GEORGE E. McHOSE
Page 387
GEORGE E. McHOSE
Page 387
 GEORGE E. McHOSE. "Some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." The subject of this sketch is one of those men who achieve their own success. Most of our public men, and men who have legitimately grown rich, are intelligent and persevering, of which class Mr. McHose is an honored member. He is at present occupying the honored position of Mayor of Havana, and besides discharging the duties of that responsible office he is engaged in building excursion boats which ply the Illinois River. Our subject was born in Detroit, Mich., January 17, 1840, and is the son of Abram and Catherine (Mundinger) McHose, the former born in Pennsylvania of Scotch-Irish descent, and the latter a native of Germany. In an early day the father of our subject came west to Detroit, where he established and operated the Michigan Brewery. He departed this life in Detroit in 1854. His good wife, who came to America when only eleven years of age, and who had been his efficient helpmate during their entire wedded life, followed him to the better land three years after his demise. George E McHose attended the schools of Detroit until reaching his sixteenth year, after which, having learned the trade of a ship carpenter, he followed that business in Detroit until the breading out of the late war. In the fall of 1861 he went to Nashville, Tenn., in the employ of the Government, and there built several transports. Thence he went to Bridgeport, Ala., and later returned to Tennessee. In Chattanooga he took charge of forty men employed in the construction of vessels for the Government, and built for Generals Sherman and Burnside the following-names vessels: "Stone River," "Kingston," "Holston" and "Chickamauga." After the close of the war Mr. McHose purchased "Holston" and "Stone River," and was engaged in steam boating on the Mississippi River, carrying both freight and passengers, until 1870. In that year he sold the vessels and came to Havana, where he has since made his home, and followed the business of building pleasure and passenger boats. He constructed the Government fish boat "Lotus," which was used by the fish commission on the Illinois River, and also built the screw propeller "City of Peoria." He owns many excursion boats which ply the waters of the Illinois River, and for the last quarter of a century has taken an active interest in all river improvements. In 1862 Mr. McHose and Miss Jennie, daughter of W. S. Dillon, were married, and to them was born a son, James. The wife and mother departed this life in 1880, greatly mourned by all who knew her. Our subject was for several years President of the Illinois River Bridge Company, and in 1887 was elected Mayor of Havana on the Democratic ticket. After serving for a term of two years he was again elected to that office in 1890, and re-elected 1892. Previous to this he served as Alderman of the Third Ward for two years, and he has also rendered efficient service as School Director. Socially, he is a member of Havana Lodge No. 88, A. F. & A. M.; Havana Chapter No. 86, R. A. M., and Commandery No. 42, K. T. He is a charter member of the Independent Order of Mutual Aid, which body he served as President for several years. While in Detroit he was a member of Union No. 7, of the Fire Department, and after locating in Havana organized the present fire department, of which he is Chief. |