Progressive Watercott & Co. A Century of Local Trade
Henry Watercott Sr arrived in 1865 as a bootmaker and built a shop that served a growing town. Julius A Watercott & Co formed in 1877, expanding into a major Illinois retailer with a wide stock from apparel to house furnishings and a sales force of up to 80, attracting customers from 40 to 50 miles away.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Watercott
Henry Watercott
Chicago
Peoria
Julius
Henry
Charles
Julius A Watercott
Illinois
Edward Street
Indiana born watchmaker Carl F Hallfarth a horology expert
Carl F Hallfarth, a native of Indiana born in 1871, trained in watchmaking in Canton and Peoria, worked in El Paso before buying George Thacker & Son in Henry in 1906, earned fame as a master horologist and craftsman, and in October 1910 married Miss Gertrude Potter and lived in a modern home on North Edward Street.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Carl F Hallfarth
Indiana
Gershan
Hampden Watch Co
Canton
Peoria
Bradley Institute
el Paso
J. D Jenkins
Henry
George Thacker & Son
Mortiage
Gertrude Potter
North Edward Street
James Colligan a barber with varied life path on Second street
James Colligan born in Henry and educated in public school worked on a farm ten years clerked for Granbury in a flour and feed store and at Camp House seven years before starting in barbering with no experience. He quickly built a steady patronage on Second Street and after ten years there and ten years of marriage he is a father to a baby daughter.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James Colligan
Second Street
Henry
Granbury
Camp House
T J Segraves Old Corner Drug Store Landmark Profile
T J Segraves of the Old Corner Drug Store at Edwards and Second is profiled. A Jerseyville native, he trained in pharmacy and became a registered pharmacist in 1904. He moved to the city in 1909, runs a well regarded shop with papers and decor, and is married to his Pittsfield bride of 1908 who assists him. He also operates a Varna drug store with partner J A Meekles.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Edwards and
Second Streets
T. J. Segraven
Jerseyville
Shurtleff College
Upper Alton
Western Normal
R. N. Dodds
Springfield
State Board of Pharmacy
Segraves
Pittsfield
Varna
J A Meekles
Oak Park
F. E. Dawson Flour and Feed Store Proprietor
Fred E Dawson runs a flour feed and building materials shop on Edward street opposite the post office. A native of Putnam county he moved here in 1899 and built a growing patronage. He stocks grain hay straw cement lime plaster and more. His wife died in 1913 and he owns substantial property living alone on Deacon Hill.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fred E Dawson
Edward Street
Mr Dawson
Putnam County
Deacon Hill
Henry Jacobs County Attorney Career Highlighted in Local History
Henry Jacobs of this city son of Peter Jacobs from La Prairie township rose from country schooling to Wesleyan University law, admitted 1901, practiced in Lacon, then Henry county attorney elected 1904 reelected 1908 and 1912, expert in probate, titles and abstracts across state and federal courts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Henry Be, Jacobs
Peter Jacobs
la Prairie Township
Country School
Business College
Lafe Town
Blackstone
Greenleaf
Chilty
Kent
Wesleyan—university
Degan
Lacon
Richmond
Henry
F. Clover
Jacobs
John E Barry of Henry County Farm Machinery Dealer
John E Barry was born in 1861 in St. Louis and grew up in Henry County. He built a farm machinery business two years ago and expanded to wagons auto agencies and tires while serving on the local school board and holding other official posts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John E& Barry
St. Louis
Henry
Umr
Elizabeth Longman
Azgo M- Tsarro
Overland
Ford
Moon
U. S
Barry
Mary A Green Operates Nine-Room Boarding House
Miss Mary A Green runs a nine room boarding house at the corner of Third and School streets after years in hotel service. She started after the Whith hotel fire and formed a partnership with friends then bought out partners. The Greens, New York settlers since 1856, run with brother John and their aging mother near her 86th year.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mary A. Green
New York
John Green
James R Robison Builder and Contractor
James R Robison, a Woodford County native, is a contractor and builder skilled in brick stone plaster and ornamental work. He learned his trade at Roanoke saw Bloomington and Peoria projects and now offers swift estimates from architect plans.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James R. Robison
Woodford County
Roanole
Bloomington
Peoria
Doran Mortician of Marshall County Builds Reputation
C Doran born in La Prairie township and a native of Marshall County is a mortician trained at Barnes School of Anatomy Chicago class of 1905. He moved to Henry in 1905, built a two story business residence on Second and Main in 1909 and provides careful embalming service. He married Katherine Smith in 1906 and has a daughter.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
C. C. Doran
Marshall County
Robert Doran
la Prairie Township
Barnes School of
Chicago
Henry
Second
Main Street
Doran
Katherine Smith
Jesse W. Risen Expert Cleaners and Dyer on Lower Edward
Jesse W. Risen runs a cleaning and dyeing shop on Lower Edward Street next to the Opera House. A native of Havana and Pekin, he studied in Peoria and learned dyeing and cleaning, establishing himself as an expert in a delicate and responsible trade.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jesse W. Risen
Lower Edward Street
Opera House
Havana
Pekin
Peoria
Pratt of the Sanitary Barber Shop Opens in Princeton
Pratt A. Pratt, native of Bureau County capital, proprietor of the Sanitary Barber Shop, studied in Princeton schools and trained in Hartville. After five years in a Princeton shop, he started his own business in December 1912, renting the current location and assembling his outfitting. He is noted as an industrious temperate citizen skilled in modern barbering methods.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pratt
Fred L. Shurts Blacksmith and Horseshoer
Fred L. Shurts born 1849. trained as a blacksmith with his father near Duke Bros. He operated in Whitefield Gorners, then Henry, then Peoria in 1889. Twice married. son C. A. Shurts in Peoria and daughter Eva in Chicago. Returned to Henry in 1912 to run a custom shop on First Street.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fred L. Shorts
Mm.Henry
Duke Bros
Fred
Whitefield
C. A. Shurts
Peoria
Eva Shurts
Chicago
Shurts
Henry
First Street
The Ballad of Tom the Circus Man Turns Restaurateur
Tom, born near Coal Hollow in Stark County, rose from pews butcher to Sells Bros circus performer. He became an aeronaut and later ran a restaurant in the John Kline building at Edward and Second streets, with his wife operating it in the summer. He plans to exhibit a sacred snake and join Young Buffalo Bill's shows in the season.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Thomas F& Kinkade
John Kline
Edward and
Second Street
Coal Hollow
Stark County
Toulon
Bass
Lincoln
Ohio
Tom
Sells Bros
Saiem
Tom Tas
India
Buffalo Bill
Frank S Dennis Longtime Resident and Local Official
Frank S Dennis, born February 28 1845 in Henry Township, is the oldest resident of the city with only three years away since birth. He is a father of four children, two sons and two daughters, active Republican, a justice of the peace and a collector, having held township offices and collected taxes across several terms.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Frank Dennis
Frank S. Dennis
Henry
ia-Republicah
Isa
John H Hibert Bakery Pioneer in Bloomington
John H Hibert, an English native who arrived in 1893, built a modern sanitary confectionery near the Pace Building in Bloomington. A skilled baker, he earned quick public favor for his expertly crafted pastries that pleased both eye and palate.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John H
Hubert John H. Hibert
England
Bloomington
Peoria
Hubert
Valentine and Son new candidates for public patronage
William Valentine and Son emerge as new local business candidates. The senior partner, born 1848 in Will County, Pennsylvania, worked farms, married Sarah Spooner in 1866, and moved through Missouri to Chillicothe before entering the grocery and meat trade. They recently acquired J. M Arnold’s grocery and bakery in this city and expanded the business.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
William Valentine & Son
William
Valentine & Son
Will County
Bureau County
Marion County
Valentine
Hannibal
Sarah Spooner
Plymouth Rock
Valentines
Missouri
Chillicothe
J. M Arnold
Santa Clnes
Kuss Bros Rise in Blacksmithing and Plumbing Trade
The Kuss Bros firm on Lower Main street is a leading blacksmithing and plumbing operation. Father from Bavaria, family moved from Iowa to Peoria then to this city by 1866. William Russ learned blacksmithing, worked 18 years at W A Hanna wagon works, started own shop in 1870, partnered with brother Joseph in 1901, building a strong local patronage through probity and industry.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kuss Bros
Main Street
Ohio
Bavaria
Germany
Iowa
Peoria
William Russ
Ken McNeal
thLater
W A
Hanna Wagon Works
Joseph
John Tarter Deep Wells Expert in Local Prospecting
John Tarter, born in Fulton County in 1871, became known for deep well work and coal prospecting after moving to Henry County in 1892. He is regarded as an expert in his field, with a notable local reputation within a 20 mile radius.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John Tarter
Tarter
Fulton County
Henry
Sinte
Elty and Siblings Tied to Longtime Choir Service
A fragmentary note recalls Elty Jenkins and her sister as longtime choir members. The text hints at past roles with a factory or church setting and references years of service and a sister named She Slater.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Elty
Jenkins
She Slater
Tag
Eatia Factory
Masaer
Chiaroh
Also Mentioned on This Page
J. Watercott & CO
St.Paul
Carl PF. Hallfarth
T. J. Segraves
F. E. Dawson
Henry &. Jacobs
John E. Barry
James R. Robinson
Co. C. Doran
Fred L. Shurts
Central Park
T. KE. Kinkade
Aledi
Underalif
Henry “Lock
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!