The Progress of Henry Telephone Co and Camp Sterrett
Abner Camp and F. O. Sterrett helped launch Henry’s first telephone line in Marshall County. The firm built a central office in the Camp House and grew to about 600 miles of wire 800 instruments and 12 to 15 operators with a $49 000 investment. Sterrett manages multiple companies with a growing network of central offices and brick buildings serving a broad local and regional business community.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Abner Camp
Stark County
Henry
Charles A Camp
Camp
Sterrett
Marshall County
Magnolia
Swan Lake Club House
Camp House
Shan Spless
Henry Central
F W Potter
R F Burt
Henry Telephone Co
Messrs. Camp and Sterrett
Atarelinville
William McAleer Pioneer Cash Grocery Operator
William McAleer born in Missouri became a Henry County resident in 1888. He worked for J. F. Gates then C. R Jones before partnering with George Warren to run a restaurant and grocery. He started his own cash only store in 1903 ensuring no customer owes him.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
William McAleer
Missouri
Henry
J. F. Gates
Gates
C. R Jones
George Warren
McAleer
Henry cigar maker Charles A Frommel highlighted in city life
Charles A Frommel a long time Henry resident and cigar maker with Canton origins is noted for his shop on Second Street. He learned the trade from his father and produces brands like Rose Queen and My Best. He married Nellie Mellor, has a daughter Jeannette, and is active in music and the Volunteer Fire company.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Canton
Kewanee
Nellie Mellor
William Mellor
Henry
Nick Abel
Second Street
Volunteer Fire Company
Second
West Streets
Jeannette
Frank B Potter Builds Electric Firm in Henry
Frank B Potter, a Livingston county native educated in Magnolia, moved to Henry in 1889. He and his wife run The Henry Electric Co., wiring and electrical work, selling lamps, appliances, cigars, confectionery, ice cream and soft drinks, with Potter prepared to install in first class workmanlike fashion.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Frank B Potter
Livingston County
Magnolia
Henry
Central Exchange
Henry Telephone Co
Henry Electric Co
Potter
H Lester Brown Life and Career in Henry County
H Lester Brown born 1875 in Henry township to Mr and Mrs Adam E Brown. He attended local schools and the old Seminary. Brown worked for George Ball and J M Powers before the 1901 fire, then for C E Smith and H J Gregory, later switching to insurance for many years.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
H. Lester Brown
Adam E. Brown
Henry Township
Henry
George Ball
J. M. Powers
C E Smith
H J. Gregory
Henry Auto Co Led Local Business Growth in Henry
J J Gresser, born 1874 in Henry, formed the Henry Auto Co in 1909 with Clifford Haws. They built a brick garage on Edward and First streets and later Gresser became sole owner in 1913. The Buick line is carried and a full repair, sales and parts operation is offered with three mechanics at work.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Henry Auto Co
J. J. Gresser
Henry
Clifford Haws
Edward and
First Street
Buick
Gresser
Henry Auto
Osteopathy Pioneer Homer O Swift Practicing Across States
Homer C Swift son of Wheatland residents studied Osteopathy at Little John school and practiced in Chicago Kansas and Colorado before settling in Henry two years ago. He also studied Chiropractic and uses the method best suited to each patient earning broad trust and strong patronage.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Homer C. Swift
Wheatland
South
Bureau County
Little John
Chicago
Tere
Kansas
Colorado
Henry
C E Elliott Shoe Man Returns to Knox County Trade
C E Elliott native of Knox County and long time shoe salesman bought his own store in March 1913. He built expertise from generations in the business and a tenure with a leading manufacturer before opening his own shop, proving the value of informed buying and good service.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
C. E. Elliott
Knox County
CBE
Elliot
Tor
Insurance Writer with Broad Ties in Forest City
Heiting Has the Commercial in Forest City runs four fire companies and several insurers including the Illinois Benefit Association and the Illinois Life. Mr Brown’s wide acquaintance built during his business tenure offers a strong prospect as an insurance writer. His genial manner and reputation for honesty add notable value.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Forest City
Illinois Benefit Association
Illinois Life
Brown
John Hartley of Marshall County A Life in Local Service
John Hartley native of this city educated in St Marys public schools served as postmaster in 1885 for almost five years and eight years as Marshall county clerk. He laid out Hartleys Addition, built a two story brick on Second Street now housing a real estate and insurance office and Kurtzman piano line. He owns a residence on William Street and attends St Josephs church regularly.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John Hartley
Philip
Margaret Hartley
St.Mary's
Marshall County
Hartley
Second Street
Kurtzman
William Street
St. Joseph’s Church
Brooklyn Dentist Harry W Adams Yields Notable Practice
Brooklyn native Harry W Adams a skilled dentist and University of Illinois graduate class of 1902 built a notable practice after serving with Troop D First California Cavalry in the Philippines during the Spanish American War. He established his office six years ago and quickly gained broad patronage with his wife also prominent in social circles.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Harry W. Adams
Brooklyn
N. Y
California ‘Cavalry
Philippines
Deo
A Leroy Smith Local Electrician Career Highlight
A Leroy Smith, native of this county and former high school pupil, advanced from fireman at Sterrett Electric Light Co to engineer and inspector roles. He worked in Depue and Kewanee, then became chief engineer for Crickenberger, helped found a shop with Onyan, later ran his own electrical business on Third Street near East Park Row. He is reputed as a skillful installer of service work.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
A Leroy Smith
Sterrett Electric Light Co
Depue
Mineral Point Zinc Co
Kewanee
Henry
Crickenberger
Public Service Co
Charles Onyan
East Park Row
Boy Caught Between New Neighbors Fight
A boy moving into a new neighborhood is cautioned about fighting. Tommy comes home with a black eye and mud, his mother asks if he waited to count to a hundred, and he says Willie Smith interrupted his counting by fighting.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tommy
Willie Smith
Blackburn Hunt Bros Lead Poland China Swine Growth
Harry Blackburn senior partner of Blackburn & Hunt Bros, Marshall County natives, built a large Poland China herd beginning in 1900 with Robert Hiff and Peter Mouw stock. By 1912 their herd ranked fifth in Poland China records. In 1913 the firm formed with Hunt Bros to become a top US breeder, marketing 250 to 300 head annually with regular public sales and a standing herd ready for sale.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Harry Blackburn
Blacburn
Heari—Bros
Eoun Gan
Marshall County
Business College of
Valparaiso
Robert Hiff
Washburn
Peter Chief 2d
Peter Mouw
Poland
China Record Association
Hunt Bros
Blackburn
Blackburn & Hunt Bros
United States
Albert D Stevens A Bloomington Native Pioneer of Local Industry
Albert D Stevens born 1866 in this city with early years in Bloomington. Family moved to Amarillo then back to Bloomington and Henry. Married Harriet M Blood in 1891 and has two children. He sells a pure copper cable lightning rod and Dall punctureless tire filler for auto use, known widely.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Albert D. Stevens
Albert
Bloomington
Amarilla
Texas
Henry
Harriet M. Blood
First Street
Stevens
Dall
Edw Hadden A London Birth To Rhode Island Painter
Edw Hadden born 1854 in London England came to the United States at age 16 and learned house painting in Rhode Island. He settled in 1874 opening a paint shop with steady patronage and a large family of six daughters four married.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
R. Hadden
H. Hadden
London
England
Rhode Island
Henry
Lacon
Ida Fierce
Hadden
Harnessmaker Krenz Noted City Figure Since 1878
Born in 1854, Krenz left school to learn his trade in his father’s shop. After his father’s 1878 death he ran his own business and served 31 years as city fire marshal, aiding fire prevention. He also served two terms as city treasurer and later moved to a medical practice in 1911.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Krenz
Messmore Family Vet Returned to Illinois After Boiler Work
A. L. Messmore, son of George and his wife, farmers near Kewanee, left local schools to train as a boiler maker at Kewanee Boiler Co. He later lived in Utah and Montana before returning to Illinois and entering Chicago Veterinary College as a student.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
H. L. Messmore
George Messmore
Kewanee
Kewanee Boiler Co
Utah
Montana
Ilinois
Chicago
Elias B Wright A Streator Native and Local Politician
Elias B Wright, a Streator native and barber by trade, built a political career as a Democrat. He served as City Treasurer for one year, City Clerk for over a decade, and was appointed Collector of Tolls at Henry Locks in October 1913 by the Governor, a move that satisfied both party adherents and opponents.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Elias B Wright
Streator
Ingram Smith
Wright
Henry-locks -Andre
Fragmentary note hints at a meeting or call
Incomplete transcription shows phrases like why can ty I ball ma Sane and Siete doy indicating garbled speech. No clear event, names, or dates emerge to identify a concrete news item or outcome.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Historical, Business and Social Review OF
Walter Scott
vith, J._A.Melick, Robert Horr
Charles A. Frommel
Frank B. Potter
Y. F” Gresser
Homer O. Swift
C A
Frommel
C. E. Elliot
A. Leroy Smith
Orégon
Peoria-to-Henry
Casper Halbreth
Frank Krenz
Lege
Central Park
A. L Messmore
Elias B. Wright
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