped below. A t is made on all overd*'
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THE STORY OF STREATOR
^r>F.INr. AN ACCOUNT OF THE GROWTH OF ITS IN- STITUTIONS, CIVIC. SOCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL. WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS MANUFACTURING AND BUSINESS INTERESTS: TOGETHER WITH AN OUTLINE OF ITS EARLY HISTORY AND LIFE SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS LEADING CITIZENS.
EDITED BY PUBLISHED BY
E. WILLIAMS M. MEEHAN AND
. THE INDEPENDENT-TIMES STREATOR. ILL.
1912 FLASHLIGHTS OF STREATOR
TREATOR was platted in 1868; organized as a village in 1870; organ- ized as a city in 1882.
In 1870 it had a population of 1486; in 1880 it numbered 5.157; in 1912 it claims 18,000 in city and environs.
It was named after Dr. W. L. Streator, president of the Vermillion Coal Company, which opened the first shipping coal mines in 1866.
It is situated 93 miles southwest of Chicago, on the Vermillion River, at the southern extremity of La Salle County where it joins Livingston; in the heart of the famous corn belt of North America, and in one of the healthiest and most pro- ductive regions.
It is surrounded by the richest farms on the continent, whose value runs from $200 to $300 per acre, and whose owners and cultivators are wealthy, progres- sive and intelligent.
It is reached by gravel roads from every direction, and these will soon be su- perseded by brick to accommodate the automobiles now owned by nearly every rich farmer.
It stands on two producing seams of coal, and 40 feet of workable shale, than which there is none better in America for the making of vitrified brick.
It reaches the markets through seven lines of railroad, which radiate in twelve different directions, and which reach thirty-one different states and terri- tories. Their combined mileage is 45,000 miles.
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Its freight rates are the same or better than Chicago; its car service is prompt, speedy and sure; there are plenty of switch engines and crews and switch- ing charges are absorbed.
It has fourteen 'coal mines operating in two seams of coal. It has 25,000 acres of unmined third vein coal, pronounced by the C. B. & Q. fuel inspector the best engine coal in Northern Illinois.
It has four shale and clay working factories making brick, tile and sewer pipe and employing 600 men.
It has thousands of acres of undeveloped shale, without a superior in America. o-=—
Its bottle factory runs 24 hours a day and makes 6,480,000 bottles per week, being 45,000 per hour, or 740 per minute. It covers forty-five acres, employs 1800 men, and consumes 400 tons of coal per day.
It has 30 passenger and 40 freight trains daily.
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it handles an average of 8,000,000 pounds of freight daily. o
It received and shipped in 1911 freight amounting to 2,470,000,000 pounds, 110,000,000 pounds being in less than carload lots.
It took 39,500 30-ton cars to handle this freight, which, if made up in trains of 25 cars each, would extend over 300 miles of trackage.
the vast It is an outer belt for Chicago, and the above figures do not include the amounts of freight transferred or that passed through city.
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most of it in its Santa Fe pay roll alone amounts to $10,000 per month, yard and transfer service.
road exclusive of those It shipped 375 automobiles in 1912 over one alone, sent by other roads. o
It is only two hours by express from Chicago.
of its size It has 30 miles of vitrified brick street paving, surpassing any city in the country.
It has 16 miles of sewers.
of the most build- It built $250,000 of new buildings last year, one prosperous ing years in its history. It has 12 miles of concrete and 75 miles of brick sidewalks.
It has a fine public park of eleven acres in the heart of the city, and two smaller parks.
It has a splendid wooded Chautauqua park of twenty acres with a comm.od- ious steel pavillion seating 5,000 people.
It has an attractive nine-hole golf course of fifty-five acres, with a comfort- able country club house.
It has a well patronized $50,000 public library, containing 16,000 volumes.
It has two fine club buildings, the Elks and th? Streator Club, the latter be- ing thrown open hospitably to public uses when occasion justifies. o
It has a fine Masonic Temple and an Odd Fellows' building.
It has the largest retail department store for a town of its size—or of three times its size—in the world, it having 140,000 square feet of flooring under one roof.
It has seven splendid school buildings of modern construction, which cost about $300,000.
It has twenty churches of all denominations. o
It has a well equipped modern opera house, and four other picture and vaude- ville theatres.
It has three excellent hotels.
It has three daily newspapers and a German weekly.
It has $15,000,000 invested in industries, inclusive of the AmerJoac Bottle Company, whose parent plant and headquarters are here.
It has as a climate and as good low a mortality rate as any city ir, the upion.
It manufactures annually 7,000,000 milk jars, most of which .ire used in the Chicago milk trade. It produces 3,000,000 square feet of rolled plate glass per year and furnishes 80 per cent of the wire and skylight glass used in the loop district, Chicago.
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It makes 1,500,000 pounds of Illinois Valley Creamery butter per year.
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It has a garter factory that turns out 3,000,000 pairs of garters annually.
It packed 2,500,000 cans of corn last year and will increase the amount this year.
It has an abundant supply of artesian water which its factories tap on their own grounds and use for boiler and other uses. -o-
It turned out last year 2.000 carloads of sewer pipe.
cy
It manufactures 60,000,000 vitrified shale brick annually, which lead in the building and paving brick trade of the central and northwest.
coal It has a mining capacity of three-quarters of a million tons of annually.
Public Service Com- Its urban transportation is cared for by street cars of the Ottawa and Peoria Com- pany, and it.s interurban travel by the Chicago, Railway of the state. pany, which connects with the McKinley interurban system
Its total bank transactions for the past year were in excess of $50,000,000.
different and Its four building and loan associations have 2,200 shareholders, their total receipts last year aggregated 5300,000. o
its and loan Its citizens are largely home-owners, as building figures show; to home- for the $300,000 received by these societies last year was loaned largely builders—and the same is true of former years.
In addition to the inducements the city and the Commercial Club may have some tracts of real es- to offer factory owners, the railroads have secured splendid and on the of increased busi- tate, admirably located for shipping purposes, promise investors. ness, are prepared to deal liberally with prospective o further infor- It has a live Commercial Club which will be glad to give any mation.
J FOREV/ORD BY THE CLUB
—^ HE Streator Commercial Club takes pleasure in presenting- to the A public what is believed to be the first adequate review of Streator 's re- sources, its business advantages, its history and its characteristics, that
has been published.
A perusal of the work will show that care has been taken to pdesent
the significant features of the city in a dignified and worthy way, and that the triviality and exaggeration usually found disfiguring a work of this char- acter has been avoided.
The fundamental facts about the town have been set forth with truth and clearness; many points not hitherto noticed have been brought out with a new em- phasis, and the whole has been treated in a readable and interesting manner.
We commend "The Story of Streator" to any prospective investor or home maker or any citizen or friend of Streator desiring a true and interesting account of the men and the forces that have made the town.
The Club will be pleased to correspond with interested parties and to give such additional and detailed information as it may possess.
The variety and excellence of its illustrations, as well as the high quality of its mechanical execution, will make it a fine souvenir of Streator; equally good to keep or to send away to friends. Streator Co.nmercial Club.
OFFICERS:
P. J. LUCEY President. F. T. ROLPH Vice-Pres. 0. B. RYON Secretary PHILIP SAUNDERS Treasurer. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: P. J. Lucey R. F. Purcell M. B. Haskell F. T. Rolph C. H. Williams S. W. Plumb H. W. Lukins Philip Sounders 0. B. Ryon THK STOUV (»r STIlKATOIt
PROGRESS OF STREATOR PITHY AND POINTED RECITAL OF CAUSES THAT MADE IT GROW.
Here arc revealed tlie eauses of Streator's 7—MANUFACTURE. The motives that of Lo- progress and prosperity, past, present and fu- induced the planting here the Crawford ture. comotive ami Car Company, the \'ulc;in Detin- ning Comi)any, the Automobile and Metal 1 —('().\l.. It was l)oni imf nt' the coal heds. Stamping Works will bring other wood and Dm tills and substantial toumlation was stroiig metal working concerns to Streator. raised a vigorous and intelligent stock of min- Streator is situated at the ers, who formed tlie first layer of its poinilation. 8_L()CATI0X. northern extremity of the coal and shale beds, 2—GLASS. On this solid su1)stnu'ture of and has the advantage of distance to the mar- which coal was reared the glass industry, kets of Chicago and the north. Seated at the in a numlu'r of skilled liroughl large highly door of the great northwest, in the heart of the and from the r)ld highly i>aid operatives Mississipjii ^'alley —a region destined to be the Worlti. The stream from the of the jtay-roll granary of the world and its greatest consmner whatever glass works never ceased to flow, of mannfactiired goods—Streator. with its rail- or alTlicted the business world. drought panic roads gridironing this vast territory, is bound It nourisiied the town through didl and busy to become a centre of manufacture and distri years and kept it pjive and growing. but ion.
:J—SILVLK. Another gift of Mother Earth !» —l.AHDR. Trades in Streator are organ- were the shale l»eds —jierhaps the most pre- ized, intelligent, and conservative, and the This i-ions of all. They gave jiroducts (pf paving workmen largely own their own homes. work- brick, bnildini;- lilocks, sewer pipe and tih'. and is esjiecially true of the miners and glass called in a large force of men for their develop- ers, who are the dominant influence in labor ment and manufacture. matters. \'ery rarely has there been a strike or lal)or trouble, usually only when there has 4—KAILKOAl^S. The of the vast carrying been a national suspension. Being only 93 amount of here in freight originating brought miles from Chicago, with its vast supply, em- five great of railroads, with their systems jiloyers can readily get any additional help re- switch crews, their and office men run- yard (|uired, whether skilled or unskilled. The into the hundreds. ning up lower cost of living makes it an attrai-tive place o—FHKICIIT 1{ATES. lint the railroads for workmen to come to from the large cities. did more. With their enonnously extended 10—PROCJRESS. Its progress is mainly systems they jmt Streator in direct contact indigenous. T'nlike towns created by corjiora- with nearly every state in the union without tions. such as Pullman or (Jary. or those which leaving tli<' original line; and their competition have bought their growth by l)onuses, Strea- brought Streator a freii;ht rate as o-ood or bet- tor's progress has been spontaneous, unforced ter than Chicago. and un]3urehased. Its industries have been started its own citizens. The money G—PKinLWKXCK. The pennaneuce of mainly by to establish them was made here, and the pro- tlie three foundation industries is assured be- fits re-invested in the extension of the business, ean.se: (1) The coal is here and must be mined; or in the starting of new entei-prises. (2) the |iroximity to fuel and the best silica sand in the world make this the best point in n —PEOPLE. Its business men are aggres- America to manufacture glass; and (3) there is sive, progressive, liberal. The first generation no better shale on the continent, and none —the men who made the town—are still in nearer to the best market. command. There are no idle rich; there is no THR STOUY OF STREATOR.
of acres of idle capital. There are better fields for feeble prise to develop them. Thousands industries seeking bonuses than Streator, but shale, as good as any that have been worked, there is no place where a healthy business, are still untouched. The advantages which ho\Yever small, would have heartier encourage- made Streator one of the greatest glass pro- ment, or have a surer prosi)ect of a safe, strong ducers in the west are undiminished. The rail- and vigorous growth. road facilities which have attracted manufac- 12—OPPORTUNITY. Its opportunities are turers seeking locations, are better than ever. unexhausted. The natural resources whicli And its citizens stand ready to share these op- wislies to come produced such splendid results without the aid portuuities with whosoever the of outside capital are still here. They are a here and co-operate with them m making standing invitation to men of means and enter- of a bigger and better Streator.
../^i%s^"
A View of the City Park. THK STOin <>!<' STISKATOlt.
THE INDUSTRIES i)FSTREATOR Its Factories and Mines—Leading Workers in Glass, Coal, Clay, Metal and Wood.
Streator is a rity of t'aiturics and niiin-s. It grow lari;cr and stronner, with more diversiiied is essentially an industrial town. It prospers tones ami witli ever increasing: volume. tlie en- moiniments are her l)y tlie ]>rosp('iity ol" its produceis, i)y Streator's principal the of her er;;y and enterprise of its mannfai'tnicrs. Were mines and factories. On itrospeiity in shale metal tile busy hands to stop workimr in factory or workers in coal and irlass, and e.xistence It mine its pulsinj^ heart would stop l)eatinjj;. and wood, her absolutely di'pemls. in a Were the l)rains of its eai)tains of industry to is fitting therefore that work telling "The of the most slop eneritizin.i; and directinir there would lie Stoiy Streator" prominent posi- tion should be to those interests on which no proiiui'tion, no wai-cs, no one to l)uy and given sell. For Streator has no arruniulated wealth, the town is fundamentallv based. no inlierited fortunes, no leisure elass to sup Accordingly the opening pages of this book It is a are devoted to a of its in- jiort it tliroui^h a period of idleness. description leading In the town of workers. I'^vcryliody must listen wlien dustries. ]>receding i)aragra)dis they for the of tlie cas- the wlii'^lif iilows for work. It is the u:oo(l for- have been treated briefly eye tune of the town that there have been very few ual rea Assendjled \'iew of American Bottle Co.'s Works. THE STORY OF STREATOR. 10 STREATOR'S GLASS INDUSTRIES LEAD ALL OTHERS IN NUMBER OF WORKMEN AND VALUE OF PRODUCTS. Glass making has for some years been the sible evidence of the superiority of Streator as centre. leading indnstry of Streator, whether measured a glass manufacturing by the number of men employed, the value of President Jack's Statement. or the size of the roll. It is the product, pay Were any further testimony needed it is an that is, it is not im- indigenous industry, furnished by Mr. M. W. Jack, president of the but native to the soil. It here ported, began American Bottle Company, the greatest pro- some 30 with the eiTorts of some years ago ducer of gla?s bottles in the world, and which local capitalists to build factories to promote has half a dozen factories in different states. the of the town. It started without ex- growth Being asked his opinion of the advantages of and, with the vicissitudes perienced managers, Streator as a glass making point Mr. Jack so technical an industry it is attending highly replied: a wonder that the ever survi^ed its industry "I should say the advantages of Streator That it did survive argues early experiments. as a glass producing centre are three-fold, that Streator must have had great natural ad- namely : for the business. vantages glass "1—Its local fuel sup]ily. Streator coal Today there ai'e three im]3ortant gL'iss plants has been one of our great advantages. in Streator, making respectively, water, beer "2—Its nearness to an inexhaustible su]iply and soda bottles, milk jars and rolled plate of the best sand in the world for glass makhig. glass. Between 2,000 and 3,000 men are em- "3—Its central location between east and ployed when the factories are running at their west, and its excellent railroad facilities, make m-ximum capacity. The indications are that this an extremely desirable point for our this industry will continue to grow. Only re- business. cently the milk jar factory was erected, and "In my judgment Streatoi* has very few it to and no in the United States as since building they have found necessary equals superiors " double their plant. The American Bottle Com- a location for glass makin-i. pany has built a new factory, and the Western After this emphatic statement fi'nm one of Glass Company lias made additions to its plant. the best authorities in America on glass mak- All are pros]iering, and the growth of the busi- ing, nothing can be added to shed more liglit ness to its ])resent magnitude is the best pos- on the glass situation. THE AMERICAN BOTTLE COMPANY The American Bottle Company is the lar- ning full time. The kind of ware made is prin- gest producer of bottles in the world. Its par- cipally beer bottles, water and soda bottles. ent plant is situated in Streator. The Company The product is shipped to nearly every state in also has factories at Belleville, 111., Newark, the union, as far east as New York, west to Ohio, Massillon, Ohio, and Wooster, Ohio. The California, north to Canada, and south to New capacity of the Streator plant is five thousand Orleans. It is also ex])orted to Mexico, Cuba, gross per day, or nearly 2,000,000 gross per Vancou\or, and to the British posses.sions. In tlie stands in a class itself. year. i]:'| quali^^y product by It gives employment to 1,800 men when run- It has no equal in the world. The demand for THE STORY OF STKKATOK. 11 it has required a constant increase of output was venturesome and sagacious enough to line from year to year, and the prospect is tliat it up with the winning nuicliine would be the one will continue to ^row even ijreater. tliat would survive; and those who found out Extent of Plant. too late, or who lacked the capital or courage to adopt the new invention, would be down Tlif ))l Its Future Is Assured. hand-blown bottles will be made here for a long time. their .30 of in Strea- During years operation Executive Staff of the tor the bottle factories have been the sure re- Company. liance of the town. Panics came and went, but The American Buttle Company was formed the pay roll of the bottle works went on, giv- by the consolidation in 1906 of the Streator certain eastern ing a steady supi)ort to the business interests P.ottle & Glass Companv with at of the city. When the revolution in the manu- interests, and was capitalized $10,000,000. facture of bottles threatened to destroy tiie in- Mr. M. W. Jack, of the Streator Company, v\as p]. II. had dustry in its old form, it was fortunate for made president, and Mr. Everett, who Streator that its factories were in the hands of boen identified with the bottle industry for .'30 in t'le a company strong enough and enteri>risinir years, and who was the leading spirit and enough to jn-otect its plants. In the natural eastern factories, became General Manager course of events it was inevitable that machin- Chainnan of the Executive Board. ery should be introduced, and the concern that :'lr. L. S. Stoehr, also a reprf seutativo of the 12 THE STORY OK STREATOR. eastern interests, became vice president and No review of tlie Streator staff would be assistant general manager. He was succeeded comi^lete that did not mention the name of the as vice president later bj' Mr. H. CI. Phillips, late Joliu C. Evans, tiie aggressive and forceful who was promoted from the position of audi- superintendent of the factories. Mr. Evans en- tor. Mr. Stoelir retains tlie jiositiou of director. tered the service of the comjiany at its begin- ning as a carrier boy and worked liis way up Promotion Policy of Company. until in 1893 he was appointed superintendent, of the Streator branch of the The character whicli position he filled for eighteen years, un- company may be judged by the kind and qual- til liis recent deatJi. ity of men it lias promoted to higli positions. He was succeeded as sui)erintendent by W. Not one of the men now holding its positions H. Jennings, also a graduate of the comjiany's of and but has been responsibility authority own training. He entered its employ as a it for and been advanced with many years, clerk in 1889, and has been with tlie comiuiny from a subordinate in the ranks. place for 22 years, during the latter i)eriod having A conspicuous example is ^Ir. W. J. Crane, full charge of the office. Mi'. p]vans' untimelv Secretary of the company, with headquarters end left the operating force like an amiy at Chicago. Mr. Crane is a Streator boy, who whose general had been shot down in battle, went into the local office many years ago as ^fr. Jennings liecame superintendent, and bookkeeper. He made himself a master of the though the situation was made very critical by financial side of the business, and by devoted new methods and processes, his command of the attention to the interests of the company be- situation was so complete that the great or- came so invaluable tlmt he was made its secre- ganization moved as smoothly and even more tary. His present high office was a natural efficiently than before. His long training with sequel when the consolidation took place. the company and his own abilities gave him Ml". Frank A. Waters is another Streator thorough masteiy of a difficidt situation and boy who entered the local office as bookeeper. enabled him to gras]) the oi)portunity when it He too "made good," and his cpialities were arose. recognized by making him Assistant Treasurer Mt. Jennings is ably supported by his as- of the American Bottle Company when the sistant, Mr. Geo. E. Sopher, Assistant Superin- change was made. tendent of tlie Companj". Mr. Sopher is an- Tin; sioia otlier cxaiiipk' of tlie prevailiug system, hav- making. risen of service from a lower ing!; throiifj:li years The success of an industry is tiie success of to a liifjluM- jiositioii. its leading sjiirits. This is tnie in a special Personal Factors in Success. and uuitpie way of the bottle company, and the writer has felt that the of this Ill ('iiiiiiicratiMy tlu' iiiTsoiial factors wliicli stoiy corpora- tion's .success could in no be so interest- have contrilmlcil to the comjtany's success the way name of W. F. diodes calls for recoij-iiition. Mr. ingly and adequately told as by a review of the men who its success Modes was su|icrint('iident from ISS."! to l THATCHER MANUFACTURING COMPANY Ycningest among Streator's glass factories is Jieing the most recent of the factories to l)e the j)lant of the Thatcher Manufacturing Com- erected it is also among the most modern in its Fnlike its jiany. neighboring glass plants it strueture and ei|uipiiieiit. Every principle of is not the jiroduct of Streator initiative and the most up-to-date factory construction has enterprise. It i~ the Western branch of a com- been taken advantage of and all waste hand pany already established in the east. The lalior and lost motion has been eliminated as View of Thatchci Milk Bottle Plant. Streator branch has had a vigorous growth, far as jiossible by tiie ai)i)lication of modern liowevei", and now equals in size its parent scientific processes. From the time the raw plant. It was l)nilt in l!tOO as a one-furnace materials enter the factory until the finished factory and the capacity was doubled in ]!M1, product is delivered in the warehouse it is car- when another furnace was added. ried along its journey by automatic machinery 14 THE STORY OP STBEATOR. of and scarct-ly toucliecl by haud at auy point. more importance daily as cities are requir- The materials for the making of glass are re- ing by ordinance that milk jars must confoi-m ceived on their entrance to the factory by a to certain standards of size with a very small power shovel. They are carried to their bins margin of variation. the batch is mixed and the by conveyors, pro- Captured the Market. of sand, soda-ash, lime and uiti-ate of portion With soda is accurately weighed by automatic pro- these advantages it is natural that the Thatcher cess. It is conveyed to the furnace and melt- milk bottle captux*ed the market. The Streator now the ed by producer gas, and the liquid glass is product supplies greater sucked up by the vacuum pumj? attached to the share of the Chicago trade, and its market Owens' machine, and that wonderful machine goes east as far as Ohio, west to the Pacific converts the molten mass into a finished and coast, and north into Canada. The south is for the milk perfect glass p.r. Without l^eing touched by just opening up jar trade and when it it hand the red hot jar is carried to the lehrs, develops will cause another expan- sion of tlie industrv. where it is annealed, and from there conveyed by automatic carrier to the warehouse. Had George Eliot seen this marvel of automatism she would have realized that her dream of a mechanical age in "Theophratus Sucli" had arrived. Superiority of Machine Product. The Thatcher Manufacturing Company be- gan its career in New York state as a manu- facturer of butter color and cheese color and later became interested in the making of the milk jar caps known as the Common Sense Cap. Tills led it in the direction of the milk jar business, and it later became the greatest jobber of jars in the country. Witli the in- vention of the Owens' machine bottle blower it became apparent that the making of glass jars was about to be revolutionized, and that who- ever obtained control of the invention would command the business. Already in command of a large proportion of the jobbing trade the Thatcher ^Manufacturing Company now felt impelled to engage in manufacturing, and in 1906 built their first furnace in Kane, Pennsyl- vania, and equipped it with the Owens' ma- chine. Soon it became necessary to add an- other furnace, and now plans are being drawn for a third. Meantime two furnaces have E. J. Pittman, Asst. Supt. been built in Streator, and the comi3any has a capacity of 180,000 gross of jars per annum. The officers are F. E. Baldwin, president; What is the reason for this remarkable E. W. Niver, general superintendent; and E. success? J. Pittman, assistant superintendent in charge In a word, it is due to the superiority of of the Streator factor)'. Mr. Pittman is an the machine product over that j^rodueed by the example of the t.ypical American boy of today old methods. Under the old system it was who by thorough technological training fit- foimd impossible to make jars of uniform ted himself early to take charge of an impor- strength, thickness and capacity. Always there tant factory. At the age of twenty-seven he is was some spot thinner than another, and hu- superintending with success the operations of man hand and eye found it difficult to make a complicated industry and the labors of a two jars of exactly the same capacity'. These hundred men. difficulties are all overcome by the machine Born in SjTacuse, N. Y., in 1885, he had the jar, which makes each jar exactly alike and usual common school training, finished in El- equally perfect. This uniformity is growing mira High School and Cazanovia Seminary, in Till-: STf>I5Y OP STREATOK. then took a course in the Ij. C. Smith School man replied: "The company had in fact chosen of Applied Sciences, Syracuse University, and another location, hut heiug waited on by a took degree of E. K. Was draftsman for an committee of Streator citizens, who presented of the was organ factory, tiien joined tlie forces of the the advantages Streator, change Thatcher Manufacturing ('oiiipany, and cam(> made. There was no bonus. The suiiei'ior rail- to Streator for that company in 1!H)9. In Au- road advantages, the local coal supply, and the gust 1911 was married to Miss K. Louise Shep- ])roximity to abundance of good sand were the ard, Montour Falls, N. Y. main considerations. It was a fortunate selec- Asked why liis company had located in tion, and we are well satisfied here." Streator rather tlian some other town Mr. Pitt- THE WESTERN GLASS COMPANY The "Western (iiass Company was organized in 1S1H> and is engaged in the manufacture of wire and rolletl idate glass, largely used for fire retarding purposes. At tiie present time the factorj' has an out- put of three million 'itiuare feet of rolled plate glass annually. It covers four acres of ground and employs about one hundred men. The active heads of the ctimpany are C. K. liyon. Secretary and Treasurer, and ClcMuent .lungers, Suiierintendent. Mr. AV. J. Williams is president. i 16 THE STORV OF STREATOK. known as should be architects spend their money on it, to my mind, with more they by and freedom than on anything else. Cities are builders, for some of the best structures recent- growing taller and bigger all over the country, ly erected show an absence of elementary and they are going to burn to a standstill be- knowledge of fire-retarding' construction—es- fore tliey get thi-ough. Fires will compel pecially in the matter of wired glass. Happily, something to be done and something radical, however, the knowledge is spreading and the sooner or later—if not in our day, then in our success of the industry is assured by the awak- successors' day. I am becoming convinced ening conscience of builders all over the land. of that wire glass is the most feasible thing to ];ire- For the product the Western Glass ("ompauy sent to the public, regardless of the expense— has found a. high place in the estimation of and I am going to work for it." conscientious architects and constnu-tors ev- It is seldom that we recognize the forces of erywhere; it has passed siTCcessfnlly the most pi'ogress that come nearest us, and tlie forego- rigorous underwriters' laboratory tests; and it ing facts are given to show how closely the has stood the more practical demonstration interests of this industry are allied with one of of actual trial by fire. In all it has emerged the most important refonns now going on in victorious, and won a iilace for the Streator this country. Even in the veiy home of wired product at the very head of the wired glass glass it is doubtful if its values are as well trade of America. Main street, west from Sterling street. THE STORY OF STRKATOH. 17 PRONOUNCED ABSOLUTELY UNEQUALED FOR THE MAKING OF BRICK AND ALL SHALE PRODUCTS. More than in any otlii-r one industry the made accessible for strii)ping for considerable fnlnrc—of Streator is lioiiiul n\t in tlie sinj^le distances along these streams. It is estimated wold shale. Sliale is to Streator what ^old that a factory making 100.000 brick daily will is to tlie Yukon, or silver is to Butte. It lies consume about one acre of shale in a year. At piled up in unmea.sured millions of tons alouf^ this rate it will be seen that these shale beds the streams and water-courses awaitinj? only will last hundreds of years, and are practically the cajiital and the enterprise to devehip it. inexhaustii)Ie. During the brief jjeriod of its develo]jnient The covering over tlie shale is of workable large profits have been made, and firreat for- thickness and is removed by hydraulic process, tunes lie looked in the sliale beds ready for by steam shovel, or by hand. The valleys the hand that shall open them. More certain created by the streams, which out through the than fjold fields, niore stalile than oil wells, shale beds, furnish a convenient place for less precarious than coal mines, the .shale in- dumping the dirt at a minimum of cost. After dustry offers an investment as durable as the the covering is stripped the shale itself is eas- use of lirick. and as certain of profit as the ily dug and loaded into cars rea is has iun'. It has withstood tlie most severe seieu- oped prospects the potter's clay which been discovered in three and tific tests, rattler, absorption and hreakinp: great (jiiantities strain, and its acceptance in cities lilve Chi- a half miles from the city. Elaborate tests cago, St. Lonis, Kansas City, attests its super- were made by the Streator Improvement As- ior quality. Streator brick have been shipped sociation and it was found superior in every to Winniitet;-, Toronto and Uuluth on the test. It burns naturally a bright cherry red, north, to X'icksliurg, New Orleans and Panama and will take any kind of glaze. The exjiert on the south, and to Kansas City and Omaha tester tried it with pink, blue, green and other on the west. colors, and found every one to stand well. It was tested by the Laclede Chi-isty Clay "Shale Absolutely Unequaled." Co., l)y the ceramic department at the state Supt. Whiting, of the Streator Paving university and at the i^ottery at Macomb, 111., Brick Company, on being asked for an cpinion and was found of fine quality, rich in kaolin, said: "You can say Streator shale has got all and fit for any of the uses to which potters' other shales in the world beat. There are no clay is ])ut. At ]Momence it was tested as a better paving brick made on earth than ave foundation for enameled brick and found sat- made here, and for number and variety of uses isfactory. The clay is found in a bed ten to wi:)ich it can be put Streator shale is abso- feet thick, covered by four feet of coal; it is in access. lutely une(]ualed. For building brick, you abundant (piantity and easy of can get any shade of color desired—rod, me- A seam of low grade fire clay is found be- dium, chocolate or black, and as fine a surface neath the lower vein of coal, suitable for fire- like. is as was ever jiut on a face brick." })roofiug, sewer pipe and the It mixed M'ith shale and used by the Streator Clay Potter's and Fire Clay Clay. ^Manufacturing Comjiany in the making of One of the most promising of the undevel- sewer i^ipe. THE BARR CLAY COMPANY The most important representative of the equipment in the west. It uses the waste heat shale industry in Streator is the Barr Clay system in drying, and burns its brick under re- Company. Its ])lant is situated on the Vermil- ducing conditions. It operates its machinery lion Kiver about one mile south of the city. The by electric jjower, using a dynamo of 300 horse plant was established in 1893, and the first power, with which it runs its pumps, hoists, brick were made in 189-1. It began with a ca- ]mg mill and its big brick machines, which are pacity of 50,000 brick daily, which has increas- among the biggest and strongest nuide. The ed until today it has a ca])acity of '200,000 covering is stripi)ed off its shale beik by hy- brick daily. It owns 150 acres of good shale draulic process, and by steam shovel. The and full is land, emplovs" when running capacitv, shale itself dug and loaded by a large 85-ton 300 to 325 men. Bucyrus shovel. The of its business is the best evi- growth The company is capitalized at $000,000. Mr. dence of the of its the quality product. During C. C. Barr is president and principal stock- eighteen years of its existence its brick has holder. won its way into the best markets in the west, Brick for Roads. and have passed the most severe tests. Great Paving- Country municipalities like Chicago and St. Louis have The product of the comi)any is mainly used set the seal of their approval on the Barr for paving purposes and is marketed in the brick. In the cnicial absoii^tion and rattler west and northwest. The fact that Mr. Barr tests they have emerged victorious, in the latter recently doubled his plant is evidence that he sometimes passing as high as eleven per cent is an optimist on the future of brick paving. when the standard was twenty per cent. He sees the cities and villages of the middle About two years ago the capacity of the Avest as inevitably bound to pave all of their plant was doubled and the factory is now streets sooner or later with vitrified brick, the among the most modern and up-to-date in its most durable, the most practical, the most THI-: STORY OF STHKATOlt. 19 economical material tor tlie purpose. Not only the farm is j^oin;;- to make a demand for vitri- that, bnt he sees the einerf^ence of the eountrj- fied brick ])avin,ij:, which is Koing to grid-iron road from its jonjj burial in the mud and the this country from one end to the other and awakeninj^ of the farmers from their Ion.;;' make it as easy to travel and haul loads as it is Ietlu;rii:v. The eominu: "I' the aiitdiiinhilo onto in Kurope. A view of a Hrl(k-Paveil Road V. itii Dirt Road Along Side of It. Three Hundred Miles of Brick Roads. had exjierience in the construction of several hundred mile-; of ])avenient of dilTerent tyi>es, The world is awakening to a realization of 1 found that the ideal pavement for country the for better ro.ids. The necessity c(nintry roads was brick. average countrv road i THE STREATOR CLAY MANUFACTURING COMPANY The work of this company illustrates the mined 2:M\ feet below tlie surface. It special- izes in double sewer for munici- variety as well as the extent of Streator's clay strength pii)e also makes fire flue resources. Its product is made of fire clay pal contracts; clay lining, 20 THE STORY OF STREATOR. and a vitrified wall coping wliich has a dark, superintendent. rich color, which is largely used in Chicago. The Streator Clay Manufacturing Company The product finds a ready market in Illinois, was organized by James L. Daugherty and his Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas, associates in 1892. Tliey came from Ohio, and without intcr- so that the i;)lant has been run after thoroughly examining every other avail- niption to its full capacity since the inception able location, decided to plant their factory in of the laresent management. It has just obtain- Streator. They operated it with success for ed the contract to furnish the city of Minne- sixteen years, when they sold the prn^ierty to apolis with sewer pipe for the current year. Mr. E. H. Green and his associates. The latter The Streator sewer pipe is prized for its were among the largest sewer conti'actors in great strength and high quality. In many com- the west, having been awarded such contracts petitive tests it has scored heavily against its as the reconstruction of the La Salle street tun- rivals by showing the lowest percentage of ab- nel under tlie Chicago river, wliieh they suc- sor|3tion of any of the pipe tested. The drain cessfully completed. Their attention was at- The Streator Clay Co.'s Plant. tile made by this company is made of the same traeted to the superior quality of the Streator material as the sewer pipe, and therefore much product, and so imjiressed were they by the superior to the tile made of other materials. It advantages possessed that they bought the is made only in large sizes. The tiue lining is factory. of fire it a value not to also clay, which gives Just one year after they had become its be in the sort. found more common owners the factory burned down. ^A'ith char- The plant of the company is located about acteristic vigor they went at the work of re- a mile south of the city, and covers about fif- building, and within six months from the time teen acres. It employs about 165 men. and the of the fire they had the factory relniilt and output for the last year was 2,000 cars of ware. running with double its former capacity. The The value of the investment in Streator is kiln capacity was also doubled and they now $300,000. The executive staff consists of E. H. have an output of 2,000 cars of ware per year, Green, president and general manager; G. E. and a demand for it all that keeps the factory Connolly, assistant manager, and James Park, in continuous oi^eration. THK STOHV OF STHi: ATftR. 21 THE STREATOR PAVING BRICK COMPANY Tilt' Strcator Pavinj.' Brick Company was finest aiiartmeiit buildings in the city, with sun formed by tlie consolid.tion of the Streator ]iarlors, jirivate ball rooms, and many novel Tile Works, tlu' Kim^lc ( 'l;iy ("om])aii>" aiul tlie features. The jjrivate residence of Mr. Joy Strcator l>rick Works. 'I'licse \vei>' the i)ioiieer Morton on the Lake Shore Drive is built of brick works of the town, the oldest of them be- these brick, as are many other of the best ing organized in 1881. Tlie men who were the homes in Chicago. in tliese factories re- leading spirits jjioiieer The special features for which these brick main with the jirosent organization, and give are noted are their fine colors and shades, to it a of over brick-making cxiicrirnfc thirty ranging from the lighter reds to the deep years in Streator. browns, chocolates and even blacks; the artis- The present factory was rebuilt and en- tic use of whicli give warm and agreeable larged in liMl-liMJ, and is sjilendidly housed blendings of color wiiich are much sought after and equijiijed, with the best known api)liances by modem architects and builders. These spe- for economic production. Althongh originally cial color effects have given a wide demand for designed for the nianulacture of paving l)rick, these brick, and they have been shijiped as far the demand for its pnxhict for building jnir- east as Washinnton, I). ('.. and as far west as jtoses grew so great that the larger share of it.=; Holdredge. Nebraska. On the north they have output is now used as face brick for fire build- been sold in Winni]>eg, Canada, and on the ings in Chicago and the north-west. south in \'icksburg, ^liss. Of course they have been used at home, and such fine Among the striking; structures in which the largely j>ub- lic buildings as the (irant school, the New Elks' lirick of this comiiany are used are the front of the St. the new Cort Theatre. Chicago; the wholesale building, Postollice. Anthony's church, the Christian church, the (ierman Evangelical •grocery waiehouse buililiug of W. M. Iloyt church iire faced with them. Company; the ollice l)uilding of (iinn & Co., the fine Streator residences jirinters; the Koidsatt bakery building; on Wa- Among using the rare color effects of these brick for bash Avenue; and llie l)uil(ling of the Rogers facing are the new Dr. the new subur- ^: ll.ill. printers. These are of fine architec- Dorsey home, residence of F. the new A. tural i)roporlions and ilhistrate the new u.se of ban Plumb, Ander- colored shale brick in the finer forms of build- .son house, and many others. ing in Cliicago. The product of this company The officers of the Streator Paving Brick is also in demand for the liner sort of residence Comjiany are V. Phunb. i)resident; E. F. Plumb, au STREATOR'S COAL MINES SECOND INDUSTRY OF CITY IN POINT OF MAGNITUDE. Coal mining was for many years the domi- company is now operating its most important nant industry of Streator, and only within the mine in that seam. past decade has it been obliged to take second The third vein lias the advantage of being place by reason of the great extension of the practically inexhaustible. It is estimated that glass business. There are two workable seams there is not less than 20,000 acres of workable of coal in Streator, known popularly as the third vein coal in and about Streator. It is to]i vein and the third vein, and geologically worked on the "long wall" plan, and the pay designated as No. 7 and No. 2 respectively. The roll of the mine now operating indicates that top vein is from tive to six feet in thickness. the earning power of the miners is greater than It is remarkably rich in carbon and greatly in the thicker seam. The quality of the coal is .sought for as a steam coal. The mining of this demonstrated by one of its chief users, the C, seam was the main industrial support of the B. & Q. R. R., whose fuel inspector has just town for the tirst twenty years of its existence, stated that it is "the best engine coal they have but the field is limited in area, and although ever had from Northern Illinois." there is jtlenty to su]ii)ly local demands for President T. A. Lennon, of the C. W. & V. man}' years to come, its use as a ship]nng coal Coal Comjjany, which has been ojjerating the will be less extensive in the future. There are lower vein mine for a number of years, says: a number of locations for mines in this seam "We have 5,000 acres of that coal in and about remaining, and the C. W. & V. Coal Company Streator, and we mean to take out every acre is just now pi-ospecting one of 320 acres. of it." This guai-antees that Streator will be The pre-eminence of the top vein hindered an important coal producing point for many the development of the lower vein for many decades. years, although it had been the main slapie in At the present time there are fourteen coal production in the other mining district:; in mines in operation, wliicli give emiiloyment to Northern Illinois. But now, with the dimin- about 1,000 men, the principal producers being isliing ]iroduction in the upper vein, recorrse the Chicago, Wilmington & Vermillion and the is being had to the lower, and the leading coal Acme Coal Comjianies. CHICAGO, WILMINGTON & VERMILLION COAL COMPANY The ^'ermillion Coal ('om])auy was the pio- which later came to be known as the "Old neer in the mining industry in Streator. It Slope." o))eued here the tirst shipping mines, and was In 1872 the Vennillion Coal Company was instrumental in promoting the first lines of consolidated with other coal interests, and has railroad to carry its coal to the market. Col. been known since as the Chicago, Wilmington Hal|)h Plumb, revered as the founder and bene- & Vermillion Coal Company. In those days factor of the town, was the first general man- Streator was distinctively a mining camp, the ager, and its early development was conducted superintendent and foremen of the mines were under his direction. Its first opening was a the leading citizens, and the coal company was drift in the side of the bluff, near tlu; Vermil- influential in shaping the destiny of the town. lion River, on a site now covered by the West It may be jmt down to its credit that it used its F'actory of the American Bottle Company, influence wisely and justly, and that the city has THI-: STOHV Ol' STIJKATOi:, 23 little to rcsiTct and iinicli tt» he uratofiil for to Tlie presiding t^enius in the affairs of the C. till' wliicli sncli a corporation wielded jirepon- W. (Jc \'. Coal Company during these years was derant influence in its early days. Mr. A. L. Sweet, whcse years and experience nuike him the nestor the coal nuMi of Il- Fair Treatment of Employees. amony linois. His ri.nht hand man was Mr. T. A. Especially is it iiidei)tei| t the for company Lemmon, who has since been ))romoted to the its fair and considerate trci^tment of its em- jiresidency, while Mr. Sweet has become ehair- ployes at a time when such as the orjifanizations num of the board. Durinsj the same years the Tnited Mine Workers were unformed, and man resjionsibJe for local conditions was Supt. there was no weapon of defense for the miner W. S. Cherry, and it was to his strong- char- except the individnal strike. It maintained a acter and fine ])ersonality that the success, of consistent of liiich for Stii'ati>r coal policy jn-ices the company in Streator is due. The present and fi;ood wajjes for its men, and it resulted in superintendent is Mr. C. A. Herbert. .ii:ivinfj its collieries a reputation for <;:ood work, Present and Promise. jrood jiay, fr<»od treatment, that drew to Strea- Output toi' the liest class of miners to l)e found in the At the present time the C. W. & \'. Coal (•owntry. It attracted also intelli.i^eiit miners Company is ojterating two mines in Streator, from (treat Hritian, and these men and their one in the upjter and one in the lower vein. desceiidenls have iriven to Streator the steady, They are miuiny; altout 1200 tons i)or day, intelliiicnt, con.servative workinirinan. which which they expect to increase as the lU'W mine has lieen the solid suh-tructure of its citizenr>'. develops. They still own about ."),0(ll) acres of 'IMiis policy of the "s(|uare deal" proved as upper vein coal in Streator. which President profital)le to the company as to tiie workmen Lemmon .says will all be mined. They are min- and the town. The coal liusiness prospered, foi- ing it now at the rate of fifty acres jter year, twenty yeais the ('. W. iV: \'. Co. sent a monthly and if this rate is not increased it can be read- pay roll of $.")(>.(tO(» circnlatini; throujjh the ily seen its acreage will last a hundred years. iinancial arteries of the town, the miners built The company also operates a large mine at their homes, figured on school hoards and town Thayer, III., and is about to open one of the cmincils and Itccame its respectetl citizens. For lari^est mines in the state at Orient, in I-'rank- a period of twelve years there was not a strike liii County. There it has purchased (l.ddO acres or labor trouble. Two ea.sualties interrupted of coal eleven feet in thickness, on which it he even flow of events: (1^ Prairie Creek has sunk a shaft 'A A feet deep. e(|ni))ped with broke through into Xo. 1 shaft and had to be the most approved modern mining macliinery. diverted into a new cliannel at a ureat expense; Its Streator superintendent, Mr. C. A. Herbert, and (J) the explosion of a powder nKi;::azine has been appointe THE ACME COAL COMPANY ( )ne of the important mining coriioratious toi- at an cai-l\' day. They worked in the mines of Streator is The Acme ('oal Comjiany. It and with their own hands dug the foundations has been o])erating extensively in the toji. or of their future com))etencies. After years of No. 7 seam, for the past twenty years, and has industry and thrift they wejit into business on been a jjromineiit factor, especially in the local their own account, and after trying ditTerent f!'ade. Its mine is situated at flie edge of the enteiprises united their fortunes in the mine city limits, and it has been fa\(iial»ly situated now known as the "Acme." to sui)ply the demand of local factories and In 1808 the partnership was changed to a residences. cor])oration known as "The Acme Coal Com- The mine was ojiened originally in 1802 by pany," with .lames ('ondi'cn as ]'resident. K'obert I-'airbaii'n, Si-, and l-Mward .\tkinson. Robert Fairbairn. vice pi-esident, and Fdward IJotii partners were re])resentative of the best Atkinson as suiierintendent. During tlie twenty type of English miners who migrated to Strea- years that followed the company prospered, the 24 THE STORY OF STREATOR. mine outgrew the original idea of its founders, was sorted into three sizes, lump, nut and railroad connections with the Santa Fe and washed screenings. Tlie washed coals found Chicago & Alton were established, and it be- a ready market and became favorites in the came an important shipping mine. In that trade. The market of the Acme product has time about 400 acres, or approximately 2,800,- been the territorj- between Streator and Chi- 000 tons of coal have been mined by the cago, and, largely, the local factories, which company. consume a large amount of fuel. The Santa In the evolution of the coal trade the pre- Fe railroad, also, has been a large bnyor of paration of the product for the market has Acme coal. come to be a prime necessity. While in the AVhen the original founder, Eobei t Fair- The Acme Coal Company Plant. early days the trade would accejjt anything baiin, Sr., of the Acme, retired from active tliat looked black, it has steadily grown more business, the management passed into tlie com- critical and now demands the most careful petent hands of his sons, Thomas and Robert cleaning, sorting and sizing of the product. J. Fairbairn, the former being president, and The Acme Coal Company lias been one of the the latter being secretary and treasurer of the pioneers in the special preparation of its pro- company'. They have another mine at Fair- duct. It early established a coal washing view, 111., and have some other coal interests plant, in which its product was subjected to a of great magnitude in which they are about to thorough treatment by which the impurities engage. were washed away from the coal. The product THK STOin OK STHK.VTOH. 25 THE ILLINOIS SELLING COMPANY Strealor is situated in tiic iiieat (urn Jk'lt, crop of oats will yield live to eight bushel to ill the heart of one of the most fertile agricul- the acre more after a crop of sweet corn than tural regions in the world. It is to this fact after the ordinary variety. Farmers also find it tliat it owes its selection by the Illinois Selling advantageous because the time of picking sweet ( 'oinjtany as the location for its canning factory. corn comes in the lull that usually comes be- Last year tlicy jjacked L',.")0(),0(l() cans of corn, tween thrashing and corn husking. and exi)ect to increase the cajjacity of the plant The i)rocess used in the factory is the latest this year. The factory operates only in the and most approved. It is husked by hand, after Slimmer time during the ripening of the crop, which the process is all mechanical. The silk lint it gives employment to between 400 and is removed and the corn is cut by machinery. 500 people during this time, many of whom After this it goes to the mixer, where it is fla- would not otherwise be employed. vored with .sugar iind salt, and heated to a tern The factors- is of great benefit to the farm- perature of 185 degrees. From here it goes into ers of the vicinity, to whom it I'nrnishes a wel- the cans, which are automatically capjied and come variation of crop at a good price. Last soldered, the corn never ln-ing touched the year it contracted for the product of 1,500 while by human hands. The solderim-- machine acres of land, and <'X]iects to e.xtend its con- has a capacity of over a can a second. From here the corn goes to great retorts, each capable of cooking one thousand cans at a time, and P J tliei-e sterilized at 250 degrees of heat for 80 niimites. Then the c;ins are cooled and i-eady lor storage or shijiment. Their advertised brand is "Sweetheart," which is lire-eminent for flavor and quality, and I'egai-ded as the iinest sweet corn on the mar- tracts during the coming year. Tiie company ket. It is of the "Country (ieiitleman" variety, furnishes its own seed to the farmers an THE CRAWFORD LOCOMOTIVE AND CAR COMPANY Streator's most important acqui^^ition in re- and rebuilt 5,000 cars. Its specialty is rebuild- cent years is tlie factory of the Crawford Loco- ing and re-enforcing freight cars, providing motive and Car ComiJany. Tliis factory has steel uuderframes, and wooden bodies. It has two employed in "rush" times as liigh as 1,000 men; lately, however, constructed experimental and it has a magnificent modern plant nearly steel passenger cars under plans and specifica- covering its tract of thirty acres with build- tions fi'om tlae Santa Fe railroad, which are be- ings, tracks and material yards. It came to ing operated successfully. is with the best mod- Htreator in li)Ot), and the most remarkable thing The factory supplied about its coming is that it came without one ern up-to-date ecjui})ment in the way of ma- is unsur- lienny of bonus of any sort, either in cash or chinery and tools. Its power plant land. passed". It uses power in four forms—steam, mas'^ive The story as told by Mr. Crawford, its foun- electricity, air and hydraulic. A 1,000 der, is that he had been visiting Galesburg, horse power Ball compound engine furnishes Panoramic View of the Crawtovd where he was being offered a site and a bonus, the driving force, which is converted into cur- and on his return stopped off at Streator with rent by a Western Electric generator, and into an acquaintance who had some business here. compressed air by Bury Compressors. A water While in tlie city he met Messrs. Keeves and purifier purifies the water before it enters the Ryon, President and Secretary of the Improve- great battery of boilers. )nent Association, who drove him over the town In the factory the various forms of power and explained to him its advantages. He was are used to ran mechanical devices and labor- so impressed with its location as a railroad cen- saving tools of all kinds. Steam is carried in tre that he decided to establish his factory here. pipes to ran the steam and trip hammers; com- Building began at once. Mr. Crawford had pressed air conducted to run the ]meumatic a contract from the Santa Fe for repairing a tools; electricity to ran motors for driving ma- large number of cars, and with this as a foun- chinery, and the great wheel press with a ca- dation he was able to command the capital ne- pacity of 300 tons pressure is ran by hydi'aulic cessary to erect his plant. The factory was first power. There are lathes, borers, riveters, built with a capacity of handling ten cars a ])unches in profusion, one punch being power- day, then increased to sixteen cars per day, and ful enough to punch a two and a half inch hole then to twenty-five per day, which is its pres- through a plate of steel three-quarters of an ent capacity. During the past five years it has inch thick. The factory is the only one in built the steel underframes for 8,000 cars, Streator that owns is own switch engine. It THi; STOItV OK STHKATOn. also has its own locomotive crane, wliicli is a cago. A yard system in Chicago is so compli- locomotive witii a crane attached. cated and trallic so congested that it takes a The main huikling is 800 feet long by 128 long time to get a 'bad order' car through, feet wifle. The i)ower plant is sei)arately while we have free and unobstnicted access to housed, and tliere are other huildinii's for stor- i)ractically every road in the west and can get age, sho])s. ollices, etc., so that tlicre are alxtiit i|uick action on the work. Then Strcator is a ten acres under roof. In the near future will be lii-eat transfer point; also a mining centre, built another big building esi)ecia]ly eiiuip])ed which causes a great number of coal cars to be for the mainifacture of steel cars. This build- >ent liere. I am well satisfied with our loca- ing will lie fiiMi feet lonu: by 80 feet wide. One tion. We can do repair work here in competi- of the sjiecial features of its e(|uipment will be tion with any factory between Buffalo and a steel traveling crane powerful enough to jtick Kansas City; and on new car work we can com- up a steel car and move it to any part of the l)ete successfullv with anv factory in the United building. States." The most of the business of the companv President E. P. Kipley, of the Santa Fe sys- has iiitherto come from the Santa Fe railroad, tem, s))eaking to officials of the Streator Com- but it is equijiped to Locoraotlve and l"ar Co. Plain. it has been ab- At ])resent it is working on a laruc contract comotive and Car Company, and from tlie Deti-oit, Toledo and Ironton ]\ailway solutely satisfactory in every ])articular. The Co. Tins is the third <'ontrai-t from that com iiicclianical work has been of tiie liighest grade, l)any, although its head(|uarters are at Detroit, the service has been prompt and satisfactoiy, car in where there are large sliojis ojieration; and the price— well, the price has been chea]>er steel center al.so working on a large order of than we could THE HOBAN MANUFACTURING COMPANY The one institution in Streator devoted to and he he could a young girls ; says get hundred the work of women is the factory of the Hoban more by raising his finger if he had the room ^Manufacturing Company. In many ways it for them. Seldom does any one leave his em- represents the spirit of the new age. It illus- ployment except to get married. trates the world-wide movement of the passing There is a reason: He gives them a large, of women from domestic service into the fac- airy, well-heated and well ventilated facton- to The Hoban Factory. tory, and brings home to Streator the "girl work in. The hours of labor are nine per day, question" in a real and practical form. For and the employes are paid better than in most most of the girls of Streator would rather work any other kind of factory labor for women. in Mr. Hoban 's factory than in any kitchen in The average earnings are about $6.50 a week. the town. He now employs 125 women, most The factory was recently inspected by of thtm bright, intelligent, cheerful and healthy the state inspector, who reported it one of THK STOKV OK STRKATOH. 29 tlie hesl fiictorios lio had seen in the state. The Asked why he preferred to operate in Strea- fjirls take a half hour for lunch at and noon, tor rather than in Chicago, Mr. Hoban replied: hot coffee is them the • ' sniiplied by company at We have a better class of employes, and they ten cents a week. are steadier. There is not the temptation to What do make? Mr. Iloban they manufac- wander from factory to factory, hence not so tnrcs an adjnnct of nude known as the ajjparel much is lost in breaking in new girls. "Paris (Jartcr," wiiich is the most iiuished and Mr. John Hoban is a Streator product. He poindar device of its kind on the market. The was born here in 1878, grew up here, and after factory has a cajiacity of 10,000 pairs of gar- ters per day, and the entire ontjnit is taken by FflRlS .luhn iloban. one Cliicago liouse —the h(nise of A. Stein & Co.., wliicli owns tlic patent on tlie garter de vice. Tlie plant ccinipincnt consisls of one hun- dred Singer sewing ma Among the latest of the domestic inchistries cess. The cream is brought to the factory in to leave the household and enter the factory is five-gallon cans, where it is weighed and tested. the working- of milk and cream. Until about a It is then poured into a large \'at, where it is year ago the liousewives on the farms about heated to 180 degrees, a temjjerature liot Streator worked up the output of their cattle at enough to kill all germs. It is then cooled 1o home, or had to ship it to creameries at a dis- 60 degrees and churned in a large Perfection tance. Within the year a creamery has been churn, which has a capacity of 1,300 pounds at established in Streator. and at once demonstrat- each churning. It is a combined chum and ed its usefulness by furnisliing the farmers a worker and is able to turn out six churnings market for their cream. Twelve hundred cream per day. Nearly all the ])roduct is put up in Inside View of the Illinois Creamery Plant. producers from the adjoining county have one-ponnd Ijricks for the market. brought their product to the creamery. -100.000 The floors are all of cement, and all vessels pounds of butter have been made, and $120,000 or things used in the process are thoroughly has been paid out to farmers. cleaned and sterilized daily by washing, scald- The Illinois Valley Creamery Company has ing and steaming. established here a thoroughly e(iuipi)ed factory A large part of the product is consumed in with a capacity of 30,000 pounds of Imtter per Streator and neig]d)oring towns. It is estimated week. It is operated on the most up-to-date that $1,000 has been saved to the merch.ants of methods, and special regard is had to cleanli- Streator in express on butter alone since the has been ness and sanitation in every ])art of the pro- coming of tlie factory, while $2,000 THK STOItV OF STKi:.\TO|{. 31 saved to f;iniioi< from tlie same '^ouioe. A,a:en- I. a., Newark, X. J., Mein|iliis, Teiiii., McKees- cii's fur tlu' sale of Strcator Imtter are also es- |)ort, I'eiiu., H. liiveri>o()l, Oliio, as well as the talilislicd at N'ickslinrg, Miss., New Orleans, lari;-er towns in Illinois. Already a very stronij; trade has been worked up in the>;e distant mar- kets for this exeellent butter. The jiroprietor of this new Streator enter- prise is ^fr. A. Miller, an Illinois man, born in Tazewell County in 187S, .-.nd connected with the daily and creamery business for most of his workini;- life. He was connected with the lilue N'alley Creamery Co. for three years, jiart of the time in charge of the corresjiondenee and l>uying dejKirtments. In liMO he established a plant in Walseka, III., wliich proved very suc- cessful, and sold it in llHl to ^Fr. 11. ('. I'lnrne- man of the town. Asked why he located in Streator in liUl. he said: "I had several locations in view, but Streator looked l)etter to me than any of them owiiii;- to its advantageous situation and I'ail- road facilities. Further the merchants were of THE ALLIANCE MANUFACTURING COMPANY This company has been in business in Strea- all the adjuncts of a mail-order business. tor for twenty-one years. It has been mainly The business grew apace. The company engaged in the building, repairing and selling dropped its implement and jobbing business of Vehicles and farm implements. About twelve and went more and more into the making of years ago there camea development which di- vending wagons. Last year they sold one liun- rected its activities into a new specialty, and dred of these wagons, which went into nearly which greatly increased its production.. every state in the union. An odd feature of the Singularly enough the entire business ac- business illustrating our curious national traits tivity of the company was switched by a single was noticed. In the south all the trade demand customer. A man came in and wanted a wagon seemed to be for wagons constriicted to vend built for vending ice cream on the streets. He Chili-con-came; in the west nothing but ice made a great success of it, and then other ambi- cream wagons were wanted; while in the east tious ice ci'eam vendors came in and ordered the demand was all for lunch wagons—and this The Alliance Co. Ice Cream Vendor Wagon. vehicles, until eight were built for Streator. was due largely to hungrj^ immigrants at the But the local market for ice cream wagons different ports and stations who wanted cheap was glutted and the astute manager, Mr. Win- food. ninger, saw that he must look further afield, The wagons are splendidly "built and equip- for what could be done in Streator could be ped, and cost from $225 to $-100. The field is done in other towns. apparently unlimited, and there is practically He inaugurated a national advertising cam- no competition. The prospects for growth are paign, taking liberal spaces in the Saturday very promising. Last year the company made Evening Post, the theatrical journals, the 1,000 wagon beds, in addition to their other ve- magazines and other ex]iensive mediums. His hicles, and had a volume of business of entei-prise was rewarded, and inquiries for $100,000. vending wagons began to pour in from all parts The officers are Charles F. Wiuninger, ]iresi- of the country. He organized a regular adver- dent; Geo. A. Doermann, vice-iiresident and tising department, with a follow-up system, and treasurer; Frank Doermann, secretary. THK STOKV OF STRKATOH. 33 THE FRANK J. SCHMITZ COMPANY The most roceiit of Streator's factory acqui lina; of bananas became manifest, and turned sitions is tlio plant of Frank J. Scliniitz anfl the thouglits of Mr. Frank Schmitz, Sr., inven- Company, wliicli was nioveil here from Cliioauo tor, toward tlic invention of a suitable device six montlis ayo. Tlic fjictory is enijagod in a to safeguard the banana duriiiij: shi])ineiit. The lino of manufacture which is unique, namely, Schmitz bauaua crate is the result. Tiie original the makinj; of crates for the packing and ship- device was a success, but it has been improved jiinir of bananas. This enterprise is an illustra- again and again until it has now over thirty tion of liow new demands for sanitation and jiatents covering its various features, and is the healthfulness call into existence new forms of last word on the subject of crates. The writer in ment several hundred miles to the liome town ])ed all over tlie <-oiintry loosely ])acked in ha\ . and the Streator straw, or any other cheap material thirt might of its principal competitor, in that town at a cost of lu" available. The result was a lot of bruised l»roduct was ]mt down more than tiie of its and and damaged fruit, which was sold after arriv- $r_'() tigures rival, yet found a sale. ing at its destination any way the dealer could ready to Hchmitz banana crate is conceded all work it o(T, and the decayed refuse sold The by to commission men and to be absolutely chea)! buyers who woidd carry it perhajis packers for its Tt has no slum (piarters to spread genns and disease. iinei|ualled puriiose. competi- to rival it in The With the growth of sanitation and pure tor that pretends quality. only is and when service food soutimeut the demaud for a better hand- competitive point price, 34 THE STORY OF STREATOR. and durability are considered tlie question is know how long it is lasting. The wood comes eliminated, and the Streator erate is without a to the factory in planks and is cut uji into slats rival. The anil)ition oi Mv. Schmitz is not to and hoops by sjjccial nuichinery on the i)rem- find how cheap he can make his crate, but how ises. Tliesr are boiled and steamed, tied, nailed good. He has constantly added features im- and painted by an organized force in which the proving the quality of his outi)ut, ;intil he now division of labor is carried out in the most thor- has a crate that can l)e jiuaranteed to shiji ough manner. ])ananas distance without injury. any Last yeai- two hundred carhiads of crates Some of these features are ^•ery ingenious. Avere shijijjed by tlie conqiany. The indications Most is the inner cushion of sack im|)oi-tant are that this year double that amount will be cloth which the fruit from keeps absolutely free made. An idea of the business may be con- contact witli the outci- wooden framework of the veyed by citing the fact that this year the fac- tory will consume enough string to go twice around the world. The ])roduct goes all ovci' the North Ameri- can continent—to Calgai-y, Alberta, Winnijieg. Canada; Los Angeles, California; Portland, ]\Iaine; El Paso, Texas; La Crosse, Wis.; To- ledo, St. Louis, Chicago, in fact wherever there are commission men. Mr. Frank J. Schmitz, -head of the conq)any, is practically a Streator i)roduct. lie was born in Cornell, a country town eight miles from here, and came to Streator 25 years aii'o. From Streator he went to where he went Bacana Crate. Chicago, into the crate business when lb years of age, and has remained in it ever since. Asked why crate at any point. The same device is also a he removed his from to Strea- great labor saver, and enables a workman to factory Chicago tor, he re|)lied: pack five of the Schmitz crates while he is ])ack- ing one of the othei' sort. The cushion ]iermits 'Tlie main reason for choosing Streator a^ the goods to be shi]>i)ed any distance with ])er- my new location was its remarkalile railroad feet ]jrotection against bruise or jar. facilities. Of course there are plenty of rail- The wooden portion of the crate is made of roads in Chicago, but the yards are congested a peculiar quality of lumber treated by a pro- and a manufacturer cannot get the ])romi)t cess devised by Mr. Schmitz which makes it as service there he can in Streator. The lines run hard as a rock and almost as dura))le as steel. from here to every point of the compass, and Every crate made in the factory has the date of since coming I have found it greatly to my ad- mamifacture stamjjed on it so that users may vantage. I am sorrv I did not come before." THE STREATOR MOTOR CAR COMPANY Another of tlie large nuinufacturing con- was five cars. The business gri'w with anuiz- cerns initiated by Streator enterprise and ing rapidity, and the capital was increased a ]iromoted by Streator money and brains is the nund)er of times until it is now ^(iOO.OOO. In Streator jMotor Car C*om])any. It was organ- IJ'IO the aiitomobile business all over the coun- ized in 1905 by a small grou]) of Streator men try suffered a serious reaction, and the activity who saw in the expanding automobile industry of the Streator Motor Car Company, like the an op])ortunity to share in the benetits of that others, received a temjiorary check; but it is growtli, and to ])romote the interests of Streator now in full swing again, and the year lUl'I will in which they had a large stake. The enter- see a in'oduction of 1500 motor cars. prise was begun with a small capital—$30,000 The buildings of the cojniiany are built ac- —and the output of the first year's ojieration cording to the best fire-resisting methods of THK STOIIV or STKKATOK. 35 c'onstnictioii, iiiid i-over seven ami one half Los Aiiirejes. .Minneapolis, St. I>o\iis. ("hieas"(\ acres of space. Xearly two miles of switch Winnipeu:, Atlanta, .lai-ksonville. New York. tracks accommodate the iii-,u;oiii.t; and oiit-,i::oini;- The company lias ]'2'> a.irents and disti-ihntors. Irallic. While the llalladay ear, wliicli they 'I'he splendid reputation of the llalladay has manufactnre, i> made of assend)led parts, yet won for it reconnition in the hisrliest autoino tliey do their own iipholsteiiiii;. l)ody paintin.ii: iiile circles. It was .selected as press car in the and top Imildini^. and they ha\e a tlioro\iy:hl\' last (iliihU-n toiir. It was chosen pathfinder ecpiipped machine shop where the >niall part- and pilot for the run of the ( 'iiiea^io Motor ( "lab, are piocnred fioin old and well estahlished ;,lso for the little (iliilden tour of the north-west mannfaetnreiN whose .u:reat c.ipital ei|nipmenl from .Minneapolis to Montana, and for tlie tii"st Birds ICyi- Vitw ol .Motor Car I'liiiil. enahles them to specialize in their parts and iiP'at tour of .Vorlhwestern Canada. .\11 these tnrn tliem out more economically ami ellicient- honors came to tiie llalladay dnrinf*- the year ly than can he done by those who attempt to 1!>11. and sulliciently attest its standin^j: in the jiroducc ever>' pai't in one factory. car world. In the se\en years it has l)ien on the mar When working at full capacity the Streator ket the llalladay car has developed a sellini,' .Motor Car Company employs from IIO to 250 power ecpialed by few in its class. It has l)een employes. The ofTicials of the company are: sold all over the I'nited States and in Canada, J. C. Barlow, jiresident: Paul Cliul)buck. vice- and this yeai" a lari^e contract has been -iniied proident; C. .\rtliur Unice. secretary and for e.xport. Tlu' iarifei' di>trib\itin,y: point.- are treasun-r. 36 THE STORY OK STRKATOR. THE G. & D. MANUFACTURING COMPANY Nowliere lias progress been more wonderful ad\'antage of the Cup FJcxator is that it is in- during the past century than on the Ameriean side in the diy, and always ready for use. It farm. Not only have the methods been revo- runs with a chain. No belts to rot, or for rats lutionized but the calling itself has been trans- and mice to eat. Its cups are so arranged that formed so that the American farmer of today the grains fall into them from above and tiiere is not the peasant drudge of past centuries is no shelling of the grain, as is the case where Init skilled in the mechanics and science of the cup has to dip up the grain. When build- farming. The last ))lace to yield to the spirit ing new cribs it should be done with reference of improvement has been the farmer's barn. to using the Farmers' Friend Cup Flovator. for Long after the reapcn- replaced the scythe, and which ])lans will be sent free. the thresher the flail, the scoop shovel still They manufacture also the G. & D. self-oil- reigned in the barn and made the farmer's ing windmill, made with fewer parts than any back ache with the weary drudgery of shovel- other mill, and will run indefinitely without re- ing grain. oiling. They make the Phunb Motor Tile The main business of the (i. & 1). Conniany is Ditcher and many kinds of water tanks, water to make the shovel as mucli of a back number as heaters, litter carriers, marker-lifters, etc. Last year they made and shipped to all G. & D. Wind Mill. G. & D. Gialii Elevator. the scythe and flail, and to save lab(ri' in thi' ]iarN (il tile Fnitcd States and Caiia(hi (iDO ele- barn the same as in the field. To this end they ^ators and loi) wind mills. When nniiiing at are making elevators to run with horse oi- motor full capacity they give emiiloyment to (iO men. power. Their patents ran back to 1898, and The president of the company is Mr. F. II. they were the first in the field with a i)ortable Schroeder, and the manager is Mr. Frank elevator. Time has tested every point in the (falim. Mr. Gahm was born on a farm not far structure and every weakness has been elimi- from Streator, and worked on it until eigliteen. nated until the "Farmer's Friend" Flevator It was there he found the need of the labor- is the most durable and efficient on the market. saving devices he aften\'ards invented. He is More recently they have been s])ecializing the inventor of the elevators and wind mill in the Farmer's Friend Cu}) Flevator, whose made l)y the G. & D. Company, and many other cut appears herewith. It is ada])ted not only devices are the product of his inventive genius to the handling of grain, but can be arranged —notably the metal hame coupler ami bugg\' to handle hard or soft coal, slack, fertilizer, etc. top attachment first made by the Streator All these materials can he handled for about ?\letal Stamping Com])any, ami now in general 75 ])er cent less than with the scoop. The great use. THi: STOIJV OF STRKATOK. 37 RAILROADS OF STREATOR FIVE GREAT SYSTEMS WITH 45.000 MILES OF TRACKS, AND COVERING ENTIRE UNION. "Uiisuri)assetl" is tlic wonl tliat ilescribes development. In addition to the rate adjust- of 1 tilt' railroail siliiatimi in Strcatnr. In jxiint ment being favorable, would like to call your attention rate ad.justnu'nt, in rapiility and cniivcniciioc of especial to the I'ailroad systems serv- this service, in its ability to reach any market with ing city. tfie A. 'J\ cV: economy ami speed, it is e(|iialed by few and First, S. F. with its Trans-Con- tinental Line, to the (iulf of excelh'd l)y no interior city in the west. reaching Mexico and the Pacific Coast. VKKKiilT KATKS—Its freijfht rates arc llic ••The C. H. iK: with tiie Hill reach- same or l»etter than Cliicago. (^. Liues, ing the Xortlieni Pacific and Colorado terri- Si']i\'\l('K— Five ijreat railroad systems with tory; also the (iulf through tiie medium of the a combined mileaf,'e of 4.'),0()0 miles compete for Coloi'ailo i^' Southern. its business, and their eai^er rivalry makes "The C. I. tV: S., owned and directly man- service prompt, sure and ellicient. aged by the New York Central Liues, covering SWITCIIIXC! -Four of the railroads kc-p the entire Fastern and New P^nglaud territory, Streator. switcli cnnines and crews in Fsnally as well as the connections via Cairo for the the lar is switch supply jileutifid. Reciprocal (iulf, giving .\tlantic Coast outlet, and a con- all and a.rranucincnts exist itetween lines, nection with the (ireat Lakes as well. are absoihed on switchint;- charf-cs (Uittroinii; "The Wal)ash, through its connection with when snudl in amount. shiimieiits, except very the (lould Lines, reaches through the Missouri FACILITIFS— Hoads can make .leliyery Pacific and Iron Mountain the entire South- from Canada to the (inif. from Atlantic to I'a- west. Through the meilium of tlie Missouri Pa- ritic Coast, and to nearly all inti'rm<'diatt' cilic. 1). c^- R. (',. and Western Pacilic the Pacific states ami territories, witluuit u:oinn- olT thcirj ( 'oast. transfers own rails. 'I'his reduces delays l)y "The C. tV A. with its affiliated lines, known and siilctracks. as the Ilawley (Ironp. furnish over their own rails, a direct outlet via Newport News, con- . From Vice President Ross. necting with the Chesapeake tSc Ohio for exjjort .\moni; tlmsc eminent in the lailroad world and import trathc, via St. L(mis and Kansas Streator is fortunate in havinji; a friend who is City in connection with the M. K & T. an out to with on all matters re- able s])eak authority let to the S(nitl]west and (iulf port for im))ort lalini-- to trans|iorlatioii. l-'eelinii: the need of and <'xport traffic: an outlet to the Northwest tiie editor wrote expert opinion on this subject through the medium of the M. iV: St. L., cover- of the Ciii to .Mr. \V. li. Ross, \'ice President ing all Northwesfeni teri-itory. ca;i;o & Alton, and Toledo, St. Louis & West- Transportation Speaks for Itself. ern Railroads, askiiii;- a statement from him as "All these lines reacii ovei- tlieir own rails to what mitrht be truthfully said about the the large conunercial centres, consuming and railroad situation in Streator. Mr. Koss lived producing territories, enabling them to fix the here for twenty years and knows the local as rates and protect industries in this community well as the lar.ner national situation. His state- as against improper adjustments by other ter- ment is niven herewith. ritories at all times. "I attach hereto a statement wiiich will "My personal view based on an intinuite give you the actual facts with reference to rate knowledge of the situation from a standpoint adjustment between Streator and all territor- locally, as well as from a broader view of ies. To one experienced in the rsite adjust- knowledge of the entire situation, and from a ment, this statement clearly indicates the ad- railroad standjioint, is that the transportation vantages of Streator as a point of industrial facilities of the comumnity are equal to that of 38 THE STOrSV OF STUKATOK. any territory tliat has come to my observa- change. One says: "I wish I had moved to tion. Streator before." "What you need to do is interest outside It is an interesting fact that four of the capital in yonr local advantages. The trans- railroads which now connect Streator with the ))ortation speaks for itself to my mind." great systems of the country were largely initi- Yours verv trulv. ated by Streator brains and carried through by W! L. llOSS. Streator enterjjrise. They were originally built by Col. Rali)h Plumb and his associates How Streator Got Its Railroads. as an outlet to the coal output of the town, The expert opinion of ^'ice-Pre.sident Ross and afterwards bought in l)y great corpora- on tlie advantages of Streator as a railroad tions which now own them. Thus what is now point is corroborated by every manufacturer the Wabash was built as the Chicago & Padu- business as will be seen from their cah doing here, ; the Burlington was the Ottawa, Oswego & statements quoted freely in the various articles f^ox River, the Chicago & Alton was the Strea- herein. For several of tliem the superior rail- tor & Wenona, and the great Santa Fe system road facilities have been the chief inducement goes into Chicago on tracks which were origi- for their moving here, and every one who nally owned by the Cliicago, Pekin and Soutlt- came from this motive is glad lie nuide the western. THE SANTA FE RAILWAY SYSTEM The Santa Fe is the great trunk railway under one manaiiement lietween Chicago and that connects Streator with Chicago on tlie east California, and I'caches i)oints as distant as Los and California on the west. It owns and oper- Angeles, and San Francisco on the west, and View of Santa Fe Yards and Station. ates 10,000 miles of track in twelve southwest Galveston on the south, dii'cctly over its own states and tci-ritories. It is the onlv railwav rails. THK ST<)I{\ OK STKK.ATOH. S9 hours KviMy tweiity-rour there are twenty- How It Helps Local Trade. six ami iiiiiet<'eii freiiijlit |tassen,i>er trains jiass- 'i'he Santa Fe lias observed a of con- inu tlironifh Stivatur on tiie Santa Fe. All the jwlicy ^iderateness for tlie needs of freii-ht ti-ains take ])atrons alon H \l IMNCAN. A Railroader By Birth. Th.' Streator a.yent of the Santa Fe. Mr. II. A person nuiy take a train for Cliicaiio in the .M. Duncan, was litei'ally born to the railroad business, lie lirst saw the in a niornin.ii at .'ctHt. .")::!(». (kIKI. (;::{(). 7:.'l(t. H-MO or li^lit railway station (»f which his father was tlie !•:.")('. lie can leave ('liicav:«> for Streatcu- in 'ho au;ent, up- stairs of the as i depot Iteinj? used rooms aftern at U:.")!). L':47. (i:(l(l. oi' 1(1:0(1 p. ni.; livinji: !:s was not unusual in the ITe an-1 in the niorninn- at lM."). 7:4o or U-MO. early days. joined the forces of the Santa Fe in' March. 1S88, as l-'or Texas, ('i'lifornia and all western points an'cnt at Knox, worked foi- it at eif'liteeu dif- the service is and i- a fa une(|ualed. Streator ferent stations, and was promoted to Streator voraltle for startiny; jioint tourists and land on .\i>ril 1. liMI!). Mi-. Duncan is a thoroui>h seekers f|-oni tlie numerous nearliy vilhiiics and railroad aucnf. one of the most capable and ex- towns. perienced in the enm|)any's sei'vice. THE CHICAGO. BURLINGTON & QUINCY RAILROAD The l>urlin,iiton. connected as it i- with the erses the west and northwest, and furnishes di- Xorthern Pacilic and the (ireat Northern sys- rect aoeess to that f;;reat empire now develojung' tems, known as the Hill i^nuip of lines, is by far across the Canadian border, which is destined the nreatesi system of railroads entering; Strea- to be one of our bii-- markets. It is a sio-niticant tor. its own liiileau-e is !l,(M»ll miles, that of the fact that two-thirds of the land buyers l)uyinfi' Xorthern I'acilic is (i. •_'(!(). the (ireat N'oithei-ii is tourist tickets at the Streator station are liead- 7,S44, makinif a total of over 22,(t(tO miles for ed for these northwestern i)rovinces, and to the entire svstem. Tliis enornunis svstem trav- this great granary the Burlington furnishes the 40 THK STORY OP STRKATOR. most direct service, freight and passenger. table delay caused by transferring from one A glance at a railroad map shows that the line to another, and tlie danger of his shipment Burlington fairly gridirons tlie Central West. being Jield uj* or lost at some transfer point. Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska The widely ramifying connections of the look like a checker board marked off in squares Burlington give the shipper another advan- by the lines of the Burlington, while long arms tage. In enables the agent at Streator to accept reach out and join with its comjjanion lines shipments and quote routes and rates to any stretching to the northern and western limits part of the United States. If the shipment is of the union. Southward they go direct to St. less than carload lots it gives the advantage of Louis, and south-eastward to Paducah, its fast freight system. Instead of being ship- Kentucky. l)ed on the painfully slow way-freight it is transfeired at or to the Can Ship Direct to About 42,000 Stations. Galesburg Chicago through freight and sent direct to its destina- The interest giant magnitudes might only tion in a special car, wliether it be Xebraska or the student of social phenomena from their na- California. tional economic bearing, but to the practical View of C. B. & Q. Yards and Station. business man shipping gciods in and out of Business Touched With Sentiment. Streator they have a totally diffei'ent siyniti- The Burlington is connected with the early cauce. history of Streator in a manner that touches on They mean to him that he can shij) over closely sentiment. The writer was talking 22,000 miles of track without transfer. to President Lemmon of the C. W. & V. Coal Co. They mean that he can reach about 4,200 a1)0ut this book, and he said: stations in the United States without going olf "Why don't you put in an article about tiie the rails of one system. 'Q'? It was intimately connected with the They mean speed, promptness, accuracy, coal early developments of the town, and its dispatch, avoidance of woriy and loss. officers were friendly to the local interests of So it is that to be situated on the Burling- Streator, and gave them substantial assistance ton is a great asset to any town. To be able to in many ways." ship to so many different destinations without President Lemmon 's remark is entirely true. change, in a territory that affords the best mar- While it may have been a policy of enlightened ket in the world, is an important advantage to self-interest, it is none the less a fact that our the producer. It insures him against the inevi- interests were mutual, and the "Q." pulled for THi: STOISV OF .STI{i:.\T(>R. 41 Streator. Not only did tliey help in the way of rate jirotcction, hut for a iirreat many years the I'lii'lini^ton lias taken half the output of the C. W. & v. ('(tai Company. It is the chief \mv- chaser of the new Third \'ein Coal, and the first hif? ooneern to put the seal of its approval on it liy (h'clarin;;- it to l»e the best eniifine coal yet runiislicd hy the miiu-s of Northern Illinois. The Strcator agent of the Burlington is Mr. .\. r>. ('oh'. Mi-. Cole has been connected with this system for 28 years, lie was nine years agent at Fulton, III., thirteen years at Ottawa, and has been six years at Strcator. Not only is ^Ir. Cole known as an ellicieut and popular railroad ollicial, hut he is highly respected as a citizen, actively interested in every good word and woi'k, wliether cixic cdncatiouid or A. B. COl.K. reliifious. 'TRADE FOLLOWS THE FL/IG" BJ LOCATE ON THE WABASH The above is the motto ol' the Waliash b'ail velojiment of industries along its lines, hence road, which occupies a uiii<|ue jiositii-n among its motto: "Ti;iile l'"oli(nvs the IIah: Ijx-ntc ( )ii •• the I'ailroads of Strcator in that it owns a l)elt the Wabash. line, wliicli. iieginning at Main street runs out Foi- geru'ral trallic pni'poses llie Wabash into tjie heart of the shale fields south of the adds to the other I'aili'oad ad\antages of Strea- city. Some years ago the Wabash management tor liy furnishing it direct connections to the with far seeing e>e. foi-esaw tlie indiistiial de- east and south, as well as gi\ing it another velopment of Streator, and bought in the rail- splendid outlet to the Central West. It has its road of. the Coal Hun Coal Company. The le own dii-ect lines to Chicago, Detroit, P>ul'l'alo suit prove ( tiic 'ompanx'. Tile I liinois Selling Company, ducing and consinning markets of the conntrx'. Streator I'axiiiii liiiek ('(unjiany, A. ( ). Fan- The Wabash takes special interest in jjro- ning and tile Xational Drain Tile Company. A moting the mercantile business of the town, and switch engine and ci'cw is maintained and ex- its passenger train service is arranged with spe- cellent facilities for the expeditious handling of cial I'cference to the accommodation of traders Irallic obtain. In addition to the large factories visiting Streator for sh()|)ping jmrposes. They alrea over :^.")()0 miles of railroad, i.- asuressive, pro- cipal, labor and residence facilities offered by STessive and up-to-date. the city of Streator merit the careful considera- As tliis is being" written word comos that or- tion of manufacturers, business and profes- ders lia\e ])en i)laced for $:i,()l>0,000 worth of sional men desiring to locate where conditions steel rails, and recently re]iorts were received are sucli as to insure the successful conduct of of millions of dollars of orders being jdaced for their business. freight, passenger ears and engines, all of the For information reyardinii' sites, freight Map of Wabash Lines. The Width of Page Necessitated Cutting Off That Part Showing the Connections With Principal Atlantic Seaports. most modern models. lates. transportation service, etc., call on or ad- '{"lie c()iid)ined advantages of geogra]>]iical dress W. L. Bowhis, Division Freight Agent, location with relation to pi'lncijial inai-kcts of S]n-ing "Vf^i ~:y-fCi<< Sfci"'-' V*'- • 1.- starved Rock. THK STOKV <»F STUKATOI!. •13 THE MAKERS OF THE CITY LIFE SKETCHES OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GREAT INTER- ESTS WHICH HAVE HELPED TO BUILD UP STREATOR. W. brief sketches of a few of the men win*, in var DR. L STREATOR i(ms ways, have coidributcd most to its up- 'I'he list is limited and AFTER WHOM CITY WAS NAMED. luiildinji'. lu'cessarily the luunes selecteil for presentation arc from anicni; the leaders of tlie vai'ious industries in tlio in the Till' (Icsliiiy (if ii town is prcliiiiircd and interests represented city. Only i-liaractfi- of its i^rcat men. \o N-ss in tin- social one reprcsentatix'c has been taken from each than in tlic industrial and (••otioniir life of tlic interest, and it is believed the names .selected town arc the IVaturi's of its Iradcis i-rcscivcd. will bv common con>ent be apjiroved as the fittest that could he and tlu'ir iiiflucnui' por chosen. sists in a tliou.-and in It is that tannililt' ways, even af apjiidpriatc the first tcr tlu'ir iianu's arc for portrait anioni;- "The .\Jakcrs of the gotten. Tims it is that City" should lie that the linihicrs of a city, of the man al'lei- w Imm tliosc who shape its the cit V is I )r. and formative named, plastic W. L. Streator. of Clevc have i\ heavy re days, land. Ohio. Dr. Strea for they sponsiiiiiity, tor was the leadiui*' hnild for the lonii spirit amonn' the ami unending- cajii- years; talists who came here and into their work is >lioitly after flic war to linilded their lives ami de\('lo)i the coal lields. chaiacters as intu a 1 le was the first lucsi and as monnnient. ilie> ilcut of the \'ei'mil!ion Imihl well or ill. they ('oal Co., which later hnrt or llu' future help iiecame the ('hicayo, and add to or lake from W'ilniiuii'ton ;k: N'ermil the stream of life that lien ( 'oal ( lie Hows down throuiih the 'ompanx'. never I'csidcd in Strea- •enturies. tor himself, but he S(i it is that any broui^ht liere the num stoi'y of a town thiit who was the real foun- chronicles merely its iler of the and material elements, its town, who became afterward coal, its clay, its ylass, its most honored name, is Icavinu: out the most and is now its most i-evered —Cohuicl important factors in its uiowth. (Mlicr towns memory i'hunb. It is fittiii,-;' that the city in Illinois have had coal .It'iiosits and rlcmrishcd Ralph very of him who discovered it; .' should bear tlie name wliile it lasted, hut where arc they today the business on which its With the exhaustion of their coal they have he- of him who oryauized almost cntirelx come deserted villaiifs, and a lot of tumble- earlier development depended, iutroduce COLONEL PLUMB initiative and influence for the fine park of RALPH eleven acres in the centre of tlie town, which FOUNDER OF THE CITY. it now enjoys. He laid the foundations of tJie town on a broad industrial basis, and all his life gave For no gift of nature, or no advantage of every encouragement to factories, railroads location is Streator so much indebted as for its and every enterprise calculated to upbuild the great men. Its founder, Col. Rali)h Plumb, was town. After many years of active service he one of the products of a mighty epoch—the decided to retire from business and give his at- epoch tliat iirodueed Lincoln, and Grant, Sum- tention to the higher interests of life. He sold ner and Logan and the other giants of the Civil out his railway and other interests, and be- War ])eriod. He was of the same heroic stat- came a soldier of the common good. He built ure, and was east in the same mould as those a high school at a cost of $35,000 and donated great Titans. He thrilled to the same issues, it to the town, erected an opera hous,? and es- vibrated to the same tablished the Streator passions and was a com- National Bank. When manding figure in the the town became incor- anti-slavery battles of porated as a city he was those turbulent times. unanimously elected its He was a participant first mayor, and when in the famous Oberlin- in 1884 the republicans Wellington Rescue, and of his district called with thirty-six others liim to be their repre- was imprisoned for 8-1 sentative in Congress, days in an Ohio jail for he was triumphantly the rescue of a fugitive elected, and again re- slave. When they came elected in 188(1. He was out they were met by a born in Busti, New band of music, a salute York, on ^March 20, of 100 guns, and greet- 181(5, and died full of ed as popular idols. Li years and honors at liis 1854 he was elected to home in Streator April the Ohio legislature, in 8, 1903. which he served three His last public ap- 'terms, was a friend of pearance was at the Chase, Wade, Giddings, dedication of the Car- the correspondent of negie Library, Jan. 30, John Brown, and was 1903, which tlie famous an active and powerful ironmaster had given of the radical champion the town at the i>ev- reform measures of sonal solicitation of those days. Col. Plumb. H was AVlien tiie war came he gave his services to during the correspondence over the building of his and was to the staff of country assigned tliis library that Mr. Carnegie acknowledged Gen. with whom he held and (jarfield, friendly Col. Plumb as his insi^iration and example in confidential relations until the latter's untimely his philanthropies, and in the devotion of the end. He continued in service till the close of latter part of his life to the public good. the war, and came out with the rank of Colonel. Col. Plumb's influence lives on in the broad At the close of the war, in the maturity of democratic of the in the absence of his powers, he came to Streator to open up the spirit town; caste or social in the then undevelojied coal fields. As the head of snobbery; fine enthusi- asms for causes the de\elopment company he opened mines, calculated to advance the city or ])latted the town and developed a great in- the nation; in the liberality and oi FAWCETT PLUMB ed on for assistance and one of the most gen- erous in response. FIRST IN REAL ESTATE. Mr. Plumb has been an independent repub- lican in politics, and conse(|uently not in the line of political promotion. But in 1872 he was Xo iiiMii lias written liis iuiiik' more deejily elected to the state senate as an indepemlent on the map of Streator than .Mr. Fawcett by a coalition of democrats and greenbackers Phnnl). For to liini more tlian any otlier is dne and served for four years. He held the olTice of its physical appearance, its additions, its sub- jiresident jiro teni of the senate, and was one of divisions, its streets, and its ifeneral confonua- a group of three who held the balance of ]iower, tion as a town, lie it was who oruinally owned which th(\\' used to elect Judge David Davis most ol" the land that Streator stands on, and instead of (Jen. John A. Logan to tlie Fnited who laid it out into additions, blocks and lots. States Senate. It was his wise and liberal policy that made He served as ]irivafe secretary to his uncle. Streator a ttnvn of worlxinjrmen's homes, for at Col. Halph Plumb, during the civil war, later an early day he institute(l tlie jiractice of low studied law and was admitted to the bar in on lots to X. Y. in 18()7. to ]>rices and easy montidy jiayments Albany. Came Pontine and encourajre liome-owniiif; by began the practice of law workers. Xo doubt this con- the same year. Tii 18(58 he his trii)uted larjjely to Strea- joined uncle, the founder of the in tor's i)rosi)erity by inducing!; town, Streator, settlement by steady and where he has renuiined ever since. Mr. Plumii is thrifty wmUers. whose stake presi- in the town made them con dent of the Stivator Xa- si'rvaf ive, and not easily tional Lank, is owner ol' the nf persuaded to join in the ujicra house, president strikes and turl)u!eTit labor the Streator Paving lirick disputes of tiiosc earl\ day~ Comi)any. and is actively in till' coal fields. engaged in real estate and Hut it is not on the sur other important enteri)ri.ses. face of the town alone that He was born in Andover, Mr. I'lundi's nnirk is observ- ( )liio, in is;!4, and at tin- is ed. 'I'he imjirint of his writing ( IIMJ) regarded the most reniarkaiile hand is .seen in the be;i;in- as of 77 for ac- ninfj;s «)F every important in- youth energy, life that dustry in the town. In the tivity and zest of found in these early days iie was interested can be parts. not retired from in coal minin.i;, and when He has and as as he he with )ire.scieiit eye fore- business, long His interest in Streator is saw the ]iossible exhaustion of thai intlnstry, lives he will work. faith as unbounded as it was he was one of the pioneer experiiiienlei-s with as keen and his he left the the clays of the town, and then with the mak- forty-tive years ago, when practice real estate foundations inif of i^lass in Streator—the two industries of law to lay out the wliich later came to be the town's nniin indus- of the city. of trial reliance. Later he invented the Plumb Outwardly a man of bricks, of real estate, a an ar- Steain Tile Ditcher, one of the lirst power business; inwardly a dreamer, mystic, ditchers on the market. dent student of the (x-cnlt. Li atfairs, slirewd, lli^ interests have been wonderfully varied, practical, money-making; in his heart, gener and intluence to ami no movement or enterprise for the good of ous, lavish of time, money him with its Streator but has felt the push of his strone; and every fine cause that reaches ap- boun stimulatinii: hand. Liberal to a fault, lie has peal. Unostentatiously liberal; retiringly Such is i;iveii largely of land and money to help the tiful; self-elVacingly public-spirited. he to one who has new industries wliicli it was sought to plant in Fawcett Plumb as ajjjjears fortune to Streator; and in all movements for the ad- known him for thirty years. Were vancement of tlie town, whether economic, civic bring him inillions, no one would sjiend them of Streator. or social, he has lieen among the lirst to be call- more liberallv or more for the good 46 THE STORY OF STRRATOR. doubt is due the fact that this article is not WALTER REEVES headed Governor Walter Reeves, of Illinois. LAWYER, CONGRESSMAN, PUBLICIST. For it is generally conceded that he was ac- tually or ])otentially nominated for governor by the dominant republican i)arty at the Pe- Till' next striking public figure iu the his- oria convention, and was cheated out of it by a tory of Streatoi' belongs to a later generation. trick. He was a man of intense loyalties, and Born .')2 years after Col. Pluinl), the meridian this disa])pointment did not swerve him one of his life coincided with the declining years of iota from his allegiance. It is illusti'ative of his venerated jiredecessor. AYliile rising to tliis nuirked trait of his character that be ac- even greater heights in the political world, the tually went on the platform and camj^aigued lines of his activity fell in more peaceful jier- for the very man who had played the trick that iods and the tur))ulent issues of the Civil war defeated his nomination for governor. were not within the scope of his career. Tliat After retii'ing from ))ublic ofitice hi' returned career found its zenith to the practice of the in the last decade of the law, iu which he ninotenth ccnlnry. and achieved rai'c tlistinc- it is not beyond the tion and success, and modesty of tnitli to say became again an active that during that i)eriod member of the firm of Walter Reeves was one Reeves & Boys. of the dozen men in the He was a leader of Congress of tlie United the La Halle County States wlio diiected the bar, and frequently ai>- legislative destinies of peared before the Su- the nation. He wi.s preme Court, where his elected to Congress in arguments were receiv- 1S!I4 by a republican ed with great respect. niiijority of ."),()()(), and At the time of his was re-elected throi death he was attorney times after by increa.sed for the state of Illinois majorities. He served in the famous Economy in Congress on imi^or- Light and Power case, taiit committees, nota- which involved the re- bly the Patent and claiming of the streams liiver and Harbor com- and water ]iower of the mittees. He introduced state from the corjiora- important measures in tions and i-est(U'ing both, and was Jiead of them to the peo])le. tlie I'ornier and next to Ihiring the busiest days the titular head in tlie of his law ])ractiee he lattei-. I)ut a man" in- always found time to in llncuce Cojigress is not mea.->ured by his i)0- v.ork for Streatoi-, and was for years the active -ition in that body. There is always a small president of its Imi)rcivement Associatiori. grou]j who are the directors of legislative ])ol- But eminent as he was in law and ])olitics, icy, and in this group Mr. Reeves stood in the his distinction as a man transcended both. His forefr-ont as one of the most valued leaders was a personality that made an instant imju-es- and advisers. sion in any and every presence. Im|)erious in In the councils of his party in the state his person and manner, his distinguished bearing- voice was listened to with profound resi)ect. bespoke him as one born to command, and his He was for many years a member of the State courtesy and manifold fairness made it easy to Central Committee, and there were none mo'e accept his le.ulership. IJeiiig asked what (lual- able oi- infiuential in devising and directing ity of his friend most impressed him, Mr. W. jiarty jioiicies along high and honorable Hues. Boys, the seventeen years' law partner of Mr. For the petty arts and tricks of politics he liad Reeves, said: "He was the fairest man I ever little talent, and no respect, and to this no knew in all m\- life." I hi: sTom OK sTi{i:.\Tf>R. 47 And III) I'licoiiiiuiii could \w liiii.T. Larue industry there can be no population, and with- iiiiiidcd, hroad, ift'iicroiis, public spirited, a lea- out population no city. .Mr. .lack rejiresents in der of leaders. \\'altei' Hi'cves leaves a le,uacy a pre-eminent way the dominant industry of to tlie youth of Streator iuspirinj'' and ounol)- the town. Not only is he its re))resentative. linv:; a typical American hoy, born of working but in a large degree its pioneer, its develojier, parents, raised on a farm, educated in the com- its creator. mon schools; then teaching school and studying Away back in ISSl a group of enterprising law; then admitted to the bar and l)uilding the citizens, bent on ])romoting the business wel- foundation of his caieer by his own unaided ef- fare of the town, started what was then known forts; he is the stuff of wliieh tlie governors and as the Streator Bottle and (ilass ('onip:\ny. great men of our nation hnxc been. an of Mr. Hiiscli into tlie ooiiipaiiy the question of that .Mr. .Jack gave himself the education that for- cjipita] was solved, and tlie business moved enabled him to cope successfully with the large ward by leaps and bounds.. (piestions that came to him in after life. De- Fi'om being superintendent Mr. Jack was nied the advantages of academic training, he ])romoted to be Secretary and Treasurer, and set to work to acquire a good business educa- a.i-ain to l)e President and Treasurer of tlie tion, and at home and night school he succeed- Sti-eator Bottle and Glass Company. jMean- ed in fitting himself for his work. He also lime great changes had taken place. The small studied law with Chubbuck & Wall, and was pot furnaces had given way to the continuous admitted to the bar, but never jaractieed. tank, the number of furnaces had increased During his -12 years residence in Streator from one to six, the company purchased the IMr. Jack has been warmly interested in every- Streator Flint Works, and enlarged and con- thing pertaining to its welfare and has loyally verted them into bottle factories. Its trade furthered every movement for its advancement. had enonnously expended till it covei-ed nearly His home is here, his friends are here, and to eveiy state in tlie union and overflowed into everybody he is the same genial, affable, cour- Canada and ^Mexico. In IDOG the American teous friend and neighbor that he was in his Bottle Company was organized and the Strea- store-keeiiing days in the long ago. His eleva- tor Bottle & Glass Company became one of the tion to high positions has given liim oi)portuni- important factors in the eousolidation. It was ties to push the interests of his home town, capitalized at $10,000,000, and Mr. Jack was which he has been quick to avail himself of, elected president of the new corporation, which but in no other way has it operated to change position he still retains. the frank and unaffected simplicity of his char- P"'rom grocery clerk to head of a ten-million acter and manner. dollar c(u-poration in twenty-five years would in any other age or country be held as an as- tounding achievement .But in modern America CAPT. T. A. LEMMON it is as to the usual and ex- accepted belonging MINER OF COAL. ]K'cted ccmrse of events. j\Iost of the heads of giant corporations have traveled a similar cour.se, and it is rare to find a great captain of To write the story of Streator and leave out industiy who has not risen from the ranks by the Chicago, Wilmington & \'erniillion Coal his own efforts. Mr. Jack's career is ty])ical. Company would be like playing the tragedy of B(u-n of farmer jiarents in Old Cliestei', Pa., in Hamlet and leaving out the Prince of Den- 1855, he remained tliere till seven years of age, mark. For in the early history of the town the then moved with the family to a farm in Lan- ])art of the C. W. & V. was as important as caster County, Pa., Here he remained until that of the jn'ince in the ]ilay. It not only rep- nine years old, when he was sent to Phila resented the dominant industry of the town, delpliia to learn the car building trade. but was itself the commanding and controlling Here he served four years with tlie firm factor in that industiy. The writer is not a of Muri)hy & Allison. He then worked at believer in the current ])latitude that corjiora- the carpenter trade in I'liilailelphia for about tions have no souls; he believes, on the con- a year, and then tra\eled as a journevnum trary that their souls are the souls of the men through Pennsylvania, Illinois and Iowa. When who dominate them, and partake of their vices (ifteen years old, in 1S70, he arrived in and virtues. The man who is today the soul of Streator, where after working at his trade a this corporation is Captain Thomas A. Lem- short time, he entei'ed the employ of Overliolt mon, president of the com]>any. Cajit. Leni- & Holmes as a clerk, where he remained about mon has been with the C. W. & V. for forty three years. He then remained in merchandis- years and with the fonner president, A. ]j. ing on his own account as a niembei- of the firm Sweet, and Su])t. W. S. Cherry, was active in of Jack, Dagan & Overliolt, and continued for directing the policies of the company during about three years, when the business was sold, the formative and creative days of the town. and he became manager of the dry goods depart- What the influence of the company was, and ment for Arthur Bros. He remained here until what it might have been may be inferred from called to what was to be his life work— the a contenijilation of the ruined and deserted management and direction of great glass mining cam^is scattex-ed over the state. That interests. Streator is not such a camp is due largely to the It was during these earlv vears in Streator policy of the company. What was that policy? THK STORY OF STREATOH. 49 As an finjiloye in the mines of (he company ness that made it attractive to investors; and in (iiose early days, the writer can speak witli many of these early miners or their sons have the voice of personal intimacy and knowled,si:e. become leadinji,' business men and supporters Its policy was in tlie main broad, intelli'rent, of its business enterprises. humane, remarkably so when it is consi(lered The present i)resident, Capt. T. A. Lemmon, tliat this was before the days of national labor has been associated with the company since unions wliich have since l)ecome so important a 187l2, the year the present com])any consolidat- in factor tlie dealinsjs between miners and o])er- ed with the old A'emiillion Coal Company, ators. It was probably the first coal corpora- which opened the first mine in Streator. He is tion to f:;ive its workmen a yearly wasre aj^ree- also treasurer of the Eureka Coal & Dock Com- ment which the miners had an iinimrtant part pany. He was bom in New Albany. Ind., and in framing:, and which contained liberal provis- educated in the i)ublic and hiiih schools of that ions fur the health, convenience and safety of city. l)urin>f the Civil War he served from the men. It always was on the affirmative side 18()1 to 18(;5 as a member of the 5th Ohio Cav- of tlie coal market, and stnod for the mainten- alry, in the Army of the Tennessee. After the ance of prices, and thus marie war for a time, he was en- jiossible the payinji; of fair ,a:aged in the clothing busi- wafjes. It is an evidence of its ness in Louisville, Kentucky. dis])osifion that at one time it He came to Chicago in 1860 I'stablislicd a slidin;; -;i'ale. ^iv- and entei-ed the employ of tlie miners a share of iiin the E. i). Taylor & Son, coal deal- without demand or jirofits ers, as bookkee])er. hater he solicitation. was with Taylor & Thomas for This liberal policy attract one year, and then launched ed to the town a fine of body into the coal business for him- men, mainly from the mine- of self, organizing the finn of fJreat IJritain. 'i'iieii i|ualit> Lemmon & Cornish. This l)e inferred from the f-ict may business was burned out in the that Streator miners furnished fire of '7L find in the following most of the mine inspectors for year Capt. Lemmon began his the state duriu": the earl\ .services with the company of years of the mining law; ami wliich he is now president. have contributed a larjje nuni The is still the ber of mine manairei's and sii companj' factor in the coal busi- perintcndcnt-i since mining has leading ness in Streator. and Presi- been i)ut t)n a scientific basis in the state. These men receixcd cation became attracted to the work of engi- deference to the same spirit of reticence tlie ap- he for utterance must He was a member of the engineer preciati^'e words that plead neering. of C. in the construction of the Texas also be suppressed. But the real portrait corps employed the & Louisiana railroad. He later became a part- C. Barr appears on another page, where of Anderson & Barr, whose storv of his factory appears. For it is into ner in the firm spe- his foundations his facton- that he has poured the best of cialty was pneumatic work, deep structure will be and soft tunneling. They became a life; in its well-contrived ground firm and were entrusted with found the imprint of his hand and lu-ain; and successful many will the liig jobs in its efficiency and economy of operation important enterprises. Among Anderson Barr was the of be seen the traces of his energizing spirit. In done by & building of the substructure of the Merchants' bridge at still greater degree, perhaps, is the mark of the human St. Louis, and of the bridge at Cairo, 111. Their his genius, felt in the organizing and most piece of work was the sub- factors in production, in the smooth frip- conspicuous in structure of the Eiver bridge at tionless disposition of his labor forces, and Hawksl)ury contentment Australia, at that time the deepest the willing spirit, good cheer and Sydney, that animate his workers. foundation in the world. interest in Streator with Mr. Ban- built his first factory- here in the Mr. Barr's begun his and ownership of the street rail- years of 1892 and 189.3. It was not his inten- building which has since been sold to other inter- tion at first to remain in personal charge of the way, ests. Being attracted by the shale prospects he But the first were years of experi- plant. years retired from the firm of Anderson & Barr to ment, and the experiments were not always give his full time to their development. He It took some time to find out just successful. built a fine residence in the town, and settled of treatment Streator shale what kind required down to become, it is hoped, a permanent to make it turn out a marketable product; and resident. re- Mr. Barr finally decided that tlie enterprise quired his personal attention, and so settled down in Streator to donate all of his energies WALTER L ROSS to the management of his plant. It was a for- tunate thing for the town, for in the ycnrs tliat RAILROAD MAN. have ensued Mr. Barr has built up one of the biggest and most substantial clay industries in one of its most the west, and given to the city No reckoning of the forces that entered into valued and respected institutions. His success the making of Streator vrould be complete that lias demonstrated that the sliale beds of Strea- omitted the railroads; and no man is so fitted tor are its most important assets, and that the to represent their contribution to the u]>build- meas- future fortunes of the town are in large ing of the town as Walter L. Ross, Vice Presi- ure bound up with this industry. Mr. Barr is dent of the Chicago & Alton and associated a believer in the future of paving brick; that railways. For Mr. Ross laid the foundations tlie time is coming when all the country roads of his "reputation as a railroad manager during will be paved with vitrified shale products, and his twenty years service in Streator; and in that Chicago and the great north-west will cre- doing so was able to be of great value to the ate a great demand which can be best supplied transportation and industrial interests of the situated from the points most advantageously city. During his years in Streator important to produce and ship the brick. Perhaps it was developments were being made in the railway this faith that led Mr. Barr in 1911 to reor- situation, new combinations were formed, new ganize and extend his jolant to the extent of rates were being established and new direc- doubling his capacity. Starting with a ca]3acity tions were being given to traffic. Mr. Ross was of 50,000 brick a day, he is now ca])able of pro- in charge of the interests of the Indiana, Illi- ducing 200,000 a day, a four-fold growth in nois and Iowa R. R. when that line was estab- twenty years. He has also increased his hold- lishing its position as the outlet belt line which ings of shale land, having now a supply of 115 enabled east bound traffic to avoid Chicago acres. When iimning at full capacity he em- with its heavy charges, and made Streator the ploys from 300 to 325 men. gateway between the east and the west. He C. C. Barr was bom in White County, Indiana, formed" advantageous connections for his belt C. B. and the Santa Fe rail- on Dec. 1.3, 1851. After a common school edu- line with the & Q. '^f\1F*».Jt TIIK STORY f)F STISKXTOH. 51 roads that stand today, and wliicli pend the Alton, of the Toledo, St. Louis & Western, and ilrcsscd moats of Oniaiia and Kansas City, and the Iowa Central M. St. L. He is also a di- otlier liigh class freight thi-ongli Streator to rector of the Detroit & Toledo Short Line. tlie cast. Tn fact it Strcator on the i)laced inap There i.; nothing uimsual in the rise of Wal- for eastern hiisincs< for tlic Hrsi time. Favor- ter L. Ross. It is the case of the typical Ameri- ahlc rates were estalilished for bottles and can boy, illustrated in the ascent of most of other Streator and in a products, general way America's ca]>tains of industry and kings of it may be .stated that during Mr. Koss' regime finance. more was done in tlic way of rate adjustment He was born in Bloomington, 111., Jan, 1. than at any otiier time in the liistory of tlie 18(i5, had a common school education, became town, and on tlie freij^iit basis then eVtablishert a messenger boy, then a clerk in the Western Streator's future will depend more than on any Fnion Telegrapli olTices. He advanced rapidly, other single factor. came to Streafor in 1S85, where he served as While ])rinuirily a railroad man. Mr. Ross .joint agent of the I. I. & I. and Wabash rail- was active in every movement for the benefit roads. On the division of these interests he of the town. He was the first secretary of the became Division Freight & Passenger Auent of Strcator Club and coIIccte(l tiie funds to estab- the I. I. iV: I., an |,riLUK 52 THE STORY OF STREATOR. scaling of ladders of one's own making, and in returned to his old home in Scotland and en- the main it means that eacli mnst Iniild and gaged his old master as an instnictor in civil climb alone. and mechanical engineering and the higher In substance what is here said api^lies to mathematics, and upon returning to Amer- R. W. Crawford, of this city, who began with ica he associated himself with the American Locomotive a little, practically nothing, but has won success. Comiiany, big manufacturing Those who view things superficially look upon concern at Richmond, Virginia, where he gain- his rise as meteoric, but others, who know ed a ])ractical and closer acquaintance witli his that for every result there is cause, realize that chosen calling, and in addition acquired a the place Mr. Crawford holds is neither acci- knowledge of executive work. After a length- dental or providential, but on the contrary, is ened service with this company he went to the logical outcome of years of struggle, of [Montreal, Canada, where he pursued afresh his endless planning, well academic studies, after directed ambition, of whicli he went to north- cleanliness of life, of west Canada in an with courage, fortitude and executive position farsightedness — the a big railroad com- characteristics that all jiany. successful men possess, It was while in the tlie personal endow- Northwest that he con- ments that make cir- ceived the idea of car- cumstances their crea- building and car I'epair- tures instead of their ing, and he came to Chi- being creatures of cir- cago with the view cumstances. to inducing some man R. W. Crawford has with capital to become been in Streator five his associate. He failed years. He came here in this, but while in with less ready casli Chicago he made the than fifty acres of land acquaintance of a in the vicinity of the manufacturer who was city would sell ior to- seeking a location in Il- day, and yet, within linois. In company with that short time and this gentleman he trav- with that limited capi- eled through Southern re- tal, backed by a h'vj, Illinois and on the purpose and disciplined turn trip, botli stopped capability, he has de- oft" for a short visit. veloped a business and While here Mr. R. W. Crawford erected a plant which a Crawford met Mr. O. half million dollars B. Ryon, Mr. Walter would not tempt liim to part with. Reeves and three or four other members of Mr. Crawford was born in Scotland in the Streator Improvement Association, now known as the and 1865, where he remained until twenty years of Streator Commercial Club, of age, when he came to America and located in the result of this meeting is the presence the Crawford Locomotive Sc Car Works in Western Texas. At twenty, he caught the fe- the of Streator Mr. Crawford finds a ver of western migration and for the next three city today. place in this memorial to Streator because he years made his home in National City, and San is a city builder in a big way and because his Diego, California. Here he became the assist- success in the world is in hannony with the ant of the noted engineer, J. C. Schuyler, whose spirit of the west and because it is an inspira- work lay in dams across building rivers, laying tion to every young man with brain and a pur- pipe lines and in and locating erecting irriga- pose. He is a typical Scotchman, of fcrv tion plants. words and much earnestness, with a mind sin- At the close of this service Mr. Crawford gle to his business and its further development I THK ST«»I{V OF STRKATOI5. 53 DANIEL HEENAN times its size; the largeness of the builder's vis- ion and the daring of his ambition are shown RETAIL MERCHANT PLUS. in his undertaking to build such a structure in such a town; and his mercantile genius is dem- onstrated by his .success in its operation. It is not alone tlie to producer that a town The department store is the product of a owes its Tlie mer- fi^reatness. clistril)ufor, tlie new age, like the incorjiorateil company; it chant wiio out tlie necessities and the jtasses lirings with it its iirobleins, its economie.s, its luxuries of lite to the with people efficiency, efficiencies. Mr. Ileenan is one of the jiioneers economy and iionesty, is not less serviceable to in the establishment of this modern institution the than the connnunity builder of a factoiy. in the jn-ovincial town. He has brought Big He it is who makes the solid up middle class of Business down to little uses, and given the the town; who j^ives steadiness and pennan- small consumer the economies and convenien- eiK-e to its social institutions; who -iives sup- ces of big transactions. As Klbert Hubbard to port its charities, its says: "The American churches and educa- J)ei)artment Store has tional who movements; taken uji lost motion fDrnis the consen'ative and given the people l)asis of opinion on ]iub- better goods at a lower lic ()uestions and who price. It has been the looks ahead and plans inevitable, because it for the future of the jk does the greatest good city. ^_ '"' the greatest number. As the chief repre- IJlf^ It has worked for econ- sentative of this im- omy and length of It means j)ortan( class in the u])- mutu- buildinj; of the town fdays.ality, reciprocity, bro- the name of Daniel therhood. " llcenan is presented. Hut to give the peo- 'Plicic will be no (uie to ple tlie things they tjuestion the pre-emi- want is not enough. nence of Mr. Ileenan as You must show them , a merchant or doubt wliat they want. The the correctness of his great modei-n store is a selection as the rej)re- leader in taste. It is an sentative of his class. etiucator. It stands for Mr. Ifeenan is not alone economy, color, pro- the ui!<|uestioned head portion, lianiiony and of tile mercantile guild increased happiness. It in Streator, but it is insjiires the imagina- doubtful if there is a tion by bringing from merchant in the State I). Heenaii. the far corners of the of Illinois, outside of earth the products of Chicago, to equal him in the grasp and daring the loom, workshop, farm, mine and studio. It of his imagination or the breadth and bigness displays the.se goods so that the public maj' of his enterprise. come and examine them, weigh, analyze, sift, Mr. Ileenan has built in Streator a monu- decide and make them their own if they wish. ment to his mercantile irenins that will long According to this gospel we find that D. survive him; one that will be pointed to as one Heenan has been an unconscious preacher and of the institutions of the city after he has teacher of ethics, and that his store has been passed away. It is one of the show places of a jilace where his jiatrons received jiractical in- the town, a sjilendid structure of brick and stnictions in the laws of beauty, economy and stone, the largest and most comjilete appoint- honesty in trade relations. ed emiiorium of trade to be found in the State Who then is Daniel Ileenan? outside the metropolis. Xot only does it sui*]5ass The outward facts can be briefly stated. all ti>wns of the size of Streator, but it eclipses Born in the town of Indiana, Canada, on the all similar establishments in towns of three IGth day of December, 1839, he attended the 54 THE STORY OF STREATOR. common schools during boyhood, and finished the editor of this publication, who for over a his school education in the Toronto High Seliool rpiarter of a century has been the manager of at the age of 17. He started his business career public amusements, lecti;re courses, chautauqua as a clerk in Cayuga, Canada, and later opened and the like; and who as writer, speaker, di- up a store in his native town. Coming to Ot- rector and composer of music, arbitrator and tawa in 1866 he formed a mercantile partner- general iDublic spirited citizen has stamped his ship under the style of Burke & Heeuan, which personality on the city in a manner that will continued until April, 1872, when Mr. Heenan not be easily effaced. moved to Streator and opened up business as D. It would have been a pleasant task to the Heenan & Co., with John Flannagan and M. J. writer to have attempted a characterization of Finleu as associates. The business prospered liis colleague, Mr. Williams, but as he has been until the store was destroyed by fire, and Mr. forestalled in this by one who is considered the Heenan erected the present splendid stmcture, most brilliant writer in America, he will give which covers a block of land in the business way and present the sketch of EJbert Huljbard, centre of the city. pul)lished in tlie Fra of December, li'lO. Says These bare facts give only the skeleton of a the Fra: life filled with pulsing and throbbing interest. "Williams is a business man by accident, a Mr. Heenan is a merchant plus. He has been laborer by prenatal tendency, a Fabian by na- the recognized head of his party in the city for ture and a Roycrofter 1)y the Grace of God. He over a quarter of a century, most of the time a takes an earnest, active interest in all economic member of the democratic state central com- and social betterments. He knows history, mittee. His al)ility was recognized by the only literature, philosophy better tlmn any college democratic governor in recent years, John P. ])rofessor I e\'er saw. He is a workingman who Altgeld, who appointed him a member of the has improved hi^, time. He is the friend of the state prison commission, on which he served for working men and women, and he is a business four years. A leader in all movements looking man. For many years he was a coal miner, a to the good of the city, he has been prominently day laborer, and he knows the heart of the identified with its leading institutions. With toiler—those who go forth to their labors until Colonel Ralph Pluml) he was one of the incor- the evening—better than any other man I ever porators of tlie Streator National Bank, and in met, and I've known quite some few—for my 1882 was one of the organizers of the Streator name is not Simeon Stylites. Hotel Comj^any, which erected the Plumb Has Charity, Too. House, of which property he is now the sole Williams has knowledge plus, and charity owner, having bought up all other stock that suffers long and is kind. He is so big that Interests. he fully realizes that any man who devotes him- Altliough he lias passed tiie allotted tliree self to aiding the proletariat will get gi'oss .in- score and ten, Mr. Heenan is still one of the ac- gratitude and stupid misunderstanding for pay. tive and commanding figures in the business And yet he sides always and forever with life of Streator, and his influence and power this man that he knows will rend him if he are to be reckoned with iu all matters touching ever gets close enough to clutch his throat. the progress and prosperity of the city. And Blind, blundering humanity that fails to be a his interest is still keen and his power potent friend to even itself, needs a friend—and Wil- in any movement affecting Streator's business liams is that man! welfare. He is as tender as Clara Barton, as gifted as John Euskin, as practical as William Mor- ris, as hopefiil as Whitman and as brave as Jim JOHN E. WILLIAMS Bludsoe, who "held her nose to the bank until every galoot was ashore,' and then perished iu MEDIATOR, ARBITRATOR, PEACEMAKER the wreck." M. (By Meehan.) Undoubtedly the great work of Mr. Wil- liams' career, the work which his forty years of There are men who are not captains of in- uneventful life in Streator prepared him for, dustiy nor of business, nor yet leaders in state- was the mediation of the claims growing out of craft or politics, who leave their impress on the the Cherry disaster. That horror left 530 wo- thought "currents of their community and are men and children unprovided for, with no re- entitled to recognition as among "The Makers sources but doulitful lawsuits. Of this Secre- of the City." Such a man is John E. Williams, tary of Labor, in a state report says: THi: STOHV OF STRF.ATOR. 55 "With a vision rare among men. through mon disaster, it may be counted as some small tlie tears and griof of a stricken people, he saw salvage from so awful a calamity, it shall the line of a new duty, the open doorway of a stand as a monument to your unfaltering effort great oppDrtunity, and sueeeeded in transmit- to establish among men a lasting principle of ting the materials of a great tragedy into an in- e(|uity and justice." strumentality of a great service to mankind. Theodore Roosevelt in an editorial in the Tns])ired hy no other i)urpose exeept the weal Outlook commended the work of Mr. Williams of his fellow mortals, tliis man for months dis- \erv higldy, and it has been widely commented regarded the demands of home and business in upon in jjapers and magazines. the ardor of a si)lendid eonseeration. gave the For the past two years Mr. W^illiams has wealth of his mental and spiritual endowments been the official arbitrator of the United Mine to a cause th;it absorbed all the energies of his AVorkers and the Illinois Coal Operators' As- active sold." sociations. At the last arliitration session the Ilis labors were .successful, ami Mr. Wil- commission pas.sed a unanimous vote of thanks liams had the satisfac- to Mr. Williams "for tion of seeing the mon- the fair and impartial ey that would otlier- manner in which he wise have been waited presided over our meet- in court costs, lawyers' ings; for the unfailing fees, ]>aiil over to the (act, good feeling and women and children. It jii-actical wisdom wliich cost the St. Paul Coal have characterized his Company nearly half a conduct of the proceed- million dollars. ings, and wliich have Tlie big man on the been of invaluable as- other side of the tnedia- sistance in bringing our tion was Albert .1. Kirl- deliberations to a har- ing, presi;ient of the monious and successful Chicago, .Milwaukee i\: conclusion." St. i'aul H. K.. which The outer facts of was the real ownei- of Mj-. Williams" life are the Cherry mine. In a brieflv told. Born near beautiful letter to Mr. Merthyr Tydvil, Wales, Williams, reviewing the in IS.").'}, he came to .settlemeT.t Mr. lOarlint; .\nierica in 18(j4. Soon says: after he entered the "It was dillioult at coal mines and contin- the (Uitset to under ued as a miner for stand such un-ellish de- al)out tifteen years, the votion to humanity. •greater i)art of the time There are nuuiy mo- in Streator, after which tives that lead men to J. K. wuiiaiiis. I't" became a newspaper champion one side or man. then a fire insur- the other in any controversy. There are many ance agent and theatre manager. lie has never ardent advocates of one side or the other, but held political office, but has been recognized in no other instance has come under my observa- many positions of worth. He was secretary.of tion of a man with the ca|)acity to helji, coming the first labor union in Streator, and later, the voluntarily to the aid of contendiuii- parties first check weighman at its mines. He organ- in with an ecjual eye for fair dealing for both and ized the Business Men's Auxiliary League justice for all. I think I am justified in saying 1897, which helped the miners cany on that that without your skillful and intelligent me- memorable strike. diation the settlement at Cherry would have Mr. Williams was arbitrator for the Coal Run been as far olT now as at any stage of the ne- strike; has been official arbitrator for the Illi- is vice-chainnan of the Cher- gotiation. If out of the wreckage of property nois coal operators, and tombs of men at Cherry shall come forth a ry Relief Commission; president of the trustees ehainnan of permanent bettering of the relations of em- of the Church of Good Will and Lecture Course. ployer and employed in the hours of the com- the Sunday Evening 66 THE STORY OF STREATOR. THE STORY OF STREATOR ITS CHARACTERISTICS; ITS HISTORY; ITS GOVERNMENT; ITS INSTITUTIONS. Streator is not yet a beautiful city. It is a less of class distinctions. Work is the great town in the making; not yet a finished product. unifier; wlien master and man touch elbows in Tts wealth and energies are devoted to deepen- a common task there is born a spirit of fellow- ing and broadening the foundations of its in- ship which no disparity in wealth or station dustrial life, rather than to smoothing out the can neutralize. The absentee employer, like wrinkles of toil from its face or adorning itself the absentee landlord, is tlie true creator of with the fruits of its labor. It is still in its iron class divisions, the begetter of class pride, the age; its golden age is yet to come. The nide fomenter of class hatred. In Streator he is ' ' framework tliat supports the social fabric practically unknown. stands out bare and grim, as yet uncovered by The foregoing words, written by the editor the accretions whicli in older cities soften and of this volume in 1898, may still stand as an mellow, if they do not conceal, the rougli beams ajipropriate introduction to an article on Strea- which knit the structure together; and the play tor. For Streator is still a town of workers of those elemental energies which propel the in- and working-men. It is still in the making; and dustrial mechanism, and thereby vivify and vi- although its sense of beauty is growing, and talize the social life, are still plainly visible. evidences of it may be seen in its parks, streets, "The gilded youtli of the second generation, tine homes and well kept lawns, it may be ad- who wastes in idle elegance the earnings of his mitted that it does not comj^are in this respect father's toil, has hardly made liis a])pearance with the towns of the old and finished East. It here as yet. The men wlio made the man he is unfinished, therefore not dead. It has not a employs. There is no leisure class, and Irat few long i)ast, but has an immense future: and that retired men of business. Such affinity has not future belongs to men of action, men of energy, crystalized into social caste. Society is demo- the men who have made and will continue to cratic; it permits the free flow of social feeling make the industries and the institutions of along the channels of natural sympathy regard- Streator. THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE TOWN It cannot pretend to a history of hoaiy an- tools with whicli to repair their own farm im- tiquity. The oldest date the writer has been plements. able to find in the chronicles of the past is 1831, Pioneer Names Still Survive. at which time one Geoi-ge Basore, a native of Virginia, settled on a fann about (uie mile From 1833 to 1837 there was an influx of set- north-east of where Streator now stands. It is tlers, many of them from Fayette County, Penn- recorded that the family supplied their simple sylvania. Ai_ong them were some whose names wants from materials of their own raising. They still sui-vive in the directory of modern Strea- made clothing of flax and wool, leather for foot- tor. There are the Raineys, the ]\Iackeys, the wear and harness from hides tanned l)y them- Downells, the Eeddicks, the Bronsons, the Ful- selves, sugar and molasses from the maples on wilers, the Dinsmores, the Painters. ( )ne of the their meat from their stock of the is farm, own ; they ate descendents latter, Mr. Lloyd Painter, the corn and grain from their own fields, and in the present city attorney of Streator. their own blacksmith shop made their own These were all farmers, and it was not until THE STORY OF STRKATOR. 57 the early sixties that there were signs of a nu- tion soon began to l)e counted by the thousands. cleus tiiat would foreshadow the future city. On the tentii of February, 1868, the new town About tiii'^ time a number of miners began was platted, the signers of the i)lat being Ralph burrowing in tiie banks of the Veniiillion River I'liunl) secretary, and James Iluggans, Albert and diifting into the ricli seam of coal tliat Mc('ormi<-k and Win. Rainey. Streator was in- croijjit'd out along tlie stream. To satisfy their coi-porated as a village not long before ISTO, and wants a small grocery was started in 1861 by in that year were elected as its officers the fol- .John D'Xeil on the river bank. The next build- lowing: ing was erected James Iluggaiis, the front by Frank Holmes, jiresident; and J. O'Neil, Kd. ])art of which was used as a store. Tlien came Woolzen, Robt. Duncan and (r. W. t'umniings, Hoiiert Duinan's store, and in 18()4 came couiicihiien, tile latter also sei'\ing as clerk. Springer ^: Tainter. Shortly after was built what became the Streator House, and Overholt First City Officers. & Iloinies built what was hrnix the leading The village organization was (>ontinued un- Louis .Nater, City Treasurer. Fred H. Renz, City Engineer. store, on the site of the I'lumb |[ouse. i)resent a til July ;>, 1882, when Streator became city The village was scattered along the blulT of the under the general laws of the state. Its popu- river and was called "Hard Scrabble" from tlie lation was about 6,0t)(). The first officers of the difficulty of clind)ing the hill from the river I'ity under the general laws of the state ford. .\ little later the village was called were: Colonel Ralph Plumb, president, John Unionville; but in 1866 came Col. Ralph Plumb E. John T. and with him came the Vennillion Coal Com- "Williams, clerk; Kuhns, treasurer; J. T. Murdock. attorney; Joseph Mosher, su- pany with its president. Hr. W. L. Streator, of sti-eets; Henry Smith, marshal; from whom the town got the name it now bears. perintendent B. A. llattenhauer, park connnissioner. The al- The of Col. Plumb. Coming: dermen were: Jo.seph O'Xeil, Hugh Hall, J. C. With the coming of Col. Plumb a new era Camjjbell, L. C. Mills, George Bronson, B. A. was begun. The coal industry was rapidly de- Hattenhauer, W. W. Haskell, J. M. Hess, John veloped, railroads were built, and the popula- Arthur, Thomas Hudson. 58 THE STORY OF STREATOR. THIRTY YEARS OF MUNICIPAL PROGRESS Although not originally a propossessing of the city. To the stranger entering Streator town, Streator since its organization as a city today it would present the api^earance of a well has made rapid strides and will now compare built, solid, substantial industrial town, now favorably with its sister cities of the west. passing into its second stage, and taking on the Streets have been lifted from the mnd and pav- ed with vitrified brick; miles of straight stone curb with curved intersections give long sym- metrical lines which are jjleasing to the eye; and these are flanked by broad, grast-y berms planted with well-grown shade trees. Joining these are the well-kept lawns of many fine resi- dences, broadly set Ijaek from the street, giv- ing an air of spaciousness absent from many older towns. The open park of eleven acres in the centre of the town and the two smaller out- side parks add to the air of breadth and large- ness in the out-door aspect of the city. Fine Public Buildings. During its thirty years as a city, many fine public buildings have been erected which dig- nify and ennoble the civic landscajie. Notably is tliis true of the school buildings and ])nblic library, which ai'e really splendid specimens of and an attractive and dis- architecture, present Harry Young, City Electrical Inspector. tinguished appearance. Tlie churches, too, lend distinction to the town, some of them being graces and refinements of an awakened civic quite iin]30sing in appearance; and the Masonic and aesthetic consciousness. Already the lines Temiile, Post Office, Streator ( "lub. and especial- are emerging which in the years to come are to ly the new Elks' Club add to the attractiveness transform it into the city Beautiful. CLEAN MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT The government of the city since its or- ery was used in the erection of a bridge, and ganization has been conducted along broad public conscience was so strong that it prose- democratic lines. Although its governors have cuted and convicted the bribers and caused the been chosen nominally on a i^artisan basis, in removal of the bridge after it had been built the main the popularity of the men rather than across the river—a fact that speaks volumes of the party has determined the elections. for the sound civic spirit of the citizens. Republicans and democrats have succeeded The city had been especially progressive each other in office with little regard to poli- along the line of permanent improvements, no- tics, and in the main a good representative tably in the matter of the paving of streets. It class of men have been elected to the mayoral- has constructed nearly thirty miles of brick ty and council. A great deal of public work paving at an approximate cost of $780,000.00, has been done in these years, especially in which is probably more than any city of its street paving, sewers and bridge building, and size in the world. it is worthy of remark that there has been no The broad are:' of the town may be inferred taint of suspicion or graft except in one in- by the fact that it has required the construction stance. In that case it was suspected that brib- of 37 miles of walk to accommodate the homes, THE STOHV OF STRKATOK. 59 of which 12 miles are concreted and 75 are of The council consists of Messrs. W. Atkin- hi'ick. Anproxiina'cly IG miles of sewers iun e son, W. Cool, J. Deiderirh, J. Gotcii, ('. H. been built .ind the town is well drained, and it Haldeman, J. M. Hunter, II. Johnson, J. H. is worthy of note that these sewers have all Jackson, L. F. Morgan, F. Marx, T. McNamara, been built and paid for out of the jreneral fund, I), r. Swain, D. Stobs, A. White. and no assessment s])ecial has yet been levied (Since the foregoing was written Messrs. E. for tliis coristnii'tinri. D. Roberts and G. C. Daniels have replaced Present City Administration. Messrs. W. Cool and J. Deiderich as aldermen. The fomiiiissidn form of government, al- The police force numbers fourteen, and the thouirli favdialily diseussed, has not yet taken fire department ten men, and these are under liiijd liere. The eity is still governed l)y a civil service couniiission, consisting of Messrs. City HaU. mayor and fourteen aldemien, representing the Richard F. Purcell, E. M. Davis and I. C. seven wards of the city. Ames. The three parks of the city are under the The present mayor is W. "W. Bean, publisher direction of a commission consisting of Edw. of the Streator Monitor. Mr. Bean is now serv- Reinel, Matt Bilger, W. L. Griffith, Mrs. Ozilla ing his third tenn as mayor, which sjjeaks well Richardson and Mrs. Louise Black. A regular for his popularity with the voters. The other appro])riation is made yearly for this board officers are: Charles L. McNamara, clerk; and the city park of 11 acres is being improved Lloyd Painter, attorney; Louis Nater, treas- and beautified under the plan and the direc- urer; F. II. Henz, city engineer; Frank Owens, tions of a iirofessional landscape gardener. chief of the fire department; John Hopkins, An Efficient Fire Department. chief of police; James Price, superintendent of sti-eets. The city supports an efficient fire depart- 60 THE STORY OF STREATOK. MAYOR AXD ALDEUMEX, reading right to left—C. H. Haldeman, J. M. Hunter, D. D. Stobs, Henry Johnson, W. H. Atkinson, Mayor W. W. Bean, T. F.McNamara, John Gotch, L. F. Morgan J. H. Jackson, John Dlederich, Frank Marx, D. C. Swain, Wm. Cool. Alfred White is not in the group. THi: STOKV OF STKKATOi; 61 ment consisting of ten full paid men, including? del)t. On the new river bridge just built there chief and assistant chief, two captains and six are unpaid bonds of $34,000. On the district firemen. It is -;iipplied witli an am))le e<|nii)ment and high scliools tliere are outstanding bonds of hose and ladiler wa.ii:nns, fire hose, chemical of $05,000, of which Streator must i>ay its tanks, etc. Available for fire use are 2'J8 iiy- siiare as ])art of the school district. drants, always in good condition and ready for The total assessment in the town of Bruce, use. The chief states that there is ami)le water in which Streator is situated, for the cun'ent sujii)ly and tlie jtressure is ^oiid, no niatt<'r how vear is $l.")l.',(;01.0S, of which only $40,4G8 is for many streams are used. There are 41 miles of the city. The district schools receive $57,080 water mains in the city, ranging from 4 to Ki and the high school $L'3,388; the l)alance goes to Fire Station No. 2. inches in diaiuctcr. At tlie walcrworUs are two town, county and state. The ollicial rate of tax- pumi)s, one of 5,000,000 gallons and one of ation is $(i.80 i)er $100 on i)ersonal projjcrty. ."'.OOO.OOO gallons capacity, so the water sujijily and $5.45 per $100 on real estate, ))ased on a is always ample whatever may l)e the demand valuation of one-third the cash value of the for (ires. Tlie department is supplieil with a ]iroperty asse> FIRE DEPARTMENT, reading from lelt to right— John Stringer, Asst. Chief Frank Butterly, Wm. Hawks- ley, Chas. Marx, Chief Prank Owen, Clyde Conner, Jo hn Long, Samuel Conner, Andrew Palascak, Geo. Pinkney THK STOItV OF STHKATOR. 63 EDUCATION AND RELIGION SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, CHAUTAUQUA; STREATOR'S SUPERIOR CULTURAL FACILITIES. Xotliiiii!: so bespeaks the diarafter of a persistence with which they have grappled eonmiuiiity as its scliools. No stian^ier could witli the real problem of pedai^ogy, and no ef- eoine to Streator and fail to be struck by tlie fort has been too great to obtain for Streator distiiiicuisbed a|>|iearaiice of its school build- the l)est its means would afford, even when ings. They arc sjilcndid structures of brick taxed to the limit of the law. Iler standards and stone, nearly all of modern construction, have been higli, and her demands on teachers and e{|uii)|ied with the latest improvements for rigorous. As a result some of the best teachers heatinir, ventilation, health and comfort. They in the country have been attracted to Sti'eator, present the most imposiuij architectural ap and the course of study here is the ])roduct of pearanrc of any of the stnn-tures in the city, some of the best brains in the profession. The and l)ear witness to the liberality and i)rogres- noted jjcdagogical authority, J. N. Patrick, the sivoness of tlie peojile in The Greeley School. Probably no city its size and age can show liave all been superintendents here. The pres- a bctlci' material e<|uii)inent for school work. ent incumbent is Prof. J. G. Moore, who is re- all them to During the ))ast sixteen years Streator has built taining the old values and applying six new grade bui Mings at a cost as follows: new conditions. r.arfield. Plumb, $;».n()l>; $.30,000, Greeley, High Qualification of Teachers. $:{.'),000; Grant $4r).000; .Tefl'erson. $8,000; :\[c- The course of study jjursued combines all Kinley $8,000, aggregating $164,000. the wisdom of these school experts. The course Some Noted Schoolmasters. is worked out by subjects by a committee of P>ut Strt'ator ha- not been satisti*'d to rest teachers in co-operation with the superintend- content with her externals of education. Her ent, and the work i)rinted in a manual. It is a school boards have been remarkable for the most thorough going system, and not commonly 64 THE STORY OF STREATOR. used except in cities of large size. training school for teachers. As a result of ail There are sixty-five teacliers employed, and these activities the schools of Streator are re- the requirements are high. No teacher can be cognized in the school world as among the most engaged "who has not two years training, in ad- advanced, and ambitious teachers are anxious The Garfield School. dition to the high school course. In addition to to come here for the value of the experience in the regular force, supervisors are also em]iloyed its schools. The total enrollment of pupils for in manual training, in music, art and the do- I he current year is 2,300. mestic arts. There is also maintained a citv STREATOR'S SPLENDID HIGH SCHOOL The High School has a record that is even cupying a chair in the State Normal at more distinguished. First, it has the memory Macomb. of the revered iiliilanthropist, Col. Rali)h Plumb A Fine School Equipment. who gave the building to the city. Then it has The school has been growing with the years a proud line of educators to look back on whose and in 1902 an annex was added which doubled names are an honorable tradition. First is the its capacity. It is now amply supplied with name of Prof. Rinaldo Williams, which shines the best modem equipment for educational with a gentle and benignant lustre, o\er the dis- work. It has a good nuuiual training depart- tance of years and throws a melloAv radiance ment fully equipped with lathes, planes, work over the early days of the school. Pie was for benches and tools for working in wood and soft five years principal of Farm Ridge Seminary metal. In its domestic science department it and ten years county sui^erintendent of schools teaches cooking, sewing, dressmaking, milli- before coming to Streator to take charge of one nery, etc. The commercial department teaches of the first township high schools in tiie state. short hand, typewriting, bookkeeping, business, To his gentle and wise guidance the school owes law and all requirements of a thorough busi- its early direction and its fine distinction. Fol- ness education. And there has recently been lowing him came an educator of even wider added a teachers' course, designed to give such rejjutation, Prof. Alfred Bayliss, who remained as desire it two years i)reparation for tlie work principal until elected State Superintendent of of teaching. Schools for Illinois. He was succeeded by an- Vocational Work. other noted teacher, Prof. S. B. Hursh, now oc- While the usual branches ^ireparatory to 1HF-; STf)in OK STRKATOR. 65 work are ((.llo^n' tauylit, increasinu,- oinpliasis is enrolled 291 pupils who are taufrht by a force nf hi'iiii; laid on vocational work. Tlio aim is to fourteen tc;'cheis. all under the direction of tlic lill his iielp inii)il niclie in the industrial and Prof. 0. A. K'awlins, principal. social life of the community, and to fit him for Private Schools. the work he will be called on to do wlien 1ie In addition to the jmlilic scjiools there are leaves school. his Accordingly studies arc tinn- i! number of i)rivate and i)arochial schools. The ed in the direction of liis future vocation, and latter are three in mimber and are provided consultations are held lietween teachers and with jyood buildinfjs and c(|uiiiment, and give High School. parents to decide the line of study. At present training in religion and instruction in the coin- there is a class in the handlinii; of concrete work iiion branches. The American, German and and other crafts will be tau^Hit as needed. Slavish schools have an enrollment of about Kecenlly the Streator lliffli School was made 800 pupils. The Kvangelical Lutheran church one of four schools pi-rmittcd to ijive one year also conducts a school; lirown's Business Col- of college work after ^rraduation and have the lege has 8l' students. It furnishes opportunity jnipil receive credit for it in the examinations for students to get an education in the evening, of the Universitv of Illinois. There are now and is a growing and useful institution. RELIGIOUS AND CULTURE OPPOF^TUNITIES The religimis life in Streator is remarkable gregations have built for themselves splendid for its breadth and variety, as migh> be e.vpect- church homes, and have an able, loyal and crTT- ed from so varied a population. Here are rep- cient ministry. Among the more imposing resentatives of the oldest and the newest relig- structures are the Methodist and Catholic ious bodies. From Homan Catholic to ("uis- churches, while tiie most uniciue is the Russian tian Science, each creed tinds here equal hospi- (ireek church, which was brought from Russia tality and welcome. The English speaking as part of its exhibit at the Chicago "World's Protestant people are represented by the usual Fair and afterwards transplanted to Streator. Evangelical and Episcopal bodies, while the The Salvation Army has been the last to add to foreign born are ministered to by the Catholic, the number of church buildings, having just Russian (ireek and Slavish, Swedisli and Ger- completed a very creditable brick edifice. Alto- man Evangelical churches. The stronger con- gether there are about twenty church edifices in 6G THF STORY OF STRKATOR. steel auditorivun of the city. magnificent capable seating Eev. W. C. Miles writes as follows about the from four to five thousand people, with an amj^le room religious attitude of the people: "A religious stage, raised seats and covered standing census was taken recently and reveals some in- for a couple of thousand more people. On the of tents are erected each teresting facts. It appears that practically all grounds scores white of the foreign element from whom information year and families from city and country enjoy was obtainable are identitied with some church, the pleasure of out-door life amid pleasant so- usually Catholic, Lutheran, Gennan Evangeli- cial and cultural surroundings. The Chautau- cal or Eussian Greek. The loyalty of these qua, too, brings the summer vacation to the * * people to their faith is commendable. thousands of industrial workers who cannot af- Of the whole population, American and foreign ford a trip to the lakes or mountains, and alto- not identitied with any church, nearly all ex- gether it is a great boon to the city. The work press preference for some denomination of the of managing and operating it is perfoi'med by a Protestant faith. Com])aratively few refuse to group of public-spirited business men, who give give information, and there were no confessed their time and energy without stint and with- ' ' infidels. out cost, being animated by a desire only of serving the community. Park Presbyterian Church. Kupsian Greek Church. The Sunday Evening Course. Streator Chautauqua Assembly. The same social spirit is exemplified in the For a city so thoroughly industrial in its Streator Sunday Evening Course, an institution character as Streator its cultured interests are designed to minister to the educational and in maintained a really remarkal)le manner. It ethical needs of the citj' during the winter supports a Summer Chautauqua assembly months. This feature is altogether unique, and which draws attendance from many miles suj)plies a free j^latform on which is heard the around. Its programs are of the very highest very finest talent in the lecture field on Sunday class, and the most eminent men in the nation evenings. Eminent scientists and educators appear on its platform from year to year. Here from near by universities are frequently heard, are too, heard great artists, splendid musical great readers like Bertha Kiuiz Baker, S. H. organizations, and siiperb presentations of Clark, and Frederick Wards, distinguished classical plays. The Chautauciua association singers and musical artists, illustrated lectures owns a beautiful park of eighteen acres, right and noted public teachers like Edward Howard on the edge of the city, where it has erected a Griggs, William Norman Guthrie, Earl Barnes, THi: STOR'^- OF STRKATOR. 67 Charles Zueblin and othors. This ooui-se is of- not less than loO.OOO. It has a well assorted fored I'roe to the ])t'ople of tlie city, the cost collection of 16,000 volumes, embracing not being defrayed by the liberal citizens, some of only works of current literature, but also whom cnntrihTito jartre sums for its support. standard works on art, science, poetry, phil- Public Library. The course is largely iiatrnnized, and well illus- o.sopliy and the like, for wliieli there is a good trates the liberal and enterprising sjiirit (if tlie demand. 'J'he city approjiriates $3,500 per year people of Streatnr. for its sujiport. An ever increasing demand on the library is from the pu|iils of the public Streator Public Library. schools, and every helit and assistance is given The Streatnr I'ultlie l.ilirarv is an institu- by the purchase of reference and other needed tion of which the town is justly proud. The books. It is also much used by young men pre- building is one of the benefactions of Andrew paring for mechanical occupations. There is a Cai-nogie. With the lot and accessories it cost good reading room containing a plentiful sup- 68 THE STORY OP STREATOR. one hundred and lovers of the art of ply of magazines, journals and daily papers, members, of musical or social which is well patronized. The librarian is Mrs. song have no lack oppor- to on a and a A. P. Wright; the president Mrs. A. S. Ross; tunity. They aim put light opera assist in and the secretaiy Mr. A. C. Reed. choral concert each year, also to bringing symphonic orchestras and other fine Women's Study and Social Clubs. music to town. The present year it brought to Streator will find no Strangers moving here the state meeting of the State Music for or culture. lack of oiiportnnity" sociability Teachers' Association, and gave Streator a fes- is remarkable for the number of its societies, It tival week of music with great success. its social and study clubs. Among the latter are a great variety of progrannnes suited to St. Mary's Hospital. ever taste. The AVoman's Club is the nearly" The Sisterhood of St. Francis has taken on and it has several departments, and one largest itself the care of the sick and injured of the at domestic mav work philanthropy, civics, town. Tlie sisters have borne the burden of arts, or other lines of study. Then there are this Avork of cliarity for twenty-five years. the smaller which include the Callere, groups, From time to time their hospital has been ex- the E Re Xata, the Philonuitheon, the Klio, the tended and improved, keeping pace with the and the Twentieth Clubs. Legensia, Century needs of tlie town and the advance of modern Tlie Woman's Christian Temperance Fnion is medicine and surgery. Today they ai'e eqnip- strong and vigorous here, and carries on an im- ])ed for the care of seventy patients. The sis- line of work. The churches and fra- ]K)rtant terhood in Streator numbers twenty—all of ternal bodies all have societies, and auxiliaiy them laboring in this humane work, without no woman coming here would find difficulty in ctlier compensation than tlie rewards of relig- contact and outlet for her social and finding ion and the gratitude of the community. The intellectual energies. hosi)ital charges are moderate, and provision is Streator Opera Club. made for the care of a certain number without Streator supports a choral society of about charge. Ralph Plumb School. THE STOnV OP STREATOH. 69 OUR PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS THEATRES, SOCIAL CLUBS, CHAUTAUQUAS, FAIRS AND NUMER- OUS OTHER AMUSEMENTS. Streatcir is kiiowii as a lively town. All the weekly baseball inatelies, tliere are races, tliere ycai' roiiiiil tlnTc is soiiictliiiiu: "loiiiii- for tlip en- is tlie bia: district fair, and tlie ("haiitau(|ua for IcrtaiiuiR'iit cil' tlic imlilic. lii tho wiiitiT four the less hilariously inclined. The largest of the theatres open their dtxirs, otTerinf;: all varietie.^^ theatres is that devoted to the regular drama. Ill" staire aimiseiiifiit. In the siiininer tliere are PLUMB OPERA HOUSE I'liiiul) opera Ilou.se was erected i)y Colonel seiiibly. where tliey could liear tlie liest things riunil) in 1SS;{. lie l)uilt it in the same si>irit in music, drama and oratory under favorable tliat he did the lliiih School bi-cause lie coiulitions. I''or a number of vears the auditor- Plumb Opera House. on for lectures and tliouirlit tlie town needed it. lie exjjeoted no ium was occupied Sundays church sen'ices, and the week for the- l.rolit from it. and was not disapiniinted. He during at uo time have the ideals of wanted to give the people a place of public as- atrical purposes; 70 THE STORY OF STREATOR. its builders been lost sight of, or the good of lor, head usher. The stage manager is Mr. the communit}- ceased to be a prime considera- Edw. Scheibel. Mr. Williams is well known as tion in its conduct. the Nestor among the managers of the Central When the property passed into the hands of West and as a speaker and writer on dramatic its present owner, Mr. Fawcett Plumb, the subjects. He is a national director of the Drama same motives prevailed. He rebuilt it in 1903 League of America. at a cost of about $15,000 to adapt it to the The theatre is thoroughly equipped for stag- needs of big scenic productions, and again re- ing and presenting any production that travels, decorated and improved at a cost of several and has a seating capacity of about 1,100. thousand dollars. Streator is regarded by the profession as a This money has never been returned in the first-class "show town." The best touring at- way of profits, so from a financial view, at tractions on the road play Streator, and some- least, the theatre has been as much a donation times the reputation of the town and its man- as the High School. ager brings companies that do not usually visit The theatre has been under the management towns of this size. The season of I9li-1912, of one man for twenty-six years, Mr. J. E. Wil- just closed, has been unusually brilliant, and liams, elsewhere referred to as the editor of Streator has been privileged to see a number of this book. During all this time there have metro])olitan casts and ])roducti(ins that seldom been associated with him Mr. George N. Tav- visit the night stands. THE MAJESTIC THEATRE In addition to the opera house there are trading a large clientele to his house, and it has four theatres devoted to vaudeville and pic- become very popular. He has given them not tures, and of these "The Majestic" is the lar- only vaudeville, but has played long seasons of gest. It was built at a time when the popular "stock" drama, all at popular prices. These, taste was turning from the regular drama alternated witli motion picture entertainment Tile Majestic Theatre. to the lower priced form of entertainment, form the staple attractions at the Majestic. It and has proved veiy successful. It was erected is an unusually large theatre for a house devot- in 1907 by its present owner and manager, Mr. ed to popular priced entertainment in a town of C. A. Day. Mr. Day has been fortunate in at- this size, having a capacity of nearly one thous- THK STfUn (»F STUKATOR. 71 aud. This lariro caijacity, which is frequently in the week and gives frequent matinees. Mrs. tested, enables Mr. Day to put on quite expen- Day is associated with her Inisband in the con- sive bills and '/ive his jiatrons a great deal for duct of the house. their money. Tlie Majestic is open every night THE DAWN THEATRE To the lovers of motion pictures, li<;:lit vau- when tired iVet anuoiuicc the close of the siiop- deville and song the Dawn Theatre commends ping day and the wisdom of a half hour of rest, itself; here each afternoon and evening these people find in the semi-darkened Dawn throughout the year is ))resonted one of the best Theatre, where the air is good, where the seats (ive-ceiit entertainments to be fouiul anywhere. are comfortable and where a first class five- The theatre is located in the heart of the cent show is always in progress, just such a business district of the city, and its attractive place as they are seeking, and it is a compli- entrance, as shown in the accompanying illus- ment to their sense and taste to know that they tration is a seasonable inti-oduction to a com- take advantage of it. niiMliiPus and well appointed inside. While the Dawn Theatre is the latest addi- The Dawn Theatre. The stage is ample, the iionse is softly but liuii to the amusement houses of Streator, it is well lighted, exceedingly well ventilated and conceded to possess advantages al)ove the oth- the exits are sullicient to clear the hall in less ers, and in no way is tliis suiJcriority more than a minute should exigency demand. In marked than in the personality of him who winter the place is comfortably heated and the conducts it. well arranged fans along the walls keep the The jiroprietor and manager of the "Dawn" wlio tenjperature right during the hottest days of is Mr. Charles \'ance, knows the business summer. from end to end and who by training and a.s- The people of Streator realize the advan- soeiatiou, knows the wants and wisiies of the he serves. Mr. tages of tlie Dawn Theatre, aud of an afternoon people whom Vance was a pic- 72 THE STORV OF STRKATOR. neer in the motion picture show business, has his youth and grew to manhood here, and as a studied it in all its phases, has seen it from all result knows everyljody and everybody knows its angles; he was the iirst man to open a five- him. He is familiar with the habits and tastes cent play house in Streator—that was back in of the people and secures for his house the the years when he who attempted it took a things that please and appeal to them. chance. Apart from all this "Charley" is a good mixer and greets all with a cheerful gracious- ness that brings them back again. He is al- ways there, looking after the wants of his pat- rons, extending to tliem those little acts of courtesy and thoughtfulness that never fails of big reward. The "Dawn" has a seating capacity of 450, In his experience covering many years in all of it on the ground floor on the ^fain street. tlie north and the south, in cities lai\ge and Under such favorable conditions and with such small, Mr. Vance has had opportunity to learn a man at its head, it is no surprise tliat to the the detail of the art and here in Streator now querj^ "How is business?" one often gets the he is putting into practical effect the knowledge answer "Had to turn 'em away," when refer- thus gained. ence is had to The Dawn. Charles Vance was boi-n in tliis I'ity, spent THE STREATOR CLUB The oldest of the city's social' organiza- are the leading citizens of the town, the solid, tions is the Streator Club. In its membership .-Substantial men, on whom rest the burdens of The Slrealor Club House. THK STORY OF STI{i:\Tf)K. 73 its business and industrial enterprises. It lias poses for the promotion of matters relating to been said tbat if the men on tlie roster of the the good of the community. The club is broad Streator Club were suddenly wiped out there and democratic in its spirit, is not an institu- wouhl be scarcely anyone left at the head of its tion to create a narrow and exclusive coterie, most important concerns. but its doors swing hospitably open to worth Although composed of business men, the and character in whomsoever found. Its rules function of the club is primarily social. Here forbid the sale or use of liquor on the premises, after business hours they meet for relaxation also gambling in any forai. and friendly converse. The admirable club The club was organized in l.SiH, and its first buildiii.i,' is ('((uipped with all kinds of games, oHicers were: J. C. Ames, i)resident; W. H. liipwiiiii;-, billiards, pool, cards and the like, and Boys, vice president; M. J. Finlen, treasurer; access to these is free to all members. During W. L. Koss, secretary. In addition to the fore- the winter season a number of club entertain- going the foUowing were diiectors: F. Plumb, ments are given, such as lectures, concerts, card Walter Keeves, :M.' W. .lack. K. II. P.ailey, I. C. l>arties, social dances and the like, at which the Cope. families of meml)ers and invited guests meet At present the club has a membershi]) of for social enjoyment as guests of the club, with- 189. The odicers are: AV. },\. nrilliths. i)resi- out cost. dent; ('. A. Miller, vice i)resi(lent; II. L. Man- The spacious rooms of the club are often le\', secret a rv-treasurer. hosj>itably loaned to tlie iniblic for jirojier pur- NORTHERN ILLINOIS DISTRICT FAIR Streator otTers many outdoor features for i?ig them iiil is tlic Xoi-tJiern Illinois District the delecfatiun of visitors and its own peojile Fair, which is the largest institution of its kind dui-ing the sunnner months, but by far overtop in the state, outside tlie state fair at Sjiring 74 THE STORY OF STREATOR. field. It will be held this year for six days, The horse Show is always a fashionable from Sept. 7 to 13, and it will be the Mecca for sensation wherever it appears. It will be held all lovers of i-ecreation for hundreds of miles. at night in front of the grand stand, and tlie It is expected that fully 100.000 people will at- track will be brilliantly illuminated. A spec- tend, and the greatest aggregation of features taciilar showing of the equine aristocracy of has been brought together for their entertain- America is assured. A number of the classiest, ment ever assembled at a District I^'air. high bred horses in the land are jDledged to be It has an appeal for every taste. First, is here, including many noted prize-winners and the great agricultural exhibit, which will show fashionable favorites. the products of the richest farming district in This is a great district for horse, cattle and the world—right at our own doors. Prizes will sheep and hog breeders, and they are all coming XORTHERN ILLINOIS DISTRICT FAIR—Officers and Directors (Reading from left to right) — Charles Arthur Holl, treas.; M. A. Bronson, Geo. Holcombe, mgr. ; William H. Savage, John R. Knox, sec; Wolfe, P. J. Lucey, Charles F. Wenninger, president; Guy C. Lakin, John W. Fornof. be awarded for the best exhibits of fann pro- to the Streator Fair to display their stock. of ani- ducts, all varieties, including fruits and flow- Some of the most celebrated specimens ers. The contest will be open to the ten coun- mal perfection in the world will be on exhibi- ties of the district, which includes La Salle, tion. $10,000 in cash premiums will draw them. a Bureau, Lee, De Kalb, Kendall, Grundy, Liv- The Sliced Programme will be sensatioii, well as ingston, Marshall, Woodford and Putnam. offering six $1,000 stakes, as purses which to This will draw The Educational Exhibit will bring out the aggregate $10,500. the swiftest of the best work of the schools of the district, and will steppers. give an immense stimulus to the thousands of The Glad Way will give a festive air to the children in countrj^ and city schools. This de- scene. On it will be the Great Patterson Shows partment is in charge of Prof. J. G. Moore, of with 25 different attractions, which include the citv schools. Ferris Wheel, Steeple Chase, performing ele- THF STOnV OF STKi: \T(»K. pliaiits, (lens of linns, circus, acrobats and a I-'loral Hall, Agricultural Hall, barns, etc., and host of stril THE STREATOR POSTOFFICE '{"lie governmriil building in Siicalur is a livbh^d, and tlic iiiiirilx-r ni <-riticiMii> and com- monument to the local patriotism of lion. Wal- plaints reduced to the minimum. The disci- ter Heeves, tliroui,^!) whose iiiHuence ihe struc- |)line of the force has been strengtiicned, but ture was erected in IIMIO, wiiile he was congress- so jH'nneated by the spirit of co-operation and man from this district. It faces the park and mutual helpfulness, that it has been felt as a is a solid, substantial structure, built of Strea- help rather than a hin Government Building. The chief rei)resentative of the federal gov- make searching examinations, but they have ermnent in Streator is Mr. J. W. Fornof. post- rarely found occasion for comment at Streator. nmster. ^Ir. I'ornof was appointed by Presi- Its money order department, especially, has a dent McKinley in 1898. twice reappointed by perfect record. President Roosevelt, and again by President ]\h'. Fornof came to Streator in 1873 and Taft, making a period of fourteen years of con- found work at his trade as a printer on the tinuous service. During this period the work Streator Free Press. Soon after he became part his of the postoffice has reached a high degree of owner of the paper and has maintained pro- until the time. efficiency. The business of the office has been prietary interest present Under 76 THE STORY OF STREATOR. STREATOR POSTOPPICE STAFF— (Reading from left to right) —James S. Robb, Alex Suttie, John B. Mllburn, asst. postmaster; William Arrandale, John F. Shoop, Herbert R. Sweetser, George Brunskill, Benja- min R. Hall, Alex Mclntyre, Miss Myrtle Fornot, in charge of money order dept.; John W. Fornof, postmaster; Guy C. Lakin, supt. of carriers; William R. Broadfield, William Price, John Creber, Charles Hall. (Rural car- riers not included in group.) iHi: sToin (»K STi{i:\i(>i{. liis iiiaiiaffomont tlip Free Press prospcretl finan- has heen active in tlie local affairs of the city, cially, ami iiccanic one of tlio most [xiworfiil or especially in fraternal matters and out-door of the .i,'ans rcpnhlican party in the interior of sport.s. lie has been vice-president of the Strea- tlie state. ^Ir. Fornof wields a trenchant, incis- tor Trottinf>- and Fair Association, and is one of ive and fearless pen, and his editorials have the promoters of the Nortliern Illinois District heen widely cojiicd in the party press, especial- Fair. lie has heen president of the Streator ly on matters of ccoiioinic and financial policy, ("luh. tlie Golf Clnl) aiul the Illinois N'alley (lolf on wiiii'li he writes with conviction an THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS The Public Service Comjiany of Xorthern Il- What It Can Do for Streator, linois is Streator's latest ac(piisitioi.. As its What can the Public Service Comi>any do name implies its business is to serve the public. tor Streator.' It is a of It jturveyor ])ower. jrathers enerc:y 1. It can place it with ri'sjiect to its ]iower con- from its natural sources, coal and water, supi)ly in as fa\'orable position as Cliicago or verts it into electricity, tran-^mntes it a^ain any city in the west. de- into liirht. heat or mechanical ))ower. and 2. It can give it a power supply for manu- livers it to the factory, tlie lm-;ine- prodnctioii. The grouping of a large number erators used to be handicapped by a long drive of towns and cities in one system make for belt; in the modern plant it is driven directly economies and efficiencies that would not be off the engine shaft. possible to a single unit of ]n'o id" t'lc'L-trii'ity in factories aud work shops. It to demonstrate that gas is more economical feels that it can more than equal the value of for many ]iurposes than coal, and will be ready other form of any ])o\ver to its users, and so to furnish glass and other furnaces with gas for aims ultimately to be the uuuu power producer melting purjioses. of the town. When this is done the full benefit Traction Rebuilt. of the l'ul)li(' Service Company to Streator will System be realized, and it will be as one of recofjnized Tlie traction system is also in i)rocess of re- tiie <,n-eatest factors in the welfare promoting constniction and will re(]nire the exi»enditure of the city. of a large sum of money. When comiileted new Solves the Servant Girl Problem. street cars will be added, and Streator will have as fine an urban traction system as any The use of electricity is as yet in its infancy. city of its class in the west. As the city gi'ows Tile time is not far distant wJien most of the la- this system will spread out to reach new dis- bor of tlie farm or home will be done by it. tricts and make connections with new factory Kven now it has ceased to be a luxury and has areas that will spring up outside the city. become a household necessity. A fan can be run for less than a cent an hour, and the family Inducement to New Factories. washini; can be done for 2.') cents per month. In conclusion, the Public Service Toasters, iiercolators, vacuum cleaners, ironers Company can be of immense value to Streator in are in common use, and the servant girl prob- offering as an inducement to new factories a lem is in a fair way of beim; solved by the elec- thoi'ough- tric current. ly dependable supply of absolutely unlimited power. The advantage to a new industry of A Reconstructed Gas Plant. being relie\'ed of the necessity of erecting a The I'nblic Service Company deals also in costly power i)hint. with its expensive labor and jias for li^ht and heating', and already $40,00(1 fuel ex])enditure, its liability to acciiloits and has been sjient in reconstructiufj; the plant and stoii))age of business, its dirt, waste and dis- convert injr il from a coal to water gas system. comfort, is an ad\anfage hardly to be com- .More must be spent in renewing thi' distriltut- p\ite STREATOR INDEPENDENT TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH COMPANY Few public service corporations enjoy more The "Independent" was established here cordial I'elations with patrons and jmblic than in 1!>01. It started with 800 subscribers. The does The Streator Independent Telephone & 'Hell" was already on the ground and was Telegraph ( 'ompany. solidly entrenched in the business section. In If there was fear that service four years the Independent's i)atrons had in- any " pooi'cr" would follow when the Inde))endent consoli- creased to 144.S, while its rival showed no jiro- dated witli the "P.ell." that fear has long ago gress. In 1911 it was found expedient and been dispelled. economical to merge the two telephone systems • "' The Irxicpei'dent lias the good sense to and when the Inde)iendent took over the Bell I'ealize that no concern has to be more consid- it added oidy KJ city telephones to its list, erate in dealing with \t.< customers than one showing conclusively that the Bell 'phone was which enjoys a partial or complete monopoly. only kept as a duplicate, or for long distance Conse(|nently its ])olicy has been to do every- convenience. The merger j)roved a great econ- Ihins:- liunianly jHissible to keep its service at omy to subscribers, as it enabled many of thejn the highest point of elliciency; to meet every to do away with the exi)ense and annoyance of complaint promptly; to be on the alei-t to meet tAvo 'phones. It also avoided the duplication of and even anticii)ate the wants of every patron. expense caused by the maintenance of two That it has been successful in this ambition is systems. evidenced by its long and increasing list of In 190,") the "Independent" moved from its patrons. quarters in the Opera House Block to its own so THK STORY OF STREATOK. been increased until it now has building', a substantial brick structure, design- year by year best readied tlie total of subscribers, ed especially for telephone ]iurposes. The grand 2,500 of them the and about equipment that money could l»uy wa- installed about 2.000 being city Home of Telephone Company. in tlie new Imilding, while outside many valu- 500 in the country. not able and costly improvements were made; wires This policy of maximum efficiency has were placed under ground in the business sec- been limited to the mechanical department. Switchboard and Operators. tion. wliiie elsewhere cables were substituted for but has been cmpliasized in tlie organization o])en wires wherever practical. of the office force. The human element, the li- This constant striving for efficiency has ability to carelessness and iudiffei'ence, has been appreciated and the list of patrons has been safeguarded in the most ingenious man- THi: STOKV OK STItKXTOH. 81 ner. S'liporvision lias hccii reduced to a fine art, i)ut M'lierever it is, the management is always tliere is no and oppnrtunity for sliirking or ne- anxious to remedy it, and spares no labor or ex- glect on tlip part of tlie employes to pass un- pense to give the most perfect service possible noticed. So ol)vious is tills that if an irate and keep its customers satisfied and friendly. customer comes in with a complaint ai^ainst the The amount of Inisiness done is enormous, "Hello • --1 V r % mk g^ y^ 'rri, '1/ The Streator lends liberal support to the nationa: game, and is a member of tUe liiiuuis auJ .Missouri i>cague. above Is a picture of the Streator League team for 1912. 82 THK STORY OF STREATOR. RULERS OF THE CITY A GROUP OF NOTABLE EX-MAYORS OF STREATOR AND A BRIEF HISTORY OF THEIR LIVES. HON. C. AMES. fability and friendliness, his tact and his in- J. sight into chai'acter, brought his talents into freciuent demand by party leaders, and he be- came One of tlie most prominent figures in the known as one of the most influential re- in the state. political life of Illinois is Hon. J. C. Ames, and imblicans one of the most valued counsellors and leaders Never obtnisive, his name figured rarely in of his party. His tirst important ])olitical office Itublie prints, nor was he ever found in the was mayor of the city of Streator, to which he lime light, which seems so alluring to public was elected by the republican ]iarty iu 188.) at men. His jiower lay in his wide ac.|uai>itance the close of the admin- with the sti'ong men of istration of Col. Eali>li the state, in the towns Plumb. He had been al- and villages as well as derman in the council in the cities and in their of his distinguished personal good will to- predecessor, and gave wai'd him. Few men in him able snjijmrt iu tln' jiublic 'ife of the shaping the jwlicies of state have been so genu- the new city. He was inely liked or had so re-elected in 1887. His many warm friends. His administrations were jiosition made it pos- concerned with foun- sible for him to confer dational measures of many benefits, and he municii)al development, ne\er l)egrudged the the starting of a scien- time or labor to do a tific sewer system, the man a good turn, and settling of the (luestion tiever let an oiijiortunity of water works, the to do a service pass planning of grades for uiiiiiipi-oved. And it all streets and sidewalks, sprang from a heart etc. naturally dis))osed to At the end of his sec- geniality and kindness, ond term Mr. Ames re- and whatever benefits tired from public life to were conferred were devote himself to his given and accepted as growing business, but from a friend, and they his genius for politics made friends wherever was such that his party Hon. J. C. Ames John Ames' kindly friends were constantly smile and hearty hand calling for his help and his amiability was such clasp went with them. It was impossiiile that that he could not say no. Besides, he liked it; l)olitical talents such as his should remain con- the congenial companionship, the opportunity fined to the lumber business, and so his time for giving service, the excitement of party con- came to be claimed more and more by his tests all apjiealed to him. And so J. C. Ames ])arty. In due time came substantial public became a familiar figure at conventions; his af- recognition. He was ai)i)ointed president of THK STOI5V OF STRK.XTOH. S3 the Illinois and Michi I to of Illi- ;{:.")(l,00( ),()()( in currency passes thnaigh the most distinguished services the state collector's hands annu- nois that it has been ally. Mr. .\!iies also within the power of holds the office of cus any member rf the bar todian of the (im-crn- to jierform in our gen- meiil Fiuildini;- in Chi- eration. ca;jo with its nearly five .Mr. Hoys was mayor hnndicil eniploye>, and of Streator from 1891 its manifold re.-ponsi- to 1S!».'?. after a term of bilities. 'Phonuli the service as city attor stress of many labors ney. During his term of have impaired his for office he demonstrated mer ru 17. IS.')!'. His fatiier was ally he got an ordi- a pioneer settler, coming in 184S. Young Ames iiani'e through tlie couniMl clothing the mayor worked on the farm in summer and went to with the i)ower to revoke licenses. Promptly Mr. re- scliool i?i winter. He had two years at State on being vested with this power lioys Xormal to linivji Ids education. He came to voked the licenses of a couple of saloon-keep- Streator in ISTl* and entered the drug bnsiness ers, and for the balance of his administration the laws. He was no extremist on with the hrm of Dickerman (.<: Ames. Next they obeyed he went into the hardware business with liis fa- the liquor (piestion, but was simply determined to his oath of office and enforc<' the stat- ther as I. Ames i.*v: Son. They were burned out keeji in IS?."), and he continued the business alone utes and ordiimnces. until 188.'). In 1878 he founded the lumber This gave the )iublic its first glimjjse of the business which is now known as the .). ('. Ames man who was later to carry to a triumphant I..uml)er rom))any. and of which he is still the conclusion the greatest legal battle to which of Illinois h;is been a The president and ]>rin('ipal owner. Xotwithstand the State jiarty. S4 thp: story op streator. same resolute perseverance, the same i;nwaver- assertion of the power of the people of the ing determination that brouolit the lawbreak- state through the courts. ers of Streator to time, were displayed in the This is an epic as yet unsung. Even the case of the Illinois Central railroad, a case ])eople of his own town scarcely recognize the characterized by the Su})reme Court as the magnitude of this achievement, and it is one of most im]iortaut in its legal issues, and in mag- the pleasant uses of this chronicle to set forth nitude of financial interests that had ever been v^'ith fitting emj)hasis the great achievements tried in Illinois. of men so near to ns in their daily walks that we scarce sense their heroic Tliei'e has The Illinois Central Case. quality. not been a bigger thing done than this in our Undei- its charter witli the state the Illinois generation in the strife between law and ]n-ivi- Central Railroad was to in lieu of required pay lege, and it will not be seen in its duo per.spec- other taxes seven cent of its ]ier "gross pro- tive until the battle between state and corpora- and income." The state admin- ceeds, receipts tion is set down by the future historian. istration charged that the I'ailroad was not Court. ]iaying in the required amount, and Mr. Boys Eulogized By Supreme wa^ ajipointed special counsel for the state. But sweeter than praise of history to the Then followed years of exhaustive and brain- l)articipants is the judgment of the Supreme racking investigation. The tremendously in- Court, which laid aside its dry, judicial manner volved system of railroad accounting and fi- to warmly jiraise the s])lendid (piality of the nancing had to be studied, and the multitudin- work done by the lawyers, of which a large ous details of a great system had to be gath- ])art was done by ]\Ir. Boys. Says the court in ered, co-ordinated and interpreted. The law its decision: applicable to the facts had to be discovered, "The ease has been fully and ably present- and the legal theoiy of the case thoroughly ed by distinguished counsel. The briefs and worked out. The enormous labor of this gigan- arguments in many respects might well serve tic task fell upon the shoulders of W. H. Boys, as models. They have been of great assistance and that he was able to thread his way through in the investigation of the complicated matters the labyrinth maze of railroad figures, pur- involved in this litigation. Every subject ha?; ))osely covered and comiilicated, and emerge been so exhaustively ])resented that practically with a clear, definite concejition of the law in nothing could be added, and yet so well arrang- the case, is a greater tribute to his intellectual ed, indexed and condensed that no unnecessary capacity and legal acumen than any verbal labor was re(|uired to understand fully the eulog.w however elo(|uent. fjuestions in dispute." Sustained By Supreme Court. The counsel for the Illinois Central was J. M. Dickinson, aftei'u'ards called into the presi- He found twenty-one different items which dent's cabinet as Secretary of Wai*. Associa- the ]-ailroad had failed to include in its re- ted with Mr. Boys was Attorney General Stead port to the state. They consisted of such earn- and later Major John H. "Widmer and Judge B. ings as revenue from switching charges, ex- B. Lincoln, of Ottawa, who equally shared with ])ress carriage, dining cars, rent of terminal fa- him the honors of tln^ victory. cilities, income from the Cairo and Dubuque The ap])lication of the iirinciples laid down bridges, unfair division of mileage between in the Supreme Court decision is still in pro- chartered and unchartered lines, and many gress. ]\Ir. Boys is still special counsel for the other sources. Beaten in the Circuit C'ourt, the state, and ])robably will continue until the case was taken to the Court, and Mr. ])rin- Supreme of the decision are translated into dol- Boys had the immense satisfaction of having ciples lars which the railroad must the highest court in the state si;stain him in ]iay. eighteen out of the twenty-one points he had Partnership With Mr. Reeves. raised. In 1891 Mr. Boys formed a partnershij) with Uncounted millions Avere involved in this Hon. Walter Reeves under the name of Reeves for it suit, affected not only seven per cent on & Boys, and ])lied the laboring oar of that firm the earnings of the road in the past years, but during Mr. Reeves' public career, and until his also its earnings in the centuries that are yet death. In 1905 he was appointed first assistant to come. And it marked also one of the great- attorney general of the state, and later \av;s est upreachings of civic conscience in its deal- made chairman of the Railroad and "WarehoTi-^e ings with large corporations, and a victorious Cojnniission. While in this office important THK STOm OK STKi: AlOi; S5 work was done in eiiiializiiiii; and reducing has been elected to the othce of mayor three switcliiiifj; lalf.-; in tlie state, and in the eiiforfe- times; but it is further attested by the fact ment of separate jifrade crossings wherever that he has recently heen elected at the pri- l)rafticahle. After two years of service tlie mary election to he his jjarty's candidate for illness of liis jiaitiicr. Mr. Hoys, caused liiin to attorney general of the state of Illinois. resign, and lie returned to take up the active Popularity is nowliere suh.jected to so se- work of tlie (inn, Avliicli after the passing of vere a test as at a pi-inuiry election. In a gen- the senior i)artiier was cliangi'd to Boys, Os- eral election the momentum of party may lioi-iie aiKJ (ii-iiii;>. carry an indifferent candidate through, but in An Life. "Ordinary" a i)rimary election whei'e a man is one among Asked liy tin writer for >-niiie significant many to submit himself to the judgment of his facts ahout liis life, .Mr. lioys replied laconi- party, he must stand on the strength of his cally, "It's heen hianieil ordi?iary." and that own bare and naked personality. That a speaks not only for his young man, still on the ahseiice of pretense, sunny side of forty, hut for the alisencc of should have so deeply the ronuintic or the ex impressed his fellow traordinary in his ca ilemocrats all over the reer. Horn on a faiiii state of Illinois, shows in Marshall ( 'ouiity in a (|uality that is cer ISfill, he moved with taiiily iiiai-ked and un- his folks to Streator in usual. In the midst of 1S71. attended high a hot struggle, wherein school here, and alsn the party was torn with studied at IlcddiiiL; < 'nl lierce inward "boost" for liim, and so liis native strength member of the Executive Committee of the got a chance to deveki]) in liis struggle to Commercial Club since its organization, and make a pLace for liiniself. has been its president for the past three years, an office he still holds. Next, he chose the right ]ihicc to start. He came to Streator as soon as he was admitted Like most American boys, his biographical to the bar in 1895, and has been here ever data can be given in a paragraph. Born of in since. He did his tirst few years of starving plain working people in Ottawa, 111., in 1873, with phick and dignity, gradually worked u]) a a house which is still occupied by his sister. law business, and now, as senior meml)er of Went through the common schools and was the firm of Lucey & Larkin, has one of tlie graduated from the Ottawa high school in finest law practices in the count}^ 1890. Worked in a dry goods store in La Salle for a then went to Chicago and studied Early in his struggling days he was lucky year, law with Duncan & Gill)ert. Came to Streator enough to find two members of the dominant in 1895; city attorney 1897 and 1901; mayor party fighting over the city attorneyshi]). IjU- 1903, 1905, 1909; prospective attornev-general cey, with alert eye, sized up the situation, hop- of Illinois 1912. He is now 39, witii 30 good ped nimbly into the ring, and took it away years ahead of him. With his start, from them. The people liked him so well, they working where ought he not land? re-elected him. Then they got the Lucey habit, and in 1903 they elected him mayor. In 1905 they elected him again, and yet again in 1909. E. M. DAVIS. The important features of the Lucey admin- HON. istration were those connected with public im- provements. Great imjietus was given to interest attaches to the adminis- street paving, and the splendid system of brick S])ecial tration of E. M. Davis from the fact that he is roadways, which marks Streator above other the candidate of the distinctly labor ele- cities, received its greatest stimuhis during his only ment of the who has held the office of terms of office. The fire department was re- city He was the nominee of the re- organized and ijut on a salaried basis, the city mayor. regidar it is but tliere is little hall was rebuilt, and a new bridge erected publican ]iarty, true, his nomination to across the A^ermillion ri\'er—the latter not only doubt that Mr. Davis owed of a much-needed improvement, but one that set- his prominence in the labor wing the party. He of the Trades and Labor tled forever an old controversy that had rent was president Council of the for five terms, anil was so the town for many years. city thoroughly identified with labor that at a time By this time Mr. Lucey was one of the tow- when it was thought that its interests required ering figures on the local horizon. When his independent political action, no one but Mr. wanted some one to run for the state sen- ])arty Davis was thought of as its leader. In view of ate in o])position to Corbus P. Gardner, long these facts it is interesting to note the char- recognized head of the rei)ublican organization acter of administration given by a recognized in that chose P. J. of Strea- body, they Lucey labor advocate and chieftain. tor. Though Mr. Gardner had the power of first is that it federal patronage behind him, it is claimed by The surprise was distinctly Mr. Lucey 's friends that he fairly won the a business administration. election. The face of the returns gave the How is this shown! election to Gardner. A contest was instituted First, by its economy. and carried to the senate, which, being tlie Second, by its efficient financial manage- .judge of its own members, voted to seat its ment. leader, ('. P. Gardner. The senatorial contest When Mr. Davis entered the mayor's office was lost, biit the admirable manner in which he found a cash balance on hand of about Mr. liimself no doubt Lucey com])orted went $4,000. When he went out at the end of two far to him to his in and commend |)arty Illinois, years he left a l)alance of about $1(),000. It is to earn for him the proud eminence he now to be noted that there was no skimping of the enjoys. regular approjiriations. Streets, sidewalks, Always a worker for the city's devek)])ment, sewers, etc., received the same as under any Mr. Lucey has ever been identified with every previous administration, and in addition a movement for its upbuilding. He has been a handsome brick band stand and public comfort THK STCIISV Ol' STKKXTOR. station was erected in tlio park. What was Chicago, and then came to Streator. Here he tlie secret of financial success? Mr. Davis at- cut loose from his old trade, and taking his tril)utes it to a r\^'u\ enforcement of collec- fortune in his hands, started in to learn a new tions of all sources of revenue, and the stop- one. He learned the trade of general mason, of ])age every discoverable leak. He s^ave to and in 1S!)() went into partnership with 1). L. the affairs of the city more of his enersv and Till Unas. With the leaving of his i)artner the attention than he did to his own contracting bui-den of the business fell on him ])er.soually, business, and applied to it the economies of a and he has carried it ever since. He is now industrial thorough-u-oinjr inanasi'enient. The the j)rincipal nuison contractor in the city, and leache.- and political iiangcrs-on coniiilained of has erected many of the i)rincipal buildings, the of policy money savinii as somethino; \in- sm-h as the Public Service gas jjlant, the Craw- heard of in city affairs, hut 'Manley,"' as he ford power house, has superintended the Ralph is familiarly called, went on quietlv and left Plumb .school, and now is doing the mason iplC.OIKI in the treasury. work on the new Slav lie now confesses to isli school l)uikling, the writer for the first which is to cost about time the seci'et motive $50,000. of his parsimony. He In addition to being for five tenus says it was liis pi'ixate president and)ition tt) heal the of the Trades Council, he has been feud between the par- delegate to ti ;ans of Main and two national conven- Hridire Nfreet- by build- tions of the A. F. of L., and in is his ing ii bridge at both nothing character so well points. The latter he rep- would build out of oir- resented as in the fact rent i-evenues. the for that as an emjiloye of mer he would l)niid tiie laboi', he has so well retained the contidence I'ity for, and he had of union labor as to be jtositive expeit figures chosen its that a gooil bridge representa- could ha\(' iieen erect- tive. He sened several as ed for .'fL'4.0t)(l. And so years alderman, three tenus he was bent on saving as member of the Board of the city's money to Educa- carry nut his idea. tion, is member of the Looking back on it to Police and Fire Com day, he is conlident mission, and member of that it could have been the Senatorial Com- cairied out. mittee. Tie successfully Hon. E. .M. Davis. has been During his term pub- ilirectoi' of the (icrman lic gambling was rigid- Building & Loan As- ly sni)pressed, and the saloons were I)ronght sociation for seventeen years and in every posi- into a degree of orderliness far above the com- tion held has measured uj) to the expectations mon. Tiu' Sunday closing jiractice at iiresent of his associates. in vogue was first inaugurated tluring this per- iod, and the mayor had a signed agreement, voluntarily executed by the saloonkeepers, HON. W. W. BEAN. l)ledging thcmst-lves to each other and to the city to co-opei'ate in cci'tain mutually agree- able restrictions and restraints. W. W. Bean has the distinction of being K. M. Davis was born in Birmingliam, Eng- the oidy i-epublican mayor of Streator elected land in IS*;;!, and was brought up to the trade for the third term. He is the present incum- of gas tube worker. He came to America in bent, and was elected as the candidate of the 1882, and worked at his trade for a year in republican party by the largest majority ever 88 THK STORY OP STRKATOR. went into given for tlie office since the time of Col. Plumb. siirvive the shock, and ultimately His first tenn was dnriug the World's Fair bankru]jtcy. At the conclusion of the litigation, in recog- year, 1893. The chief events of that adminis- defense of the tration were foundational. Street paving, nition of the mayor's sturdy city, a number of citizens him with which had been begun the ])revious year under large jn-esented a watch, on wliich was inscribed Mayor Boys, was cleveloped and carried out to costly gold the the' outskirts. The plank sidewalks which had following: in disfigured Main street, were discarded; a uni- "Presented to W. W. Bean, Nov. 6, 1901, form grade was established, and cement walks appreciation of his courage and honesty dis- laid in the business centre. The policy encoun- played W'liile mayor of the city." tered oi)position, but experience has demon- Mr. Bean usually offends some interest strated its economy and utility. while in office, so that his terms of office are It was in 1897 that Mayor Bean stood like never consecutive. But the years usually vindi- a rock against the first cate him, and he is re- concerted effort to es- called to office after an tablish organized graft intei'val of rest. His in Streator, and igno- present term began in miniously defeated it. 1911, and he has an- The Lafayette Bridge other year to serve. Company sought to ob- The important ques- tain a contract for tions of this year are building a bridge across the renewal of the con- the river at the foot of tract for street lighting Main street. The pro- and the readjustment ject was hotly contest- of the water rates. The ed, the mayor and sev- former has been settled eral members of the to the satisfoction of council being opposed. the mayor, and the lat- The bridge company ter is the subject of bribed a munber of al- fierce contention, which dermen and secured a mav have to be settled two-thirds majority of in the courts. Mr. Bean the council. The con- takes pride in the fi- tract was awarded ^^^^^ nancial showing of his the 's administrations. It has against mayor - /jflH^H1 1 protest, and the com- ii^n^a i^^gj^ j^jg policy to keep . tJie below tlie pany built the bridge. ^^^ expenses When the bridge bonds revenues, and he has al- were presented to the ways been able to turn mayor for his approval over to his successor a he refused to affix his Hon. W. W. Bean balance on the right signature and the bonds side of the ledger. could not be sold. They threatened to man- W. W. Bean was born in Lisbon, New York damiis him, but he was inflexible. The matter in 1845. He served through the war, was mus- was carried into the Circuit C'ourt, and the tered out at its close, returned home and went jury disagreed. It was tried again in the Uni- to school. He worked as a printer on several ted States District Court, and it was decided papers and came to Sti'eator in 1870. After his or four in favor of the city. Some of the purchased al- working at trade for three years, dermen turned states evidence and Beeker. he bought the Streator Monitor, and has been ever agent of the bridge company, confessed to its editor and ju'()])i'ietor since. A con- bribery. The court held the company could sistent republican in politics, he was elected not recover and gave them six months to re- town clerk for fourteen years, was supervisor move the bridge, and failing tiiat it should for seven years, and a member of the County for has revert to the city. The bridge was removed, Boai'd of Review two terms, and also but the Lafayette Bridge Company could not been honored by state positions in the G. A. R. THK STOKV «»|- STI{i:.\T(»IJ. 89 MARTS OF MERCHANDISE STORES, BANKS AND WIDE AWAKE BUSINESS OF THE CITY OF STREATOR. Iiiuiniiic Stri'iitor witlmiit .M;iiii Street. urday ni.nht. And sprinkled anion.y them the How would you liUi' to li\"f iu a town witli- black and yellow faces of the negro, with an out a l)usin<>ss ^cctiou ? occasional Mexican, .lap or Chinaman. Ask the crowd tliat tliroiii;s tlic street on .Main street on Saturday nii>]itl It is a Saturday iiiyid. It is a rude, jostliuii;. uu-rry World's Fair of races and faces. crowd. How it C'u.joys the a;lai'e of tlie electric But we should hear in mind that tiiere lifi:lil. Ilic ^ilitteriuf; sliop windows, the tenipt- would he no Main street if there were no mer- iuff displays spi'ead alluriuiiiy under the lijjht. chants. Not oidy would we lose tlc^ biggest The f^ii'l meets her lieau on .Main sti('»'t. iuid to- show of the town, but we woulil lose the festal {letlier they juirade up and down the thonuiii;!!- events of the year, the Fourth of ,Tuly, the fare, slie coyly i^lancinir at the luakinj^s of a Chautau(pui,— the Races, the Fair, the Base Ball trosseau, he inoic l>oldl_\ lookiiif;: at the price Dark for which .Main street furnishes a large marks on the Ikuisc furnisliinir noods. The share of tlie sujipoil. And tliat is not all, for housewife, intent (Ui har.i^ains, passes in and (Uit without .Main >ti-eet the town would lose tlie of the .stores, keenly alert on nuikin^ the "old nuiin support of the movements that pu-li the man's' pay sjo as far as possihle; and the "old town forward ami hold it up, the Impro\-ement num" himself strolls leisurely alioul, meeting; Associations, Connnercial Clubs, its charities, hi-; cliiuns, shakini:: liamN with old friends, and subscriptions and the like. niakini,^ the street his cluli, his fair, his place D. HEENAN MERCANTILE COMPANY Streator, as a city of less than twciit\ tlious- its great department store, owned liud con- the D. and peojile, stands separate from all others iu structed liy Ileeuan Afercantile Company. 90 THE STORY OF STREATOR. Here are twentj'-two departments in four stor- more in the mind of the builder tlian the Strea- ies, sheltered under one roof, the foundation tor of today when the enterprise was under- being two luindred and fifty by one hundred taken. and forty feet, and the total floor space aggre- It was realized theu that a city .-^ituated in gating more than one hundred and twenty the heart of a wonderfully rich agricultural thousand feet. A neigliboring city of sometliing district, with railroad facilities second to no like double the jiopulation of Streator. ])ro- innnici])ality of its size in the whole country, claims it has a department store larger than Mith its central location, with its multiplying any other city in the state of Ilinois, outside of manufcvcturing advantages in the manufacture Chicago, and gives the floor space in that store of glass, it was realized then, as it is now, that as sixty-five thousand scpiare feet, which is a such a citv nuist eventuallv become one of the Heenan Department Store. trifle over half the size of tlie Streator estab- great commercial centers of the country. lishment. Some idea of the magnitude of this The D. Heenan department store draws institution may be had when one realizes that trade to Streator from a circle ninety miles in it would take more than forty stores twenty- diameter, and its annual catalogues, because of five feet wide by one hundred feet deep to the bargains and oiii)nrtunities therein offered, equal it in capacity. find wholesome welcome in the homes of this This establishment stands as a monument to wide expanse of territory and with each suc- the enterprise, genius and courage of D. Hee- ceeding year as its literature reaches farther nan. who planned it, as well as to his wonderful abroad, its trade increases, and it is safe to say faith in the future of his city, for thei-e is no that one-half of the story is not yet told. denying that the Streator of tomorrow was What is sold! Of what does this immense THK ST«)I{> OK STIM; ATOi;. 91 Stock, rpjtresfiitiii^' an investment in tiie neigh- Irniii (he [president of the corporation in his borhood of tliree imndred thousand (Inllais. glass enclosure in tiie executive department, consist, and wliat do tlie clerical force, sales- down to the messenger hoys. The motto in this men and salesladies of well niirli one hundred great store is "Ptease the Customer," and no Hf t\- .' and lind to do To particularize would effort is sj)ared to accomplish this end. p]very- take paeres in this hook, just for the names of one who enters the store is given close personal — the store is tliiniirs a city unto itself. Just attention; her wants are aiitici))ated; her imagine tweny-two cDnijilete estahlislitneiits all wishes are intelligently interpreted; countless, engai^ed in and carrying different lines, and almost unohserval)le little arts of salesnuinship you will liave some idea of the things liehl for are practiced for his or her henefit. Finally, sale under this one roof. there is truthful representation, and this man- Intf-rior ot Hetiian l)(-i)artiiiciu store, Streot Floor. The sliow windows of the 1). lleenan ^fer- datory re(iuirement on the part of an eflicient cantile Co., heing of good height and exteiuling management is in no small degree resjjonsible nearl\- four hundred feet on two streets, ])re.sent for the vast space and great need the D. Hee- a dis]ilay of goods in (piality, character, variety. nan deiiartment store fills in Central Illinois. ari'aMgement and good taste (piite equal to an>- Putting it in a (piick, compreheiKiiiig way, tliing to he found in the largest cities of in a wav that will stick in the individual con- .\nu'rica. .sciousne.ss, let it be said that the 1). Heenan The service in the P. Ileeiiiui store is of the Store is the biggest and best thing of its kind size of kind that is known as ]iar excellence. Kvery in the world in a city the Streator, and of tiling is done in a good way. Thi'ic is kindness, tliat the writer knows no city of even three courtesy and discernment, iJiimiptness, neat- or four times the size of Streator with so large, ness and orderliness evervwhere and hv all. varied and modernized a retail establishment. &2 THK STOKY OP STRKATOR. STREATOR'S INTERURBAN RAILWAY COMPANY A valuable asset to the industrial growth of opportunities of suburban residents. Streator is the Chicago. Ottawa & Peoria Rail- The freight service given by the ('. 0. & P. iuter- is It is service at waj', which is jjart of the great system of rapid and })rompt. express urbaus built and controlled by Congressman freight rates. Goods shi])i)ed to any part of Wm. B. McKinley. It now connects Streator the line one day being delivered the next wth the beautiful Illinois Valley, with its rich morning. O. agricultural and mining developments, and Like all the McKinley propei-ties the C. whicli will ultimately be joined to the Illinois & P. is modern in every respect. Its roadbed Traction System. This railroad is a valuable compares favorably with that of any steam asset to the transportation facilities of Strea- road. Autonuitic electric block signals guard tor and vicinity. The system of interurbans of train movements, and the heavy modern equip- with a view to which it is- a ])art is the greatest system of this ment has all been designed kind now in operation. The line from Streator speed, safety and comfort. runs straight to Ottawa, wliere it connects for This road is a valuable asset to Streator and .The new Steel -Model luteiurban Passenger Car. will be watched with Joliet, Seneca, Morris, Marseilles, Peru, La its further development interest the because with Salle, Spring Valley, Ladd, Bureau and Prince- great by community, its of clean service ton, forming a system of 110 miles, which ulti- advantages fast, jtassenger and efficient deliveries it mately will be connected with Chicago. This quick, freight opens a field of not by road furnishes advantages for travel far su- transportation approached steam road entering the city. The follow- perior to the steam lines. It gives a vast and any ing are the officers of the railway: frequent convenient service for business pur- W. B. McKinlev, jiresident, Cham]>aign, 111.; poses. For pleasure trips the road is unexcel- H. E. Chubbuck, V. P. Executive, Peoria, 111.; led. It has been the name of "Illini given F. E. Fisher, General Superintendent, Joliet, Trail" and runs the of the historic val- length 111.- A. E. Blackburn, Traffic Mana.ger, Joliet, of the Illinois. The scenic com- ley grandeur 111.; B. W. Arnold, Supt. of Transportation, with in jjares favorably any place tl\e country. Ottawa, 111.; W. F. Carr, Engineer, Maint. of of rural districts are By means the interurban, Wav, Ottawa, 111.; J. O. Tucker, Opei-ating En- brought directly in touch with the merchants gineer, Ottawa, 111.; R. C. Taylor, Supt. of Mo- of the cities, giving them the advantages and tive Power, Ottawa, III. THK STOKV «»K STUDATOi: 93 THE STREATOR DECORATING COMPANY Ai'/aiii Strcatni- immv cijiiin the lariic.-l Inisi- $l.'il.(M). Some of tiii.s, of course, is due to in- ness hduse iii the state outside of Cliieago—at creased cost of labor and materials, but it is least none surpass, and only few rival it. The nuu'li more unmistakably due to an imiirove- Streator Decoi-atinj; ('tmi|iany is a wliolesale ment in taste. This has been helped on by the and retail house dealing in" wallpaper and remarkable improvements in the designs of deeorators' supplies. TJiree larjre store i-oouis wallpapers. By the discovery of the aero- are devoted to its liusiness. and its 1 lade ex- clironie process—a sort of air brush — it has be- teiuls all over Illinois, and overflows into In- come jmssible to produce walli)aper with al- Iowa (liana, and .Missouri. Witliiu a radius of most the effects of freedom and originality pro- miles fifty from Streator it is the dominant fac- duced by good hand work. Xo one need suffer tor in decoi-ative work. Most of the hiii- work from the sfifT, mechanical patterns of the old the churches, puhlic building's and line residen- paper; the beautifully blended, si)ft, rich cloud- ces, pa.'?s throuffh the hands of the artists and like elTects that formerly only an artist could arti.sans of the Streator Decoratinjj: Company. liaint, ai-e now, thanks to the new process, avail- The nearer cities, such as Ottawa, Kankakee able for i)eoi)le of moderate means." and ( 'hillicothe. know its name as well as Stica- So we find the gospel of William Morris tor people; while in Sprin^'tield. Hloominj,4on. permeating the lnunes of America, and the day Decatur, Davenjtort and out to llannihal. way has come when nuichine ai't has ceased to be a ^fo., its name and fame is familiar. Kveu by woi'd and rejjroaeh. where it does not contract direct, it furnishes ! In this w(u-k the leatler in Sticator is the up|ilies to local dealers, and with them it fur- Streator nishes Streator iileas and Streator artists to do Decorating Company. Through its the So it hands jiass most of the homes of work. carries the influence of the city periodically to the and what if leaves on their walls a considerahie distance, and, incidentally. city, rep- resents in large measure its contribution to the pive.s emplo>nient to Streator lalior ecpial to a small .\l the aesthetic edm-ation nf the people. Louis Lor- factor). present time '.V2 jieojile the fiuinder are enz, and ) present head of the com- em|)loyed. and tlic pay i-oll is ^I'.OOO ]ier nu)ntli. pany, received his training in the most thor of (Jerman schools, liorn in It specializes in line interior deiMirative ough going Plauen. Saxony, in ISfiO, he went to the common schools [work of all sorts, whether in oil or distemjier, fre.seo or until thirteen, and then was aiiprenticed to the frioze work. It maintain- an ex|iert decorator's trade. After a of hard work at service in wallpaiiers. in which the Juost won- day the trade he used to have to two to three derful tiiumplis of modern dt ative art have put hours been in the each eveiiins'- pA di-awing. desi;;ning and wroui^dit jiast ten years. |-5ein.ir the of the craft. Before asked what ohan^ics in taste he had observed mastering fechniipie the expiration of his five in his 30 year.'? exjjerience in Streator, Presi- years apprenticeship he had mastered his trade so well that his boss dent Ijovi'uy. replied: "The chanires have been gave him six months off time with full wages. simply revolutionary. In the old days every- body wanted bi^^:. flashy desiufus, and loud, Mr. Lorenz came to America in 1880? he colors. as showy Now nobody will have them. worked decorator for leading Chicago l^rms They want rich, fine, (piiet tones, nmre like for two years, by whom he was sent to various hand work. The better the taste the more sub- cities in charire of work. Coming thus to dued tile pattern. And they want it more sub- Streator in 1882, he liked tlu' place and settled stantial. down. As the.se Scarcely any good building is ])ut u|i words are being written it is now to without canvassing. Well-to-do jieople just thirty years the day since Mr. Lorenz nowadays are willing to sjieud money for house landed in Streator, and he is justified in look- decoration. Whereas formerly they used to ing back with jiride on the ui)building of a think ^'yO a good price to spend on a room, now business that ranks among the first of its kind they think nothing of spending $\oO or $200. in the state, outside of Chicago. Associated Kven the with him in the business ]>oorest houses which use.l to ]iay are his two sons, $."5.00 a room now jiay .^C.OO, while those of the Frank Lorenz, treasurer; Oscar Lorenz, secre- middle class think little of paving $10.00 or tary; Carl Hagenson, vice-president. 94 THK STORY OF STRKATOR. THE DAILY INDEPENDENT-TIMES The Iude])enclent-Times begun its career iu finally consolidated under the name of the 1885 as tlie Streator Sunday Independent. It Streator Inde])endeut-Tiines. Meeks Bros, re- was edited by Dr. David Le Roy, fatJier of tlie mained with the reorganized jiaper for a time, Ije jn-eseiit editor, and a well known writer, speaker but ultimately withdi'ew, leaving the Roy and jiublic cJiaraeter of those days. Fred Le interests in control. Roy, who now edits the paper, was type setter In 1897 the interest of Dr. David Le Roy and office force. It was continued a'< a weeklv was purchased by B. S. Barlow. Fred Tie Roy First Page of Independent-Times. for two years, and then changed to a morning continued as editor, and ^'irginia Barlow Le daily. While the Independent was pursuing a Roy became associate editor. From that time vigorous independent democratic policy, there until the present these interests have continued was another democratic daily in the town, the in control, and tlie concern has enjoyed a per- Times, edited by Meeks Bros. Four daily news- iod of iinbroken jirosiierity. The circulation of pai)ers were more than Streator could in'ofitably the paper has increased ten-fold, the advertise- support, and the two democratic papers were ing patronage has more than quadrupled, new THK STOItV OK STI{|;.\TO|{. 95 l)rcsse,s ]iii()ty)ii- iiiac-liines, i4c. have been add- not a smatterer on these subjects, but writes as ed iiHtil the jilant now has a first class imntinsr one who has had many years hard study under M'he e<|ni|inient. (inn conducts a larue station- the direction of the best masters of philosoi>liy, ery .vtore. carrying all sorts of statiouers' sup- psychology, economics and ethics that the I'ni- plies, books, magazines, novelties, etc. versity of Chicago possesses. She is a public The most inipoi'tant extension of its Inisi- lecturer of many years oxjierience, of unusual as a ness, however, is in the job dejiartuK'nt, wliich gift public speaker, and lias appeared at of tlie lias develo])ed tlie six-cialty of printini? elec many leading- chautau(|uas and lyceums. She is also a contributor to the tion supplies and leiral blanks, which it sup- leading maga- zines. In plies larjfely to law lirnis and election odicers addition to her editorial work she in the stale of Illinois. Its salesmen cover ev- regularly conducts adult classes in literature and in this towns. ery town and city of coiise(|nence in the state, poetry and neiglil)oring A and so larije has the volume of business become daily column from her pen is one of the feat- ures of that the Independent-Times is now the heav- the paper. The citv of tlie is looked iest patron of the express offices in the city. department jiajier after Miss Ethel Head and Mr. Michael The THE DAILY FREE F^RESS The free Press was founded in Aui:ust, 1S7.">. Hean. In ]^7A fhey were succeeded by He v. by Irving Carrier. After the first edition the James TI. Clark, who in a few months rei-eived ])aper was ]iublislied by Carrier and W. W. Walter Ploge as ])artner. After six months 06 THK STORY OF STRKATOU. Re\-. Clark sold his interests to Mr. Tloge, who forming the ])artnershiii of Van Skiver and conducted the paper alone until in February of Fornof, which existed until 1!:)()5 when the Free 1877 John TV. Fornof, who first began his con- Press Company was organized. In 1910 Mr. nection with the paper in Febniary. 1874, in the Fornof acquired all the interests of Mr. Vnn capacity of printer, purchased a half interest. Skiver, who retired from the paijer. Hoge and Fornof continued until the next year The Free Press has always been re]iublican »;^ H free .IN' i;*; Wl-T" S?BI«SHtlD MPtRi «« I LccAL HAS »e«i fu*"»i «»« MnS RiCIAnD Lire : -" Pr>««a •**'> r» (•MOg'i :— ifDRFicorai WFlEWLfi "-ifoeAMmiiist CHicuo voumi Id HM HEHBEflOf U. E, CHtlRUH irnn C0UE6E 9kwm yu , "'^M ' • • • >t • *«*'* Wi« M«* •^M **r-t ,BAS[BALL mm \ m ffilQM ilEHI miMmm First Page of Free Press. when l"(iriiiif iiurcha:-ed the interests of Mr. excejit during the ownership of Air. Hoge, Hoge. In 1879 Mr. Hoge again purchased a when it was democratic. The issuance of the pai'tnership, and the fimi remained Foniof and daily paper was commenced in 1880. Hoo-e until 1884. In July of that year Mr. For- The officers of the company are: John \\. nof sold liis share to A. R. Van Skivei-, and the Fornof, president; John R. Foniof, vice-presi- next month purchased the share of Hoge, thus dent; John L. Perry, secretary and treasurer. THE STREATOR MONITOR Was founded in October, 1869, by Rutan for a few months as a semi-weekly. This prov- Bros. They sold in a few months to B". W. ing un]irofitable. it was restored to its weekly Dalton. Under this management it was issued chai'acter. March 13, 1874, Mr. Dalton sold to THK ST(>I{V OF STRKATCm. 97 Saiiuu'l I'luiiil), wlio in turn sold it to W. W. a six-column folio. The ^lonitor is a staunch Bean, who has been sole proprietor and editor i-epuhlican i)aper. The Weekly is $1.00 a year since. May 1, 1SS2 Mr. Bean coinuienced the in advance. The dailv is $3.60 a vear delivered iftrmtor pniljj Hloutor. M-KEATHS. ILUSOW, U&KLII TtHKiUAV. T. Kill PKICK r*n CJtNT^ SPURN PtACE WOUND UP AND C*nf STOP fOSS'SFC^lCl'Ill i-^NS Rt.lCHES SOUTH P01E7, ..MUN CALLS ™:!:r.T.'::liLlilSK ("« TO «e *««. ..-«' Cm< S FOR BNELOTf :' MORE IROOPS-^r'l-^;:;^:.',-' t*0E CHlti AGAINSIP.CKIIOX or ouiH «o«9'. First Pago of Monitoi-. in daily issue, the wt-ekly l>ein,ir coiitiiiueil. The hy carrier. It is the oldest newsjjaper 8trea- latter was under its lirst two nianau:eMients an tor and is published by the oldest newspaper eitrhl colunm t'olio. Mr. I?ean made it a six- man, and has acconlingly deserved its success- column (piarto. its present size. The daily is ful position of today. A. H. ANDERSON' PRINTING COMPANY all that That is the name of tlie Company. It is a lUii tile broadest fields, has convinced with luunble when corporation ors^anized under the law- of tlie the institutions bej-inninjrs, state, but when all is said, .Mr. A. H. Anderson, properly manajjed, are the ones that have f?one of to that success witli whicli the president, manai^^er and vitalizini;- force on ) start with, he was a praetifal. all-arDnnd ])rin- Chicago, and because of the kind of work he ter, who brought into the business; a knowledge does, that territory is constantly expanding. that enabled him to shun the rough, shallow Mr. Anderson was born in Capps, Pennsyl- places where so many craft run adrift. vania, in ]8()4. and with his parents came to II- "Good work pays"—that is the ino+'o of inois when a lad, located at Braidwood, where the Anderson Printing House. It is i)ractically lie attended school until he was thirteen, when water-marked into every ])iece of work sent out lie came to Streator and went to work in the ANDERSON PRINTING Co. and from the president to the "devil" it lends coal mines. At twenty he left mining and start- character to all workers and workmanshiii. ed in to learn the jirinter's trade. After serv- "One can't sell silk at the ]irice of cotton ing a limited apprenticeship he became a jour- and he can't do good printing on fine paper at cheap prices and continue doing it," ^Ir. An- derson remarked, and added, "We please our people because we take it for granted they know what good work is and they want it." The Anderson Printing House is spacious, high posted, well ventilated, adinii-ably lighted and located in the heart of Streator 's business district on ground floors. The equipment is complete, including as it does, ruling machines, well selected book liindery re(|nirements, seven job and cylinder presses, a judiciously selected line of the most modern type faces and everA'- thing else that is necessary in a well regulated lu-inting establishment calculated to tni-n out high grade work and lots of it. "Andy' Anderson has made a success of job printing. As a matter of fact he lias grown faster than the city and today di-aws trade to his sliO]) from a scope of territory that includes A. H. Anderson. THi: STOItV OK STIIKATOI!. 99 neymaii jiiid traveled dvep llie state, retuminji: no hesitancy in sayinu' that, as he was denied to Stii'ator in ISiH, when he lauiielied out as an the jileasures of boyhood when a boy, he has independent business man. his eomiue:, and is enjoyino: a little of it now. In l!SM8 lie inaiTie(l Miss Anna Billinj^sly TFe insists that the coile. THE UNION NATIONAL BANK The I'nion .Vational liaiik o|' Slicioi, Illi- follows: nois, was chartered for business in Auu:ust. Svimuel I'lumb. W. II. I'ilcli..r. M. Craft. K. 1874, with a capital stock of $")(».(M)(t. Five years Kvaiis. A. H. Mtion. W. S. ( herrv, John liar- prior to that date Samuel I'lumb established Ion. I,. .\[. Sawver. A. E. Tvler, J.Kirkpatrick, the Bank of Streator as a j)rivHte institution (I. U. Wheeler. J. W. Barnhart, R. Scharfen- under the laws of the state and he continued at ber- ,J. Lomassnev, .1. II. Curvea. X. WoltT. T. the head of the concern on throui^h l!ie period .1. Cotfey. (;. Fonlyce, L. Swift. Alex Fuller, J. of reorjjanization until 1SK2, wlien he liied. W. Moon. 1'. Richards, Isaac Ames, .lay Baker, .Many who are active in Streator now and Kicliar.l llvan.-, \V. S. lialo. Mr.-. ]]. K. High, Joel T. who are helpinii- shape its destiny, will be in F. Plumb, Isaac Mason, J. S. Smith, terested in lookin-:: over the list of men who Buckley, Elijah nefenbausih. F. Benckendorf, constituted the stockholders of the l^uiou Na- Geo. L. Richards. ('. E. Stephens. F. ^f. Ryon, tional Bank when it was founded thirty-eisrht Geo. Miller, Raljjh Plumb and ('. Wagoner. were years aijo an Ou November 8, 1890, the capital stock of Flick, ass't. cashier. the bank was increased from $50,000 to $100,- The directors are: L. H. Plumb, S. W. 000 and the following condensed report to tJie Plumb, C. C. Barr, James Sexton, C. H. Wil- comptroller of currency, shows the condition of liams, M. W. Jack, ^y. 11. Boys, G. W. Graham the institution at the close of business February and E. H. Bailey. The bank of today that has the art of com- 20, 1912. Interior of Union National Banlt. RESOURCES bining service with safety, accommodation with Loans and Discounts $ 869,248.10 reliability, is the bank, the real future t>f which U. S. and other bonds 291,640.00 is still ahead; the bank management that Cash and Due from Banks 429,199.34 knoMs men values as well as property values, Due from U. S. Treasurer 5,000.00 hov.-ever great its present may be, is but at the Banking- House 45,062.39 beginning of its career. Such are the Union National Bank and the jieople at its head; it $1,640,149.89 and they have been identified directly or indi- LIABILITIES rectly with the city of Streator from its begin- Capital ._.. $ 100,000.00 ning and logically, in interest, in sympathy, in Surplus and Profits 313,255.81 fore kiiowledge and in puquise this bank is one Circulation 100,000.00 with the city in all things that make for the de- Deposits .. 1,126,894.08 velopment of both. The highest comjiliment that can be paid $1,640,149.89 those who are gone is the keeping alive and in The officers of the bank at the present time constant force the principles and policies and are L. H. Plumb, president; S. W. Plumb, vice- amenities of life, for which they stood. president; E. H. Bailey, cashier, and W. C. That is a big part of the framework upon THE 8TORV OF STRKATOR. 101 wliicli the I'liiiiri Xational so tirmly stamls— inexitable." tlie nifioiial, farsceina; plans and policies of the In a few weeks the bank will abandon its bank, tliiity years and more af>:o, wlien Hanuiel temporary (piarters and take permanent resi- Phiinl) was the fifciiius who jruided its destinies, dency in the l)eautifui and substantial structure are ilie i)lans and policies that have shaped its it has just erected on the corner of .Main and developin;:; course thronfi:h the interveninir Park streets. years and in a huxe measure have won tor it To attempt a description of its new liome the proud and imi)ortant i)osition it occupies would take more s)iace than is at connnand— in the city today, as tlicy are the plans and poli- sudice to say that in ln'auty of exterior and in- cies that ic<>\ern it now. Thi-re is no one tliin.n' terior, permanency of const luct ion, convenience the |)resent inana;;einent emphasizes so much as in arranji:enient, elaborateness in a])pointment "The jmlicy of the Union Xational is the same and in safety to de^msitors there is notliinc; of now as it was in the heuinninir, and it will so tlie kind in Illinois outside of Ciiicaiio, that continue, suhject, of course, to the cluinncs in snr))asses it. and outside of a few of tiie larger law and evolution in linancial alTair.-. tliat ai-e cities notliinii in the stati' that equals it. THE STREATOR NATIONAL BANK 'i'his baid< is less an in.-titution tiian a per and if tiie spirit of tiie founder is to flow on, it .sonality —or a group of jiersonalities. Thirty must be thnuigh the peojile wlio follow, him in years of service has not chilled the warm. )>er the work. Like attracts like, and ])erhaps it sona! touch imparted to it by its t'ounder; nor was this principle that attracted to it its ])er- has the inevitable frigidity of the cash ne.xus sonnel. The casiiiei', Mr. II. W. Lukins, has l)een able to supplant the friiMidiy, Inunan con- lu'en with the bank nearly from its beginning, nection established by liim between tiie bank and its larger development has been all within and its clients. his a to feel at ease, aud kindness aud .-ordiality Nater assistant cashier. Additional directors are Mr. D. ('. Mr. and greets them all. Murray, George Goulding Mr. Ermin F. Plumb. The of the bank The people seem to like it. and their kindly capital tliir- is $100,(X)0, and surplus aud undivided profits feeling has caused its deposits to increase $75,000. ty-fold since it began business, and it is still growing. The bank was remodeled and reconstructed On Feb. 28, 1907, it accepted the first sav- in i;ni, and is equipjied with modern, up-to- for service of its ings account on which interest was paid in date banking conveniences the Streator. Since then these accounts have l)atrons. Tt invites the public to make use of Interior of Streator National Bank. Clark Studio grown to large proportions, and it is now an its customer's room and its free telephone important deiiartment of the bank. Savings booth. Its safety deposit vault is a great con- depositors get three per cent interest, ))lus the venience and safety. Private locked boxes may habit of saving, which is worth ten jier cent. be obtained at a moderate charge. All forms Among its officers and directors are some of of banking Imsiness are done with ])romiitness Streator's most familiar names. The president, aud courtesy, and the experience of its officers is Fawcett Plumb, and the vice-president is J. is always at the service of patrons when in need E. Williams. H. W. Lukins is cashier, Louis of friendlv and safe financial counsel. PEOPLE'S TRUST & SAVING5 BANK Five years ago on the fourteenth of May. talization of .$100,000.00, and since tliat time the People's Tiaist & Savings Bank was char- this newest of fiiumcial concerns has progressed tered under tlie liiws of Illinois, with the capi- with a steady and rugged growth until it has THK STOKV OK STKKATOK. 103 won ii place in the eDulidenoe and business af- friends, and he made them; he had opportunity t'cctiuus of tiic people, oC which it may be justly to perfect an intimate valuation of men. and proud. he took advantaue of it; he realized that tliere The growth ol' tliis baidv, riniitiy interjireted was an urgent demand for a Savings Institu- is an inspiration to liraiiis and courauc Tliere tion in this city, and when he had his plans ma- is a wide round belief that, in order to succeed tured he consulted capital as to their wisdom in the bauKini,'^ business, one has to l)e born into and i)ractii'ability. Those others saw it as he it, and nnist have grown up througli it, but Mr. did, and tiie result is known. Piiilip Saunders, who was most active in the The baidv has forty-eight stockholders, and orfjanization of the Peopled 'i'rnst & Siivinj^s they are .judic'iously disti'ibuted o\er this sec- Jiank. who was mainly responsible lor its ex- tion of Illinois, and tiic same plan of distribu- istence, who assumed manffieineii'. when it wa.s tion has been followed in the selection of its di- authorized to l)ef;:in business, and wlc has con rectors and the placing of its loans. As a logi- Interior of Peo|)le's Trust and Savings Bank. Clark Studio tinned as its cashier since. ha> demonstrated cal sci|ueiice the nauu- of the People's Trust iS: that the theorv is as dead as "tiie divine right Savings Bank has become well and favorably of kings." known and its reputation for safety, reliability If additional proof of this point be neces- and accommodation has become w-ell establish- sary, all one has to do is to looU ;it ih- n:imes of ed. The management of this bank would lay (". A. Ilepler, (ieorge Armstrong. David K. stress on the excellent service it is giving as a Huggans, Josejili Kopf. Frank Marx. Walter saving institution. This was the primary pur- Si.xt, K. J. Howells, W. A. .lohnson and other )K)se when the bank was organized, and in con- nuMi, who have not been banker-, who are now formity with its basic i)lan it was the first bank associated with .Mr. Saunders in liie direction in Streator to announce tliat it would ])ay in- and managemi-nt of the iiank. terest on tleposits. Of course, every other of is Prior to May, liJOt), Mr. Saunders was busi- function sound banking performed by the ness managei' of the Ileenan Dejiartment Store. People's Trust & Savings Bank, but the ori- In that capacity he had ojjpurtunity to make ginal idea of establishing a bank where the 104 THE STORY OP STREATOR. dimes aud dollars will all be cared for and accept receiverships, assignments, trusteeshi^js, where they will command interest, has never and guardianships. been allowed to become secondary, and to this It is complimentary to the bank and its well established principle of sonnd finance and management, as well as a recognition of the real service in banking the management feels strong foothold it lias gained, to say that it that its popularity in no small degree is due. closed its fifth year of activity in Streator with While to commence with, i)art of the capital dej)osits running over lialf a million dollars. to finance tlie enterprise had to be secured out The i)resent Board of Directors are C. A. side of Streator, La Salle County and touching Hepler, (reorge Armstrong, David E. Huggans, is R. territoiy, today practically all of the stock Joseph Kopf, J. Howells, Frank Marx, Wil- owned by people living and liaving tlieir inter- liam H. Jones, Walter Sext, W. A. Johnston, ests within Streator's trading territory. H. P. Showman and Philip Saunders. In 1911 the bank qualified as a trust institu- Its oftieers are C. A. Hepler, president; tion under the suj^ervision of the State, as are George Armstrong and H. P. Showman, vice- the Illinois Trust & Savings Bank and the Mer- presidents; Philip Saunders, cashier and trust cantile Loan & Trast Company of Chicago, officer; W. H. Jones, assistant cashier. and like them, under the law, it is qualified to DORRIS & COMPANY This records a ithenomenal success. No, we don't learn it in Greece. In fact, Here are three big Main street stores in one there is but little of it used there. The way we line of business, and each of them doing a big- get into it is because when we come here we trade. All of it has been built up in seven find some of our countrymen in it, and we go to for years, aud just now they have added a $15,000 work them, perhaps, and get started in that factory building for their ice cream trade, and line." P)ut do such a are ex])aiiding into the wholesale business. how vou make success of itf" Clark Studio What is the secret of it ? ''We work hard; we put in long hours; we Have the Greeks got some peculiar racial sell honest goods. We try to be neat, clean and affinity for the ice cream and confectionery attractive. Above all, we put brains into our trade that enables them to monopolize it? work. We are all the time looking for new The writer asked Manager George Dorris ideas, new names, new concoctions to please the question, and he replied: our customers. Then we are careful; we waste THK STORV OF STKKATOK. 105 nothing; we in<^i\n\ze our Imsiness and work to gives a liint of the reasons for their success. a svsteni. Ami tliaCs all the nivstei-v tliero is They have been in the wholesale business to it." three years. The first year they sold 'J,000 gal- The Dorris ('(tniiiaiiy lias ai)i)lied the meth- lons, the second year (i.OOO gallons, and last ods of "bi.1.' business' to the ice cream trade. year 17,000 gallons. And .so they have built Foniierly it was rej^arded as a sort of i)icayune, a new factory with the most up-to-date ma- jteamit stand husiness, in whicli some cripple chinery and e(iuii)ment with a cai)acity of or widciw el With l)iii:, t'ar-seeiufi: vision the Tiew-coniers radius of fjO miles to such towns as Dwight, etc. could .see in it the j)ossil)ilities of raisinji; it to Toluca, Roanoke, (iranville, Washburn, the ]ilane of a suhstantial uicrcaiitil'' concern, Althougli competing with factories at Pontiac as im|M>rtaiit and diniiiliccl as a nioccry or dry and La Salle tliat have been establislied 2.i or floods house. Tiiey (•ulli\at<'d tlie husiness 30 years, they arc making a steady inro.id on scientitically, and huilt up their trade less by the trade, and once they get a custcuner tliey is obvious. Their takinj; away from their competitors than l)y in- keep him. The reason goods creasing the demand for the goods. They cre- arc honest. They use real cream. Whereas ated ill! ice cream habit in thi- town, and caused the govcrnnu'ut calls f(U' !• i)er cent liutter fat, four dishes to be fonsumed wlit-rt' tiiere was the Dorris cream averages Ki per cent butter only one i)efore. When they begun business fat. Dealers are willing to ])ay nu)re for these liere there was no demand for ice cream in the goods, the demand is increasing by leai)s and winter. Last year they sold as much in the bouinis, and the Dorris ice cream factory prom- winter as they did in former years in tlie sum- ises to be one of the most prosperous institu- mer. This illustratrs the Dorris metiiods and tions of the town. THE W. C. HILL FLORAL COMPANY It has been said elsewhere in this volume looks on the work of his hands and piononnces that Streator is le.ss noted for beauty than for it good. And the writer takes reverent ))leas- ure in out of his character as editor utility. In the early mining days of the town stepping of as this was especially true, and it retpiircd a pio- to offer this little wreath a])preciation of friend to him and the noble of his neer spirit, no les^ than a faith in the gospel companion him. beauty, to plant a floral establishment lieic. labors who sui"\i\es .\Ir. floral in a small Mut W. ('. Hill was just such a pioneer, a nuin Hill begun the business of earnest soul, of sterling character and of a way on Smith Park street in 1884. Si.xteen erected the love of flowers that was i)art of his simple and years later he Ijought land and sincen' nature. His faith in human love of green houses on the west side, where the plant Howers has been justified by results, for iiuman is now conducted. The business was incoi-por- nature in Streator is not different from other ated in 1!»04. Al)out a year before Mr. Hill's establish death he was Mr. F. R. of l)laces, and today a sidendid Horal joined by Thornton, in the com- nu'ut, doing a good \olinnc of liusincss, stamls (Jalesburg, III., who later bought as a moimmeiit to the simjile faith of W. ('. ]iany and is now its numager. Mr. Thornton Mr. but is Hill. Mr. Hill has passed on, but his innuortal- is a man of the same s])irit as Hill, lives on in in addition a technician of wide horticultural ity is a beautiful one, for his sjjirit to Mr. tlie flowers, and is given out in the aroma and experience and knowledge. He adds train- fragrance that is wafted out to sweeten the Hill's enthusiasm for flowers a scientific which enables him to be dry and dusty days, to comfort hearts that ing and expert skill, of varieties. He mourn, to gladden the eyes of the sick, to an originator rare sj^ecializes in and one of his creations uaraed quicken the pulses of lovers, and to hi ing joy to carnations, was first at the florist's young ami old at feasts, and weddings and "Melody," given i)rize So- festivals. Xo liner memorial could a man leave exposition of the Chicago Horticultural of caused a de- behind him than these tender, fragile, delicate ciety. The fame that blossom mand for it across the Atlantic, and orders symbols of a .sentiment that is at once i>eri.sli- of came from A carnation of iiig, yet more inunortal than tablets bronze; England. variegated as he his named after Mrs. Fawcett aiul the spirit of W. ('. Hill umst rejoice breeding Plumb, % 106 THE STORY OF STREATOR. of the store in Strea- of this city, was exhibited at Cliicago nnd at many years had charge the State Florists' Exhibition at Springfield. tor, and is pleasantly known to eveiy lover of It attracted much favorable comment. The flowers for miles around. Her mastery of the chief creation of this year is a purple carnation distributing side combined with Mr. Thorn- named "Purple Beauty," which is sure to win ton's command of the producing have make the the favor of tiower lovers. Not only carna- business grow greatly. It has doubled in five tlie tions, but roses, lilies, sweet peas, chrysanthe- years, as also has producing space. Tliey )nums, all tlie favorite beauties beloved by now liave 20,000 s(]uare feet under glass, being Hill Floral Co. Plant. flower users are grown, and tlieir quality under a fourtii larger than usual for plants in towns the skillful tendance of Mr. Thornton, has risen the size of Streator. This indicates the trans- to a grade much higlier than usually found in formation that has taken place in the town, cities twice the size of Streator. which has become a place where no function, Miss Clara Sherman is ai^ equal jiartner in festival or ceremony is complete witliout floral the business with Mr. TJiorntou. She has for beautv. CLOVERDALE FARM AND DAIRY There is no item of food that has received stein-Friesan cows. The milk from Holstein more public attention in recent years than cattle is said by physicians and experts to be milk. The largest producer of milk for Strea- i-emarkable for its stimulating and nourishing- tor consumption i'^ the Cloverdale Daily, owned qualities, and its freedom from disease. Great by Mr. A. J. Daugherty. It produces 200 gal- care is exercised by the Cloverdale Dairy in its lons of milk daily. None is shipped away, but treatment of the product. Barns are wliite- it is used in the leading hotels, restaurants and washed twice annually, cows are rigidly in- homes of Streator. spected, and isolated at once if shown to be The milk sold by Mr. Daugherty is taken di- touclu'd witli taint. rectly from his own herd of 75 pure bred Hol- The feed for the cattle is home grown on the THK STOKV OF STKKATOH. 107 C'loverdale tana of 'SH7 acres. Fine jiastures One of the best prt)dncers is Pieterje Lass Aag- ahouiKi, water flowiiiy; from living springs is gie Netherland I'd, and she has an official re- pifntiful. and all tlic conditions needfnl for the cord of 20.1 (i.j pounds of milk in a year and 660 to of Miainlciiancc of licaltliy cattle arc |ii-('scut. The ])onnds of hutterfat, ecpial 8"J5 pounds winter feed is raised on the farm. Tliree crojts i)utter. Wlien it is remend)ered that a few a year of alfalfa are rai.sed and an aluindance of years ago 10,000 pounds of milk in a year was corn silage, wiiicli is stoi-ed in two sihrs liolding thought a wonderful record, the above figures 500 tons of fodder. will give some idea of the remarkable advance Among the mo\'emeiits of tlie past (piarter made in stock bleeding anil milk production. of a centnry none have done mure to erect The t'loverdale Herd has a wide reputation fanning to the dignity of a science than those all over the United States and Canada. Strea- dirc<'tcd to improNJnt;- the uiialitv of the stock. t(U-'- Ilolstein stock mav be found in neai'lv first state in the union, and the deiiKiiul is It is •_'."] years since Mr. Daugherty gave evei'y his attention to this important .-iubject. At constantly on the increase. Farmers and dairy- that time he had a henl of common mixed cows men are finding out that it iiays no more to own in l)rei'd stock than tools, and so it is that Mr. and l>y careful attention In -election pour poor i)ii>iness is more and ing lie has completely tran>forme(l the held. He Daiigherty's growing llnl more in the direction of each has now ?.") head of pure lired regislereil breeding year. A. O. stein-Friesian cows. Kvery animal is oflicially With a herd containing loO members K. tested for milk and liutter. The average yield cows and their descendents, and with 23 years selected of '.W of these cows for one year was 15,76;{ of personal experience with one highly -Mr. a poiimls of milk, and .")"J0 pounds of butter fat. herd iiehiml him. Daugheity occupies ))o- (!.')(' nf -iition in the forefront of the breeders of the This is eciual to nearly pounds butter and is able to with ])er cow, not far from two pnuiid> per day. country, sjieak authority. WOULF BROS. STOCK FARM 205(i Streator is suirounded by one of the rich- the world. Major D'Hoorebeke, (24898), of first in and America est agricultural regions on earth, and in no dis- winner prizes Europe hijn to the distinction of trict has there been greater jirogress in the that entitled ]mnu\ is this true the horse of his class in the jiast (piarter century, l-^sjiecially being superlative in the culture of pure breeds of draft horses, world. which has been raised to a remarkable degree The brothers came on the Woulf farm in in- and have in the business of of perfection. The countries of the old world fancy, grown up barn is have been ransacked for the finest si)eciniens of horsl- breeding. 'I'heir splendid equip- for horse and is fitted their jmrest breeds, and there is today on the ]ied especially raising, stock fann of Tliomas and .James Woulf, near M-ith modern conveniences. They make regu- France and and make Streator, the champion Percheron stallion of lar visits to Belgium 108 THE STORY OF STREATOR. four importations yearly, bringing over i^ure to $1,200 for mares. Weights of horses at head bred Pereheron and Belgium .stallions and of stud range from 2,200 to 2,400 pounds. A mares, and dealing in nothing but the best seven-months old colt has weighed 1.120 these countries produce. Their horse sales ex- l)ounds. Some idea of the magnitude of the tend from Atlantic to Pacific, and in the year horse business can be had when it is known 1910 they bought and sold more horses and that the sales range from $20,000 to $50,000 mares than other tinn any in the state. per year. Sales are always to the highest bid- Des])ite the introduction of motor vehicles ders, and are made without reserve. the value of flesh pure bred horse was never Both brothers live on the old home farm, as high as now and the Woulf brothers are en- where they continue with tJie labors of their thusiastic believers in the future of the Per- hands, in the field and around the bam, much eheron and Belgian hor-ses. The long scientific as they did when poor boys. Thev mav be Major D'Hoorebeke, I'udt; (24.S9S.) Champion of the world. breeding in the Old World has produced syste- found at home any time except when across the matically develoi)ed types of animal beauty, water buying blooded horses or ti'aveling nobility, intelligence, symmetry, size and around tlie neighborhood with their jirize stal- strength that is unecjualled for draft jnirposes. lions, and tliey are always ready to welcome The infusion of this strong and virile blood is friend or stranger, especially if he is interested making a wonderful improvement in American in the noblest animal in the world—which they stock. They have now 75 pure bred horses and think is the pure bred draft horse. A letter mares on the farm, and the value of the best will reach them via Rural Route Xo. 8, Streator. horses ranges from $1,000 to $5,000. The actual Phone, eiflier Farmers' or Independent Central prices obtained at their semi-annual sales range at Ransom, 111. from $1,000 to $2,800 for horses, and from $600 THE HARVEY DRAY & TRANSFER COMPANY It was a good deal like "sending coals to yard, and with characteristic courage they Newcastle," but this firm was the first that saw backed their jiulgmenf with their money and the ()})portunity fliaf lay in opening a coal yard built a place for the housing of their business. in Streator for the sale of foreign coals. The The result has justified their venture. Last Streator product is essentially a steam coal, year they sold 5,000 tons, and next year they and there was as a quality in Southern coal for expect to double it, and are ])lanning the erec- domestic purposes that made it desirable. With tion of chutes to facilitate liandling. Two ad- keen foresight and enterprise the Ilarveys saw vantages have accrued to the public from their that an opening could be made here for a local enteri)i*ise. First, the incoming of Southern I'm-; STOKV OF sthkatok. 1 11 9 coal lias served to roirulate the liouie price of Orisiinally oriiaiiized for coal handling:, their the local and tiie jinxiuct; second, ]»resence of business has branched out in many direction-^. the local has caused the dealers to sii|)i)Iy ship They handle all kinds of building materials, ill the forciyii aiticic at a t;reatlv reduced and are special distributor.'; of Medus."'. cement. They are agents for the .1. I. Case line of steam thresjiers and agricultural imjilements, as well as their automobiles. They have branched out extensively into the general contracting busi- ness, and most of the heavy contracts for exca- vation, such as the new bridge, the Mlks. and the Williams building, have been awarded to them. They HOWELLS & HAMPTON, JOBBERS The remaiivable railroad facilities of Strea- couple of young men who had tliemselves for a tor I'oint to a develo))ment as a distributing iiuiniier of years been representatives of Chi- centie for merchandise that has not yet been cago bouses. The thought came to them that fully realized. With lines of railroad radiating what they had so long done for otiiers they outward like the spokes of a wheel from the iiiiiilit do for themsehcs with e<|ual success. hul), ami with scores of thriving towns and vil- And what center of distribution so favorable lages dotting the prairies for hundreds of miles as their own home town ? in every direction, it is curious that its advan- They had for years been making the Xortli- tage's as a jobliing and wholesale centre were eni Illinois territory from Streator. They knew not sooner percei\'ed. every ston* in the territory, and tiiev knew that However, about three years ago Streator from no other point could service be as i>roinpt was "discovered" as a prospective centre for and s])eedy as from Streator. Tlie drawbacks tlie .jobt)ing triide. The discoverers were a of Chicago were well known to them from ex- no THE STORY OF STREATOR. of are exclusive dis- perience. As Mr. Howells, the senior jjartner, gars, some which they remarked: "If I sent an order from my terri- tributors of. Among their 10-cent brands are Plautis- tory to Chicago I would he lucky to i;et it filled the Leoi-na, Irene, Optima, Green Seal, in three or foiir days, so great is the congestion ta and IJavaiui Smokers; and their 5-cent list Bin- of business in the big city. If I sent it to Strea- includes the Klljarra, Aaron Burr, Single the the next Eosv and their own H. tor, the customer would get goods der, Light' specialty, day. That is the advantage of Streator as a &H. jobbing point for this territory, and it is an en- Botli jiartners are in the prime of life and ormous one." are experienced commercial travelers. Mr. Richard Howells is a graduate of the University of Hard Knocks, and, like other Streator youths found his v."ay up into the sunlight of success by the aid of a jiit lamp. He was born in Aber- dare, Wales, in 1869. came to America at 8 years of age, went to work shortly after, pick- ing slate at a ]iit-head in Pennsylvania. Before long he was promoted downward into the ]ut, and dug coal for several years in Streator. During the recurrent sti'ikes of those days he learned the ])rinting trade, and from that graduated on the road as a commercial traveler. He is one of Streator 's respected citizens, a ves- tryman of the Episcopal church, for 14- year.? vice-jn'esident of the German Building & Loan Association, and a director of the People's Trr.st and Savings Bank. R. J. HoweUs. TJiey formulated their ])lan ; carefully, se- lected a territory for about fifty miles around Streator with which they were thoroughly fa- miliar, picked a line of goods they knew would find a ready market, and went to work. The lule of purchase was: "Buy no more goods than we can discount the bills on." They liave stuck to that rule, and though their progress has not been meteoric, it has been safe, substantial and steady. They buy no more goods than they can sell, and they take advantage of every discount. No one can undersell the man who discounts his bills, and who knows his trade thoroughly at both the buying and selling ends. It is not to be wondered at that their l)usiness has increas- ed ten-fold in three years, and tluit they dream Walter P. Hampton. of a time when they will have a wholesale es- tablishment in Streator to compare wi'li the big Mr. Walter Hampton was born in Gridley, Chicago houses. 111., in 1875, has been a salesman and commer- The line selected by them was cigars, confec- cial traveler the most of his days. He came to tionery and grocers' specialties, and they have Streator fourteen years ago, has identified him- stayed closelv bv their selection. Thev are self with its best interests, and is one of its building up a strong trade for their line of ei- highly regarded citizens. Tin: STOKV OP sTHi:.\T()i:. Ill THE J. C. AMES LUMBER COMPANY 'riifre is HIP (•(Uh-fiii tliiit luis iikmc rij;iil In ager, who has been with the conipanv since feel itself an iiitt'ji:ial part of Strcator tliaii tlio 1 s;»2. J. ('. Ames I.iiiiilicr Two tliiids of ('oiii)iany.. With the passing- of the years the growing its are roofed, slicatlici). Hoored and luiil(liiiv:s business of the J. C. Ames Lumber Company finislied with Ames' liiiiilicr. so it may riijiitly will continue to jiress more heavily on the shoul- consider itself a larire jpart of the l>ody tliat tlie ilers of I. C. Ames, or "Carlos," as he is moi'e .sou! of Strealor inhaliits. Biir Imihlini^s ami familiarly known to the companions of his small, mansions and siianties, tiie framework youth. But the shoulder.- are broad and of Ames lumi)er is in all of them. Tlie Motor brawny, and eipuil to any burden, as the pass- Car Works, the 1) Heenan Store. The (Jarliehl ing years bring poise and maturity of .judg- Scliool. the M. ]•:. churcli. the Powers & Wil- ment. Young Mr. Ames is widely traveled and liams and the Mlks' new Imildinj^s— all these has had an unusual range of experience. He has and more lieir on their inside structure many seen government service autl has participated the mark of the Ames ;.und)er ('ompany. To in the great work of the century— the building furnish all these s^reat interest - with their of the Pananui Canal. Having ])assed a youth of stirring adventure, he has returned to the (dd home, married, and has yoked his back to the busiiu'ss load which his elders must soon lav down. Carlos Ames. Clark Studio buildinn material, to bear a liij;h and honorable reputation in tlie ti'ade for upwards of a iren- Harrv L. Manley. Clark Studio eratioii is credit ennu^ii for an>' lirm. It be-ian business in 1S7!> when .1. ('. Ames transferred his interests from hardware to lum- He is daily immersed in the business detail ber, lie operated it as a private enteri)rise un- of the Ames lumber business, and is in active til IS!*], wiien it wa- incorporated as the J. C. and i)ersonal charge of the yards. He has also Anu's Lumber Company. Ailliouiih called to taken hold of city affairs, and has a working Mi'. has retaiiieil liis He is a member of lii.irh imbljc station. Ames interest in its upbuilding. interest in the comi»iny. and is still its presi- the Civil Service Commission controlling the po- of the dent and princi])al stockholder. lice and firemen of the city, a member committee for the new Elks' The vice-president is his son. Mr. T. C. Ames, building building, of athletic base ball, who is on the ground and participates actively and a promoter sports, that to make in the business; and the .secretary-treasurer is district fair, etc., everything goes livelv in Streator. 'S\y. 11. 1>. Manley, the responsible office man- thiuiis 112 THK STOKV OP STHKATOH. THE PLUMB HOUSE The Plumb House is the ohlost of Streator's will be called on to meet. The hotel now has hostelries, and one of the most widely knowu. 80 available rooms and plans are under consid- It was built in 1882 by a group of public spir- eration for adding new extensions which will ited citizens for the purpose of siviuii' the town increase this capacity. It is located on one of a hotel that in magnitude and e(]uii)nient would the jn-incipal corners of the Main street of the be commensurate with its growiui;- require- city, and yet far enough from the raili'oad ments. The march of events is rapid in these centre to be free from the noise, smoke and dirt days, and in 25 years the house that hid been of the trains. The accompanying cut gives an up-to-date and a little beyond wlu-n it was built indication of its architectural proi)ortions. iiad fallen a little 1)ehin(i tlu' jirevailing hotel Mr. and -Mrs. Hutchinson are thoroughly ex- standards. In 1907 the owner, with cliaracter- perienced hotel peui)le, and know the require- istic enterprise, remodeled the entire interior ments of the traveling public. Prior to coming and brought it again up to the minute. to Streator they were in the business of hotel The Plumb House is now eijuipped with ev- management in Chicago for years. There they ery convenience of a modern hotel, and Streator had first the Gresham, and later the Oakland can boast of a house equal to the expectations of Hotel, the latter l)eing among the most impor- its visitors, and commensurate with its achieve- tant family hotels of the city. Their training ments in other directions. It is provided with has fitted them for handling the best and finest is little inclined steam heat, electric lights, freight and jiassen- clientile, and Mr. Hutchinson to with ger elevator, local and long distance telephones, by experience or predisposition \n\t i\\> hot and cold running water in all rooms, and the rough or disorderly. The Plumb, therefore, also a fire escape in each room. has become a synonym for order, cleanliness, well-man- These improvements were made in the first (juietude, and all the cpialities which year of the tenancy of the ])resent landloid, ^Ir. nered respectable, rest-seeking traveling i)eo- Joshua Hutchinson, who, on assuming the man- ple look for in their temporary home on the agement in 1907, thoroughly refurnished the road. house. Under his direction the hotel has pros- ^Ir. Joshua Hutchinson was born in Queens to America ])ered and it is now a question of whether the County, Ireland, in 1848, and came hotel must not soon be enlarged to meet the in- in 1872. The first half of his life was given to creasing demand for accommodations which it the dry goods trade, and he served as sales- Tin: sinitv or sthfatotj 113 man in sonio of the most famous houses, sueh which he has achieved a gratifying success. He as A. 'r. Stewart iS: Co., Xew York, aud Charles is an active supporter of all forward movements Gossa^e & Co., Chicago. The latter half of his of the city, and especially friendly to its relig- life has been spent in the hotel business, at ious, educational and cultural interests. HOTEL REPUBLIC The visitors to a town arc not all attractcil the week. That a hotel of this type is appre- to the most pretentious cstalilishnicnts. Among ciated is shown by the fact tliat its rooms are al- travelers there are many to wiiom there are ways full, and its dining rooms sJiow few un- more important considerations than style or occupied seats at meal times. luxury, and to this numerous class the Hotel The i)ro|)rietor is Mrs. Mary Lightbodj'', Kepulilii- makes its appeal. It olTers comfort, it wliile the active cares of management fall on olTers cleanliness, it olTers well prejiared, invit- the able shoidders of her son-in-law, Mr. (icorge ing, substantial meals to its guests, and its |)ros- Baldwin. The hotel was erected in 18!)3 and perity demonstrates that it fills a place the |)ub- was operated with varying success and failure lic wciiihl tio| wiliinirlx' have xacated. iiiitil the pi'eseiit management took liold in renovated and The Hotel Keimblic is situated on the corner 1907. The house was thoroughly a career of of Illinois and Hickory streets, ojiposite the modernized, and straightway began until Santa Fe depot. It is a substantial brick build- jjrosperity that has remained unbroken the secret of his re- ing of 38 rooms, equipjied with gas, electric the pi-esent time. Asked light and steam heat. It caters to the commer- markable success Manager Baldwin replied: a cial traveler, and is the favorite stopping place •'There are just two things in running of railroad men, many of whom have to lay good medium priced hotel, but they are funda- • over in Streator at the end of their runs. Its mental and in(lis])ensable. They are, good beds. These involve a lot of rates are $]..')() per day, with special rates by food and good 114 THE STORY OF STREATOR. other things, such as good help, good supervis- profit without raising our rates, and this we ion, good buying and good management. Above cannot do without sacrificing our position as all, the most indispensable thing is cleanliness, the leading medium priced hotel of the town. and this requires tireless and unceasing vigi- Meanwhile we are holding up our standard, and lence. Unremitting attention to these details retaining our trade, hoping that jjrices will have given our house a good reputation and our take a favorable turn soon." trade is as much as we can accommodate. Our The editor records this little interview as a greatest need at i:)resent is an addition to the local instance of a feature of contemporaneous building. I may admit the business has been histoiy that may become memorable. The pres- profitable, and we have made money. But not ent year may be remembered as the climax of this year. Though the volume of business is un- the era of high jDrices. diminished, our profits are reduced to the van- ]\fr. George M. Baldwin, manager of the ishing point. This is on account of the enor- Hotel Beimblic, is practically a Streator pro- mous increase in the price of eatables. We aim duct. He was born in Coalville, across the river, to supply our table with as good and costly food and is one of those coal miners of whom Strea- as the high priced hotels; the only difference tor is proud, who graduated from the pick by being in elaborateness of service and furnish- the aid of the ])it lamp, and by talent rose out ings. The increase of prices therefore strikes of the darkness of the mine to achieve a sub- us at a vital spot, and we cannot recover our stantial success in the business world. THE GRIFFITH LAUNDRY A business concern equipped witli modern Up-to-date in all its departments. Owned and machinery, new building, centrally located. operated l?y W. J. Griffith. THE STREATOR STEAM LAUNDRY The wonderful impetus to co-operative the steam laundry. To get the washing out housekeeping finds no auxiliary so potent as of the house is the first great step in that ban- Till, STORV or STIM,\T<)I«. 115 ishmciit of tlif housewife's dnul,si:erv whieli is course to keep up with the times in the matter essential net only to tlie solution of the servant of equipment, and the Woolley laundry has the girl problem, but also to the i^reservation of the best. It has five Ideal washers of the latest American home. type, and tlie.se allow the separation of the Jiut it must he. a good laundry. It must be great mass of material without too much mix- ture. The white clothes one the clean, it must be careful, and above all, it must have machine, send the housewife's own clothes back—and colored clothes another, white shirts another, not some other body's. This takes the most table cloths still another. Overalls and work- scrupulous sort of attcr^tion, else the laundry men's clothes are a-iven a special machine, which is used for no otlii'r will fail. thou,s::li it liave the best machinery in purjiose. the world. It is in this special quality of at- The costliest item of laundry equipment is tention to detail that the Streator Steam Laun- the mangle, and Mr. Woolley has one of the dry excels. Its proprietor, .lohn J. Woolley, largest capacity, the American Co.'s Six Roll Flat Work Ironer, with 110 inch rolls. This lias a daily capacity of ], FINLEN & COMPANY, MORTICIANS One of the tenderest sentiments of the hu- the service, or the dignity of the occasion. man heart, and one of the most universal, is The leaders of this movement in Streator that which impels us to show our love for tlie are Finlen & C'ompanv, who have opened a new fact dei^arted by a fine and fitting treatment of its establishment at 202 W. Main street. The bodily vestment. Unfortunately this beautiful that the firm is also connected with its own for its sentiment, under current usages, is made use liverj' stables enables it to effect a saving of to tyrannize over the living under the guise clients as well as offering a convenience. It is the of paying respect to the dead. Too many fami- the custom among tlie livery people to pay on all lies, broken by sorrow,, and impoverished by undertaker a commission carriages, case of Fin- long illness, are made to carry the additional hearses, or vehicles used. In the Inirden of a needlessly expensive funeral by len & Co. this commission goes directly to the this appeal to the fine affection that makes client and heljis to reduce the cost of the fu- them want to show honor to the de])arted. So neral. The (|uarters of the Finlen livery are thev are weighted down with a debt which directly adjoining the undertaking rooms, and Office and Reception Room. Clark Studio may burden them for years, and all because their matched teams, funeral carriages and custom and business interest has prompted au equipment are recognized as among the finest overexpensive funeral. in the count}'. All arrangements for carriages can be made with the A movement has been taking form in re- etc., directly undertaker, and Ihe client thus relieved of after cent years looking toward the removal of this looking these details. unnecessary burden from the backs of poor people. A new type of morticians have come The Finlen undertaking rooms are the only into being, who, realizing how crushing is the ones in the city provided with a chapel. Here burden of funeral debt, have detemiined on a funeral services may be conducted as in a policy that will reduce it to a minimmn. "Work- church, with proper seating accommodations ing hand in hand with modern casket makers, for attendants. Parties who bring a funeral and being willing to work for a moderate pro- cortege from other cities will find the chapel a convenience for the of fu- fit, they have been able to greatly reduce the great conducting cost of funerals without in any way diminish- neral services, either by the clergy or by fra- ing the richness of the casket, the efficiency of ternal orders. The use of the chapel is free to Tirr viDin of sthkator. 117 all, rejiyanlless of sect or denoiiiiiuition. man, Mr. C. Finleu. lie is a typical Streator Wliik' having speeial rej^ard for moderation boy, boru and reared here. His wide ac(iuaint- in price tiie Finlen Company want it under- auce will assure him a favorable introduction, stood tliat tiio quality of their j-oods is not sur- and his abilitj- and experience will no doubt ])assed by any in the market, either in richness, win him an honorable position in his chosen beauty, or elegance of design and linish. jirofession. 1'hose re(juiring his services will The active member of the iirm is Mr. receive a prompt response by calling at 202 Charles M. Finleu, son of the well known livery West Main street, or through phone (53. TEBERG, THE SHOE MAN \\ . .\!. 'i'chcrg, one of tlie proprietors of the ness in the delivery of orders. Streator Wear-You-Well Shoe House, and the In the repairing of boots and shoes there is owner and propiictoi- of two well e(juip])ed sliue big opjiortunity for the use of false and shoddy repair establishments in the city, is a workman maleiial and yet in few lines is the need of who by do.se attention to every detail of his good nuiterial more apparent or more neces- business, bv tireless eiiergv and iiidustrv, and sarv. The Teberg Shoe House. "Electric by a determination to give to his patrons full He calls his place of business the the value in all tilings at all times, has won for Shoe Repairing Shoi)s" and name gives the work himself recognition as a business man and ar- character to tiie work and gives name. The word "Electric" tisan. Mr. leberg is a believer in good goods character to the with to the the and good workmanship, coupled with prompt- carries it, average intelligence, 118 THE STORY OF STREATOK. idea of modernity, quickness, efficiency, thor- Dressing and Hat Cleaning Concern. oughness, and the half hourly practice of the Bealizing the possibilities of the shoe re- Teberg Shops in soleing and heeling and other- pairing trade, when judiciously managed and wise making for service purposes new shoes directed and backed by reasonable intelli- out of old ones, while you wait, is proof that gence, Mr. Teberg is seriously contemjilating the woi'd "Electric" as a name, tinds rightful at this time the extension of his shoe rapair- usage here. ing business to neighboring cities, with Strea- The Teberg Exclusive Eepair Shop is at 107 tor as a center, and he says that he was partly North Monroe street, just off Main street. It urged to this decision by the fact that Streator was here that he really got his start and it is has such excellent passenger and shipping fa- to this place that persons, needing his services, cilities. go. His otiier place is at 418 p]ast Main street, Mr. Teberg was born in Chenoa in ]88"2, and and is run in connection with the Wear-You- came to Streator some four years ago. Well Shoe House and the Katsioulas Shoe T. J. MERRINER, REAL ESTATE Eeal estate and real estate men have much came to Illinois in the vear 1878 and located in to do with the upbuilding of every commun- Streator. He ap]irentieed as a mason and after ity—on the activity, community interest and mastering the details of the craft, worked as a sense of values of men thus engaged, the future journeyman, later branching out for himself as of every city much depends. There are those an independent general contractor in the build- ing line, in which he continued until less than a year ago, when he opened a real estate office over the People's Trust & Savings Bank. T. J. Meiiiner. buying and selling lands, lots and houses who are in the business because they have idle V\lieif All. .Milliner Offices. capital and see money in it; but thei-e are oth- ers who have no choice—there are men who to This dei)!irture on his part was but the culmination of his life's inclinations and in- the profession are born; they are kiiown as nat- for all of the he had been ural traders, and close to the top in this class tent, during years stands T. J. Meri-iner. a contractor he had been profiting by the op- to learn land and lot and Mr. Merriner was born in Virginia and portunities afforded TH>: STOR^ OF STRK.ATOIJ. 119 location vahios. and as a result of the land many in,','- investments in other growing and transaction entered already into, when he open- ra])idly developing section, will make no mis- ed his real estate ollicc he had a variety of take in talking the matter over with him be- Ijrojterties all his own. He had options on fore reaching a decision. other choice hits liere many and there over the Here is one real estate man that sells and Merriuer. city, and a iiunilicr <>f iDnmiission contracts in trades for the love of the work and in the main addition. relies on guaranteed constantly increasing val- In addition to hcim,^ well erpiiiii'ed with ues for reward. That manner of real estate Streator ju-operties. lu- is ajrent for farm lands agent is a necessity in every city, and the more in all sections of the country, especially to the of his kind that a municii)ality has the more Xiirtli aiir) N'oitli\\('-t. it will to the front. and parties contemplat- rajiidlv ] n-oyress THE JOHN NEUMAIER ELECTRIC COMPANY Streator is now in a position to talce care of west, lie wa- for some years electrical engi- its own electric work. Formerly if it became neer for the Allis-Clialmers Company, of j\Iil- neces.sary to rewind an armature, it had to be waukee, and is freipiontly recalled to that city sent out of town, a proceeding often inconven- for expert work and consultation. Associated ient to owners of motors oi' i^'enerators. Now with him is Mr. John G. Jjukach, for several if any accident happens all that is necessary years in charge of the electrical work of the is to send them to the slioj) of the Xeumaier Ameiican Bottle ('oni])any. At the head of the Electric Company, or, if too large for that, they office force is Mr. William Ackerman, long and can be repaired on the spot. The Xeumaier favorably knoM-n as the editor of the Volks- firm is also able to design and constiuct switch- blatt. and in later years the po|)uh!r police boai'ds for any i)ossible use, also to do the wir- magistrate of the city. ing of buildings under the most approved The companv was incoiporated on March 9, plans. They carry a comj)lete line of electric 191-2 with a cajutal of $10,000, with John Neu- supplies, such as vacuum cleaners, washing maier as president, John G. Lukach, vice-presi- machines, toasters, ironers, lamps, sockets, dent, and William Ackerman secretaiy-treas- fuses and the like. urer. Their office is at 109 West Main street. Mr. John Neumaier, the head of the con- Phone No. 375. cern,, is one of the prominent electricians of the 120 THE STORY OF STREATOR. THE BLUE FRONT RESTAURANT The proprietor aud maiiayer of the Bhie the best markets and served in a way that Front is John H. Swartz, aud althougli when leaves little to be desired and nothing to be he assumed ownership aud control he was with- complained of when prices are considered, the out training or experience in the woi'k, he has highest point in the public restaurant line has given to tlie business sucli intelligent applica- been reached. The Blue Front eating house at tion that today he is master of its every detail. 212 Main street, is such a place, and the fact is Mr. Swartz is a Streator boy, having been generally recognized by the people of Streator born on the banks of the Vermillion river, just who are compelled by circumstances to take across the county line, twenty-five years ago. their meals in public places. He attended school in Streator, and when The Blue Front is ideally located in the very through with school life, concluding he would heart of the business district, the room is cool Blue Front Cafe. like to see some other parts of the country, left and is kept well ventilated; the linen is invit- for Chicago and later gravitated west and lo- ing and the general tone and conduct of the in cated Kansas City, in which city he worked restaurant such as to connnand res^ject. The for some time, but the call of Streator was ever menu covers such a broad field along the lines liresent and two and one-half years since he re- of catering to the needs of the inner man that turned and bought an interest in the business the tastes and caprices of all are complied with he owns and directs today. in a most satisfactory way. A cool, comfortable, clean and well lighted In keeping with long established usages, place in which to eat contributes much to the the restaurant is open night and day, and many graces of living. When these conditions are find in this a big convenience. reinforced by good goods brought fresh from THK STOHV OF STRl'ATOil. 121 ED. GROSSMAN CIGAR FACTORY Tlio K(l. Grossman <^'i;jjar Factory at 208 tioii formed in tiiis city, and for nearly nine Main street, is a Streator concern tliat iiiom- years he linked his fortunes with this conii)any, ises devi'lopnitMit. Tlie firm name fonnerly duriufj which time he saw much of America was Brannon & Grossman, and the factory at and Kurn)»p. that time was in the rear of the J. . Brannon store, but recently ^fr. (jrossman ac(|uired sole ownership, moved into larji^er (piarters, doubled the numl)er of em])loves and at pres- ent is centerinir his whole thouirht aiul enoriry in the makinir of a line of cijj^ars that must ap- )ieal to the di^criiiiiiiatini; smokers r)f tiiis cit> and of the iiei;;hijtiriii;uf towns and cities wiicrc his jjoods find a ready market. In five cent lines Mr. Grossman is cmpluisiz- ina- the --lU-n Seal" ami "Tiie .Moo>e," into which he is jiuttinj; in tillers and wrai)pprs tlic best material possible consistent with a hiuli f»rade five cent article. In the three for a <|uaitei" and stiai^^iit ten cent r'iu;ai' the "Don (iusto" is his tind the public's faxdvite. and to the lovers of a bi^ smoke with ipudity this ci- par appeals. Kd. (irossman, like many others of Strea- lOr's substantial men, was born in Gernuiny; that was 'A7i a^fo, and with his |>arents years Ed. Grossman. came to America when he was a child. Wiiiie still a he an in the youth became appreiitii-e When world wanderiiifj had lost its attrac- trade and when into ciii;ar-making mertring tions anil the footli,a:lits no longer possessed a iianhood was looked upon as a skilled artisan. charm, he returned to America and Streator At the aye of twent\. willi seveial other and ajiiilied himself at once to liis trade. His Streator younij;- men, "IM." became a uu'inber ]iresent position gives [iromise of an active and of tlie Streator Zouaves, a theatrical or'i:aniza- successful business career. F. PLUMB'S CENTRAL PARK ADDITION A new adtlition by i-'awcett I'lumb is an left in the interior of tiie city. It was withheld event in Streator. Real estate operators sit u]) from settlement for years after the town had and take notice Ijecause of the margins they grown up around it on all four sides, and is the can make in liandliiig the new lots. Home only cJiance left to get a lot in tlie heart of the makei-s take a lively interest because in buying city at origiiuU prices. Any additions to be of F. Plumb they get in on the gound floor, and sub-divided hereafter must be on the outskirts, can buy a lot at bottom prices on easy pay- and involve a car fare or a long walk to the lot ments. The last addition laid otT liy Jiim, buyer. South Park, went ofT like hot cakes and lots Central Park Addition is five minutes walk that he sold for $200 cannot now be bought at from the opera house corner, right at the edge $1,000. of the East Main street paving. Arrangements Central Park addition is Mr. Plumb's latest have l)een made to pave Main street to the far- offering and is the last piece of acre property ther end of the addition this fall. The town 122 THE STORY OF STRFATOR. has grown far to the east beyond it, and this addition will repeat the experience of South block of 27 acres is surrounded on all sides by Park, and no more lots can be bought from the beautiful homes. original platter, but must be purchased from second or third hands at four or five times the Public Park Reserved in Centre. present lU'iee. The addition derives its name from the fact The Plumb Policy. that Mr. Plumb has reserved a full city block in the centre of the plat and has dedicated it The regular Plumb policy, under wliicli two- to public uses as a park. Already a large num- thirds of the lots in Streator have been sold. ber of quick-growing shade trees have been will be continued in the new addition. That planted in the park and throughout the addi- policy is: A small i)ayment down, and easy tion, and soon their grateful foliage will jnake montlily ])ayincnts, with perfect assurance that pleasant shade for mothers to rest and cliildren no advantage of anv sort will ever be taken of J i.<.L JL L JL J (.(.L JL TRi: sTonv OF STnr.VTOR. 123 (BC g 0^ 1- '5 be S *" ir.X ^ 5; & 2 ? o o UJ ;£ W 0) O i;. u re X =ij CO M CO — 7. — UJz CO r "^~ t*-i a; 02 - Si 02 cyo — /- Z w ^ a.) be c a o o o tT Oi o 02 ' -^ !>• § 5 ^^ '^ i- - i_ -^ X w CO O r - - * T- — ij — oj — ^ — 'S S3 o -^ >•- = ?; r r = to " '^ 8o a j^ c ^ a .5 X' ^' 3^ cc -a o C3 r. a a -^ ^ X S s^ ' - *- -^j "^ ^ , J far c i i « „ .2- a be t- ^ r^ r' o ^ t* a a 03 =..^ g .r a « r- ^3 ?« £ g "a 124 THE STORY OF STREATOR. FOREST C PETTINGELL, WHOLESALER OF FLOUR AND FEED close Forest C. Pettiugill, the wholesale flour, the quality of his goods, coujjled with the feed and hay man, is a name familiar to the city margin of profits, with which he is content, of Streator and is associated closely with the has enabled him to attract and hold trade over of As this is the city's activities. a wide expanse territory. Mr. Pettiugill was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, where he passed the earlier years of his life and where he still has some property interests, but to him, as to a great number of New England's sons, then and now, the cry and promise of the West were alluring, and yielding to it he left the East and located in Streator, established business, built a home and reared and educated a family here. Recently Mr. Pettiugill erected a big ware- house on the corner of Vermillion and Bridge streets, the structure is one-story, 140x53 feet, constructed of Streator paving brick that will endure through the centuries. Inside tlie build- ing is so apportioned and arranged as to ac- commodate every need of his business, and lo- 12:^ cated as it is, close to or practically in the busi- ness district, and yet convenient to the railroad only exclusive wholesale house in these particu- the freight houses, the conditions are ideal. lar lines in Streator, there can be no doubt Mr. Pettiugill is the exclusive agent for sev- volume of business done will increase from eral of the highest grade brands of flour, and vear to vear as it has from the beginning. THE WAGNER BEAUTY PARLORS The history of Streator would not be com- awakened consciousness, and came and went by of at and made plete without some appreciation of the more stealth, afraid being laughed is gracious and refining aspects of its evolution. ridiculous. Today the well-groomed woman For, as Richard Le Geilliene recently said, life a joy to all beholders, and is proudly conscious na- is not all iron and granite, it is beauty and love of l)er inalienalile rights to co-operate with and service. The apostles of beauty in Strea- ture in making Jierself as charming as possible. tor have not been numerous, but they have been Oily hair, pimply skin, uncared for finger nails are no lon- effective and loj^al. and an unkempt appearance Miss Emma Wagner is the pioneer in the ger regarded as badges of respectability, but of art of the aesthetic expressed in the science of a slovenly, disordered life, and the woman who l^ersonal adornment, and it was through the makes good today professionally and socially exter- opening of her parlors seven years ago that must present a well groomed, attractive women became conscious of their obligations ior; it is her most valuable asset in public toward personal attractiveness and have ever esteem. since been cultivating their sensibilities in this The Story of Her Beginning. direction. Miss Wagner has always been proficient in In Former Times. the art of beautifying. At the age of seven it Prior to the opening of Miss Wagner's was her delight to dress hair in tlie latest fash- beauty parlors and during the first months of ion, and when other children were playing with her activities women were ashamed of their dolls she was developing an expertness in hair THi: STftTiV i»l ^!l!l \T<»i:. 125 arraiifreiiuMit wliidi lias culiiiiiiated today in the manely sym])athetic, keenly itituitivo in her reputation of beiu.if the most proficient artist jud.£inu'nts and would rather score results at in this line in the state outside of Chicago. any cost than cousen-e her own energies. Ifavinsr sutTcred for several years with a skin eniptioii which no experts could ever cure, Her Shop. Miss Warner went to Chicafi;o and Ijegan lier There is no more uji-to-date, attractive, con- study of tlie skin, and the proper nietiiods of re- venient, well eipiipjicd lieanty parlor outside of storin*; health an THE WILLIAMS HARDWARE COMPANY The cut presented herewith shows a view of clerk. The date of this writing, May. liUl'. finds the Williams Hardware ('om]>any. It is the him still in the same store, oidy now he is ])ro- latest as well as one of tlu- largest of Streator's prietor where 27 years ago he was cl;>rk. This mercantile structures, and it represents the cul- fact may be significant of the (piiet tenacity of mination of a line of mercantile development bis nature, which has in it little of the restless- that began in ISS."). In that year Charles H. ness and excitability of our generation, but Williams came to Streator from his father's which without ha.ste and without noise sticks farm, about ten miles northwest of town. Had to its task till it is thoroughly mastered. That be followed the lines of ancestral jiredisposi- Cliarles H. Williams is a ]>ast master of the re- tion Cliarles wtuild have l)een a professional tail hardware business all who know him will man, a brain-worker, as were his fathers before testify. Xot only is it attested by the remark- him—a long line of Xew England scholars and able development of his business, which now teachers who ran back to Roger "Williams. His refpiires the largest hardware store between father. Rinaldo Williams, one of the finest and Chicago and Decatur for its accommodation, gentlest of scholars, and one of the most re- but it is evidenced by the suffrages of his fel- vered names in the history of the county, was low hardware merchants, who for two years County Superintendent of Schools for many elected him president of the Illinois Retail vears. and later ])rinci}ial of the Streator High Hardware Association, and later chose him for School. |iresident of the National Retail Hardware As- But Charles elected the hardware business sociation, tlie highest honor in the gift of his as his life's calling, and at the age of nineteen giiild. entered the hardware store of Powers Bros, as Needless to sav that the business talents so 126 THE STORY OF STREATOR. conspicuously recognized by liis fellow mer- General Roofing Company. It is the heaviest chants find their highest exercise in the service dealer and contractor in Streator for tin and of his own peoi^Ie. One of the aims most con- sheet metal work, and it is a centre for the dis- sciously jmrsued during a quarter century of tribution of Pennsylvania lubricating oils for mei'chandising has been to raise the volume of the state of Illinois. business to a point where it would justify buy- The latter promises to become one of the ing goods directly from the manufacturer, thus greatest departments of the firm for the use of enabling him to secure a liigher quality of lubricating oils for automobiles and other pur- goods and to meet the competition of wholesal- l)oses is greatly on the increase. The rock phos- ers and jobbers. This goal has been reached, phate branch had a small beginning, for farm- and the Williams Hardware Company is now ers were slow to awaken to the need of artifi- in most instances able to sen'e its customers cial fertilizers, Imt now they are thoroughly with goods bought directly from the manufac- roused and carloads of phosphate ai-e sent by turers under the most favorable tenns and the firm to many states of the union, north and conditions. south—Texas, Missouri, Virginia, Kentuckv as The New Store and Ware Rooms. During the quarter century the l)usiness has well as Illinois and Indiana, Wisconsin, Michi- greatly broadened from the simple hardware gan and New York. store of 27 years ago. It now includes a phos- It is this wide exi^ansion of business that phate dei^artment, requiring its own elevator; has necessitated the erection of the new build- an independent oil station for the handling of ing which the firm will occupy on July 1, 1912. car loads of Pennsylvania kerosene and gaso- The building is built of brick and reinforced a lene; magazine for the handling of high ex- concrete, and conforms to the requirements t f plosives; a department devoted espeeially to the New York Board of Underwriters. It is window and and a therefore as as a of glass, polished plate ; storage nearlj- fire-proof building warehouse "where thosuands of feet of space is this class can be made. It is 63x140 feet in size rented to patrons. The firm is also the whole- and is four stories high with basement. Each sale distributor of prepared roofings for the floor is of concrete and contains 8400 square THK STOnV OF STUKATOn. 127 feet of floor It is space. drained into an aban- Williams has acquired the Powers interests, doned mine about 100 feet Iteneatii, and throiisli and since he is practically the sole owner, it it finds access to tlie river. The basement and seems fitting that the name of the firm should first floor will be salesrooms; the second floor show this fact. Though he has had an intense- will be a supplementary salesroom and tin ly active business career, Mr. Williams has shop; the tliird floor will contain surplus stock; found time for not a few civic and social duties, and the fourth floor commeicini fireproof stor- lie has been for seventeen years a member of age and surjilns. the school board, has been an officer of the It is equipi)ed with an up-to-date vacuum Commercial Club, is now a director of the cleaner outfil, and will he jirovided with rest rofim, ladies' parloi- and licucial waiting room for the convenience of the public This is an idea borrowed from the de})artment stores of the great cities, and is introduced for tlie first in Streator. Tliere will time by Mr. Williams Chas Williams. be lockers provided for the stcu'ing of wraps or ])ackages which visitors may desire to leave Inion National P>auk and of the Western Glass while in the cily. rom]iany, and ju-esident of the Streator Chau- \Vheu the liiiii <'liangcs from its old to its tauqua Associatiiui. His yift of speech is nuich new home its name will be changed from Pow- in demand in publii' and social gatlici'ings, ers i^ Williams to the Williams Hardware Coni- ban(iuets and the like, where his fund of anec- ])aiiy. Dui-ing tlie years that have jiassed Mr. dote and his drv humor are alwavs welcome. 128 THE STORY OF STREATOR. STREATOR AQUEDUCT CO. STORY OF ITS BATTLE WITH BACTERIA AND ITS FINAL SOLU- TION OF THE WATER PROBLEM. The Streator Aqueduct Company was or- Sufficient for City of 50,000. on 15, 1S86. At the time of its ganized Sept. But the company is not satisfied with sup- establishment there were two sources possible plying the present need of Streator. even at of water for the The town was supply city. its maximum demand. "With far seeing eye it divided as to the source from which seriously looks forward to the inevitable growth of the water should be taken, one party under the city, and is making provision for it. It has of Aldenuan John C fa- leadershij) Campbell gone eleven miles up the river and there pur- the Vennillion the headed voring Biver; othei', chased a site for another dam and impounding Dr. Edwin Evans, the local scientific au- by reservoir. Flowage rights are being secured of the fresh water north- thority, favoring springs sufficient extent to permit the erection of a six- east of the in Otter Af- city Creek Township. teen foot dam. When erected this dam will ter months of the of Dr. controversy party create a reservoir that will hold 350,000,000 who the unhealthiness of the Evans, urged gallons of water, which, added to the present river water, finally prevailed; and by action of capacity, will be adequate to the needs of a city the council the water was dii-ected to company of 50,000 people. obtain its supply from the Otter Creek springs. The plant was accordingly located north-east Streator 's Scattered Area. of the city, but after a year of service the sup- One of file unusual features of the water was found to be and recourse ply inadequate, situation in Streator is caused by its large area. was had to the snureo—the only remaining Thus it requires 46 miles of pipe to satisfy the ^"e^nillion river. needs of its 3,800 water consumers; of which In 1888 the Streator Aqueduct Coiujiany be- there are 37 miles of cast iron pipe from 4 to 20 inches in 1 gan to take steins to remove its plant. Laud diameter, and 9 miles of smaller v/as secured on the river, about three miles to 2 inch pipe. Of the 3,800 consumers an un- usual above the city, the site of the present plant. At proportion are industrial or commercial this point it was found that mill riglits were users, the number being 452. The yearly rev- owned by Mr. David Defenbaugh, which car- enue shows this proportion is still more strik- ried with them perpetual flowage rights. These ing fashion. Last year the domestic consumers the were purchased by the comjiany and a jilant paid company $26,000, while the railroads erected. In 1890 a dam was built at a cost of and industries paid $23,000, being nearly one- $9,800, witli 170 feet of roll way. This proved half the revenue from those soiirces. adequate until 1904, when the increasing de- Supt. Hugaans is authority for the state- mand for water made it necessary to raise the ment that but for the support of the industrial dam to a height of eleven feet and four inches and conuuercial users the company would not above its base. This satisfies present needs, have been able to continue- in business. The but the Aqueduct Company has since secured city pays for 271 public hydrants, and there territoiy and flowage rights to enable them to are 15 private hydrants. In addition the city raise the dam two feet higher, which, when receives free water for its schools and other built, will give them a storage sup[)ly of 275,- iniblic buildings, for drinking troughs, display 000,000 gallons. The ])resent consumption of fountain and for flushing sewers and for fire the city is nearly 2,000,000 gallons daily, so purposes. The .school buildings use 21,000,000 the new elevation will — give them over one hun- gallons annually, and it is estimated that four- dred days' supply far more than is ever teen i)er cent of all the water i)umi3ed goes for needed under prevailing conditions of rainfall. free consumjition. THi: STOIJV OF STRi:.\Tf»K. 129 The Equipment. is notoriou.sly among the worst streams in Illi- it I nois, and was this that Tlic nearly li.f KM ).(!()( crallon.s of water con- knowledge caused the council suiimmI eat'h day is prepared and pumped by a tliat granted tlie water franchise to demand that the modern, up-to-date meelianical equipment. It is company get its supply from tlie ()tter Creek as before stated. The lifted from intake well l)y two low lift oen- springs, eacli river in its raw state is Irifuija] jtuMips. with a capaeity of :i,000,- supply unquestionably bad, a fact that be the more 000 irallDiis daily. By the.se tlie water is lifted may freely admit- ted now that scientilic advancement has to a hei;,'ht of :',2 feet and deposited v.\ the set- made it to eliminate all tlint;: basin, where it receives its coagulants, po.s.sible absolutely elements to lioalth or comfort. and remains for five hours. From there it flows dangerous by gravity to tlie lilters, from wliicii it is con- Battle with the Bacteria. veyed to the olear water well, which holds over The existence of the Streator Aqueduct a million gallons of Avater, and from there Company lias been one long ])attle against the inmi))ed direct to the city. Two Gaskell jmmp- bacteria and the mud of the ^'ermillion river. one of one of to ing engines, :3,006,000 and .5,000,- How kill the germs without killing the peo- Water Works Power House. 000 gallons daily capacity, send the city its pie has been its most anxious and perplexing daily sniiply of two million gallons, with ample ])reblem. Now that the problem has been margin of reser\e. Power is furnished by a bat- solved, it is able to review its effoi-ts, if not tery of boilers with a ca|»acity of 450 horse with equanimity, at least with the conscious- power. ness that it has labored earnestly, conscien- Quality of Streator Water. tiously, and with as much success as the larger cities that have been baffled bj' the same This bare meelianical outline gives little problem. idea of the point mo>t vitally interesting to the The Mechanical Filter. people of Streator, namely, the preparation of the water for domestic use. It has long been The first attemi^ts to deal with the problem an o))en secret that the (pudity of Streator's were along the line of improved filters. The water was one of its tenderest points, one dan- mechanical filter was thought to be the solution gerous to discuss before strangers .such as this of the long vexed problem, and in 1888 the book is sujjposed to address. It may as well Aqueduct Company i)ut in the new filtering be admitted, however, that the Vermillion river system, being the second mechanical filters to be 130 THE STORY OF STREATOR. in the of installed state Illinois. It was an im- tend toward constipation or diseases of that but it was not l^rovement, perfect; and at three kind, but there is absolutely no free alum what- different that time it periods since has been ever in the water after it leaves the pumping found necessary to rebuild them and bring station. When the alum unites with the alkili them the ui3-to-date. At present time there are they comi)letely neutralize each other, and be- sixteen each 44 in- pressure filters, containing come something else. It is just like oxygen and ches of sand, through which the water must hydrogen, whicli, when united, become water. percolate. There is a sand bed surface of 1,200 People should get it out of their heads that as each is square feet, and square foot figured there is alum in the supply pipe just because to filter two it gallons eveiy minute, will be we have to put it in at the settling basin. It is seen tliev have a filtering capacity of over purely imaginary. Moreover the amount we use 3,000.000 gallons daily. Those filters are thor- is very small, on an average not more than one of oughly cleansed their impurities every 24 and one-half grains per gallon. And it is so hours the by forcing through them of air and exi:)ensive that our interest may be relied on to water under five iiounds pressure. make us keep it down to the mininmm. But small or no of it into the The Coagulants. great, jiart gets supply pipe, for it is wholly neutralized and absorbed The take out the resi- filters, however, only by its chemical union with the alkili.' .dual dirt and impurities, and send the water on to the consumer, clean, clear and palatable. The New Purifier. The heavy work of clearing the fluid of its Up to 1011 the imi)rovements above de- load of ^"ermillion river mud is done in heavy scribed marked the farthest advance in the the settling basin before it is sent to the filters, Aqueduct Company's preparation and treat- and here must be told the story of the coagu- ment of water. By coagulation and filter they lants. There are times of flood when the river had separated the impurities thoroughly and water is nearly black with mud. the bacteria partially, from the water. It rep- How is it to be cleared? resented a great deal of outlay and effort, but It is not enough to turn it into the great set- still it fell short of a satisfactoiy solution. The basin, to drive it over 265 feet of tling traveling- bacteria were separated by the coagulum, but space and then let it stand for five hours, as is they were not killed; and there was always the done with eveiy gallon of water. It will not haunting fear that some typhoid germ or colon settle of itself. The mud must be helped to sep- bacillus would get the and infect arate from the water. by separator the user. How do they he\p it? They pour a solution of alum into the mud- The year 1911 brought the latest improve- dy water just as it flows into the tank. This ment in the treatment of watei\ Experiments alum unites with the alkali in the water, and had been made for several years to find a sat- this combination has the peculiar ])ower of at- isfactory germicide tliat would be commercial- available. Hcientists tracting the mud to it, and the weight of the ly had noticed the pres- particle thus formed carries it down to the bot- ence of chlorine gas in artesian waters that free tom of the settling basin, from Avhieli it is ]5er- were from bacteria. Acting on this hint a iodically washed out. But it has been found number of tests were made with bleaching that the Vemiillion stream is very variable in powder, which is composed of chlorine gas and the amount of alkiliiiity it contains, and there lime, and which is callel hypochlorite of lime. are times when the water is so soft that there is The tests proved a remarkable sucess, and in- not alkili enough to unite with the alum to cre- side of five years New York, Philadelphia, St. ate a deposit. These occasions are rare, how- Louis, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Toronto, most of ever, but when they occur, it becomes necessary the large cities in fact, were using the new to add to the water enough lime solution to se- agent. After waiting until the new discovery cure the required alkilinity. had i^assed the experimental stage, the Aque- duct Company in October, 1911, put in the hy- Is the Alum Injurious? po-ehlorite of lime treatment with most satis- Like many others, who have been alarmed factory results. Supt. Huggans feels assured by baking powder advertisements, the writer that they are now able to make Streator water asked if the Supt. Huggans alum was not in- immune from disease breeding geiins, and in to the jurious health. He replied: August of this year a new coagulation basin too much free alum "Undoubtedly would vith a capacity of 350,000 gallons is to be built. THi: STOH^ «»K STr5KAT«H{. 131 wlierc tlio hypoflilorite and coagulauts can be Unremovable Tastes and Odors. applied iu the most exact and scieutitic manner. For those who may have misgivings about Labratory Tests. the healthfulness of tliis clieniicalit is only ne- cessary to state that there can be no possible A labratory lias been installed at the plant danger in the use of hypochlorite of lime. Long under the direetion of the State Water Survey, before it could jiroduce a pathological effect its with to make chemical and ecjnipment adequate taste and smell would be so bad that no one mieroscojiic tests. Chief Kiiyineer Haliih llug- could drink it; but even then it would be harm- frans has taken a course under the direction of less. The bulletin of the state sui'vdy says that the State Water Survey, and is able to make nothing less than three parts per million per correct analysis and examinations of the water gallon of chlorine can be tasted, and at present whenever re(|uire(l. A daily record is kept, the company is only using 13-100 of a part per wliich shows the condition of raw and jmrilied million. If ever by any mischance, however, water as to its bacteria, turbidity, alkilinity, the con.sumer gets a taste or smell of chlorine, color and the vohnne and weight of coacfulant he may be sure that it is not in the least dan- and bleach used. By the use of the laboratory gerous. Tamarack water, caused by the steep- tests the exact number of bacteria can be deter- ing of the fluid in leaves, grass and otlier vege- mined with and tiieir accuracy dan,y;erousness tation and especially prevalent during the melt- to health can be ascertained. The tests are ing of snows in the spring, cannot be freed of chemical, microscopic and thennal and are ac- its odor or taste by any known jirocess. But as autlioritative on the eej)ted scieiitilically its bacterial danger can be eliminated, and of infection .subject bearinjir Rcrms. whenever melting snows bring down water A Sample Test. soaked with the taste of leaves and grass, it may still lie used with the assurance that it is On a April L'4. IIUl'. period of flood, there not lianufnl to health. In any event this bad were found to be .iL'd.dlMI bacteria in 20 of droits taste and odor can occur l)uf i-arely in Streator. water. After treatment the same water showed The State Water only S.OOO bacteria, and no iras fonuers. "Xo Survey. While the has a thor- pras formers" is a sijjnilicant phrase in a water Aqueduct Company service, it is not analysis, and means that it is free from disease oughly competent yet wholly on it. It is to visits froiu the breeding j^crms. Tliere may still lie bacteria dejiendeiit subject of the Slate Water present, but they are harade.ss. inspectors Survey, who may descend on it without notice at any tijue to How is the test made? make examinations, much after the fashion of A sam])le of the water is put into ji test tube bank examiners. It is also entitled to call on iu the pontaiiiiiiy: a broth wlii<'h the .ii:enn.-; may in- experts of the State Water Survey at any cubate. The lube is jmt in a heater, its tem- time when umisual jiroblems or conditions call })erature raised ifradually to 100 degrees, about for .scientific counsel. This privilege it has the heat of the body. If there are any disea.se freely availed itself of in the past whenever the srerms present they will consume the broth in caprices of the Vermillion river brought a prob- their reproduction and growtii and in the space lem not before experienced and calling for left by the broth thus consumed a gas will be expert advice. fonued. This gas when measured on a scale In this article the company has through the will show the ]>resence and amount of bacteria. editor of this volume undertaken to state frank- If there is no gas in the tube, it may be as- ly and fully the probl(>ms of Streator's water sumed with scientific certainty there are no ty- su]iply, the efforts it has made to solve them, phoid or colon bacilli pre.sent. The result can and the measure of success that has finally also be checked up on the microscope to make crowned its efforts. It believes that the qual- assurance doubly sure. ^feasured by these ity of the water today is absolutely safe, sani- rig(u-ous scientilic tests, the water record of the tary and healthful, and that no condition can Streator A(|ueduct Company has shown the arise in the river to make it less safe. It is glad significant talismanic synd)ol "No Gas Form- after a quarter of a century of service to give ers" for the entire year of 1912. and so it feels the assurance that both in quality and quantity able to assure itself and the ])ublic that there the water sujijily of Streator is safe, satisfac- are al)solutely no deleterious bacteria present, tory and adequate to the needs of a city of and that the problem of healthy water for .50,000 inhabitants. It, moreover, cherishes the Streator is solved. hojie that in any matter of difference about the 132 THE STORY OF STREATOR. cost of supplying the city and consumers with Like most of the early miners of Streator water, an imj^artial commission may soon be who have risen to commanding positions, Mr. appointed by the state legislature to which all Huggans was self educated. He took the cor- disputed questions may be referred. Lleantime respondence course from the Scrantcm School, the plant of the eomijany is ojien to visitors, and received his diplomas in steam engineer- and the jjublic is invited to inspect the works ing and hydraulic engineering. He has served of the company at its convenience. as member of the j^ublic school board for foiir- teen years, and on the high school board for Superintendent D. A. Huggans. five years. He served the township as its su- A word al)Oi;t the man who has been in pervisor for four years, is prominent in the Ma- charge of the plant for all these years may be sonic fraternity, and has been president of the of interest. Davidson A. Iluggans was born of board of trustees of the Church of Good "Will. Scottish parents in New York City in 1856. He Mr. Huggans is regarded everywhere as one of came to Streator at four years of age, went into the strong and forceful characters of the town, the coal mines at thirteen, and remained there a man of unswerving loyalty and integrity, until twenty-five. Having a genius for me- ti'ue to his convictions and his friends iTav- chanics, he was promoted out of the pit, and i)ig known opposition he is a good fighter; took charge of engines, pumps and boilers of liavina' known hard work he is considcMle to the mine. On August 17, 1886 he accepted em- tlie worker; having known lowly station his ployment from tlie Streator Aqueduct C*om- lieart goes out to those who are still "straggling pany, then establishing its plant here. In July, in the liaixl places of life, and with it goes a 1887, he was placed in charge and has been at strong, generous helping hand. its head ever since. streator Aqueduct Dam. THi: STOHV OK STKi;\T<)i;. 133 LOCAL MEN OF MARK IN THIS SECTION ARE PRESENTED A FEW PEN PICTURES IN STREATOR'S GALLERY OF NOTABLES. Evor}- life lias a story; every face has a such close range that they will see nothing but picture. It is tlic task of the artist to make the defects; and these will uiiss the familiar moles story interesting!:; the ])ieture a speakins,' like- and pimples in these pictures. They are left ness. To do this 111' iinist select his materials; out so as not to distract attention from the omit the thill detail that (hitters the picture; positive and vital trutii that the life stands for. seize the salient, sij^nificant thinjj; that gives What we dislike in an aiii)reciation is not praise it the hreath of life, the touch of reality. He but falsehood. The ai)preciatit)n must he true, must have iiisii;:ht plus; sympathy ail-compre- else it is ofl'ensive. The artist who is tit for his hending. Insight and sym])athy will see only work must have the eye to see the gleam of the tile good, for only the good is positive. Kvil is true in very subject, and .sufficient masteiy of negative, nescient; it is only the shadow. And his medium and tools to release and reveal it. wlio wants to paint shadows.' Failing to see the glint and gliiiimer of beauty, It is in tills spirit that tiie ])ortraits in lie must reject the subject; and on no account this volume have heen sketched. There may be degrade his brush to the paintings of darkness liiose who view the suli.jects treated herein at and defect. OSCAR B. RYON The highest public jiosition held by any into a thousand conflicting interests, big and citizen of Strcator at this writing is that occu- 'ittle; companies fighting each other, agents the and state ])ied Ity Mr. U. U. Kyon. Measured by magni- fighting comiianies legislatures all of them. Mr. is to be tuile of its scoi)e and largeness of its opportun- fighting Kyon media- office tor between those and his efforts will ity, it is doubtless the most imiiortant interests, to into ever held by a citizen of this city. be bring economy, efficienc.y, rationality fire situation is The ollice is non-political. There is none a insurance that notoriously the in the world. like it. It has no antecedents, and no prece worst will he do it? dents. It may be fairly said that it was cre- How for its One of his tasks will be to state ated for ^fr. "l\yon. That is, it waited get legisla- to rational uniform and establisliment until a man pos.se.ssing his pe- tures adopt and laws, could insurance as culiar talent.s, training, and experience stop regarding companies merely for hostile His still be found to fill it. It is within the writer's subjects legislation. bigger will be to so refomi and rationalize the in- knowledge that for several years he has had ur- task surance itself that the will gent offers to accept service in this interest, practice com])anies the hostilities but not until recentlv was the office given such cease to i)rovoke they complain of. And of all, his function will be to definite shape that he felt justified in accepting. biggest educate the on the of fire What is the office? iiublic subject preven- so that the enormous fire waste which is It has a name, but it's name doesn't explain tion, is to the worst factor in the situation, it. As I view it, Mr. Kyon's new business complex may reduced. rationalize the tire insurance system of Amer- be of the An is it not! Few ica, and to interpret it to the people important position, in the count rv. As it now stands that system is torn greater country. 134 THE STORY OF STREATOR. It has been said elsewhere that one of the tended its graded schools, and was graduated pleasant uses of this book is to reveal to each from its high school. He finished at the Uni- other the men of Streator who are hidden by versity of Chicago, studied law in Streator, and an excess of nearness. The editor has taken the was admitted to the bar in 1881. Altliough his liberty, without consulting- Mr. Byou, of pre- main office is now in Chicago, his business con- him as a of this defect tinues in senting si^ecial example Streator, and his home is, and will of local perspective. In the minds of the dis- lirobably remain, here. cerning there is no doubt that the new positions created by "big business" are more important than those of loolitics; yet the title of Governor THOAIAS W. McVETY of Illinois fills a bigger place in the j^ublic eye MINISTER. than would Governor of Fire Insurance, even though the latter might mean dollars to the No study of the life of a community would people where the former means cents. Mr. Eyon be complete that left out of account the factors as Manager of the Bu- that make fov morality reau of Publicity and and right living. The Education for the fire deepest forces that en- insurance interests has ergize the activities of stepi^ed into a front po- a city lie beneath the sition among the "big surface, in the hearts of business" chiefs and wills of the jieo- America, and his op- ple, and these draw portunities for public their nourishment and service are immeasur- strength from those able. hidden and imseen Re- His progress has alities which lie at the been natural. Long an root of being. It has insurance man and law- been easy to describe yer, he has been special and chronicle the busi- counsel for the insur- ness activities of the ance department of the town, for tliey lie ob- state, and earned his vious and easy to be greatest reputation as read on the open page attorney for the Illi- of its achievement, but nois fire insurance com- the faith, the ho))e, the mission. Pie wrote its courage that inspire report, which is regard- tliem—whence did they ed as one of the ablest spring ? studies of insurance Deep out of the Ages practice extant. He is they arose, rooted in also an expert on build- those eternal verities ing and loan law, and which in all times have Oscar B. Ryon. is the author of the Illi- been the substance of nois Building and Loan Law of 1898. Always religion. Streator, with its restless activity, active in fSti-eator matters, he was for several with its eager striving after material success, years secretary of the Improvement Associa- seems on its face less devoted to things eternal tion, of the High School Board, and of the than some older cities, but its heart is fed fj'om Chautauqua Association. A versatile mind, a the same Source of Power, though it proclaims brilliant conversationalist, a genial humorist, not its name so loud. And its manifestations his talents are in demand at all kinds of events, of religion is different from that of fonner serious or gay, whether at a banquet table, a days. It seeks to express itself in terms of life social function of at a convention of business rather than in terms of doctrine, in personality or professional men; and in all he acquits him- rather than in form. self in a manner to please, to persuade, to en- . This is why Thomas W. ^IcVety has come to tertain or to instruct. be the conspicuous representative of religion Oscar Eyon was born in Ogle County, Illinois, in Streator that he is. It is because he has em- ^in 1858, came to Streator at an early age, at- bodied his i-eligion in his life, because it flows TFTF STORY OF STISKATOn. 135 through him not alono in the pulpit, but in T. W. McVety is minister of the Methodist warm, personal contact witli his fellow men Episcopal church, but he is more. As Bishop through all the days and hours of the week. In Westcott, of Durham, was called "Everybody's Bishop, so may McVety be called Everybody's Minister." He is the pastor of the unchurched. If a sinner dies, a gambler or liquor dealer, who is called to say the last words? Why McVety, of course. He indulges in no false eulogies, but neitlier does he harrow the mourners; with sane, hoi)el'nl, tender words about life and death he leaves the sinner to the mercy of God, and from the living he takes not away the consola- tion of whatever was good and tnie, and noble in the life that has gone out. Out of sixty-six funeral services Iield last year, over fifty of them were for persons not members of his cliurch. And at the sick bed, amid scenes of ailiiction. wherever trouble touclies human life, then' at the ring of tlie telephone will be found the helping lumd of ^ic\'ety, and his healthy, hearty, human personality. In days of fierce denominational rivalry he suffers not the narrowing of vision which be- fogs littler men. He fears not to let his ener- Tlioiiias W. McVety. gies go out to otiier causes, even if they call for his Ilim ii'liicioii is a vitalized liuiiuin foreo. pouring money from own members. So within a of this lie the leader in throiigii iiini in a lite yivinii' strcaiM. in the Mvlhud.^: ^i----'J. iiurch. and with he sympatliy that spends itself alike on Jew and vation Armv building, lay help —all raised $4,500 in five days. A few years ago he gentile, tlie churched and the unchuiched raised for the Deaconess Hospital, Pe- who can give or receive human kindness. $10,000 136 THE STORY OF STRKATOR. oria, and about the same time raised $9,000 in tories, or in any line of effort calculated to up- Streator, with the help of his official boax'd, and build the material welfare of the town. An in- put his church out of debt. He has been the tense and aggressive personality, he has made chief stay of the Chautauqua movement among- his power felt in any direction that called for the ministers, and through storm and shine liis effort. At all times he has stood ready has been its optimistic, energetic and sturdy with donations of money or land to assist manu- supporter. Last year he was its platform man- facturing or other projects that appealed to him ager, and is now its chairman of i^rogramme. as calculated to build up the town. For five years he conducted single-handed the Commenting on this fact Mr. Barlow re- Chautaucjua at Galesburg, and turned the profit marked: "Yes, it is true I have always stood into the church. ready to do my share for Streator with money, The work of such a minister is no sinecure. land or personal eff'ort, but please observe that Turning out two sermons a Sundaj'—sei'mons I ask no credit for it. I have had large real es- with brain and heart stuff in them—numerous tate interests here, and I have always felt tliat other addresses at home and out of town, fu- anything' spent in upbuilding the town was an neral sermons, prayer meetings, society and investment and that some day it would all come business meetings, pastoral calls—1,300 of them back to me. I suppose most men are influenced last year—McA'ety has surely a strenuous life. He has a magnificent church building, seat3 1,600 people, which is given freely to proper public uses. The church has a membership of more than six hundred, over two-thirds of whom have joined since McYety came to Streator. He was bom in Sydenham, Ontario, Can- ada, in 184ti, and took his degree at Toronto University. Joined the Central Illinois Confer- ence in 1885, and has filled its best charges— Pontiac, Normal, Kankakee, Peoria, Gralesburg, Streator . He has been here nine years and has justified the change in the pastoral tenure, for his long stay has made him the force in the city that he is. He is Trustee of the Deaconess Hos- pital, Peoria, Visitor of Wesleyan University, Bloomington, Conference Examiner for 15 years, and has received the degree of B. D., M. A., Ph. D., and as this is being written. Doc- tor of Divinity. But he wears his scholastic title .suggested in this article—"Everybody's J. C. Barlow. Minister." by similar motives, and I want no undeserved bouquets for what I have done for the upbuild- ing of Streator. This is my home. I expect to J. C. BARLOW end my days here, and it is natural I should want to see it prosper. To this end I am will- The histoiy of real estate development in ing now, as in the past, to devote my very best Streator could not be written without including efforts and services. But please let there be the name of J. C. Barlow. For a quarter of a no flowery eulogies in your "write-up" of me. century he has been a striking figure in real es- Put me down simply among the men of Strea- tate movements, and an aggressive and con- tor who have done their best for the advance- spicuously successful operator. Incidental to ment of the city." his real estate operations he has been an exten- Mr. Barlow's wish will be respected; and, sive builder of houses, and a promo tor of the indeed his deeds have carved his name deeper growth of the city. He has always been a on the map of Streator than could any expres- prominent worker in the various societies, un- sions of the writer, however laudatory. He be- der different names, for the development of gan operating in real estate in 1882, and his the city; has been active in the location of fac- first experiments were in buying lots and build- THi: STf)r!\ iufr woikiiion'.s houses on them, afterwards ''What need of tears for a man who has tlieni on This selling monthly payments. sup- been liere for 74 years and has lived, fullj', a need in a fast plied growing town, and be- richly, strenuously, eveiy minute of the time! came very profitaljle. lie then began the ac- For the man wlio has l)een here but has not of (|uirem(':it busiu('-;s property, and became lived, M-ho has shut the door of his mind, who owner or ]>nrtner in fifteen lioidings, being the has refused to look at beauty, who never has individual largest owner of ]\rain street prop- been stirred by the pulses of sym])athy—for erty in the city. He became a sub divider of such a life we may weep, and we may nu^uru acre and laid live jjniiicrty, out imiwrtant ad- for liim as for one who has been deaf, dumb ditions, most of wiiicli lie has sold o(f in lots. and blind. He has touched but not tasted life. lie has also worked off 150 acres in one and He has had his chance, and missed it. But for two-acre all tracts, rejiresenting a series of op- the life that has been lived to the full, what is eratiniis of large scope and value. there but a song of joy, a ])aen of thankfulness The otal.lisliiiH'iit of the :Motor Car Works that such a life has been lived by our side, in and tiie Metal Stamiiiiig Company are due to strong comradeship and manful courage. the money and credit furnished by Mi: Barlow, lie has now retired from active coimection with tliem. but it sliduld lie remcuibcred that what- ever they accompiisii fni- Streator will be in large measure due to Mr. IJarlow's contribution —which may involve a serious sacrifice. .1. C. B.nrlnw was Ixtrn in Middleporl. Ohio, in ISJS, jiiid removed to a farm, handed down from revolutionary ancestors, near Oallipol's. Ohio, in iuf'.tn'v. lie staid on I'le ";'vm un*il ]!*, aiKi it wa> wiieu leavMig for Tlliiuiis that 'le li'-^t i-aw a r.iilroad 'rain. IK- "i.lered ii:Jo par:- uersliip with his hri)t]icr, I?. S. liarlnw. in the >hoe busiue-s in Pekiu. Illinois, and in 1874 m()\t>d ti> Streatnr and cnnrnmed in the same line i>f liusincss. After aliout eigiit years he liranciied into the real estate business, which, as before staled, became his life work. NATHANIEL McINTYRE PIONEER. Nathaniel Mclntyre. A Belated Rob Roy. It is fitting that "The Story of Streator" "It is witli such a joy that I contemplate should contain a recor ever came to my mind: "Wherever McGregor grafters of his time who were seeking to plun- sits, there is the head of the table.' der tlie county. If Mclntyre Had Left His Memoirs. He Was Greater Than His Deeds. 'What a history of pioneer life might "But Nate Mclntyre was bigger than his have been written if some Turgneneff could deeds. It needs such lives to remind os that a have recorded the memories of Mclntyre! man may play his part greatly witliout doing With what interest have I listened hour after anything that will cause his name to go down hour to the graphic narrative of the daring and to postei-ity in marble or bronze. There is an doing of those days, as they fell with gripping immortality far more enduring in the pervasive spell from his lips. Comedy, tragedy, pathos, influence of 2)ersonality which leaves its im- he was equally master of, and he did press on the lives of other men and is carried not lack the eye for the epic, the heroic note, in the blood currents and in the brain tissues in the great drama of settling the new world in of the race, and this is an immortality which which he played so ijrominent a part. For he no accident of time or change can efface. And was not born a pioneer, and so he brought an it may be said in conclusion that Mclntyre eye to it trained under other standards. To had no faith in any other form of immortality, hands accustomed for ten years to nothing- and it should be an inspiration to every lover harder than dr>' goods the plough handle felt cf his kind that he was able to live his life veiy rough, and eyes used to city streets found greatly, largely, loyally, though often solitary a new vista in the wide stretches of untamed and misunderstood, without hope of future re- prairie. When the "Call of the Wild" came to ward, without fear of future inmishment, sus- him it found a soul sensitive to its hardships, tained only by faith in the worth of life and but strong as steel to endure and master ;he joy of human fellowship. them. "He lived a great life. I rejoice that he The Master Mind of His Parish. lived it largely and humanly. For the rest there is faith; confidence that whatever the Mclntyre was guide, counselor and friend Land of Shadows hold for him he will to his neighborhood. In politics and business may meet it in the of the hero of his was for forty years the master mind, and spirit Browning's Epilogue, and, like him. 'Greet the unseen with he was counsellor in law, and often in love and " .•I cheer.' marriage, to the entire coimtry. He composed domestic troubles, received confidences, wrote wills, and often served as spiritual as well as RUDOLPH D. KLINE legal advisor to his parish, and many are the intimate domestic secrets of Allen and Otter that were buried with him. His power was If he who causes two blades of grass to where great in his province, and he used it wisely. grow only one grew before is a public what shall be said of His example was always for progi'ess. Before benefactor, him who raises his neighbors had passed the big barn and lit- thirty-five thousand dollars worth of on acres of tle shanty stage, Mclntyi'e had a steam heated crops eighty land that one year be- fore was a wild and house, a piano in it, daily papers .nid maga- boggy swamp? is the zines on his tables, and sent his children to This story of a Streator man who jier- that college to be educated. formed wonderful feat. Rudolph D. Kline is a gardener the of Nature and his He Saved the School Land.s. by grace own genius. Where Edison and Tesla discover "In ]niblic matters the victoiy he was most the hidden powers of nature in ions and mole- of proud was the saving to Allen of the school cules, Kline finds them in the dirty and de- land. This he did by sheer force of personal- spised mud of neglected swamps. Where the ity, contrary to law, and contrarj^ to the will millionaire promoter makes his millions by of the he in majority. But always gloried it, taking them away from other people, Kline and Allen township owes a debt which it can makes his thousands by extracting them from never repay to the man who refused to sacri- unutilized mud beds and thus adding to the ac- tice the children of the future to the greed of tual wealth of the world. the living generation. He was proud, too, of Kline made his first entry into Streator as a building the county court house, which he did youtli of twenty-one, on top of a wagon load of as chairman of the supervisors' committee in garden truck. It was in the sumnier of 1867, charge, and of thwarting the ringsters and and there was a miners' strike on at the time. THK STORV OF STKi: \TOIJ. 135 lie came from Henry, II]., where he was run- A Wonderful a Story. ning small ti-uek garden. His green stuff found a On December 31, this tract was a wild ready market and he came again and 1910, and trackless in the heart of yet again, and every time he came he found bog the Kankakee and swamp. On January 1, I'Jll, Kline moved on it pronii)t willing customers. This impressed the with his force of workmen. young gardener, and ho finally concluded to They gnibbod it, tiled fenced move his garden to Streator it, it, built houses, barns and sheds, instead of hauling and the product here. planted it to onions and potatoes. Within one of the title for this He came to Streator in 1877, and with his year getting tract of land, for which he had dol- lather bonulit tiie Kline homestead near paid sixty Coal- lars vdle. and built per acre, I\Ti-. Kline raised and sold a the family residence on it. Af- crop on it, for which he received in excess of ter seven years of gardening in thirty- partnership live thousand dollars with his father, he went into hnsiue>s for him- ($35,000.00.) Forty acres of this land were to on- self, and was employed in retail for planted gardening ions, to and fifteen years. Later he formed a twenty potatoes, twenty remained ])artnership as woodland cai-loads with his brother to engage in wholesale i)as)ure. l\>rty of onions garden- were from this ing, which shipped field. One acre yielded ])artnersliip sfill continues under 900 • bushels of onions, and as as the firm name df Kline P>i-i>thers. high $2.25 per bushel was received for some of' the product, it being regarded as of very sujierior .juality. Mr. Kline owns seven hundred acres of" this swamp land, of which two hundred are under cultivation. He raises corn and other farm crojjs, as well as the more concentrated crops, such as onions, potatoes, cabbages, etc. His sales last year were about $(30,000, which is lirobably the greatest value ever i)roduced on two hundred acres of land in Illinois or Indiana. 'riie land is worked on a coiniirehcnsive plan. II is divided info ten locations, eacii with its a|iprn])riafc buildings, machinery and work- ing force, i hiring the busy season ]Mr. Kline uses two automobiles to haul extra gangs of men men from place fo ])lacc. ^hich of the land is under water, and has to be dyked to protect it from overflow. He is now engaged in dyking a large tract, which he will drain by gasolene ]nimp. The water de- velo]ied inside the dykes will be ])iped to a Uudolph 1). Kline. I'laik Sludio large swamp, and from there pumped into the main drain. It was during this wide and varied exjier- Depopulate the Slums. ience in retail and wholesale gardening that he acquired the knowledge and technique that was As Burbank, tiie wonder worker, has spe- to tit him for the imjiorfant work of his life. cialized on i)lant species, so Kline has s])ecial- Among the pieces of land that he had worked ized on soils. AVhen he found that the soil of in Streator there was one twenty acx'C tract that Illinois had become too dry for onions and po- was swampy. In reclaiming this swamp he tatoes, he searched for the" right soil conditions found out the secret of converting bogs into elsewhere and found them in the Kankakee gold mines, and when a hunting trip took him swainjis. He sjiecialized on onions, and thev through the great Kankakee swamp he knew I'-aid him $30,000 last year. All his life he ha"s that he had struck the Promised Land. When been a student of intensive fanning. His suc- the time came for the great drainage ditch to cess entitles him to be regarded as an expert, be cut tlirough this swamp, ^Ii-. Kline backed and his ojunions have the additional value of his faith witli his cash and bought veven hun- coming from a man who has worked them out dred acres of combined water and bog. What with his own hands and brains. Asked his was the result? Take the stoiy of one 80-acre o])inion on the "back to the land" movement, tract as a concrete example: he replied: 140 THE STORY OF STREATOR. "I believe the fann has been the backbone ducer; one who has added to the wealth of the and will be the salvation of onr nation. I world; a witness to the fact that it is still pos- think it is easily possible to balance the popula- sible to earn a competency in America without tions of city and conntiy. By intensive cnl'd- impoverishing your neighbor by so doing. vation the farm workers can be greatly increas- What has he done? What is his contribu- ed and the congestion in the slum districts of tion to the wealth of the world? the cities relieved. Ten acres of Illinois soil He has taken a common garden vegetable, woiild support a family in affluence. With ev- specialized in it. raised it to such a potency Residence of R. D. Kline. ery section road made of brick, an electric rail- tiiat its productiveness is trebled and its qual way every three miles, with small farmiu,-^- com- ity i^' more than doubled, as measiiied by its umnities dotting the landscape at short inter- price in the market. What Burbank has done vals, with eveiy 10 acre tract supporting a fam- for the daisy and the cactiis, Ed. Kline has ily, fann life in Illinois would be a paradise, done, in a degree, for the asi3aragus plant; and and its ob\ious advantages would soon depopu- today his jjroduct is quoted in our markets at late the slums." twice the price of the ordinary variety, and there is never any shrinkage in the demand. How did he achieve this success? C. KLINE EDWARD In the old, old way. By intense application, by days and nights of unremitting labor, by un- This is the story of a man who learned to flagging vigilance, and by the imrescrved giv- do one thing better than any one else in his ing of every power of mind and body to his generation. work. He studied the nature of the plant, its The world will pay for the superlative; and food, its diseases, .and its housing. He learned so it has rewarded this man with a competency, that it need to be stuffed like a tubercular pa- though he is yet only in the prime of life. tient, and so he plied it with plant foods, fer- He started for himself at 21 years of age, tilizers and the like, till it could absorb no without capital. All that he has has literally more. He found its soil needed to rest each al- come out of his own hands and l)raiiis. He has ternate year, and so he invented a movable not taken it away from anybody else by ex- STeen house, which can be moved with wonder- change, speculation or promotion. Hj is a pro- ful economv of labor. With this movable ap- THi: <>|- STOKV STKKATOIS. 141 on wliicii lie has a pliance, basic patent, he is of E. C. Kline has been won There is no magic able to inai Kesidence o£ E. C. Kline. The subject of seed was investigated with toward public service. Finding liimself in con- care. H was found to be intimately connected flict witii one of the big public utility corpora- with the question of disease. He traveled hun- tions of the city, he engaged it in combat single dreds of miles, visited the most noted gardens handed, and whatever nuiy be its final outcome, of the country, counseled witli the most exper- he has displayed a zeal, an energy, a public ienced gardeners—and then drew his own con- spirit which has won him the ajiproval of a clusions. He observed that the great asparagus large body of his fellow citizens. He was presi- plague—the rust—moved across the country dent of the Streator Chautauqua for two years; like the human plagues. He noticed that the an ardent progressive, he was a delegate to the locations earliest attacked became immune, and fioosevelt convention in Springfield, and has conceived the idea of immunizing his own beds also been active in religious and public service. by inculcating them with seed of plants already As he is still a young man, tilled with the en- infected. He apjilied his idea, and lo! it worked. ergy of youth, and with a passion for social AVhile others have lost their crops, his have re- righteousness, he will yet be heard from as one mained ))ractically unscathed. of the constnictive forces shajiiug the future of It is by such arts as these tliat the success his citv and countrv. 142 THE STORY OF STREATOR. Edward C. Kline was born in Henry, 111., in gaged in manufacture here before; in fact he 1873, came to Streator in 1878, and has lived was the pioneer builder of autos here, and was liere, working at his profession as a gardener the founder of the Streator Metal Stamping Works. The auto made by the Streator Motor Car Company—the Halladay—still carries his name across the continent, and a number of the valuable patents held by the Streator Metal Stamping Com2)any were invented and patented by him. He was a one-third owner and at the head of tlie manufacturing dei)artment of those concerns, when in IDDll he sold out his interest to Messrs Barlow & Chubbuck. After selling out he continued his manufac- turiTig exi)erience. He went with tlie Stavei Company as manager of their automobile de- partment, having full charge of engineering and designing, as well as of the manufacture of cars. In 1911 he went into business for him- self again, organizing the L. P. Halladay Com- pany for the manufacture of his own special inventions. He started the new company in Chicago, remained there a year, then moved his establishment to Streator, and erected the new Halladay factory building. Asked what con- siderations induced him to return, lie replied frankly: "I came back because I like the character of the people, and because of the good friends I made when here before. In that sense the in- ducements were purely human, friendly and "(lersonal. One's friends make a large part of life outside the factory, and it is worth a good deal to live in a town where you like the people Edward C. Kline. and they like you. Congenial companion.ship, sociability, good fellowship, was the first con- ever since. He stands ont as one of the strong sideration; but I could hardly have come on characters of the town—a man who has learned that ground alone, if Streator had not been a to do one thin"- better than anvone else. good place for my business. I think it the best town around here for manufacturing. It has beat in I can have a L. P. Chicago many ways. good HALLADAY biiilding here at a price I can afford to pay. My transfer bills are not half as high. Conges- The latest factory to be established in tion of Chicago freight is avoided, and we can Streator is that of the L. P. Halladay Com- get much quicker raih'oad action. Best of all pany, devoted to the maunfacture of automo- we can get much better labor here, at the same bile specialties. As these lines are being writ- wage scale. These and many other advantages ten the wheels of the new factory are turning, brought me back. There was no bonus, no gift and they have been turning for ten days. Busy of land, everything is paid for, there are no ob- hands are at work, and it will not be long be- ligations between Streator and me, honors are fore the new truss roof brick building, with its even, and I'm glad to be back again among 50x133 feet of space, will be a humming liive of friends." industry. Mr. Halladay has spent a busy life, working It is of special significance to Streator that with hands and brain, inventing and making Mr. Halladay should ei-ect his new factory devices of metal. Born in Auburn, N. Y., in here, for this city is no untried experiment to 1864. he came in infancy to Chicago with his him as a manufacturing point. He has been en- familv, had a common school education and en- THI-: STOI5V OK STI{i:.\TOI{. 143 tered liis fatlior's faotoiy at the age of fourteen invention that is not only to make the fame of and learned tlie trade of machinist. He had an Halladay, Init also add to the fortune of Strea- all-around experience on the road and in the tor. factory, which his faflier owned in partuer.sliip with (Jen. .MacArlhur. AVlien the bicycle boom came he and his father established the Marion LL GRAVES, MACHINIST Cycle Works at Marion, Ind. After remaining there twelve years he started a factory for this should a of a jnaimfai'turing music racks, wliicli was later Theoretically be writo-nii machine witli a of its brouglit to Streator and became the foundation slioii. description lathes, and of the Streator Metal Stamping Works. presses, macliincry ecjuipment to turn out work. Instead it will be the story of a man of All his life he has been a inventor. pmlific genius who tried to harness himself to the In tlie r. S. patent ollice there stand credited routine work of the shoi), but who l)roke his to him 57 most of them on useful patents, spe- tugs and got away to a field more congenial to cialties. (Juitc a luiinlx'r are on the music rack, his talents. (•ar]iet sweej^'r and go-cai't, which liave baby li. L. Graves is a niaciiinist by tlie grace of been made here the Metal Com- by Stamping God and his own brain-seared experience. He of the tools ami devices to l)any. Many special knows the throb of an engine like the Scotch engineer in Kipling's story, and can tell its ailments by its heart beat as well as any physi- <-ian can diagnose a pulse. He knows its parts as an osteopath knows anatomy, and with a far more intimate sense of personality. I-'or an en- gine to him is a living thing; he speaks of it as "she," and he enters into its feelings, its moods, its diseases as a good doctor enti'rs inti> sympathy with liis patient.. l)ut his remedies are more iiit'allil)le tliaii those of the materia meuica, for they are of iron and steel, and when apjilied by the hand of an expert they never fail to yield uniform results in each case. Long experience in his specialty has given "Lew" Graves a skill in diagnosis and treat- ment of sick engines that is almost i)reternat- ural. From a leaky valve, or a hot eccentric, to an untnu' shaft, he knows e\'ery wlieeze or creak or strain, and by listening with his ears and hands he can tell just what medicine to ad- minister. This is why his reputation as an engine doctor has for miles around, and L. p. Halladay spread he is sent for from distant villages and towns as a consultant or operator. Little by little the mamifacturo tliese novelties are economically doing of routine machine shop work has ceased the of his fertile some of them i)roducts brain, to interest him. and he has been giving himself disjilacing costly and complicated processes by more completely to this expert engine j)ractice. a contrivance. The now oc- simple specialties Among his regular clients are great concerns his attention are attachments for auto- cupying like the ^farquette Cement Company with their mobiles, and include side lever sets, bumpers, 2000 horse power Corliss engines, who have brake side tire rear tire sets, irons, irons, called him regularly as a consultant for several oil can holders and number strainers, pad years. The American Bottle Company, the holders. Public Seiwice Comjiany, the various brick and His brain at 48 is just at the maximum of coal concerns of the city, in fact eveiybody its ])ower. trained and disciiilined in the pro- for miles around, who has an engine knows the duction of 57 iiatcnt(>d inventions. It is still name of Graves and sends for him when in teeming with ideas not yet visualized or made trouble. tangible, and perhaps it is yet to bring forth an L. L. Graves and his father came to Strea- 144 THE STORY OF STREATOR. tor in 1875, and opeued a macliiue shop and L. L. Graves was born in Eockford. Illinois, foimdiy. At tliat time Col. Plumb was building in 1856. lie came to Streator in 1875 and has his lines of railroad into Streator, and they did made his home here ever since. the machinist work for these lines. In 1880 the father died, and L. L. Graves personally took up the work. The mining business was PHILLIP SCHLACHTER, JR. then at its height and the business of the shop ran in the direction of mining machinery. MASTER WORKMKAN. "Lew" Graves was the first man in America to build a coal cutting machine to work in a "long wall" or low seam. John Kangley, a no- Phillip t*>'!cljiacliter, Jr., is an example of edu- ted mine operator of those days, brought the cation by manual training. He concluded his idea to Graves and he worked it out. The ma- course in the Streator common schools at about chine was a success and on one occasion, under 12 years of age, and begun his manual training favorable conditions, made an undercut of in his father's planing mill. Phillip does not three feet 1,000 yards in one day. Twenty ma- claim to have completed his course, for, as he chines were built and operated, but it was says, "there is always something to learn;" found they could not be ]jrotected liy ])atent, but he has earned the degree of "Master Work- and so were abandoned. Other of Graves' ideas man," bestowed on him by universal consent, and justified by his works, which are found all over Streator. Xo better teacher of the art of wood-work- ing ever came to the west than Phillip Schlach- ter, Sr., the fatlier of the l)oy who went under liis tutelage at twelve. Phillip, the elder, came from Mannheim, Germany, in 1880, and had a genius for building that is rarely equaled. He put young Phil at a moulding machine, and taught him to make his knives and to properly grind and temi)er them. Tliis making of knives for machines was hard and exacting work, but Phil looks back on it as the most important part of his training in mill work. He then took the turning lathe and made porch columns, rewell posts, si)indle work, etc., and then was jjromoted to the sash and door machine, then to stair buihling, and finally to cabinet work. This was the culmination of liis training in exact- ness, for a mistake of the hundredth part of an inch might spoil the job. With all this went L. L. Graves. hand work, drawing and designing, and later when he became his father's assistant the work went into the Cyclone ventilating fan for mines, of planning and estimating buildings and the which had a wide use; others into safety foundations of architecture. catches, hoisting and the like. engines During this long ap]irenticesliip Phil got a For the past ten years, for reasons before first hand knowledge of the nature of mater- the machine stated, Graves shop has been giv- ials, an exi)erience of a])i)lied geometry and the ing more time to repair work than to original art of measurement, a grasp of the princiiiles of construction. The reputation of Mr. Graves as heating, plumbing, ventilation and all the wide- an engine expert and the calls for his services ly related sciences that touch on modem house for treatment of engine troubles, makes it ne- construction. Nor did his education leave out cessary for the force of his factory to hold tlie culture of the humanities, for with ar- themselves in readiness to take care of i-epair chitectiire came in the knowledge of proportion, work when the master sends it in, and often it symmetry, design, and the principles of color necessitates the working day and night until harmonies, decoration and ornament. And so the is job completed. Pliilljp Schlachter, Jr. stands at forty-two, hav- THK STOHY OF STItDATOR. 145 mg left scliool at twelve, a broadly ediu-ated sonality is the chief asset, and that is in manag- man, Streator's first [graduate of manual ing a hotel. This is a story of how a young traiiiin*^. cou|ile, without money or ''pull," solelj' by vir- IJis b^l^^iIless lias grown a])aoe. He is owner tue of their sunny dispositions and a genius for of the Streator Saw and Planing Mill, and does friendliness, have turned failure into success a large genend i-ontractiiig busine-s. builds and made for themselves an envied position in liDUscs and business linildings, and deals in the hotel world. It is a pleasant story, for it is lumber, eement and mill work. Among the one of those rare romances where the two lives monuments of his builder's craft are the lialpli became literally as one, and where not only the Plumb school, the Schlitz building, the D. C. hearts but the heads and the hands wei-e joined .Murray and A. II. Sliay residem-es, etc. in united labor and comradeship to ujibuild the lie was the lirst Streatur liuilder to venture stnicture of their fortune. on concrete work, and built his own residence of The first thing Mr. Harvey said to the writer that material ten years ago. With the growth was: "I want you to be sure to give Mrs. Har- of that business he has ki-pt at the front, and vey eqiml credit with me for any success we have won in the hotel business." And she i,nft. and a man must be born with it if it is to liny; true. .Mr. and .Mrs. Harvey were born un- der a friendly star, for their spontaneous gen- from a real love of rather Philip SclilacUltr iality s])rings jieople, tiian from the studied art of interested po- constrnctioii. lb- lias gone largi'ly into ('('mcnf liteness. built cuiicicte for the State High- eiglit luidgcs This is a jH'n picture of tiu' dual landlords. lie did tiie concrete work for way ('ommissioii. Now what have they done? intenirban and the excava- the M(d the labor, greeted tlie guests, and saw that the lights, hot and cold ranning water, in fact all tables were supplied with the best the season the accessories of a first-class modern hotel. at¥orded, and served in appetizing and pleasant The Clifton is fortunate in being situated on fashion. the Fox river, on one of the most picturesque What happened? spots in the state, and when the Harveys finish The business grew by leaps and bounds, and adorning it, no more beautiful location can be the Columbia from being a morgue came to be found for those wlio wish to combine the beauty one of the liveliest and most prosperous hotels of nature with the comforts of a modem hotel. in the state. Improvements followed. The Being asked the secret of hotel success, Mr. liouse was rebuilt, remodeled and refurnished. Han'ey replied: "Give a man a good bed, a good And still the business grew. It became ne- meal, and make the Y)\ace as much a liome for cessaiy to buy the old Arlington across the him as possible. It is all the home he has, and street and add it to the Columbia as an annex. the best is none too good for the traveling Mr. and Mrs. Louis Harvey. Again there was rebuilding, and tlie capacity man." And Mrs. ITarvey added: "Give him was raised to 85 rooms, "all ecjuipped with his money's wortli, and liave him appreciate it. electric light, telephones, hot and cold water, You can't do this without good help, and the box spring beds, hair mattresses, in fact, all way to keep good help is to treat them right. the adjuncts of a first-class, up-to-date hotel. We have sojne people with us that liave been Still prosperity pursued the Harveys. And here since we started in Imsiness. Add to this so they had to expand again, tliis time taking personality, and you have the whole secret of in the Clifton Hotel at the neighboring county hotel keeping." seat of Ottawa. Again there was reconstruc- Both the landlords are still young, and look tion, redecorating, refurnishing. An addition the future in the face smilingly. Mr. Harvey was built, and the capacity of "the hotel raised was born in Streator on January 11, 1881, and to 110 sleeping rooms, 45 of them with baths. got his education in tlie common and high An elevator was added, steam heat, electric schools. His first work after leaving school was THK STOnV f)F STRFATOR. 147 as clerk in a lii>tc'l, and tliouf;;]! soarcoly turned bus, and has served as district deput}'. At one tlirci- dei.-ades, lias achieved that which many time secretary of the Citizens' League, he was hotel men fail to reach in a long life of service. nominated as candidate of the law and or- Columbia Hotel. Indiiii^ as we hegun, i( is a case of jiersonality der foree.s for mavor of the citv, l)ut declined -the (itting of the man to the vocation. becau.se of disinclination for political activities. Mr. Keating enjoys liigh consideration as a citi- zen, and has won for himself a comfortable com- B. T. KEATING petency and an honorable place in the esteem of the community. > as now, foremost in love of education, furnished any of it, it is in the achievements of the little the pit-boy an opportunity. For seven years he pit-boy, who, with coal-grimed eyes intent on went to night school, grounded himself in the text book, studied out the rule of three in the fundamentals of an education, and finally quali- night schools of Scotland. In that lad was the himself as an fied engineer. promise of the i^rosperous business man now re- 1882 the lure of the world In new touched spected as one of Streator 's best citizens, Mr. the youth, and he sailed from Glasgow for the B. T. Keating. land of dreams with only a steamship ticket and ten dollars in his pocket. He came direct to Streator, arriving here with only one penny in M. A. BRONSON his ]iocket. This penny he still prizes, and once- paid $7.50 for its recovery after its loss in the If ever La Salle lioasts an aristoc- Heeiuin fire. County racy of "oldest families," tlie name of Bronson On airiving here, finding no worlc at his will give its holders entrance into the inmost trade, he found employment as a section hand circles; for the records of the county show the on tlie railroad at $1.10 per day. Later lie got Bronsons to have been among the earliest set- tlers. The wing of the family represented by M. A. Bronson settled near Deer Park and he spent his infancy and boyhood on the parental farm. He came to Streator in 1874 and has since made tliis city his home. Mr. Bronson is one of the most active and lU'ominent factors in the democratic party in La Salle County, and lias been a memjjer of the democratic county central committee for ten years. Whenever his ])arty has sought a win- ning candidate for the county legislature it has turned to M. A. Bronson, and not in vain. The result is that lie is now serving hi ; eleventh year as super\isor. During four of these years he has served as chairman of the board, a dis- tinction bestowed on but one other city super- visor beside himself in the history of the county. For the board of sujtervisors is con- ti'olled by its fanner members, and between these and the city members there is always more or less contention because of the clash of interests over land valuations for taxation pur- B. T. Keating. jjoses. The chairman of the board of su]iervis- ors is by virtue of his office a member of the worlc in the Coal Run mines as mule .Iriver, Board of Eeview, and that his farmer col- which he accepted confidently, though Aviien lie leagues should have had the confidence in Mr. to went harness his mule it was t!ie first time lie Bronson to elect him to this ])()sition is an had e--.-er put strap to horse or mnle. Of course honor rarely bestowed, and to be highly valued. he succeeded, as such assurance aud energy The supervisor is by law the Relief Officer must, and he became successively mule boss, of the township, and to him the dependent poor then engineer, and still later superiutendent of must apply for help. In the administration of the mine. In the latter capacity Mr. Keating this office Mr. Bronson has had the wisdom to was the first to hoist coal out of the lower vein a]iply, as far as the situation pennitted, the in 8treator. principles of modern iih.ilanthropy. He has During his strenuous years in the mines he associated himself with Women's Clubs and passed through many vicissitudes and dangers Associated Charity workers, and co-operated from mine floods and gas explosions. Still on with them in having relief administered on side of the_ sunny sixty, in the ripe maturity of some well-considered and unified system. A a vigorous manhood, he looks back on his hard- special worker has been employed, investiga- with a ships smile; and if he has any pride in tions made, records kept, and often heli^ful hi: stoijv ok sthi: \toi5. 149 counsel as weli as assistance in obtaining em- of the fine residences and public buildings that ployment has been given the apijlicant. Mr. adorn the city. If a citizen wants to build a Bronson's ten years' record as relief oflicer is new Lome or remodel an old one, his first step of one intelligent, jirai'ticiil licljifiilne'^s, a bene- is to call ou the architect. To him he will tell ficence that songiit to help witliout ijauperiziug the number and size of rooms, and his general the beneficiarj'. idea of the structure; but the matter of style, Mr. lironson has been active in all move- design and ornament is left almost wliolly lo ments looking to the welfare of the city. He is the architect. Thus it comes that he is the most a nieniber of the Conmieicial Club, of uumy fra- potent educator of taste in the comnuinity. Ev- ternal orders, and is the chainnau of the build- ery structure he rears is a model which, con- ing committee which has just erected the s])len- sciously or unconsciously, exerts its influence did structure for the Elks. He was born in ou every passerby; and thus not only the pres- ent appearance of the city, but tiie taste of fu- ture generations, depends largely on the ideas of form embodied in the building which the genius of the architect calls into being. Streator is fortunate in possessing a resi- dent architect trained in the best traditions of arcliitectural art. W. G. Foster is a graduate of the Tniversity of Illinois, and took there the ] described course in architecture. Then fol- lowed six years of strenuous i)rofessional work in Ciiicago, in the olHces of some of its most eminent architects, among them Howard Shaw, the famous desigTier of residejice sti'uctures. lie came to Streator in 1!M)S a.s a ]iartner in the firm of Field iV: Foster, and since the death of his partner has continued the business in his own name. The latest ci'eation of Mi-. Foster's genius is the new I'^lks buihliiig, which tlie writer has heard '•ailed the most jjcrfect club structure in the coiuitry. 'J'his the artist has designed some- M. A. Bronson. what along Greek lines, modified by Colonial tendencies. Its fine pro])ortions may be seen 1850, near hetrnii. Mirliigan. came to La Salle in the cut shown elsewhere. Another impor- in ant! has remained here County infancy, tant building now under construction from his since. As a man lie taught school at young plans is the St. Stephen's .scliool. jMackey's school house and in District Xo. (J, Perhaps the most jierfect examjjle of archi- while Streator was yet a handet Laler he was tecture of tlie Colonial type Streator jiossesses then mail between clerk, railway agent running is the new suburban residence of Mr. F. Plumb Streator and and later, and was for Chicago, in Marilla Park, the interior of which Mr. Fos- years the representatixc of the Anheu- twenty ter regai'ds as strictly Colonial in style. The .ser-l'usch At he is lirewing Coni])any. present building of the Williams Hardware Company, the Streator of the V. Peter representative shown elsewhere, represents tlie Foster idea in of SchoenliolVen llrewing Company, Chicago. store construction. Other recent stnictures from the designs of Mr. Foster are the residen- W. G. ARCHITECT ces of Messrs. Schurman, E. C. Kline, Dr. Dor- FOSTER, sey, W. E. Connors, St. Antliony's rectory and the parocliial residence of Father p]gan in Eagle AVhatever beauty of exterior Streator pos- township. He lias been called out of town to sesses, it owes iirimarily to the architect. Every design several churches, notably the Pnssbyter- beautiful structure is fii-st an idea; then it must ian at Grand Kidge, the Baptist at Minonk, Xor- be clotlied in form, and made suliservient to the wegian Lutlieran at Ottawa, and the German \ises of men. In recent years the man to whom Evangelical at Dixon, 111. Streator owes nu)st of its structural beauty is Mr. Foster is noted for the accuracy and W. G. Foster. He it is who has designed many completeness in the drawing of his plans and 150 THE STORY OF STREATOR. to editorial specifications, and the writer lias heard it stat- years having been devoted wholly ed on authority of one of the biggest contract- writing- and control. He was born in Lindsay, ing firms in Central Illinois that there are no Ontario, Canada, in 1859, and received his edu- papers come into their office for estimates so cation in the public schools and at St. Basil's free from doubts and ambiguity as those of the College, Toronto. After a period in the book Streator architect. trade, lie went into school work, the last six The most important addition in recent years years of which was spent as county superin- to the architectural resources in the matter of tendent and principal of schools at Vermillion, exterior facing of buildings is the dark vitri- seat of the State University of South Dakota. fied brick. Most of Streator 's important build- From teaching he went to journalism and ings have been faced with them in recent years, became editor and publisher of the Carthage and in Chicago their use is growing at a re- (AIo.) Daily Eeview. In 1896 he became editor markable rate. In view of Streator 's prospec- of the Joplin, (Mo.) Globe, and remained there tive expansion as a manufacturing point for for six years. In 1902 he assumed the editorial these brick, it is good to have a favorable ex- management of the Concord, New Hampshire, pert opinion on them. Mr. Foster states with Daily Pati'iot, and remained in charge for about deliberation that Streator vitrified brick have ten years until the paper was sold. While there no equal in the world for facing purposes; that that there are none produced have . such rich, deep shades, which can be ran down into the blacks if desired. W. G. Foster was born on a fami in Vennil- lion County, Illinois, brouglit up as a farmer's boy, took his early education in the common schools and finished in the state university. He is now building a residence in Streator, and regards himself a permanent resident of Streator. M. MEEHAN, JOURNALIST Wlien the industrial progress of Streator was committed by the Commercial Club to the liands of its new secretary, there were voices heard asking the question: "Who is this Mr. Meehan that has been en- trusted with so important a position?" M. Meehan. It is a fair question, and the editor feels that it should be answered in tliis book, "The Story he was the intimate friend of iNlrs. Mary Baker of Streator," which Mr. Meehan has been chief- Eddy, and wrote a book of four hundred pages ly responsible in calling into existence. Ac- called "History of the Great Mrs. Eddy Trial," cordingly he has prevailed on him to permit the which sold at $5.00 per volume .He is also the publication of such facts as the public is entit- author of a volume on the New Hampshire pri- led to know about the new secretary of the maiy law. During his control of the Patriot the Commercial Club. paper celebrated its one hundredth anniver- First, it should be explained that Mr. Mee- sary. After the sale of the paper he came west ban is not a professional "write-up" man. ami assumed the liusiness management of the "The Story of Streator" is the first aud only Quincy (111.) Daily Journal, and remained work of the kind he has ever engaged in, and there nearly a year until illness compelled him the character of the book shows at a glance its to undergo a serious ojieration in the hospital. difference in conception and execution from the On recovering from his operation he was usual advertising "write-ups." made publicity manager of the great Missis- Who then is Mr. Meehan? sippi dam project at Keokuk, Iowa, and han- He is a man who has given his whole life to flled all the newspapers between Burlington educational and newsj)aper work, the latter and Hannibal, great and small, in the interest THE STORY OF STRKATOR. 151 of that enteiijrise. On concluding that engage- thing to be proud of. Says the great publicist: ment, not (Ifsiriiig to iv-entor editorial woi-k, '"I have known Mi\ Michael Meehan for he was atti-a<'te Connneudali(m from \V. .). l.rvan is some- City Park. 152 THE STORY OF STREATOR. MEN IN THE PROFESSIONS LEADING PHYSICIANS, LAWYERS, DENTISTS AND OFFICE MEN OF THE CITY OF STREATOR. tion and CHAS. L. TAYLOR intellect, places them freely at the ser- DR. vice of the community. Did this retard his progress in his profes- of men of sion? Among the sketches professional Let tlie record answer this question: Streator, there is one that by common consent He was president of the State Dental So- will take precedence. It is that of Dr. Charles L. ciety; president of the La Salle County Dental hnmanist. Not alone Taylor, dentist, ])nblicist, — Society; delegate to the International Dental because he was eminent in his—profession and convention at St. Louis; member of the State few have equalled him in that but ])ecanse of Board of Dental Examiners—this without so- all that he was above and beyond his profession. licitation and made without his knowledge. He It is what a man knows outside of his business was organizer of the Dental Fellowship Club that measures his culture; it is what a man does of Streator and was much in demand at dental outside his vocation that marks his eminence as gatherings for scientific papers. a citizen. And it is Dr. Taylor's attainments What were his public activities? and sei-vices in these He was president of directions that entitle the Board of Education him to precedence, and for five years, aldennan stamps liim as pre-emi- of tlie third ward for nent among the profes- two terms, and chair- sional men of Streator. man of tlie park com- Professional work is mission at the time of intensive in its ten- his death. He was dency, absorbing in its in-esident of the Church demands on the prac- of Good Will, a pro- titioner, and there are gressive religious or- few who can give their ganization, and for best to their work and many years the faithful have any strength left superintendent of its to give to public causes. Sunday school. These Thus it is that the com- indicate in only a small munity is deprived of way the manifold ac- the services of its fin- tivities of Dr. Taylor, est and best trained but they do show his minds, and nearly ev- singular greatness of ery healer comes to Dr. Chas. Taylor mind—a greatness that consider himself ex- did not despise to use duties of empt from the larger citizenshij), big talents in small offices, a greatness that was in the and a non-combatant great struggles willing to serve where the diiidgery was gi-eat going on about liim in which he could be a and the glory small, whether in the ranks or leader. Not so Dr. Taylor. A full half of his at the head of the column, wherever and when- life was given to non-professional, non-gainful ever duty called. Greatest of all he was con- labors. And it is for this reason that tlie pres- spicuous in a profession that tends to turn men ent writer, who knew him intimately for many inward and selfward, in giving himself lavishly years, esteems him as the ideal professional and unselfishly to the good of the town, its man—one who having superior gifts of educa- people, its institutions and its prosperity. THK STORY OF STRKATOR. 153 It was because of tliis sclf-giviug spirit that Mich., took regular courses in medicine and sur- tlic following could be tnitlifuily written of him gery, and in 1902 took a special course in elec- when lie i)assed on. tro-thera]>eutics. He owns a farm of 440 acres "With the passing of Dr. Charles R. Tayloi- in La Fayette County, 111., wiiich occupies any we lose our most pul)li(;-si)irite(l citizen. Not that lie was most conspicuously identiiied with l)rominent afTairs or stood forth in the lime- light of imhlicity; not that he was aggressive, dominating or assertively constituted, for he was none of these. Hut in ipiiet, persistent, un- asismning ways, in doing unasked connnonjilace work, laborious work, much of it in loyalty to unpopidar ideals, in warm-hearted lueadth of vision and (|uick responsiveness to demands on his ]nirs«', time and energies, Dr. Taylor embod- ied many of the splendid (jualities of the com- ing man, the man vitalized by a .social puri)ose. "lie was cMtliolic in his large tolerance, winning in his gt-nial ways with men, and so he lived among us, doing so cheerfully, so modest- ly, so patiently and lovingly his share in the so- cial, l)usiness and family relations which nuike for social harmony and ordi-r, that we scare rea- lized how much his services meant to tliis com- munity. "In many resjiects his jiassing is not sad, for R. Schurtz, .M. D. Claik Studio he left so mucli liehind. lie did not live a long life, but a full life, lie has not gone far away, vacation or other intervals tlie doctor can sjiare but only passed on to larger si)heres of service, from a busy life. leaving behind a wealth of line memories, ten- With him is associated his son, Dr. Carl der sympathies, noble deeds, loving acts, kind looks, hearty fellowsiiip and 'good will to ' " men. Charles K. 'I'avlor was born in 1S4S ni'ar Folkstone, Kngland, and died Sept. 1.!, liHHi, at Streatoi-, 111., where he had lived since 1S77 in the practice of liis profession. In 187!' he nuir- ried Miss Jennie Phelps, of Sandwicli, 111., who sunives him. DRS. R. AND C SCHURTZ One of the oldest and most respected mem- bers of the medical fraternity in Streator is Dr. K. Schurtz. There are few, if any, who have a larger or more successful jiractice. lie came to Streator in ]886 from Cass County, Michigan, where he had been in practice for ten years. A large practice attendeil him from the start, and for over a quarter of a century he has perhaps been the town's hardest working Carl Schurtz, il. D. Clark Studio physician. In addition to his medical work he his fatlier on oc- has not shrunk from ])nblic service, and has Schurtz, who, while assisting been president of tiie Board of P^ducation since casion, has his own independent pi-actice. The li)07.'ile was born in Constantine, Michigan, in younger Dr. Schurtz was educated in Eush 1851, educated in Kalamazoo and Ann Arbor, Medical College, and Mai'ion Sims, St. Louis, 154 THE STORY OF STREATOR. gTaduating from the latter iu 1900. He enjoys a fine general practice and is especially expert iu snrgery. His popnlarity may be judged from the fact that he was chosen by ballot by the employes of the Streator Paving Brick Company when it became necessary to choose a physician for the works by the liability com- pany. DR. D. S. CON LEY Dr. D. S. Conley is one of Streator 's foremost professional men, whose prominence as a physi- cian has not been obtained by the sacrifice of his interests as a citizen. A man of mgged in- deiaeudence, and conscientious to the extreme, Dr. Conley has adhered to a high code of honor in his public and professional relations, and has stood b)' his convictions when it might have been easier to truckle. He is a strong advocate of the duty of medical men to take their share of the bnmt of public work, and has urged that 'm^^'' THE STORY OP STHRATOR. 155 his father's fanii Jan. 2, 18(58, and was gradu- Shenandoah, Iowa, and was graduated from the ated from Streator lli.< DR. HARRY S. LESTER I>r. .Vll)ert C. Purcell is one of Streator's sons who has leaped at once into a lucrative practice. His father. Mr. INlichael Purcell, was With the advance of scientific k)iowledge, one of Streator's early and higiiiy respected specialization l)ecomes inevitable, and Dr. Har- citizens, who founded tlie inei'cantiie firm of M. ry H. Lester has taken for his special i)rovince Purcell & Co., which is still controlled by the those maladies that alTlict the eye, ear, nose and Purcell and is one of the leading throat. Jle has not always confined himself to family, houses of the city. Dr. Purcell's success was those organs, but sujierimposed his specialty jio doubt aided by his wide acquaintance and on the l)road founrlation of eight years of gen- honored family connection. l)nt tlie main fac- eral medical prictice. He has found the more tor in it was his connection with tiie late Dr. W. L. Smith. Dr. Smith had established the reputation of being the most brilliant oi)erat ing surgeon in these jiarts. and when declining Harry S. Losltr, M. D. limited practice almndaiitly able to occupy his talents and his time, and his office hours are of- ten filled to i-eplefion, some of his cases coming Albert C. Purcell, M. D. from long distances. Dr. Lester is distinctively a western man. He was born in \'illisca, Iowa, health impelled him to seek assistance, young March 23, 187L In his education he spent two Dr. Purcell attracted his attention and favor, This was years in the Villisca High School, one year at and he invited him into partnership. veteran sur- the AVestern X(n-mal ("ollege, two years at the in 1907, and on the death of the succeeded to his State Agricultural and Mechanical College at geon the young doctor posi- 156 THE STORY OF STREATOR. of tion, wliicli lie lias filled with distinguished tor in 1902. He specializes in diseases success, as may be judged from the fact that the eye, ear, nose and thi-oat, and has built up he is surgeon for the Atcliison, Topeka and a lai-ge practice. He is a member of various Santa Fe K. R., the American Bottle Company, national, state and county medical societies, is and the Chicago, Ottawa & Peoria Ky. Albert a Mason, K. of P., etc. C. Purcell was born Nov. 25, 1880, in Streator, from Eush Medical III, was graduated College, D. and later was interne at St. Elizabeth Hospital, DR. LYSTON HOWE Chicago, 111. Although a Streator boy. Dr. L. D. Howe did not come to his old home for the pi-actice of DR. H. C. HILL his profession until a comparativeh' recent peritid. After receiving his degree he opened a To an unusually thorough course of medical liis office in Leonore, 111., in 1903, and after training, Dr. H. C. Hill adds a family predispo- jjeriod in Arizona for the benefit of his health, sition for medicine, an "inherited tendency," returned to Illinois and resumed practice in so to speak, that is given to but few. He en- Cherry in 1906. He was physician for the St. joys the singular distinction of being the son of Paul Coal Company in Cherry in 1909 when the a father who jjracticed medicine in one place mining disaster occurred which sent a thrill for forty years, and who gave to the world five of horror around the world and caused the loss of nearly ."JOO lives. As a member of the rescu- ing party that went down into the fiery furnace of that mine, Dr. Howe won and received the h.onors due a hero; and his deeds then, and in attendance on the victims of the horror, reflect- ed lienor on himself and the profession he so nobly represented. The disaster practically H. C. Hill. M. D. Clark Studio sons who adojited tlie medical profession, all of whom were graduated from the same college— the Eush ]\Iedical. Dr. H. C. Hill is one of these five brothers, and under the guidance of his fa- ther his preparation has been most tliorough. Lyston M. D. After a course of education in the piiblic schools and Eureka College, Eureka, 1)1., he was wiped out the town of Cherry for a time, and graduated from Eush Medical College in 1904. Dr. Howe removed to his old home and began He took a special course in the Eye and Ear In- practice here in 1910. He was boi'u in Strea- firmary, New York, and later, in 1910, crossed tor Sept. 24, 1880, received liis education at its the Atlantic and studied in the hospitals of common and high schools, at the University of London and '\''ienna. Pie began practice in Illinois, and the College of Physicians and Sur- Athens, 111., later going to Springfield, 111., geons. He was house surgeon for tlie latter doing special work, and coming to Strea- college and served as interne at St. Mary's THK STOKV OF STKKATOR. 157 Nazaretli Hospital, Chicago. lie is surgeon for years of age. Yet notwithstanding this de- the C. Af. & S. P. I?v., and tlie Streator MoUn- privation, slie saw six of them tlirou<;ii the I^ni- Car Co. versity of .Michigan and graduate into jirofes- sioiis. Dr. Wilson was born at Lake Benton, DR. K. Minn., in 1879, came to I^a Salle County at 3 GEORGE WILSON years, was graduated from Tonica High School at 1'), went to Mirliinan State Xormal College Dr. Ck'orgc K. Wilson is the ialest of Strea- in l!»0o, to Ann Arbor University in 1!K)7, tor's young pliysiciaus to "make good." He where he was assistant in surgery; was house ranic to tlie city about four years ago direct ])hysician in Alleghany Ilosjutal. F'ittsburg, from a year's service as lionse piiysician in Al- I'a.. in 1!*(1S, and came to Streatoi' from there. l«';i:liaiiy Jlospital, I'iltslmrg, I'a. lie liroiii,^ht Dr. Wilson bi-lieves the foundation of treat- witli him a sphjiidid c(|uipment of knowledge ment is diagnosis, and gives especial attention and training in the most recent achievements to his e.xaminations. of mi'dical scicm-e, and a love of his profession wiiii'li made liim prefer its pursuit to any other recreation. OhsiMuity was his fate for a time, as DR. LLOYD BRONSON it is for most young doctors, but not for h)ng. Opportunity knocked at his door, and it did Dr. Lloyd Brousou bears one of the historic not ha\"e to kiioi'k twice. It found liim ready. names of Streator. His grand-)>ar('nls were among the earliest settlers, an and so good an aci-ount did he nive ot liimsi (hat he was soon called into some of the most important cases by some of the prominent peo jde of the city. His reitutation was made, sind after less than four of today, years i)ractice, l>loyd Bronson, M. U. the name of Dr. AVilson is a familiar one in the it is little wonder that young Dr. city, as well known as many of the older family (|naintauce, well J'ronson came to a prosi)erous in-actice with jihysicians, an University of Illinois. He took a si)ecial course J897, remained there seven years, then removed in obsteti-ics at the Chicago Lying-in Hospital to Streator, where he is now estalilished in an Dispensary, and specializes in obstetrics and excellent practice. He is a member of national, the diseases of children. He has the distinc- state and local medical societies, and stands tion of having won a scholarship at tlie North- high in the esteem of the great life insurance western Medical kSchool. Dr. Bronson is a corporations, for which he is resident examiner. member of the Park Presbyterian cluirch. Among these are the New York Life, the New York Mutual, the John Hancock, Union Central, Merchants Life and National Life. DR. E. E. PERISHO DR. M. F. DORSEY Dr. E. E. Perisho is a typical exannile of the American professional man, the tyi)e of which our country furnishes so many honorable ex- The career of Dr. M. F. Dorsey furnishes an amples. Like many of the most eminent physi- example of one of those surprising successes cians of the west, Dr. Perisho started on his that occur occasionally in the history of the upward career on the solid foundation of a far- medical practice. He came to Streator about mer's training and ex]ierience. He was born on eleven years ago fresh from college, and enjoys tlie most lu- a farm at Yale, 111., attended district school and today what is probably largest and was graduated in due time from high school. crative practice in the city. At any rate it is so At 17 years of age lie went to A'alparaiso, Ind., large that he has been forced to avail himself of tlie services of an assistant, and both of them are kept working at their maximum jiower. He came here a stranger, had no pull, and did not escape the year of starvation that comes to most yonug physicians. In fact he lost a thousand E. E. Perisho, M. D. and took tlie teacher's course, then served as principal of a school near (_)blong, 111., for a couple of years, after which he returned to Val- and took the coui-se. From paraiso pharmacy M. F. Dorsey, M. D. Clark Studio there he went to the College of Physicians and and liad to send Surgens, Chicago, affiliated with the State Uni- dollars his first year in Streator at home for iJut lie in versity, and after taking the prescribed course to the folks helji. stayed he a was graduated and received his degree of M. D. his othce, stuck to his work, and when got in him. In time While studying at the university he spent the patient gave the best that was summer months under a preceptor at Westtield, this absorbing devotion to the work in hand an on the The new 111., where he got early and valuable experience made impression patients. talked and in the practice of his profession. He began doctor began to be about, patients thick and examina- practice on his own account at Ancona, 111., in came fast; surgical cases, THh; STOI5V OF STHKATOi;. 169 eonsultations and tions, office in-actice, until Dr. Ellen Adelaide Richards is one. In the he was so hard worked that liis iiealth gave way. niovoments in which the science of medicine He railed in to him Dr. L. helii (^nillen, graduate touches public interests it is douljtful if any of Northwestern who University, liad two years male member of the profession is as active and Residence of Dr. .\l. F. Dorsev. as interne at .Mercy hospital Cliicago. |)r. self-giving as Dr. l\i(l:ai-d.<. As a member of (^>nincn makes a specially of lalmratory work, tlie WduiaiCs ('liristian Temiierance riiinii ami for wiiich he is specially titled, and he makes the microscopic examinations, the blootl. s\n\- tum. and urinary tests, the rhcmical analyses, blood pr<'s>nrc mcasurings, contents of stomach testings, etc. On the basis of these researches Dr. Dorsey makes his diagnosis ami treatment follows. It is pleasant to record siicli a success on the |>art of a young man still on t!ic sunny .'^ide of forty. It is outwardly evidcnrcd l)y his erection of one of the handsomest brick residen- ces in the city. Dr. Dorsey 's career is typically American, liorn on a farm in Lee County, in IS?.'!, went to jtublic school, then Xorlliern Illi- nois { 'ollege. AV'ent back home and taught i-oun- Iry school, then to University of Iowa, from there to liush Medical College, from which he graduated in 1!>0(I, came to Streator in l!t01, and achieved his remarkable succe.ss here. DR. ELLEN A. RICHARDS Ellen A. Richards, M. D. Clark Studio Tlie place of women in the healing,- profes- sion is honorabh- upheld in Streator by two other social movements, .she finds time and en- members of the medical fraternity, of whom ergy, apart from Iier exacting professional du- 160 THE STORY OP STREATOR. ties, to foi-ward those causes she has at lieart where she remained some time, not caring to and to perfonu public diities the male uicju- return to college, as, in the meantime, her class bers of the profession too frequently consider was graduated. Having a liking for medicine themselves absolved from. Dr. Kichards is a and pharmacy which she inherited from her descendeut of the ancient Rogers family that father and grandfather before her, she entered came to this country from England in IGo.j, the Northwestern University School of Phar- and settled in Connecticut. She was born in macy, Chicago, in the fall of 1897, from which Alden, Minnesota, in 18(i7; was educated at institution she was graduated in 1898. Being Hutchinson aud Minneapolis, Minn.; at Battle allowed one year in medicine for pharmacy, she Creek, ]\[ich., and Chicago. She practiced in enteied the Sojihomore year of the College of partnersliii) witii her husband for two years in Physicians and Surgeons of Keokuk, la. She Chicago, after which she had seven years of was, however, required to "make up" Osteol- country practice in Eastern Illinois, near Wat- ogy, Histology, Physiology and Embryology— seka. She came to Streator in 190(3. Dr. Rich- studies that do not occur in pharmacy. This ards is a member of the S. D. Adventist church. was a veiy busy year for her. During the Senior year she assisted the Chairs of Phar- macy and Pharmacognosy, and thus defrayed DR. IDA M. WOOLLEY her expenses. She also took a post graduate course of medicine in Chicago. For a i)eriod of five years Dr. Woolley did relief work in medi- Dr. Ida Mai'garet Woolley was born in Es- cine and phannacy in the states of Illinois, men County, 111., on a Townshijj, Livingston Iowa and Missouri. This afforded her an op- farm owned by her father. Dr. ]\lilton Woolley. liortunity to become acquainted with the A'ar- AVhen but a child she moved with hor parents ious cities throughout these states and also a to Streator, 111., where she received her pri- choice of the same for the practice of her chosen ])rofession. Dr. Woolley is not a mem- l)er of any church, but she is veiy much in svmiiatliy with any organization designed for the betterment of society and tlie ujilifting of mankind. DRS. MUNSON AND BAILEY DENTISTS. Amid the discoveries and ad^•ances of these rapidly moving scientific days there is no pro- fession that has made greater progress than dentistry. Originally a side line in a barlier shop, dentistry has advanced until in techniijue and equipment its demands on the practitioner are scarcely second to those of any learned ]>ro- fessions, and it has the advantage over its sis- ter professions in that its methods are exact— no guess work—aud its results are absolute. Ida M. Woolley, M. D. In the office of Drs. Munson & Bailey the latest advantages of modern scientific treat- mary education in the public and high schools. ment are at the service of the ]>atient. Es]iecial- In the year 1887 she began teaching in the ]y do they call attention to their new system of Streator i^ublic schools, which position she re- ])ainless practice. To the usual preparation for signed in 1890 to enter Knox College, Gales- ])rofessional work which every j^ractitioner burg, 111. Here she waited table for lier board must undergo, they have added special study and used the money that she had saved teach- and special equipment for the elimination of ing school for tuition, books and clothes. Her ])ain. Pain is the great dread of those who must stay at Ejiox was limited to several terms ow- liave recourse to the dental chair, and Drs. ing to lack of money, and she again acce])ted a Munson & Bailey have supplied themselves with position as teacher in the Streator schools, every new scientific appliance and discovery THE STORY OF STKEATOR. 161 witli which to overcome that dreaded dental P>oth jmrtners are graduates of iirst-elass insti- experience from wliicli every man and woman tutions. Dr. V. W. ^funson graduated with recoils. And, thanks to tiie jirogress of science, the class of 1898 from the Louisville College of they are glad to he able to give the assurance Dentistry, and Dr. E. li. Bailey was grad- that is at least painless dentistry an accom- uated fi'om the Illinois School of Dentistrj', plished fact; and clients may visit their office University of Illinois in 1905. with the al)soIute certainty they are not going Dr. .'Jailey is in charge of the Streator of- to be tortured. fice, and the business has grown so large that he is obliged to use the services of an assi.-tant. One of the causes of their unusiml success, no ihaibt, is the moderate scale of .charges for iii'st class work. All kinds of expert dental service are performed, but however expert or difficult the treatment. Dr. Bailey insists on reasonable charges to all. The office is at 317-319 East Main street. Phone 116. LLOYD PAINTER Among the younger generation of public mfn there is no name that .shines with steadier lustre or more promising glow than that of T.loyd Painter, the present city attorney of Ur. K. n. Bailey. Streator. He has been in the jinblic eye since 1903 when he was first elected to office, then a Among the agencies for the banishing of young man of 26, and has steadily held his pain is the nitrons oxide apparatus for i)ain- place in ]niblic favor until the present time. less extractinii. Nitrons oxide ami oxygen are His life has all of it l)een lived in Sli-eafor; it both used also for painless cavity prepara- is an open book on every page of whidi may be of tion. The oHice is c(|uip|)ed with a full com- read a record honorable achievement, with never a blot or a smear to it. It is this jih'Tiu'iil of eh'ctrii-a! appliances used in the sully remarkable openness of his life, together with a re])utation for integrity, aljility and devotion to public service that mark Lloyd Painter as one of the rising young men of the republican party, and of the La Salle County bar. IFe is now serving his third term as city at- torney, having been elected to the office in 1903, 1905 and again in 1911. The third term was accepted as a i)ublic duty, for his private prac- tice has now grown to the ]ioint tliat the faith- ful performance of the duties of the office in- volves considerable pecuniary loss. Mr. Pain- ter, however, finds contact with the city council and its work pleasant, and this compen.sates in a measure for the loss of revenue. The great- est public question coming up in the present Dr. V. W. Munson. administration is that involved in the city's re- lation to the water company, which is a subject IMMctice of modern dentistry; also a steam of bitter controversy. Mr. Painter has made an sterilizing' outfit, and all the furnishings of an exhaustive study of the law on this question, so up-to-date dental office. as to be in a position to jjroperly advise the The Streator office is one of three owned council. It is in such painstaking labor as this and ojierated by Drs. ^funsou tV D.iiley, the that the quality of a faithful city attorney will othet two being in Chicago and Quincy, 111. count, eveu though it may never be blazoned to 162 THE STORY OF STREATOR. the public like some more spectacular or tliur H. Shay as one of the leading legal lumi- meretricious feats. It is the solid, euduring naries of the state, ])erhaps of the nation. For quality of Mr. Painter's work that has jjaved he believes Arthur H. Shay to be of the stuff of the way to his present success, and that points which lawyers of national prominence are the way unfailingly to a successful future. made. As it is he must be set down as among Lloyd Painter was born of pioneer stock and the foremost practitioners of the city and bears the name of some of the oldest settlers of county. On the iniblic side of his career there this vicinity. He is the son of Jackson Painter, is little to be chronicled. He has been too busy who lived on a farm north-east of Streator, un- practicing law to make himself a place in the til Lincoln's call to arms summoned him to bat- jniblic eye, but ho has built up a practice single tle at the age of twenty. Lloyd was born in handed and unaided in his few years of service 1877, spent his boyhood here and received his that is equaled by no other office in Streator education in Streator 's jmblic and high schools. having only one practitioner. His most mark- School teaching was his steiii)ing stone te the ed characteristic is self-reliance. In his fledge- law. He taught country scliools, and later was principal of the Grant street school. Before set- IJoyd Painter. tling down to his life's work he sated the wan- der-lust of youth by a year of travel. This he acquii'ed by a tour of the country as ca])tain of the Streator Zouaves, a military company Arthur H. Shay. which won much fame for its exhibition drills. Returning to Streator he resumed the study of ling days, when most young lawyers are wont law and was admitted to the bar in 1907. to call in the assistance of county seat lawyers, it succeeded or Of warm soi'ial disjjosition, it was natural young Shay went alone, and his oftener he should ally himself with the social organiza- failed on own merits. He .succeeded tions of the town, accordingly we find him a tlian he failed; because of his indefatigable member of the Streator Clul), the Hlks, the jiower for work, and his ability for seeing both Woodmen, the ]\[utual Protective League and sides of his case. Wlien he won his clients the Athletic Club. He is also a member of the came again and brought others; and even those Park Presbyterian church. whom he defeated came to him when again needing legal services. And so without adven- titious aids, by sheer force of brains and indus- ARTHUR H. SHAY try, he has made for himself a place at the forefront of the bar. Arthur H. Shay was born Were this sketch to be written twenty years Feb. 18, 1872, on a fai-m near Carthage, 111.; later the writer believes he could refer to Ar- came to Streator in 1881, was educated in its THE STORY OP STREATOK 163 public and high schools, and at Northwestern cated in Stockton Academy, and in Washburn University, licgaii the ))ractice of law in 1891 Colle<>e. Topeka, Kansas. He established him- alone, and has Ix-en at it ever since. He has self in Streator in 1896. been trial attorney for the (". (!c A. E. R. seven years, is a member of tiie Streator t'lnb. Elks, Woodmen, and of the Pi-esbyterian church. EDWARD M. GRIGGS RUSSELL C. OSBORN The greatest honor that could befall a law student in Streator was to be invited to a part- Hon. Walter Reeves. This honor Mr. Russell Carl Osborn is a nienilier of the nership by came to Kdward M. Griggs, on his admission to leading law linn of the city, that of Hoys, 0.s- the bar, after iiaviu"- been a student in Mr. born & (iriggs. .Mr. Osborn 's father was secre- tary of state for Kansas, and he was employed in his father's oilii-e for a year before liegini'ing the pi'actice of law. lie began jii'a'-tii'ing in Topeka, Kansas, in ISiKi, and became associated Mith Mr. Charles J. Devlin, the we!! known owner of tlie Devlin coal jn-operties in Spring X'alley, Tnlnca and otiicr Illinois jioints. Mr. Osborn came iiere as Mr. Devlin's attoiney, ant! after the collaiKse of the latter came in contact with Receiver lieeves while settling the estate. T'leir cooperation in liic IV'vlin settlement led to a partnership which was formed under the nam' of Reeves. O>born & (iriggs. and later, o;i the death of Mr. Reeves, changed to lioys, Os- born & (Iriggs. Since that time ?\Ir. Osboi-n lias made Stn-atur his home, and has taken an interest in everytinng calculated to ui)lniild the Edward M. Griggs. Ree\es' oflice. When the great lawyer and pub- licist passed on and Mr. Boys returned to the office, the firm name became Boys, Osborn & Griggs. Tiie junior partnei- lias been busy jus- tifying Ml'. Reeves' judgment, and luis liad lit- tle tiujc to figure in jniblic affairs; but he has licen digging into the law, trying cases, writing briefs, and attending to the multifarious de- tails which the business of a l)ig law firm brings to the office. He has made good, and the future lies before him big with jiromi-se. Pie was bom in Streator Jan. 30, 1882, was educated at the local ]iul)lic and high schools, and was grad- uated from Beloit College, class of 1903. He be- gan jiractice in 190() as stated with Mr. Reeves, Osborn. Russell C. the finn then being Reeves, Osborn & Griggs. He is the son of one of the most respected citi- city. A rij)e lawyer, a good citizen, liis coming Mr. for 30 has been an accession to the civic, .social and zens of Streator, Oakley Griggs, of the Co. intellectual life of the town. Mr. Osborn was years head Oakley Griggs Drug bom in Ames, Iowa, on Feb. 20, 1872, was edu- 164 THE STORY OP STREATOR. ROBERT E. LARKIN tinction of beginning his professional career in partnership with one who has since become one of the most famous judges in America. Mr. E. is Robert Larkin tl)e junior member of Jones made his entrance into the legal arena in ]aw the tinn of Lucey & Larkin of this city. Chicago in 1892. He was claim attorney for the Mr. Larkin was born and reared two miles west Grand Trunk Railway and became associated of Streator in the town of Eagle. He received while in that connection with Judge Kenesaw his education early at the Kangley public M. Landis, who was then a practicing lawyer, schools; later he completed his classical course not yet liaving made his noted decision in the Standard Oil Case. He remained in association with Judge Landis until the latter was promot- ed to the bench, and Mr. Jones then came back to his boyliood home and formed a partnership with Mr. Paul R. Chubbuck, which continued until about a year ago. Mr. Jones is forging to the front as a lawyer, and already is at the head of one of the strong law jiractices of the citv. Robei t E. Larkin. of studies at the Streator High School and at St. Bede College, in this state. He then took up the study of law and in October, 1906, was ad- mitted to the Hlinois bar. Lumediately there- after he began tlie jiractice of law in this city and in September, 1907, foi-med a partnership A\'illiam C. Jones. with P. J. Lucey, of this city. Mr. Larkin has also been admitted to the practice of law in the An conscientious District and Circuit Courts of the United States able, aggressive, man, he was chosen leader of the moral forces of the in and has successfully conducted cases in the U. city the last municipal and won S. Courts and the highest courts of the state of campaign respect and admiration for his ideals and Illinois. He is a member of the Streator Club high lofty A Streator in and of the Streator Commercial Club. He has purposes. boy, bom 1881, he is a man with whom the future must reckon. since starting in business in Streator always contributed to the building of our new churches and schools and to all ])ublic enterprises. His F. M. POWERS motto is "Progressive Citizens Make Progres- sive Cities." Frank M. Powers is an individualist. He has never C. sought a partnership or alliance with WILLIAM JONES any sup]wrting interest. When he comes to look back on his career he will have the satis- Mr. William C. Jones had the great dis- faction of knowing that his success is due to THE STORY OF STHKATOH. 165 himself. He is still in tlie early thirties, is hap- tion in the local schools, and was graduated pily married ami a father, and is climbing from the high school in 1898. After that he did steadily toward a comfortaljle competency. His any lionest work that he could turn his hand to. start is made, his jKtsition is assured, and he is He carried a hod, drove a team and clerked in in tlie race of life fairly with y-ood liealtii, ^-ood a store. From 190li to 1 !»()() he served as deputy liahits and a reimtation for ability and integrity sheritf of La Salle County. The nameless some- that will carry him a long way toward the goal. thing in men that keeps them from stagnating Mr. Powers is wholly a Streator jtroduct. He urged him on; he read law with W. H. Boys, was born here on Fel). 1(1, 1880, had his imblic and in Deccmlier, 1!»]0. received the coveted schodl cdiwalion here, and was gradnated from the Illinois I'niversitv. He is the son of one of prize and was admitted to the bar. He begun practice immediately, and tlie same and Frank M. Powers. energy push that characterized his youth is marking with success his career as a He is sec- Streator's oldest and most respected citizen.-, lawyer. of the Police and Fire of for many years one of Streator's hardware retary Commission a of the merchants. Tliongh he passed on some years Streator, and member Elks. He can be found in his office at 101 Fast Main ago, his name is so esteemed that it is still kept street, and is rcadv for anv kind of law business. at the head of its largest hardware establish- ment, Powers & AVilliams. Though giving his most serious interest to the law, Mr. Powers JOHN F. BUCHNER tinds time to devote to the liner and is re- arts, RECORDER. garded as the best auuiteur tiutist in the city. John F. who since December A. D. C. H. Bnchner, LINSCOTT 1904, has filled the position of Recorder of Deeds in La Salle County, was born upon a farm C. H. Linscott is one of the bright and prom- in Carroll County, Indiana, November 21st, A. ising sons of Streator who has fought his way D. 1SG4, and is of German lineage. In 1867 Mr. to up to j)rofessional position witli bare hands. He Buchner, with his parents removed Peru, Il- comes straight from the people and carries with linois. Soon after they took up their abode in the of him the tang of the soil, and the unemasculated La Salle, Illinois, where boyhood days F. were The virility of long generations of workers. His John Buchner passed. German father, a blacksmith, but a man of unquestion- tongue was spoken in the household and he ed force and intellectual endowment, was able early became familiar with that language as to do but little "boosting" for his son. Young well as with English. His education was ac- Linscott managed, however, to get an educa- quired in the public schools of La Salle. In A. 166 THE STORY OF STREATOR. D. 1883 Mr. Buclmer came to Streator, where he fest in his official service and he brings to bear became employed by the Streator Bottle & in the discharge of his duties an industry and Glass Co., holding various positions with said close apjdication which ex])edites matters and company. In A. D. 1889 he was elected a mem- ber of the city council from the first ward and for three consecutive terms was continued in that position. In A. D. 1904 additional politi- cal honors came to him through his election to his present position, that of County Kecovder of Deeds, which position he has filled for the past eight years, and at present holds. During his time as Eecorder of Deeds Mr. Buchner has become familiar with all the records in La Salle County, and is now at the head of the "Buchner and Roe La Salle County Abstract Company." Mr. Buchner was manned on October Ifitli, A. D. 1888, to Miss Louise Bertiaux, a daugliter of one of the pioneer window glass workers, who came to this country from France. Three chil- dren grace this marriage—Albert F., Ernest J. and Tjouise Carmen, aged respectively twenty, nineteen and twelve years. Mr. Buchner is a member of Humboldt Lodge, No. 555, A. F. and A. M., S]ia])bona Chapter No. 37, R. A. M., Ottawa Conunanderv, John W. Buchner No. 10, Knight Templars, B. P. 0. E. No. 591, Royal Arcanum and Modern Woodmen of make him a capable official for the people of La America. The same thoroughness which has Salle Countv. characterized his business life has been mani- View in City Park I THi; STOItV OK STIM. ATOi;. 167 Mr. McNamara has had experience in legis- CHARLES L McNAMARA lative nmtters iu CITY CLERK. Springfield, having gone through a session there in the capacity of com- mittee and private secretary and clerk, and TIh'iv is a hi'lii'f common ainoin;' iiicii that this experience coupled with a five years' re- eacli is l)oi-ii into tliis world witli some l)iisiness s])onsible jtosition on the Santa Fe enables him or professional endowment or temleney. wliicli, (o give to the discharge of the duties of his a if eoura,i;;eously, persistently and intelligently jiresent i)osition. ripened judgment that is followed and developed, guarantees to him a valuable to himself and the people. reasonable success in life. Charlie is an enthusiastic sup))orter of legi- That i)articular tiling- which manife.st itself timate si)ort and his activity, contributions and in Charles L. McXamaia, City Cleric of Strea- zeal, coupled with that of nuiny others, make tor, is bis al)ility to nuike and hold friends— possible the high standard of out of door en- Charles L. McXamaia. the faculty he possesses of recommending him- tertainments so desirable aiul necessary in self on short acipiaintance to his fellows, and modern urban life. of winning tiieir kindly and substantial regard. Charles L. McNamara was born in Newark, This, in a very large measui'e. accounts for the Ohio, in 1S81, and with his family came to fact that although of the minority jiarty, he Streator when eight years of age, and has re- holds the position he does iu the city today. ceived his education and lived his life here. In the iierfonnance of his public duties To ])re G. C. Daniels, AldeiTnan from foiirtli ward; succeeded "William Cool. THE STORY OP STRKATOR. 169 THE ORDER OF ELKS If the Streator ("lub represents the age ami billiard room, cafe— all the adjuncts of a first- wisdom of Streator, tlie Elks represents its class club room. It is 120x50 feet in size and young life, its jmsh and vim and energy. There when conipletetl will have cost not far from are 3:iO of them, and every one is a booster, $50,000. hustler and worker. They are organized for so- While not permitted to divulge any of their cial jiiirposes only, t(} cvdti\ate the graces of good deeds, it is an oi)en secret that the charity fri(Mid>liip and the softer amenities of life. of the Klks is deep, wide and all-embracing. Their lodge room is a retreat from the stress of Like the dew, it falls gently, and not even its business, an oasis where joy and kindness may beneliciaries know whence it comes. Their own flourish amid the burning heat of competitive pulilic beneficence is their annual Thanksgiv- strife. ing dinner to poor children. Last year 400 ciiil- .W'A l':iiis L'iub House.'. of their That is why they want their Elks' rooms in- dren i)artook hospitality. for the are: M. A. viting and attractive, and .so they have just Tlie officers i)resent year H. Es- erected the beautiful edifice Avhich is to be tlieir Bronsou, Exalted Ruler; Arthur Shay, Esteemed future home, one of the handsomest structures teemed Loyal Knight; A. M. McCoy, R. in Streator. It is situated on a prominent cor- Lecturtng Knight; Harry Smith, secretary; C. A. treasurer; Max Murdock, Dele- ner facing the city park, near the heart of the Raymond, to Grand Lodge. The trustees are R. F. city, and is equipped with gymnasium, bowling gate W. H. and J. W. Fornof. alleys, shower baths, ball room, ladies parlors, Purcell, Jennings r^ ^1 STREATOR HEAT AND LIGHT COMPANY — - Qperates= ^THE SCHOTT SYSTEMS'' ^ Of - Central Station Heating Some Advantages: Central Station heat is the ideal heat. The service requires no attention or worry No Fire in building reduces fire risks Absence of boilers eliminates explosions and floods Absence of coal eliminates smoke, ashes and dust No care or responsibility to maintain heat Ability to heat properly at all times Hot Water for bath or domestic purposes day or night Reduced investment due to boilers and space Consumer controls cost of heating Company receives pay for heat actually furnished =(=ii =1 1 i r= r' '^ "I F. Pres. Plumb, E. F. Plumb, Vice-Pres. George Goulding, Sec'y. F. M. Whiting, Supt. Streator Paving Brick Co. Office in Opera House Block, Streator, Illinois Manufacturers of Paving Blocks, Repressed Brick, Wire Cut Brick, Common Building Brick and Colonial Face Brick. Our brick have been used locally in the construction Other buildings in which our brick have been used: the of followint; huildinf;s during the year 191 1: Post Office; Christian Church; Congregational Elk's Club Monitor House; Griffith's Laundrv: Church; Evangelical Church and Parsonage, {German); Printing Office, Salvation Army Building, face; Dr. M. F. St. Steven's Slavish Church; Grant School; Joseph Vipond, Dorsey, residence; A. H. Anderson, residence; F. Plumb, residence; R. Kiefer, residence; W. E. Conness, residence; residence. C. Schroeder, residence; Linn Mulford, residence. Streator Shale Brick are noted for durability and for artistic appearance. The Streator Paving Brick Company has shipped brick as far North as Winnipeg, Canada, and as far south as Vicksburg, Mississippi. We invite any one interested to call or write. OFFICE 120. YARD 494 V TELEPHONE, TELEPHONE, [ ESTABLISHED 1888 STREATOR'S BEST TRADING PLACE Tliis Store represents everything that is best in Modern Merchandising, large and well assorted stocks in every Department. Newest Styles are shown on our counters as soon as they can he seen in the Metropolitan cities of the country. Our prices for De|iendal>le Merchandise are, as a rule, less than those in other stores. Our Salespeople are efficient, capable and courteous and are pleased to have an opportunity to show our goods to the public, whether they intend to purchase or not. W'c do not urge people to buy. For over 24 years the policy ot this store has been, that when any goods are purchased here and are found to be unsatisfactory when taken home, no matter for what reason or for no reason, we insist that they be returned to us, at once in saleable condition for cheerful exchange or money back. Could any business be conducted in a fairer way towards the public? D. C. MURRAY & COMPANY ir=ii ^== THE The Most Line of KEYSTONE PRESS Complete L. Weitlispach, Proprietor HARDWARE In La Salle County W^ Producers of the folinAlband HARD\V;\RE AfP J stoves! Better Kind of 115 E. MAIN STREET. PRINTING STREATOR, ILL. Phone 186 For any Business or Occasion Peoria Lexington and Round Oak PHONE 2556 COOK STOVES 408 Main St. - Streator, 111. And Ranges Excelsior Motorcycles JO Indian Motorcycles Graduate Battle Creek Sanitarium Pope Motorcycles Guns and BATH MASSAGE Bicycles 1 Spauldings Sporting PARLORS Goods Upstairs--113 N. Vermillion St. Barbers' Supplies PLUNGE, SHOWER, ELECTRIC AND VAPOR BATHS REPAIRING A All forms of Thermo-Electric, Hydro-Therapy and Massage applied hy an expert of thorough SPECIALTY training and many years experience. REFERENCE TO STREATOR'S MOST PROMINENT CITIZENS E. C. Van Loon OLDEST ESTABLISHED PARLORS IN THE CITY 314 Main St., Streator, III. Chicago's Most Modern Hotel 757 Rooms — each with private bath. Every room and suite in Hotel Sherman is supplied with distilled, circulating ice water. The management has spared no expense to supply its patrons with the most modern accommodations, and yet the prices are always in moderate and just proportion to the serv- ice rendered. Hotel Sherman invites consideration of its facilities for banquets and conventions. Hotel SKermaJV Home of the Famous College Inn CITY HALL SQUARE, CHICAGO r" -r^=i- ^ E. F. BURKHOLDER & CO. 317-319 E. MAIN ST. •THE OLD RELIABLE' STREATOR, ILL. This firm handles a splendid line of general merchandise suited to the needs of everybody. It believes in honesty, progression and prompt service, and during its past ten years of merchandising in Streator has re- ceived a liberal patronagefrom the city and surrounding country. The policy of selling brands of recognized merit, at lowest prices possible for the grade, has brought to this store the con- fidence of the people, and accounts for its continuously increas- ing trade. Manned by men of integrity, experience and ability, it makes an ideal store with which to concenirate your business. L. .J r^ =ii==i[=; STREATOR LUMBER COMPANY :DEALER IN: LUMBER, CEMENT, LIME, PLASTER HARD, SOFT AND SMITHING COALS. ESTIMATES FURNISHED 524 E. Bridge Street Telephone 64 L.JEi 3 l=li J OSTEOPATHY UR. C. J. IIlGIABOTHAM OSTEOPATHIC HILL BROTHERS PHYSICIAN HOME BAKERY GRADUATE OF MEDICINE AXD SUliGERY MANUFACTURERS AND WHOLESALERS OF Confectioneries and Ice Cream 211 EAST MAIN STREET STREATOR. ILLINOIS UKS. & OFFICE. JACK 1{I>UG. KtKJM.S I TO 4. :iJ!> MAIN STREBT. (OVER 'nAWN") ti:ni;imione :5U7 XHAINKn NCH.MK I.V ATTENnANCK. H.J. HOWLAND PHIL OHALLORAN UNDERTAKER LIVERY, BUS, CARRIAGE, AITOMOBILE, BAGGAGEANDTRANSFERLINE PICTURE FRAMES AND ART GOODS HEADQUARTERS Olympic Restaurant Columbia Hotel PHONES STORE 295 RESIDENCC 002 TELEPHONES Barn 425, Olympic 138, Columbia 292 I I 2 MAIN STREET STREATOR. ILLINOIS Livery and Feed Yard 1 17-21 S. Monroe J. T. McCOY BREECE DAVENPORT McCoy & Davenport Tin, Sheet Iron and Sharfenberg Bros. Metal Wort 201-203 Main St. Telehorie 132 Slate and Asbestos Roofs and Furnaces a Specialty. 121 SOUTH BLOOMINGTON STREET STREATOR, ILLINOIS ALBERT DUIS ^'^^ CLOTHIER, FURNISHER AND •CONTRACTOR FOR HATTER Steam and Hot Water THE HOME OF HEATING Hart Schaffner & Marx PNEUMATIC WATER SYSTEMS CLOTHES AND PLUMBING Every garment that leaves my store ACETYLENE LIGHTING Aside from has my personal guarantee. TELEPHONES that, my forty years of continuous mer- OFFICE 163 RESIDENCE 36 chandising in Streator assures you of a WINDMILLS GASOLINE SQUARE DEAL. AND PUMPS ENGINES Office 119 S. Bloomington Street Dave Wolferman Residence 1002 E. Main Street 220 East Main St. Streator, Illinois STREATOR, ILLINOIS r '^ Bud^veiser AMERICA'S FAVORITE BEVERAGE More Bud\veiser is used in American homes than any other two brands o[ bottled beer combined. This proves that its is superiority recoc- nized everywhere. Bottled only at the home plant in St. Louis. ANHEUSER-BUSCH BREWERY ST. LOUIS Anheuser-Busch Branch E. F. J. ELBRECHT, Manager, STREATOR, ILL. ^ J r^ ^1 THE KEELEY INSTITUTE famous Keeley Institute o]ierated by The Leslie E. Keeley Company, a eor- poration, is located at Dwinlit, Illinois, twenty miles from Streator. It is THEprobably the most widely advertised and best kntnvn corporation in the State of Illinois. The late Dr. Leslie E. Keeley began the treatment of dmukenness, drag addictions, the tobacco habit and nervous disorders many years ago, meeting with remarkable success, so much so that in 1880 he abandoned jirivate practice en- tirely and established the Keeley Institute, devoting himself exclusively to that work thereafter. There are now Keeley Institutes in foreign countries, besides which there are one or move in nearly every state in the union. The Institute consists of a laboratory and office building, a hotel and power house, all of fire proof constrnction and up-to-date in every i)articular. The Hotel Livingston, iindoubtedly the finest hotel in Illinois outside of Chicago, is where most of the patients board, but this hotel is also open to the public. The Keeley treatment has a record of about four hundred thousand cures to its ci'edit, and as far as results are concerned, it is recognized as being not only the standard, but also without rivals or competitors. Business is conducted on a high plane; eveiyoue is treated fairly. All business is strictly confidential. Printed mat- ter is always sent out in a sealed envelope when requested, and full particulars are given by letter. Liquor cases and cases of drug addictions have to be treated at the Institute. There are home remedies for the tobacco habit and nerve irritability. The company maintains an office in Chicago, which is located in the Sector Building, Suite 906, 79 W. Monroe Street. eJ R. T. SHAW, PLUMBER of Streator's longest established businesses is that of R. T. Shaw, plumber. In 1891 Mr. Shaw opened his plumbing shops on Vermillion ONEStreet and has been on this street during all the intervening years, his present address being 113 North Vermillion Street. The business necessarily began in a very small way and its steady growth to its present size has been due to the manner in which Mr. Shaw has met the phniibing requirements of Streator and the splendid increase of the business is proof that they were met satisfactorily. The modern equipment of the business makes possible the handling of work from the largest to the smallest measure. A little over one year ago Mr. Shaw introduced a new feature into his bus- iness when he took over the Streator for the Coal and Gas " agency "Champion Kange 2 in 1. The success of this new department has greatly exceeded his expectations and the efficiency of the range can now be testified to by over twenty of Streator's best homes. Mr. Shaw also carries a full line of plumbing accessories together with heating, gas and electric fixtures. Miss Woodmansee 213 East Main Street Streator, Illinois SPYRE'S PLAGE Tliat is where The People go when ihey want their shoes dressed as they should be dressed and where hats are re- paired s o that they are as good as n e w prices pop- ular. IT'S AT 418 E. MAIN STREET ^ :i3E =" "= TIERNEY BROTHERS The firm of Tieriiey Brothers, coniposed of James Tieruey and Josepli Tierney, was estab- lished in 1881, and has grown from humble ]n-e- tentions to its present proportions. The firm makes a specialty or Iron, Rubber and Metal, but deals also in ingot copper. The Tieruey Brothers, in counectiou with their other business, handle considerable real estate and loan monej^ Their trade extends over this whole section of Illinois and because of the large shipments made, this firm appre- ciates the advantages Streator i^ossesses as a railroad center. Yards and offices at 515 E. Bridge street. Telephone 231. =1 1 1 1= ^' ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW IN JEWELRY W. B. HATTENHAUER CAREW DRUGS & KODAKS 21 5 MAIN STREET Fine Jewelry1, STREATOR. ILLINOIS 316 MAIN STREET, STREATOR SPECIAL ATTENTION TO REPAIR WORK ED. REINEL J. J^. ARTHUR PHOTOGK A PIIIC STUDIO Watches, Cut Glass Jewelry, Clocks, •jnll MAIX HTKKET 210 MAIN STREET STKKATDK, ILLIN'OIS QUALITY SERVICE YOUR EYES SCIENTIFICALLY FITTED WITH GLASSES. FABER Beauty Shop 322 E. Main Street STELLA FABER »[ RECEPTION ROOM Hair Dressing, Shampoo- CLARK'S STUDIO ing, Facial Massage and Manicuring THE PLACE WHERE GOOD Telephone No. 1539 PHOTOGRAPHS ARE MADE MOTORCYCLES JAMES CONNELL AND BICYCLES LIVERY FEED AND SALE STABLE REPAIRING, SUPPLIES ACCESSORIES HARD AND SOFT COAL DRlVlNfi AND DRAFT HORSES FOR SALE Al ALL TIMES Kroesen & Plock 126 S. Park Street 506 E. Main Street STREATOR, ILLINOIS CHIRO-PRACTIC INSTITUTE 106 E. SUMNER STREET PROF. G. H. SMITH, Director TIk- newest scliool of iiKMiiuil licaliiii;- has t'.>t;il)lislu'(l ail iiislilutc ill Stivalur, wliieli lias liecii opcrali'd with remarkable success here for several years. Ciiiro practic is the hitcst and most sciontifio form of treating- disease by iiiaimal therapy—hand-healing it may be called. Wonderful results have been attained and many inonii iient Streator citizens testify to its eflieaey. A Plant that Represents Streator's Progress The The Independent-Times Independent-Times STATIONERY An Indci'jcndent Democra- tic Daily Newspaper BOOK STORE A paper that stands for Good A Store that Treats allMhke, the Government and Good Principles Child as well as the Adult. THE INDEPENDENT-TIMES Job Printing Establishment Makes a Specialty of General Job Printing for the Local Community And a Specially of Legal lilaiiks acul Legal Printing for Lawyers, Real Estate Agents, Justices of llie Peace, Banks, County Clerks, City and Town Clerks, Etc., Throughout the State of Illinois. THE J. I. BRANNAN BILLIARD HALL CIGAR STORE BARBERSHOP CAROM AND POCKET BILLIARD TABLES IN FIRST CLASS CONDITION The Best and Most Popular Brands of Cigars Imported and Domestic A FIRST CLASS BARBER SHOP An Artist at Every Chair. of Streets. Corner Main and Monroe Most Popular Corner in the City. A BRIGHT, CHEERFIL, CLEANLY PLACE IN WHICH TO PASS AN HOUR. -I ir==ii 1= ,4' The Pure Ice Qo. OUR PRIGE HAS BEEN AND IS AL WA VS THE LO WES T OUR IQE IS THE BEST Prompt service and honest weights ^uaran= teed. Goal and general teaming at alt times. 108 S. First St. STRETITOR, ILLIXOIS J. W. Worrell Phone lO'JO El ii:^=ji 1; BA<-W*y<»-. T-V iSX.V"^ -^ UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA