It is seldom that earnest endeavor fails of meeting its reward. To the intelligent mind there is nothing more interesting than to note the career of one who commenced the battle of life amid difficulties and drawbacks, pursued his way steadily onward, and at last has planted his banner engraved with the magic word "Excelsior," at the summit on which his eye had been fastened. The gentleman named in connection with this notice conducts one of the largest dry-good establishments in the city of Galena, carrying about $35,000 worth of stock, and does an extensive business among the people who have known him almost his entire life. He gives employment to an army of well-trained clerks who have an excellent understanding of the manner in which customers should be treated, and the individual who goes there once is certain to repeat the experiment.

Before proceeding further it may be well to glance at the personal history of Mr. Fiddick. A native of Cornwall County, England, his birthplace was not far from the city of Leeds, and he first opened his eyes to the light March 11, 1846. He comes of pure English stock, and is the son of William Fiddick, who was also of English birth and parentage, and born in 1813. He was married in his native shire to Miss Philippa Bastian, a very intelligent lady of his own county, and of good family. A few years afterward in 1835, they set out for the United States, and made their way directly to the West, landing in the embryo town of Galena on the 2d of November. Four years later the father of our subject became interested in the mercantile business, which he pursued with remarkable success until 1869. Then, having acquired a snug fortune, he retired from active life, and was succeeded by his son, Richard H. He lived amid the comforts of a pleasant home in Galena until called hence, in January, 1886. Although quite well advanced in years such had been his habits that he was well preserved, retaining much of the vigor of his early manhood. William Fiddick was known as a public-spirited and liberal citizen; a self-made man who took an eminently practical view of life, and contributed of his means to the enterprises calculated to benefit the people. He believed in the establishment and maintenance of schools and churches, giving liberally to both; although not connected with any religious organization. He was identified with many of the leading enterprises of the county, served for some time as a Director of the Galena woolen-mills, and as Alderman of the Third Ward. His good wife still survives him, being ripe in years. She proved herself a very suitable partner for such a man as her husband, and encouraged him in all his worthy ambitions.

Our subject during his school days applied himself diligently to his studies, and succeeded in obtaining a good practical education, mainly through his own efforts, and was graduated from the Galena High School and Mount Morris Seminary. He took naturally to the mercantile business, gaining much experience in his father's store; and, when the latter withdrew, he was his successor in the business. This had been established by the elder Fiddick in 1852, and was for some years the leading dry-goods house of Galena. In 1883 R. H. Fiddick withdrew from the business and established the People's Bank. This served as a sort of rest and recreation after the years of active life, during which he felt that he needed rest. The habits of years, however, could not be readily laid aside, and he embraced the opportunity to re-enter the marts of commerce, and purchased the stock of one of the largest dry-goods houses in the city, which had become insolvent. This time also he closed out his banking business satisfactorily, and in company with a number of other gentlemen established the Mechanics' and Traders' Bank of Omaha, with a capital-stock of $250,000. In this Mr. Fiddick was stockholder and director.

In the spring of 1887 Mr. Fiddick established himself at his present location on the corner of Washington and Main Streets in the new and commodious block recently erected and equipped with all modern conveniences, heated by radiators, well-lighted and supplied with a hydraulic elevator, ample shelving and counters, show-cases; and, in fact nearly everything that can be mentioned in connection with a first-class mercantile establishment. It is familiarly known as the St. Louis Store. The upper floor is devoted to carpets, curtains, etc.; the lower to the lighter articles best calculated to attract especially the feminine eye, and on a sunny day it resembles a bee-hive with the busy workers passing to and fro, loaded.

In social as well as business circles, Mr. Fiddick is uniformly a favorite. He occupies a fine home in the western part of the city - a handsome and substantial residence embellished with all which cultivated tastes and ample means suggest. Its presiding genius, Mrs. Fannie (Alden) Fiddick became the wife of our subject in the year 1868, the wedding being celebrated at the bride's home in Mount Morris. Mrs. Fiddick, a very accomplished lady, was born in Chicago, Ill., and is the daughter of Cyrus and Lucy (Clark) Alden, who were natives respectively of Maine and Ohio. Mr. Alden is a direct descendant of the famous John Alden, who courted the Puritan maiden, Priscilla, in behalf of Miles Standish, the Captain of Plymouth, and fell in love with the maid himself who reciprocated his attachment and became his bride. Longfellow most beautifully illustrated the story in his poem entitled "The Courtship of Miles Standish." Mr. Alden came to the West before his marriage, and was wedded in Mount Morris. The wife and mother passed away when her daughter Fannie was a child of tender years. Mr. Alden is still living, and makes his home with her. He is now eighty-four years old, but is bright, active, and intelligent. He can repeat many an interesting tale of the early days, and is a man with whom it is both pleasant and profitable to converse. Their family consisted of four children, three of whom are living.

Mrs. Fiddick is a well-educated lady, having completed her studies in Rock River Seminary. The result of her union with our subject was seven bright children, three of whom died when quite young, namely - Olive H., William C., and Helen M.; the survivors are - Maud, Eugenie, Richard, and Florence. They are exceedingly bright, and are being given the training and education which will fit them for their proper station in life. Mr. and Mrs. Fiddick attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, and contribute liberally to its support. The Republican party represents the political views of Mr. Fiddick, and although he watches with interest the progress of national affairs he feels disposed to relegate their management to other hands. He has thus had very little to do with politics other than serving as Alderman from his ward for four years. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic fraternity; has been the Master of the Blue Lodge in Galena, and is also a Knight Templar.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889) Pg. 501-03