Charles H. King was born in Columbus, Kansas Sept. 23, 1873 and when quite small came to Mt. Carroll with his parents. He has taken up the tonsorial business as his trade and has been at it for four years. For a year or more he owned a shop of his own in Chadwick, but sold out to accept his present position. He stands well in the community and is one of Mt. Carroll’s future standbys, a young man who enjoys the confidence of all and is noted for his honesty and for his good habits.
Charles Holman, of Holman & Son, furniture and undertaking, was born in Chester County, Pa., January 26, 1829. Received his education in the public schools of his native state. He came to Mt. Carroll in 1855, followed his trade as carpenter for a time then purchased a farm two miles west of Mt. Carroll, which he still owns, and devoted his time to tilling the soil. Lead mining was then at its height and for a year and a half he did a big business in that line, striking some valuable veins of ore on his farm. He started the first milk wagon ever run in the city. For 24 years he has been in his present business, his son W. T. S. Holman being his partner. He was married in 1855 to Miss Sarah A. Cook, to whom 4 children were born, 3 of whom are living. The first wife died in 1879 and in 1881 he was married to Miss Martha A. Slifer, to whom one child was born, They live in a pleasant home at the corner of Broadway and Jackson streets. Mr. Holman has been an Odd Fellow for 48 years, is a large holder of stock in the electric light and telephone companies.
Roy Schamel was born in Mt. Carroll June 6, 1878, and has always resided in this city. His education was garnered in our public schools. Three years ago he begun work for the Electric Light Company, and seems to have been born a natural electrician, and is thoroughly conversant with the workings of the Light plant. In fact he is competent to take charge of a plant of like kind, having studied constantly to familiarize himself with the greatest of powers - electricity. Roy stands well with his employers, and as a young man of studious habits, and is a faithful worker in whatever capacity he is engaged, whether out upon the line or at the station. The DEMOCRAT predicts for Mr. Schamel a brilliant future as an electrician, for if faithful application to his work, which he likes, will advance a man to the head, Roy will rapidly gain a prominence in the science which has been made famous by Morse and Edison.
George R. Christie, who owns the beautiful, modern apartment house presented in the accompanying cut, was born in Canada, removed to Racine, Wis., where he learned the engraving and jewelry business. Came to Mt. Carroll in 1873, where he remained in business until 1891, when he retired. He was married in Mt. Carroll in 1879, to Miss Sue McClosky of Galena, and with his wife now occupies the elegant apartment on the first floor on the west side. All the other suites are occupied. Mr. Christie has acquired a competence and is taking the world easy, simply looking after his property, which has every modern convenience, hot and cold water, steam heat, baths, &c. It is the most modern house in the city.
A very fine winter view of Carroll County’s Court House and office buildings. The old building was erected in 1858, and the office building and vaults in 1896. The latter building is modern in every respect and is fire proof. Carroll county has many valuable records and no building is too good for them. While there is nothing fancy nor imposing about our county buildings, yet they are substantial structures. Our park, however, cannot be surpassed in beauty in summer. The trees make it a place thickly inhabited by those who have time on their hands on hot days, and under nearly every tree can be seen a group of men and boys lounging about trying to keep cool. It is a great resort.
The accompanying cut represents the neat cottage of G. A. Stanton in East Carroll, erected in 1892. Mr. Stanton deserves more than a passing notice. He started in the music business in our city some years ago on a small scale, but has by hard toil, unceasing hustling and steady attention to business built up a wonderful trade. His pianos and organs are in homes all over the county; his warehouse is filled with pianos and organs while his new store, which was built and still occupied by him, although sold 2 years ago, is bristling over with all kinds of musical instruments from a jewsharp to a piano. He carries the McKinley edition of 600 sheets of 10 cent music, also 500 sheets of 5c music. Handles the Reed & Son, Conover, National, Schubert, Kingsbury, Chickering, Gabler, Foster and Knabe Pianos and can save you money on them. Also Farrand & Votey, Chicago Cottage and Wicke combination Desk and Organ. See him.
The accompanying cut shows the Mt. Carroll water works plant and the reservoir upon the hill. The plant is situated on Mill Street and is superintended by John H. Warfield. The water is lifted from an artesian well, 2,500 feet deep, by an air lift pump, after which it is pumped into the large reservoir, at the rate of 280 gallons a minute or 403,200 gallons a day. We have about four miles of mains, and 27 fire hydrants. The work is done with a 60 horse power boiler, giving our people an inexhaustible supple of pure water and the best of fire protection, They hydrants are placed on every corner in the down town districts and close enough to reach any portion of the residence district, where mains are.
Carroll County has just reason to be proud of her county farm. The buildings are two story, basement and garret, of brick with about 40 rooms, steam heated and have closets and bath rooms, supplied with hot and cold water. The farm consists of 154 acres of good land, in a high state of cultivation. There are at present 28 inmates and the proceeds of the farm under the superintendency of James G. Keiffer is paying at least half of all the expenses incurred in running the farm..
A windmill pumps the water from a well into a reservoir which gives it pressure enough to force it into all parts of the buildings. Mr. Keiffer is not at all afraid to use water and everything is kept as neat as a pin in and about the buildings and premises.
John Hay was born in Woodland township, gleaned his education in the rural schools and Mt. Carroll high school, from which he graduated with honors. After graduating he taught school 5-6 months every winter, working on the farm in summer and for 11 years was Assessor of his town. For 13 winters he taught in his home school district, which shows how highly his services were valued as a teacher. “A Prophet is not without honor save in his own country,” but in this case the DEMOCRAT can say Mr. Hay was highly honored right at home. For many years Mr. Hay was and is now, the member of the republican country committee from Woodland, and has held this positions of both, Chairman and Secretary of that committee. He is loyal republican and a worker for the principles of his party. Dec. 1894 he accepted the position of Deputy County Clerk, with A. B. Adams, a position he has most ably filled, being a rapid penman, an expert accurate accountant, clear and concise in his work, neat in his book keeping and a desirable man for the position.
Samuel Mitchell was born in Mt. Carroll April 11, 1875. Received his education in the Mt. Carroll public schools. Seven years ago Sam started in the grocery business, clerking for W. S. Stiteley, and has by steady attention to the business interests of his employer demonstrated that he is a young man of integrity and endowed with more than the usual allotment of business tact. He is courteous at all times, every ready to enhance the interests of the store, always smiling and pleasant, no matter how exacting a customer he may have. He is a young man who stands well in the community and we predict a successful career for him.
Such young men are bound to succeed; they know no such word as fail and keep on climbing the ladder of fame in the mercantile world until they have reached the top, and that is where “Sam” Mitchell will be perched ‘ere long.
Volney Armour was born in Stockbridge, Madison county, New York. He was the youngest son of Preston Armour, at that time a well known and popular educator. He inherited his father’s strong intellectual qualities of mind, and at a very youthful age finished his studies in the common schools and successfully completed his course at Cazenovia Seminary during the years 1846-1849. Subsequently he pursued the study of law at Morrisville, N. Y. and was admitted to the bar when 21 years of age. He first practiced law in Morrisville, N. Y., where he remained until 1853, when he moved to Mt. Carroll and formed a partnership with Judge Wilson, and subsequently with W. Thos. Miller. Esq. In 1856 he was elected Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Carroll county, holding this office until 1860. In 1861 he formed a partnership with Judge James Shaw which existed until 1890, when failing health compelled him to give up the practice of law. When the office of States Attorney was created in 1872 he was the first incumbent, holding the office eight years. In 1884 he moved to Calhoun county, Iowa, where he resided until April 1896 when he returned to Mt. Carroll and since his return here has been doing some legal work with his son-in-law, George L. Hoffman. During his practice Mr. Armour sustained a high reputation as a legal adviser and practitioner. He is thoroughly grounded in the principles of law and probably has no superior in legal attainments in the county. As a chancery lawyer he is unexcelled. In 1877 he received a nice endorsement for Circuit Judge, but was defeated by the late Joseph M. Bailey of Freeport. He has a number of relatives of the old Scottish Armour blood residing in this state. A sister, Mrs. Col. F. Bonney, resides in Austin, Ill., and is related by marriage to the notable C. C. Bonney, a brother of her husband. He is also a cousin of Philip D. Armour, the Chicago pork packer.
Arthur G. Jackson was born in Vienna, Ill., July 1, 1863. He attended the Vienna high school until 1880. Was in the Southern Illinois Normal University for two years, and graduated from Jones Commercial College in St. Louis, June 1884. Began his business career at 12 years of age, by clerking in Bain & Jackson’s store, father and grandfather, who carried a general line of everything usually carried by all stores in small towns in that part of the state. At the death of his grandfather in Dec. 1886 he, with his father, Samuel Jackson and Wm. B. Bain, succeeded that firm under the firm name of Samuel Jackson & Co., who conducted a successful business until Dec. 26, 1891 when their store, with its entire contents, was destroyed by fire. Dec. 13, 1892 be bought out O. F. McKinney & Bro., in the city, forming a co-partnership with Chas. H. Stiteley under the firm name of Jackson & Stiteley, to which he alone succeeded Aug. 1, 1896. While residing at Vienna he held a number of positions of trust, among them Treasurer of the Johnson County Agr’l. Ass’m., and has for two years been President of the Mt. Carroll Business Men’s Association. Oct. 26, 1887 he was married to Miss D. May Copland at Vienna, to whom have been born two very bright and interesting children, Arthur Copland, aged 9, and Margaret Crary, aged 4.
Andrew B. Adams is a native Carroll County gentleman, having been born in Woodland tp., and brought up on a farm. He moved to this city in 1880 and went to work learning the trade of miller in the old stone mill. Jan. 9, 1886 he met with an accident while at work in the mill as head miller, which necessitated the amputating of his right arm and the loss of his good right hand. Nothing daunted at this, Mr. Adams continued to work making a living for himself and his wife, and always succeeded in doing so. He was married Nov. 8, 1883 to Miss Minnie McNamara of Mt. Carroll township. Mr. Adams has held several positions of trust, and is at present our efficient county clerk, a position he has filled with credit to himself and his constituents. A more social, obliging, accommodating and withal conscientious man than Mr. Adams would be hard to find in Carroll or any other county. He is always at his post when necessary works night as well as day to keep his duties well in hand. Mr. Adams has made such a faithful clerk, and has given such unbounded satisfaction that his re-election is a matter admitted on all hands.
The accompanying cut is a picture of Mrs. R. J. (Rebecca) Nase’s beautiful home at the corner of Clay and Market streets. It was built in 1870,
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Wm. F. Browning, station agent for the C. M. & St. P. R.R. Co., is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born there in 1840. His education was gleaned in the graded schools here and an academic course in Pennsylvania. He came to Mt. Carroll first in 1857, and left in 1859. Went to LaSalle where he commenced his railroad career as a switchman. Remained there 9 years, then went to St. Louis where he was in a general freight office until ‘73 when he accepted a position which he still holds to the entire satisfaction of the company and patrons of the road. He was married in 1869 to Miss Matilda Remley, to whom three children, all boys were born, the youngest, William having died several years ago. The other two, Lewis and Wayne, are in the railroad business, both holding responsible positions. Mr. Browning has been a Mason since 1865, and is an honored member. He has been a 32nd degree Mason for four years. Mr. Browning is one of Mt. Carroll’s solid men.